Location: Bonn, Germany
Closing Date: Saturday, 30 November 2013
Closing Date: Saturday, 30 November 2013
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Consultancy to Design a Sub-regional Financing Platform for SLMInitiatives for the Limpopo River Basin
A. Background
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Italian DevelopmentCooperation (IDC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are cooperating in the realization of a project titledSpecial Initiative for Africa: Technical Support for the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in theLimpopo Basin. The two-year project aims at promoting trans-boundary natural resource management(especially relating to water scarcity and drought) in the shared Limpopo Basin area and encouragingsynergies among the three Rio Conventions – UNFCCC, UNCBD and UNCCD. It is expected that theinitiative will also help the alignment process of the National Action Programmes (NAPs) of SouthAfrica, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to the Ten-Year Strategy of the UNCCD through thegeneration of baseline biophysical and socioeconomic data, among other things.In the same area, along the three national borders of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, theItalian Development Cooperation is funding the three-year programme 'Livelihood Enhancementthrough Trans-boundary Natural Resource Management in the Limpopo Corridor'. The project aims atcontributing to poverty reduction through the sustainable use of trans-boundary natural resources bydeveloping a Decision Support System (DSS), which is a software to help decision-makers to prioritizethe type and area of intervention. So far, the DSS has been applied to the Integrated Natural ResourceManagement (INRM) program in South Africa. (The INRM has the multiple institutional mandate ofcontrolling and managing the invasive alien plant species, conserving and restoring wetlands,controlling fires, avoiding land degradation, and restoring natural forests.)The DSS is thus the main instrument used in the Special Initiative for Africa project to improve thescientific decision-making process on the use of natural resources in the Limpopo Basin.
Challenge
The Southern African region represents a challenging and fragile environment where natural resourcesand diverse ecosystems are often separated by international borders. The process of desertification inthese areas is marked by soil degradation especially in arid and semi-arid lands. Characterized by highlevels of biological diversity, these ecosystems are constantly exposed to extreme climatic events andused beyond their capacity for sustained production. The rural communities occupying these remoteareas have often been marginalized by national development processes, resulting in low educationlevels, poor sanitation, unsustainable subsistence livelihood strategies and high unemployment rates.These complexities make the countries of the Limpopo Basin an exceptional ground to test innovativeplanning and management models fulfilling the Rio Conventions' objectives and integrating thepursuits of the three Conventions.
Project Components and Strategy
The general goal of this Special Initiative for Africa is to ensure the sustainable utilization of naturalresources in the Limpopo River Basin to benefit the livelihoods of populations living in fragile and/ordegraded landscapes.
The project's specific objectives or components are:
1. To improve the decision-making process in the trans-boundary area of the Limpopo River Basinwith regard to the use of natural resources
2. To upscale the scientific decision-making process from trans-boundary sub-regional level tonational level by supporting the alignment of National Action Programmes (NAPs) to the UNCCD10-Year Strategy
3. To strengthen the South-to-South SADC regional platform on resource mobilization forUNCCD/SLM1 and create linkages with other SLM platforms
Components 1 and 2 are being coordinated by the Technical Unit of the IDC, together with the UNCCDRegional Coordination Unit in Tunis and the local counterparts in Southern Africa, under the auspicesof the SADC Secretariat. Field work is on-going in the Limpopo Basin. The scientific and socio-economicdata gathered, together with the analyses and the maps produced, will substantially contribute toreporting and alignment of the NAPs of beneficiary countries, while enhancing trans-bordercooperation and promoting synergies among the three Rio Conventions. This is relevant to facilitatethe implementation of and integration into the Sub-regional Action Programme (SRAP).The Global Mechanism (GM) of the UNCCD is responsible for the coordination of Component 3 of theproject. 'Strengthening the South-to-South SADC platform on resource mobilization for UNCCD/SLMand creating linkages with other SLM platforms'. Expected outcomes from the implementation of thisproject component by the GM include:
1. The creation of a functional South-to-South SADC platform for resource mobilization andexchange of knowledge on SLM finance;
2. The promotion of South-to-South partnerships and exchanges among SADC countries andbetween SADC and other African sub-regions (the Great Green Wall2 countries in particular) tooptimize access to innovative financing for SLM; and
3. The strengthening of capacities of SADC Member States for the mobilization of resources,including innovative sources of finance;Given the above-mentioned project objectives, the GM has identified the need for a consultant toassist in carrying out activities under Component 3 of the Special Initiative for Africa. Under the overallguidance of the Programme Coordinator for East and Southern Africa (ESA) and the direct supervisionof the International Finance and Development Consultant for ESA, the consultant will carry out thefollowing specific activities.
