Contract

Project

Specialist – Urban Ecosystem Based Adaptation – (Pacific Islands)

Expertise

Category

Advisory Support (Level F)

Location

Duty Station

Suva, Fiji with travel to Vanuatu and Kiribati

Contract Length

Start Date

October 2, 2017

End Date

December 18, 2017

Part-time/Full-time

Part Time

Contract Value

Daily Rate

N/A (deliverable-based)

Days Estimated

40 days estimated

Total Fees

Up to $USD 20,000 (dependent on qualification)

Specifics of Recruitment

Based in Seoul, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as "green growth", which targets key aspects of economic performance such as poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and the private sector to help build economies that grow strongly and are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change.

The Investment and Policy Solutions Division (IPSD), based at GGGI's Seoul headquarters supports integrated work streams by:

• Providing technical and financial know-how through advisory services to country programs in GGGI’s four thematic areas of energy, green cities, sustainable landscapes and water;
• Working with the Green Growth Planning and Implementation Division (GGP&I) on the development of green growth policy and projects in the four thematic areas;
• Converting green growth experiences/best practices gained through country activities and engagement to global and sub-regional knowledge-sharing programs and national capacity building activities;
• Developing bankable projects for green growth implementation.  

Project Background:

Pacific Island Countries, and SIDS more generally, face common development challenges associated with their geography and size. As one of the region’s key challenges, rapid and largely unplanned urbanization threatens to undermine the sustainable development goals of many Pacific Island countries.

This urban regional project draws from and directly supports the GGGI urban sector strategy, in the mainstreaming of green growth into urban planning, including to create more resilient and sustainable cities and with reference to climate change adaptation in the Pacific Islands. The project seeks to meet a demonstrable need; to support and encourage governments at local and national level to address demands for affordable basic services and sustainable infrastructure while strengthening ecosystem services in line with Green Growth approaches in support of green cities. It seeks to shift thinking towards identifying the causes of ecosystem degradation and the possible solutions to reversing urban ecosystem decline in ways that strengthen ecosystem services in the Pacific region, and presents a case for investment to support this change.

In examining the specific vulnerabilities and urgent challenges facing island countries, outcomes for GGGI will have high transferable value with specific relevance for urban environments in other Small Island Developing States (SIDS).  

Objectives/Purpose of the Assignment:

The objective of this consultancy is to:

• Conduct an assessment on recent and present initiatives to support urban Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA) in the Pacific, including analysis of the principal causes of ecosystem degradation in urban and peri-urban areas with a focus on Fiji, Kiribati and Vanuatu, and which of the identified causes can be addressed in terms of strengthening ecosystem based adaptation and in what ways, providing a clear analysis of the EbA options available, their strengths and weaknesses, etc.
• The assessment will include documenting qualitative and quantitative evidence of EbA impact in SIDS, including relevant case studies.
• Mapping of national and international organizations that have led EbA related urban work in the Pacific.
• Relate EbA to enhanced climate resilience; analyze the impacts and benefits of the identified sectors on the existing ecosystem and livelihoods on the vulnerable segments of the affected communities; and also identify communities that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in this case.
• Identify three potential areas of intervention by GGGI in terms of sector priorities which match GGGI’s own strategic thematic areas.

The final deliverables of this assignment are outlined below.

Scope of Work:

Deliverable 1: Submission of Individual Work Plan and Overview of Approach. Upon the signing of the contract, the selected consultant will develop an individual work plan including her/his initial insights on the stakeholder consultation of urban based EbA; schedule for field visits and consultations with the government and stakeholders; methodology for desk research; and a proposed schedule of deliverable submissions, reflecting comments from GGGI’s teams. The submitted work plan shall be reviewed and agreed upon by GGGI.

Deliverable 2(a): Assessment of Urban EbA Interventions in Pacific Island Countries, with focus given to Fiji, Kiribati and Vanuatu.

The report, to be based on research, consultations with primary stakeholders, sectors and challenges, will define urban EbA in a Pacific Island setting, its potential value for climate change adaptation, livelihoods and green city development, and evaluate and identify the factors undermining urban ecosystem services in urban and peri-urban areas with a focus on Fiji, Kiribati and Vanuatu. The analysis will include which of the identified causes of ecosystem degradation can be addressed in terms of strengthening ecosystem based adaptation and in what ways, providing a clear analysis of the EbA options available, pros and cons, etc. This assessment will be based on both primary data and collected through meetings and field visits, and secondary data collected through desk review of relevant and comparable EbA interventions in the SIDS and PIC context. To support this assessment, the consultant will develop an overall methodology for quantitative and qualitative data collection to be shared with GGGI in advance of field trips. The number of visits, depending on the arising need, will be limited to one each for Vanuatu and Kiribati.

Deliverable 2(b): Identify three agreed areas of intervention. Derived from the outcomes of the study the consultant will develop three areas of intervention agreed upon after consultations with GGGI. The three areas must match and be in-line with GGGI’s strategic thematic areas of intervention. For this, it is expected that the consultant will have undertaken consultations with stakeholders, during which draft priorities will have been discussed, validated and finalized. The three areas of intervention will be summarized as short proposals (4-5 pages), attached as an annex to the report.

Deliverable 3. Presentation of the Report. The consultant will develop and deliver a presentation on the findings from the report to the GGGI team in a modality to be agreed. The final report, following review by GGGI, is expected to be submitted to GGGI in advance of this presentation.

Output/Reporting Requirements/Deliverables:

The Consultant will report to the GGGI project manager (HQ) & to GGGI Pacific Regional Representative (in Fiji), under the overall guidance of the Green Cities Sector Lead of Investment and Policy Solutions Division (IPSD).

S/he is expected to deliver following outputs per identified timeline and payment schedule below:

* negotiable

All reports must be in English (United States), prepared in accordance with GGGI’s publication and formatting requirements, and submitted in electronic formats along with complete sets of raw data, research materials, interview notes, meeting minutes and any related information gathered during the assignment.

If the Consultant is required by GGGI to travel  on official business to a location other than the Consultant’s Duty Station, upon prior written approval by GGGI, such travel shall be at the expense of GGGI in accordance with GGGI’s travel policy and guidelines. 

Qualifications/Experience/Expertise

• Advanced degree (at least Masters) in urban planning, urban economics, environmental sciences or other relevant fields
• At least 8 years’ relevant experience in urban planning, urban environmental management or comparable experience relevant to the assignment, preferably with background in SIDs and/or the Pacific Islands.  
• Strong analytical, drafting and editing skills are a prerequisite.
• Ability to work in teams and accommodate multiple inputs and respond in a timely manner.
• Ability to work across time zones and coordinate with a global team.

• Demonstrated experience in organizing and conducting stakeholder consultations with limited supervision. Consultancy/project experience in Pacific Island Countries desirable.
• Familiarity with the Pacific Island Countries including experience working with international organizations in the field.

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required

Documents to be submitted (Online application)

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover letter

*Shortlisted candidates may be requested to submit a less than two page workplan indicating applicant’s understanding of ToR, approaches to the assignment, and the tentative timeline to achieve deliverables prior to the interview.