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Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Expert-retainer

Home Based - May require travel

  • Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
  • Location: Home Based - May require travel
  • Grade: Mid level - IICA-3, International Individual Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Environment
    • Agriculture and Forestry
    • Climate Change
    • Climate
    • Documentation and Information Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background Information - Job-specific

The risks and impacts associated with long-term climate change poses significant challenges to the people and economy of Sudan. Already burdened with recurrent droughts, food insecurity, water problems, malaria outbreaks and high poverty levels, Sudan's development efforts have struggled even with current climatic change and variability. Moreover, predicted climate change shows an amplification and increase in the frequency of many of the climate related hazards affecting the country and especially the livelihoods of more than 60% of the population that is dependent on traditional, rain-fed agriculture and pastoral practices. Climate change is therefore threatening to reverse progress towards development through negatively impacting lives and livelihoods, either directly or as a compounding factor towards existing vulnerabilities.

One of Sudan’s most vulnerable region that is severely impacted by climate change induced hazards (droughts and floods) is the White Nile State especially the western region of the state. As indicated in Sudan’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA-2007) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP-2016), small holder rainfed farmers and pastoralists in the White Nile State are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to inappropriate and unsustainable agricultural practices, insufficient water and land management and lack of alternative non-agricultural and non-pastoral income generating activities. Most notably, increasing temperatures, decreasing trends of annual precipitation as well as increased variability, are causing a gradual shift of arid ecological zones from north to south. As a result, climate change impacts in White Nile State have already been manifested in declining crop and animal productivity, loss of grazing resources and rangeland valuable species, land degradation, increased frequency of human, animal and crop diseases, loss of livelihoods and human migration in search for jobs and alternative livelihoods.

In response to this, the project “Enhancing the resilience of communities living in climate change vulnerable areas of Sudan using Ecosystem-Based approaches to Adaptation (EbA)” (also known as Sudan ecosystem-based adaptation project) was developed with the overall aim of increasing the resilience of livelihoods and integrated productive agricultural systems in the White Nile State through ecosystem-based adaptation approaches. This will be achieved through mainstreaming of ecosystem-based adaptation approaches at both national, state and local (community) levels by strengthening government awareness and capacity for implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation at all levels. The project will build the climate resilience of ecosystems and local communities in the White Nile State by improving their access to ecosystem services, such as agriculture, food and water. It will also support communities to manage agro-ecological systems in a sustainable manner while at the same time increasing rangeland productivity. Climate-resilient ecosystems will therefore be expected to increase the adaptive capacity of local communities by providing an important buffer against extreme weather events. Simultaneously, the project will also facilitate the upscaling of such benefits to the national level by mainstreaming ecosystem-based adaptation and climate change adaptation into policies. Furthermore, cost-benefit analyses of ecosystem-based adaptation interventions will be conducted and successful cost-effective ecosystem-based adaptation measures will be codified and disseminated across sectors. The project is expected to achieve the following outcomes:

Outcome 1:       Improved and strengthened technical capacity of local, state and national                                     institutions to plan, implement and upscale ecosystem-based adaptation.

Outcome 2:       Reduced vulnerability of local communities to climate change impacts in the                                 White Nile State.

Outcome 3:       Strengthened information base and knowledge on ecosystem-based adaptation                           and its cost-effectiveness are readily available for various uses.

Implementation of the Sudan ecosystem-based adaptation project will therefore support restoration and conservation of ecological structure and functioning in order to ensure sustainable supply of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help human and natural systems in White Nile State to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. In turn, this will result to multiple environmental, social, economic, and cultural co-benefits for local communities and therefore enhance their resilience to climate change impacts, protection of their livelihoods, poverty alleviation and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions among other benefits.

The Sudan ecosystem-based adaptation project is in the 2nd year of implementation and is financed by Global Environment Facility (GEF)/Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) through UN Environment (UNEP) with the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources (HCENR) as the executing partner.

Functional Responsibilities

III. Scope of work
Overall, the Ecosystem-based Adaptation Expert will be responsible for providing technical guidance to the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of an ecosystem-based adaptation approach to assist communities to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change at local, State and National levels.

IV. Functional Responsibilities

The Ecosystem-based Adaptation Expert will support capacity building of various stakeholders (Project Management Unit, State Technical Committee, National and White Nile State government representatives, Village Development Committees and Water Users Associations) on ecosystem-based adaptation interventions and climate-resilient land/water management techniques by developing of ecosystem-based adaptation focused protocols, management and monitoring plans, strategy for the long-term sustainability and maintenance of the project’s ecosystem-based adaptation activities and training materials. This will involve elaborating and testing these products with the project management unit and targeted beneficiaries including State Technical Committee, National government and White Nile State government representatives, Village Development Committees, Water Users Associations and local communities.

