Result of Service

The consultant is expected to work closely with UNEP, the UNEP Programme Coordinator, National Programme Implementation Managers, NMHS, regional technical partners, development partners to develop the following ultimate outputs: 1. 17-month workplan and timeline 2. National Climate Services Financing Policies for Cook Islands, Niue, Palau, RMI and Tuvalu. a. Financing Plan for priority NMHS revenue generation activities 3. National Sustainability Plans for Cook Islands, Niue, Palau, RMI and Tuvalu 4. Recommendations Report and Final Presentation to PSC.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

17 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. This consultancy is managed by UNEPs Climate Change Division (CCD). CCD engages with the Member States and Partners to accelerate and support a just transition by addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation through enhancing implementation capacity, provision of data information and knowledge, access to finance and technology and building resilience. The International Consultant, Climate Services Financing and Sustainability, will report to the Programme Coordinator of the Pacific Programme Management Unit, UNEP, based in Apia, Samoa, to develop National Financing Policies and Sustainability Plans for the five National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS). The consultant will serve to implement portions of the USD 49.9 million GCF programme, Enhancing Climate Information and Knowledge Services for resilience in 5 island countries of the Pacific Ocean, also known as UNEP CIS-Pac5. The programme will contribute to ensuring that accurate, timely and actionable climate information is used in policy, planning and response actions, and enable sectors and communities in the five Pacific Island countries (Cook Islands, Niue, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Palau, and Tuvalu) to adapt to increasing climate variability and change. The consultant will contribute to activities in the five Pacific Island countries under Activity 1.1, Strengthen institutional and policy frameworks and delivery models for climate services, that will lead to Result 1 Strengthened delivery model for climate information services and MHEWS covering oceans and islands. Under Sub Activity 1.1.4, Develop national policies for financing climate services, the consultant will develop national financing policies and sustainability plans focused on the sustainable financial management of climate services, that will enable the 5 National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) to have the means to sustain and ensure ongoing operation of their mandated services to mitigate weather-, climate-, and water-related risks, after the Programme ends. Long term sustained financing for the NMHS especially in Small Island Developing States remains a constant challenge. The consultancy will support the overall sustainability of the five (5) NMHS with the investment provided through the UNEP CIS-Pac5 initiative as well as a sleuth of investments from complementary projects . The National Financing Policy and Sustainability Plans will be informed by the Climate Services Market Assessment (CSMA) in Sub Activity 1.1.2, developed under a separate contract, as part of the Result 1 deliverable. The National Financing Policy and Sustainability Plan will provide a structured approach to securing diverse revenue streams identified in the Climate Services Market Assessment, optimising resource allocation and strengthening financial resilience. In addition, the consultant should link the Financing Policy and Sustainability Plan to the National Framework for Weather, Climate and Ocean Services (NFWCOS) , the five countries Meteorological Acts, Gender Action Plan, Climate Sector Action and Communications Plans, Forecast Based Financing (FbF) Roadmaps and any relevant deliverables and Financing opportunities within the Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC) platform. At the regional level, the consultant will engage with the Climate Services and Information Division (CSI) in SPREP amongst other technical partners, which leads on the Early Warning and Climate Services space in the Pacific. This includes the Weather Ready Pacific Programme which has developed a WRP Sustainability Framework. At the international level, engage with World Meteorological Organisation, UN Disaster Risk Reduction Office amongst other international organisations. Given the specific circumstances of the five countries relating to their extremely small economies, remote locations, large marine areas and numerous scattered islands, the financial policies and sustainability plans will be carefully developed to ensure their tailoring to the realities of the Pacific Small Islands Developing States (SIDS). The intention is by the end of the programme, the five countries will be ready to negotiate cost recovery for new information products, have concrete sustainability plans for the investments, have concrete Financing Action Plan for one priority sector in each of the countries, to ensure value added and sustainability of the Programme Investments. Under the supervision of the Programme Coordinator of the Climate Change Division, UNEP, based in Apia, Samoa, the consultant is expected to engage closely with the 5 countries, key partners and the Regional Technical Partners involved in the programme. Specific Responsibilities: Objectives, output expectations and performance indicators Output 1 Produce a 17-month workplan for the deliverables Tasks:

• Review documentation relevant to the assignment
• Consult with the countries, country focal points and stakeholders on the assignment
• Prepare a 17-month detailed work plan for the execution of the assignment, methodology to be followed, and timeline for the accomplishment of the tasks of the assignment. Output 2 Develop National Financing Policies for the 5 countries. Tasks:
• Draft National Financing Policies based on market assessment, National Framework for Climate Services, and existing information.
• Facilitate in-country workshop to review, update and validate the draft National Financing Policy report.
• National Financing Policy to include Action Plan for national rollout and implementation. o Develop a Financing Plan for a priority NMHS revenue generation sector/ area to outline actions needed; requirements; partners involved; how it will be implemented
• Include donor engagement strategies (local, regional, international) and provide recommendations for strategic partnership to increase financial sustainability.
• The consultant to develop the financial policies with the support of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and in line with the World Bank Guidance to consider the following: o Opportunities for greater cooperation between the public and private sectors and academia given that many economic sectors increasingly depend on meteorological information for safe and efficient operations. o Opportunities for win-win situations that fulfil the public sector responsibility to help the economically disadvantaged while meeting the needs of enterprises for climate services. To this end, the Programme will ensure partner governments are made aware of the economic value of climate information in, for instance, reducing the need for dangerous marine rescues, reducing the need for transport of drinking water to outer islands in drought, and reducing the costs of recovery from cyclone damage. o Opportunities to coordinate and/or integrate financing for climate…