Seeking National Liaison Consultant-St. Kitts and Nevis for Green Climate Fund Project

TERMS OF REFERENCE

National Liaison Consultant – St. Kitts and Nevis

Green Climate Fund (GCF) project:

“Strengthening the foundation for a climate responsive agricultural sector in the Caribbean”

1. Background:

       The GCF- Readiness Project titled “Strengthening the foundation for a climate responsive agricultural sector in the Caribbean” (GCF CARICOM AgREADY, in short) is funded through a Grant Agreement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) with The Bahamas- The Ministry of Environment and Housing as the lead National Designated Authority (NDA) and the Inter-American Institute of Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) as the delivery partner.

       The AgREADY project seeks to raise the profile of the agricultural sector in GCF’s climate financing prioritization processes by implementing an evidence-based and inter-sectoral strategy for developing and rebranding Caribbean agriculture as “low-emissions”, to enhance market opportunities and attract private sector investments. The project logic is premised on a vision of developing “A Climate responsive agricultural sector in the Caribbean that supports food security, livelihoods and uses natural resources sustainably” by addressing barriers of ineffective mechanisms and engagement with agricultural experts and stakeholders in GCF climate programming processes, policy gaps, and limited or fragmented data/information to inform climate risks planning, programming, and action in the sector.

       The IICA-GCF Readiness Project targets nine countries (The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago) in the CARICOM sub-region, with specific objectives and activities related to:

• To improve the enabling conditions to design, implement and evaluate options for enhanced climate action in the agricultural sector by strengthening policies, capacities, frameworks, methods and institutional arrangements for the collection, monitoring, measuring, reporting, verifying (MRV) and analyzing agricultural and associated activity data from the sector.
• To increase the number of projects identified for development and investment in a pipeline of evidenced-based and bankable projects aligned with regional and national priorities as informed by climate risk assessments of the agriculture sector.
• To disseminate best practices for institutional capacity building, coordination, and pipeline development of more robust proposals for building climate-resilience along prioritized agricultural value chains, with a focus on cultivating the innovative capacity of the region´s youth.

• Objective of the consultancy:

To provide in-country support and coordination of project activities inclusive of consulting with, mobilizing, and building the capacity of national stakeholders involved in the GCF-funded readiness project titled “Strengthening the foundation for a climate responsive agricultural sector in the Caribbean”.

• Minimum Qualifications and Requirements: 

• Education:

University Degree in Agronomy or an agriculture related field, Environmental/Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Development, or related field.

3.2 Experience:

1. A minimum of two years of experience in mobilizing stakeholders, leading consultations, organizing, and facilitating events, and supporting event management.
2. Familiarity and established relationships with agriculture and environmental stakeholders, CSOs, NGOs and development agencies will be an asset.

• Key Competencies and Skills:

1. Knowledge of national agricultural and climate change policies, strategies and projects will be an asset.
2. High level of leadership and stakeholder engagement capacity
3. Good interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective working relations and resolve conflict.
4. Curiosity and a willingness to learn and apply new tools, methodologies and knowledge
5. Able to work under pressure, prioritize and work within deadlines for concurrent assignments, managing multiple deliverables simultaneously with minimum supervision
6. Able to present and relay oral and written information effectively.
7. Display cultural, gender, religion, nationality sensitivity and adaptability.
8. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc.).

• Languages:

1. Advanced writing and oral skills in English, with the ability communicate in other languages spoken in the country.

• Description of Duties:

The National Liaison Consultant (NLC) is a part-time position to serve as a focal point for stakeholder consultation and mobilization, and building awareness and capacity at a local level to enhance the efficacy of project execution. The NLC will support the execution of technical interventions and the capture and document of information and experiences for the overall knowledge management and communication strategy of the project. These operational, administrative, and technical duties will be directly supervised by the Project Manager, Shalini Maharaj (shalini.maharaj.consultant@iica.int) in coordination with IICA’s Representative and/or National Technicians in the respective project country.  This position is ideal for a flexible and proactive person who enjoys engaging with a wide range of stakeholders. The person must be located in St. Kitts and Nevis.

• Activities / Products

The NLC will undertake the following responsibilities and functions

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  • Project Planning, Stakeholder Engagement and Support:
  • Provide inputs to develop the implementation work plan and guide country level implementation and deliverables, including mapping of stakeholders.
  • Provide technical and logistical support for international and regional consultants, undertaking specified project activities in country per provided methodologies and guidelines. 
  • Assist in identifying and building effective relationships with local stakeholders and key partners for implementing the project.
  • Communicate with relevant project participants to facilitate and coordinate logistical and organizational support for in-country project activity implementation.
  • Lead the development of national level inventories of climate change agriculture strategies, plans, policies, and projects.
  • Compile and organize documents (policies, plans, strategies, project information, vulnerability analyses, reports etc.) for the regional knowledge management platform.
  • Contribute ideas, background research, relevant information and text to support the development of two GCF concept notes focused on climate resilient recovery in the agriculture sector at a regional level.
  • Provide a monthly report to IICA on all in-country advances and activities. Report to IICA office for meetings when requested.

• Implementation Facilitation, Monitoring and Reporting
  • Support the proper and efficient managing of project documentation (files, records, project deliverables tracking, financials, etc), and project monitoring and evaluation where required.
  • Assist with the capture, development and dissemination of communication and information products to enable awareness raising, advocacy and knowledge sharing as part of project activities.
  • Facilitate stakeholder mobilization to ensure effective engagement of civil society and the private sector, including small and micro enterprises, in workshops, consultations and other in-country project activities.
  • Provide logistical and facilitation support for events, particularly the local and regional workshops, consultations, and other meetings.

• Perform other relevant tasks related to but not limited to the aforementioned duties as indicated by the Project Manager, IICA’s Representative and/or National Technicians in the respective project country.

• Contract Period:

The Consultant will be hired with renewable annual (12 month) contracts until project closure, or until the specific assignments for the required services are completed, whichever is sooner.  This is a part time consultancy estimated at a level of effort of 70 days annually, with some months requiring a higher level of effort than others.

• Payment:

The Consultant will be paid monthly, at the end of each month upon submission of monthly progress reports, which constitutes the products under this contract.

1. Source of Funding:                           GCF Readiness Project
2. Payment currency:         USD
3. Payment method: US$1,000 Monthly

• Unit responsible for monitoring:

Climate Change, Natural Resources and Management of Production Risks Program.

• Position of the officer responsible for monitoring:

Shalini Maharaj, Project Manager, CARICOM AgREADY GCF Readiness Project, as well as the IICA Representative, St. Kitts and Nevis

1. Travel:

Any travel required will be defined together with the consultancy supervisor, with costs covered by the Project/IICA.  

1. Submission:

The interest in the consultancy must be submitted by end of business until 16:30 hours on July 2^nd, 2021. Proposals should be submitted electronically to: shalini.maharaj.consultant@iica.com.  

The files submitted should include: a) curriculum vitae; and b) letter of interest

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