International Consultant - Nature Based and Food System Resilience

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Uganda Country Office is currently operationalizing its new Country Programme Document (CPD) for the period 2021-2025. The new UNDP Uganda Country Programme Cycle will support government efforts by providing technical, and financial support to enable Ministries, Departments and Agencies, local governments, non-state actors and communities to strengthen national capacity to restore, protect, and sustainably manage natural resources and ecosystems. It will also provide support to increase access to affordable clean and renewable energy, and to enable vulnerable people and communities to adapt to and mitigate climate change and disaster risk.

The Nature, Climate, Energy, and Resilience (NCER) portfolio, will work with other UNDP portfolios, to provide an integrated and coherent policy, and programme support to relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, local governments, communities, and non-state actors to achieve the following outcomes:

i. Strengthened capacity of public and private institutions and communities to sustainably manage natural resources and protect vital ecosystems

ii. Increased and equitable access to, and use of modern, renewable, and affordable energy sources and services

iii. Strengthened technical and institutional capacity to prepare for, respond to, and manage disaster risks

iv. Strengthened capacities of government and non-government institutions to effectively plan, monitor and deliver public and private financing to social sectors in an equitable, gender-responsive, accountable, and sustainable manner.

Note: UNDP is an equal opportunity Organization, Women, Youth and People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

PLEASE NOTE THAT – UNDP DOES NOT CHARGE ANY FEES AT ANY STAGE OF ITS PROCUREMENT PROCESSES. UNDP HAS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FRAUD AND CORRUPTION, MEANING THAT UNDP STAFF MEMBERS, NON-STAFF PERSONNEL, VENDORS, IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS AND RESPONSIBLE PARTIES ARE NOT TO ENGAGE IN FRAUD OR CORRUPTION

Duties and Responsibilities

Following the crosscutting nature of the position, the specific duties and responsibilities under the key pillars of the NCER portfolio will include:

Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Governance

Support the design of interventions that reduce land degradation and increased carbon sequestration by supporting integrated landscape planning and management processes
Provide technical support to guide communities to adopt practices for reversing land degradation and reducing GHG emissions in food production systems
Support the application of digital tools for near real-time monitoring and surveillance of environmental resources.
Provide support to the government of Uganda in the development of the food systems transformation roadmap and implementation plan.
Support coherent policy development and strengthening of human capacities for sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems development at national and sub national levels

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Support the implementation of climate actions under the NDC in the land use and agriculture sectors to reduce GHG emissions and strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change
Provide support for the integration of climate risk-informed land-use and agriculture sector priorities into national and sectoral planning, budgeting and monitoring.
Enhance private sector engagement for the implementation of climate actions across key agricultural value chains in Uganda.
Support the establishment of multi-stakeholders’ collaborative frameworks and platforms across key value chains for food system transformation.

Integrated Programme Management

Engage in integrated programming, collaboration and coordination with partners (e.g., proposal development stage, grant opening workshop, interim and annual meetings and technical exchange workshops etc.) to aid in programme integration and learning.
Identify any issues that emerge with programme integration and propose and implement solutions.
Document and share lessons learned from programme integration with colleagues
Support the development and implementation of advocacy strategies
Mobilizing personnel, goods and services, including drafting TORs and work specifications; and overseeing contractors’ work.

Institutional and human capacity building and portfolio management

Support institutional and staff capacity building particularly related to NCER work
Support UNDP country office activities on capacity building including on Environmental Social Safeguards, and women’s empowerment activities etc.
Manage NCER portfolios and or partner projects assigned including field monitoring visits, preparing quality and timely progress reports, providing feedbacks to the team leader, senior management, partners etc.
Other responsibilities as assigned

E. Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will be supervised by the Team Leader, Nature Climate Energy and Resilience (NCER) Unit, UNDP, Kampala.

Identify institutions/organizations/individuals with whom the Contractor is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with in the course of performing the work (e.g., other agencies, project co-implementers, donors, communities, local government units, etc.)
Define roles / extent of participation of entities involved in the management/implementation of the contract (e.g., as respondents to survey, resource persons to confer with, approving authority, evaluating performance, etc.)
Specify if the project will be able to provide (or not) any facilities, support personnel, support service, or logistical support, what they will be, and at what stage of the work.

Competencies

Demonstrated substantive experience in working with developing countries and undertaking policy and programmatic work in sustainable natural resource governance and climate change
Strong understanding of the links between sustainable natural resource governance and climate change
Demonstrated experience working on policy and programmatic issues with national and local governments and civil society organizations.
Experience or strong familiarity with the work of UNDP and/or other multilateral, bilateral and civil society development partners.
Excellent analytical, writing, and communications skills.

Required Skills and Experience

A master’s degree or equivalent in Environmental Studies, Development Studies, Environmental and Natural Resource Management or related fields.
At least 8 years of professional experience in project management, natural resources governance related programmes, food systems and climate adaptation and mitigation

Strong interpersonal and networking skills
Experience in managing sustainable natural resource governance and climate change programmes

Experience in working with a range of stakeholders including government, private sector, Civil Society organizations on sustainable natural resource governance and climate change related issues