Description
International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on behalf of Global Water Partnership – South Asia (GWP-SAS) seeks applications from suitably qualified candidates for an assignment under the project titled “Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness & Preparatory Support Project for Sri Lanka: Strengthening the capacity of Direct Access Entities (DAEs)”.
Project Background
The Global Water Partnership Organization is currently serving as a Delivery Partner for implementation of Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness projects in 5 countries: Zambia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Eswatini, Central African Republic. In these countries, GWPO works closely with the GCF National Designated Authorities (NDA) to implement these Readiness projects.
GWP South Asia Regional Water Partnership, located in Colombo, Sri Lanka and hosted by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), currently coordinates a number of country-driven water & climate resilience activities in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, GWP South Asia RWP will play a central role in executing the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka’s Readiness Proposal for “Strengthening the capacity of Direct Access Entities (DAEs), NDA and GCF project programming stakeholders in Sri Lanka to access climate finance through enhanced strategic frameworks for stakeholder engagement and a strengthened project pipeline,” which was approved by GCF in November 2021. As Delivery Partner for this Readiness project, GWPO is responsible for overall supervision of implementation of this grant. The execution of the Readiness project activities will be undertaken under the Technical Advisory & Guidance of GWP South Asia RWP, in close coordination with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Environment, the country’s GCF NDA, and with Financial Management provided by the RWP’s host institution IWMI.
The Readiness activities will be executed by a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) hosted at GWP South Asia RWP. The project implementation started on 16 June 2022.
Scope of Work
The policy expert will be contributing as the main expert to the development of the following outputs:
- Output 1.2.1: Direct Access Accreditation Support Helpdesk established within the NDA
- Output 1.2.2. Project development working group (coordinated by NDA) established for DAEs to engage with potential project proponents and executing entities for ideation and development of potential GCF projects – including projects targeting the GCF Private Sector Facility (PSF)
- Output 1.3.1: Strengthened and operationalized Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, based on a gap and capacity assessment, including specifically gender and other social inclusion considerations (e.g. indigenous peoples and social minorities),
- Output 1.3.2: The NDA data and information portal, developed by the 2019 ICRAF-led Readiness, is fully operational,
- Output 2.2.1: An NDA-validated nation-wide Climate-Smart Green Growth Strategy,
- Output 4.1.1: Pipeline Development Plan in place for priority project ideas identified under the Country Programme (developed during the ICRAF-led 2019 Readiness). Pipeline Development Plan accessible to Sri Lanka’s GCF programming stakeholders via NDA’s data and information portal
- Any other tasks assigned by the National Project Coordinator.
Specific tasks and duties for each output include:
Output 1.2.1: Direct Access Accreditation Support Helpdesk established within the NDA
- Undertake an accreditation barrier assessment through desk study and bilateral interviews with the NDA and pipeline DAEs,
- Conduct the accreditation barrier analysis workshop,
- Follow-up and engage directly with each of the pipeline DAEs to further inform helpdesk design features,
- Prepare Direct Access Accreditation Needs Assessment Report & Proposed Helpdesk Concept Note.
- Develop ToRs for Helpdesk Staff and contribute, as required, to the recruitment of the personnel including preparation of interviews guides,
- Develop training Materiel for Helpdesk staff,
- Conduct training for relevant Helpdesk staff. These may be conducted online with the contribution of the international institutional expert and/or GWP Technical Support team,
- Develop helpdesk service manual that outlines Standard Operating Procedures for engaging with pipeline DAEs,
- Develop first annual Helpdesk workplan,
- Develop a Sustainable Financing Plan for helpdesk, to enable its functioning for the period needed by Sri Lanka’s NDA and its direct access stakeholders.
Output 1.2.2. Project development working group (coordinated by NDA) established for DAEs to engage with potential project proponents and executing entities for ideation and development of potential GCF projects – including projects targeting the GCF Private Sector Facility (PSF)
- Contribute to the development of training material targeting pipeline DAEs and focusing on potential opportunities for GCF programming and projects, including potential PSF projects, opportunities for GCF programming and projects (including potential PSF projects), including project technical and financial structuring options, in lower watersheds and coastal regions, specifically around integrated approaches to water management for climate resilient irrigation and agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystem services, energy, waste management, health, and coastal zone management.
- Contribute to the implementation of the training workshop on GCF programming opportunities and project technical and financial structuring,
- Contribute to the implementation of the project development stakeholder engagement workshop to develop shared understanding of main roles & responsibilities in the GCF project development cycle (priority ideas to concept note to funding proposal), and identify corresponding entities that are mandated and interested to undertake those roles in Sri Lanka,
- Contribute to the development of the multi-stakeholder project development working group members list,
- Contribute to the development of ToRs for project development working group and validate these ToRs in the above working group workshop and the initial workplan for the working group,
- Facilitate the first working group meeting.
