Senior Capacity Building Expert

Background

The Global Environment Facility (GEF)The Global Environment Facility (GEF) (www.thegef.org) unites 183 member governments—in partnership with international institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector—to address global environment issues. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer and persistent organic pollutants. Since 1991, the GEF has provided US$12.5 billion in grants and leveraged US$58 billion in co-financing for 3,690 projects in 165 developing countries. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP) the GEF has made more than 20,000 grants totaling about US$1 billion to civil society and community-based organizations.The GEF International Waters (IW) focal area targets transboundary water systems, such as shared river basins, lakes, groundwater and large marine ecosystems. The IW portfolio comprises 242 projects to date and some US$1.4 billion of GEF grants invested in 149 different countries. This investment has leveraged about US$8.4 billion in co-financing.UNDP GEF funded Kura Project “Advancing Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM)  across the Kura river basin through implementation of the transboundary agreed actions and national plans” will be implementing the Strategic Action Program for the Kura River Basin in partnership with the Governments of Georgia and Azerbaijan. The SAP is framed around four agreed Ecosystem Quality Objectives (EQO) which are:

• To achieve sustainable utilization of water resources to ensure access to water and preserve ecosystem services;
• To achieve water quality such that it would ensure access to clean water for present and future generations and sustain ecosystem functions in the Kura river basin;
• To achieve and maintain ecosystem status whereby they provide essential environmental and socio-economic services in a sustainable manner in the Kura River Basin; and,
• To achieve mitigation of adverse impacts of flooding and climate change on infrastructures, riparian ecosystems and communities.

The GEF will support priority activities towards these objectives. The GEF funded SAP implementation Project has the objective “to integrate water resources management in the Kura river basin to address water-energy-food-ecosystem security nexus through the implementation of agreed actions in the SAP”.There will be five components to support the countries to achieve this objective. These are:

• Project Component 1: Establishment of effective cross sectoral IWRM governance protocols at the local, national and transboundary levels in the Kura Basin;
• Project Component 2: Strengthening national capacities to implement multi-sectoral IWRM in the Kura basin;
• Project Component 3: Stress reduction in critical areas and pre-feasibility studies to identify investment opportunities for improving river system health;
• Project Component 4: Targeted education and involvement projects to empower stakeholders in implementing local / national / regional actions in support of SAP implementation;
• Project Component 5: Enhancing science for governance by strengthening monitoring, information management and data analysis systems for IWRM.

Duties and Responsibilities

Outcome 1: 

• Provide expert guidance on the implementation of data collection for staged of environmental flow methodologies, provide guidance on efficient water use efforts in coordination with the International expert on Water Supply and Demand, provide guidance for pollution abatement plan development working with the International Expert on Pollution Abatement and Law Enforcement, including needed capacity to maintain and improve approaches - linked to the Project Outcome 2.1: Capacity building training programs for IWRM professionals for different target groups
• Provide technical inputs into intersectoral policy coordination, public private partnership including green technology guides to be developed by the project team.

Outcome 2: 

• Primary responsibility to ensure that the capacity building programs and efforts based meet the needs of the beneficiary and key stakeholder based on practical applied experience; 
• Based on the baseline assessment of needs for relevant agencies for Capacity Building coordinate specific capacity building goals working with relevant agencies, identify trainees to participate in capacity building efforts, and outline future training needs; 
• Conduct at least 2-3 modules of capacity building for select stakeholders based on expertise
• Provide technical guidance to international experts in the training process and provide trainings, if needed; Organize involvement of training participants in relevant aspects of project implementation so that capacity building links with sustainable implementation post-project; 
• Provide technical capacity building strategy to be undertaken by International Experts, based on agreed baselines and common needs. 
• Provide level appropriate technical input into design of curriculum for online certification program - work with Communications Officer, CTA, and international experts;
• Develop a set of Project Briefs on “Relevant Aspects of IWRM for Decision Makers” based on trainings by internationals and personal experience
• Conduct evaluations of trainings, and adjust as needed. Ensure proper training materials are provided; 
• Oversee quality of online training materials and suitability for Ministerial uses.

Outcome 3: 

• Advise PCU on complementarity of capacity building efforts, international experts inputs, and trainings linked to stress reduction measures to enhance on-the-job-training experiences and applications, specifically rational water use, pollution abatement, and river restoration international best practices.

