Terms of Reference:
Project ‘Preparation of Third National Communication under UNFCCC’
Job title: NC3 Expert for the formulation of the chapter on Constraints & Gaps
Type of contract: Consultancy services paid in tranches based on approved deliverables
Duration: From July until the project is completed
Work load: Part time, limited number of working days (30) within the abovementioned project period
Duty station: Paramaribo, Suriname (own office)
Reporting to: NC3 Coordinating Lead Author (CLA) Other Information and Constraints & Gaps
Background
Suriname has ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1997. In 2006 Suriname formally submitted its First National Communication (NC1), its Second (NC2) in 2016 and is now in the process to prepare its Third National Communication (NC3). The NC3 will be submitted to the UNFCCC at the very latest in December 2021.
The main goal of the NC3 project is to assist Suriname in deepening the integration and mainstreaming of climate change into national development goals, coordinating efforts among different actors and sectors to address climate change. The project will enable Suriname to respond to international environmental obligations by strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of government agencies, NGOs and the private sector.
The immediate objective of the project is to assist the country in the preparation and submission of its NC3 to the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, in fulfillment of its obligations to the Convention.
The NC3 project will support Suriname in improving the quality of information on topics that are in line with UNFCCC decisions included in the National Communications by Non-Annex I Parties: (a) national inventory of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removal by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, to the extent its capacities permit, using comparable methodologies promoted and agreed upon by the COP; (b) a general description of steps taken or envisaged by the Non-Annex I Party to implement the Convention; and (c) any other information that the Non-Annex I Party considers relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention and suitable for inclusion in its communication, including, if feasible, materials relevant for calculations of global emission trends. In addition to producing the report, the NC3 project will have a special focus on the establishment of structures and capacity that are needed for reporting to the UNFCCC on a continual basis.
The final section of the National Communication identifies the constraints and gaps that Suriname is facing in its work to mitigate and adapt to climate change. It will further point out the needs in terms of financial and technical support and capacity building that will enable Suriname to advance its sustainable development and provide a more effective contribution to the world’s efforts to halt climate change. Differences within the country and highlighting the special needs of indigenous and tribal peoples and marginalized communities will be considered in this chapter as well.
Information on financial resources, technology transfer, capacity building and technical assistance received from various sources such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Annex I Parties and other developed country Parties, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and multilateral institutions, will be analyzed and updated with regards to implementation of mitigation and adaptation actions. It will also identify additional needs and possible future partnerships. The text on Constraints and Gaps in NC3 will be divided into the following sub-chapters: Financial, technical and capacity needs; Proposed projects for financing; Information on implementation of adaptation measures; Technology transfer; and Capacity-building needs other than those identified.
Scope of work
The services of the expert include responsibilities towards the formulation of the Chapter Constraints, gaps and related financial, technical and capacity needs of the Third National Communication (NC3) to the UNFCCC.
Duties
Specifically the Expert will be required to carry out the following activities:
- Review the status of the constraints and gaps identified in the Second National Communication (NC2).
- Identify new constraints and gaps (technical, institutional, methodological, financial and capacity needs) for the thematic areas GHG inventory, Vulnerability & Assessment (V&A) and mitigation and propose recommendations based on the findings. The consultant will also include constraints and gaps related to the preparation and improvement of national communications on a continuous basis.
- Gather, analyze and update information on financial resources, technology transfer, capacity building and technical assistance received from the GEF, Annex I Parties and other developed country Parties, the GCF and multilateral institutions for mitigation and adaptation actions implementation.
- Summarize the constraints and gaps, including related financial, technical and capacity needs identified in a synthesis report for review and consultation.
- Discuss the synthesis report with stakeholders, agree on feedback and revise the analysis.
- Finalize the report on the chapter Constraints and gaps and related financial, technical and capacity needs, in accordance with the requirements and guidance of UNFCCC decision 17CP.8, to be incorporated as part of the NC3 report.
Expected outputs of the assignment
The Expert will be responsible for the following outputs:
- Detailed work plan with above activities and a timeline within the given period.
- Draft synthesis report on Constraints and gaps and related financial, technical and capacity needs.
- Present and discuss the draft synthesis report with stakeholders.
- Finalized report on Constraints and gaps and related financial, technical and capacity needs.
- Perform revisions on the final report or any other related duties related to the development of the final NC3 report
Institutional arrangements
The Expert for the formulation of the chapter on Constraints and gaps is required to work in close collaboration with, and under the guidance and supervision of the CLA. The Expert conducts his/her activities in accordance with the ToR, must report timely on his/her progress and deliver outputs in agreement with the ToR and approved work plan. All outputs will be submitted to the CLA for review and approval. The final approval of outputs is provided by the NEA through the PC and CLA.
