Back Adaptation Planning Specialist, San Jose, Costa Rica

Posting Title: Adaptation Planning Specialist

Department/Office: United Nations Environment Programme

Duty Station: SAN JOSE

Posting Period: 17 March 2021 - 26 March 2021

Job Opening Number: 21-United Nations Environment Programme-152066-Consultant

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Result of Service

The main objective of the position of the Adaptation Planning Specialist is to work closely with the National Project Coordinator and other national consultants and government counterparts, in the effective design and delivery of Costa Rica's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and its respective Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy, within the framework of the Plan-A project. The Government of Costa Rica sees this as key step towards achieving the adaptation vision, objectives and six main axes outlined in the National Adaptation Policy of Costa Rica 2018-2030, the priorities presented in its 2020 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), and for succeeding in mainstreaming climate adaptation considerations into national and subnational development policies, plans, strategies and budgets.

Besides contributing to the finalization of Costa Rica's National Adaptation Plan, activities undertaken by the consultant will contribute to the effective implementation of Component 1 (Strengthening of institutional capacity for the effective integration of adaptation strategies in all the six socio-economic regions of the country) and Component 4 (Funding strategy for national and sub-national adaptation priorities) included in the project.

To contribute to the effective implementation of the aforementioned components, the Adaptation Planning Specialist, in guidance from the Government of Costa Rica and the National Project Coordinator, will undertake the following activities: 1. Design a strategy for NAP formulation: o Conduct a preliminary literature review of relevant adaptation documents, reports and planning instruments, as well as interviews with key informants, to gain understanding of national adaptation planning progress, gaps, key climate risks and vulnerabilities.

o Undertake a stakeholder mapping and analysis exercise, and develop a detailed list of stakeholders (including title and contact information) to be engaged in different stages of the NAP elaboration process as well as consultation methodologies for each phase of the process, including detailed instructions and tools to be used to submit outputs for consultation (interview questionnaires, workshop plans, or additional guides and tools to be used for conducting these consultations from stakeholders).

o In close collaboration with the National Project Coordinator, other national consultants and MINAE government counterparts, and based on key findings from literature review and initial consultations with other key informants, develop a strategy for NAP formulation. This strategy must define the scope of the NAP, and include a detailed workplan, implementation schedule, methodological proposal, and outline proposal for the NAP document. The strategy must also ensure alignment with adaptation-related frameworks, policies, and planning processes.

2. Development of a list of preliminary adaptation options based on key gaps, needs and opportunities identified to enhance adaptation and climate resilience in Costa Rica: o Conduct an in-depth analysis of existing information on national circumstances and sustainable development priorities

o Conduct an in-depth analysis of adaptation progress, gaps and opportunities, including information on:  adaptation priorities currently included in national, subnational, and/or sectoral instruments (policies, plans, programs, strategies);

 existing regulatory frameworks and institutional arrangements for adaptation;

 results of previous consultation processes which have been undertaken by MINAE to identify sectoral adaptation priorities;

 results of consultation processes currently being undertaken at the subnational level to identify key climate risks and adaptation priorities in each of the six socioeconomic regions of the country.

o Conduct an in-depth analysis of key climate risks and vulnerabilities for Costa Rica at the national and subnational level

o Based on the above-mentioned analyses, identify key adaptation gaps, needs and opportunities, and develop a preliminary list of adaptation options to enhance adaptation and climate resilience at the national and subnational levels.

o Conduct consultation processes to receive feedback on the preliminary list of adaptation options.

3. Determination of adaptation priorities at the national and subnational level

o In collaboration with key stakeholders, develop a methodological proposal and define the criteria to be used for assessing, ranking, and prioritizing identified adaptation options.

o Organize and conduct consultations with relevant stakeholders to identify key implementation priorities.

o Develop a report with detailed descriptions of consultative and technical processes conducted to assess, rank, and prioritize identified adaptation options.

