International consultant to build capacities of the National Committee on Climate Change (NCCC)

Contract

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Background

While STP is an absolute sink of greenhouse gases contributing to sequestration of CO2, it is also one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of Climate Change due to its geography and characteristics including the fragility of its ecosystems and low level of social-economic development. Both islands are already bearing the consequences of climate change. The country is impacted by natural hazards, such as coastal and river flash floods, storms, and droughts. Climate projections indicate that these events are set to intensify. Effective climate change adaptation planning will assist Sao Tome and Principe in dealing with these impacts. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at its COP 16 held in Cancun in 2011 approved a process to enable member states to formulate and implement National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), building upon their experience in preparing and implementing National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPAs), as a means of identifying medium and long-term adaptation needs and developing and implementing strategies and programs to address those needs. It also stated that the main objectives of NAPs are to: 1. Reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, by building adaptive capacity and resilience; 2. Facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, in a coherent manner, into relevant new and existing policies, programs and activities, in particular development planning processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate. The UNFCCC’s Least Developed Expert Group (LEG) on adaptation released Guidelines for National Adaptation Plans (December 2012) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has issued guidance on adaptation planning approaches. The Government of São Tomé and Príncipe, through the Ministry of Finance, Commerce and Blue Economy, has successfully obtained a grant of USD 2.96 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for a 42 months’ project to build capacity to advance the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process in São Tomé and Príncipe. The NAP development will support a transition from the project-based traditional modus operandi to an integrated approach to adaptation across all vulnerable sectors to deal with climate change in a more coherent and efficient way. The main objective of this project is to reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts in STP by supporting the Country’s capacity to implement an integrated approach to adaptation planning at all levels and across sectors. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the Delivery Partner for the project, with the role of supporting and overseeing the project implementation led by the General Direction of Environment (GDE), national authority designated to lead the NAP in São Tome and Principe. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office in Sao Tome and Principe will work closely with the GDE and UNEP and provide financial management of the project. The National Committee on Climate Change (NCCC) created in 2012, by the decree 13/2012, as the coordinating body for climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives in STP was nominated to play the role of Steering Committee of the NAP project (PSC). The NCCC holds as main competencies: coordination, management, training and sensitization of all matters related to Climate Change. Nevertheless, it has never become fully operational. It was negatively affected by the unstable political conditions which led to the reshuffling of several ministries and resulted in a high turnover of the NCCC’s members. Consequently, this has hampered its operationalization and governmental and nongovernmental representation in its composition is still too limited. The operationalization of NCCC needs to be leveraged and its capacity strengthened so that the NCCC can fulfill its mandate of inclusive and participatory mechanism for all stakeholders’ engagement on climate change adaptation issues. Furthermore, the limited coordination between donor funded projects hinders the efficient use of funds being invest in Climate Change resilience. Under the business-as-usual scenario, the institutional and technical capacity of the NCCC to effectively coordinate and monitor adaptation initiatives in STP remains inadequate. To fulfill its role as PSC of the NAP project and his mandate as climate change coordination mechanism, the NCCC needs to be institutionally and technically capacitated and strengthened.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant's main objective will be to build technical capacities of the NCCC to undertake the advisory, support, supervision and coordination role of the NAP process in STP and enhance its links with the National Assembly through a three-day retreat. The consultant will contribute for the development of the NAP project’s Component 1: Actors mobilized, institutional framework stablished, and national capacity strengthened to successfully develop and implement the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in Sao Tome and Principe (STP); Sub-outcome 1.1: NAP leadership, management and institutional arrangements established, and national adaptation process launched in STP. He/She will be responsible for the derivable of Activity 1.1.3 (Build capacities of the National Committee on Climate Change (NCCC) to undertake the supervision and coordination role of the NAP process in STP and enhance its links with the National Assembly through a three-day retreat of NCCC members including training key sessions