PROTOCOL AND INFORMATION SPECIALIST

PROTOCOL AND INFORMATION SPECIALIST

Location : Kampala, UGANDA Application Deadline : 27-May-15 Additional Category Environment and Energy T... 14:03

Location :	Kampala, UGANDA
Application Deadline :	27-May-15
Additional Category	Environment and Energy
Type of Contract :	Individual Contract
Post Level :	National Consultant
Languages Required :	English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)	15-Jun-2015
Duration of Initial Contract :	30 working days
Expected Duration of Assignment :	30 working days spread over two months

Background

Over the past three decades, increasing temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns and climate hazards in particular droughts, floods and severe storms (hail, thunder, lightning and violent winds) have undermined social and economic development in Uganda. Climate hazards have negatively affected the livelihoods of ~150 000 people and resulted in ~74 deaths per year. Notwithstanding these challenges, the current climate information (including monitoring) and early warning systems in Uganda are not functioning as optimally as they could for effectively supporting the adaptive capacity of local communities and key sectors. Without adaptation, the negative effects of climate change will undermine years of development assistance and asset accumulation in Uganda. To respond to some of these challenges, the Government of Uganda in partnership with UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) has initiated the ”Strengthening climate information and early warning systems in Africa for climate resilient development and adaptation to climate change – Uganda” project. The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment, and is expected to end by December 2017, information for making early warnings and long-term development plans. The main purpose of the project is to; establish a functional network of meteorological and hydrological monitoring stations and associated infrastructure to better understand climatic changes; develop and disseminate tailored weather and climate information (including colour-coded alerts – advisories, watches and warnings – for flood, drought, severe weather and agricultural stresses, integrated cost-benefit analyses and sector-specific risk and vulnerability maps) to decision makers in government, private sector, civil society, development partners and local communities in the Teso and Mt Elgon sub-region; and integrate weather and climate information into national policies, annual work plans and local development including the National Policy for Disaster Preparedness and Management, and district and sub-county development plans in priority districts in the Bukedi, Busoga, Elgon, Teso, Acholi, Karamoja and Lango sub-regions. The project has two outcome areas:  Enhanced capacity of the Uganda National Meteorology Authority (UNMA) and Directorate of Water Resource Management (DWRM) to monitor and forecast extreme weather, hydrology and climate change; Efficient and effective use of hydro-meteorological and environmental information for making early warnings and long-term development plans. Rationale of the Consultancy The Ministry of Water and Environment is insufficiently coordinated with the Ministerial departments. This is largely a result of weak institutional arrangements, absence of policy and legal frameworks to guide the provision of meteorological services, and limited appreciation and use of meteorological services by other sectors of the economy. A protocol and agreement will be developed to ensure collaboration between the UNMA and the DWRM for the management and operations of automatic and manual stations, data collection, data exchange, data processing, data analysis and water resource – in particular flood, drought and severe weather risk – assessments and warnings. Objectives of assignment: Overall Objective of the consultancy Protocols and agreements developed and implemented for efficiently and effectively exchanging, processing and analysing data and information among UNMA, DWRM, MAAIF, DRDPM, CCU and related institutions for making early warnings and long-term development plans will build on existing MoUs and agreements between the departments. This assignment will be carried out by a national consultant over a period of 30 working days/within 2 months. Specific Objectives: Develop and implement protocols and agreements for data and information exchange, analysis and dissemination among UNMA, DWRM, and MAAIF, DRDPM, CCU and related institutions; Develop handbooks and policy and information briefs – to highlight the value of enhanced hydro-meteorological services and early warning systems to policy and decision-makers, civil society organisations, development partners and local communities. This will be based on the results of the study in Output 2.5 on the costs and benefits of accurate, timely and accessible weather and climate forecasts (including tailored forecasts and alerts).

