National support for the development of an Integrated National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction for Trinidad and Tobago

Result of Service The preparation of an Integrated National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction.

Work Location Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Expected duration 6 months

Duties and Responsibilities Context

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 140 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

Small island developing States (SIDS) like Trinidad and Tobago, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate variability and change. In addition to climate related hazards, Caribbean countries are exposed to a diversity of hazards such as geological, biological, environmental, chemical and technological, among others. In this context, disasters pose several challenges and can trigger a setback in their development, derailing years of national efforts to achieve the 2030 sustainable development agenda.

With the aim to progress in the implementation of both the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Trinidad and Tobago has been pushing towards disaster and climate resilience in all aspects of its development. Accordingly, there is a high degree of awareness on the need for an integrated approach to implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and many steps have already been taken. Already, Trinidad and Tobago has a National Climate Change Policy and drafted a National Adaptation Plan (NAP). Similarly, they are in the process of developing a National Comprehensive Disaster Management Policy and Country Work Programme (CWP).

Both the drafts of the NAP and CWP recognize that climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) have fundamental commonalities and may utilize the same tools that have proven effective over the years in order to facilitate coordination and alignment of the two agendas, while offering multiple opportunities for joint actions implementations, financing and easier reporting and monitoring. Although these documents have never been ratified, the main tenets of the plan underscore the importance of an integrated approach between DRR and CCA planning and implementation to achieve resilient development.

In this regard, as part of the roll-out of the Comprehensive Risk Management approach (CRM) of UNDRR (www.undrr.org/crm), during the Caribbean Regional Workshop on Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in July 2023, the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Planning and Development agreed to the advancement of a coherent approach and for the development of an Integrated National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (I-NAP/CWP), which includes key priority policies on DRR and CCA at national and local levels. The I-NAP/CWP will include objectives on climate resilient infrastructures and refer to environment sustainability and compliance with international commitments and key guiding principles for a development approach anchored in resilience and diversification of an inclusive and equitable economy, improved infrastructure systems and institutional capacities and conservation and promotion of unique environmental and cultural resource base.

The continued focus on the decentralization agenda and the renewed interest to support national and local governments on advancing coherent resilience agenda and step up their investments on DRR and CCA, requires the national government to pursue a national disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation plan as an enabler for multi-sector integrated climate and disaster risk management system with capacities at all levels.

UNDRR has developed guidance on integrating disaster risk reduction into National Adaptation plans and a complement to the national words-into-action (WiA) guidance on national DRR strategies on how to integrate climate change considerations into national DRR planning process. UNDRR has developed a tool on comprehensive risk assessment, with the support of GIZ, and has advanced the development a tool on how to integrate climate change projections into national disaster risk assessments and plans to conduct additional technical training in Trinidad and Tobago to enhance systemic risk capabilities.

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the government of Trinidad and Tobago in conducting a gap analysis of the draft NAP and CWP, and to develop a synergizing report with recommendations to be considered in the I-NAP/CWP. This process should be done by engaging all sectors and stakeholders in developing, promoting, and planning for the implementation of a multi-sector, multi-hazard and inclusive disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategic plan (I-NAP/CWP) which will serve as a guiding document which aligns to all relevant national policies and plans and international normative framework such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the International Health Regulations, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. The analysis should detail the governance arrangements and priority actions for a multi-level and multi-hazard Comprehensive Risk Management approach, and propose enablers for implementing the priorities and strategies of the national strategic action plan (I-NAP/CWP).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Management Officer of UNDRR Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean (ROAC) in Barbados office, with the support of the Chief Executive of Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management at the Ministry of National Security, and the Head of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Office of the Ministry of Planning and Development, and in close collaboration with the UNDRR Office in Bonn, the UNDP's office in Trinidad and Tobago (UNDP TTMCO), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), the consultant needs to be based in Trinidad and Tobago, and will:

i. Review Existing DRR and CCA governance instruments: The consultant should start by conducting a thorough review of existing Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) instruments in Trinidad and Tobago. This includes analysing government plans and policies, and community-level initiatives as well as regional strategies aimed at addressing disaster risks and climate change impacts. Identify strengths, weaknesses, gaps, and areas that require improvement or integration.

ii. Gap Analysis and Needs Assessment: Conduct a detailed gap analysis to identify the gaps, needs and opportunities for strengthened action between the current state of DRR and CCA efforts -including documents in draft such the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and the Country Work Programme for Comprehensive Disaster Management (CWP)- and best practices and international standards. This analysis should involve consultations with relevant stakeholders to understand their perspectives on the challenges faced and the resources available. Based on this assessment, prioritize key areas for improvement and identify the specific needs of different regions and communities.

iii. Develop a Comprehensive Risk Management Approach Report: Utilizing the findings from the gap analysis and needs assessment, the consultant should compile a comprehensive risk management approach report. This report should outline the current status of DRR and CCA in Trinidad and Tobago, highlight existing gaps, and provide a clear analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches. Additionally, the report should include case studies, data analysis, and relevant examples to support the recommendations and proposals. This report will be the basis for the preparation of an integrated strategy (NAP/CWP).

iv. Make Recommendations: Based on the gap analysis and needs assessment, the consultant should formulate practical and actionable recommendations for enhancing integrated DRR and CCA efforts in Trinidad and Tobago. These recommendations should be specific to selected sectors, geographic regions, and vulnerable communities. They should also consider the allocation of resources, collaboration among stakeholders, and the incorporation of climate science and projections in planning. Similarly, they should take a particular focus on the capacities needed and the raising of institutional awareness to implement a comprehensive risk management approach in the country, and that foster a sense of ownership and commitment to building resilience against disasters and climate change impacts. These recommendations would need to be implemented within the preparation of an integrated strategy (NAP/CWP).

v. Support a National Consultative Workshop with national stakeholders to present the findings of the Gap Analysis and the proposed actionable strategies to be integrated into the document.

vi. Develop the very first draft of a proposed Integrated National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (I-NAP/CWP) for Trinidad and Tobago. The main outcome of this consultancy is the preparation of a very first draft of Integrated National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (I-NAP/CWP) for Trinidad and Tobago that will be jointly agreed by both the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Planning and Development, in order to be approved in a later stage by the Cabinet office.

vii. Support a National Consultative Workshop, where the first draft of the proposed Integrated National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (I-NAP/CWP) for Trinidad and Tobago will be presented and discussed among national stakeholders. The outcomes of this workshop would need to be integrated in a final draft of the Integrated National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (I-NAP/CWP) for Trinidad and Tobago.

Qualifications/special skills Master’s degree in economics, geography, spatial planning or other natural and social sciences, disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, development studies, environmental management, or related relevant fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree At least 5 years of relevant work experience on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, or policy development is required. Experience in policy and strategic planning and coordination or relevant areas with national or local entities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or international organizations is required. Experience in policy advice, and policy analysis related functions with progressive professional responsibility in areas related to climate change adaptation, and/or disaster risk reduction at sector, local or national level is desirable.

Languages English language is required.

Additional Information Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted.

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*. UNDRR values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women, men, and people with disabilities.

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.