Individual Consultant, NAP MEL System (Mexico)

Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

Project background

Mexico is a country particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, due to its geographic location, topography and socioeconomic characteristics. The inertia of the climate system makes the climate changes expected in the near future mostly inevitable, so adaptation actions and strategies in the socioecosystem are necessary and urgent. Namely, Mexico’s climate scenarios for the period between 2015 to 2039 show annual temperature increases of up to 2°C in the north of the country, with variations of 1 to 1.5°C throughout most of its territory. This is expected to have significant economic, social, and environmental consequences: a 1°C-increment over the average global temperature could reduce the Gross National Product (GNP) between 0.77 and 1.76%. The Mexican Government (through its Sectoral Program for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, PROMARNAT 2020-2024) has estimated that 68% of population and 71% of the GNP are exposed to adverse climate change impacts. It has been estimated that the increase in temperature will cause losses in agricultural, industrial, and public services. Even under a scenario of compliance with the Paris Agreement, net climate change costs are projected to increase in this century, exceeding 130% of Mexico’s Gross Domestic Product of 2010 (this figure will be larger under a global inaction scenario). The Mexican islands most affected by rising sea levels are in the Gulf of California and the Caribbean Sea. In scenarios of sea level rise of 1 and 5 meters, between 1 and 3.8% of the national island surface could be submerged. Left unchecked, it is projected that by 2050, up to 11% of the Mexican population --14.6 million people-- could be internally displaced for climate reasons, affecting women and girls disproportionately.

To counter this, Mexico recognizes that adaptation is a fundamental component in the long-term global response to the impacts of climate change. To reduce the vulnerability of the region and increase its resilience it is necessary to transit from the ad hoc implementation of individual adaptation projects, to streamline adaptation into policies and to plan with a medium and long-term perspective. National Adaptation Plans (NAP) provide the framework to mainstream adaptation in all sectoral policies and foster adaptation in the long-term. The NAP process seeks to identify medium- and long-term adaptation needs, informed by the latest climate science. Once major vulnerabilities to climate change have been identified, the NAP process develops strategies to address them. The NAP approach was established under the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF) and re-emphasized in the Paris Agreement. Crucially, NAPs follow a continuous iterative process that is country-driven, participatory, and transparent. The two overarching objectives of NAPs are to:

Reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience;

Integrate adaptation into new and existing national, sectoral, and sub-national policies and programmes, especially development strategies, plans and budgets.

Countries can utilize the NAP process and its outcomes to update and improve the adaptation elements of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), a central part of the Paris Agreement.

Several financial support channels will be available for the NAP process, including bilateral and multilateral channels. In Paris in 2015, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) was requested to expedite support for the formulation of NAPs and the implementation of programmes, projects and policies identified in the NAPs in developing country Parties. Through the GCF Board decision B.13/09, paragraph (e), the GCF provides financial support for the formulation of NAPs through its Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme.

Mexico's updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2022, which includes a specific section on adaptation and, above all, an ecosystem-based approach. Namely, Mexico’s National Adaptation Policy (NAP) document will mirror the NDC's 5 key subcomponents from its adaptation chapter (e.g., Subcomponent A. Prevention and attention to negative impacts on the human population and in the territory; Subcomponent B. Resilient productive systems and food security; Subcomponent C. Conservation, restoration and use sustainable biodiversity and ecosystem services; Subcomponent D. Integrated management of water resources with climate change approach, plus Subcomponent E. Protection of strategic infrastructure and tangible cultural heritage) as its backbone; furthermore, current administration (2024-2030) has foreseen the need to include a sixth sub-component F. National Security and Climate Change.

GGGI’s trusted advisory role

GGGI has consolidated its role as a trusted advisor to Mexico’s federal and subnational governments in the design, implementation, and financing of green growth and climate change initiatives. Overall, the GGGI Mexico Programme aims to: a) deliver transformational programs with measurable attributed and contributed outcomes; b) ensure government ownership, commitment, and support for GGGI interventions in Mexico, foster strong partnerships, and facilitate resource mobilization to accelerate the adoption of green growth; c) promote knowledge sharing by bringing together a cross-selection of GGGI experts to deliver a “One GGGI” country approach; and d) strengthen linkages between Mexico’s development agenda with global commitments (e.g., Paris Agreement; 2030 Agenda) and GGGI’s 2030 Strategy.