Outcome 4: 

• Extend capacity building efforts to wider stakeholder groups, where possible link with component 2 activities, in cooperation with the Project Communication Officer; 
• Advise on knowledge management tool development and sharing with stakeholders at all levels.

Outcome 5: 

• Provide Senior official level consultancy services for all aspect of the Project Component 5: Enhancing science for governance by strengthening monitoring, information management and data analysis systems for IWRM, through coordination with capacity building to ensure long term sustainability of project efforts and harmonization of approaches.

Key Results of consultancy:

• Provide technical expertise based on professional experience into the recruitment, methodological oversight, and evaluations of national firms to conduct staged environmental flow data collection, rational water use, pollution abatement prefeasibility studies; and river restoration, in line with international best practices for adaptation at the national and regional levels;
• Provide technical feedback to International Experts in training efforts in the first 6 months of 2018 and develop Capacity Building Strategy Stage I Evaluation, and annual Stage II and Stage III Strategies, based on international expert’s reports, initial trainings, participant evaluations, and key stakeholder inputs regarding emerging needs, and project management feedback, including Monitoring and Evaluation criteria, and guidance to the oversight of the implementation of these strategies, present findings of evaluations, and strategies to CTA, and Project Steering Committee for authorization;
• Conduct IWRM Academy Trainings – Basics of IWRM for rising decision makers -  over 3 blocks in both countries in conjunction with project staff, to develop national IWRM trainers on staff and among future trainers, to be offered annually in both countries;
• Conduct trainings specific to the regional needs on Gender Mainstreaming in Water Resources Management, Climate change adaptation, Advanced IWRM for rising decision makers, and Advanced Environmental Flows Methods and Data Analysis, as well as up to 6 specific other topic specific trainings identified in the Annual Stage II and Stage III Capacity Building Strategies. If additional International Experts in agreed strategies are needed to provide technical inputs, draft technical specification and ToRs for additional international experts;
• Participate in GEF IW:LEARN International Waters Global International Water Conference to share project efforts, and prepare a report on lessons learned and resources available for future capacity building work
• Oversight of trainings, evaluations, training materials including development of training materials for Ministries to use after project completion; Baseline and needs assessment for stakeholder education efforts, including the on-line modules to be developed based on trainings;
• Develop a series of Briefings for Decision Makers in multiple sectors on “Relevant Benefits of successful IWRM implementation” based on capacity building efforts;
• Provide technical guidance and inputs on trainings for non-governmental stakeholders as outlined in Component 4; 
• Ensure sustainable linkages between capacity building efforts and other project components, especially Component 1 on Institutional Development for IWRM including Environmental flows, pollution abatement legal institutions, National and regional coordination, and public private partnerships, Component 3 on complementarity of capacity building efforts, international experts inputs, and trainings linked to stress reduction measures to enhance on-the-job-training experiences and applications, specifically rational water use, pollution abatement, and river restoration international best practices; and Component 5 Enhancing science for governance by strengthening monitoring, information management and data analysis systems for IWRM, through coordination with capacity building to ensure long term sustainability of project efforts and harmonization of approaches based on professional experiences.

Information on Working Arrangements: 

• Timeline for delivery of services will be agreed with the supervisor at the beginning of each month in writing
• Senior Capacity Building Expert will report to the Project Chief Technical Advisor / Regional Project Coordinator (CTA/RPC). 
• Payments will be made once a month upon submitted satisfactory progress report against deliverables and approved timesheets providing details of time spent on respective deliverables, their timely execution and acceptance by the CTA/RPC.

Competencies

Functional competencies

• Excellent communication and management skills and demonstrable capacity to work with a multi-national team and to work with government institutions;
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategies and communication plans;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; 
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; 
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Masters degree in water resource engineering, or related fields required; Masters degree focusing on hydrological modeling a strong advantage. 

