Niger: Recruitment of an international consultant for the Assessment and capacity building of national actors to mobilize funds and develop projects for adaptation

Aug 10, 2020 | UNDP
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Africa in general and the Sahel in particular are among the areas most exposed to the adverse effects of climate change. Floods, drought, deforestation and the drying up of lake areas and their impacts on the lives of millions of people are just a few examples of the impacts of climate change affecting the lives and production practices of populations.

To face this situation, the international community mobilized, from 1992 at the Rio de Janeiro Conference, by drawing up the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a real permanent framework for discussion in which almost all the countries of the world have now joined.

Niger has joined in the same dynamic by signing and ratifying the UNFCCC respectively on June 11, 1992 and July 25, 1995, the Kyoto Protocol respectively on October 23, 1998 and March 17, 2004, and the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016 and September 21, 2016.

This commitment of Niger alongside the international community to fight against the harmful effects of climate change is explained by the fact that its biophysical characteristics and its low adaptive capacity in relation to a high prevalence of multidimensional poverty (89.9%) severity of 73.5%), and deeply rural (52.4%) and female (3 out of 4 poor are women), make it a country particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

In addition, the livelihoods of nearly 84% of the population depend on natural resources. Its underdeveloped economy and limited infrastructure are also combined with one of the highest population growth rates in the world (3.9%). In this context, climate change already represents major challenges for all sectors, in particular for agricultural productivity and food security.

Thus, since 1990, the Government of Niger has sought to respond to the consequences of climate change on its development. It has adopted several strategic documents such as the National Environment Plan for Sustainable Development (PNEDD), the National Strategy and its Action Plan on Climate Change and Variability (SNPA / CVC), the National Policy on Climate Change (PNCC) and the National Adaptation Action Program (PANA).

It submitted its Third National Communication (TCN) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Nationally Determined Contribution (CDN) in 2016. However, climate change continues to be seen as a sector problem and should be integrated into all development planning and budgeting processes.

Thus, in order to ensure the integration of climate change into medium and long-term planning processes, the Government of Niger launched the process of formulating and implementing its National Adaptation Plan (PNA) in May. 2014 with financial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), through the United Nations Program (UNDP). The project entitled "Advancing the Planning and Budgeting of Adaptation in the medium and long term in Niger" aims to eliminate the main barriers and to complement the capacity building activities underway in terms of taking climate change into account in development planning and budgeting at all levels.

It is within this framework that it is planned to assess and strengthen the capacities of national actors to mobilize funds and develop adaptation projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the responsibility and direct supervision of the project coordinator and in close collaboration with the Executive Secretariat of the National Environment Council for Sustainable Development (SE / CNEDD), the consultant will have the following tasks:

  • Take stock of the capacities of the institutions concerned to mobilize climate finance;
  • Offer training modules on Results Based Management and the various climate funds and their financial mechanisms;
  • Organize two trainings for national actors (staff of the National Implementation Entity, ministries and civil society) on Results Based Management and the different climate funds and their financial mechanisms;
  • Produce a study report and present it to a validation workshop.

Specifically, the following results are expected:

  • An inventory of the capacities of the institutions concerned to mobilize climate finance is carried out;
  • Training modules on Results Based Management and the various climate funds and their financial mechanisms are offered;
  • Two training sessions for national actors (staff of the National Implementation Entity, ministries and civil society) on Results Based Management and the various climate funds and their financial mechanisms are organized;
  • A study report is produced and presented at a validation workshop.

The following deliverables are expected from the study:

  • A framework note detailing the methodological approach used to conduct the study is proposed, as well as a work plan and a detailed chronogram of the study. A final version of this note will be submitted to the project coordination no later than five (5) days after the start-up briefing;
  • The draft report responding to the terms of reference accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation to be submitted to the assessment of the project coordination within twenty-five (25) days after the start;
  • The two trainings will be delivered within a ten (10) day period, with a report;
  • The final report integrating the recommendations of the validation workshop in electronic format. It must include a summary of the results of the study as well as a section on the methodology, the assessment of the capacities of the institutions concerned to mobilize climate finance, the training modules, the reports of the two trainings and in appendix, the terms reference of the study, the list of people met and the bibliography. The report will be submitted no later than seven (7) days after the workshop.

Competencies

  • Analytical skills (excellent analytical, synthesis, writing and presentation skills);
  • Communication skills (excellent oral and written interpersonal skills);
  • Teamwork (ability to work independently and in a team);
  • Be available to start work immediately after selection.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualification:

  • The international consultant should have a postgraduate degree in project development and management, planning or other related field.

Professional experience :

The consultant must justify:

  • Have at least ten (10) years of experience in their field of expertise;
  • Have conducted at least three (3) assessments of institutional capacities in mobilizing financial resources;
  • Have led at least two (2) capacity building processes in project management;
  • Have at least five (5) years of experience in mobilizing climate funds;
  • At least two (2) years of project management experience in Sub-Saharan Africa is an asset.

Language:

  • Excellent command of French.

How to Apply:

Interested Consultants must submit the following documents and information to prove their qualifications:

Technical offer:

  • Explain why they are best qualified for this job (cover letter ).
  • Provide a brief  methodology  of how they will approach and perform the work).
  • Personal CV , including experience gained in similar work and at least three (3) references.

Financial offer:

  • The financial offer must indicate the total amount of the package, as well as the precise and measurable payment terms (quantitatively and qualitatively) relating to the concrete results (i.e. whether the payments are to be phased or paid in full at the end of the contract) . Payments are based on outcome, that is, upon delivery of the services specified in the terms of reference. In order to assist the requesting department in the comparison of financial offers, the lump sum for each of these will be detailed (including travel, daily allowances and the number of working days planned.)

Rating:

  • Individual Consultants will be assessed as follows:

Cumulative analysis

Using this weighted evaluation method, a contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined to be, on the basis of:

  • Effective / compliant / acceptable, and
  • As having received the highest score, determined from a predefined set of weighted technical and financial criteria, specific to the request.
  • Weight of technical criteria; [70%]
  • Weight of financial criteria; [30%]
  • Only candidates who obtain a minimum of 70 out of 100 points will be taken into account for the financial evaluation.

Evaluation criteria:

Applicants will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Have a postgraduate degree in project development and management, planning or any other related field: 10 points;
  • Have at least ten (10) years of experience in their area of ​​expertise: 10 points;
  • Have carried out at least three (3) assessments of institutional capacities in mobilizing financial resources: 15 points;
  • Have led at least two (2) capacity building processes in project management: 15 points;
  • Have at least five (5) years of experience in mobilizing climate funds: 10 points;
  • Have at least two (2) years of experience in project management in sub-Saharan Africa: 5 points;
  • Have an excellent command of French: 5 points;
  • Work methodology: 30 points.

Selection criteria for the best proposal :

  • Only applications having obtained a score of at least 70 points out of the total of 100 points in the technical evaluation will be retained for a financial analysis;
  • The evaluation method that will be used is that of the best quality / price ratio (combined score). Priority will be given to the consultant's qualifications, but also to his financial proposal.