4. Development of a roadmap for implementation of prioritized adaptation measures

o Provide technical support to a team of consultants currently facilitating the process of identification of adaptation priorities at the subnational level, in determining institutional arrangements for their effective implementation.

o Organize consultation sessions with relevant stakeholders to determine the necessary institutional arrangements for effective implementation of adaptation measures prioritized at the national level.

o Design an implementation roadmap that details the necessary institutional arrangements for implementing prioritized adaptation measures at the national and subnational level, as well as a detailed timeline for successful completion of activities by 2022, 2026 or 2030, and a strategy for monitoring and evaluation.

o Organize consultation sessions to obtain feedback on the draft version of the roadmap.

5. Development of a National Adaptation Plan document for review

o Formulate an integrated NAP, that complies with technical guidance for NAP development published by UNFCCC, and which includes, as a minimum:  Synthesis of the national context and background

 Synthesis of key climate risks and vulnerabilities at the national and subnational level

 Synthesis of Costa Rica's adaptation vision, objectives, principles, axes, and priority sectors, as presented in the National Climate Change Adaptation Policy 2018-2030

 Description of prioritized adaptation measures at the national and subnational level, including details of alignment with the National Adaptation Policy and the NDC, and the necessary institutional arrangements for implementation, including responsible entities (lead and supporting), implementation time periods, and potential entry points for integrating prioritized measures into development planning instruments.

 Monitoring and evaluation strategy, including a theory of change, indicators to track process and the impacts of adaptation, and detail on responsible entities (lead and supporting) for data collection, management, and analysis.

6. Consultation process and presentation of the validated and approved version of the National Adaptation Plan

o Design and conduct consultative sessions with relevant stakeholders to receive feedback on the National Adaptation Plan.

o Address the relevant suggestions and comments received and make necessary adjustments to the NAP document based on the feedback received through stakeholder consultations.

o Support DCC MINAE in undertaking technical discussions with other government counterparts and relevant stakeholders at the regional and sectoral level, to obtain validation and agreement on compromises that each must assume (e.g. activities, implementation periods and indicators) in order to implement the plan, as indicated in the final document.

o Present the validated and approved version of Costa Rica's National Adaptation Plan.

7. Collect lessons learned related to adaptation planning and activities undertaken, and carry out any other relevant duties within his/her technical competence as requested by the National Project Coordinator and/or the UNEP Task Manager.

Deliverables: Product 1. Document with strategy for NAP formulation, agreed with MINAE. It must include a detailed workplan and methodological approach to develop the NAP, including (but not limited to) the following sections:

• Detailed workplan with proposed activities and methodologies to achieve the expected results.
• Detailed implementation schedule, including timeline and strategies for alignment with other adaptation planning processes currently being undertaken by other consultants that will provide inputs for NAP elaboration.
• Detailed list of stakeholders (including title and contact information) to be engaged in different stages of the process (and their different levels of responsibilities), based on a stakeholder mapping and analysis exercise.
• Consultation schedule for each phase of the process, including detailed instructions and tools to be used to submit outputs for consultation (interview questionnaires, workshop plans, or additional guides and tools to be used for conducting these consultations from stakeholders).
• Draft outline of proposed NAP structure based on key findings from literature review and initial consultations and feedback received by key informant interviews. The structure must ensure alignment with international and national frameworks, policies, and adaptation related planning processes.

Product 2. List of adaptation options, based on key gaps, needs and opportunities identified to enhance adaptation and climate resilience in Costa Rica. The list of adaptation options must be aligned with the country's adaptation vision, objectives, principles, key axes, and priority sectors as indicated in its National Climate Change Adaptation Policy 2018-2030, and other relevant inputs, including (but not limited to):

• Results of an Assessment Report currently being undertaken as part of the process of development of Costa Rica's 4th National Communication to be submitted to UNFCCC in July 2021, that includes information on: i) adaptation progress and gaps, and ii) climate risks and vulnerability.
• Results of previous consultation processes undertaken by MINAE to identify sectoral adaptation priorities.
• Adaptation priorities currently included in national, subnational, and/or sectoral instruments (policies, plans, programs, strategies)
• Adaptation planning efforts currently being facilitated at the subnational level by a team of consultants that are part of Plan-A, to identify key climate risks and adaptation priorities in each of the six socioeconomic regions of the country.