Reporting requirements
The Expert for the formulation of the chapter on Constraints and gaps will report regularly to the CLA to ensure a timely delivery of the expected outputs. He/she will report to the CLA on progress made with regards to the execution of his/her assignment, including all challenges encountered, risks foreseen, proposed or taken mitigation measures, and where the support of the NEA may be required.
All outputs shall first be submitted in draft to be reviewed by the CLA and will be presented to the Project Steering Committee and the NEA for discussion and approval prior to finalization.
Remuneration
A consultancy fee will be agreed based on offered financial proposal and upon completion of deliverables. Payment will be remitted, subject to clearance from the Project Steering Committee and approval of final deliverables by the NC3 PMU (NEA, PC and CLA).
The proposed payment terms (upon submission and acceptance of deliverables):
| Deliverables | Target deadline | % of payment |
| Detailed work plan and timeline | July 2021 | 15 |
| Draft synthesis report on Constraints and gaps and related financial, technical and capacity needs. | September 2021 | 35 |
| Workshop report on the findings and discussion with stakeholders | October 2021 | 20 |
| Final report on Constraints and gaps and related financial, technical and capacity needs. | November 2021 | 25 |
| Perform revisions on the final reports or any other related duties related to the development of the final NC3 report |
End of November 2021 | 5 |
Qualifications, experience and knowledge
Educational:
- A master’s degree or graduate degree in Socio-Economy or equivalent in a directly related study or discipline, with knowledge on Environmental science and Climate Change aspects.
Professional:
- At least three (3) years of working experience in related area.
- Knowledge of the UNFCCC, its principles and procedures and national communications.
- Knowledge about the current technical, institutional and policy settings of Suriname, including priority areas for development of the country.
- Consultancy within the current project will be an asset.
- Good written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work as a member of a multi-professional team.
- Good planning and organizational skills.
Personal competences:
- Able to work with minimal supervision.
- Proficiency with Office.
- Fluency in Dutch, English and Sranang Tongo.
- Flexibility, responsibility, integrity, cooperative.
- Excellent critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze and draft the findings into a compiled working document.
- Respond positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.
Contracting and payment
Directorate for Environment at the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment will contract the selected consultant. The costs associated with the consultancy will be paid from the project ‘Enabling activities for the preparation of Suriname’s Third National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’ (NC3 project), administered by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). However, based on national financial policy and regulation all payments should be in the local currency, the Surinamese Dollars (SRD).
Application procedure
Applicants should submit a technical proposal in English and a financial proposal in Surinamese Dollars (SRD) . Proposals should be submitted no later than June 28, 2021 at 15:00 hr local time to the email address co.environment@gov.sr of the Secretariat of the Directorate for Environment of the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment:
Attn. Mrs. I. Pengel – Patterzon LLM
Senior Legal & Policy Advisor
Swalmbergstraat 7, Paramaribo, Suriname
Tel: (597) – 424075/ (597) – 424076
ANNEX to the Terms of Reference
Following the User Manual for the guidelines on National Communication from Non-Annex I Parties the chapter “CONSTRAINTS AND GAPS, AND RELATED FINANCIAL, TECHNICAL AND CAPACITY NEEDS“ may contain the following information:
- Non-Annex I Parties should, in accordance with national circumstances and development priorities, describe any constraints and gaps, and related financial, technical and capacity needs, as well as proposed and/or implemented activities for overcoming the gaps and constraints, associated with the implementation of activities, measures and programmes envisaged under the Convention, and with the preparation and improvement of national communications on a continuous basis.
- Non-Annex I Parties should provide information on financial resources and technical support for the preparation of their national communications provided by themselves, as well as those received from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Annex II Parties or bilateral and multilateral institutions.
- Non-Annex I Parties should also provide information on financial resources and technical support provided by themselves and by the GEF, Annex II Parties or bilateral and multilateral institutions, for activities relating to climate change.
- Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to provide, to the extent their capacities permit, a list of projects proposed for financing, in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 4, of the Convention, in preparation for arranging the provision of technical and financial support.
- Non-Annex I Parties may include information on opportunities for the implementation of adaptation measures, including pilot and/or demonstration adaptation projects, being undertaken or proposed. They may also provide information on barriers to the implementation of adaptation measures.
They may include, as appropriate, information on how support programmes from Parties included in Annex II to the Convention are meeting their specific needs and concerns relating to vulnerability and adaptation to climate change.
- With regard to the development and transfer of technology, non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to provide information on country-specific technology needs and assistance received from developed country Parties and the financial mechanism of the Convention and, as appropriate, on how they have utilized this assistance in support of the development and enhancement of endogenous capacities, technologies and know-how.
- Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to provide information on other relevant needs and/or areas for capacity-building other than those mentioned in paragraphs 45, 47, 48 (see below) and 50 (see above).