Consultancy Development of a Sub-Regional UNDP Project on Climate Security in the Sahel

Oct 18, 2020 | UNDP
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The Sahel region is facing deep-rooted challenges—environmental, climate change, political and security— that are affecting the prosperity and peace of the region. The area includes mostly arid and semi-arid places; and climate change has a strong influence on the day-to-day economic development of the region, particularly in terms of water, food security, health, ecosystems, and livelihoods.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), temperatures in the Sahel will increase 1.5 times faster than the global average. Rainfall has already become more unpredictable, and so have extreme droughts, flooding and sandstorms have become more frequent, and the predictions are that this trend will continue and increase in the future. Around 70 percent of the population in the region depends on rain-fed agriculture and livestock rearing for their livelihoods. The population has historically demonstrated its capacity to adapt and cope with the negative impacts of such extreme events. However, the impact of climate change, has rapidly increased the frequency of disasters in the past 20 years, which has eroded the adaptation and recovery capacities of the Sahelian population. For many families this implies that there is simply not enough time to recover and rebuild their assets before the next disaster strikes.

The relationship between livelihood, climate and natural disasters, has cumulatively resulted in high competition for access to shrinking natural resources, especially agriculture and pastoral lands and water. This is even more true in a region that is undergoing a rapid population growth and adds to the pressure on natural resources and access to basic services.

Juxtaposing this situation to the presence of terrorist and criminal groups in some parts of the Sahel has also increased the vulnerability of rural communities. Historical grievances have further complicated inter-group relations and political dynamics and State-building processes across the Sahelian countries. The inability of the States to adequately respond to the deep-seated grievances has also been exploited by violent extremists. Notably, extremist groups throughout the region have been able to capitalize on inter-communal divisions, on weak governance and service delivery at local level and the resentment against central governments.

Guided by Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN system in general and UNDP in particular has an important role to accompany governments and support civil society in West Africa and the Sahel in preventing and tackling the impact of climate change on, migration, conflict and security.

UNDP’s action

UNDP is a major actor for technical assistance on climate change adaptation, resilience building, livelihoods, disaster risk management, and in implementing the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund within the UN system. Together with DPPA and UNEP, it constitutes the core advisory capacity of the UN Climate Security Mechanism and with DPPA, it leads the Joint Program on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention. UNDP has designed key tools and approaches deployed UN system-wide on climate change, DRR and conflict prevention, including the UN Common Guidance on Helping Build Resilient Societies, the UNDG Conflict and Development Analysis Tool, and the Guidance on Post Disaster Needs Assessment in Conflict Situations.

UNDP’s action on the climate and security nexus in the Sahel region is led by UNDP’s sub-regional Hub for West and Central Africa in Dakar. It aims to (i) climate-proof conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts, (ii) strengthen conflict-sensitive approaches in climate change and disaster risk reduction policy and programming; and (iii) deliver an integrated/systemic-approach to climate resilience and sustaining peace, in fragile conflict-affected contexts.

The Sahel region is facing deep-rooted challenges—environmental, climate change, political and security— that are affecting the prosperity and peace of the region. The area includes mostly arid and semi-arid places; and climate change has a strong influence on the day-to-day economic development of the region, particularly in terms of water, food security, health, ecosystems, and livelihoods.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), temperatures in the Sahel will increase 1.5 times faster than the global average. Rainfall has already become more unpredictable, and so have extreme droughts, flooding and sandstorms have become more frequent, and the predictions are that this trend will continue and increase in the future. Around 70 percent of the population in the region depends on rain-fed agriculture and livestock rearing for their livelihoods. The population has historically demonstrated its capacity to adapt and cope with the negative impacts of such extreme events. However, the impact of climate change, has rapidly increased the frequency of disasters in the past 20 years, which has eroded the adaptation and recovery capacities of the Sahelian population. For many families this implies that there is simply not enough time to recover and rebuild their assets before the next disaster strikes.

The relationship between livelihood, climate and natural disasters, has cumulatively resulted in high competition for access to shrinking natural resources, especially agriculture and pastoral lands and water. This is even more true in a region that is undergoing a rapid population growth and adds to the pressure on natural resources and access to basic services.

Juxtaposing this situation to the presence of terrorist and criminal groups in some parts of the Sahel has also increased the vulnerability of rural communities. Historical grievances have further complicated inter-group relations and political dynamics and State-building processes across the Sahelian countries. The inability of the States to adequately respond to the deep-seated grievances has also been exploited by violent extremists. Notably, extremist groups throughout the region have been able to capitalize on inter-communal divisions, on weak governance and service delivery at local level and the resentment against central governments.

Guided by Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN system in general and UNDP in particular has an important role to accompany governments and support civil society in West Africa and the Sahel in preventing and tackling the impact of climate change on, migration, conflict and security.

Duties and Responsibilities

The overall objective of the consultancy is to develop a bankable UNDP regional project proposal on the climate, disaster and security nexus in the Sahel region.