B. Consultant's Tasks
The consultant will perform the following specific tasks:1. Report existing investments and financing opportunities to address land degradation andclimate change impacts in the Limpopo River Basin area. This should include:(i) Identify and categorize completed and current initiatives addressing the impacts ofclimate change and unsustainable land management practices in the Limpopo Basin andof the stakeholders involved, both national and global;Sustainable Land Management(ii) Identify financing mechanisms that the 4 beneficiary countries may access for thepromotion of climate-smart sustainable development of the natural resources of theBasin;
(iii) Formulate a sub-regional financing strategy for the integrated development of the
Limpopo River Basin. This should include options to improve the use of countries' GEFSTAR allocations;2. Propose and design an appropriate sub-regional financing platform for the beneficiarycountries, with a view to later extend to all SADC member states. This should include:(i) The roles and responsibilities for various groups (governments, local authorities, privatesector organizations, farmer associations, civil society organizations, etc.) within theplatform;
(ii) A resource mobilization strategy for the platform;
(iii) Training of up to 20 persons from the beneficiary countries and the SADC secretariat to
implement the resource mobilization strategy;3. Develop a project proposal linking sustainable land management and climate change finance forimplementation within the Limpopo Basin.C. Expected Outputs
1. A report detailing existing investments and financing opportunities in the Limpopo River Basin;
2. A project proposal to seek funding for SLM, and climate change adaptation;
3. A resource mobilization strategy for SLM investment in the Basin;D. Organization of Work and Indicative Schedule
1. The consultancy assignment will be undertaken under the overall guidance of the ProjectCoordinator and the direct supervision of the International Financial Expert. The assignment willtake 4 person months from the signing of the consultancy contract.2. It is expected that the consultant will submit the following reports and updates to the GM at thespecified periods during the full duration of the assignment:
(i) Inception Report: This report is to be submitted to the GM and the UNCCD NFP two (2)weeks after commencement of the assignment (signing of the contract). The report shallcontain the approach and methodology that the incumbent will apply in the execution ofthis assignment and a detailed work plan specifying key activities to be performedcovering the duration of the assignment.
(ii) First Progress Report: This report will be submitted 8 weeks after the submission of theInception Report. It will provide an update of the key findings based largely on literaturereview and initial interviews, as well as potential investment areas that will be analysedfurther.
(iii) Second Progress Report: This will be submitted 8 weeks after the first progress report.The report will include the draft strategy for the sub-regional financing platform and adraft project proposal for the SLM-climate change adaptation initiative and hence shall bevery comprehensive, addressing fully the Terms of Reference of the assignment. Thisreport will be the basis of the validation workshop.
(iv) Final Report: This will be submitted at the end of the assignment period and it wouldhave integrated all comments received on the draft report.E. Qualifications1.Advanced university degree or equivalent in finance, development economics, environmentalscience or related disciplines;2. A minimum of 10 years working experience, five of which must be within the southern Africasub-region;
3. Extensive knowledge of the UNCCD implementation processes, including practical workexperience in sustainable land management techniques. Work experience with one other RioConvention will be an advantage;
4. Extensive knowledge and experience in writing project proposals;
5. Excellent knowledge of the English language is a must;
F. Submission of Applications
Applications should be submitted by e-mail to staffing@unccd.int, together with a UN PersonalHistory Form or CV, specifying the position: Limpopo Basin Initiative Consultant.
The deadline for applications is 31 November 2013. Only applications submitted by the deadline will
be considered.No telephone calls will be returned. Please address your application as indicated above and please donot address or copy your application to an individual at the Secretariat.
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