Position: Consultancy (Oxfam)__Deadline:27Sep

CONSULTANCY to conduct Regional analysis

of water and climate cooperation opportunities in the GBM transboundary basins of South Asia

 

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty.

Department Purpose

Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA) is a five year and three months  (2017-2022) program aimed at reducing poverty of communities in the transboundary river basins of Ganges-Bramhaputra-Megha (GBM) and Salween (Myanmar) basins. The program builds on existing knowledge and programs of Oxfam teams, local partners and other regional partners in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.  The program is funded by the Government of Sweden (Sida).

Oxfam and partners envisage that poverty will be reduced for marginalised and vulnerable river basin communities through increased access to and control over river water resources.  TROSA program components are:

• Improve policies and practice of governments that protect the rights of communities along Ganges, the Brahmaputra-Meghna and the Salween River basins to water resources.
• Improve policies and practice of private sector and other actors that respect the rights of river basin communities to water resources.
• Strengthen capacity of river basin communities and civil society to influence trans-boundary water resource management.
• Strengthen women’s profile and influence in dialogues and decision-making on water management and water infrastructure.

 

Team Purpose

Oxfam is working towards an Asia Water Governance Programme that aligns Mekong Regional Water Governance PEM (People managing their eco-systems in the Lower Mekong basin)  and TROSA (Transboundary Rivers of South Asia) Project. TROSA is a 5.3 years project and is currently in its final year of implementation (2020-2021). The Program Management Unit (PMU is based in Cambodia. Country level portfolios are managed at country level and the regional PMU manages regional partnerships and maintains an overview that the respective programs achieve their objectives. The program contributes to Oxfam Asia Regional Strategy and Oxfam Country Strategies in India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal  is implemented together with approximately 15 country level partners and 6 regional partners.

Oxfam's program objectives are to enable communities and civil society to be better able to realize sustainable livelihoods and reduce poverty and promote transboundary cooperation in the Mekong, Salween, Brahmaputra, Ganges, Mahakali/Sharda river basins. Our objectives are that we will achieve this by facilitating i) increased civil society participation and engagement in water resource governance; and ii) promoting more open, inclusive, accountable and effective water resource governance. We seek to convene dialogues and work with a range of partners and allies, including governments, the private sector, academia and institutions.  The work seeks to influence change at the community and civil society level, as well as changes in policies and practices at the national and transboundary level. 

Background:

Many of the transboundary river basins in South Asia are climate hot spots. Climate change impacts such melting glaciers, temperature variations and precipitation in these basins, coupled with unsustainable development practices such as forest degradation, rapid urbanization and industrialization in these basins, are resulting in frequent and more intense hazards such as floods, droughts, landslides and pollution. These basins are also home to large population, who directly depend on climate-sensitive livelihoods like agriculture, fisheries and tourism. These livelihood systems, and the larger ecosystem which sustain these livelihoods and the economies, are at greater risk due to these changes. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), the South Asia (SAS) region will witness many regional changes of such as intense heatwaves and increased monsoon, with enlaced interannual variability. More importantly, because of the inter-connected nature of the region’s ecosystems such as rivers and forests, these changes and the corresponding impacts will be transboundary in nature. Most of it will be water-related such as floods, drought and pollution. Hence, the need to understand ways water and climate change cooperation could be strengthened in these transboundary basins for more basin-wise resilience building initatives.

Job Purpose:

TROSA is looking for a consultant or a consultancy team or an agency to conduct Regional analysis of water and climate cooperation opportunities in the GBM transboundary basins of South Asia.

The Objective and scope of work are including:

1. Review the existing evidence on climate change and larger economic development trends in the South Asia region (SAS) in general and the GBM basins in particular and the resulting water, food and energy security impacts in this region and the basins.
2. Map and analyze the key stakeholders and institutional mechanisms who are directly or indirectly engaged in the assessment and management of these changes and the impacts at the national/basin/sub-regional/regional levels, including various livelihood groups and Indigenous communities.
3. Identify and analyze key institutional opportunities for improving water and climate cooperation involving the national/local governments, private sector, civil society organizations, research bodies and sub-regional (such as SAARC, BIMSTEC and SACEP) and other regional institutions.
4. Design and convene a regional multi-stakeholder dialogue to share the findings and mobilize collective action on this issue.

Deliverables:

• An analytical report (30-40 pages)
• One 4 to 6 pager Evidence Brief with key findings and suggestions with infographics
• A regional multi-stakeholder dialogue, its report with recommendations and suggestions.

Timeline	Deliverable	Review / Action
September 27, 2021	Present the research and dialogue concept	TROSA PMU
October 25, 2021	Interim report	TROSA PMU
November 15, 2021	Final report/Dialogue Plan	TROSA PMU
November 29, 2021	Final Report	TROSA PMU
December 06, 2021	Regional Multi-stakeholder Dialogue	TROSA PMU and partners
December 13, 2021	Dialogue report with key recommendations and action agenda	TROSA PMU

 

Success Metrics

 

• An analytical and well-designed report
• Evidence Brief with simplification of key message for non-specialist audience
• Inclusive dialogue with strong engagement with communities, women groups and youth

Required Skills and Experience

• Prior experience of undertaking regional analysis of cross-cutting issues of environment, trade and climate change issues in the Asia or South Asia Region.
• Have extensive knowledge and expertise of inter-disciplinary research and experience of the region/ basins.
• Have worked on knowledge-policy interface by mobilizing evidence-informed dialogue with diverse stakeholders such as governments, private sector and civil society.
• Knowledge of various inter-governmental and regional institutions of the region and civil society networks engaged in climate change and other issues such as land rights, gender and responsible business.
• Must be fluent in English and at least one official language in the GBM countries (Nepali, Hindi or Bangla)

Others

• Required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women's rights.
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles.

Key Attributes:

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Organisational Values:

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

How to apply

The applicant is expected to submit:

• Detailed proposal describing the previous work done in this area and afore-mentioned expertise
• CVs of the relevant individuals and/or organization profile
• Estimated budget for this assignment accompanied with a cost breakdown, showing days or hours spent (per relevant individuals involved) and the related fees (the consultancy fee should be mentioned in net fees in US Dollars, which is subject to 15% withholding tax for resident taxpayer or 14% withholding tax for non-resident taxpayer). This fee should be inclusive of all costs except Withholding Tax. Withholding Tax will borne by Oxfam in Cambodia

The applicant is expected to submit the application through the recruitment website: Click here by September 27th, 2021, at 23.59 GMT+7. For any questions, please write in to Jyotiraj.patra@oxfam.org

Moreinfo: Click here

Please mention "www.Cambodiajobs.Biz" where you saw the ad when you apply!