International Consultant: Climate Resilience International Consultant for Service Delivery Points Kabul, Afghanistan & Home Based

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s Strategic Plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realising the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organisations, and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the various natural and men- made disasters on women’s, girls’ and young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recovering lost gains, and realising our goals.

The Afghanistan CO is looking for a Maternal & Reproductive Health (MRH) Consultant who will provide technical assistance in promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as well as ensuring the effective technical management of UNFPA’s donors’ supported projects.

S/he will work in close collaboration with humanitarian agencies (UN and (I)NGOs) and national partners and civil society organisations to implement the scale up of existing MRH including family planning (FP) and maternal nutrition interventions and adaptation to the current humanitarian and Humanitarian, Development and Peace (HDP) contexts. The MRH Consultant will be responsible for ensuring integration of UNFPA mandate within the programme delivery, coordinating UNFPA’s projects with other stakeholders, overseeing the management of the MRH Unit, the implementation of its related projects and funds, coordinating the work with area sub-offices and provincial coordinators.

UNFPA is committed to delivering an integrated, multi-agency, nationwide response to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) needs.

Job Purpose:

UNFPA Afghanistan CO is seeking an international consultant to develop a strategy including actionable recommendations on how to adapt the UNFPA-supported service delivery points (SDPs) to become climate resilient.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON UNFPA WORK IN AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan has an existing vulnerability to natural hazards, including intense droughts, which are already exacerbated by climate change. The country has already experienced an above average rise in temperatures, increasingly unpredictable precipitation patterns, and glacial melting. Combined with the legacy of decades of conflict, a complex humanitarian emergency, and a political and economic crisis, climate change compounds existing vulnerabilities and presents challenges to peace and stability.

Following the August 2021 political transition when the Taliban (hereafter referred to as the de facto authorities – DFA) took power, climate change is more complicated to address amidst significant political and governance challenges and the suspension of most climate financing and development funds. The impact of climate change in Afghanistan will contribute to widespread internal displacement and changing migration patterns; increase poverty and food insecurity, and erode the resilience of communities, households and individuals – which will negatively impact the health status including pregnant women and lactating mothers, as well as protection issues to the Afghan population specifically women of reproductive age, adolescent girls and boys. Women and girls will have to travel longer distances to access water, firewood and other household materials further exposing them to landmines.

Furthermore, the effects of climate change on health, including heat-related stress, malnutrition, diseases transmitted by vectors and water, and mental health issues, are expected to diminish individuals’ capacity to work and support themselves financially. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental health challenges already present significant burdens due to years of conflict and violence, which may worsen with additional displacement and loss of livelihoods.

In view of the importance attached to climate, development partners and donors are calling on UNFPA and other UN agencies to ensure that this phenomenon is analyzed and anchored to program interventions.

The UNFPA Strategic Plan 2022-2025, has identified resilience, adaptation, and complementarity among development, humanitarian and peace responsive efforts as one of the six accelerators to accelerate the achievement of three transformative results (TRs): (a) ending the unmet need for family planning; (b) ending preventable maternal deaths; and (c) ending gender-based violence and harmful practices, and furthermore, has a dedicated humanitarian output to reflect the organisation’s commitments as a dual mandate agency.

The Afghanistan country office (CO) requires a consultant to conduct a detailed study of the various types of SDPs it supports. The goal is to develop strategies to enhance their resilience, particularly to drought, ensuring that these SDPs can continue to provide essential services. This analysis should focus on assessing how climate change, especially extreme weather events and historical drought trends, affects these SDP and propose actionable plans and recommendations to maintain their operational effectiveness.

Scope of Work: Under the overall supervision of the Country Representative, the consultant will be supervised directly by the Program Coordinator, and work closely with the Senior Management Team, various Units including Humanitarian, M&E, AAP, Communications, knowledge management, and Heads of area offices.

Objectives of the consultancy:

1. Get familiar with the various SDPs supported by the CO.
2. Evaluate and analyze the current and potential impact of climate change, with a specific focus on drought and extreme weather events, on these SDPs.

Scope of Work:

1. Initial Consultation and Planning:(Kabul, 10 working days)

• Meet with UNFPA CO to understand the context, goals, and expectations Kabul- 1 working day).
• Review existing available documentation and data related to SDPs and climate impacts, as well as undertake a meeting with the climate change working group (Kabul – 5 working days).
• Understand the different types of SDPs supported by the office (Kabul- 1 working day).
• Develop an inception report on climate change impact assessment which entails the aim, scope, methodology, and how to analyze the findings (Kabul- 3 working days).

