VANUATU: INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING SPECIALIST (CONSULTANT)
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
Vanuatu, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), is disproportionately affected by climate change. It ranks at the top of the World Risk Report 20214 due to its high susceptibility to natural hazards and limited adaptive capacity. Scientific forecasts indicate a rise in both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, posing catastrophic risks to human lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, and the rich biodiversity that constitutes Vanuatu's natural ecosystems.
Despite dedicating scarce national resources towards climate action, and the considerable assistance it has received from international donors and partners over the years, Vanuatu lacks adequate technical capacity, coordination mechanisms, financial resources and requisite data and information management systems to facilitate design and implementation of effective climate change adaptation in the face of climate change impacts.
Mentioned below are the key barriers that restrict Vanuatuโs national adaptation planning abilities, and which the proposed project aims to address:
1. Fragmented and ineffective planning, implementation, and coordination of climate adaptation initiatives, leading to sub-optimal outcomes of climate change interventions.
2. Lack of availability and accessibility of usable, reliable, and timely data and information, and the capacity to interpret and make use of it, for monitoring and analyzing climate change interventions and for design of future initiatives.
3. The climate adaptation needs at different levels in Vanuatu are greater than what the state can provide resources for.
GGGIโs Vanuatu Program
Vanuatu became a member of GGGI in 2014 and GGGI began its operations in Vanuatu in 2015. GGGIโs first projects in Vanuatu in 2015 and 2016 focused on support to the Government to update the National Energy Roadmap 2016-2030, develop the National Green Energy Fund, and plan for implementing its green energy transition. In 2017, GGGI and the Government of Vanuatu launched its first Country Planning Framework (CPF). CPFs are โa five-year country level plan that sets out the priority areas for GGGI interventions and choice of programmatic solutions that contribute to Membersโ and partnersโ green growth transformation as well as their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and Sustainable Development Goal ambitions and goalsโ. GGGI launched a second CPF for Vanuatu in 2022, spanning 2022-2026.
GGGI has been actively involved in supporting sustainable development initiatives in Vanuatu. GGGI's focus includes enhancing climate resilience, promoting green growth, and fostering economic sustainability through various projects. Notably, GGGI works closely with the Vanuatu government and various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) on multiple projects aimed at fostering sustainable growth and climate resilience.
To enhance national climate resilience, Vanuatu has secured a Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Grant โEnhancing Adaptation Actions through the National Adaptation Planโ to develop a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and six Provincial Adaptation Plans (PAPs) covering all six provinces in Vanuatu. These plans will guide climate adaptation governance, enhance stakeholder engagement, and ensure climate adaptation actions that are gender-sensitive and socially inclusive, across vital sectors of the economy.
GGGI together with the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment, and Disaster Management (MCCA), have taken proactive steps to support the national policies and strategies. These efforts are aligned with Vanuatuโs Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), National Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy (CCDRRP), and National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP).
OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
To improve governance and institutional coordination, GGGI Vanuatu is seeking an Institutional Strengthening Specialist to play a role in:
1. Building technical capacity: Equipping national and provincial institutions with the skills to design, coordinate, and monitor climate adaptation and resilience-enhancing initiatives.
2. Enhancing governance: Strengthening decision-making frameworks and facilitating integration across sectors to avoid redundant or conflicting actions.
3. Improving resource mobilization: Supporting access to international climate finance and optimizing resource allocation for impactful interventions.
Streamlining Coordination: Establishing mechanisms to improve communication and collaboration between government departments, local authorities, and international partners
1. Conduct a gap analysis of skillsets and knowledge in climate change adaptation planning.
2. Develop and oversee the implementation of a capacity-building program with high-priority trainings.
3. Train and mentor, the NAP team, who will support the implementation of adaptation planning activities.
4. Review and amend Decentralization Act to ensure regulatory role for Department of Local Authorities (DLA) supporting implementation of and reporting on NAP/PAP activities at the Provincial level
5. Provide Technical Input into the development of the adaptation planning framework.
DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
The expected deliverables of the consultant are as follows (however, the consultant may be required to produce additional deliverables as deemed reasonably necessary by GGGI and the MCCA).
The assignment will be undertaken over a project period of 36 months from January 2025 to March 2027. The contract will cover a total of 180 working days with a minimum of 20 days onsite. # Deliverables Description Timeline Payment 1. Inception Report and Workplan
- Develop a detailed workplan based on consultations with stakeholders, outlining key activities, timelines, and approaches for the assignment.
- Identify and prioritize key stakeholders to ensure an inclusive and collaborative approach
- Highlight initial observations and recommendations to guide subsequent deliverables.
- Incorporate a risk management strategy to address potential challenges.
Within 1 month after starting the Assignment 5% of the contract Price 2. Institutional Assessment Report- Conduct a thorough assessment of institutional frameworks and capacities related to climate change adaptation planning.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of existing coordination mechanisms and governance structures.
