Palika Climate Coordinator

Job Title

Palika Climate Coordinator  

Division

International Water, Environment and Climate Change

Location

In a cluster office located in Karnali Province comprising of 2 to 4 rural and/or urban municipalities of the province  

Company Profile

Mott MacDonald is an employee-owned management, development and engineering consultancy serving the public and private sector around the world, with more than 16,000 staff worldwide.

Our International Development Services Unit, IDS, operates portfolios within the international development sectors of Environment, Climate, Water, Roads, Rural & Urban Development, Education, Health, Social and Economic Development in over 40 countries. Together we implement and manage projects in developing countries and emerging economies around the world, supporting national governments and municipalities in policy, planning, project design and delivery. We are committed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to provide our expertise to improve the lives of people in need.

Mott MacDonald is an equal opportunity employer, ensuring no current or prospective employee feels disadvantaged because of their: age, nationality, caste, parental status, class, race or ethnic origin, colour, religious belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or marital status.

Project overview

Mott MacDonald has been appointed by the British Embassy Kathmandu (BEK) as the Technical Assistance Provider for the “Nepal Climate Change Support Programme Phase 2 (NCCSP2), led by the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE). The NCCSP2 has been designed with an aim to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable communities in Nepal are able to adapt to the effects of climate change. The programme supports local governments to design and implement Local Adaptation Plan for Action (LAPA) schemes, along with higher level support provided to the MoFE and Provincial Government. At local government level, the LAPA process provides a climate risk screening approach that is aligned with the 7-step municipal level planning and budgeting process.

Currently, the NCCSP2 operates in the 30 municipalities in Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces. The aim of NCCSP2 is to:

• -Support the poorest and most vulnerable communities and local enterprises in western Nepal to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change;
• -Use participatory, evidence-based processes to identify long-term adaptation priorities; and integrate these into Government of Nepal planning and policy;
• -Build the capacity of Government of Nepal to finance, design and deliver adaptation interventions;
• -Improve coordination of community-based adaptation interventions and generate evidence that can improve the quality of future adaptation planning

The main objective of the Technical Assistance to NCCSP2 is to support and build the capacity of the Government of Nepal to deliver the programme. The TA to the NCCSP2 comprises of 4 objectives:

1. Help the Government of Nepal (GoN) to deliver the programme effectively, efficiently, and economically through the provision of technical expertise
2. Reduce the fiduciary risk associated with the programme
3. Strengthen the capacity of the GoN to implement climate change adaptation programming today and in the future
4. Share learning from NCCSP with others and lead the coordination of partners working on climate change adaptation in Nepal

Job Description

The technical assistance (TA) teams will work with selected municipalities in the Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim Provinces to support them through the climate change adaptation and resilience planning process aligning with Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) Framework.

The focus of the TA teams’ support is on inclusive, accountable, and evidence-based planning and implementation. The emphasis is on supporting the process by which, for example, the annual plan and periodic plan are developed in a participatory approach and uses climate information. As the municipalities plan, design and implement NCCSP2 related activities, the role of the TA team is to support and mentor. This includes demand-driven on-the-job “hand-holding” support for municipality’s functionaries/representatives (the Chairs or Mayors, Deputy Chairs or Mayors , executives, executive committees, ward chairs/members, ward level committees, thematic committees etc.). The on-the-job support is expected to build up the capacity and skills of the municipalities to manage the processes themselves.

The Climate Coordinator will support, guide, monitor, facilitate and assess the performance of the municipalities in implementing NCCSP2. The Climate Coordinator also captures and shares learning from Local Adaptation Plans for Action (LAPA) activities and methodology.

One Climate Coordinator will support a cluster comprising of 2 to 4 municipalities based on the cluster coverage.

He / She will work closely with and under the overall leadership of the Regional Climate Coordinator and Deputy Team Leader.

Specific roles of the climate coordinator will include:

• -Support municipality staff to plan, design, budget, implement and monitor climate change adaptation and resilience interventions
• -Support municipality staff to use climate, technical and socio-economic data in the planning, screening of activities, and decision-making process
• -Educate, train and orient municipality staff and communities on climate risks, opportunities and the climate change adaptation and resilience planning and implementation process;
• -Support municipality staff in shortlisting, climate risk screening, and identification of inclusive climate resilient activities/projects
• -Ensure that gender and social inclusion considerations are integrated throughout the programme and practices of municipalities, so that vulnerable people and communities participate in, and benefit from, the climate resilience projects
• -Support municipalities’ staff in the design and cost-estimation of the climate resilient investment/project
• -Support municipalities’ staff to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR), Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP), Business Development Plan (BDP) of the LAPA schemes selected by the municipality.
• -Support municipalities’ staff to prepare implementation plan, procurement, and contract milestones
• -Undertake supplier due diligence (including specific checklist for user committees and contractors where applicable)
• -Together with the engineer and senior engineer, oversee the technical quality of works and timeliness of delivery of the climate resilient projects/investments
• -Coordinate with the municipality’s finance and administration (F&A) officer to ensure project activities are implemented on time and within budget
• -Work in close coordination with engineers, PAFO, Fund Officer of Fund Management Assistance to implement the LAPA schemes
• -Undertake certification of progress to date and verification of quality of works
• -Prepare monthly and Trimester progress reports
• -Support municipality staff in planning and budgeting of annual and quarterly activities of respective municipality
• -Undertake other activities assigned by Regional Climate Coordinator, Deputy Team Leader or Team Leader

Note: This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder and line manager.

Candidate Specification

Required competencies and experience

• -Minimum of bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental science/management, climate change, agriculture, forestry, management, social sciences or other relevant subject or equivalent;
• -Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in project implementation in a governmental or multilateral organization;
• -At least 3 years’ experience in climate change related projects
• -Prior experience carrying out similar functions of coordinating, planning, overseeing, and monitoring climate and environment related activities with government stakeholders;
• -At least three years’ experience working with minority or disadvantaged groups, and a strong sensitivity to the challenges of gender and social inclusion;
• -Knowledge and experience of results-based management methodologies and tools (project and programme management, design, monitoring and evaluation) will be an asset;
• -Good report writing skills in English and Nepali languages;
• -Prior experience of working in Western Nepal will be an advantage;
• -Knowledge of Government of Nepal’s Public Procurement Act and Rules;
• -Knowledge on Local Level Planning Process
• -Skill in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) is a must;
• -Demonstrated understanding of the challenges of local governance and climate change;
• -Strong communication, interpersonal and leadership skills, but also a team player with the willingness to learn and support the learning of others;
• -Proven ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with Government at local levels to ensure effective implementation and sustainable management of infrastructure;
• -Ability to work effectively under pressure and to manage competing priorities;
• -Willing to travel extensively throughout the project area, including on foot as well as by jeep;
• -Attention to detail and ability to perform multiple tasks effectively and efficiently and balance competing priorities within a short timeframe;
• -Fluency in written and spoken Nepali and English is essential, and fluency in relevant local languages spoken in the project area would be a strong asset;
• -Experience of working on donor-funded programmes in multi-national teams is desirable.

Women and locals from the working districts are strongly encouraged to apply