Firm for enhancing LAPA formulation process through VRA and Adaptation Planners

Organization:

Section I: Introduction and Background

A. About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)

ADPC is an autonomous international organization with a vision to reduce disaster and climate risk impacts on communities and countries in Asia and the Pacific by working with governments, development partners, international organizations, NGOs, civil society, private sector, media, and other key stakeholders. Established in 1986 as a technical capacity building center, ADPC has grown and diversified its expertise across social and physical sciences to support sustainable solutions for risk reduction across a broad range of specialist areas. With over 100 staff from 19 different nationalities and a wide range of professional expertise from atmospheric scientists to social scientists with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner. ADPC is a competent regional resource center and has seven thematic departments: ADPC Academy, Risk Governance, Climate Resilience, Urban Resilience, Health Risk Management, Preparedness for Response and Recovery, Geospatial Information. These are supported by Finance, Human Resources and Administration, and Strategic Planning departments. In addition to the departments, ADPC works on three cross-cutting themes: Gender and Diversity, Poverty and Livelihoods, and Regional and Transboundary Cooperation through permanent working committees.

For details, please refer to ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/.

B. About Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CARE) for South Asia Project

The CARE for South Asia project is a five-year (2020-2025), regional project supported by the World Bank, and implemented by Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan The project objective is to contribute to an enabling environment for climate resilience policies and investments in select sectors and countries in South Asia.

The project is supporting in building resilience to climate change by improving the availability of regional data and knowledge, developing guidelines, tools, and enhancing technical capacities to enable policymakers on evidence-based climate-smart decision making and promoting climate-resilient, policies, standards, and capacities for climate-resilient development and investments across key sectors. Key stakeholders include governments and technical agencies at the regional and national levels.

CARE for South Asia project will support the operationalization of Nepal’s Climate Change Policy of 2019 (NCCP), the Second Nationally Determined Contributions of 2020, (NDC), and The Fifteenth Plan for Fiscal Year 2019/2020 – 2023/2024 (15th FYP) for enhancing the country’s climate resilience. Climate change is currently treated as a cross-cutting development issue that recognizes the need to mainstream climate finance into public finance management systems in the country as a means to invest and implement public sector climate change programs.

The project will develop a National Action Plan for Climate and Disaster Risk Informed Investments, supplemented with an appraisal and approval framework and design of climate-related fiscal-risk mitigation measures. Through the 2019 LAPA Framework, the project will formulate LAPAs in one pilot province and develop an implementation plan on how to roll out the CCFF at the provincial level.

The project will adapt MoFE’s climate change budgeting and planning guidelines for priority sectors and conduct a series of trainings which will result in increased understanding on climate-resilience and adaptive policy making, design and solutions. Similarly, technical assistance in the accreditation process for national and sub-national entities will be provided for the country to gain access to international climate finance such as the Green Climate Fund. Capacity development activities will also target local governments on their climate change adaptation, expenditures, budgeting and resilience building.

Further outcomes and achievements expected in the country includes the adoption of technology solutions to climate change; creation of climate smart institutions, governance, and finance systems; and a mechanism established to support national-level centers of excellence and universities for a long-term and scaled-up technical collaboration.

For details, please refer to https://www.careforsouthasia.info/the-project/summary/

C. Background

Following a robust federalization process, the country updated its National Framework on Local Adaptation Plans for Action in 2019 (LAPA Framework) under the mandate of the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE), which aims to identify the adaptation needs and develop a strategy at the local level. This framework guides the local government to identify and mainstream climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management into the local level development and how the Palika can mobilize and manage resources. The framework also mentioned the level of intervention from federal, provincial, and local governments while implementing the framework, and details the concept of implementation at the municipal, community, and household levels.

The National 15th five-year plan (2018/19-2023/24 FY) has recognized LAPA as one of the essential tools to integrate climate change into the planning process at the local level and set a target to prepare 460 LAPAs by 2023/24 Fiscal Year. Similarly, the NDC has set a target to prepare a climate-resilient and gender-responsive plan in all the 753 local levels by 2030. Likewise, Nepal's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) baseline report has set a target of training 3000 people on climate change as local planners by 2030 under SDG target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.

The CARE Strategy for LAPA intends to establish a national system of developing Adaptation Planners, which will help break the informal system of developing LAPA which currently utilizes Federal-level technical human resources and ensuring sustainability. The project plans to establish a pool of Adaptation Planners formulate LAPAs in Sudurpashchim Province and upscale this in Bagmati and Madhesh Provinces. The project is also planning to produce training manuals and provide training sessions for federal, provincial, and local level policymakers, experts, and community-based organizations using the Framework developed by MoFE. The CARE Strategy for LAPA, is a live document that is being developed in collaboration with MoFE to enhance the current Framework, and subsequently enhancing the capacities at the national and sub-national levels to support the country in meeting its targets indicated in the FYPs, NDCs and SDGs.