Experience

• At least 6 years of demonstrated experience in development and oversight of technical capacity building programs for water managers, with proven experience in multi-sector governmental settings required; experience in application of technical and institutional approaches to improved water management in transboundary and water-scarce regions is an advantage; experience with application of incentives for private sector environmental improvements is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building programs includes at least in three of the areas required, with additional areas an advantage: integrated water resources management for agriculture, energy, municipal water supplies; use of water nexus/ integrated flow management practices; pollution abatement and enforcement mechanisms; information management and decision support systems for integrated sustainable water management; GIS and remote sensing techniques in water resources management; application of mathematical models in integrated water resources management and water use efficiency for supply and demand models; water quality monitoring in line with international standards; gender mainstreaming in water management; staged environmental flows methodologies; application of economic approaches to integrated natural resources management is an asset; impacts and solutions of hazardous wastes contamination; using environmental engineering for applied constructed wetlands projects; stakeholder engagement and small scale community-led projects; climate change adaptation; and training-of-trainers for IWRM.
• Experience in implementation of integrated national and transboundary water resource management strategies considering transboundary waters issues and national IWRM plan priorities is required; experience in capacity building at multiple levels for multiple sectors in CIS region is an asset; strong familiarity with priority water management issues in the CIS River basins, including national mutli-sector and transboundary challenges, and future development plans is an asset; familiarity with the Kura River Basin is an additional asset; familiarity and sensitivity to wider regional economic development trends shaping water resource management in the CIS  Basins is an asset; applied experience in Azerbaijan and Georgia with an emphasis on transboundary water management, and proposed solutions is an asset;  experience with gender mainstreaming for water management projects in interdisciplinary teams at national and regional levels an additional asset. 
• Experience in working with UN, World Bank or GEF through multiple sectors/ministries is required; experience in GEF International Waters is an asset; experience with the UN, World Bank or GEF at the highest governmental levels in both national and transboundary contexts is an asset; and, familiarity with international and regional environmental conventions is an asset.

Language: 

• English is the working language for this assignment, therefore excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required.

Evaluation of Applicants Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only those candidates who will obtain min. 70% of points will be invited for the next stage of the technical evaluation and financial proposal evaluation.  Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Criteria A – Master degree in water resource engineering, or related fields is required; Masters degree focusing on hydrological modeling is a strong advantage, (max 10 pts.); 
• Criteria B  – At least 8 years of demonstrated experience in development and oversight of technical capacity building programs for water managers, with proven experience in multi-sector governmental settings required; experience in application of technical and institutional approaches to improved water management in transboundary and water-scarce regions is an advantage; experience with application of incentives for private sector environmental improvements is desired (max 10 pts.);
• Criteria C – Demonstrated experience in capacity building programs includes at least in three of the areas required, with additional areas an advantage: integrated water resources management for agriculture, energy, municipal water supplies; use of water nexus/ integrated flow management practices; pollution abatement and enforcement mechanisms; information management and decision support systems for integrated sustainable water management; GIS and remote sensing techniques in water resources management; application of mathematical models in integrated water resources management and water use efficiency for supply and demand models; water quality monitoring in line with international standards; gender mainstreaming in water management; staged environmental flows methodologies; application of economic approaches to integrated natural resources management; impacts and solutions of hazardous wastes contamination; using environmental engineering for applied constructed wetlands projects; stakeholder engagement and small scale community-led projects; climate change adaptation; and training-of-trainers for IWRM.(max 15 pts.);
• Criteria D – Experience in implementation of integrated national and transboundary water resource management strategies considering transboundary waters issues and national IWRM plan priorities in the CIS region is required; experience in capacity building at multiple levels for multiple sectors in CIS region is an asset; strong familiarity with priority water management issues in the Kura River basin, including national mutli-sector and transboundary challenges, and future development plans is an asset; familiarity and sensitivity to wider regional economic development trends shaping water resource management in the Kura Basin is an asset; applied experience in Azerbaijan and Georgia with an emphasis on transboundary water management, and proposed solutions is an asset;  experience with gender mainstreaming for water management projects in interdisciplinary teams at national and regional levels an additional asset. (Max 10 points)
• Criteria E -  Experience in working with UN, World Bank or GEF through multiple sectors/ministries is required; experience in GEF International Waters is an asset; experience with the UN, World Bank or GEF at the highest governmental levels in both national and transboundary contexts is an asset; and, familiarity with international and regional environmental conventions is an asset. (max 10 pts.);
• Criteria F – Interview – communication and technical skills (related to criteria A-E above) (max 15 pts).

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.Application ProcedureQualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website.The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
• Financial Proposal - specifying A) all inclusive daily fee in in USD for tasks specified in this announcement and B) travel to and from the duty station. Costs of possible missions must NOT be included in the lump sum amount as these will be paid separately as per UNDP rules and regulations.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). Travel costs for missions will be covered separately according to UNDP rules and regulations.Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org. General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply. Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.