Details
Mission and objectives
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is committed to helping Uzbekistan build a modern, prosperous, democratic society, based on responsive government systems, people prepared for future challenges and opportunities, and an inclusive green economy. UNDP first became active in Uzbekistan in 1993, and has over subsequent decades implemented hundreds of projects alongside the national government, business, civil society and academic. We are proud to be both Uzbekistan’s primary development partner and a leading member of the UN Family. Through the continued trust of the Government of Uzbekistan, close collaboration with our fellow UN agencies and the support of national and international donors, UNDP has helped build Uzbekistan’s market economy, modernize its government, and improve the lives of its most vulnerable citizens. In addition, UNDP has helped Uzbekistan tackle some of the most prominent ecological and environmental challenges it has faced over past years. The directions of UNDP’s work in Uzbekistan reflect the current UN Country Programme Document (CPD) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2021-2025. They also align with the national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the 2030 Agenda, and Uzbekistan’s Development Strategy for 2017-2021. Throughout 2020 UNDP helped address the national health and socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is continuing to actively assist in Uzbekistan’s inclusive, green recovery.
Context
This international UNV assignment is a part of UNDP global initiative on the Leveraging Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to achieve net-zero emissions and climate-resilient development, in response to the climate emergency. Within the global initiative, a project “Climate resilient livelihoods of horticultural producers in Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan” is launched by UNDP Uzbekistan. This project is funded by the Government of Japan and aims at supporting the country’s climate adaptation efforts as per COP26 outcomes and the more ambitious NDC committed by Uzbekistan. Adaptation is a high priority for Uzbekistan, as the warming trends observed are twice as fast as the global average and result in water stress, increasing climate aridity, and more frequent extreme weather events. This poses serious challenges to human security, including economic, food and environmental risks, and calls for urgent, people-centred, prevention-oriented responses focused on marginalized groups. Agriculture, which is an important sector for rural employment, is climate-sensitive and vulnerable. Therefore, the project is expected to increase climate resilience of horticultural production of 300 direct project beneficiaries - rural households and small/medium-size agricultural businesses (gender and youth sensitive) who will have access to evidence-based information/recommendations from 10 small and inexpensive agro-meteo stations to be installed in target districts. Installation of 15 automated agro-meteo stations/posts in 40 districts of 3 provinces in Fergana Valley, will indirectly strengthen livelihoods and food security of 9,876,000 people (incl. women and youth) living in this region. At the same time, 1.4 mln dehkans and farmers (3% of Uzbekistan’s rural population) will indirectly benefit from climate forecast and early warnings, that will be generated by the modernized agro-meteo observation network of the Fergana Valley, which is an integrated part of the national agro-meteo network. Relevant staff of the Uzhydromet and experts of other institutions responsible for provision of agro-meteo information/services and climate-resilient agriculture related recommendations will be trained and will improve their operational capacities through partnerships with the advanced meteorological agencies, producers of agro-meteorological observation equipment/software, and transfer of best practices/expertise on weather forecasting and early warning systems.
Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the overall guidance of the Lead of Environment and Climate Action Cluster and direct supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the relevant UNDP colleagues, the International UN Volunteer Climate-Informed Horticulture Production Expert will have the following duties and responsibilities: 1. Improve delivery of agrometeorological information for climate-resilient fruit and vegetable production • Review the international best practices of methodologies and approaches on forecasting risks of irrigation water availability, stress or deficiency with consideration of sufficient lead time of the corresponding early warnings for crops and horticulture (vegetables, fruits, etc.) products, and propose the most suitable options that can be adopted for agriculture, climate change impacts and environment in Fergana Valley; • Estimate potential yield and associated monetary losses during water deficient years by farming, dehkans, agricultural clusters and cooperatives and rural households engaged in horticulture (vegetables, fruits, etc.) production; • Formulate recommendations on replacement of the water-intensive crops (wheat, cotton, rice, maize) by drought-resistant and climate-resilient ones (vegetables, fruits, etc.) to avoid substantial yield and monetary losses during water deficient years; • Present proposed methodologies, approaches, estimates of potential yield and financial losses, and recommendations to the Uzhydromet professionals and project stakeholders through workshops to be organized by the project. 2. Improve access to climate-focused forecasts of possible outbreaks of diseases and pests • Analyze adopted methodologies, innovative approaches and best practices on forecasting the climate risks of outbreaks of diseases and pests that might affect the horticulture sector; • Develop recommendations on strengthening the climate-induced diseases and pests control, in particular during water stress periods by farms, dehkans, agricultural clusters and cooperatives, and rural households; • Cooperate with the State Plants Quarantine Inspection in Fergana Valley and other relevant stakeholders to verify the formulated recommendations; • Conduct training on preventive measures on climate-induced diseases/pests spreading and applying integrated pest management and control for the State Plants Quarantine Inspection staff and other project stakeholders. 3. Introduce climate-informed planning of agricultural products • Develop a Concept on strategic planning of fruits and vegetables production in the face of increasing climate risks (drought, cold waves, heavy rainfall, dust storms) with consideration of awareness raising and improving access to climate information for farming, dehkans, agricultural clusters and cooperatives, and rural households and various population groups; • Assist in identification of potential Japanese counterparts (relevant public agencies, production companies, NGOs, private sector) to cooperate and establish partnership with the project and its stakeholders. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs • As an active UNDP Uzbekistan team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNDP Uzbekistan and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: o Concept Note on improving delivery of information about irrigation water availability to avoid yield and monetary losses developed; o Concept Note on improving access to climate-focused forecasts of possible outbreaks of diseases and pests developed; o Concept on strategic planning of climate-resilient fruits and vegetables production developed and submitted; o Relevant Japanese public agencies, production companies, NGOs, and private companies identified and proposed for cooperation/partnership by the project stakeholders. • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment; • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed