Background Vanuatu ranks as the world’s most vulnerable country due to its high exposure to natural disasters, scattered island geography, narrow economic base, inadequate communication and transportation networks, and limited capacity to cope with disasters including those caused or exacerbated by the effects of climate change. Annually Vanuatu has been impacted by a number of cyclones, which are expected to become more intense under current climatic projections, with coastal communities and ecosystems being most vulnerable and impacted by these events. Vanuatu is already being and will continue to be heavily impacted by climate change with future scenarios projecting increased temperatures, sea-level rise, and increased severity of cyclones, increased ocean temperatures and ocean acidification. In addition, an increased likelihood of an increase in the frequency of El Niño events will present its own long-term seasonal challenges. These challenges, combined with rapid population growth spread over 80 islands, an agricultural and coastal-based economy facing acute medium-term challenges and inadequate delivery of government services, especially in remote areas, will continue to limit the potential for long-term sustainable development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Vanuatu NAPA places particular emphasis on the need for community-based resource management, embracing both traditional and modern practices and enhancing the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities. To address these priorities, the project “Adaptation to Climate Change in the Coastal Zone in Vanuatu” (V-CAP) focuses on five of the adaptation options outlined in the NAPA including: i) development of provincial / local adaptation and ICM plans, ii) climate proofing of infrastructure design and development planning, iii) development of an efficient early warning system, iv) awareness raising and capacity building, and v) coastal re-vegetation and rehabilitation. The overall aim of the V-CAP Project is to improve the resilience of the coastal zone in Vanuatu to the impacts of climate change in order to sustain livelihoods, food production and preserve/improve the quality of life in targeted vulnerable areas. Six sites have been selected for this projects with various interventions. VCAP is a central project for achieving UNDAF Outcome 1: “Improved resilience of Pacific Island Countries and Territories, with particular focus on communities, through integrated implementation of sustainable environmental management, climate change adaptation/mitigation, and disaster risk management. The consultancy under this project is part of the corporate outcome of UNDP MCO Fiji “Growth is inclusive and sustainable, incorporating productive capacities that create employment and livelihoods for the poor and excluded” (Strategic Plan 2014-2015, Outcome 1). After a delay caused by tropical cyclone Pam, the VPAC project is now in the second year of implementation. The target audience for this assignment are government agencies related to extension of agriculture/forestry practice, and small-holder farmers and fishing communities in selected watersheds within the target areas of VPAC. The consultancy work will have to take into consideration gradually evolving policies, management plans and guides by the Government of Vanuatu (GoV) and other parties and projects operating in a similar context as VPAC. The work might be constrained by limited logistical facilities and support infrastructure available. |