Product 3. List of prioritized adaptation measures at the national and subnational level, which can collectively improve climate resilience and enhance adaptation in Costa Rica (may include actions that are currently being implemented as well as actions to be implemented). The list must have been finalized through consultations with key stakeholders to identify key implementation priorities based on a ranking process, including considerations on feasibility, costs/benefits, urgency of action, and/or other criteria (e.g. availability of resources, level of impact, contribution to development goals) determined through consultations with key stakeholders. Supporting attachments must include detailed descriptions of consultative and technical processes conducted to appraise, rank and prioritize identified adaptation options.

Product 4. Implementation roadmap that details the necessary institutional arrangements for implementing prioritized adaptation measures, as well as a detailed timeline for successful completion of activities by 2022, 2026 or 2030, and a strategy for monitoring and evaluation. The document must provide detailed information on:

• Alignment of prioritized adaptation measures with national and subnational development instruments (policies, plans, strategies) and goals, the National Adaptation Policy 2018-2030 (including its key axes, guidelines and priority sectors), key climate risks and vulnerabilities, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Key actors (lead and supporting) responsible for implementation of prioritized adaptation measures.
• Identification of main entry points for integration of climate change adaptation measures into national and subnational sustainable development instruments (policies, plans, strategies) and goals to ensure alignment between climate change effects and development decisions.
• Timeline with sequential steps for implementation of each of the prioritized adaptation measures, utilizing 2022, 2026 and 2030 as the three milestone years to report and monitor progress.
• Monitoring and evaluation strategy, including theory of change, indicators to track process and the impacts of adaptation, and responsible entities (lead and supporting) for data collection, management, and analysis.

The proposal must have been developed and validated with key stakeholders (from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector) through participative processes.

Product 5. Costa Rica's National Adaptation Plan document that includes prioritized adaptation measures at the national and subnational level, for submission to the Government of Costa Rica and other stakeholders for review and approval, including (but not limited to):

• Synthesis of national context and background
• Synthesis of key climate risks and vulnerabilities at the national and subnational level
• Synthesis of Costa Rica's Adaptation vision, objectives, principles, axes, and priority sectors, as presented in the National Climate Change Adaptation Policy 2018-2030
• Prioritized adaptation measures at the national and subnational level, ensuring alignment with the National Adaptation Policy and NDC
• Institutional arrangements for implementation, including responsible entities (lead and supporting) for implementing each adaptation measure and potential entry points for integrating climate change adaptation into development planning instruments
• Monitoring and evaluation strategy, including: i) theory of change, ii) indicators to track process and the impacts of adaptation, and iii) responsible entities (lead and supporting) for data collection, management, and analysis.

Supporting attachments must include the proposed methodology to conduct validation sessions with key stakeholders.

Product 6. Report on consultation processes and lessons learned. A report detailing information on the consultative processes undertaken to validate and approve the National Adaptation Plan document by relevant stakeholders. The validated National Adaptation Plan must be included as an annex to the report and must include, as a minimum, the points mentioned in Product 5. Supporting attachments must include stakeholder consultation methodologies, which details activities undertaken with key stakeholders to seek feedback and agreement on compromises (activities, implementation periods and indicators) that each relevant actor will assume, as indicated in the final NAP document, participant lists and lessons learned throughout the process..

Work Location

San José, Costa Rica

Expected duration

8 months

Duties and

Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

UNEP, through its Latin America and the Caribbean Office located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region - including 16 small island developing States -with a population of about 588 million people- to implement the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in in countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The office works to serve the needs of the region and its activities are integrated activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

In terms of supporting countries in the region attain the global commitments signed within the framework of the Paris Agreement, UNEP's Latin America and the Caribbean Sub-programme on Climate Change aims at strengthening the ability of countries to move towards climate-resilient and low emission strategies for sustainable development and human well-being. In this framework, the UNEP Sub-programme on Climate Change, through its Climate Change Unit leads and supports several initiatives oriented at designing, promoting and implementing innovative mitigation and adaptation solutions at the national and subnational level, and strengthening the transparency framework of the countries.

