National Consultant for assessment of climate risks on health in Liberia No. IC/UNDP/NATL/NAP/2020/054

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

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/lbrnc "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 Local Consultant to provide technical support to an International Consultant for review and update of 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).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the International Consultant, the National Consultant will undertake the following key tasks:

Task 1: Conduct initial desk-based consultations and research

• Provide support for consultations with EPA, MOH, WHO and UNDP, and relevant institutions (governmental and non-governmental) regarding objectives and scope of activity.

• Compile data and information to support an initial review of available data/information regarding risks of vector borne diseases, including relevant studies and data sources.

• Support follow up consultations with key stakeholders regarding finding of information review, proposed recommendation and methodology and agree on scope of analyses (mapping outputs, scale and resolution etc.).

Task 2: Identify and acquire data sources

• In consultation with key stakeholders and working with NPHIL/MOH specialists, identify and obtain datasets and other studies that will be needed in order to assess and map vulnerability

Task 3: Provide support for undertaking risk assessment and mapping related to the following:

• vector borne diseases

• Flood, nutrition, Sanitation, water/water-points

• health infrastructure

Task 4: Provide support for report writing, training and policy brief

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

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 5 years of practical experience in the field of public health;
• Have appropriate knowledge and sufficient capabilities, resources, and experience to execute the full extent of the scope of services to a very high quality;
• Excellent working knowledge and experience in undertaking health risk assessment, including data collection;
• Excellent communication skills, presentation skills, and an ability to prepare and manage the development of high-quality reports, project documentation, and communications materials;
• A Liberian citizen with demonstrated experience working in the health sector in Liberia;
• The ability to behave in a professional, client focused, and service-oriented manner, with strong problem-solving skills.
• Capacity to provide support to the international consultant for data and information gathering, gender-responsive stakeholder consultation etc.

Language Requirements:

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