- Identify institutional gaps and recommend strategies to enhance operational efficiency and governance.
- Provide a comprehensive analysis of resources, stakeholder roles, and key performance indicators for monitoring progress.
Within 3 months of signing the Contract 10% of the total Contract Price 3. Gap Analysis Report- Conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing skillsets and knowledge gaps in climate adaptation planning.
- Use qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, such as surveys and interview, to inform findings.
- Provide actionable recommendations for addressing the gaps, including short- and long-term solutions.
- Include a sectoral breakdown to identify specific needs across different institutions.
Within 5 months of signing the Contract 10 % of the Contract Price 4. Amended Decentralization Act- Review and propose amendments to the Decentralized Act to ensure alignment with climate adaptation policies and frameworks.
_ Ensure that the amended act supports enhanced coordination and governance at provincial and national levels.
- Facilitate stakeholders' consultations to validate the amendments
Within 7 months of signing the contract 10% of the total contract price 5. Capacity Needs Assessment Report - Undertake capacity needs assessment of DLA to ascertain its ability to perform supporting and coordination functions for provincial Adaptation Plans (PAPs) implementation.- Propose actionable recommendations to address these gaps, including capacity-building programs. Within 9 months of signing the Contract 20% of the total Contract Price 6. COM Policy Paper
- Develop a policy paper for the Council of Ministers (COM) highlighting critical adaptation planning needs and proposed measurers.
- Include recommendations for institutional governance, financial strategies, and capacity-building initiatives.
- Ensure the policy paper aligns with Vanuatu's national climate policies and adaptation strategies.
7. Training Materials- Design and implement a structured capacity-building program, including high-priority trainings for key stakeholders.
- Develop customized training materials tailored to the needs of different participant groups.
- Facilitate interactive workshops and practical sessions to enhance learning outcomes.
- Establish a feedback mechanism to evaluate the program's effectiveness and adapt it if necessary.
Within 10 months of signing the Contract 15% of the total Contract Price 8. NAP Team Training and Mentoring- Provide targeted training and mentorship to the NAP team, equipping them to support and sustain adaptation planning activities effectively.
- Development individualized mentoring plans to address specific knowledge or skill gaps within the team.
- conduct follow-up sessions to ensure knowledge retention and practical application.
-Foster a collaborative learning environment that encourages peer-t-peer knowledge sharing.
- Deliver technical inputs into the adaptation planning framework, ensuring alignment with key project activities and addressing the identified priorities.
- Review and refine the framework to ensure its relevance and applicability to Vanuatu's unique context.
- provide examples and case studies to support the development of robust adaptation strategies.
- Include recommendations for integrating the framework into national and provincial planning processes.
Within 11 months of signing the contract 10% of the Contract Price 10. Closing Report- Prepare a comprehensive report summarizing all activities, output, and outcomes achieved during the consultancy period.
- Highlight lessons learned, best practices, and key challenges faced during implementation.
-Provide strategic recommendations for sustaining project impacts and scaling up successful interventions.
- Include an annex with detailed documentation of deliverables and stakeholder feedback.
Within 13 months after starting the Assignment 5% of the Contract Price
Reporting:
The Consultant shall submit the Final Report which should reflect the outcome of all activities prepared by the consultant. The report should also give recommendations for further activities to be carried out in order to secure a long-term sustainable development of the measure. All relevant technical papers, reports, and other documents prepared from the start to the end of the assignment shall be attached to the Final Report. The Consultant shall submit the report in electronic versions readable by a Microsoft Office application. All outputs must be in English. In addition, the Consultant may be required to submit the outputs in other languages. The Final report must be approved by the GGGI with the agreement of the NDA (MCCA). The Consultant shall consider the comments and necessary revisions proposed. Within 14 days from the receipt of the comments or modification proposal from the GGGI, the Consultant shall prepare and submit the final versions of the report.
EXPERTISE REQUIRED
The description of required expert may be split into following parts:
University qualifications (MSc or PhD) in environmental science, public administration, or a related field. At least 8 years of professional experience in institutional strengthening or governance projects. Demonstrated experience in developing capacity-building programs and conducting trainings. Proven knowledge of climate adaptation planning and frameworks. Knowledge of and experience in climate change issues in the Pacific region. Thorough understanding of institutional challenges in the Pacific region, and experience working with government institutions and international or nongovernmental organizations supporting institutional strengthening and coordination mechanisms as the specific area of intervention. Familiarity with institutional gaps analysis tools and methodologies in the specific area of intervention. Strong communication skills, and ability to liaise with various stakeholders, including government officials. Experience working in Vanuatu will be an added advantage
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
The closing date is in 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. The contract with the Individual Consultant will be a deliverables-based contract with GGGI procuring the travel-related components directly, in accordance with GGGIโs travel policy. Child protection โ GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGIโs Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.