Specifically, the expert will undertake the following activities:

  • Develop a template protocol that outlines the standard procedure and guidelines to identify/verify sites to carry out specific ecosystem-based adaptation interventions and guide the implementation process of the interventions in targeted villages based on climate change predictions.
  • Develop a template community-based ecosystem-based adaptation intervention management and monitoring plans and a strategy for the long-term sustainability and maintenance of the project’s ecosystem-based adaptation activities to generate long-term benefits.
  • Train the Project Management Unit and State Technical Committee on the application (including piloting) of template protocol, template community-based ecosystem-based adaptation intervention management and monitoring plans as well as a strategy for the long-term sustainability and maintenance of the project’s ecosystem-based adaptation activities to generate long-term benefits.
  • Develop training materials/modules on implementation, maintenance, monitoring, and coordination of ecosystem-based adaptation and climate-resilient land/water management techniques.
Facilitate Training of Trainers (ToTs) on implementation, maintenance, monitoring, and coordination of ecosystem-based adaptation and climate-resilient land/water management techniques targeting National & Local government representatives, Village Development Committees, and Water User Associations representatives. 

V. Conduct of work
The Ecosystem-based Adaptation Expert will be invited periodically during the 2nd and 3rd project year to undertake field visits to project sites in White Nile State, work with the Project Management Unit and its consultants, and members of the project’s White Nile State Technical Committee to develop guidance towards ecosystem-based adaptation.
V. Deliverables, tentative timeframe and proposed payment schedule

The Ecosystem-based Adaptation Expert will be responsible for ensuring a timely and satisfactory completion and submission of the deliverables listed below. The deliverables should be in English but will later be translated into Arabic version. Once deliverables are approved, payment will be made as follows:

No

Deliverables

Deliverables indicative due date

Percentage of total payment

1.

Inception report

June 2019

10%

2.

Template protocol that outline the standard procedure and guidelines to identify/verify sites to carry out specific ecosystem-based adaptation interventions and guide the implementation process of the interventions

September 2019

30%

3.

Template community-based ecosystem-based adaptation intervention management and monitoring plans

4.

Strategy for the long-term sustainability and maintenance of the project’s ecosystem-based adaptation activities

5.

Training of the Project Management Unit and State Technical Committee on the application (including piloting) of:

  1. Template protocol;
  2. Template community-based ecosystem-based adaptation intervention management and monitoring plans;
  3. Strategy for the long-term sustainability and maintenance of the project’s ecosystem-based adaptation activities.

(Training materials and training report should also be submitted)

December 2019

30%

6.

Training materials/modules on implementation, maintenance, monitoring, and coordination of ecosystem-based adaptation and climate-resilient land/water management techniques.

April 2020

7.

Facilitation of Training of Trainers (ToTs) on implementation, maintenance, monitoring, and coordination of ecosystem-based adaptation and climate-resilient land/water management techniques at:

  1. National level  (national government representatives and selected stakeholders);
  2. State level (local government representatives and selected project stakeholders);
  3. Community level (Village Development Committees, and Water User Associations representatives).

(Training report should be submitted)

September 2020

30%

VI. Management arrangements

The Ecosystem-based Adaptation Expert will be contracted by UNOPS and will report administratively to the contracting authority and technically to the Secretary General of the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources (HCENR), who is the National Project Director of the Sudan ecosystem-based adaptation project, and to the UN Environment Task Manager responsible for the project. On a day-to-day basis the expert will be supervised by the National Project Coordinator of the project. The expert will also be expected to work closely with other project team members (Chief Technical Advisor, Monitoring & Reporting Expert and State Coordinator) as well as project consultants and White Nile State Technical Committee while undertaking this assignment.




Education

  • Advanced University Degree in Climate Change Adaptation, Ecosystem Management, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science/Studies or other relevant discipline is required. 
  • University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) Degree in Climate Change Adaptation, Ecosystem Management, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science/Studies or other relevant discipline with 2 additional years of experience.    

Experience

  • Demonstrated thorough understanding of Ecosystem-based Adaptation with at least 7 years of professional experience in Climate Change Adaptation. Experience in spearheading climate change adaptation initiatives is required. Using Ecosystem-based Adaptation approaches will be an added advantage;
  • Minimum of 5 years of  professional experience in development of protocols management and monitoring plans related to climate change adaptation using Ecosystem-based Adaptation approaches;
  • Experience in development of training materials and facilitation of trainings on climate change adaptation for a variety of stakeholders is an advantage;
  • Experience in working in arid and semiarid ecosystems in Africa will be an added advantage;
  • Good analytical problem solving skills is an asset;
  • Proven writing, analysis and presentation skills is an advantage;
  • Flexibility and ability to operate in different cultural settings and with a variety of stakeholders as well as institutions and agencies such as government, civil society, international organizations, donors etc is an asset. 
  • Previous experience of working in the Horn of Africa Region especially Sudan.  

Languages

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Working knowledge of Arabic will be considered an asset

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above)
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement Contract level: IICA 3
Contract duration: 2 years retainer position 



For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

Additional Considerations

  • Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
  • Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
  • Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
  • UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
  • For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
  • The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  
  • its a family duty station. 

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.


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