2. Assessment of SDPs, Risks and Vulnerability Evaluation and Climate Impact Analysis : (Kabul based, 30 working days).

• Conduct site visits and interviews to gather information on current operations and vulnerabilities.
• Assess the vulnerability of SDPs to climate-related risks, including infrastructure, logistics, and operational challenges.
• Identify key risks and potential impacts on the delivery of essential services. (Kabul, 20 working days for all above activities).
• Review historical climate data and trends relevant to the regions where the SDPs are located.
• Analyze the impact of climate change, with a particular focus on drought and extreme weather events, on the identified SDPs (10 working days for the two above activities).

3.Strategy and Action Plan Development: (Kabul based, 15 working days)

• Develop a strategic plan to enhance the resilience of SDPs to climate change, particularly drought.
• Propose specific interventions and adaptations to address identified vulnerabilities.
• Create a detailed action plan outlining steps to implement the proposed strategy including timelines, responsible parties, and resource requirements.

5.Stakeholder Engagement:(Kabul based, 5 working days)

• Prepare and facilitate workshops/meetings to present findings and gather feedback from stakeholders.
• Incorporate stakeholder input into the final strategy and action plan.

6.Reporting and Documentation:(Home based,5 working days)

• Prepare a comprehensive report detailing the findings, recommendations, and action plan.
• Provide documentation and guidelines for implementing the proposed strategy.

7.Monitoring and Evaluation: (Home based, 7 working days)

• Develop a framework for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the implemented strategy.
• Suggest mechanisms for periodic review and adjustments as needed.

8.Final Presentation: (Home based, 3 working days)

• Prepare and present the strategy and action plan to key stakeholders and decision-makers.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (eg electronic, hard copy etc):

The following are key outputs expected from the consultant:

• Inception Report: A detailed report outlining the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, including objectives, methodology, and work plan (10 working days after contract signature).
• Assessment Report (30 working days after the inception report): This report will include:
  • A comprehensive report summarizing the assessment of different SDPs, including data on current operations, vulnerabilities, and impacts of climate change, particularly drought.
  • Analysis of climate change impacts, with a focus on drought and extreme weather events, including historical climate data and trends relevant to the SDPs.
  • A document detailing the identified risks and vulnerabilities of SDPs, including potential impacts on service delivery.
• Strategic Plan including an Action plan, and a Monitoring &Evaluation

Framework (32 working days after the assessment report): This document will include a Strategic Plan outlining recommendations to enhance the resilience of SDPs to climate change, particularly drought. This should include proposed interventions and adaptations. The detailed Action Plan will specify the steps to implement the strategic recommendations, including timelines, responsible parties, and resource requirements. The Strategic Plan will be informed and based on feedback and input gathered from stakeholder consultations. Finally, this document will include a Framework for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the implemented strategy including metrics, indicators, and processes for periodic review.

• Presentation Materials Presentation slides and materials for briefing key stakeholders, decision-makers and donors on the findings, recommendations, and proposed action plan.(3 working days after the assessment report)

These deliverables are subject to review and approval by the supervisor. The consultant is expected to adhere to agreed-upon timelines throughout the duration of the consultancy.

All deliverables will be written in English and submitted in electronic format.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree) in Environmental sciences, Sustainability studies, Engineering, Business Administration, or any closely related field.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience at international level in the field of climate change, preferably in humanitarian settings of complex environments.
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills and experience in climate change with related technical experience strategy development.
• Proven experience in conducting climate change vulnerability assessments and impact analyses.
• Familiarity with Afghanistan’s socio-political context and experience working in similar settings.
• Good understanding of the UNFPA mandate.
• Excellent analytical and negotiations skills, and demonstration of political sensitivity and awareness.
• Excellent communication skills (written, spoken) in English.
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different backgrounds in a multicultural environment.
• Experience working in Afghanistan is an advantage.

Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

The consultant is expected to provide all necessary equipment to complete the assignment (computer, software, phone, etc).

UNFPA will provide all relevant background information and documentation regarding the regional and country contexts as well as relevant documents on the related position.

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