Chief Technical Advisor (CTA)

Result of ServiceAs part of the PMU, the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will contribute to the successful implementation of the project by providing Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) technical expertise, project management guidance and capacity building to the project team. S/he will be responsible for providing high quality technical guidance and advice for the effective implementation of the project and achievement of the planned results Work LocationHome Based Expected duration24 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 The coastal communities of Madagascar rely on coastal ecosystems and the goods and services they provide for livelihoods and well-being, as well as for the attenuation of climate change impacts. Malagasy coastal ecosystems support the livelihoods of more than 75% of the local population by, for example, providing natural habitats for marine species of importance for small-scale fisheries; as a source of commercially valuable non-timber forest products (NTFPs); to support crop and livestock production; etc. Coastal ecosystems also contribute to protecting coastal zones and livelihoods from the adverse impacts of climate change, via the provision of a range of services: for example, mangroves protect coasts from storm surges, erosion, flooding; and healthy coral reefs provide the first line of coastal defense by reducing wave energy by an average of 97% ; etc. This is significant, as Madagascar has historically faced significant climate threats and is considered the country at highest exposure to, and risk of, cyclonic activity in Africa. Indeed, climate information ranging from the middle of the last century to date indicates the frequent occurrence of climate hazards including cyclones, droughts, flooding, and landslides. Among them, cyclones and storms have been the most damaging ones: between 1961 and 2017 cyclones caused 1,193 deaths, destroyed 0.6 million houses and directly and indirectly affected 4 million people. Floods were the second most destructive climate disaster, affecting more than 0.3 million people during the same period. The problem that the proposed LDCF project seeks to address is that communities in the coastal regions of Madagascar remain highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including impacts of sea-level rise, increased temperatures, and increased frequency and intensity of droughts, floods and tropical storms and cyclones. This is due to a range of both biophysical and socio-economic factors. The continued degradation of the coastal ecosystems due to human activities and climate change increases the vulnerability of the coastal areas and populations. For instance, terrestrial and mangrove deforestation, compounded by intensifying tropical cyclones, contribute significantly to the increased vulnerability of coastal zones to flooding and coastal erosion. Similarly, degradation of mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs due to unsustainable fishing practices, is compounded by degradation associated with sea temperature rise. Associated soil erosion across watersheds not only flushes away fertile agricultural soil, but also leads to sedimentary changes downstream in marine and freshwater bodies, causing important losses in benthic biodiversity, thereby threatening human health, food security, and livelihoods. At the same time, interventions to reduce the vulnerability of the coastal zones of Madagascar through the rehabilitation of coastal ecosystems have, to date, taken place mainly at a small pilot scale. In the past, these measures have also been insufficiently supported by enabling factors, such as institutional engagement, sustainable management plans and community ownership to ensure their long-term sustainability and potential for upscaling. Indeed, in many cases, setting up the mechanisms for the local management of natural resources is a prerequisite to ensure broader ownership of their sustainable management in the context of EbA, and without such support restoration efforts are often not sustainable in the longer term. Moreover, these need to be followed up by interventions to ensure these new mechanisms are fully functional, and significant efforts are required upfront to build capacity at local level, which is not always the case. As such multiple Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) remain “orphaned” across Madagascar, meaning they have been put in place, yet their capacity is limited as they are not receiving capacity-building support to become fully autonomous. The proposed project proposes to reduce the vulnerability and build the climate-resilience of communities in the coastal areas of Madagascar through the upscaling of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approaches. The project will focus on improving the state of key ecosystems in four vulnerable coastal regions, and supporting institutional and community-based structures, plans and strengthened capacity for the long-term sustainable management of ecosystems and the upscaling of EbA approaches in other coastal areas of Madagascar. Moreover, it will work on economic activities around ecosystem-based value chain development (e.g., apiculture) and ecotourism, to strengthen livelihoods and ecosystem health, with a focus on women and youth entrepreneurs. Supporting coastal communities in the shift towards sustainable livelihood strategies that allow degraded ecosystems to be regenerated will strengthen the climate resilience of both the ecosystems as well as the communities that rely on their services for livelihoods, well-being and protection. The project is therefore structured around the following four Components: 1. Climate-resilient governance and planning in coastal zones of Madagascar; 2. Ecosystem-based