delivered by experts) with the support of the Project Management Unit (PMU) and under the supervision of the project Coordinator and UNEP Task manager. Capacity of the NCCC will be strengthened in the following matters, among others to be defined according to the needs and interests: 1) Understanding Climate Change: • What is Climate Change? • How does Climate Change impacts’ the environment, ecosystems and biodiversity, public health, conflicts, society, economy and development. • Climate Change in STP: assessing vulnerability, risks and impacts; • National communications (NC), national determined contributions (NDC)and Biannual Update reports (BUR) on Climate Change • Distinguish between mitigation and adaptation. • Adaptation: knowing adaptation principles, measures, and benefits • Understanding first order and second order impacts of Climate Change. • Equality versus inequality in climate change: what is social inequality and who are the most vulnerable groups (youth, disabled and elderly as well as poorest and single-headed households, women) and why. • Mainstreaming Gender in to Climate Change 2) The NAP process: • From project-based traditional modus operandi to an integrated approach to adaptation • NAPs main objectives and gains for countries • National Adaptation Plans: Design & Implementation • Monitoring & Evaluation the NAPs • Funding opportunities 3) The NAP process in STP • Outcome 1: Actors mobilized, institutional framework established, and national capacity strengthened to successfully develop and implement the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in São Tomé and Príncipe (STP). • Outcome 2: Evidence base for adaptation planning developed through the production of preparatory elements and gathering of background information for the NAP process. • Outcome 3: NAP priorities operationalized into plans at local and national level and supported by an iterative planning framework and monitoring process. • Outcome 4: Access to resources and investments facilitated to implement adaptation priorities in STP. 5) NCCC role and responsibility in the NAP process including PSC and working groups: • How to engage stakeholders (governmental and non-governmental) in the NAP process; • How to develop vulnerability and risk analysis; • How to develop cost-benefits analysis; • How to engage the private sector; • How to look for funding; The main tasks to be carried out during the consultancy are listed below: Task 1: Prepare workshop content, tools and exercises The agenda of the training will be developed by the consultant based on consultations with NCCC members on their needs and interests as well as on a short assessment of past training delivered and remaining capacity gaps. The goal will be to complement what has already been done while avoiding duplication. Key resources for this work include the project document, baseline study as well as report of last NCCC meetings, retreat and trainings. In advance to the workshop all content, tools, and exercises to be developed and presented during the three-day retreat shall be prepared. In particularly, exercises and the brainstorming sessions shall be developed with the support of the project management unit. Task 2: Three-days NCCC workshop (retreat). The three-day retreat will be intended to the NCCC members. Parliaments will be invited to participate to one day of the retreat to enhance the link between the NCCC and the National Assembly and support NAP approval process. The retreat schedule has to be strategically developed to touch the key matters most relevant to the parliaments. Task 3: Workshop report of the three-day NCCC retreat The consultant needs to present a report on the three-day retreat with special focus on lessons learned, progresses made and remaining gaps identified during the retreat, feedback from the brainstorming sessions and guidance on further capacitation of the NCCC. This work will inform and feed in the Training and Capacity Need Assessment (TCNA) that will be developed as part as activity 1.3.1.

Competencies

Competencies: • Previous similar experience in provision of technical support to complex projects and multi-lateral (e.g. GEF, GCF, AF) financed projects or UN implemented projects will be an added asset; • Experience with the NAP process will be an advantage; • Work experience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Africa including in São Tomé and Príncipe would be an advantage; • Excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills and accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including community members and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;

Required Skills and Experience

I. Academic Qualifications: • Advanced higher degree (Master’s or equivalent) in geophysics/meteorology, environment or sustainable development planning with specialization in the following related field of studies such as climate change adaptation, natural resources management or urban and regional planning and other related fields. A first-level university degree or equivalent in combination with relevant training and/or 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.. II. Years of experience: A minimum of 5 years’ work experience in a technical lead or planning position on development/climate/natural resources management programmes, preferably in a developing country context; A minimum of 2 year international work experience in either institutional strengthening, stakeholder engagement and capacity building or development/climate/natural resources management programmes. Demonstrated experience of working with climate change adaptation planning processes and integration into national, subnational and sector policies, plans, monitoring and budget processes would be an asset;