Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as the development arm of the United Nations, works in some 170 countries and territories, helping to empower lives and build resilient nations.
In Sri Lanka, UNDP has been working as a key development partner of choice in Sri Lanka since 1967, to achieve sustainable human development in economic, social and environmental fronts. Working closely with the Government at national, regional and local levels, and civil society and the private sector, UNDP aims at eradicating extreme poverty, and reducing inequalities and exclusion to protect both people and the planet.
Climate change is the single greatest challenge humanity has ever faced, threatening water and food security, health, livelihoods, and the safety of billions of people. The global response to this challenge must be just, inclusive, and leave no one behind, while seeking the most efficient climate solutions that advance multiple Sustainable Development Goals at once.
UNDP, Sri Lanka is assisting the Government to work towards a sustainable Sri Lanka building up institutional, legal and individual capacities to respond to the effects of climate change and natural and man-made disasters, by exploring the potential of renewable energy and energy and resource efficiency in responsible consumption and production, while supporting reform and modernization of the environmental management systems, protection of our biodiversity. Climate change is one of the priority areas for UNDP Sri Lanka. Support with signature solutions are provided to the government in a mix of policy advice, technical assistance, finance, reporting and further extension of benefits to affected by implementing pilot projects and programmes.
Sri Lanka was one of the first few countries to ratify the Paris Agreement in 2016 which is the most trailed climate initiative of the decade. Under the Paris Agreement, countries have committed to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions to limit earth’s temperature rise and implement solutions to adapt to the effects of climate change impacts. These commitments are declared as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and countries are required to revise their NDCs every five years to reduce GHG emissions. The updating of NDCs and their implementation presents countries with significant opportunities to align their climate and development agendas to promote sustainable growth, but also presents challenges in reinventing policies and operations and mobilizing enough investment. The ‘Climate Promise’ initiative of UNDP assists countries undertake an inclusive and transparent process to revise and submit enhanced NDCs by the end of 2020.
Building on UNDP’s extensive climate and sustainable development portfolio and partnerships with other UN and development agencies, public and private sector entities, academia and civil society groups, UNDP Sri Lanka is to assist the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to revise country’s NDC targets. Partnered with the Climate Change Secretariat (CCS) under the purview of the Ministry of Environment and Wildlife Resources (MEWR) in this important country’s first NDC revision, will strengthen the readiness of GoSL and its people for climate change. ownership. This important NDC revision will be led by working groups relevant to the sectorial and/or respective ministries under the guidance of CCS. The revision will be carried out for climate change mitigation and adaptation including loss and damage.
Adverse effects of climate change are becoming more frequent and intense across all countries. Addressing these adverse impacts of climate change by means of adaptation actions are key to moderate, cope or capitalize on experienced or anticipated changes across multiple sectors. However, adaptations are cross-cutting in nature and complex and hence needs more clarity to look for solutions. Effective adaptations require careful planning and pragmatic approaches, supported by policy and investments. The NDC revision is an opportunity to assess the climate vulnerabilities and risks that the country is currently facing and set more ambitious and quantifiable targets to enhance resilience to face challenges.
Given its importance, UNDP Sri Lanka in collaboration with the CCS seek to recruit a Consultant specialized in Climate Change Adaptation Actions to further support the GoSL to technically guide the already established ministerial working groups and other key stakeholders to successfully deliver revised NDC targets under the ‘NDC Review – Climate Promise (NDCR-CP)’ project.
SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES
The revision of NDCs with respect to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation will lead the formulation of enhanced adaptation targets with the broad objective to reiterate the importance of resilience, adaptation capacity and access financing options to reduce impacts of climate change. Advocacy for policy makers to promote NDCs and articulate the benefits of more ambitious NDCs aligned with SDGs is expected by engaging key stakeholders (the public and private sector, civil society, and academia) in regular policy dialogues. Facilitation of enhanced acceptance and ownership is expected to drive NDC revision and mitigation of follow up actions in the country, and the Consultant is expected to facilitate this task.
The Consultant will play a key role by bringing in overall expertise and knowledge in Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) actions to guide working groups to adapt more rational, scientific and systematic approach to review NDCs and quantify targets wherever possible.