adaptation in response to climate risks; 3. Blue and Green Economy Approach for Resilient Ecosystem-based Livelihoods in Coastal Areas; 4: Awareness raising and knowledge management for upscaling. This project proposes to intervene in some of Madagascar’s most impoverished and vulnerable areas: the coastal zone located in the regions of Boeny, Menabe, Diana and Atsimo Atsinanana. These regions were selected through a multi-phased approach, which proceeded to both integrate the priorities of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and update the priority areas through a consultative process. The project will be implemented over four years by the National Office for Climate Change and REDD + (BNCC-REDD+) from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD) with support and oversight provided by the United National Environment Programme (UNEP) Climate Change Adaptation Unit. A Project Management Unit supervised by the BNCC-REDD+ and composed of Project Manager, Monitoring & Evaluation and Knowledge Management Officer, Gender and Safeguards Specialist and Administrative and Financial Assistant will support day to day implementation of activities. Duties and Responsibilities The CTA will provide overall technical and operational support to the Project Management Unit, and will be responsible for the following duties: Technical guidance • Provide advice on best suitable approaches and methodologies for achieving project targets and objectives; • Provide specific support at project start-up to set-up strong bases for an effective project implementation including capacity building on ecosystems-based adaptation and project management • Support the follow-up on project co-financing (collaboration with co-financing partners and regular reporting on sources and amounts in annual co-financing report) • Provide quality assurance and technical review of project outputs such as inception / mission reports, baseline / technical studies, assessments, training materials, and knowledge products; • Draft or review, as requested, ToRs for technical consultancies and sub-contracts, and assist in the selection and recruitment processes • Provide a technical guidance and supervisory function to the work carried out by national and international consultants hired by the project; • Conduct technical supervision missions in project sites • Provide advice and assist in knowledge management, communications and awareness-raising, and document lessons and good practices from project implementation Project management support • Provide overall technical backstopping, operational guidance and support to the Project Management Unit team to ensure that project objectives are being met and that activities are carried out within agreed deadline and under high technical standards • Assist the Project Coordinator in planning the implementation of project activities, and in adjusting the project Results Framework, Work Plan and Budget as required and in line with corporate requirement and UNEP / GEF rules • Provide technical inputs to key procurement processes such as technical specifications of goods and equipment; • Support project risk management and provide sound advice on adaptive management of the project; • Support the Gender and Safeguards officer in the development of the project Grievance Redress Mechanism and review GRM reports. • Support the Gender and Safeguards officer in the implementation and monitoring of the project Environmental and Social Management Plan and the Gender Action Plan. • Assist the M&E Officer in ensuring the quality of project M&E and reporting systems (including project indicators and targets), review monitoring tools and prepare terms of reference for independent results verification exercises ; • Review the progress reports prepared by the Project Coordinator to ensure quality, accuracy and completeness, including the Project Implementation Reviews (PIRs) and Half Year Reports (HYR), final report and other as required by UNEP and the GEF • Support the project team in administrative and financial reporting including quarterly financial reports and cash advance requests for submission to UNEP. • Participate in Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings and make recommendations when needed for more effective implementation and coordination of project activities • Advise the Project Coordinator in liaison work with project partners, donor organizations, NGOs and other groups to ensure the effective coordination, synergies and collaboration • Perform any other tasks as may be requested by the Project Team, MEDD – BNCCREDD+, the Project Steering Committee, and the UNEP Task Manager The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will be contracted and paid by the United Nations. He/she will report to the National Project Director within the BNCC-REDD+ of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development MEDD and UNEP Climate Change Adaptation Unit (CCAU) Task Manager. In the performance of his/her duties, the CTA will work in close collaboration with the project team. Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced University education (MS or PhD) in the area of natural resource management, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, environmental management, social sciences, or any related fields of study is required. At least 7 years of professional experience in technical lead positions in planning and management of environmental and/or climate change adaptation programmes including institutional strengthening and capacity building is required Experience of working and collaborating with developing country governments is required Previous experience with GEF projects is desirable Previous experience in coastal ecosystems and coastal adaptation is desirable 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.