TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR TEAM LEADER
USAID and Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit Initiative: Decision Framework for Environment in Humanitarian Action
Location: Geneva, Switzerland or Washington, DC, USA. Periodic travel between these locations
expected.
expected.
Expected Duration: 22 months with possible extension.
Terms of engagement: Independent consultant, half to two-thirds time on average, with full-time peak
periods.
periods.
Expected Starting Date: As soon as possible.
Introduction
“Decision Framework for Environment in Humanitarian Action” is a joint US Agency for International Development (USAID) and UN Environment Program (UNEP)-Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Joint Environment Unit (JEU) initiative implemented with support from USAID’s Global Environmental Management Support (GEMS) contract. The initiative, which began in October 2016, aims to “do no harm” in post-disaster setting through improved consistent application of environmental assessments to support international humanitarian programs and operations. Key to this effort is the mobilization of environmental and conservation organizations to become more engaged in the opportunity space prior to and after the disaster shock. Disasters cause both loss of life and damage to the natural capital upon which societal well-being depends.
The initiative will pursue this effort through an engaged, collaborative, stakeholder consultation process with key humanitarian, environmental, conservation actors and experts in the field across the international development and humanitarian assistance space. These multi-donors, UN, civil society, public/private sector, etc. stakeholders will be consulted to inform and support 1) a decision framework for action to facilitate coordination of assessments between environmental and humanitarian actors, 2) an updating to the 2002 Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) tool to incorporate the UN cluster system and climate risks and including modernization to a more user-friendly e-platform, and 3) communication and knowledge management of initiative efforts.
The initiative is divided into 3 phases: (1) scoping, including detailed workplan development and identification of a steering committee; (2) development of the decision framework, including communication and dissemination among stakeholders, and REA tool revision; and (3) follow-on actions include implementation and piloting of the updated REA tool. The first two phases of the initiative are currently funded and expected to be completed by September 2018; the third phase remains as of yet to be funded.
As detailed herein, an expert Team Leader (TL) will be responsible for developing and leading implementation of the detailed workplan for the initiative, consistent with USAID and JEU guidance, 1 subject matter expert (SME) input, and stakeholder consultations. GEMS, including a Deputy Team Leader to be engaged in consultation with the TL, will provide technical and logistical support to the TL; JEU and USAID will provide in-kind support.
Background
A critical first step of addressing environmental impact and climate risk considerations in humanitarian projects and programs is the assessment phase. However, there are several major challenges associated with environmental assessments in humanitarian action, inter alia: environment is a lower priority in comparison to safety and security, fragmentation of data, etc. Currently, a number of environmental assessment tools developed by various institutions and member states exist to support these efforts. Some focus on project appraisal, such as the Environment Marker, while others focus on specific sites and operations, such as the Framework for Assessing, Monitoring and evaluating the environment in refugee-related operations of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and CARE International (CARE).
Over 10 years ago, the development of the REA tool was a collaborative effort involving CARE, the Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre, and InterWorks, with financial and technical support from USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), the Joint UN Environmental Programme (UNEP)/UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Environment Unit (JEU), the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and CARE International. The REA methodology was designed to equip emergency managers with a means to rapidly identify threats to the environment due either to the effects of the disaster event itself or unintended impacts from the resulting relief or humanitarian assistance operation. Applicable to natural (climate and seismic), technological or complex political disasters, the REA is a tool to identify, define, characterize and prioritize such potential environmental impacts. Environmental impacts are to be assessed under crisis and disaster situations by means of a simple qualitative assessment process using concise descriptions, rating tables and check lists to identify and rank environmental issues and promote appropriate interventions.
Most of the above-mentioned environmental assessment tools have been developed before the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) adopted the humanitarian programme cycle (HPC) and some of its core products and processes, such as the Multi-Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA). While environmental considerations have been integrated into the HPC, there is still a noticeable disconnect between the HPC stages and the environmental assessment tools. Moreover, many environmental assessment tools do not take into consideration recent developments and thinking in the field of climate change and resilience, the integration of which would require updating their methodologies. Stronger linkages between environmental assessments and climate change integration in the humanitarian, recovery (Post-Disaster/Conflict Needs Assessment) and development (Strategic and Project Level Environmental Impact Assessments) phases would also need to be better considered.
