Climate Change Adaptation Concept Note Development Consultant

Result of ServiceSingle country concept note endorsed by UNEP and the National Designated Authority of India for submission to the Adaptation Fund Work LocationHome Based Expected duration7 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesOrganization setting UN Environment is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UN Environment Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Background United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP promotes increased action and investment in climate change adaptation, with a focus on incorporating nature-based solutions as part of an overall adaptation strategy. UNEP supports developing countries in accessing funding to address their climate change adaptation needs, including funding from several multilateral funds established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Adaptation Fund was established in 2001; it supports developing country Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, in increasing their resilience through concrete adaptation projects and programmes that reduce the adverse effects of climate change facing communities and sectors. The Adaptation Fund provides funding to LDCs and SIDS to address their immediate and urgent climate change impacts identified through the country Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Policies on Climate Change, National communications on Climate Change and National Adaptation Plans. The Government of India has requested UNEP's support to develop a new USD 30M project to strengthen climate resilience and reduce vulnerability by implementing ecosystem-based solutions that enhance local adaptation capacity of communities living in the Western Ghats. The impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly visible in this geography in the form of rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, longer dry-spells, deforestation, soil erosion and landslides leading to biodiversity loss, forest fragmentation, agrarian stress and groundwater depletion. The proposal will align with the Government of India national adaptation priorities and the State Climate Change Action Plans, among other relevant national and sub-national policy and planning instruments, as well as with the Adaptation Fund Strategic Results Framework. The consultant will report substantively to the Chief of the Climate Change Adaptation Unit in the Adaptation and Resilience Branch in UNEP' Climate Change Division Duties and Responsibilities Task 1: Conduct desk review and stakeholder consultations in coordination with UNEP, Ministry and State-level focal points. The concept note should be prepared with the involvement and validation of national and local stakeholders. A combination of field-level and virtual consultations should take place, including with vulnerable groups. The information gathered should be location-specific and quantitative as far as possible. Data and information should be recent and referenced. Task 2 Draft an Adaptation Fund single country concept note addressing all sections of the template and ensuring the following key aspects are incorporated: • Climate change adaptation problem tree and statement based on consultations with communities and national stakeholders, ensuring a clear logical flow of the problem statement, root causes of the problems, and definition of the preferred solutions and barriers to implementation. Ensure an evidence-based articulation of the climate and non-climate problems giving rise to the adaptation challenge in the proposal, as well as a rationale underpinning site selection, target communities and beneficiaries, and relevant information on the selected sites. • Solution tree and clearly describe what the proposal will focus on based on consultations with communities and national stakeholders; • Description of project adaptation alternative (components, outcomes and outputs) including a clear description of how the project interventions build resilience to climate change. A diagram may be used to show contributions to climate resilience including metrics. • Table or matrix that aligns key climate threats (like increased flooding or reduced rainfall) with corresponding interventions would help illustrate how each action is targeted to address expected climate changes as well as baseline drivers of vulnerability. • Theory of change with clear pathways of change, including assumptions and drivers and paying attention to the project sustainability and exit strategy; • Information on the investment solutions proposed including experience and results with their use in the country; • A cost effectiveness analysis that compares the project approach with alternatives including quantify potential savings or avoided costs due to enhanced resilience.; • Description of the beneficiary target groups; • Description of the project benefits across economic, social, and environmental dimensions; A gender analysis that identifies the different needs, capabilities, roles, and knowledge resources of women and men to engage in the project with clear targets for women to participate in the project. Gender differences in exposure, sensitivity and adaptative capacities should also be considered in the proposal design. • An analysis of how the project aligns with each country’s priorities as expressed in national strategies and policies and current investment approaches; • Identification of lessons learned and good practices from relevant initiatives, for replication and/or upscaling through this project and ensure that the project intervention strategy aligns with lessons learned; • Identification of other ongoing and planned initiatives for the project to coordinate and collaborate with, indicating how duplication of efforts has been avoided. • A structured knowledge management framework that sets clear goals for capturing and sharing lessons learned throughout the project. • A section on the field level and national consultation process in generating the concept; • Screen the project for environmental and social safeguards risks using UNEP’s screening tool (Safeguard Risk Identification Form, SRIF Task 3: Address comments from UNEP and project stakeholders at the district, state and national level to refine the concept Task 4: Present the final concept note for validation by project stakeholders through virtual meetings. Task 4: Address comments from the Adaptation Fund review sheet. Qualifications/special skillsA Master's degree or higher in an environmental science, climate change, economics, development studies, development policy or a closely related field is required A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in climate change adaptation or environment management projects is required Experience in developing Adaptation Fund, Global Environment Facility or GCF project proposals is required Experience in India or the region will be an added advantage ; Knowledge of UN systems and processes is an asset. LanguagesFluency in oral and written English is required Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.