The revision will include assessing the costs and opportunities of revised adaptation NDC actions, incorporation of new sector(s), and assistance for developing an NDC monitoring framework. The NDCR-CP will enhance the NDC readiness of the country more by increasing awareness and capacity building of selected stakeholders, and the Consultant is also expected to facilitate these processes as well. Further responsibilities under this consultancy assignment is detailed in Section C (Responsibilities) below of this TOR.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Consultant will report to the Technical Coordinator of NDCR-CP through Director of Climate Change Secretariat and will work closely with the staff of CCS, UNDP project team and other experts recruited by UNDP, while assisting and providing consultancy services to the adaptation sector working groups established for the process of reviewing and upgrading adaptation related NDCs of Sri Lanka. The following activities are requested to be performed by the consultant;
- Participate in high level discussions and dialogues with the policy makers to promote NDC revision process and articulate benefits of more ambitious targets which are aligned with national policies, SDGs and adaptation goals of the Paris Agreement;
- Engage key stakeholders (the public and private sector, civil society, and academia) in regular policy dialogues. This includes consultations with senior government officials, ministry representatives and other stakeholders to agree on the scope of the reviewing process of adaptation NDCs;
- Assist to review and revise adaptation NDCs and set quantifiable targets in Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Water, Irrigation, Health, Biodiversity, Coastal and Marine, Tourism and Recreation, Urban City Planning and Human Settlements sectors;
- Identify Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) activities, programmes, policies and regulations and estimation of vulnerability/risks of the sectors
- Review and revise and set targets for above adaptation sectors
- Identify mitigation potentials of adaptation sectors where sufficient data are available for quantification.
- The selected Consultant together with key policy and decision makers, experts and other groups shall agree on selecting 4 or 5more important sectors out of the above list and pay specific consideration to provide SMART targets. The formulation of enhanced adaptation targets should consider the broad objective to reiterate the importance of resilience, adaptation capacity and access domestic and external financing options to reduce impacts of climate change.
- Assist to identify inter-linkages and co-benefits of new adaptation activities and measures within and between different sectors;
- Work collaboratively with sector experts and climate finance working groups to assess different costs of identified activities, programmes, policies and regulations, and classify them as domestic or externally supported activities and measures;
- Assist the climate finance working group in mapping of adaptation activities under revised NDCs with different donor, investment and financing opportunities;
- Evaluate and conduct a gap analysis of National Adaptation and Readiness Action Plans available and brainstorm with stakeholder groups to find appropriate solutions reflected in the NDC review under the CP project;
- Prepare 10-year implementation and monitoring plan of upgraded adaptation NDCs from 2021-2030;
- Work closely with Mitigation and Loss & Damage, Climate Finance sector experts to identify synergies among revised NDC targets;
- Lead revised sectorial NDC validation process with the assistance of UNDP and CCS.
Development of NDC implementation and monitoring plan
- Review existing sectoral NDC implementation & monitoring plans, and suggest improvements to develop effective monitoring plans.
Communication and capacity building
- Prepare progress reports and briefing notes for National Expert Committee on Climate Change Adaptation (NECCCA), ministries and other actors (international organizations, development and multilateral banks, private sector) summarizing adaptation aspect of NDC review process;
- Contribute to any awareness creating or capacity building activities organized by the CCS on this subject as a key resource person (maximum 3 external events).
Other activities
The Consultant will work with other experts of the project (mitigation, loss and damage, policy, climate financing etc), UNDP and CCS team to complete the following task as well:
- Assist to identify necessary changes and update requirements for national climate change policy of Sri Lanka, and initial requirements for development of an integrated policy framework supporting NDC implementation;
- Assist to develop stakeholder engagement plan and communication plan;
- Assist to develop a marketing strategy for effective NDC implementation.
Expected Output/Deliverables
The main deliverables of this assignment are the adaptation section of NDC reviewed and upgraded document. In addition, the following deliverables are also expected from the consultancy:
- Inception Report comprising the work plan, potential revisions of NDCs with their expertise, proposed methodology/tools/approaches, planned stakeholder consultation mechanism under current COVID -19 situation. This should be submitted within 1 week from signing the Contract.
- Quarterly update reports and briefs indicating the progress, constraints, lessons learnt, agreed way forward of working groups of different sectors and special case studies;
- Draft NDC review report – adaptation chapter for NECCC review.
- Finalized report to be submitted to the CCS and document to be submitted to the UNFCCC, after validation workshop.
- Stakeholder engagement plan and communication plan (joint deliverable).
- NDC implementation and monitoring plan (joint deliverable).
- Recommendation on national climate change policy of Sri Lanka and an integrated policy framework supporting NDCs.
