International Consultant For Assessment Of Climate Risks On Health In Liberia Procurement Notice No. IC/UNDP/INTL/NAP/2020/053

Contract

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Background

The Republic of Liberia’s economy, population, and environment are highly vulnerable to climate variability and change. A range of studies, including the Republic of Liberia’s Initial National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) notes that the impacts of climate change are expected to intensify as changes in temperature and precipitation affect economic activity.

In order to respond to the risks posed by climate change, there is a need to conduct and update relevant climate vulnerability and risk assessment in the key sectors. This will give decisions makers and the most vulnerable population adequate tools/information to integrate climate change into their planning strategies. Also, it enables them to better plan their medium and long-term adaptation programs/policies/strategies.

The two year project "To advance the National Adaptation Plans (NAP) process for medium-term investment planning in climate-sensitive sectors (i.e. agriculture, energy, waste management, forestry and health) and coastal areas in Liberia" funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and partners including the Environmental Protection Agency, is responding to this need.

The project will conduct climate change vulnerability and climate risk assessments on key sectors and systems with a goal of enabling Liberia to develop the knowledge base and capacity required to reduce vulnerability to climate change and to facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation into national development planning processes. The main project objective is to support Liberia to put in place its National Adaptation Planning process contributing to and building upon existing development planning strategies and processes and to implement priority adaptation actions.

The activities in this project focus on four components:

• Strengthening institutional frameworks and coordination for implementation of the NAPs process
• Expansion of the knowledge base for scaling up adaptation
• Building capacity for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into planning, and budgeting processes and systems
• Formulation of financing mechanisms for scaling up adaptation

The Initial National Communication (INC) of Liberia 2013 (https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/lbrnc1.pdf HYPERLINK "https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/lbrnc1.pdf)"))-page 94; in its assessment of climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the health sector notes that warmer environments and associated land use changes will likely lead to the spread of the savannah form of onchocerciasis, while insect vectors of disease such as mosquitoes and tsetse flies will complete their life cycles faster and thus their populations will increase, and more breeding sites for mosquitoes will become available, thus exacerbating the transmission of malaria, lymphatic filariasis, etc. The report also notes that higher temperatures will also lead to higher rates of measles amongst the community; with suggested adaptation options for the health sector including the development of a health database management system, development and implementation of policy and strategic initiatives, and strengthening of effective capacity.

UNDP Liberia is seeking for a competent International Consultant to review and update the existing report on climate vulnerability and risk assessment for the agriculture sector, develop climate change adaptation action plans and strategies and develop proposal for prioritized adaptation options. It is expected that the work will be done through intensive consultations with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Public Health Institute (NPHIL). The International Consultant will be supported by a National Consultant

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager- NAP Project, UNDP on day-to-day the International Consultant will undertake the following key tasks:

Task 1: Conduct initial desk-based consultations and research

Task 2: Identify and acquire data sources

Task 3: Undertake vector borne diseases risk assessment and mapping

Task 4: Undertake Flood, nutrition, Sanitation, water/water-points and water-borne diseases risk assessment and mapping

Task 5: Undertake health infrastructure risk assessment and mapping

Task 4: Synthesize findings and draft assessment report and finalize databases and maps.

Task 5: Conduct training for technical working group on vector borne diseases risk assessment and mapping.

Task 6: Present findings and recommendations to key stakeholders. As a complement to the assessment report, prepare a presentation and policy brief that delivers the assessment findings and recommendations in a simplified manner and with an eye toward actionable decision making.

Deliverables

• An Inception Report which includes a summary of the context, the scope of the analyses and detailed methodology to be used as agreed by the initial scoping with key sector stakeholders and based on initial review of data.

• Report containing:

• Findings from analyses and assessments on vulnerability to vector borne diseases, exposure including maps, graphs and other means that help visualize the climate risks and impacts.

• Validated proposal for prioritized adaptation options and their cost-effectiveness analyses.

• summary of key training provided including objectives, participants, topics and outcomes

• Associated data and GIS based maps and related files of the analyses undertaken.

• Presentation and policy brief summarizing the finding of the assessments and recommendations targeting decision makers at national and local level.

Deliverables/ Outputs Target Due Dates Schedule of Payments

Submission of Inception Report which includes a summary of the context, the scope of the analyses and detailed methodology to be used as agreed by the initial scoping with key sector stakeholders and based on initial review of data. Week of 10th November 2020 30% of the contract amount

Submission of draft report containing:

• Findings from analyses and assessments on climate hazards, exposure and socio-economic vulnerabilities undertaken under task 3 including maps, graphs and other means that help visualize the climate risks and impacts.

• Validated proposal for prioritized adaptation options and their cost-effectiveness analyses.

• summary of key training provided including objectives, participants, topics and outcomes.

• Associated data and GIS based maps and related files of the analyses undertaken.

31st December 2020 40% of the contract amount

Finalization of the reports and submission of the policy brief January 20 2021 30 % of the contract amount

Impact of Results

The assessment will build upon and complement initial assessment of climate change impacts on the health sector. The purpose of this assessment is to identify risk prone areas, and to inform health officials, regional and local planners and managers’ decision makers about adaptation measures to reduce these risks. The findings will also help to shape NPHIL’s preparedness and response to emerging climate risks.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Strong organizational, analytical and writing skills;
• Ability to work strategically to realize organizational goal;
• Result oriented, strong team player with good interpersonal and organizational skills;
• Ability to work independently and under pressure and to meet deadlines;
• Ability to handle multiple tasks without compromising the quality of work.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology or community health.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of practical experience in the field of public health and climate change adaptation;
• Have appropriate knowledge and sufficient capabilities, resources, and experience to execute the full extent of the scope of services to a very high quality;
• Have extensive experience designing and conducting health risk assessments under changing climate and variability in developing country contexts (experience in Africa region would be advantageous);
• Excellent working knowledge and experience in undertaking climate risk and vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning in the health sector;
• Excellent project management capability, including managing teams of experts
• Excellent communication skills, presentation skills, and an ability to prepare and manage the development of high-quality reports, project documentation, and communications materials;
• Demonstrated experience working in the region or similar contexts, and working with development partners; and
• The ability to behave in a professional, client focused, and service-oriented manner, with strong problem-solving skills.
• Capacity to conduct spatial data management; produce user-friendly displays of the results; and perform any other tasks

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English, excellent oral and written communication skills and outstanding interpersonal skills.