Despite Mexico updating its NDCs with more ambitious goals, the country still lacks a coherent “umbrella” policy framework (understood as a National Adaptation Plan, NAP) to establish a clear pathway towards achieving the country’s adaptation goals. The absence of a NAP deters the removal of relevant bottlenecks of diverse nature (policy, stakeholder capacities, information technologies and systems, finance) and the advancement of comprehensive adaptation planning and implementation in Mexico. To cover this gap, the Government of Mexico, with the support of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) will strengthen its adaptation planning through a coherent “umbrella” policy framework, supported by the creation of adequate, inclusive governance structures, generating relevant evidence-based assessments, an prioritized measures portfolio and information systems capable of catalyzing additional investments, plus enabling the adoption of sound monitoring and evaluation tools to track the progress of the NAP.

Objectives of the assignment

This consultancy will provide inputs and active support to GGGI and the Government of Mexico, conducive to the development of Mexico’s National Adaptation Policy Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) system.

This consultancy is a key component of a multi-year preparedness project funded by the GCF, implemented by GGGI, which seeks to support the development of Mexico’s National Adaptation Policy, taking in consideration the subject matter expertise of the subcomponent. The intended Mexico NAP structure mirrors the adaptation component of its upcoming NDC 3.0.

Deliverables and Payment schedule

The consultant will be responsible for delivering quality inputs relevant to their subject matter of expertise to Mexico’s National Adaptation Policy framework focused on its implementation, including but not limited to

Develop the National Adaptation Policy’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system.

Review and identify best practices and lessons learned from international, and regional study cases on MEL systems for adaptation to climate change and National Adaptation Plans monitoring systems.

Analyse the undergoing development of indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation under the UNFCCC, to assure coherence and complementarity within the MEL system for adaptation in Mexico.

Review previous MEL efforts developed by INECC and SEMARNAT focused on adaptation to climate change.

Conduct a gap analysis towards the development of Mexico’s National Adaptation Policy Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system.

Map relevant stakeholders for Mexico’s NAP MEL system and propose institutional and legal arrangements.

Define the scope of Mexico’s NAP MEL system and framework to define how data will be collected, analyzed, and reported through metrics and indicators.

Develop adaptation criteria, indicators, baseline data, objectives, means of verification, and sources of information at the national, sectoral, and local levels.

Support the design of the NAP financial tracking module, including criteria, indicators, baseline data, objectives, means of verification, and sources of information at the national, sectoral, and local levels.

Develop performance indicators with an impact-oriented vision.

Ensure that consistent monitoring and relevant reporting data is considered in the MEL system for each stage of the NAP.

Assist the team in workshops and technical meetings with multiple stakeholders.

Provide technical advice for the development of the adaptation finance tracking system of climate finance.

Conduct training sessions for MEL system development and operation.

Develop communication and presentation materials tailored for high-level decision-makers at national and international forums.

Provide ad hoc support conducive to the operationalization and implementation of activities inherent and/or ancillary to this project.

Deliverables

Under direct supervision of the Project Manager (Deputy Country Representative), and in close collaboration with GGGI Mexico’s country team and INECC, the consultant will deliver Mexico’s National Adaptation Policy framework focus on implementation enabling factors, the consultant will deliver it by the end of the consultancy period:

Deliverable 1. Workplan

Develop one (1) detailed workplan that includes at least the following aspects:

a) Methodologies, approaches, phases, deadlines and responsibilities

b) Proposed data sources

c) Timeline and milestones

Deliverable 2. International, regional and national MEL methodology baseline report.

