Chief Technical Advisor on Agriculture and Climate Change Adaptation Issues, Home-Based with Trip to Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan

CHIEF TECHNICAL ADVISOR ON AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION ISSUES

Location :Home-based with trip to Kazakhstan, KAZAKHSTAN

Application Deadline :03-Mar-14

Type of Contract :Individual Contract

Post Level :International Consultant

Languages Required :English Russian

Starting Date :(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)24-Mar-2014

Duration of Initial Contract :10 month

Expected Duration of Assignment :1 year

Background

Kazakhstan faces problems of soil degradation such as erosion, swamping, deforestation and salinization that are aggravated by poor land-use management practices. It is estimated that 82.3% of all types of land and 78.9% of agricultural land is subject to erosion, and wind water erosions affect more than 67% of rain fed areas. This lead to a decrease in quality of the natural environment; including a decrease in agricultural land fertility, which seriously threatens not just national food security but also the whole Central Asian countries who are mainly supplied by Kazakhstan wheat crops. The farmlands have been reduced by 4 percent in the country over the last ten years. Desertification has become one of the burning issues of the country. The project 'Mobilizing Support to the NAP Alignment and UNCCD Reporting and Review Process' is implemented by the UNDP in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. Its objective is to assist the Kazakhstan in aligning the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification and other DLDD-related policies with the UNCCD 10-Year Strategy as well as in the UNCCD Reporting and Review Process. The project builds on the current status and achievements of Kazakhstan with respect to the planning and reporting on combating desertification. It aims to integrate Kazakhstan's obligations under the UNCCD into its national development and sectorial planning frameworks through a renewed and participative ‘sustainable land management (SLM) planning' and strategizing process. This process is expected to produce measurable targets for combating desertification. It will equally ensure that the value of ecosystems' goods and services, as well as the challenges and opportunities for ecosystem-based adaptation and resilience are taken into consideration in the process.

Climate variability and change impacts and their inherent complexity are likely to pose considerable risks to important economic drivers, human welfare and the environment in Kazakhstan as well as Central Asia. Climate change itself, adaptation to it and efforts to halt it by implementing SLM best practices have far-reaching benefits for the economic and social development of a country. In the long term for countries liable to the adverse effects of climate, development of measures to avoid the negative impact of climate change should be an additional element in decision-making mechanism to ensure food security in the region. The main objective of the CRM project is to improve the resilience of rural communities in Almaty and Kyzylorda oblasts through improved water efficiency in agriculture and climate-related disaster management. The programme is to demonstrate the relevance of CRM to stakeholders in the agriculture sector, particularly with regard to water use, and supports the harmonization of strategic views throughout the sectors concerned. In order to establish and reinforce a linkage between climate risks and disasters and strengthen the capacity of the households and sectors to anticipate, cope with and recover from climate-related risks (especially drought, flood and mudflow), the programme closely collaborates with national disaster risk reduction initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

To work closely with the PIU and the SLM Projects Coordinator to secure the fulfillment of tasks in due time including:

Climate Resilience Wheat Project (CRW project)

• Facilitation of monitoring and evaluation missions by the implementing agencies or designated consultants to them;
• Ensure consolidation and proper achieving of all projects outputs (data and reports);
• In close cooperation with the key project partner, assists the strengthening a system of agro meteorological monitoring and affordability of the outputs data information;
• Provides overall technical support to PIU on implementation of the project activities with 'Kazhydromet' as well as Ministry of Agriculture in development and dissemination of agro meteorological information data information;
• Provides technical support to PIU on implementation of the project activities with 'Kazhydromet' and the Space Research Institute in the development of geo-portals to improve the access of farmers to agro meteorological information;
• Assist the project before and during the terminal evaluation process in order to accurately present the projects achievements towards its objectives;
• Serving as a source of specialized knowledge on agriculture and environment sectors and provide advisory and technical assistance to the Government and UNDP and projects;
• Provide technical support to PIU on implementation of the project activities in development and dissemination of agro meteorological data information and development of geo-portals to improve the access of farmers to agro meteorological information;
• Support the project before and during the terminal evaluation process in order to accurately present the projects achievements towards its objectives.

Climate Risk Management (CRM project)

• Provide technical support on prioritization and implementation of project activities;
• Provide technical support on elaboration of the Annual Performance Report (APR)/Project Implementation Review (PIR);
• Assist in development of methodology for assessment of economic damages on possible impacts of climate related disasters;
• Technical Planning of the project activities and monitor progress against the initial quality criteria;
• Mobilize the initiation of the institutional framework and communications between key stakeholders;
• Manage issues and requests for change by maintaining an Issues Log;
• Prepare the Project Progress Report (progress against planned activities, update on Risks and Issues, expenditures) and submit the report to the Project Board and Project Assurance;
• Prepare the Annual Review Report, and submit the report to the Project Board and the Outcome Board.

Mobilizing Support to the NAP Alignment and UNCCD Reporting and Review Process in Kazakhstan

(NAP project)

• Effective technical planning and implementation support, with participation of all interested parties, in accordance with the project document;
• Technical support to the Ministry of Environment Protection and key stakeholders on determination of issue, preparation of outlines and content of the NAP to combat desertification and sustainable land management;
• Strengthening/create technical capacity within the Ministry of Environmental Protection on drought management and establishment of early warning systems though trainings and targeted workshops;
• Delivery of needed information to independent outside project evaluators;
• Technical support for elaboration of Annual Performance Report (APR)/Project Implementation Review (PIR).

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;

Functional competencies:

• Good interpersonal, facilitation and training skills;
• Good computer skills; strong presentation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• International MSc education on Land Management, Agriculture or Environmental Science Knowledge of capacity development issues.

Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of work experience as an expert, work experience in multi-sector project management;
• Good awareness on objectives and procedures of international organizations, in particular, on GEF and its partners is preferable;
• Work experience with government bodies, representatives of local government, SLM, civil society organizations, academic societies;
• Good capacities for strategic thinking, planning and management;
• Experience in planning and holding workshops, etc.;
• Experience in knowledge management and learning;
• Experience in establishment of cooperation with stakeholders, institutions and organizations;
• Good computer skills.
• Knowledge of UNDP project implementation procedures, including procurement, disbursements, and reporting and monitoring will be an added advantage.

Language requirements:

• Good spoken and written Russian and English are essential.

Important note:

For detailed information please refer to UNDP Kazakhstan web site.

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.