International project development specialist

Objectives

The objective of the assignment is to develop UNDP-GEF compliant, full-sized project document on “Integrating Community-based Adaptation into Afforestation and Reforestation Programmes in Bangladesh “for submission to the LDCF and then validating the project document at a workshop involving the key stakeholders.

Background

Integrating Community-based Adaptation into Afforestation and Reforestation Programmes in Bangladesh Project is the Initiation Plan for GEF Project Preparation Grant (PPG). The aim of the PPG is to develop a full size Project Document. The document will include the following details:

• Description of development baseline activities and related sources of financing, in particular a summary of relevant development and disaster management projects, investment programmes and capacity building activities that focus on disaster risk reduction, forestry management and livelihood support activities in Bangladesh's coastal areas;
• Review and summary of the existing policy and regulatory framework relevant for community-based disaster risk reduction, with particular emphasis on current climate-related impacts and threats;
• Review, analysis and summary of current and past project activities by government, donors, NGOs and private sector institutions that are related to increasing community resilience (including an updated report on co-operation and co-financing arrangements drawing on UNDP support).
• Special emphasis will be placed on the baseline analysis - both in terms of geographical and investment focus - of ongoing and planned government-owned afforestation and reforestation programmes (such as the project 'Poverty Alleviation through Social Forestry'), the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF), the Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience (SPCR) and the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP)
• A collation and synthesis of supporting reports (climate risk assessments, economic assessments of climate change impacts and cost/benefit studies of adaptation options) to justify the proposed project interventions and leverage financing for the proposed activities (this may include a research gap analysis, pre-feasibility studies for demonstration measures, etc.)
• Specification of planned adaptation activities to be financed by the LDCF and their rationale (i.e. why and how are they supposed to reduce vulnerability and/or increase adaptive capacity beyond what is already being done);
• Description of the geographic breakdown of project interventions in terms of districts, unions, upazilas and communities;
• Definition of project goal, objective, outcomes, outputs and verifiable indicators;
• Definition of a Strategic Results Framework and a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system with quantifiable and verifiable impact indicators. These indicators, which will specifically address adaptation impacts, will be based on guidance by UNDP’s M&E framework for adaptation projects. The indicators will be connected to a monitoring and evaluation plan, which will set out how and by whom these indicators will be measured and which way verification data will be collected by the project.
• Definition of implementation and execution arrangements for the project with detailed roles, responsibilities and a timeline for project implementation;
• Definition of a Stakeholder involvement plan for the preparation and implementation phase of the project, with a clear focus on community involvement and participation;
• Definition of Project Management and Reporting arrangements.
• Endorsement letters from the government and letters confirming co-financing commitments;
• A detailed set of Annexes including a listing of PPG activities and reports from all project relevant stakeholder consultations

Scope of work and expected outputs / deliverables

• Full Size Project Document with following outputs Technical Definition and Capacity Needs Assessment Project baseline defined Current and projected climate change risks in project area defined Specific sites for project intervention defined, with special emphasis on complementarity and additionally with government afforestation projects, BCCRF, SPCR and CDMP Adaptation alternative assessed and summarized for each project Outcome Project integrated with national climate change strategy, NAPA follow-up strategy and disaster risk reduction frameworks Project aligned with complementary LDCF project Project systematically coordinated with BCCRF, SPCR and CDMP to achieve complementarity and avoid duplication
• Institutional arrangements, Monitoring and Evaluation Strategic Results Framework including verifiable results indicators formulated Monitoring and evaluation provisions and reporting arrangements formulated Project implementation and execution arrangements, roles and responsibilities defined (ensuring complementarity with government baseline projects, BCCRF, SPCR and CDMP) Project sustainability strategy defined (including plans for project replication, upscaling and knowledge management)
• Stakeholder Consultations Project stakeholders mobilized and engaged in project definition, with special emphasis on government afforestation projects, BCCRF, SPCR and CDMP Project partnerships and stakeholder setup defined, with special emphasis on complementarity with government-owned afforestation programmes, BCCRF, SPCR and CDMP Community Mobilization initiated in project areas
• Financial planning and co-financing definition Government negotiations and consultations on project-related issues facilitated Multilateral and bilateral co-funding opportunities explored Project budget defined Duplication of LDCF investments with other projects (including BCCRF, SPCR, CDMP) prevented Official endorsement and co-financing letters prepared

Competencies

• Extensive experience in problem analysis, programme appraisal, M&E systems and logical framework development;
• Working experience in cross cultural team environment with international organizations
• Excellent writing skills in English with strong interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work in a multicultural setting

Required skills and experience

Academic qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s Degree in either Natural Science or Social Science or equivalent in environment management, forestry, climatology and land management, sustainable development, or related field.

Years of experience

• At least 10 years of adaptation to climate change, environment management and sustainable development or related field at the national or international level, in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments 
• Working Experiences in developing countries