International Consultant to undertake Climate Scenarios, Socio Economic and Vulnerability Analysis in Liberia

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 and disaster risks assessment in the key sectors. Additionally, it is also important to assess the socio-economic and vulnerability analysis of impacts of climate change in the country.

The National Adaptation Plans (NAP) is a Green Climate Fund (GCF) funded 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". The project has duration of two years. The activities in this project focus on four components:

1. Strengthening institutional frameworks and coordination for implementation of the NAPs process

2. Expansion of the knowledge base for scaling up adaptation

3. Building capacity for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into planning, and budgeting processes and systems

4. Formulation of financing mechanisms for scaling up adaptation

The direct beneficiaries of the project are the Environmental Protection Agency and its National Climate Change Secretariat. Key government partners are Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, National Disaster Management Agency, National Port Authority of Liberia, Liberia Maritime Authority, National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority, Liberia National Department of Meteorology, Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services and University of Liberia.

Overall, the project will contribute Fund level impact towards output A.5 --“Strengthened institutional and regulatory systems for climate responsive planning and development

The expected outputs are derived from the government of Liberia’s NAP formulation and implementation note issued in 2016, following national stakeholder consultations held during the launch of the NAP process in April 2015.

In this context, UNDP is specifically supporting Liberia to integrate its critical sectors into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) process. This initiative will provide technical assistance to the country to integrate climate change aspects for the critical sectors within its existing national planning and budgeting processes. The programme will enhance understanding of Liberia on what it takes to address climate change impacts and integrate sectors' concerns into its national planning and budgeting process and in line with existing UNFCCC endorsed framework for NAPs.

Within this overall background, UNDP is seeking an economist to provide Liberia with technical assistance to identify capacity gaps and deliver training in comprehensive integrated climate-environment-socio-economic vulnerability assessments  as well as economic based appraisal techniques for sector-based and local adaptation investments. The training will be targeted to both general decision makers and more specialized departments in government and national institutions involved in adaptation planning and budgeting, building on key elements identified in the UNFCCC LEG guidelines for the NAPs process. The provision of this technical assistance is intended to support Liberia to inform and guide a medium to long term approach to addressing climate change risks within existing planning and budgeting processes

Objective:

The consultant is expected to support the achievement of the following objectives

• Assist Liberia to plan for skills building programmes in vulnerability assessments and adaptation appraisal techniques to advance the NAPs process;
• Sensitize senior decision makers on economic appraisal techniques to evaluate adaptation options and how such tools/approaches can assist in the process of prioritization in ministries and government departments;
• Train technical personnel in ministries involved with sector planning and project formulation in applying economic appraisal techniques for sector-based and distinct investment options. This is more specialized training designed to assist personnel with applying economic assessment techniques to understand the impact of climate change on key sectors at both the micro and macro level. Evaluation techniques for adaptation options will also be covered through this training;
• Support UNDP’s work on catalyzing private sector finance for adaptation. The consultant will work with other project staff to assist Liberia to identify barrier to private sector investment in the context of climate change risk management in key sectors

Provide support to consultants in conducting economic analysis for 4 to 5 adaptation projects to be developed under the NAPs

Scope of Work:

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Assisting the Liberia NAP project with one on one support to plan for skills enhancement for improved vulnerability assessments and adaptation appraisal techniques for the NAPs process;
• Provide half a day training on adaptation appraisal techniques for senior decision makers;
• Provide a more in-depth training programme (3-4 days) on adaptation appraisal and vulnerability assessments over the duration of the contract;
• Provide remote technical advisory support on the economics of adaptation including on applying adaptation appraisal techniques;
• Support UNDP staff involved in NAP related assistance with technical assistance related to the economics of adaptation including preparation of training materials on cost effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis of projects and programmes supported by UNDP;
• Assist Liberia to develop a preliminary economic assessment of climate risks and risk management profile with respect to key sectors, which are vulnerable to climate change and likely to contribute to low emission growth;
• Assist Liberia to develop sector specific economic assessments of risk management measures that international funds could be used, together with domestic public and private funds to address those sector specific risks;
• Support public agencies to identify policy and regulation risks that may not be conducive to incentivizing private investment. Assist Liberia to develop potential solutions to reduce policy and regulation risks that are acting as barriers to private investment;
• Support Liberia to draft investment proposals to access international finance;
• Collaborate with UNDP staff to prepare drafts of at least 2 journal quality articles for publication based on country level economic assessments.

