TERMS OF REFERENCE

Senior Consultant to support the establishment of a Collaborative Center

on Drought

Consultancy reference number: CCD/20/ERPA/40

Background

Established in 1994, UNCCD is the only legally binding international agreement on land issues. Its 197 Parties aim, through partnerships, to implement the Convention and achieve Sustainable Development Goals. The end goal is to protect our land, from over-use and drought, so it can continue to provide us all with food, water and energy.

Droughts are the most far-reaching of all-natural disasters, causing short and long-term economic and ecological losses as well as significant secondary and tertiary impacts. To reduce societal vulnerability to droughts, there is a need to overcome the prevailing structures of reactive, post-hazard management approaches and to move towards proactive and risk management approaches.

Hence, one out of the five UNCCD strategic objectives is focusing on drought with the aim to “mitigate, adapt to, and manage the effects of drought in order to enhance resilience of vulnerable populations and ecosystems”. UNCCD’s focus on drought risk management is particularly on ‘prevention’ and ‘preparedness’ rather than ‘recovery’ measures. This prioritization was confirmed in COP 13 (2017) and COP 14 (2019) decisions. The COP guided, for example, the process of developing national drought plans and drought preparedness systems, promoted the use of the UNCCD drought resilience, adaptation and management policy (DRAMP) framework that aims to reduce drought risk and increase resilience and notably the COP requested the secretariat and the GM to implement a drought initiative (Decision 29/COP.13). In addition, most recently the COP decided to establish an Intergovernmental Working Group (IWG) on effective policy and implementation measures for addressing drought under the UNCCD (Decision 23/COP 14).

Against this backdrop, UNCCD plans to designate a Collaborative Centres (CCs) in the field of drought preparedness, water security and related thematic areas in order to facilitate the implementation of the convention and achieve its current goals through up-to-date expert advice and engaging in scientific and technical cooperation with other institutions. Other areas will be identified as needs arise. The CCs would be key institutions with relevant expertise that represent a valuable resource as an extended and integral arm of UNCCD’s capacity to implement its mandated work. This would mean a diverse range of activities such as supporting with reliable data on drought monitoring and early warning systems, drought risk profiling and feasible drought risk mitigation strategies and implementation measures; providing expertise on identified topics, weighing in high-level meetings and engaging in awareness raising. The CCs will be highly valued mechanism of cooperation in which they are recognized by UNCCD and its 197 Parties. This is accomplished by supporting the achievement of planned strategic objectives at the regional and global levels; enhancing the scientific validity of its global work; and developing and strengthening institutional capacity in countries and regions. The CCs will be designated by the UNCCD Executive Secretary to provide specific, independent technical/scientific advice on issues related to UNCCD’s mandate. The designation will both recognize a history of collaboration with UNCCD and provide a formal framework for future joint activities. It will be timebound collaboration agreement between UNCCD and the designated institution, through which the latter agrees to implement a series of concrete activities specifically developed or designed with UNCCD. Designating an institution as UNCCD CC is not a mechanism for recognizing the institution as a centre of excellence per se.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the coordinator of the External Relations, Policy and Advocacy (ERPA) unit of the UNCCD and the direct supervision of the officer in charge, the consultant supports the work programme on the establishment of Collaborative Center (s) on Drought and relevant priority activities of the unit. The mission of ERPA is to position the UNCCD as a credible and trusted partner in finding solutions to problems of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD). To achieve this goal, the unit communicates relevant and persuasive policy messages to decision makers, promotes the brand and overall reputation of the convention, helps bridge the science-policy interface and builds partnerships that expand the UNCCD’s reach with key stakeholders such as civil society, the media and the private sector.

The work of the consultant involves supporting the ongoing groundwork for the establishment of a CC on Drought by producing relevant background documents [including a foundation document (guide) of the UNCCD collaborative center (s) [(CC(s)] on Drought and setting requirements, mode of engagement and criteria for the CC (s), setting up the necessary network and mapping of relevant stakeholders, conducting meetings [as required], surveys, and other associated activities as needed to facilitate the work. In consultation with the assigned UNCCD officer, the consultant is expected to carry out the following tasks. An indicative timeline of tasks to be completed by the consultant is as follows:

15 November – 14 December 2020

(1) Carry out a comprehensive global and regional mapping of leading policy and academic think tanks, institutions, organisations, actors, and stakeholders active on the topic of Drought preparedness, including, but not limited to (i) drought monitoring and early warning systems; (ii) impact and vulnerability assessments and drought risk profiling at all levels as well as (iii) Drought risk mitigation and response measures.

(2) In consultation with assigned officer, define the vision, mission, structure, strategic rational and functionality of the Collaborative Centre based on UNCCD mandate and in consultation with (i) appropriate UNCCD institutions and bodies including the Science Policy Interface; (ii) relevant processes such as the Intergovernmental Working Group (IWG) on Drought, UNFCCC, UNDRR and, CBD and (iii) UNCCD established partners including FAO (and its Global Framework for Water Scarcity in Agriculture), UN-Water, UNEP-DHI, WMO/GWP (and their Integrated Drought Management Programme), EUJRC (Joint Research Centre) and the University of Nebraska (USA).

(3) Identify gaps, spell out the added value of the Collaborative Centre, the need for additional data base(s) and categorical information on drought.

(4) Elaborate several options/models (including a business model) in terms of the approach for the collaborative centre (s).

(5) Substantiate the various models/options using evidence and good case examples of collaborative centres (Pros and Cons).

(6) Support the development of a software platform for the collaborative centre. Deliverable: Guide/ Foundation document of the Collaborative Centre on Drought 15 December 2020 – 14 February 2021

(1) Outline the definition, eligibility, functional scope, intellectual property rights, and selection criteria for designation of the best possible CC(s).

(2) Formulate the Terms of Reference for the call of expressions of interest. This would include defining responsibilities, duration of designations, terms, and conditions for the collaborative centre(s).

Deliverable: Comprehensive Terms of Reference for the CC

Requirements

  • An advanced university degree in natural resources management, rural development, geography, meteorology, environmental policy, hydrology, development economics or any other related field relevant for the consultancy.
  • A very good understanding of policy and technical aspects of drought risk management incl. early warning and monitoring systems and vulnerability and impact assessments.
  • A minimum of 10 years work experience on the above and related disciplines including indepth knowledge of integrated drought management, drought and water scarcity policy, programmes and practices.
  • Extensive project and/or policy experience in developing and/or transition countries.
  • Substantial record of research and publications, including non-scientific communications.
  • Solid knowledge of the UNCCD, related UN and intergovernmental processes, and environment policy issues would be a great asset.
  • Excellent writing skills and fluency in English is required. Fluency in other UN languages an advantage.

Contractual terms

This consultancy is funded for a period of three months. The consultant will be home-based, relying primarily on electronic communications, with one trip to Bonn, if needed. Travel expenses of the consultant will be paid by the UNCCD separate from remuneration. The consultant will prepare an overall work plan for the entire contract period at the beginning of the assignment which will be discussed and agreed with the supervisors.

Submission of application

Applications should be submitted by e-mail to staffing@unccd.int with a UNCCD Personal History Form1 https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/inline-files/UNCCD%20P-11%20Form_1.pdf (PDF) and cover letter, specifying the reference number: CCD/20/ERPA/40

The deadline for applications is 26th October 2020. Only applications submitted by the deadline will be considered.

Due to the volume of applications received, receipt of applications cannot be acknowledged individually. Please address your application as indicated above and please do not address or copy your application to an individual at the Secretariat or Global Mechanism. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months of the deadline should consider their application as unsuccessful.

Date of issuance: 11 September 2020