Overview : Description of the assignment: National Consultant Specialist in Gender and Social Inclusion Project name: Reducing São Tomé and Príncipe’s vulnerability to climate change impacts by strengthening the Country’s capacity to implement an integrated approach to adaptation planning Period of assignment/services (if applicable): 10 days over a maximum of 3 months. Proposal should be submitted by email to bidsstp@undp.org no later than 10/04/2023 Any request for clarification must be sent to the address or e-mail procurement.st@undp.org. The Procurement Entity will respond by standard electronic mail and will upload copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to procurement notice. BACKGROUND While STP is an absolute sink of greenhouse gases contributing to sequestration of CO2, it is also one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of Climate Change due to its geography and characteristics including the fragility of its ecosystems and low level of social-economic development. Both islands are already bearing the consequences of climate change. The country is impacted by natural hazards, such as coastal and river flash floods, storms, and droughts. Climate projections indicate that these events are set to intensify. Effective climate change adaptation planning will assist Sao Tome and Principe in dealing with these impacts. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at its COP 16 held in Cancun in 2011 approved a process to enable member states to formulate and implement National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), building upon their experience in preparing and implementing National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPAs), as a means of identifying medium and long-term adaptation needs and developing and implementing strategies and programmes to address those needs. It also stated that the NAPs are to: 1. Reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, by building adaptive capacity and resilience; 2. Facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, in a coherent manner, into relevant new and existing policies, programmes and activities, in particular development planning processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate. The UNFCCC’s Least Developed Expert Group (LEG) on adaptation released Guidelines for National Adaptation Plans (December 2012). Furthermore, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has issued guidance on adaptation planning approaches. The Government of Sao Tome and Principe, through General Division of Environment (GDE) of its Ministry of Public Works, Infrastructure, Natural Resources, and Environment (MPWINRE), has successfully obtained a grant of USD 2.96 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for a 42 months’ project to build capacity to advance the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process in Sao Tome and Principe. The NAP will support a transition from the project-based traditional modus operandi to an integrated approach to adaptation across all vulnerable economic sectors to deal with climate change in a more coherent and efficient way. The main objective of this project is to reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts in STP by supporting the Country’s capacity to implement an integrated approach to adaptation planning at all levels and across sectors. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the Delivery Partner for the project, with the role of supporting and overseeing the project implementation led by the General Division of Environment (GDE). The UN Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office in Sao Tome will work closely with the GDE and UNEP and provide financial management of the project. |