Lead consultant

Consultant to lead the project preparation phase (PPG) of the “Integration of climatic variability and change into national strategies to implement the ICZM protocol in the Mediterranean” project and develop a regional adaptation framework for climate change.

Background 

Within the framework of UNEP GEF project preparation grant (PPG) for the project “Integration of climatic variability and change into national strategies to implement the ICZM protocol in the Mediterranean” a consultancy contract will be awarded to undertake activities related to the development of a Full Size Project (FSP) document and to the coordination of all activities for the PPG phase.

In addition UNEP/MAP was requested during the 16th contracting parties meeting in 2009 to assist countries in taking a regional and coordinated approach to climate change adaptation in the marine and coastal zone environment.

Therefore a project coordinator/climate expert (hereinafter “consultant”) will be required to lead the PPG of the “Integration of climatic variability and change into national strategies to implement the ICZM Protocol in the Mediterranean” project and develop a regional adaptation framework for climate change. Please see the job description for more details on the PPG phase of the climatic variability and change project and the regional adaptation framework for the climate change. 

Purpose 

The consultant is required to assist UNEP/MAP with both the coordination of the PPG phase of the climate variability and change project due for submission to GEF in 2011 and to also respond to the mandate to develop a regional adaptation framework for climate change. 

The purpose of the PPG phase of the project is to undertake the activities, national consultations and discussions with donors in order to fully develop a proposal for submission to GEF for approval, including secured co-financing as indicated in the PIF. As such a lead consultant is required to coordinate the activities of the 12 month PPG phase and following national consultations draft and finalise the full project document and request for CEO endorsement in cooperation with UNEP/MAP.

The purpose of the consultant to prepare the regional adaptation framework is to respond to countries request for assistance in a regional approach that addresses climate change adaptation through cooperation, strengthening institutional mechanisms and ensuring transfer of knowledge.

There is a strong justification to combining both tasks into one ToR, the climate variability preparation phase will undertake some initial analysis into the issue of climate variability and change, identifying hotspots, summarising scientific and policy information at the national and regional level, identifying knowledge and capacity gaps, etc. The focus will be on the issues of biodiversity, natural resources, fisheries and civil protection in the marine and coastal zone. This information will assist in the development of the regional adaptation framework, which will in turn focus more on policy and governance, and through national and regional workshops will assess the impact of climate change to specific sectors, such as coastal agriculture, tourism, urbanization and natural resources.

The consultant will be responsible to ensure coordination of activities of several (to be defined) additional consultants to be recruited to assist in the climate variability preparation phase and three consultants to assist in the preparation of the regional adaptation framework, including the development of their ToRs.

Qualifications required 

- A higher academic qualification (PhD or MSC) in an environment-related field 
- At least 5 years experience of project management, development and implementation
- Knowledge of GEF project development and management, with preferably an understanding of the GEF international waters portfolio and requirements
- Working experience on the Mediterranean environmental, preferably on coastal and marine issues;
- Good understanding of coastal zone management and climate variability and change impacts in the Mediterranean;
- Excellent writing and analytical skills required, and knowledge of inter-governmental processes for the development of regional environmental policies.

Final results

Climate variability/change PPG: 

- Agreement with all key national and regional stakeholders on the project activities for the full scale project (and climate change framework);
- Securing the co-financing for the full size GEF project
- Development of request for CEO endorsement and full project document, (includes: baseline analysis, project strategies specifying objective, outcomes, outputs and activities, coordination mechanisms with other initiatives, regional and national initiatives, work-plan and budget, M&E Plan, stakeholders involvement plan and co-financing letters)
- Finalization of full project documents and annexes (including responses to GEF, UNEP, and STAP Review).
- Organize, participate and report to the PPG steering committee meeting.

Regional adaptation framework for climate change: 

- Organises and ensures the following activities are carried out in close consultation with UNEP/MAP and the contracting parties.
- Assessment of regional initiatives, policy and governance related to climate change in the Mediterranean, including the EU Climate change strategy, the Union for the Mediterranean etc., and how to ensure enhanced cooperation and harmonised planning;
- Assessments at national level – mechanisms and actions currently in place for climate change adaptation, current practices, status of policy, inter-sectoral cooperation and coordination, etc.
- Sectoral analysis, with possible focus on coastal agriculture, tourism and coastal cities
- Draft regional adaptation framework for climate change to include technological policy and institutional recommendations and adaptation/risk management strategies
- Initiative of a regional knowledge network for the exchange and sharing of experience and knowledge amongst all stakeholder

Travel involved 

The consultant will be based at the UNEP/MAP coordination unit in Athens, Greece, and under this assignment, will need to travel to participating countries as approved by the deputy coordinator.

Reporting lines

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Deputy Coordinator in close cooperation with the Programme Manager of the MedPartnership.  Cleared by the officer in charge of MAP, Ms Maria Luisa Silva Mejias