The report will include a comprehensive review of international, and regional study cases on MEL systems for adaptation to climate change and National Adaptation Plans monitoring systems to identify replicable best practices, lessons learned and methodologies for Mexico’s NAP MEL system. Furthermore, NAP indicators should be closely aligned to the indicators approved under the Global Adaptation Goal under the UNFCCC. This will be complemented with previous efforts conducted by INECC, SEMARNAT and other relevant national stakeholders on the matter to develop a state-of-the-art baseline on MEL for NAPs.

Deliverable 3. Gap analysis and stakeholder mapping report.

Based on findings from deliverable 2, the report shall include a gap analysis towards the development of Mexico’s National Adaptation Policy Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system and mapping of relevant stakeholders based on Mexico’s NAP implementation arrangements. The report should also include an institutional arrangements proposal indicating stakeholder, responsibilities, roles and timeline according to the MEL and Adaptation cycles according to INECC. Finally, the report should indicate normative recommendations oriented towards the development of a reporting mandate.

Deliverable 4. MEL System framework report.

Based on the finding of the previous deliverables, the report should define in detailed the scope of Mexico’s NAP MEL system indicating a thorough description of its methodology, institutional arrangements, and reporting cycle; considering adaptation criteria, indicators, baseline data, objectives, means of verification, and sources of information at the national, sectoral, and local levels. Including the development of performance indicators with an impact-oriented vision, considering the 6 components of adaptation and the loss and damage section consistent with the NDC 3.0, and generating detailed indicators and metrics for each.

Deliverable 5. Mexico’s NAP MEL system validation report

The consultant shall conduct a workshop with key stakeholders to validate the propose MEL system, the report shall include presentation materials, agenda, participants list, received feedback, changes made to the MEL Framework based the received feedback, and the enhanced version of the MEL system.

Deliverable 6. Inputs for NAP Financial Tracking module

The report shall include inputs for the development of the NAP Financial Tracking module within the NAP MEL system. The report will indicate the alignment of the NAP MEL system with the NAP Financial module focusing on the development of performance indicators with an impact-oriented vision. The report shall include the design of the NAP financial tracking module, including criteria, indicators, baseline data, objectives, means of verification, and sources of information at the national, sectoral, and local levels. It should also include a set of recommendations regarding tracking all sources of finance for adaptation in Mexico (including but not limited to ODA, international cooperation flows plus national budget).

Deliverable 7. NAP MEL System Capacity-building report

The report shall include the training materials, agenda, participants list, and pre and post tests for 3 (three) training workshop sessions for government officials focused on the methodology, institutional arrangements, MEL and adaptation cycles and NAP MEL system operation. The training materials will be uploaded on a site designated by INECC to fosters future capacity building. Finally, the report shall include communication (e.g. brochures, guidelines, and infographics) on the NAP MEL System and presentation materials tailored for high-level decision-makers at national and international forums.

Deliverable 8. Final NAP MEL System report

The report shall include all previous deliverables in a comprehensive format describing the NAP MEL System, its methodology, institutional arrangements, enabling factors for its implementation, its development phases, and dissemination materials.

Payment schedule

Payment

Deliverable

Delivery time

Percentage

Payment No. 1

Deliverable 1. Work Plan

1 week after signature of contract

2.5%

Payment No. 2

Deliverable 2. International, regional and national MEL methodology baseline report

7 weeks after signature of contract

5%

Payment No. 3

Deliverable 3. Gap analysis and stakeholder mapping report

12 weeks after signature of contract

5%

Payment No. 4

Deliverable 4. MEL System framework report

22 weeks after signature of contract

17.5%

Payment No. 5

Deliverable 5. Mexico’s NAP MEL system validation report

30 weeks after signature of contract

15%

Payment No. 6

Deliverable 6. Inputs for NAP Financial Tracking module

40 weeks after signature of contract

20%

Payment No. 7

Deliverable 7. NAP MEL System Capacity-building report

60 weeks after signature of contract

15%

Payment No. 8

Deliverable 8. Final NAP MEL System report

90 weeks after signature of contract

20%

All submitted documents must be in an editable Word format and follow a document structure (which shall be validated by GGGI, INECC, plus the Executive and Steering Committees) with references formatted in APA style. All images included in the texts must be provided in high resolution in a separate file.

