Recruitment of 3 consultants to develop a concept note and conduct a pre-feasibility study for the project: "Strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities in Niger through Climate S

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TERMES DE REFERENCE CONTRACTANTS INDIVIDUELS – UNICEF NIGER

Title: Recruitment of 3 consultants to develop a concept note and conduct a pre-feasibility study for the project: "Strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities in Niger through Climate Sensitive WASH Services and IWRM ".

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Background:

The key climate change impacts in Niger are felt through increased temperatures and greater rainfall variability (including both decrease in total rainfall and increase in rainfall intensity). These changes are exacerbating risks to vulnerable communities due to increased flooding, drought, reduced and more rainfall, longer dry seasons and delayed rainy seasons. Climate-induced extreme events are also projected to increase in frequency and intensity, with more severe dryness and droughts punctuated by periods of flooding according to various climate models.

These climatic changes are expected to negatively affect the availability of water resources for both domestic and agricultural uses as well as sanitation and hygiene services. This negatively impacts the lives and livelihoods of communities in the country. Niger is extremely vulnerable in terms of climate change impacts on water resources and WASH services and the largest impacts fall on the most vulnerable population.

To support the Government of Niger to address climate change impacts , with a particular focus on access, cost, quality and sustainability of WASH services and on sustainable management of water resources, UNICEF, FAO, and GWP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Hydraulic and Sanitation and the Ministry of Environment are preparing a pre-feasibility study and concept note for the project titled: Strengthening the climate resilience of vulnerable communities in the national part of the Niger basin (Republic of Niger) through climate responsive WASH and IWRM. The project will be submitted for funding to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) by FAO, acting as a GCF Accredited Entity.

Against this background, UNICEF envisages contracting 3 consultants (2 international and 1 national) to undertake the assignment. The national consultant will conduct diagnostic analysis while international consultants will respectively be in charge of the prefeasibility study and project concept note development

Objectives:

The main objective of the consultancy assignment is to prepare a GCF compliant pre-feasibility study and concept note for the proposed project.

The consultants will work in close collaboration and coordination with other experts engaged in the formulation of the concept note, from project partners including FAO, UNICEF, GWP, the Ministry of Hydraulic and Sanitation, the Ministry of Environment and other key stakeholders.

The consultants will use templates of technical pre-feasibility study and concept note for GCF project preparation. During the inception phase of the consultancy assignment, the consultants will submit to project partners proposed templates for improvement if relevant and approval.

The international consultants are expected to make two missions to Niger, international travel permitting and contingent upon the COVID-19 situation. In the event travel to Niger is not possible, the consultants will engage remotely with key government stakeholders, FAO UNICEF and GWP, and other key partners who are involved in the development of the pre-feasibility study and the Concept Note. During the missions, the consultant will engage with the government stakeholders and other partners and ensure that their concerns are addressed, and inputs incorporated in final reports. Moreover, the consultants will use these missions to ensure that all relevant information with regards to national policies, strategies and frameworks as well as information on existing and related projects and programmes are captured.

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Activities:

Under the supervision of UNICEF and in close consultation with the GWP, the Ministry of Hydraulic and sanitation, the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders, the consultants’ team will lead and coordinate a series of consultations to solicit inputs, guidance and feedback from government agencies, stakeholders and other relevant experts, and address their comments in draft pre-feasibility study and concept note documents.

The consultants will carry out the following tasks:

1. Diagnostic analysis (National consultant: IWRM expert)

• Understand/characterize climate changes in Niger based on existing data and documents:
  • Analyze existing reports and records to identify climate trends and variation across in the country since 1960s
  • Assess and understand the hydro-meteorological hazards and trends in terms of frequency, magnitude, intensity, duration and timing of the year focusing on climate variability and change based on recorded/reported hydro-meteorological data
  • Review the climate projections (state scenarios and time periods) and the impacts on the most vulnerable and identify solutions
• Undertake consultation with local populations of at least 10 municipalities, on their perceptions of climate change, its impacts on them and solutions they identify.
• Assess the vulnerability of WASH infrastructures to climate change in target municipalities
• Review national policies, strategies and regulatory frameworks on climate change in Niger
  • Assess and analyze national water law, national water policy, sanitation policies/strategies national IWRM Action plan and institutional arrangements including capacity building and lessons learned relevant to climate change adaptation (including NDC, NAP, etc…),
  • Identify and assess how the country’s general development plan, land use plan and other relevant plans address issues related to water resources management and climate change adaptation
• Develop a strong demonstration of the climate change problems which the proposed project will be designed to address
• Use all main sources of climate risk data and information that are available and develop detailed criteria for the selection of target sub-basins and beneficiaries

