South Sudan: International Consultant for National Capacity Self-Assessment

Apr 8, 2016 | UNDP
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South Sudan is a signatory to the following multi-lateral environment agreements UNCBD, UNCCD, and UNFCCC, accordingly, the new nation is required to implement the commitments of these agreements, but has limited human, institutional, and infrastructural capacities. These MEAs provide an opportunity to achieve South Sudan national development objectives through promotion of partnerships, technology transfer and capacity building for sustainable natural resource management. It is very important for South Sudan to embark on implementation of the provisions in UNCBD, UNCCD, and UNFCCC because the national economy and livelihoods of its people largely depend on Natural Resources. South Sudan also needs to implement commitments in UNCBD, UNCCD, and UNFCCC as a mean of conserving its critical biodiversity and deal with vulnerability issues associated with drought and other related disasters. Through GEF’s funding support, South Sudan intends to undertake an individual, institutional and systemic capacity needs assessment and identify for the implementation of the Rio conventions under this NCSA project.

The objectives of South Sudan’s NCSA project are to (a) identify gaps and priority areas for capacity building at various levels; (b) identify gaps and overlaps across the activities to enhance synergies; and (c) generate an action plan for implementation of capacity building activities for management of the global environment. More specifically, the project is expected to, through a country-driven process; analyze capacity gaps and capacity development needs for implementation of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD). This project places a strong emphasis on identifying capacity needs and priorities to ensure synergies between efforts to realize the South Sudan obligations under the Rio Conventions, and is intended to act as a catalyst for national actions to meet those needs in a coordinated and planned manner.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of UNEP South Sudan Country Programme Manager and technical support from UNEP South Sudan office Programme Officer, the consultant will identify and undertake consultations with all relevant development partners, members of the international donor community, government ministries and institutions, public and private organizations, civil society organizations, and in particular with communities groups and leaders, across South Sudan.  

This consultancy duties and responsibilities will be undertaken in two phases as shown below;

Phase One (1) (45 working days)

Undertake a situational analysis of the status of implementation of the MEAs (CBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC, and cross-cutting environmental issues) in South Sudan including the following:

  • Review key national documents on relevant thematic area (CBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC and Cross-cutting environmental issues to confirm key national concerns and their relationship with the broad national sustainable development frameworks such as SSDP;
  • Review regional and international documents and identify specific capacity building issues of relevance to South Sudan taking into account trans-boundary issues;Review relevant legal instruments, policies/or non-regulatory mechanisms including their effectiveness, overlaps, gaps or inconsistencies;
  • Undertake consultations with relevant stakeholders involved in desertification/dry land management; biodiversity conservation; climate change and integrated water resources management of cross-cutting environmental issues at national and state levels as appropriate;
  • Undertake a stakeholder analysis and develop a stake holder matrix indicating mandates, interests and possible roles;
  • Identify which relevant projects have been implemented including their impacts as well as lessons learned which are relevant to capacity building needs for either desertification/dry land management; biodiversity conservation, climate change and integrated water resources management of cross-cutting environmental issues;
  • Prepare a draft report of the situational analysis and present the draft report to the National Steering Committee and other stakeholder interest groups, and incorporate comments from these consultations;
  • Incorporate the prioritized issues in the situational analysis draft report;
  • Through interactive Task Force discussions and using a “problem tree analysis” or similar approaches, identify capacity constraints on the prioritized issues identified above;
  • Identify potential areas of capacity building activities needed for effective implementation of the convention being addressed;
  • Identify possible interventions to address the capacity constraints;
  • Prepare a draft report detailing the capacity building needs identified through the exercise above and facilitate a national stakeholders’ workshop on the consultancy activities;
  • Finalize the draft report on capacity needs assessment.
  • Faciliatae establishment of synergies in capacity building for implementation of the CBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC and cross-cutting environmental issues in South Sudan Sudan including the following;
  • Review relevant global, regional and national initiatives related to capacity building for synergistic implementation of the conventions;
  • Review the situational analysis and capacity needs reports and identify cross cutting issues that require capacity building;
  • Develop a matrix to indicate the capacity issues, challenges to integrated capacity building; their level of existence, lead institutions and interventions on synergistic capacity building;
  • Add any important issues which could have been missed out in the situational analysis and capacity building;
  • Identify legal, policy and other sustainable development frameworks that could support or promote the synergistic implementation of the conventions;
  • Identify the capacity of relevant national institutions to provide training on cross cutting conventions’ issues;
  • Identify opportunities for integrating cross cutting issues in the plans of institutions handling the conventions;
  • Present the draft report to a group of taskforce members and the National Steering Committee in a national workshop and incorporate any comments accordingly;

