Consultant-Terminal Evaluation of UNDP/GEF Project “Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning System in Cambodia to Support Climate Resilient Development and Adaptation to Climate Change

The Royal Government of Cambodia’s (RGC) preferred situation is to implement an effective early warning system (EWS).  The purpose of an EWS is to monitor climate and environmental data on a real-time basis, detect adverse trends and make reliable predictions of possible impacts in the form of early warning information.  An early warning therefore refers not only to advisories in emergency situations, but also to information related to the changing climatic trends revealed after tracking and analysing climate and weather data over time.  An effective EWS would thus enable timely response to natural hazards and extreme weather events, as well as informed planning in light of changing climate trends.

The RGC faces several challenges in realizing its preferred situation. With few working climate and weather observation stations, there is insufficient data to refine predictions and forecasts based on sector, geographic areas, or vulnerability.  Further, limited human resources and high staff turnover make it difficult for institutions such as the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) to develop capacity and maintain qualified forecasters and modelers.  Appropriate dissemination of information is also a challenge.  MOWRAM is responsible for providing climate and weather information to the planning, line ministries to inform climate resilient planning, and for the communication of natural hazards and extreme weather events for disaster risk reduction.  However, the information is often not presented in manner that can be easily understood or applied and standard operating procedures (SOPs) defining roles, responsibilities, and accountability are lacking.  MOWRAM is also responsible for maintaining the EWS infrastructure such as automated weather stations and water gauge stations. Urgent needs to improve the national EWS infrastructure in light of imminent climate risks has prompted some donors to assist the Government in rehabilitating old or installing new weather stations. However, there is a significant risk of unsustainability of the newly built infrastructure due to limited financial resources to cover all the O&M requirements.

The project “Strengthening climate information and early warning systems in Cambodia to support climate resilient development and adaptation to climate change” (henceforth “the EWS project”) has been implemented to help the Government overcome these gaps and challenges. Funding of approximately US$4.9 million was approved by the Least Developed Countries Fund Council in October 2014 and the project was officially launched in May 2015. The project seeks to address the current barriers through three complementary outcomes:

1.             Increased institutional capacity to assimilate and forecast weather, hydrological, climate and environmental information.

2.             Climate and weather information available and utilized for national, sectoral and sub-national planning as well as for transboundary communication in the region.

3.             Strengthened institutional capacity to operate and maintain EWS and climate information infrastructure, both software and hardware, in order to monitor weather and climate change.

To meet the above three outcomes, the approach adopted by the project is to 1) invest in early warning infrastructure – hydro and meteorology stations nationwide; 2) mobilize technical expertise to enhance capacity of national entities (namely MOWRAM, NCDM, and MAFF) in making use of the information; and 3) ensure the smooth flow of information sharing both at national level and between national and provincial level.

With close collaboration with national stakeholders, the project has been in its final implementation stage and made steady progress in line with the agreed project work plan. The project is currently looking for an International Consultant to conduct the Terminal Evaluation for the project.

The International Consultant / evaluator is expected to deliver the following:

• Inception Report: Evaluator provides clarifications on timing and method, Evaluator submits to UNDP CO no later than 1 week before the evaluation mission

• Presentation of Initial Findings: Evaluator submits to project management and UNDP CO at the end of evaluation mission

• Draft Final Report: Full report (per template provided in TE Guidance) with annexes, Evaluator submits to CO within 3 weeks of the evaluation mission, reviewed by RTA, PCU, GEF OFPs

• Final Report: Revised report, Evaluator submits to CO within 1 week of receiving UNDP comments on draft

*When submitting the final evaluation report, the evaluator is required also to provide an ‘audit trail’, detailing how all received comments have (and have not) been addressed in the final evaluation report.

Interested offeror must  read  the Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice, which can be viewed at https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=63033 for more  detail information about term  of references, instructions to offeror, and to download the documents to be submitted in the offer through online.

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;

• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Functional competencies:

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;

• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;

• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.

• Capability to work effectively under deadline pressure and to take on a range of responsibilities;

• Ability to work in a team, good decision-making skills, communication and writing skills.

Education:   

A Master’s degree in natural resource management, agricultural development, climatology/meteorology, water resources management, environmental sciences, disaster management or related field, or other closely related field.

Experience: 

• Minimum 7 years of experience in conducting evaluation for development projects and GEF funded project. Experience working in the UN system is a strong asset

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in relevant technical areas of Early Warning System.

• Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender and climate resilient development and adaption to climate change; experience in gender sensitive evaluation and analysis

• Experience working for development projects, with multi stakeholders including government agencies, development agencies, and UN agencies

• Knowledge of UNDP and GEF monitoring and evaluation policies.

• Previous experience with results-based monitoring and evaluation methodologies, application of SMART indicators and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios.

Language requirement:

High proficiency in English, knowledge of Khmer would be an advantage.

UNDP reserves right to reject any applications that is incomplete.

Please be informed that we don’t accept application submitted via email.

Interested individual offeror must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Proposal:

(i) Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work

(ii) List of publications written by candidate

2. Financial proposal

3. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references

Interested Offerors are required to submit application via UNDP jobsite system as the application screening and evaluation will be done through UNDP jobsite system. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file. Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Any request for clarification/additional information on this procurement notice shall be communicated in writing to UNDP office or send to email [email protected] and cc [email protected] . While the Procurement Unit would endeavor to provide information expeditiously, only requests receiving at least 5 working days prior to the submission deadline will be entertained. Any delay in providing such information will not be considered as a reason for extending the submission deadline. The UNDP’s response (including an explanation of the query but without identifying the source of inquiry) will be posted in Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice page as provided above. Therefore, all prospective Offerors are advised to visit the page regularly to make obtain update related to this Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice.