Climate change adaptation consultant

Background

Climate change threatens the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals. African countries contribute only about 3.8% of total greenhouse gas emissions, but are disproportionately affected by the  impacts of climate change.

Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa – up to 90% of which is rain-fed – accounts for 70% of the region’s employment and 35% of its gross national product. With the agricultural sector playing a critical role in economic development in Africa, changing climatic conditions affects food production, health and water resources in many countries. Current models of climate change suggest that crop yields could fall by up to 20%. Water shortages are projected to worsen, with  as much as 10% less rainfall predicted in interior regions. Higher temperatures will increase water loss due to higher evaporation rates. As much as up to 40% of all development assistance and public expenditures could be lost due to climate change.

In April 2008, African Ministers of Finance committed to “effectively integrate and implement climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies into national and regional development frameworks”. Most African governments are yet to develop adaptive policies to: i) protect climate-sensitive public goods, such as water supply and coastal protection; ii) adjust  fiscal and regulatory policy to create private sector incentives for adaptation; and iii) establish performance standards and codes so that private and public investments of long-lived capital and infrastructure  remain robust under future climate.

In 2009 UNDP launched a US$ 92.1 million Climate Change Adaptation Programme for the African continent, titled “Supporting Integrated and Comprehensive Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation in Africa” (hereafter called the Programme). Under this programme supported by the Government of Japan, UNDP will assist 20 countries across the African continent in incorporating climate change risks and opportunities into national development processes to secure development gains under changing climate.

The programme aims to achieve the following key outcomes:

• Countries have introduced dynamic, long-term planning mechanisms to cope with the inherent uncertainties of climate change;
• Countries have built leadership and developed institutional frameworks to manage climate change risks and opportunities in an integrated manner at the local and national levels;
• Countries are implementing climate-resilient policies and measures in priority sectors;
• Financing options to meet national adaptation costs have been expanded at the local, national, sub-regional and regional levels;
• Knowledge on adjusting national development processes to fully incorporate climate change risks and opportunities is being generated and shared across all levels.

Access to climate scenarios, historical climate data and information on climate change impacts is a major asset to aid in adaptation decision-making processes. Climate data and information is important for studying climate risks and vulnerabilities to help guide the development of adaptation strategies that can be integrated into national development plans.  Due to constraints in many countries, climate information is limited or inaccessible. Further, countries lack the expertise in the application of climate data to decision-making (Vandeweerd, 2011).

A key activity of the Inter-Regional Technical Support Component (IRTSC), through its Data and Information Management Component (DIMC), is to facilitate access to the best available data and information on climate variability and impacts to support dynamic, long-term national planning and decision-making mechanisms. This is being achieved  through the provision of technical assistance to countries in establishing the relevant mechanisms and infrastructure for accessing, collecting and analysing best available data on climate change and its impacts as well as using decision support tools for adaptation planning.  The DIMC is responsible for leading strategic thinking on climate change impacts, data collection, analysis and application, and providing strategic guidance to participating countries. 

These are to be realised through the following key  responsibilities: (1) Strategic Guidance; (2) Development and Application of Tools; (3) Technical Support to Participating Countries; and (4) Knowledge Management. 
To this end we require a consultant with experience in the fields of climate change science, adaptation and project management to assist the Change Impact, Data Collection and Analysis Expert on activities relating to the DIMC. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

The consultant is responsible for providing technical and managerial support to the Climate Change Impact, Data Collection and Analysis Expert.

Organisational Context

The consultant will report primarily to the Climate Change Impact, Data Collection and Analysis Expert. S/he will coordinate closely with the other project staff of the IRTSC.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Under the overall supervision of the Climate Change Impact, Data Collection and in close collaboration with the Programme Manager, the consultant will undertake the following major responsibilities:

1. Strategic Guidance & Networking
• Assist the Climate Change Impact, Data Collection  and Analysis Expert in strategic thinking on climate change impact, data collection and analysis, including the application of climate information in decision making processes and procedures. 
• Assist with the establishment of strategic partnerships with centres of excellence at the national, regional and global levels for climate change information. 
• Identify and make accessible to countries the best available climate data and best practices by providing linkages to current and reliable data and information sources.
• Facilitate partnerships/collaborations with key strategic partners including African and global centres of excellence and other UN agencies including the UNDP cross-practice group.

2. Development and Application of Tools. 
• Assist with the development of tools and methodologies, as needed, to support the application of climate change information, in partnership with centres of excellence. 

3. Technical Support to Participating Countries 
• Provide technical support to countries on the accessing of climate change data, including historical data and climate change modelling at the global, regional, national, and sub-national levels. 
• Provide substantive support to analyzing climate change data for target sectors/systems/locations. 
• Provide technical guidance on the development of TORs for tasks related to climate change impact, data collection and analysis, wherever requested. 
• Assist country programmes with the preparation of country reports and related documentation.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technical support including trainings, development of AAP related maps and GIS visualisation of climate data.

4. Knowledge Management
• Keep abreast of cutting-edge studies on climate change impact, and provide participating countries with access to methodologies and tools relevant to the Programme. Coordinate closely with other relevant initiatives such as the National Communications Support Programme (NCSP). 
• Contribute to global learning by documenting and disseminating lessons learned through online platforms on climate change impact, data collection and analysis. 
• Assist the DIMC team with the development of knowledge products on the science of climate change for policy and decision makers, general public and the  media as well as to enable countries to share best practices and challenges.
• Assist with the development of knowledge products to enable countries acquire basic knowledge in building, using and managing e-infrastructure for climate change studies

5. Project Management
• Assist the DIMC expert with project management duties and general administration to ensure smooth
project management and implementation of activities relating to the DIMC.

Outputs

Depending on the specific needs raised by AAP countries, DIMC Expert and Programme manager, to prepare and deliver materials including, but not limited to, the following:

• Concept Notes on activities relating to DIMC activities;
• DIMC progress reports;
• Draft contracts;
• Facilitate partnerships and collaborations;
• Workshop Preparations;
• Technical facilitation during workshops;
• GIS Maps/Shape files relating to AAP activities as required.
• Technical products and services on DIMC activities as required.

Required Selection Criteria

Competencies

• Experience of the AAP programme and the DIMC desirable.
• Demonstrated ability and experience to take initiative and work in an independent manner.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; commitment to team work and working across disciplines.
• Strong networking skills.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills, with experience in consultation processes and presentation of knowledge products.
• Knowledge of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (ArcGIS, Idrisi, QGIS).

Education/Experience/Language

• Master’s degree in Geography, climate change, Atmospheric science or climate change related field or a base degree in Geography, climate change, Atmospheric science or climate change related field with 2 - 4 years relevant experience. Additional years of relevant work experience preferably in combination with a bachelor’s degree, may substitute for the requirement for a master’s degree.
• Understanding of core concepts and practices in climate science and modelling, climate change, mitigation/adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
• Experience working in Africa desirable.
• Experience working with academia, government, development and the UN system. Knowledge of UNDP and UNOPS systems desirable.
• Fluency in English required. French language skills an asset.
• Knowledge and experience in capacity development,  climate change science and knowledge
• Excellent writing, and communication skills - verbal and written; as well as facilitation skills
• Proven ability to work flexibly and independently with limited supervision in a multi-disciplinary and multicultural environment; deliver quality results against tight deadlines; multi-task in an organization transcending national boundaries and multi-time zones.