Based on the previous LAPA Framework (2011), it is estimated that more than 700 LAPAs (Village Development Committee and Municipality was considered a single unit in pre-Federalization) were prepared by various projects such as the Nepal Climate Change Support Programme Phase I (NCCSP Phase I), Adaptation of Small Holders in Hilly Areas (ASHA) project, Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Project and Hariyo Ban Programme.

Based on the revised LAPA framework 2019, currently, 13 LAPAs have been developed in 2021, and preparation of 15 LAPAs are in progress for 2022 from the NCCSP Phase II.

In order to achieve the country’s priorities on LAPA, the CARE for South Asia Project intends to support the Government of Nepal in developing training manuals for formulating LAPA, providing training to the adaptation planners, and producing certified adaptation planners at federal, province, and Palika levels (covering both rural and urban municipalities) in Sudurpashim Province, with potential replication in Bagmati and Madhesh Provinces.

MoFE is the focal ministry at the federal level to coordinate while working on developing modules, producing adaptation planners, and preparing LAPAs. MoFE will establish coordination with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA), a mandated institution reaching down to the Palikas, to ensure effective execution of the activities. At the provincial level, the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment (MoITFE) is the focal ministry to coordinate while working at the provincial level. The role of the ministries at the federal and provincial levels is to facilitate the implementation of the activities. The implementing area of this intervention is the Palikas of Sudurpashchim Province, so that their engagement in all of the execution is imperative.

Section II. Objective and Scope of the Services:

A. Objective:

The objective of the consultancy service is to develop and train adaptation planners and carry out Vulnerability and Risk Assessment in selected Palikas in Sudurpashchim Province with oversight support from ADPC and MoFE.

B. Scope of Work:

The national firm/NGO or a consortium (consultant) is expected to provide the following services:

Conduct an inception consultation meeting with the CARE for South Asia’s Policy, Planning and Finance (PPF) Sector team in Nepal and the Sectoral Focal Point from MoFE, and representatives from MoFAGA, MoITFE and municipalities to understand the key activities, data requirements, deliverables and timeline.
Preparation and presentation the methodology, detailed work plan, deliverables plan to the CARE for South Asia Country Project Team, MoFE and MoFAGA
Review LAPA framework 2019, Step-by-Step Guideline which is under the endorsement process by the MoFE and concepts for developing LAPA prepared by CARE project. Based on these documents, draft a framework for the three modules to be prepared.
Develop modules for adaptation planners using the following process:
1. Prepare a conceptual guidance note on adaptation planners
2. Develop Modules for formulating LAPAs based on the LAPA step-by-step guidelines developed by MoFE using CARE Strategy for Developing LAPA
  1. General module
  2. Standard module
  3. Sector-specific module
3. Conduct 1 national-level stakeholder consultation workshop to receive feedback and validation on the LAPA modules
Selection and delivery of tranings for Adaptation Planners
1. Select Adaptation Planners at Federal, Provincial and Palika levels with support and facilitation from CARE for South Asia’s Policy, Planning and Finance (PPF) Sector team in Nepal
2. Deliver a day-long orientation at the federal and provincial levels for the policy makers only based on the general modules
3. Deliver the trainings for adaptation planners at federal, provincial and local level on the modules for the selected adaptation planners based on the standard and subject specific modules.
4. Produce a roster of trained Adaptation Planners at Federal, Provincial and Palika levels.
5. Work along side CARE for South Asia’s Policy, Planning and Finance (PPF) Sector team in Nepal to establish a partnership with Forest and Research Training Centre (FRTC) at Federal and Provincial levels to provide a certificate to the trainees as Adaptation Planners.
Vulnerability and Risk Assessment of Selected Palikas
1. Review VRA Methodology for LAPA developed by CARE for South Asia Project team
2. Work alongside CARE for South Asia Project team to implement the methodology of vulnerability and risk assessment in the selected Rural/Municipalities of Sudurpashchim Province.
3. Develop Indicators following VRA Methodological Approach using the following process:
  1. Identify and map stakeholders in consultation with the selected palika
  2. Prepare a stakeholder engagement plan to engage local stakeholders to assess vulnerabilities and risks and to identify adaption plans and programs.
  3. Identify marginalized groups, communities, settlements and regions in consultation with the selected palika.
  4. Identify, define and select municipal level indictors (sectoral) and community level indicators for climate hazards, sensitivity and adaptive capacity in consultations with CARE for South Asia Project, palika and relevant local stakeholders.
  5. Conduct stakeholder consultation to discuss on the indicators developed for VRA.
  6. Finalize and get endorsement of both the municipal and community level indicators from the palika.
4. Data Collection, Modelling and Analysis
  1. Collect/develop data for representing the municipal level indicators from available secondary data, development of spatial data especially related to biological and physical indicators using available earth observations data, field measurements and secondary data.
  2. Collect data for representing the community level indicators through Participatory rural appraisals (FGDs, KIIs etc.), household survey (sample) for required indictors.
  3. Model and estimate values for relevant indicators using statistical and numerical methods when direct measurement or estimations are not possible (for example for forest biomass, surface run-off or ground water, population estimation etc.)
1. Climate Extremes and Climate Induced Hazard Assessment
  1. Identify and assess climate extremes such as extreme temperature, extreme precipitation, consecutive hot/cold days, consecutive dry/wet days, droughts, heat/cold waves) using available climate models and projections, including data collected from community level assessments.
  2. Analyze precipitation and temperature trends for baseline period and future time horizons[1] using available ensemble models for RCP4.5 and RCP 8.5. Model and map precipitation and temperature hotspots for future scenarios of 2030, 2050, 2080.
  3. Analyze and assess climate hazards such as droughts, heat/cold wave[2].
  4. Identify and assess climate induced hazards such as flood, flashflood, rainfall triggered landslides, GLOF, forest fires etc. in consultation with communities and stakeholders in the municipality, available hazard related data and models. This shall include assessment of the extent and scale of the hazards, exposed population and systems of concern in the municipalities.
2. Prepare VRA reports
  1. Assess the hazard exposure, adaptive capacity and sensitivity indicators using normalization, weighted evaluations to develop composite indicator of vulnerability.
  2. Undertake future climate change impacts and risk assessment to identify the most vulnerable wards and communities in the municipality. Based on this assessment, prepare municipal climate change vulnerability and risk profile identifying the vulnerable wards and communities.
  3. Identify drivers of vulnerability and risk based on the vulnerability-risk assessment.
  4. Prepare VRA reports of select palikas
  5. Conduct VRA report dissemination workshops in selected palikas
  6. Identify adaptation options in a participatory and inclusive manner to address the drivers of vulnerability and prioritize the adaptation actions to reflect in the LAPAs in selected Palikas

