United Nations Development Programme UNDP Vaccancy : Consultant

United Nations Development Programme UNDP Vaccancy : Consultant
CONSULTANT: REGIONAL TECHNICAL EXPERTS ON GENDER AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
Location : Home- or Office- based (to be decided on each specific assignment/deliverables), Africa Region
Application Deadline : 26-Jul-10
Additional Category Environment and Energy
Type of Contract : SSA
Post Level : International Consultant

Languages Required : English
Starting Date :(date when the selected canditate is expected to start) 01-Sep-2010
Duration of Initial Contract : 250 days between 1 September 2010 and 31 December 2011
Expected Duration of Assignment : 1 year 4 months
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Background
The Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP) is a three year, $92.1 million project funded by the Government of Japan and operating in 20 countries across Africa. It has been designed to support targeted countries’ long-term efforts to further develop their capability to successfully identify, design and implement holistic adaptation and disaster risk reduction programmes that are aligned with national development priorities. In this regard AAP is not a traditional adaptation programme per se – but a strategic initiative, aimed at creating an environment for more informed and capable adaptation decisions and practice in each country.

Institutionally, the AAP is a programme under the UNDP Environment and Energy Group (EEG) in the Bureau for Development Policy (BDP), and is based out of the Dakar Regional Centre. The EEG has an ongoing partnership agreement with the UNDP Gender Team/BDP, which is providing technical support to facilitate strengthening of national capacities for African countries to integrate gender perspectives in the AAP’s national climate change adaptation programmes to ensure that they address the needs of poor women and men equitably.

To meet this objective, UNDP is seeking a Technical Expert on Gender and climate change to primarily provide support to the national governments and to UNDP Country Offices to mainstream gender in the Africa Adaptation Programme implementation and monitoring/evaluation. He/She will report to the Project Manager of the Inter-Regional Technical Support Component, based out of Dakar Regional Centre, and provide quarterly progress reports to the Director of the Gender Team, and may count on support from the Team.

Duties and Responsibilities
The general objective for the work of the gender expert is to mainstream and coordinate gender related activities in the entire cycle of African Adaptation Programme (AAP), regionally covering the Anglophone countries in Africa.

Specifically, the expert will carry out the following responsibilities
• Provide technical support to mainstream gender in the AAP programme and project implementation process.
• Contribute to the development of a gender mainstreaming guidance tool kit for national adaptation projects.
• Facilitate the participation of women organizations as stakeholders, to ensure their equal participation in all stages of project planning and implementation.
• Identify gaps and opportunities for gender mainstreaming and provide technical guidance as needed.
• Design and implement training sessions for UNDP country office staff and relevant government and civil service officials to build capacities to support and strengthen effective and efficient national gender and climate change adaptation initiatives in the region.
• Develop and facilitate the inclusion of gender indicators to monitor and report progress made towards national capacity development objectives and monitor the overall contribution of the AAP to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Undertake research and documentation of gender specific data and case studies on the role of women in adaptation and on gender specific impacts of climate change at the local and national levels.
• Disseminate findings for policy formulation on climate change and programme scale up at national and global level.
• Foster active linkages with the gender knowledge networks as part of the contribution of the Country Office to knowledge sharing.

Deliverables
Technical support to mainstream gender in the AAP programme and projects implementation process, in at least 5 countries.
• Tool kit for gender mainstreaming in national adaptation programmes, issue briefs, concept notes, and other substantive technical material required to equip development practitioners to mainstream gender in national adaptation programmes and projects
• Substantive inputs on AAP project proposals, progress reports, and other related reports.
• At least 3 training sessions for UNDP country Office staff in the region, with the objective to build capacities to mainstream gender considerations in climate change prograrammes and projects.
• Gender indicators for monitoring and evaluation of the AAP
• Documentation and dissemination of gender specific data
• At least 3 case studies on gender specific impacts of climate change and on the role of women in climate change adaptation.

Competencies
• Knowledge, technical expertise, and analytical skills on issues related to gender, environment and climate change.
• Demonstrated training, advocacy and strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in a complex environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors
• Ability to work with a multi-disciplinary team and in a multi-cultural environment.
• Proficiency in English; working knowledge of French an asset.

Required Skills and Experience
Expert should possess the following knowledge and skills
• PhD or Masters in Social Sciences, Environment, economics and or Gender Studies, or a closely related field.
• 5-10 years of relevant professional experience including at least 3 years of experience in gender and climate change or environment issues in Africa.
• Experience in analysis of climate change adaptation strategies is required
• Excellent analytical, research, writing and communication skills;
• Prior experience with United Nations agencies is an advantage, as is knowledge of UNDP policies, programmes, and procedures.
Travel
Experts shall be required to travel for specific tasks and UNDP will arrange the travel in accordance to UN rules and procedures. This may include, but is not limited to missions to countries in the Africa region (5 travels are estimated).

Remuneration
Please indicate the daily rate for your services. Remuneration for specific assignments will be established based on the competencies and skills of the consultant and nature of the task to be assigned.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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