Vulnerability Reduction Assessment Consultant

The Cambodia Community-Based Adaptation Program is designed to implement community-based projects that seek to enhance the resiliency of communities to climate change impacts, through local-level climate risk management projects. Lessons learned from community projects will then be leveraged to promote replication of successful community practices, and integration of lessons into national and sub-national policies that reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts, from the community level to the national level. The CCBA Programme will fund at least 40-45 projects with a maximum amount of 50,000USD for each community based adaptation project in the geographic priority areas as recommended by NAPA including: Svay Rieng, Kandal, Prey Veng, Kg Speu, Siem Reap, Kg Thom, Battambang, Kandal, Banteay Mean Chey, Kg Cham and other vulnerable provinces of Cambodia.

The Vulnerability Reduction Assessment (VRA) is a form of Participatory Impact Assessment (PIA), focusing on community perceptions of vulnerability to climate change, and capacity to adapt.  The VRA is designed to measure the impact of a CBA project vis à vis a CBA project under implementation.  The VRA is based on a composite of 4 indicator questions, tailored to capture locally-relevant issues that are at the heart of understanding vulnerability to climate change.  Questions are posed during a series of 3-4 community meetings over the period of a CBA project.  Responses to the questions take the form of a numerical score, provided by the respondents during these community meetings. Repeated evaluations of community perceptions of project effectiveness and climate change risks permit an indication of the relative change in vulnerability.  This is assessed through the degree of change in the VRA scores relative to baseline values established prior to the commencement of project activities.

The objective of the assignment is to support the achievement of the UNDP CCBAP’s project output 3,  which is producing knowledge Management products such as VRA finding report and finalize the Vulnerability Reduction Assessment (VRA) Guidance for Practitioners to share with LNGOs/CBOs and wilder stakeholders.

The KM products produced under the contract will assist SGP project team to use as baseline information for CCBAP programme monitoring and Evaluation framework. In addition to that the Vulnerability Reduction Assessment (VRA) Guidance for Practitioners is more useful for LNGOs/CBOs to conduct VRA and finding appropriate project interventions for full proposal development and use as baseline information project level M&E.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the CCBAP Reviewing Committee and Project Manager of Cambodia Community Based Programme (CCBAP), the VRA Consultant shall be responsible to:

1. Analyze VRA data collected by LNGOs/CBOs in 22 provinces of Cambodia;
2. Finalize the draft Vulnerability Reduction Assessment (VRA) Guidance for Practitioners;
3. Publish VRA finding report and Vulnerability Reduction Assessment (VRA) Guidance for Practitioners and
4. Share/present VRA findings and VRA Guidance into workshop on integrating CC into CIP.

Final Products or Deliverables/Outputs:

1. Good quality of the VRA finding Report completed.
2. Vulnerability Reduction Assessment (VRA) Guidance for Practitioners finalized.
3. Knowledge sharing workshop on the VRA finding report and the Vulnerability Reduction Assessment (VRA) Guidance for Practitioners conducted.

• Good understanding of Climate Change Adaptation, fishery, forestry, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, water management, and Cambodian agriculture
• Good interpersonal skills
• Excellent writing and verbal communications skills
• Commitment toward high quality service; and
• Ability to work effectively in a cross cultural environment;

Education: 

• Advanced university degree (at least Master or equivalent) from Economics, Development Studies, Environmental Science, Agriculture, or other related areas

Experience: 

• At least 6 years working experience in the areas of research and data analysis. Some working experience on climate change in Cambodia is an advantage.

Language Requirements: 

• Excellent written and spoken English