Expert in Institutional Capacity Assessment

UNDP designed a program aimed at reducing exposure of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods and infrastructure to climate-induced natural hazards reduced through a well-functioning nation-wide multi-hazard early warning system and risk-informed local action. The program encompasses two interrelated projects funded by Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), under which the current assignment is being announced and Green Climate Fund (GCF). The GCF funded interventions will target at expanding hydro-meteorological network & modelling capacities and improving community resilience through implementation of the EWS & risk reduction measures. The project will provide critical climate risk information that would enable the Government of Georgia to implement number of nation-wide transformative policies and actions for reducing exposure and vulnerability of the population to climate-induced hazards. The project will thus catalyse a paradigm shift in the national climate risk management, climate-proofed disaster risk reduction and early warning approaches.

The project Strengthening the Climate Adaptation Capacities in Georgia, funded by SDC, is also designed with an overall goal of reducing the exposure of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods and infrastructure to climate-induced natural hazards through a well-functioning nation-wide Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) and risk-informed local action serving 1.7 Million ordinary Georgians currently at risk from climate-induced hazards. The given goal is expected to be achieved through 1. equipping the Georgian authorities with the financial, technical and human capacities to establish a nation-wide multi-hazard hydro-meteorological risk monitoring, modelling and forecasting. and 2. Increasing vulnerable communities, regions’ resilience facing risks from natural and climate change threats to their livelihoods.

Implementation and maintenance of a multi-hazard early warning system of this scale requires technical capacities in all areas of hazard and disaster risk management to ensure the long-term sustainability of the system. Technical expertise and experience in disaster management and emergency response is present, both at central and local levels. There are sound capacities to elaborate long-term development policies, strategies and plans in various sectors. This however is mostly the case at the central level, rather than decentralized levels (regional, municipal and local). While technical expertise exists in various sectors and for specific technical areas, awareness and knowledge of disaster risk reduction concepts and practices is an area for improvement. Technical capacities related to risk identification and assessment, prevention, risk reduction, risk transfer, preparedness, climate risk management and climate change adaptation are rather weak across institutions and governance levels.  Having mapped the institutional capacity and assessed gaps and training needs, an institutional capacity building plan will be developed and implemented to address gaps in resourcing (human, technical and financial). The project will develop training plans for each technical area of expertise related to climate-induced hazard risk assessment and management and consolidate into an overall capacity development plan. A long-term capacity plan for Georgia will be developed and will consider options such as the development of internships and voluntary schemes for University students, in climate risk management and MHEWS. 

It should be noted that initial works under institutional capacity assessment had been already conducted under the project and the incumbent is expected to build up on the existing results. In particular, the initial institutional capacity assessment was conducted based on the interviews, based on which general institutional assessment report was prepared which need to be further reviewed and specified per each agency, department/unit and technical area.

The general outline of the capacity assessment report was developed which requires further finalization with addition of the indicators, baseline levels and targets, to be implemented in close cooperation with technical experts and relevant stakeholders.

The technical areas identified under the MHEWS include:

1. Hazard assessment, modelling and mapping
2. Risk and vulnerability assessment, modelling and mapping
3. Multi-hazard risk assessment and mapping;
4. Multi-hazard Forecasting;
5. Multi-hazard Early Warning System;
6. Centralized multi-hazard risk information and knowledge management system;
7. Multi-hazard monitoring and observation networks;
8. Preparedness and response;
9. Design and implementation of hazard mitigation and management measures
10. Capacity building and public awareness raising

The incumbent shall work under supervision of the Project Manager in a team of a national expert and team of technical international and national experts working on different components of MHEWS.

The incumbent will be responsible to:

1. Develop technical note for implementation of the assignment, with description and scope of activities to be implemented, through consultation with relevant team of international and national experts working on different aspects of MHEWS within the program;

2. Review the draft of the score card and finalize it through:

• Identification of indicators, scores for levels of indicators (low, mid, high), short-mid-term capacity development targets in cooperation with international and national experts working on specific issues and relevant stakeholders through intensive consultations and meetings;

• Identification of weighted scores between institutional (functional) and technical area indicators, weighted scores between unit/department score and agency score, weighted scores between agency score and technical area scores.

