Procurement Notices

 1.       Purpose

Appointment of a Institution for conducting a gap analysis research study of how South Africa is progressing in terms of implementing the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) under Article 6 of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement for a period of 6 months as well as make recommendations for the enhancement of ACE implementation in South Africa.

2.       Introduction and background

2.1.   Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) is a term adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to denote work under article 6 of the Convention and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement. The over-arching goal is to empower all members of society to engage in climate action, through the 6 ACE elements including climate change education and public awareness, training, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation on the issues. Implementation of all six ACE elements is crucial to the global response to climate change. Everyone, in particular the young, must understand and participate in the transition to a low-emission, climate-resilient world. Sustainable lifestyles, sustainable patterns of consumption and production are fundamental to reducing greenhouse emissions and enhancing resilience to the effects of climate change.

2.2.   Acknowledging that climate change is a common concern of humankind, Parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of women and intergenerational equity. Decisions 1/CP.26 and 1/CMA.3, in which Parties were urged to swiftly begin implementing the Glasgow work programme on Action for Climate Empowerment, respecting, promoting and considering their respective obligations on human rights, as well as gender equality and empowerment of women.

The Parties were urged to:

2.2.1.    Adopt the four-year action plan under the Glasgow work programme on Action for Climate Empowerment, which focuses on immediate action through short-term, clear and time-bound activities, guided by the priority areas of the Glasgow work programme (policy coherence; coordinated action; tools and support; and monitoring, evaluation and reporting).

2.2.2.    Recognize that the six elements of Action for Climate Empowerment and the priority areas of the Glasgow work programme are interconnected in nature and are equally relevant and fundamental to the achievement of and progress in climate action.

2.2.3.    Emphasize that the action plan should be implemented in an inclusive, intergenerational and gender-responsive manner.

2.2.4.    Take note of the annual summary report by the secretariat on progress in implementing activities under the Glasgow work programme.

2.2.5.    Request the secretariat to include in each annual summary report under the Glasgow work programme information on materials, resources and findings as set out in the action plan.

2.3.   This action plan under the Glasgow work programme on ACE sets out short-term, clear and time-bound activities in the four priority areas of the Glasgow work programme aimed at addressing gaps and challenges related to implementing the six ACE elements and creating opportunities to accelerate their implementation. The ACE action plan will be undertaken in such a manner as to advance implementation of all six ACE elements in a balanced manner.

Priority areas under the Action Plan.

a. Policy coherence. To strengthen coordination of work under ACE, recognizing that activities related to ACE are also carried out under workstreams that are part of the UNFCCC process, as well as under frameworks and processes of the United Nations system and in multiple sectors and strategies at the national level.

b. Coordinated action. To continue to build long-term, strategic, operational, multilevel, multi-stakeholder, intergenerational partnerships that bring together different expertise, resources and knowledge to accelerate ACE implementation.

c. Tools and support. To enhance access to tools and support for building capacity and raising awareness among Parties, national ACE focal points and non-Party stakeholders with regard to ACE.

d.  Monitoring, evaluation and reporting. To strengthen monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the implementation of all six ACE elements at all levels, according to Parties’ specific priorities, needs and national circumstances.

3.       Objectives of the assignment

The overall objective is to conduct a research study for conducting a gap analysis research study of how South Africa is progressing in terms of in implementing the ACE under Article 6 of the UNFCCC and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement as well as make recommendations for the enhancement of ACE implementation in South Africa. The project duration shall be six (6) months.

4.       Scope and Extent of Assignment

4.1. The primary role of the Institution will be to conduct a gap analysis study on:

·       the status of climate change awareness in South Africa including any awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts being made,

·       how climate change curriculum has been integrated into basic and higher education levels and the effectiveness thereof,

·       different types of technical trainings being offered to South Africans on climate change,

·       if South Africa’s climate change response policies are sensitive to vulnerable groups such as women, children, youth and people living with disabilities and what efforts are made to mainstream climate change.

4.2. The Institution will also conduct two national stakeholder consultation workshops as part of the gap analysis studies.

4.3. Furthermore, the Institution is also expected to develop a recommendations report on how ACE implementation can further be enhanced in South Africa, following the findings of the gap analysis study. The outcomes of the gap analysis study as well as the recommendations will be reported in future National Communications and Biennial transparency reports of South Africa.

5.       Expected Deliverables and Timelines

The Institution will be responsible for the provision of the following deliverables within the outlined timelines:

Table 1. Deliverables and Outcomes