2. Pre-feasibility study (International consultant: WASH and climate expert)

• Review the NDC and NAP to identify priority areas and how WASH is represented in these key national climate documents
• Prepare a diagnostic report summarizing climate change trends and collect evidence of impacts to date and projected impacts on WASH infrastructures and water resources
• Liaise with relevant experts in the Government, NGOs, CSOs, Private Sector, Development Partners to obtain critical inputs and advice
• Review and synthesize information from relevant documents that can feed into the preparation of the pre-feasibility assessments.
• Organize and lead a series of stakeholder consultations and collate information to support the pre-feasibility study development.
• Conduct research and technical analysis in coordination with national authorities and stakeholders to flesh out project components and all technical sections to ensure a strong Climate Rationale and adherence to GCF’s six Investment criteria, which are impact potential; paradigm shift potential; sustainable development; country needs; responsive to recipient needs; promote country ownership and efficiency and effectiveness
• Conduct appropriate site background information gathering (including but not limited to vulnerability and exposure to climate events, potential economic opportunities, private sector capacity, as well as gaps and needs for climate resiliency of the communities)
• Ensure that the technical pre-feasibility study is evidence-based and has all necessary references to proof of concept that the proposed project demonstrates its feasibility
• Collect the information required for the pre-feasibility study ensuring that all sections are complete
• Identify the barriers and challenges (Knowledge and research related barriers; Policy and Institutional, Technical & Financial barriers)– if any, that could determine/impact the project sustainability
• Prepare the project theory of change with well-defined indicators, targets, inputs and outputs, making sure that indicators fully respond to the GCF indicator framework
• Identify and analyse any governance and capacity issues that will be critical for the feasibility of the project during implementation as well as sustainability of results beyond duration of the project
• Prepare the pre-feasibility study document with all the technical details necessary to meet the requirements of the GCF

3. Preparation of the project concept note (International consultant: Project development expert)

• Coordinate with the government, UNICEF, FAO, GWP, all consultants and stakeholders engaged in concept note formulation process to capture their inputs in the project document
• Prepare concept note based on the technical pre-feasibility of the project proposal and outline financial structure of the project (with inputs from FAO, GWP and UNICEF) and all main cost categories at the input level corresponding to all outcomes and outputs
• Provide recommendations for the preparation of the project institutional framework, exit strategy and sustainability plan
• Address comments during the GCF review process until final approval.

Deliverables:

Expected deliverables are:

• Inception report by all consultants (2 weeks after the beginning of the assignment)
• Diagnostic report on climate change and its impacts on WASH infrastructures and water resources (National consultant: IWRM expert)
• Pre-feasibility study report endorsed by stakeholders (International consultant: WASH and climate expert)
• Project concept note integrating GCF comments and endorsed by stakeholders (International consultant: Project development expert)

Supervision:

The consultants will report to Chief of WASH, UNICEF Niger and regularly liaise with the Ministries in charge of Water and environment, FAO and GWP.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have...

Qualifications and experience: National consultant: IWRM expert

• hold at least a master’s degree in water resources management, environmental sciences, water resources engineering, WASH, climate related sciences, political sciences or similar relevant degree
• at least 10 years’ experience conducting studies/research on IWRM and WASH, with demonstrable experience and knowledge of the Niger context
• knowledge on climate change impacts in West Africa;
• demonstrated experience developing pre-feasibility or feasibility studies for approved projects, preferably with a focus on climate change adaptation
• knowledge of and experience in supporting the development of successful GCF, GEF and Adaptation funds projects is preferrable.
• excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of high-quality reports
• ability to analyze complex and diversified data
• be fluent in English and French.

Qualifications and experience: International consultant: WASH and climate expert

• master’s degree in water resources, engineering, climate related sciences or relevant fields is a requirement
• a minimum 10 years of experience supporting WASH and climate solutions in the context of developing countries, out of which at least five years of experience in technical pre-feasibility studies for GCF is preferred
• demonstrated experience developing approved concept note, pre-feasibility or feasibility studies for development projects, preferably with a focus on climate change adaptation and climate resilient WASH services
• knowledge of and experience in supporting the development and design of GCF, GEF and Adaptation funds projects is preferrable.
• experience in working with international organizations including developing countries is a strong asset
• fluency in spoken and written French and English is a requirement

Qualifications and experience: International consultant: Project development expert

• master’s degree in water resources, engineering, economic sciences, climate related sciences or relevant fields is a requirement
• a minimum 10 years of experience supporting WASH and climate solutions in the context of developing countries, out of which at least five years of experience in the development and design of GCF, GEF and Adaptation funds projects
• experience in working with international organizations including developing countries is a strong asset
• fluency in spoken and written French and English is a requirement

Evaluation Criteria:

Candidates who have not submitted both technical and financial offers separately as described below will not be considered during the selection process

Technical offers are assessed based on the table below:

DESIGNATION

POINTS

1. Presentation of the offer

1

2. Candidate experience

24

IWRM and WASH climate resilient experience in of developing countries

6

Experience of preparing concept note, pre-feasibility or feasibility studies for Climate resilient WASH projects

6

Knowledge of climate change impacts and resilience in West Africa

3.5

Knowledge of GCF, GEF and Adaptation funds process

3.5

Diploma

2

Relevant Years of experience

3

3. Methodology

55

Understanding and comments of the ToRs

9.5

Proposed methodology

27

Relevance of proposed activities and work plan

9.5

Tools suggested for implementing the methodology

9

TOTAL

80

Only applications with a minimum technical note of 64 points will be considered for the next stage of the process

Evaluation of financial offers: the lowest financial offer will have a score of 20 and the other will be scored proportionally. Consistency of prices will be analysed

Even if individual applications are accepted, it is recommended to present submissions as a team of 2 international and 1 national consultants

Candidates should clearly state their ability and availability to fulfill these terms of reference, as well as provide their proposed financial compensation. The financial offer should be all inclusive (expected salary as well as any subsistence allowance and/or travel costs)

As part of their application package on the UNICEF online portal, interested candidates should submit:

• A technical offer including understanding and comment of the ToRs, methodological approach, proposed activities, work plan, etc.
• A financial offer in US dollars including total fees, DSA (daily subsistence allowance), logistic, travels and any other relevant costs
• A cover letter (letter of motivation)
• An up-to-date CV
• A financial offer
• A copy of the highest obtained academic diploma

For every Child you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Values (CRITA):

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remark: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Duration: 95 days

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Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org