3. With consideration of the results of the initial capacity assessment report, develop unit/division, agency and technical area specific capacity assessment reports, through

• Conducting unit/division, agency and technical area specific institutional capacity assessment using the finalized score card;
• Compiling the capacity assessment conducted by the international experts under the identified technical areas of the MHEWS
• Finalization of the capacity assessment report through presentation to the national stakeholders for review and validation;

4. Based on the results of the capacity assessment prepare department/unit, agency and technical area specific capacity development plans in close cooperation with technical experts and final validation from the stakeholders; The Capacity Development plan along with other issues should consider development of internships and voluntary schemes for University students and should be conducted through:

• Active engagement and final validation from relevant stakeholders;
• In close cooperation with team of experts working on specific components of MHEWS
• Training plan for each institution under Capacity Development, and consolidated national training plan;

Deliverables:

1. Technical note and work plan indicating the schedule of works and responsibilities of the team members (two weeks after signing the contract);
2. Finalized Capacity assessment scorecard (1 June 2019);
3. Draft Baseline Capacity Assessment Report (1 August 2020)
4. Finalized Capacity Assessment Report (30 October 2020)
5. Draft Capacity Development Plan (30 November 2020);
6. Finalized Capacity Development Plan (20 December 2020).

Management Arrangements:

The work of service provider will be directly supervised by the Project Manager under the overall supervision of the Environment and Energy Team Leader and guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor. The service provider will be directly responsible to, reporting to, seeking approval from, and obtaining certificate of acceptance of outputs from the above-mentioned persons.

Payment modality and deliverables:

The payment schedule is given below and will be made upon satisfactory completion/submission and approval of the deliverables by the supervisor:

• 10% – upon successful submission of deliverables 1. Technical note and schedule of works
• 20% – upon successful submission of deliverable 2. Capacity assessment scorecard templates
• 20% – upon successful submission of deliverable 3. Draft Baseline Capacity Assessment Report
• 35% – upon successful submission of deliverables 4. Finalized Capacity Assessment Report and deliverable 5. Draft Capacity Development Plan
• 15% – upon successful submission of deliverable 6. Finalized Capacity Development Plan

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Understanding of the mandate and the role of UNDP would be an asset;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism

Functional competencies:

• Strong communication and analytical skills;
• Demonstrated skills in drafting reports;
• Ability to work under pressure with several tasks and various deadlines;
• Actively generates creative, practical approaches and solutions to overcome challenging situations;
• Excellent writing, presentation/public speaking skills;
• A pro-active approach to problem-solving;
• Computer literacy

Leadership and Self-Management skills:

• Builds strong relationships with the working group and with the project partners; focuses on impact and results for the project partners and responds positively to feedback;
• Cooperates with working group effectively and demonstrates strong conflict resolution skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy, positivity and a constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong influencing and facilitation skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change, new ideas and ability to manage ambiguity;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates ability to transfer knowledge and competencies;
• Is able to work independently and hurdle competing priorities.

Education

• At least Master’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration or any related field (minimum requirement: Master’s degree – 8 points, PhD – additional 2 points); 

Experience

• At least 7 years of experience in institutional capacity assessment (minimum requirement: 7 years – 11 points, more than 7 seven years – additional 4 points);
• At least 7 years of experience in development of Capacity Assessment Plans/Programs (minimum requirement: 7 years – 11 points, more than 7 seven years – additional 4 points);
• At least 3 capacity assessments conducted for MHEWS (minimum requirement: 5 points);
• Experience of working and/or knowledge of DRR/CCA/MHEWS is an asset (3 points);
• Experience of working in Georgia and/or knowledge of the region’s context is an asset (2 points).

Language

• Proficiency in both spoken and written English.

Evaluation:

Offerors will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis method, against combination of technical and financial criteria. Maximum total obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria (desk review and interview) equals to 70 and for financial criteria – to 30. Offerors that do not meet any of the Minimum Requirements will be automatically rejected, while the rest will form up the long list. Technical evaluation will comprise of desk review and interview stages. Candidates who collect 70% (35 points) of points obtainable as a result of the desk review will form up short list and be invited to the interview. Offerors passing 70% threshold as a result of the interview (i.e. obtain minimum of 14 points) will be recommended for financial evaluation. 

Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the ToR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount. Maximum 30 points will be assigned to the lowest price offer. All other price offers will be scored using the formula (inverse proportion):  Financial score X = 30* the lowest price offer/suggested price offer. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal as well.