Job: Consultant for Development of a Nexus Planning Primer

Location: Home-based work
Deadline: Thursday, 31 October 2013

Natural Resources, Water

Overview Applications procedure Related Files Contact

• POSITION:

  Consultant Contract

  REFERENCE NO.:

  2013/UNU/FLORES/CTC/CST/NPP/71

  LOCATION:

  Home-based work

  CLOSING DATE:

  2013

  • 10
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    Organizational Unit: UNU Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES)
    United Nations University objectives
    UNU is an international community of scholars engaged in research, postgraduate training and the dissemination of knowledge in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States. The University functions as a think tank for the United Nations system, contributes to capacity building, particularly in developing countries, and serves as a platform for new and innovative ideas and dialogue.
    UNU Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES)
    The mission of UNU-FLORES is to contribute to the development of integrated and sustainable management strategies for the use of water, soil and waste resources, in particular in developing and emerging countries, in scientific, educational, managerial, technological and institutional terms. Potential issues of focus include urban water management, nutrient cycles and budgets, methods for reclamation and rehabilitation of degraded sites, site-specific river-basin scale water management; interaction of land use management and water inventory under differing climate conditions, efficient and site-adapted waste management strategies, among others. The Institute will develop innovative concepts for target- and region-specific knowledge transfer as well as appropriate methodologies and approaches for postgraduate and professional education.
    The Institute is located in Dresden, Federal Republic of Germany. For more information please visit http://flores.unu.edu.
    Nexus planning primer: source sustainability
    A Nexus planning primer: source sustainability is being developed by UNU-FLORES with the goal of enhancing the capacities of decision makers to undertake planning for sustainability of water sources. The primer could have applications for decision makers and development practitioners in the fields of water supply, irrigation, multiple-use water services and school water and sanitation. In keeping with the mandate of UNU-FLORES the primer will document key steps in the process of planning for delivery of water services covering: [i] vision based on dis-aggregated analysis of service delivery trends covering affordability, adequacy and quality, [ii] identification of boundary conditions for bio-physical processes and organizational actors, [iii] definition of service delivery outcomes, [iv] identification of outcomes and indicators for financing of service delivery and (v) allocation of weights for development of an index that could potentially guide allocation of financial and human resources to achieve agreed service delivery outcomes.
    The nexus planning primer will be targeted at policy makers, natural resource managers and development practitioners from government, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and universities in developing and emerging countries.
    Working closely with water, sanitation and irrigation departments in developing and emerging countries, the nexus planning primer will be developed specifically for professionals engaged in managing and planning for source sustainability of water and sanitation projects. The primer will be developed following a three stage process:
    • identification of existing intervention and policy challenges in a developing-country context,
    • undertaking of a planning clinic that identifies a vision of institutional reform based on discussion of the scope of policy challenge, a map of existing interventions, the problem domain, parameters of service and process indicators, and
    • agreement on an expression of interest based on discussion of a vision, consultation strategy, and action plan, with details of risks and assumptions, resource commitments, time line, sequencing of activities and roles, and responsibilities for maintaining a credible monitoring framework.
    Responsibilities
    The main objective of the position is to develop a nexus planning primer for water projects and programmes focused on enhancing source sustainability. The consultant will submit the primer to UNU-FLORES, which will consist of: [i] an executive summary (2 pages), [ii] an introduction (2 pages), [iii] a background outlining the challenges of source sustainability of water programmes and projects (2 pages), [iv] analysis of a three-stage planning clinics process (12 pages), [v] annexes documenting key discussion points emerging from planning clinics (6 pages), and [iv] a bibliography (1 page).
    Under the authority of the Director of UNU-FLORES and direct supervision of the Academic Officer – Capacity Development and Governance, the successful candidate shall carry out the following specific tasks:
    • Review policy documents, project reports and literature on the subject of source sustainability with regards to water projects and programmes;
    • Develop a nexus planning primer outline detailing structure, main topics to be covered, information and data sources;
    • Develop a draft organizational chart of concerned stakeholders;
    • Develop a map of existing interventions;
    • Identify the problem domain;
    • Specify service parameters;
    • Identify relevant process indicators;
    • Develop a methodology for a planning clinics exercise outlining duration, timing, participants, structure of consultations and expected outcomes;
    • Prepare a strategy for consultations with concerned stakeholders allowing time for field visits and discussions with consumers;
    • Organize planning clinics as appropriate;
    • Prepare draft summaries of consultations;
    • Prepare and execute a communication strategy for feedback, revision and finalization of agreements;
    • With support from a research assistant, compile a nexus planning primer including executive summary, annexes and supporting bibliography;
    • Review the overall quality of the nexus planning primer, and suggest changes if deemed essential;
    • Respond to reviewers' comments and incorporate necessary revisions to the draft document;
    • Perform other tasks assigned by the supervisor.
    Required qualifications and experience
    • Master's degree in in a field related to water management, development planning and development evaluation;
    • Minimum five (5) years of work experience in managing development programs and projects in developing countries;
    • Demonstrated writing skills as reflected in the field of environmental management and/or service delivery;
    • Familiarity of concepts and approaches related to Results-Based Financing (RBF);
    • Strong practical experience in project implementation gained through engagement with international organizations;
    • Fluency in oral and written English (mandatory);
    • Ability to work within agreed timelines and a good team player;
    • Familiarity of working in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment;
    • Willingness to travel for up to two (2) weeks at a time between November 2013 and February 2014.
    Remuneration
    Remuneration will commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.
    Duration of contract
    The successful candidate shall work remotely under a Consultant Contract (CTC) for a fixed period of three (3) months. (Note that no consultant shall provide services for more than twenty-four (24) months in a thirty-six (36) month period.)
    The successful candidate will not hold international civil servant status nor be a 'staff member' as defined in the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations. UNU does not sponsor a working visa for this position.
    Applications from suitably qualified woman candidates and those from developing countries are particularly encouraged.
    Starting date
    As soon as possible.
    
    
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