Elaboration of the Caribbean Small Islands Developing States SIDS (II) Programme and associated resource mobilization requirements

Result of Service 1) Specific country-based situation analyses and baselines in terms of strategic policy orientation; status of budget and/or programme resources; capacity needs (infrastructure, IT, legal, institutional); stakeholder engagement, partnership practices; public awareness, education campaigns:

Product No. 1: Caribbean SIDS assessment report describing country-based situation, country priorities and a matrix of baseline information. This assessment report will provide in-depth analysis of the significant body of existing work available in Caribbean SIDS for the 3 main thematic pillars discussed and agreed by the task force of the WG (i.e. climate change, pollution and biodiversity). The report should provide a fresh perspective on countries’ SDG-oriented economic, social and environmental development and the baseline for elaborating the SIDS II programme.

2) Based on country priorities, the outputs would comprise national/regional investment plans, or a series of national resource mobilization/investment strategies aligned to donor priorities or specific project proposals:

Product No. 2: SIDS II Programme comprising proposals and resource mobilization/investment strategies. The Programme will include matrix/matrices and project proposals with clear objectives and component activities linked to a theory of change, results chain and key performance indicators (outcome, output levels), and implementation schedule.

Work Location Home base

Expected duration Six (6) months

Duties and Responsibilities BACKGROUND

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO) located in Panama City, Panama works closely with the 33 countries of the region, and its activities are integrated into the UNEP Medium-Term Strategy, MTS (2022-2025) and Programmes of Work (current 2022-2023), approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

The UNEP Caribbean Sub-Regional Office (CSRO) based in Kingston, Jamaica, is the LAC Office’s liaison to governments and stakeholders in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, with its six (6) UN Country Teams (UNCTs) and/or multi-country offices (MCOs) that manage the implementation of Country Implementation Plans (CIPs) – also known as joint work programmes – under the regional Multi-country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF), 2022-2026. The MSDCF is the UN system’s 5-year cooperation agreement with the Caribbean Governments. The CIPs are the action, accountability and funding frameworks developed for each UNCT/MCO, with a portfolio of UN agency project activities aligned to the 4 strategic priorities and 8 Outcome areas of the MSDCF. The UNCTs and Caribbean governments periodically make requests of UNEP/CSRO for semi- and annual results reports (including expenditures) on the UNEP project portfolio.

This engagement is directly tied to the CSRO’s mandate to support the Caribbean small islands developing states – SIDS – and the open-ended LAC Regional Forum working group (OEWG), established to implement “Decision 8 - Environmental Dimension of the Sustainable Development of SIDS” (XXII Forum) – a Caribbean SIDS Programme that aligns with the SIDS Mauritius Strategy (2010) and the SAMOA Pathway (2014), adopted by Caribbean countries. The LAC Regional Forum is managed by UNEP’s LAC Office.

Caribbean SIDS: Caribbean SIDS include the English, French, Dutch and Spanish-speaking countries, which account for twenty-two independent states, constituent countries and overseas territories, and which collectively have a population of approximately eight million distributed across 437,000 square kilometers. Diversity exists across ethnicities, languages, cultures, government and political traditions, economic and social development, as well as UN membership status.

The UN recognizes sixteen independent Caribbean SIDS countries and twelve of which are English speaking, two Spanish speaking (Dominican Republic & Cuba), one Dutch speaking (Suriname) and one French speaking (Haiti). Other overseas territories (Dutch, English, French) have similar physical island characteristics and vulnerabilities but are politically dependent territories, departments or commonwealth members of first world colonizing countries. Generally, all SIDS bear the hallmarks of limitations due to relatively small sizes of territories, economies and markets that are highly vulnerable to climate change effects (weather patterns, storms) and external economic shocks. These challenges are nested within the three dimensions of sustainable development – environmental, social and economic.

Climate change impacts on Caribbean SIDS have included extensive coral bleaching events, sargassum seaweed inundation along beaches, increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather and storms, among other local weather-related phenomena (intense or changing rainfall patterns, floods, drought, algal blooms etc.). Warmer climates have also exposed low-lying countries and coastal areas (e.g. the Bahamas, Guyana, Suriname) to sea level rise, with periodic flooding of cities, farms, infrastructure and households. Significant budget resources are diverted to recovery and rehabilitation efforts following natural disasters and external shocks (e.g. financial, COVID crises), costly clean-up activities, social protection systems to rescue the poor and vulnerable, as well as climate adaptation programmes to rebuild or fortify vulnerable infrastructure systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 intensified Caribbean SIDS’ pre-existing systemic inequalities, patterns of exclusion and low living standards, and severely affected the poor and vulnerable. Many jobs and work opportunities vanished overnight, particularly in the hospitality, tourism and services sectors, which were heavily impacted. SIDS’ responses to the pandemic involved diverting significant public resources towards social protection measures that has led to deteriorating fiscal balances and larger debt obligations.

