National Consultant for the Domestication of the UNECA Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit in Rwanda

Result of Service

1. A reviewed and validated economic, social, and ecological assessment of the Blue Economy in Rwanda, aimed to support informed Blue Economy policy making in Rwanda

Work Location

Home based with travels

Expected duration

2 months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC 1994) which aims at combatting human interactions of destructive nature with the climate system specifically included the protection of oceanic ecosystems only in 2015 at COP21. Since, the protection and sustainable management of oceans has become an integral part of the climate change discourse. However, while the ecological perspective treats each type of water body differently (by dint of their different compositions, structures and therefore in the way that they are affected by human interaction), a developmental perspective treats water bodies under a singular umbrella as it aims mainly at identifying the value that these water bodies can generate for humans. This resulted in expanding our understanding of the concept to constructive harnessing of the potential of vast water resources for ecological, economic as well as social gains therefore adopting the encompassing terminology of “Blue Economy”. Blue economy addresses seas, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and any other water bodies. The blue economy seeks to mitigate and eventually eliminate the environmental risks and degradation that can be generated by water-based economic and social activities. In 2015, African Union launched the Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy which focused on the potential of wealth creation and enhanced security of lives and of economies in the African Maritime Domain. Under this strategy, AU identifies several key areas of intervention, all of which require extensive public, private and civil collaboration—be it in cash or in kind. However, in order to garner a sustained collaboration of all these parties, it is essential to for the Blue Economy initiatives to be backed by reliable, valid and quantitative data which will allow all parties involved to track the value and results of their investments. To this end, in 2020, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) developed the Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit (BEVTK). The toolkit allows countries or regions to measure the economic, ecological, and social contribution that blue economy resources generate for them. Since, the toolkit has been applied to Djibouti, Seychelles, Tanzania (with a separate exercise for Zanzibar), and Ethiopia. Through an application of the BEVTK to an inland country, the toolkit has received heightened confidence by other non-coastal countries. In 2021, Rwanda had initially demonstrated interest in an assessment of the contribution of its water resources to its economy. However, at the time, the country did not have sufficient data and only later were they assisted by the World Bank with a Water Accounting System. Following these developments, UNECA has renewed discussions with Rwanda to apply the UNECA BEVTK to an assessment of its national blue economy resources. 2. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF CONSULTANCY The objectives of this assignment are as follows: • Develop capacity of Rwanda to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the contribution of Blue Economy to their economic, social, and ecological fabric, • Domestication of the UNECA BEVTK to assist in Blue Economy policy making, and • Build capacity of officials to conduct their blue economy contribution’s assessment independently The scope of the consultancy is Rwanda. 3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES In close consultation with and under the guidance of the project manager at the Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Africa (SRO-EA), the selected national consultant will have the main duty and responsibility to support Rwanda with an in-depth economic, social, and ecological assessment of the blue economy using the UNECA BEVTK. With the view to perform above duty, the consultant will carry out the following tasks and activities: Support Rwanda with an in-depth economic, social, and ecological assessment of the Blue Economy using the UNECA Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit • Support the International Consultant to produce an inception report, defining the methodology and workplan • Liaise with national stakeholders, potentially interested UN Agencies and other relevant partners/institutions, and undertake initial consultations • Assist in national data collection, review, and produce a draft assessment report • Peer review of findings with UNECA • Facilitate a validation workshop wherein the consultant should present initial findings of the socio-economic assessment for review and feedback purpose • Support the International Consultant in revising the draft socio-economic and ecological assessment report based on the above workshop’s conclusions and contributions, for a last round of comments • Finalize the socio-economic and ecological assessment of the Blue Economy in Rwanda

Qualifications/special skills

Academic qualifications: An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, sustainable development studies, accounting, statistics, or a related field. A minimum of 2 years of work experience on Blue Economy related sectors and/or policy development and/or economics, accounting, and statistical systems. This should include macroeconomic and social analyses and/or policy development. It is mandatory for the consultant to have: ─ Confident in data collection and statistical analysis ─ Good understanding of the Blue Economy landscape in Africa (Eastern Africa knowledge preferred). ─ Demonstrated experience working under tight deadlines and delivering high-quality outputs. ─ Strong oral and written communication skills. ─ Ability to work independently, proactively and with little supervision.

Languages

Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required (oral and written).

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.