TIMEFRAME
The envisaged time frame of the consultancy is approximately 80 days from May 18, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Competencies
CONSULTANT PROFILE
The prospective candidate should have the following competencies and qualifications:
COMPETENCIES
a. Technical competencies
- Demonstrated experience as a key expert for adaptation sector policy/project/programme developments support;
- Prior engagement or experience in setting (I)NDC targets, National Communications and other UNFCCC related reporting is required;
- Strong understanding about global and national climate change and environmental issues;
- Experience and engagements in related national policies, regulations and institutional backgrounds related to the project operational environment;
- Skills demonstrated in capacity building and mentoring project group;
- Candidate should have a at least of 15 years of professional and managerial experience in key adaptation sectors.
b. Partnerships
- Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior members of national institutions;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with colleagues – especially in this case the national level consultants and officials.
c. Results
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Bulids strong relationships with clients,focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships.
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Postgraduate level education (Master’s Degree) in Science or Engineering in climate change, energy, agriculture, natural resource management, climatology/meteorology, environment, agriculture or related fields.
Experience
- Minimum of 12 years of demonstrated experience and knowledge in the earlier mentioned fields of expertise, experience working on Climate Change Adaptation Actions;
- Demonstrated strategic technical and intellectual skills in the substantive areas;
- Demonstrated leadership, facilitation, coordination skills, ability to mentor technical teams;
- Working experience with international organizations or similar projects/programme design and implementations;
- Excellent communication (both oral and written), synthesis, analysis and trouble-shooting skills;
- Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office).
Languages/ Other
- Excellent English language skills, particularly in the compilation of reports;
HOW TO APPLY
To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org
The application should contain:
- Cover letter (1 page) explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for this Terms of Reference.
- Proposed methodology (1 page) of how to perfomce the given tasks and responsibilities.
- Updated CV to include qualifications/competencies and relevant past experience in similar projects and contact details of 2 professional referees who can certify your competencies, professionalism, quality of writing, presentation and overall suitability to this TOR (max 3 pages).
- Individual candidate will be evaluated based on a combination of factors including cover letter, the credentials on offer and brief interview (optional) and the offer which gives the best value for money for the UNDP. Please submit your cover letter, methodology and CV as a one pdf file.
- Please send the Financial Proposal separately to the following e-mail address: [email protected] stating the vacancy number/position in the subject line. Do not submit your financial proposal with your CV and/or cover letter to http://jobs.undp.org
Evaluation
Applications will be first screened and only candidates meeting the minimum criteria will progress to the pool for short listing. Shortlisted Candidates will be then assessed and scored against the following technical evaluation criteria. An optional interview will be conducted to the shortlisted candidates if required.
1. Technical Criteria weight: [70%]
Educational and professional qualification – 20%
Experience (work, projects and programmes, consultancies etc) – 30 %
Methodology – 10%
Other competencies (management, leadership etc) – 10%
2. Financial Criteria weight: [30%]
Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70%) on the Technical Evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL
All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee: LKR
Or
All Inclusive Daily Fee: LKR
As per the Financial proposal format: https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx&action=default
Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including his/her consultancy and professional fee, travel, honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily premiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.
For an Individual Contractor who is 65 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided. Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts.
PAYMENT FOR SERVICES
Paymnents will be based on milestone certified by the Project Management Unit with the recommendation of the Director of CCS, as the final outputs shall be accepted to the MEWR.
Payment Milestones will be as follows:
The selected Consultant/consultant shall receive payment in six instalments from UNDP as follows:
- 15% upon submission of a brief progress report of the project related activities lead by the Consultant– 30th May 2020
- 20% upon submission of draft outline of the adaptation chapter of NDC review report indicating the depth and scope of different sectors NDC analysis –30th June 2019
- 15% upon submission of a brief progress report of the project related activities lead by the Consultant– 30th Sept 2020
- 25% Adaptation chapter of NDC review document which is approved by NECCA and MEWR – 30th October 2020
- 10% Submission of NDC stakeholder engagement, communication plans, 10-year NDC implementation and monitoring plan (2021-2030), NDC monitoring plan, and recommendation on national climate change policy of Sri Lanka and integrated policy framework – 30th November 2020
- 15% upon submission of Q4 2020 progress report of the project related activities lead by the Consultant and a brief report on future direction for similar task (CP) implementation – 30th December 2020
Note: Final payment will be submitted after the handing over of NDC reporting related analysis including data, calculations and assumptions and literature used to achieve the above purpose.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.