Many problems faced by SIDS are also related to an inherent lack of economies of scale and slow efforts at achieving integration through, for example, the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), a 1989 decision of CARICOM member states. The CSME was CARICOM’s response to the challenges of globalization to small states by deepening the integration movement. However, by 2006, only six of CARICOM’s fourteen member states achieved market integration and monetary union – the member states of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Regional Forum of LAC Environment Ministers: UNEP’s Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) Office is the Secretariat for the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (Forum), established in 1982 as a platform for LAC Member States to contribute regional perspectives to UNEA. UNEP and the LAC Forum have consistently given support to Caribbean SIDS as articulated by “Decision 4” of the Forum’s XIV Meeting on “Sustainable Development of SIDS” and “Decision 5” of the XIX Meeting.

The XXII (virtual) Meeting of the Forum conducted from 23-24 February 2021 under the Presidency of the Government of Barbados, formally adopted “Decision 8: Environmental Dimension of The Sustainable Development of SIDS”, along with the Bridgetown Declaration and the COVID-19 Communiqué. Decision 8 mandated the formulation of a Caribbean SIDS Programme II to enhance implementation of the Environmental Dimension of the Sustainable Development Agenda in Caribbean SIDS, including a specific focus on COVID-19 recovery and response in areas such as tourism, sustainable consumption and production and food security through the sustainable use of land and marine resources. Decision 8 references the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), various SIDS instruments and processes, such as the Mauritius Strategy and the SAMOA Pathway, negotiated at the international level and which have been adopted by Caribbean countries. It prioritizes UNEP’s technical assistance to Caribbean SIDS and implementation of all related Decisions of the LAC Forum.

LAC Forum’s SIDS Working Group: The XXII Meeting of the LAC Forum also established an open-ended Working Group (OEWG) to support and guide the development of the Caribbean SIDS Programme pursuant to Decision 8. To that end, a series of meetings of the WG was facilitated by UNEP’s Caribbean Sub-Regional Office (CSRO):

• A first virtual meeting held 1st December 2021 (chaired by Barbados);
• A second virtual meeting on September 14th 2022 (chaired by Trinidad & Tobago);
• A third, in-person meeting of a task force of the WG chaired by the Government of Trinidad & Tobago, 5-6th October 2022 in Port-of-Spain.

The WG Task Force meeting deliberated on specific planning details of a proposed SIDS Programme framework presented by UNEP. Key outcomes of the Task Force meeting were described in the Meeting Report, which was adopted by the full OEWG on 1st December 2022. Countries also expressed an expectation for a consultancy managed by UNEP that will elaborate the SIDS II programme based on a further assessment of needs, along with a resource mobilization plan.

The consultant will be supervised by the Head, UNEP Caribbean Sub-Regional Office and will work from home.

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

Objectives:

Based on the foregoing, a consultant is being sought to elaborate the SIDS II Programme proposal, according to the UNEP’s programme development process and taking account of the UNEP Delivery Model requirement. The ultimate objective is to develop programme component activities (regionally and/or nationally), with needed resource or investment plans, as described further below.

a) Duties and Responsibilities:

The consultant will be responsible for reviewing, compiling and analyzing all relevant research studies, meeting reports, and/or decisions relevant to Caribbean SIDS - particularly the LAC Forum Decisions - as context for elaborating the SIDS II Programme. The various aspects and work of the Forum e.g. inclusive themes on gender equality; Regional policy frameworks - Revised Basseterre Treaty, CARICOM policies; emerging issues surrounding ocean and fisheries, plastics/MEAs affecting the Caribbean region; and M&E framework - must all be considered and analyzed.

The incumbent will consult and communicate with SIDS member states and across a broad spectrum of decision- and policymakers, civil society, the private sector, country donors and development partners on the SIDS II programme. The objective of the consultations is to establish national contexts and situations, assess the status and/or progress of activities already underway, develop feasible project concepts and proposals, and achieve national consensus on specific SIDS II Programme priorities. The overarching objective is to help countries achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Travel may be required, at the expense of the LAC Office.

b) Work Assignment and Outputs:

1) Caribbean SIDS desktop review and assessment based on country consultations: Purpose: The review and assessment exercise provides in-depth analyses of the significant body of existing work available in Caribbean SIDS for the 3 main thematic pillars discussed and agreed by the task force of the OEWG (i.e. climate change, pollution and biodiversity).