Phase Two (2) (45 working days)

Prepare Final Report for the South Sudan NCSA and Action Plans based on the following activities:

  • Identify the priority capacity strengths, constraints and needs at the individual, organizational and systemic levels that are cross-cutting for the Rio Conventions and other MEAs being considered.
  • List out the priority opportunities for linkages and synergies in implementing the Rio Conventions and other MEAs being considered;
  • List out the priority capacity needs and possible linkages and synergies which are cross-cutting for global and national environmental management/ sustainable development;
  • Prepare a preliminary list of possible capacity development actions to address priority cross-cutting needs which have already emerged;
  • Highlight the vision, goals, objectives and principles for capacity development for management of global and national environmental issues;
  • Prepare a concise summary of priority thematic and cross-cutting capacity needs;
  • Recommend Capacity Development actions to address priority capacity needs, including information on “what, how, when, who”, i.e., actions, timelines, key participants, and suggested domestic and/or international funding;
  • Figure out the opportunities for linkages and synergies across conventions and across global and national environmental management;
  • Suggest the institutional arrangements for Action Plan implementation: mandates, roles and responsibilities of key organizations and individuals;
  • Suggest the Communication Strategy to support Action Plan implementation, with recommended objectives, target groups and techniques.
  • Review the previous documents i.e. the situational analysis and capacity needs reports for the four thematic areas, and the synergies report;
  • Synthesize the results of these activities into a single concise document – the NCSA country report;
  • Based on the identified capacity constraints and opportunities, come up with the conventions’ strategic action plan and follow up activities;
  • Based on the proposed actions, suggest the monitoring and evaluation strategies for these activities;
  • With guidance of the structure provided, write the NCSA report for South Sudan.
  • Present to a group of Task Force members and the National Steering Committee a draft report on the NCSA and action plan for South Sudan and incorporate any comments accordingly;
Competencies

Core Competencies and values:

  • Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
  • Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
  • Display cultural, gender, nationality, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • High sense of relational skills, including cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability, with a demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.

Functional Competencies:

  • Good knowledge and understanding of the UN system, familiarity with UNEP mandate an asset;
  • Knowledge of issues concerning the relevant suggest area(s);
  • Proven research and data analysis knowledge (e.g. Peer-reviewed publications)
  • Excellent analytical and writing skills in an engaging and succinct manner
  • Wide experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and –analysis including surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews etc.
Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university and minimum bachelor degree in environment, natural resources management or a closely related field.

Experience:

  • A minimum of 5 years experience in environmental management preferably climate change-related issues and institutional analysis and capacity building with a minimum of two years in South Sudan.
  • Experience in the public participation development process associated with environment and sustainable development is an asset.
  • Experience in working and collaborating with governments and an experience in GEF projects will be an asset.
  • Highly developed inter-personal, negotiation and teamwork skills, networking aptitude
  • National knowledge of communities and institutions is highly desirable; experience in a similar previous role is a strong asset.
  • Experience working with international organisations, including UNEP, is preferred but not required.
  • Experience in working and collaborating with local communities.
  • Fluent in writing and communication skills, with analytical capacity and ability to synthesise project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports.

Language:

  • Proficiency in English is required.

Financial Proposal

A Financial Proposal must be submitted that indicates the number of days and the rate per day.

Total (lump sum):

Notes:

  • The information in the breakdown of the offered lump sum amount provided by the Offeror will be used as the basis for determining best value for money, and as reference for any amendments of the contract;
  • The agreed contract amount will remain fixed regardless of any factors causing an increase in the cost of any of the components in the breakdown that are not directly attributable to UNDP;
  • The Contractor is responsible for arranging and meeting the cost of their vaccinations and medical/life insurance;
  • Contractor whose assignment require travel and who are over 62 years of age are required, at their own expense, to undergo a full medical examination, including x-rays after they are selected;
  • Below is the marks breakdown for technical proposal;
  • Advanced and minimum bachelor degree university degree in environment, natural resources management or a closely related field --- 5 marks, with advanced university degree, an addition of 2 marks will be added;
  • Minimum of 5 years of accumulated experience in the relevant expert area --- 14 marks;
  • Experience in working and collaborating with governments and international organizations ---14 marks;
  • Research and data analysis knowledge (e.g. Peer-reviewed publications) --- 15 marks;
  • Excellent analytical and writing skills in an engaging and succinct manner --- 20 marks;
  • TOTAL --- 70 marks;
  • The financial proposal will be evaluated on whether it is:Realistic budget and in line with UNDP consultancy rates.