Lastly, many of the environmental impact assessments have been applied on an entirely voluntary basis and have suffered from a lack of follow-up support (in terms of financial and accountability) in terms of implementation of recommendations, calling for stronger linkages between the monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian action. Rising attention to climate change-driven shocks and the role of resiliency in reducing vulnerability to environmental disaster is a key development towards better mainstreaming. The 2 initiative seeks to address these gaps via a stakeholder process that reviews lessons learned in the application of the REA and other tools, develops a decision framework for integrating environmental tools into humanitarian action, and updates the REA tool and associated guidance.
Responsibilities of the Team Leader
The Team Leader (TL) will be responsible for developing and leading implementation of the detailed workplan for the initiative consistent with USAID and JEU guidance, SME inputs, and stakeholder consultations. GEMS, including a Deputy Team Leader to be engaged in consultation with the TL, will provide technical and logistical support to the TL; JEU will provide in-kind support.
As such, the TL’s prime responsibility will be to ensure that the project produces results as specified in, and is executed in accordance with the technical guidelines established through Phase I of the entailed consultancy, to the required standard of quality, and within the specified constraints of time and cost.
Duties
The TL will work in close coordination with USAID, JEU and GEMS, including the Deputy Team Leader, to complete the following tasks:
- Development of the detailed implementation plan;
- Identification of steering committee and representative peer review group members, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and other key stakeholders;
- General planning, management, and coordination of all tasks and activities for the effective implementation of the project consistently with its objectives and results;
- Preparation of relevant planning and reporting documents for appropriate stakeholders;
- Ensuring effective relations with relevant stakeholders;
- Ensuring adequate visibility of the initiative;
- Identifying possible constraints to the smooth, timely and effective implementation of the initiative, developing candidate resolutions to those constraints, and communicating those constraints and candidate resolutions to USAID, JEU, and GEMS in a timely, constructive manner;
- Convening meetings with the steering committee, representative peer review group members, and other key stakeholders;
- Liaising with international donors, other United Nations organizations, and international Government agencies, on understanding the initiative and fostering support for input to, or adoption of, the tool;
- Providing input to GEMS Program Manager and/or his designees (e.g., GEMS AMs) on the workplans and/or technical contributions of project personnel (e.g., SMEs and GEMS support staff);
- Conducting internal M&E activities including, but not limited to collection of data, report writing, etc.
Project Team Leader Profile & Selection Process
Preference will be given to candidates:
- Respected among key stakeholders in both environmental and/or humanitarian operations and policy,
- Who have successfully designed and managed collaborative multi-sector stakeholder processes,
- Work with or familiarity with the United Nations and/or Private International Organizations (PIOs) processes,
- With minimum 7 years previous experience in evaluating or implementing post-disaster international humanitarian assistance programs,
- Who demonstrate knowledge of environmental, conservation/biodiversity and/or climate change issues faced during and after disasters,
- Familiar with the international NGO humanitarian and development sector,
- Adept with working in virtual global teams, and use of Google applications for collaborations.
Selection of the TL will reflect a consultative process involving institutional partners and key stakeholders.
Contractual Arrangements
The TL will be engaged by The Cadmus Group, Inc., the Prime Contractor for USAID’s GEMS contract, as an independent consultant. Labor will be remunerated on the basis of a fixed, inclusive USD daily rate to be mutually agreed, and authorized travel and other direct costs will be reimbursed at cost. The consultant will be solely responsible for payment of all entailed taxes. No relocation, housing, insurance or other allowances or benefits will be paid. Travel costs will be allowed and reimbursed in compliance with the US Federal Travel Regulation. The engagement will be approximately one-half to two-thirds time on average, with peak full-time periods.
Organizational Setting and Supervision
Formally, the TL will be supervised by Cadmus’ GEMS Program Manager and his designee(s). Operationally, the TL will work directly with and take guidance from the USAID and JEU leads for the initiative, work directly with and provide guidance to the Deputy Team Leader, integrate input from SMEs, and engage with and be responsive to stakeholders and the stakeholder process, consistent with his/her TOR and the approved workplan for the initiative. The TL will play a key role in finalizing selection of the Deputy Team Leader, SMEs, and formation of the Steering Committee and representative peer review group.
The position will be located either in Geneva, Switzerland or Washington DC, USA with periodic travel to the non-resident location. Consideration will also be given to candidates able to commute to Geneva or Washington DC daily.
HOW TO APPLY:
Send your CV and Cover Letter by email to DCHA-EHA@cadmusgroup.com.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Please be sure to include:
1) Name, position and contact information (phone and email) of three references.
2) First date of availability to begin.
