Fiji - IKM Consultant Supporting the NDA to the GCF

Based in Seoul, The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as "green growth", which targets key aspects of economic performance such a poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and private sector to help build economies that grow strongly and are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change. 

Fiji became a member of GGGI in 2014, and the GGGI office in Fiji was established in 2015 in Suva and is based within the Ministry of Economy. GGGI is currently supporting the Climate Change and International Cooperation Division (CCICD) of the Ministry of Economy, which is Fiji’s Nationally Designated Authority (NDA) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), in the delivery of Fiji’s first GCF Readiness Project: “Enhancing Direct Access to Climate Finance in Fiji”. The Readiness project aims to strengthen the capacity of the NDA and institutional procedures for climate action, prepare the Entity Work Programme  and build the capacity of Fiji’s national accredited direct access entity (DAE), the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) and nominate the Ministry of Economy (MoE) as a second DAE and support capacity building and the submission of the application for accreditation to the GCF. The work described in this Terms of Reference fall under this Readiness project. 

Fiji, as a Small Island Developing State, faces extreme climate vulnerability. The country is already experiencing the negative impacts of climate change, through changing weather patterns, including droughts and flooding events, and increasingly damaging natural disasters. The current average asset losses due to tropical cyclones and floods are estimated at more than FJD 500 million per year, representing more than 5% of Fiji’s GDP. Climate change will affect all areas of life for the people of Fiji, and the expected impacts include reduced agricultural and fisheries productivity, declining health outcomes, eroding shorelines and riverbanks, shortage of water and higher infrastructure costs. 

The Fijian government therefore recognizes the importance of adapting to climate change and coordinating climate change related adaptation policies, strategies, plans, and activities to reduce the vulnerability and enhance the resilience of Fiji’s communities to the impacts of climate change and disasters. Fiji has put in place its Climate Change Policy and National Adaptation Plan and has prepared a Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Furthermore, while Fiji’s national CO₂ equivalent emissions make up a mere 0.006% of global emissions, the Fijian Government and other non-government stakeholders have already taken steps to achieve decarbonisation in the Fijian economy. Fiji has developed its NDC Roadmap setting a clear pathway to achieve its NDC targets and also launched the Fiji Low Emission Development Strategy (LEDS) 2018-2050 at COP24, through which Fiji aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 across all sectors of its economy. 

External financial and technical support is needed to achieve its adaptation and mitigation targets and Fiji has received funding from the GCF for the “Enhancing Direct Access to Climate Finance in Fiji” Readiness project which is being implemented by the CCICD with GGGI as the delivery partner. The Readiness project will:

1. Establish a coordination mechanism to govern and coordinate climate action and finance and strengthen the capacity of the NDA – Climate Change Division (CCD) of the Ministry of Economy – to take the lead role.
2. Prepare the Entity Work Programme of a national accredited direct access entity (DAE) – Fiji Development Bank (FDB) – aligned with the Country Programme which is being developed this year with assistance from WRI - which aims to result in a number of project concept notes to be submitted to the GCF.
3. Nominate of the Ministry of Economy (MoE) as DAE and support in their submission of application for accreditation to the GCF and facilitate Stage I accreditation. This will include carrying out gap assessment and preparing action plan for accreditation, followed by institutional and capacity building support, as required.
4. Provide institutional and capacity building support to accredited and nominated DAE – FDB and MoE – to ensure compliance policies and procedures are in-place and capacities to manage, implement and oversee climate change projects and programs in line with the GCF fiduciary standards, environmental and social safeguards (ESS) and gender policy are built.

This assignment contributes to all four outcomes of this Readiness project, with a focus on specific deliverables for outcomes 1, 3 and 4.

Objectives/Purpose of the Assignment

The Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) consultant will (i) support the meetings of  the Sectoral working group of the NDA and the Internal Working Group of the MoE and other workshops, training and events lead related to the Readiness project and climate finance; (ii) support the operationalization of the online NDA platform and its operational guideline to manage information flow to and from the NDA; (iii) support the dissemination of the no objection procedure and other NDA guidance and information to stakeholders; (iii) provide knowledge management support to the NDA by closely working with them daily including on the review of the GCF portfolio; and (iv) facilitate ongoing communication between the NDA and stakeholders and the MoE can key ministries such as Environment and Women.