Output 1.3.1: Strengthened and operationalized Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, based on a gap and capacity assessment, including specifically gender and other social inclusion considerations (e.g. indigenous peoples and social minorities)
- Contribute to the questionnaires preparation and undertake Focus Groups or individual surveys to assess the capacity of NDA, executing entities, civil society organizations, NGOs and private sector, and marginalized groups (incl. women, indigenous groups, social minorities etc.) for effectively engaging in GCF programming (at different stages of the project development cycle) as specified in the ‘Stakeholder Engagement Strategy for GCF related Activities in Sri Lanka’,
- Contribute to the development of an assessment of capacity gapes of NDA and stakeholders report,
- Contribute to the development of an effective stakeholder engagement in programming and project development for the GCF and capacity strengthening action plan,
- Contribute to the implementation of 2 capacity building workshops (1 for the NDA and 1 for other stakeholders).
Output 1.3.2: The NDA data and information portal, developed by the 2019 ICRAF-led Readiness, is fully operational
- Contribute to the preparation of the report on the functionality and usage statistics of the climate information portal,
- Contribute to the development of the assessment report on the data and information portal, including inputs of key GCF programming stakeholders in country (across all levels) on how fit for-purpose the data and information portal, recommendations on needed updates and concrete steps for improvement, outline of an O&M action plan for the portal, and outline of technical and financial sustainability strategy for the portal
Output 2.2.1 : An NDA-validated nation-wide Climate-Smart Green Growth Strategy
- Contribute to the development of training material and implementation of training on GCF investment project financial structuring enabling participants to understand the links between implementation of Sri Lanka’s Climate-Smart Green Growth Strategy and its Pipeline Development Plan (Output 4.1.1),
- Contribute to the preparation and implementation of a national -level Green Growth Strategy vision workshop allowing for participatory design inputs to the Climate -Smart Green Growth Strategy,
- Contribute to the preparation of a report on possible future climate change impacts and potential climate – resilient and sustainable green growth pathways for Sri Lanka,
- Contribute to the preparation A Climate -Smart Green Growth Strategy including through the implementation of 3 successive Green Growth Strategy development workshops.
- Contribute to the development of a synthesis as well as 4 pages policy-brief of the climate -smart green growth strategy.
Output 4.1.1: Pipeline Development Plan in place for priority project ideas identified under the Country Programme (developed during the ICRAF-led 2019 Readiness). Pipeline Development Plan accessible to Sri Lanka’s GCF programming stakeholders via NDA’s data and information portal
- Contribute to conducting a multi-stakeholder consultative process and the development of a Pipeline Development Plan detailing the schedule for development of project ideas currently in Sri Lanka’s Country Programme and for their submission to GCF – including steps required to identify suitable AEs (direct and international), obtain financing for project development, and indicative submission years for concept notes and full funding proposals. Integrate Pipeline Development Plan into NDA Operations Manual and NDA’s data and information portal (Output 1.3.2) development of a synthesis as well as 4 pages policy-brief of the climate -smart green growth strategy.
N.B. Implementation of workshops include the preparation of the concept note, agenda and relevant material, facilitation of the workshop, preparation of the workshop report and preparation of the pre- and post-training survey results.
Other duties
- Participate to the PMU team coordination meetings,
- Preparation of narrative reports to the PSC, GWP and GCF,
- Participate as required to the coordination meetings with the NDA and with GWP SAS and GWPO,
- Carry out other duties related to the project as assigned by the National Project Coordinator.
Duration: Initially from October 2022 to September 2023 (full-time)
Your application must include a copy of your curriculum vitae, a one page motivation letter which addresses GWP South Asia RWP’s requirements stated above, a writing sample (assessment report, strategic action plan, or similar), and contact information of three professional referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position.
This is a nationally recruited position and only citizens of Sri Lanka are eligible to apply.
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Requirements
Interested applicants are required to have the following qualifications and experiences at minimum:
- At least 7 years’ experience in policy analysis and policy development, strategic planning related to climate change, development or environmental management, or similar,
- Master degree in related discipline, i.e. development, economics, social political or environmental sciences, climate sciences, forestry, natural resource management, sustainable development, or related field,
- Familiarity with GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme Guidebook a must,
- Demonstrated experience working with government and facilitating policy processes and dialogues,
- Solid understanding of climate change processes for adaptation and mitigation in Sri Lanka, as well as for development and SDGs achievement,
- Good Track record on designing and conducting capacity building workshops,
- Demonstrated experience on facilitating multistakeholder engagement workshops,
- Fluency in English. (Speaking, writing, and reading). Knowledge of Sinhala or Tamil is preferable,
- Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to coordinate and manage multiple tasks,
- Excellent analytical and writing skills.
The successful candidate will have the following competencies:
Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achieving; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; show persistence when face with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situation; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational and project goals; solicits inputs by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; share credit for team accomplishments and accepts join responsibility for team shortcomings.
Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seek to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitor ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keep clients informed of progress or setbacks in the project; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
Benefits
IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.