All deliverables (documents with their annexes and infographics, schematics, tables, diagrams, cartography, and the other graphic aspects developed to facilitate the understanding of the technical contents) will be delivered in a digital medium and in Microsoft Office software, in open files that allow their editing.

Suggested methodology and competition requirements

The consultant can use primary and secondary sources of information to prepare the required results.

Meetings with GGGI Mexico team and relevant entities if needed through interviews, workshops, discussions groups with stakeholders and relevant authorities will be necessary to validate and prioritize the actions that will be developed.

Technical integrated work is considered decisive for the achievement of the objectives.

It is the consultant's responsibility to attend all required technical events and meetings.

All relevant papers, reports, and other documents prepared from the start to the end of the assignment shall be attached to the Final Report, and shared by the consultant to contribute towards a digital repository of information.

The Consultant shall consider the comments and necessary revisions proposed. Within 14 days from the receipt of the comments or modification proposal from INECC and GGGI, the Consultant shall prepare and submit the final versions of the report.

Reports and Coordination

The development of the consultancy will be monitored and coordinated primarily through periodic review and planning meetings -the precise schedule will be determined once the consultancy starts by GGGI and the consultant. The consultant’s work progress will be monitored through these review meetings addressing topics such as the strategic direction of activities, coordination of actors and the definition of inter-agency conciliation tables, as well as reporting on progress about the objective of consulting and deliverables.

All reports or results must be written in Spanish, except for Deliverables 4 and 8 (see Table above) which shall be delivered both in English and Spanish, in accordance with GGGI's formatting requirements, and must be sent in electronic copy along with the detail of the products associated with the deliverables, including attendance lists of the concertation spaces, memory aids generated and complete sets of raw data and research materials.

Supervision

The consultant will work embedded with the personnel of the Climate Change Adaptation and Ecology General Coordination (CGACCE) of the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC), reporting periodically to the Mexico Deputy Country Representative of the GGGI Mexico team.

Expertise required

The consultant must meet the following requirements:

(REQUIRED) Professional with a university degree in project management, qualitative and quantitative methods, economic, social, atmospheric, or environmental sciences, engineering, statistics, or related fields.

(REQUIRED) Master’s degree or higher in ecology, climate change, sustainable development, economy, project management, qualitative and quantitative methods, economic, social, atmospheric, or environmental sciences, engineering, statistics, or related fields.

(REQUIRED) At least 5 years of experience in for managing MEL systems and/or indicators related to climate change and climate change adaptation in the Mexican context.

(REQUIRED) At least 5 years of practical experience in international development projects or programs, preferably in the field of project management, data management and visualization, statistics (inferential and/or descriptive), and analysis.

(REQUIRED) At least 4 years with direct responsibility for managing MEL systems, including 1 or more years of experience using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies for program performance.

(DESIRED) 5 years of experience in professional work in Mexico on climate change adaptation issues.

(DESIRED) Expertise in applying Logic Models, Theory of Change, and/or SMART criteria.

(DESIRED) Expertise to ensure a gender transformative approach to the NAP

(REQUIRED) Use of software related to the design and management of indicators, for example SPSS, Stata, R, SAS, NVivo, ATLAS.ti, Tableau, Power BI, among others.

(DESIRED) Previous work experience in Mexico or LAC countries’ public sector institutions, international organizations or private sector companies working on climate change adaptation initiatives is highly desired;

(DESIRED) Training course or certifications on indicators, M&E and/or MEL.

Fluent in English and Spanish (written and verbal, minimum B2 level)

Strong skills in assertive communication.

Ability to produce deliverables with minimal supervision.

Administrative information

Interested consultants shall submit following documentations:

Cover letter, and CV

Only applications in English will be evaluated.

Selection method/process: Competitive selection

Timeline of selection: 2 weeks for receiving applications + 1 for selection process.

Date to close is Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered Application. Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English. A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.