To this end, the consultant will work under the leadership of the Head of the UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa in Dakar, and the direct supervision and guidance of the Regional Advisor on Resilience Building and Disaster Risk Reduction. The consultant will also work in close collaboration with other experts from the UNDP sub-regional hub, the UNDP thematic hub on resilience in Nairobi, and colleagues from other UNDP bureaus/entities as well as from other UN agencies, including UNOWAS in the region.

To achieve the objective, the consultant will conduct the following tasks:

Take stock of on-going UNDP initiatives related to the climate, disaster and conflict nexus in the Sahel region, and review relevant experiences from other regions, including in the area of climate change adaptation, natural resources management, resilience building, DRR, social cohesion, livelihoods and peace building.

Identify key actors involved in climate and security nexus in the Sahel region, including their main field of interventions, geographic focus, complementarity with UNDP’s work.

Conduct a review and analysis of the main potential donors and ongoing support on climate and security in the Sahel region, including the main thematic/programmatic area of interest; the geographic area and level (community, national regional, cross-border) of focus; the level of integration of their actions with other policy or programme action across a climate and security nexus.

Based on the above-mentioned work, draft a full UNDP regional project proposal. Following UNDP’s template and guidance,  the proposal will include, among other things, (i) an in-depth situation analysis of the development and peace and security challenges; (ii) a strong justification of the project implementation strategy based on a coherent theory of change, geographic focus and potential partnerships; (iii) a detailed description of the expected results, outputs and activities both at regional and country level; (iv) a proposition for project management arrangement and structure, and; (v) a detailed Results framework and budgeted multi-year annual work plan.

Deliverables

  1. A work plan including timeframe  (1 working day);
  2. A report on UNDP’s ongoing interventions of relevance in the region and experience of interest in other regions, the report should include a review on the actors involved in the field of climate security in the Sahel region  (7 working days);
  3. An analysis of the main donor’s area of financing and support in climate and security related field in the Sahel region (6 working days);
  4. A first draft concept note of the project that will propose (i) a theory of change; (ii) a justification of the geographic area, and; (iii) a short description of the expected results, outputs and activities ( 6 working days);
  5. A full UNDP regional project proposal on Climate security  (15 working days).

Competencies

Integrity and professionalism:

  • Demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment;
  • High degree of autonomy and ability to take ownership;
  • Willingness to accept responsibilities and ability to work independently;
  • Ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially;
  • Work in responsive and client-oriented manner.

Accountability:

  • Ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.

Planning, effective organizational and problem-solving skills:

  • Ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner;
  • Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work.

Teamwork

  • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Communication

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports;
  • Ability to make and defend recommendations;
  • Ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds;
  • Ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards colleagues, but objective, without showing personal interest.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced degree in Environment science, Natural Resources Management, Climate Change, Political science, Development Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies.

Experience:

  • At least 8 years of relevant work experience in the field of climate change adaptation, natural resources management, resilience building, peace building and conflict prevention;
  • Good knowledge and practical experience of the Sahel region;
  • Excellent analytical and drafting skills are required with proven experience in report writing in English and in writing project proposals;
  • Previous experience with the UN, Regional entities, and/or donors is desirable.

Language:

  • Full proficiency both oral and written in both English and French is required.

Computer skills:

  • Excellent computer literacy and skills on MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and overall report writing is required.

Evaluation

The consultant will be evaluated based on their experience and qualifications as well as an analysis of their methodological note and financial offer. The technical qualification and financial offer will be analysed at a 70 / 30 split. Methodological note and financial offer are assessed based on the terms of reference.

The candidate, methodological note and financial offer will be analysed based on the following criteria:

  • Advanced degree in Environment science, Natural resources management, Climate change political science development studies peace and conflict studies
  • Curriculum Vitae;
  • Scanned copies of diplomas;
  • An example of at least 2 similar work (project proposal) conducted;
  • Two reference letters from your former employer/supervisor;
  • A proposed methodology of work and timeline.

A financial proposal that should include:

The daily fee and the estimated total fee for the consultancy. (20 points) 20.

Experience

  • At least 8 years of relevant work experience in the field of climate change adaptation, natural resources management, resilience building, peace building and conflict prevention.
  • Good knowledge and practical experience of the Sahel region
  • Excellent analytical and drafting skills are required with proven experience in report writing in English and in writing project proposals
  • Previous experience with the UN, Regional entities, and/or donors is desirable (15 points) 30

Expertise and Competences

  • Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept responsibilities and ability to work independently; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; work in responsive and client-oriented manner.
  • Accountability: ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.  (10 points)
  • Planning, effective organizational and problem-solving skills: ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work.
  • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.  (10 points) 20

Technical Offer

Completion of a technical note (methodology) based on the TORs, including a timeline for the work carried out.  (30) 30

Total  100