The expected accomplishment regarding climate change adaptation is that adaptation approaches, including the ecosystem-based approach, are implemented and integrated into key sectoral and national development strategies to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to climate change impacts. Furthermore, the UNEP's Sub-programme on Climate Change is also committed to ensure that cross-cutting issues such as gender equity and women empowerment are effectively integrated in the development of its tasks to guarantee an equitable development in line with its adaptation objectives.

In this context, the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica and UNEP have agreed on the implementation of the project Development of Sub-national Capacities for the Implementation of the National Adaptation Plan in Costa Rica (also known as Plan-A: Territorios Resilientes ante el Cambio Climático) framed within the Readiness program of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The project is aimed at reducing the vulnerability of Costa Rica to the effects of climate variability and climate change through the creation of adaptive capacities. Specifically, the project has the objective to strengthen the country's capacity to integrate adaptation into regional and municipal planning, including the participation of government entities, the private sector, and civil society.

The project seeks to achieve its objective through:

• Strengthening existing planning frameworks at the regional and cantonal levels, by recognizing the crucial role of subnational authorities in adapting to climate change;
• Involving key stakeholders in the planning and implementation of adaptation at these levels;
• Producing cantonal risk assessments to identify adaptation needs, based on available and relevant knowledge, and a validated and efficient methodology;
• Creating institutional and technical capacity and promoting agreements at different levels;
• Developing adequate monitoring and reporting mechanisms for adaptation at the subnational level and linking them to the national metric system for climate change monitoring and evaluation.

To fulfill the objectives of the project, the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office is recruiting an Adaptation Planning Specialist to provide technical support for the effective design and delivery of Costa Rica's National Adaptation Plan and its respective Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy. The Government of Costa Rica has made significant advances in climate change adaptation planning, including the officialization of the National Climate Change Adaptation Policy 2018-2030; execution of various consultations to identify adaptation priorities at sectoral and regional levels; and development of a theory of change and indicators for monitoring and evaluating progress in implementation of the National Adaptation Policy. However, a National Adaptation Plan has not yet been made official.

The Adaptation Planning Specialist will operate under the overall supervision of the Adaptation Program Officer at the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office and will assist the National Project Coordinator in the execution of the project. Additionally, he/she will work in close collaboration with members of the Climate Change Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, other national consultants and other relevant in-country stakeholders and government counterparts.

The Adaptation Planning Specialist is expected to work over a 8-month period from home during the duration of the assignment, and hold regular meetings (as needed) in the Climate Change Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica (DCC MINAE) in San Jose, Costa Rica. The consultant may also be required to travel around the country to engage in participative consultation processes.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic Qualifications:

• Must have a master's degree or higher in environmental sciences or management, environmental economics, climate change, development studies, public administration, social sciences, or another related field.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of professional experience in the fields of development, environment and/or climate change.
• At least 3 years of experience working on climate change adaptation planning in the context of development, review and/ or implementation of policies, plans, program and/or frameworks relevant to adaptation.
• Previous experience in supporting the development of NAPs or other adaptation plans, policies and projects in Costa Rica is an advantage.
• Previous experience working with government entities and other stakeholders in Costa Rica is an advantage.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken Spanish is required.

Skills:

• Knowledge of Costa Rica's political context and adaptation planning process.
• Good organizational skills, especially for facilitating meetings, workshops and writing reports.
• Sound knowledge of development and adaptation policy and planning processes at the national and/or subnational levels in Costa Rica as well as familiarity with national agencies and other relevant institutions involved in climate change and disaster risk management.
• Sound knowledge of international climate change and corresponding UN climate conventions as related to climate adaptation.
• Sound understanding of the NAP process and technical guidelines developed by UNFCCC.
• Excellent proven analytical and writing skills, including track record in producing relevant reports or communications or knowledge materials. Include at least three technical, policy, scientific or research documents undertaken within the last five years.
• Ability and willingness to travel to urban and rural regions of the country.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and experience in stakeholder engagement

Competency:

• Professionalism: Is results-oriented and committed to excellence. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Demonstrates adaptability to change and willingness to engage in continuous learning. Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of views.
• Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors' language, tone, style and format to match audience.
• Teamwork: Is able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to achieve organizational goals; takes leadership when appropriate; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.

ccDU86j-owT1v