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work The project is currently being implemented in 28 Districts comprising: Bukedi, Busoga, Elgon, Teso, Acholi, Karamoja and Lango sub-regions. This consultancy is expected to be carried out within Kampala, Entebbe (or Mbale) and the beneficiary regions, within 30 working days/two months. Building on an existing Memorandum of Understanding, a protocol and agreement between the UNMA and DWRM will be developed for data collection, data exchange, data processing, data analysis and flood, drought and severe weather risk assessment and warnings. An online web platform will be developed to facilitate the collaboration between the UNMA and DWRM and the operationalization of protocols and agreements. This platform will be further developed under Outcome 2 to be used by other user-agencies of weather, climate and hydrological information such as MAAIF, CCU, and DRDPM. The National Consultant will carry out the following tasks: A desk review of relevant documents (Disaster Preparedness and Management Policy, Uganda Meteorology Act, World Meteorology Organization Guidelines; Water Resource Management Policy, Climate Change Policy, SCIEWS Project document, Report of related consultancies carried out in 2014 etc.); Prepare and present an Inception Report on methodology of the consultancy; Interview with Officials from UNMA ,DWRM, MAAIF, MoLG, relevant MDAs and users of their products; Edit, print and publish protocols, hand books or guide lines for UNMA,DWRM, OPM and early warning partners; Organize a one day workshop to present the protocol, the signed agreements and SOPs for communication of climate information among the partners; Using input from 5. Above, prepare the final Protocol and Agreement between UNMA and DWRM, with recommended plan for implementation. Deliverables: A concept document on methodology for Protocol and Agreement; A workshop to discuss issues relating to the Protocol and Agreement between OPM, UNMA and DWRM; The Final Protocol and Agreement among the main cooperating partners; Policy and Information Briefs on hydro meteorological services and disaster/Hazard  early warning systems Consultancy Implementation Arrangements The Consultant will be supervised by as well as report to the Commissioner Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Management-Office of the Prime Minister and will be facilitated through the Project Management Unit for his/her day-to-day and field requirements including: transport, per-diems, stationery and other logistic needs.

Competencies

Functional Competencies: Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards; Mature judgment and initiative; Ability to think out-of-the-box; Ability to present complex issues in simple and clear manner; Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards; Ability to work under pressure and deliver high quality results on time; Initiative and independence; Excellent ability to communicate in English and to work as a team; Knowledge of early warning systems and disaster management; Excellent drafting skills, with basic legal orientation. Corporate competencies: Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards; Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: A Master’s degree in Natural Resources Management, Social Sciences or Law with a bias in IT and networking; Experience: Proven experience of over 5 years in institutional design and organizational development; Working experience with UNDP or the UN system in general preferred. Language: Fluent in English (both written and spoken). Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments Payment shall be by the lump sum modality in the following 3 instalments. These shall be all inclusive and the contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components  Upon signature of contract by both parties and presentation of an approved inception report (1 week after signing of contract) - 20%; Presentation of acceptable and approved Draft report,(1 month after signing of contract) - 30%; Submission and acceptance of Final Report, (2 months after signing the contract) -   50%. Evaluation Method and Criteria Cumulative analysis The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation; Technical Criteria weight; - 70%; Financial Criteria weight; - 30%. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation Technical Criteria – Maximum 70 points Criteria      Education (Advanced degree or Natural Resources Management) - 10; Language skills - 5; Knowledge of the Protocols and Agreements - 10; Relevant experience in conducting similar assignments  - 15; Relevance of experience in report writing and drafting - 10; Description of approach/methodology to assignment-  20. HOW TO APPLY: The candidate is required to submit an electronic application directly uploaded on the UNDP jobs website http://jobs.undp.org/cj_job_edit.cfm?job_id=56475 with all the requirements as listed here below. Annexes and further information may be downloaded on http://procurement-notices.undp.org/. (Reference #22275). Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document: The application should include the following documents/information: Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP (see Annex II); Updated Personal CV highlighting past experience in similar assignments and with 3 professional references with contact details (email and telephone); Technical Proposal: suggested outline for technical proposal; The offerors' interpretation of the assignment; Approach and methodology for undertaking the assignment; Work-plan For clarifications, please send your email to justine.naiga-bagonza@undp.org; fredah.zawedde@undp.org and diana.nabbanja@undp.org.