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Tajikistan Poverty, gender and Institutions development specialist

N.B. This position is dependent on the selection of ACTED as the executing agency for the ADB Project Preparatory Technical Assistance. Position: Poverty, Gender and Institutions development specialist Contract duration: 2 months ACTED is looking for an international Poverty, Gender and Institutions development specialist who will be part of the consultancy team for a Project Preparatory Technical Assistance (PPTA) mission. This mission will carry out technical, economic and social due diligence for a future ADB funded project entitled Building Climate Resilience in the Pyanj River Basin. The outcome of the PPTA will be a full project design, including implementation arrangements, and total project readiness for the future sub-projects under the aforementioned project. This will include detailed engineering design and preparation of bidding documents, endorsed by the Government of Tajikistan and ADB.

Project summary:

The PPTA will identify the most vulnerable communities in the Pyanj River Basin, and for each sub-district select and design physical and non-physical adaptation measures to reduce the adverse effects of climate change on water resources. Potential adaptation measures in the Pyanj river basin have already been identified in a climate change risk assessment carried out under the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience with ADB support and extensive consultations with line ministries, international organizations, civil society, local governments, sub-districts and community-based organizations in the Pyanj River Basin. Infrastructure needs included rehabilitation or construction of climate-proofed infrastructure for: (i) small scale irrigation systems and drainage, including water storage and discharge and other drought management measures; (ii) supply of drinking water; and (iii) flood and mudflows management, including small-scale riverine embankments, soil stabilization and reforestation. Other measures identified include: (i) early warning systems for floods and droughts; (ii) micro-finance to support the introduction of adaptation measures at the farm and household level, especially for women; (iv) index-based micro-insurance as a climate change risk transfer mechanism and (v) advisory services to provide and disseminate

Overview of position: The Poverty, Gender and Institutions development specialist will be part of a team of 6 international consultants and 18 national consultants covering a number of sectors including water infrastructure and management, climate change, gender elements, and international and national procurement issues. S/he will be responsible for conducting vulnerability and climate change impacts assessments on different groups of communities, especially women; identifying all adaptation needs of communities and potential adaptation solutions, including soft and hard measures; and incorporating selected adaptation priorities into the sub-projects and the project design, including institutional arrangements and budget.

Requirements of the Specialist:

  • To develop and suggest mechanisms to enhance women's effective participation in the Project, as users and as beneficiaries, promoting women's employment opportunities through project-related civil works and the maintenance of community climate-proofed infrastructure.
  • To recommend steps to incorporate gender criteria into the project impact monitoring system.
  • To prepare a budget for gender and development activities; and prepare a gender action plan.
  • To assist the Team Leader in designing the Project’s institutional arrangements.
  • To prepare a capacity development program for relevant government and non-government stakeholders to manage inclusive and participatory development; and prepare guidelines for improving the operational efficiency of the Executing Agencies for sustainable maintenance of the infrastructure.

Background:

  • At least 15 years of experience in poverty reduction, gender equality and institutional development preferably with a focus on Central Asia.
  • Excellent English (Knowledge of Russian is preferred)
  • Previous experience working in an international and national team of consultants
  • Previous experience of working under ADB projects is preferable
  • Strong communication skills
  • Previous experience in project design and implementation
  • Flexible operating in challenging work environments
How to apply:

Submission of CVs should be made to tenders@acted.org Deadline for application: 7th December 2011