Activities: The consultant will carry out the following activities as indicated below, which is not intended to be exhaustive:

• Conduct Caribbean country reviews and provide a fresh perspective on countries’ integrated (economic, social and environment) development from the perspective of the SIDS SAMOA and SDG agenda and in the context of UNEP strategic priorities. Countries might be at different levels of advancement on the integrated agenda and this needs to be fully understood and categorized based on their readiness to implement.
• Engage and consult with key public officials, policy-makers, private sector associations, groups and/or companies, and capable civil society/non-profit groups. Particularly for the last 2 groups, the Consultant will identify those that are actively participating in, contributing to, and/or are already good partners to governments in sustainable development, e.g. championing national dialogues, involving vulnerable groups, implementing or investing in national programmes, targeting SDGs and the Paris Agreement etc. The engagement is intended to ensure a country-driven exercise with stakeholders, build trust and encourage integrated and systems-level thinking and solutions. Engagement should also lay important foundations for programme elaboration, partnership, identify investment opportunities and capacity needs in the short-, medium- and long term.
• Analyse country institutional capacity for managing the environmental dimensions of the 2030 SDG agenda, considering the readiness of national policy, supportive regulatory or incentive schemes, advisory services etc.
• Develop country baselines on the basis of the reviews, which will facilitate situation reports. OECS countries can be considered and/or described as a bloc, if appropriate.

Output: Specific country-based situation analyses and baselines in terms of strategic policy orientation; status of budget and/or programme resources; capacity needs (infrastructure, IT, legal, institutional); stakeholder engagement, partnership practices; public awareness, education campaigns.

2) SIDS II Programme Components: Purpose: The SIDS II Programme must demonstrate in clear, measurable and traceable terms, the component activities to be implemented; the likely partners involved - including their roles and responsibilities; the resources and/or investment needed/to be contributed, which should all ideally be linked to the expected outputs and results chain.

Activities: Development of the SIDS II Programme must take account of the new UNEP Delivery Model requirements, developed in consultation with UNEP’s divisional and regional offices and linked to national level initiatives that align with existing priorities and commitments. The Consultant will, inter alia: - Engage relevant UNEP divisional, regional office &/or Convention secretariat staff on current and future programming opportunities in Caribbean SIDS, and in line with UNEP’s MTS. The Consultant should also engage UNEP focal points for the relevant and targeted UNCTs on integrating SIDS II programming priorities into UNCT Country Implementation Plans (CIPs), which are the de facto cooperation, funding and accountability frameworks between the UN system and Caribbean governments. - Develop the SIDS II Programme matrix and component activities linked to a clear theory of change, results chain and key performance indicators (outcome, output levels), with activity cost estimates and implementation schedule. - Develop a resource mobilization &/or investment programme for the SIDS II Programme component activities (which could also be a regional resource mobilization strategy, if feasible) to help countries better identify and access the available resources and financing necessary for implementation. The objective is to develop a realistic, and well thought through resource or investment programme that is based on needs and aligned with donor practices and priorities. The Consultant will also consider opportunities for pursuing a range of financing options e.g. grant funds, incentivizing domestic and/or international private investment e.g. green or sustainable bonds, private sector debt and equity, venture capital financing, microfinance, bank credit facilities, loan financing (ODA, multilateral), where feasible. The LAC Regional Forum Inter-agency Technical Committee (ITC) has a mandate to support implementation and should be the first stop in building out the resource mobilization programme. The investment programme should cover public or private financing needs e.g. for technology, infrastructure, legislation, IT, baseline data, monitoring/evaluation etc., and provide clear and realistic schedules and options based on country readiness and absorptive capacity.

Outputs: Based on country priorities, the outputs could comprise national/regional investment plans, or a series of national resource mobilization/investment strategies aligned to donor priorities or specific project proposals.

Qualifications/special skills ACADEMIC:

A Bachelor’s degree in sustainable development or economics, finance or business, or related field is required.

A Master’s degree in sustainable development or economics, finance or business or related field, is required.

PROFESSIONAL:

A minimum of seven (07) years of progressively responsible work experience in country programming, or project planning/evaluation throughout the project life cycle, or portfolio analysis, is required.

Experience designing or implementing technical assistance programmes/projects that utilize principles, standard, best practices and/or technology solutions, is preferred.

Experience working in Latin America or Caribbean contexts is desired, with demonstrated knowledge of key challenges and realities of countries.

Additional experience working in international contexts, with participatory processes or with stakeholder engagement strategies, mobilizing resources and/or financing for sustainable development/SDGs, will be a definite asset.

Previous work experience in the UN system is an advantage.

Research/writing skills are desirable, with ability to conduct, explain and describe complex analyses and solutions.

Languages Fluency in English is required.

Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Additional Information SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Skills: The candidate should have proven ability to handle multiple activities simultaneously and in an organized and timely manner. He/she should be able to work independently and have strong problem-solving abilities. Furthermore, the candidate should have a track record of delivering consistently high-quality outputs as well as strong analytical and conceptual skills.

Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to the assignment. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed tasks; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.