Consultant - Climate Change and Adaptation Initiative Programme Mekong River Commission

Mekong River Commission

 

The role of MRC is to promote and coordinate sustainable management and development of water and related resources for the countries’ mutual benefit and the people’s well-being

 

MRC Secretariat is now recruiting highly qualified consultant for the following consultancy

 

 

International/Riparian Consultant (Individual)

To review and recommend vulnerability and impact assessment tools

and methods of ecosystems to climate change, and projecting ecosystem changes

for all Lower Mekong ecosystems.

Climate Change and Adaptation Initiative (CCAI) Programme, Environment Division

25 working days during February – March 2013, Home based and at the MRC Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR with the possibility of travel to other MRC Member Countries

 

 

The consultant will work under the managerial direction of CCAI Programme Coordinator and CCAI Chief Technical Advisor and will work closely with the CCAI Technical Officers.

Objectives

The objective of this assignment is:

• To scope tools and methods for impact and vulnerability assessment of ecosystems to climate change and projecting ecosystem changes.

Outputs

The main output of the consultancy is:

• A scoping report of tools and methods for impact and vulnerability assessment of ecosystems to climate change and projecting ecosystem changes for the whole Lower Mekong.

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Literature review on the existing tools and methods used in/outside the Mekong Basin related to impact and vulnerability assessment of ecosystems to climate change and projecting ecosystem changes;
• Describe each tool and method with regarding to data requirement, applications, development cost (if information is available) strengths and weaknesses, etc;
• Review the result of tools and methods needed in CCAI capacity needs assessment;
• Provide recommendations for suitable tools and methods for impact and vulnerability assessment of ecosystems to climate change and for projecting ecosystem changes in the LMB under a changing climate;
• Prepare a draft and final scoping report with firm recommendations on existing tools that could be adopted including methods to apply, data and resource needs to apply for demonstration sites or basin wide and to build capacity in member countries. The report should also scope out other tools that may need to be developed.

Delivery Schedule

It is anticipated that the consultancy will be undertaken in period of February to March 2013. An indicative schedule is given below but as a first task on appointment the consultant should consider and propose his/her timetable of work for agreement with MRCS.

Tasks		Deliverables	Estimated time (days)	Estimated timing
1.     Review the literature and experience with existing tools and methods within the MRCS and outside related to relevant part of consultancy	Review report of existing tools and methods		5	February to March 2013
2.     Assess each tool and method with strengths and weakness and suitability for Mekong application	Assessment report of each tool and method with strengths and weakness		5	February to March 2013
3.     Review the result of tools and methods needed in CCAI capacity needs assessment	Review report of result needs assessment		4	February to March 2013
4.     Based on the review of task 1 and 3, recommend suitable tools and methods to be developed and compiled	Suitable tools and methods recommended		3	February to March 2013
5.     Prepare a draft report	Draft report		5	March 2013
6.     Based on the comments and feedback from the CCAI team, finalize the report	Final report		3	March 2013

Required qualifications

• MSc or PhD in relevant topics e.g. ecology, climate science, environmental science, water resources engineering, or equivalent;
• Strong academic background in ecology, especially modeling-based ecological research;
• At least 10 years experience in ecological assessments including use of a wide range of tools and methodologies
• At least 5 years experience of ecological impacts of changing climate;
• Experience working with the Lower Mekong River Basin countries is an asset;
• High level of spoken and written English.

 

The Term of Reference and other information can be obtained at MRC website        

http://www.mrcmekong.org/working-with-mrc/employment

Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

 

Application procedures:

The application should include (i) a cover letter outlining clearly how the candidate meets therequirements of the position, (ii) a detailed CV, and (iii) MRC Personal History Form. The position title and division/section must be indicated in the cover letter.The application should be sent to:

 

Mekong River Commission
Office of the Secretariat in Vientiane (OSV)
P.O. Box 6101, 184 Fa NgoumRoad
Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR
Email: mrcs@mrcmekong.org

Closing date for applications: 18 January 2013