The tasks associated with this Terms of Reference are expected to be completed through a combination of (a) home-based preparatory work; (b) leading or participating in country level consultations and; (c) post-mission drafting of next steps, based on the outcomes of the in-country training) to guide the NAP process in Liberia.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Pre-Mission Deliverables (Products/Services)

• An Inception Report which includes a proposal of methodologies and detailed work plan in preparation for inception workshop with stakeholders;
• Liaise with country team on priority areas and capacity building needs to guide in country training material preparation on the economics of adaptation;
• Preparation of training material – both theoretical and with examples on adaptation appraisal techniques;
• Prepare templates to guide and plan for skills building in V&A and Adaptation Appraisal;
• All PPTs to be used in the course of the training on the economics of adaptation and investment appraisal.

In country Deliverables (Products/Services)

• Inception workshop and report
• Site visits to selected parts/regions of the country
• Interview key government departments and identify gaps and needs for skills building in vulnerability assessment and adaptation appraisal in coordination with national training institutes
• Provide direct training to senior decision makers with presentations tailored to a general audience
• Provide a more in-depth training programme (3-4 days) on adaptation appraisal and vulnerability assessments.

Post- mission Deliverables (Products/Services)

• Post mission assessment of areas of support needed given additional information gathered following the in-country workshop and site visits;
• A draft skills building plan for 2 or 3 government departments on adaptation appraisal and vulnerability assessments;
• Training materials on cost effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis of projects and programmes supported by UNDP/EPA and on sector specific economic assessments of risk management measures;
• Drafts of 2 journal quality articles, prepared in collaboration with UNDP/EPA staff, on the economics of adaptation pertaining to atleast two of the most critical sectors in the country

All deliverables will be reviewed by Lead Technical Specialist- and approval must be obtained.

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will be supervised by the NAP Programme Manager

Duty Station:

For the first period of the assignment, the duty station of the work is Monrovia, Liberia with field travels in other parts of the country. Follow up work shall be home based with at least one additional travel to Monrovia.

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards  
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability 
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism 
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills 

Functional Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Comprehensiveness knowledge of climate change.
• Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research;
• Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work.

Education

• Master degree or above in economics, environmental economics or a closely related field.

Professional Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience. Relevant experience can include areas such as economics of adaptation, teaching in applied research departments, institutional capacity-building for public administrators on economics and finance development planning and budgeting, development management, public administration and related initiatives;
• Demonstrated knowledge of climate change adaptation and development;
• Experience working with and delivering support to Governments;
• Sound understanding of climate change, sustainable human development, environmental management issues adaptation, vulnerability and impact, and other related sustainable human development issues;
• Experience working in Africa, Asia  is a plus;
• Experience working in capacity building for climate change adaptation.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English is essential.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

Consultant shall quote an all-inclusive Daily Fee for the contract period. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment are already factored into the daily fee submitted in the proposal. If applicable, travel or daily allowance cost (if any work is to be done outside the IC’s duty station) should be identified separately. Payments shall be done on a monthly basis based on actual days worked, upon verification of completion of deliverables and approval by the IC’s supervisor of a Time Sheet indicating the days worked in the period. In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

(Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF attachment as the system only allows upload of one document):

• Personal CV or P11 including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references 
• (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc);
• Cover Letter, outlining the main methodological approaches planned for the assignment
• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the assignment 
• Two (2) samples of previous work (in English) similar to the assignment (links can be shared as well)

Technical proposal:

1. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment
2. A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment

Evaluation

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

 Cumulative analysis 

Award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
2. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial  * Technical Criteria; [70 points]

Technical Criteria – Maximum 70 points

Criteria                                                                 

• Technical skills, given by qualifications and training record  15 points
• Overall experience in the provision with the services given above 35 points
• Adequacy of competencies & skills responding to the Terms of Reference, (TOR) 20 points
• Methodology relevance to the TOR 30 points

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and requested to provide a financial offer

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.