[1] CARE-SA project has developed baseline (1976-2005) and future projections (2030, 2050, 2080) at the downscaled resolution of 1km appropriate for the municipal level. NAP has adopted 1971-2015 as the baseline period and has projected for 2030 and 2050 time horizons.

[2] CARE-SA project has developed future models for cold wave and drought at the downscale resolution of 1km appropriate for the municipal level.

Section III. Deliverables

The national NGO/consulting firm will be required to submit the deliverables as a result of the implementation of activities.

Section IV. Selection, and Others

A. Selection Criteria:

Successful EOI:

The Firm is expected to be a duly registered National NGO/Consulting Firm (or a joint venture/consortium) with the appropriate capabilities and relevant experience to execute the services to prepare training modules, deliver trainings to a larger group at federal, provincial and local level in the last five (5) years
The Firm is also expected to have capabilities and relevant experiences to formulate LAPAs and provide wide range of trainings to the multi-stakeholders at Sudurpashchim Province, Bagmati province and Province 2 in the last five (5) years
The Firm is expected to have a thorough understanding of the NCCP, NAPA, NAP, LAPA framework, NDCs, federal/provincial/local government plans and targets on climate change.
Firms with proven experience of working with federal and provincial government agencies, and international development partners will be given preference.
This assignment requires a national firm with internal experts undertake Vulnerability and Risk Assessment at Palika level, formulate LAPAs and provide trainings on the modules developed.
The Firm should have following essential technical expertise/human resources to complete activities and tasks and deliver quality outputs on time:

Full-time (100% - 75% inputs)

LAPA Team Leader/Climate Change Expert

Masters in Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Forestry, Hydrology and Meteorology and relevant subjects with 10 years of relevant experience. LAPA Team Leader should have experience in climate change adaptation planning, vulnerability and risk assessment, disaster management, climate change policy review, climate finance and natural resources management. The Team Leader should have project management capability, including managing teams of national experts, resource mobilization, capacity building of the government and external experts. He/she should have experience working with government. He/she should have excellent communication skills, presentation skills and ability to prepare/manage preparation of high-quality reports, project documentation, and communications materials, as well as experience in working with projects funded by international donors (i.e. World Bank, ADB).

Desired years of experience: At least 10 Years

GIS and database expert

Masters in GIS Remote Sensing, hydrology, environmental science, forestry and other similar subjects with 5 years of relevant experience in working on GIS and hazard mapping, vulnerability and risk assessment, scenario development, developing tools for risk assessments, and disaster management,. The expert must have working experience in interfacing with tools for hydraulic and hydrological modeling, climate change tools, and working with temporal databases and time series information.