Scope of Work 

GGGI is looking for a consultant who applies his/her knowledge of Fijian government institutional structures and processes, particularly in project management cycle, stakeholder coordination and engagement, information sharing and management and monitoring of project progress to support the NDA and the Ministry of Economy in the Readiness project activities. 

The IKM consultant will be based in Suva for the assignment and will report to work at the GGGI office within the Ministry of Economy. The consultant will report to the GGGI Readiness Project Manager and will liaise with and work closely with the NDA/CCICD leadership and staff and other GGGI staff and consultants involved in different parts of this Readiness project and on other related projects. 

The consultant will be responsible for the following activities and outputs:

Activity 1: Support the meetings of the SWG (logistics, communication, information dissemination, meeting notes, evaluation) to support regular information flow to and from the NDA (as lead) and to relevant national stakeholders.

Activity 2: Summarise information to support development of policy briefs and other communications materials for the NDA on GCF and climate finance.

Activity 3: Support the meetings of the Internal Working Group of the MoE and other workshops, training and events lead related to the Readiness project and climate finance ((logistics, communication, information dissemination, meeting notes)

Activity 4: Support the operationalization of the online NDA platform and its operational guideline to manage information flow to and from the NDA;

Activity 5: Support capacity building activities provided to the NDA and MoE, and integrating specific training modules on Environmental and Social Safeguards, Gender and Fiduciary standards into the MoE Human Resources training and on boarding systems, liaising with Ministry of Civil Service where needed.

Activity 6: Support awareness raising and the dissemination of the no objection procedure through two national workshops and dissemination of other NDA guidance and information to stakeholders related to GCF and climate finance;

Activity 7: Provide information and knowledge management support to the NDA by closely working with them daily including on the review of the GCF portfolio and facilitate ongoing communication between the NDA and stakeholders and the MoE can key ministries such as Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Women and Poverty Alleviation.

In addition, the consultant will support the preparation of the interim and final reports to the GCF.

The deliverables for these activities will be:

D1: Meeting notes from the SWGs, consolidation of evaluation forms

D2: at least 2 policy briefs prepared and printed.

D3: meetings notes for the Internal Working Group of the MoE

D4a: NDA webpages content finalized and online

D4b: Inputs into NDA Operational guideline, including stakeholder engagement framework

D5: Consolidation of training evaluation forms and modules on Environmental and Social Safeguards, Gender and Fiduciary standards integrated into the MoE Human Resources training and on boarding systems

D6: Support two national workshops and dissemination of other NDA guidance and information to stakeholders related to GCF and climate finance;

D7a: Support review of the GCF portfolio

D7b: Meeting notes with stakeholders such as Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Women and Poverty Alleviation.

The consultant should ensure complementarity of all activities with the ongoing work of the NDA (CCICD) and actively take the initiative to coordinate between the NDA, GGGI and other consultants hired under this Readiness project. Costs for meetings and workshop venues and catering will be covered separately from this contract. 

The consultant will organize regular bi-weekly meetings with GGGI and the NDA to review progress against activities, discuss and plan immediate next steps, pose questions which may arise and receive feedback and guidance. Action points from these meetings will be prepared and circulated so actions agreed can be followed-up.

Output/Reporting Requirements/Deliverables

Qualifications/Experience/Expertise

• Master’s degree in relevant field or equivalent experience
• Minimum 5 years relevant professional experience in project management, knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation and other relevant areas
• Demonstrated understanding of Fiji Government institutional structure, processes and systems, particularly related to project design and development, finance, budget and monitoring and planning and the climate change space
• Demonstrated understanding of the project cycle and monitoring of project progress
• Experience coordinating working groups and following-up on actions
• Knowledge of GCF policies, modalities and procedures, including investment criteria, reporting requirements and guidelines would be an advantage
• Knowledge of climate change policies and plans would be an advantage
• Analytical, problem-solving, and strategic skills
• Fluent in English with excellent written English
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships with government counterparts
• Demonstrated capacity to facilitate in-depth, outcome oriented, stakeholder dialogues
• Knowledge of environmental and social safeguards would be an advantage
• Commitment to gender equality and awareness of gender aspects of sustainable development

Additional Information 

• Date to close is Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. 
• Contract duration: May 2021 – March 2022, (Full-time)
• Contract value: Up to USD $ 30,000 plus local travel expenses (dependent on candidate's credential) 

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.