National Expert on Climate Change and Green Climate Fund Readiness Project of Iraq

In the face of climate change impacts, Iraq encounters a host of complex and difficult challenges on a range of issues including water security, land degradation, desertification, loss of vegetation and biodiversity, salinity etc. which poses a significant hindrance to Iraq’s ability to become a resilient nation. However, despite these challenges, the Government of Iraq has remained committed to the cause of climate change and has laid down an economy-wide plan to cut GHG emission by around 14% from the business as usual scenario over the period from 2020 until 2035.

With grant assistance from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the proposed national readiness programme aims to support the Government of Iraq in strengthening the national capacities to effectively access and efficiently manage, track and guide climate financing with particular attention to the requirement of Green Climate Fund (GCF). With UNDP as the delivery partner of the Government of Iraq, the second year of the readiness programme will include the preparatory activities to:

a)       Strengthen stakeholders engagement and effective participation,

b)      Assist Iraq in developing a gender- responsive country programme including climate change adaptation and mitigation priorities

c)       Mapping, prioritizing and capacity assessment of the prospective national entities against GCF accreditation standards.

The accomplishment of above readiness activities will lay the foundation for Iraq to kick-start and make concrete steps toward meeting the need for climate financing in an effective and coordinated way.

1. Objective:      

The objective is to hire a National Expert (Climate Change) who will be tasked to mobilise Iraqi officials and experts and facilitate technical consultation towards building consensus and provide timely inputs to help finalise the planned deliverables by the project team as listed in section 3. Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Portfolio Manager, the National Expert is expected to work closely with the International Expert and will coordinate with the national GCF focal point as well as the stakeholders at large for effective implementation of the GCF readiness actions in Iraq.

2. Deliverables and timelines 

The national expert will be required to participate in the technical meetings organised by the project, at least once in every week, and will develop a detailed work plan in support of achieving the key milestones/deliverables during the period of April – Dec 2019 as tabulated below: 

3. Method of payment

The consultant is expected to discuss with the Project Manager about detail implementation plan within the scope of the work and the listed deliverables within the prescribed timeline explained in section 3. 

Payments will be made in four instalments based on the satisfactory progress as per agreed implementation plan of the assignments and submission of quality deliverables. The dates and schedules of the payment instalments are:

4. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

UNDP Project Manager will directly supervise the work of the Service Provider/Contractor to whom the Service Provider will be directly responsible to reporting to, seeking approval from, and obtaining certificate of acceptance of output.

The service provider will be expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with all relevant government institutions, relevant authorities, local branches of Association, Governorate councils, academic institutions, and civil society organizations (as determined by UNDP).

UNDP Project Manager will supervise, evaluate and manage the work of the service provider and make any necessary contractual decisions, while other authorities and entities identified above will only have a consultative role. 

All reports and documents provided to UNDP Iraq will be in Arabic and English, to facilitate review and feedback by UNDP Iraq.

5. Travel Plan

The consultant shall be home-based with a position to undertake travel upon request of the Project Manager with coverage to be undertaken by UNDP as an additional payment.

6. Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

The award of contract will be made to one individual consultant whose offer is evaluated and determined as being:

a)      Responsive/ compliant/ acceptable, and

b)      Achieving the highest combined score (financial and technical).

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points will be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial proposal (30 marks), as per template provided in UNDP jobsite (Annex II);

• Incomplete proposals may not be considered

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

• Duly accomplished Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II); https://www.iq.undp.org/content/iraq/en/home/operations/jobs.html  
• Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

• Strong communication skills to effectively collaborate with clients and colleagues and maintain strong relationships with them.
• Experience of working with senior government officials to provide strategic and technical advice.
• Good facilitation and presentation skills including the use of technology to communicate ideas and strategies.
• Ability to establish, develop and maintain relations with and between a diverse array of stakeholders.
• Ability to produce well-written reports demonstrating analytical ability and communication skills.
• Facilitation skills and the ability to manage the diversity of views in a different cultural context.
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure

Education:

University degree (Graduate degree preferred, e.g. PhD) in environmental science, climate change, or similar/equivalent.

Work Experience

-          At least 15 years of relevant professional experience (ideally, including policy making and high level coordination) and a good understanding of the current situation in Iraq.

-          Climate finance (e.g. CDM, NAMA, and GCF) knowledge and experience is desirable.

-          Prior experience of working in Iraq especially on NAMA, INC, GCF, and INDC is highly desirable.

Language

• Fluency in English both written and spoken.
• Fluency in Arabic both written and spoken.