The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

The Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) is a mechanism to integrate climate change into local authorities’ planning and budgeting through the regular intergovernmental fiscal transfer system using performance-based grants in a participatory and gender sensitive manner, increase awareness and capacities to respond to climate change at the local level including through ecosystem-based solutions, and increase the quality and number of local investments that address climate change. LoCAL combines performance-based climate resilience grants (PBCRGs), which ensure programming and verification of change expenditures at the local level, with technical and capacity-building support. It uses the grants and demonstration effect to trigger further flows for local climate action including global climate finance and national fiscal transfers. LoCAL also aims to support private finance for small and medium businesses and municipal finance and public-private partnerships. LoCAL is currently active in 17 countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, with another 17 countries preparing to join (at the design stage).

The Gambia is highly vulnerable to climate change and is stepping its adaptation at local level. Its recent development policies and strategies are clearly establishing a long-term vision for the national and local development that puts the role of local administrations at the center in managing natural resources and reducing vulnerabilities to the climate change while adapting to the new climate.

It is urgent to train and invest in climate smart agriculture solutions, agroecology, modern agroforestry and ecosystem-based adaptation. Nutrition sensitive agriculture Skills are also needed to build or monitor the construction of climate resilient infrastructure facilities including its maintenance. To do so, an integrated/holistic development planning and budgeting at local level is needed. Ecosystem based Adaptation that targets area development in an integrated manner enables addressing pressing needs while building resilience, instead of stand-alone sub-projects. Investments have been made for infrastructure in selected wards, but the repair and maintenance has proven difficult due to lack of spare parts and difficult access in the rainy season.

LoCAL offers an opportunity for The Gambia to address climate change at the local level while investing in climate resilient development pathways. In addition, the programme aims to combine green recovery with long-term climate resilience through multi-stakeholder engagement, inclusivity, gender-responsiveness, a whole-of-government approach, innovation, environmental sustainability. To be effective in delivering these commitments, climate finance must not only enhance development finance, but also reach the communities that need it most, so they can prioritize it to deliver solutions on the ground.

The Programme therefore will expand support to strengthen the capacities of wards and their communities for local development notably on nutrition sensitive agriculture sector, while integrating climate risks and climate change adaptation in development planning and budgeting systems, in a participatory and gender-responsive manner. It will also increase the level of local climate finance, through the expansion of the Performance-based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRG) system across the territory. LoCAL will help Local Governments localize and align their planning to the Nationally Determined Contributions and the National Adaptation Plan Process.

As part of the project team, The Field Associate will have a direct report to the Programme Management Specialist and will work closely and collaboratively with the Programme Officer, both based in Banjul. S/He will also coordinate with the Regional Programme Specialist of the LoCAL Global Facility supporting the LoCAL activities in the country.  The Field Associate will specifically contribute to the effective delivery of the projects’ activities in the target regions/wards under the intervention, promoting climate resilience, using the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) approach. The participating regions for Year 1 include Lower River Region, Central River Region – South, Central River Region – North and North Bank Region.

Summary of key functions:

1. Support the implementation and results-based monitoring of the LoCAL’s field activities
2. Provide programme support to subnational government counterparts and key stakeholders
3. Administrative support to the implementation of project activities
4. Support effective mainstreaming of gender equality and community participation
5. Support facilitating knowledge sharing and communication

1. Support the implementation and results-based monitoring of the LoCAL’s field activities

• Support implementation of LoCAL activities in the field in line with Annual Workplan (AWP) and support the preparation of periodic technical and financial reports on the implementation of LoCAL activities and undertake regular monitoring of the activities, including through field visits.
• Assist target Local Governments (LGs) to understand LoCAL’s objectives and effectively support them in the management, implementation and monitoring of the performance-based climate resilience grants and activities/interventions/investments and propose improvements through reviewed work plans.
• Support the preparation, participate, and contribute to the annual performance assessment of target LGs.
• Regular monitoring of the progress of target LGs in implementation of the LoCAL and its PBCRGs, in line with Design Document and applicable government’s regulations and procedures.

2. Provide programme support to subnational government counterparts and key stakeholders 

• Under the guidance of the Programme Management Specialist and through Technical Assistance including support provided through other deconcentrated and decentralized government institutions; support target LGs to collect and interpret climate-related data and information, to update their local climate risk assessments, and to mainstream climate change into their local public planning and budgeting systems.
• Under the guidance of the Programme Management Specialist, support capacity building (“learning by doing”) and preparation of local government development and investment plans and budgets that foster inclusive and climate resilient local economies and communities.

3. Administrative support to the implementation of project activities

• Participate in planning and organization of trainings/events facilitating the wide representation and full participation of local and regional stakeholders by following UNCDF rules and regulations and ensuring gender equality.
• Assist in the organization of field visits, missions, conferences, and other logistics arrangements.
• Support LGs to collect and compile narrative, expenditure reports and other related financial documents, as required.
• Arrange meetings and draft routine correspondence, minutes including preparing background materials for discussions and briefing sessions.

4. Support effective mainstreaming of gender equality and community participation 

• Support LGs in strongly ensuring gender equality and participation of communities throughout the PBCRG cycle, during the local adaptation planning and cash for work selection processes.
• Ensure that all the data, when collecting and compiling inputs relating to programme, are gender disaggregated.

5. Support facilitating knowledge sharing and communication 

• Support and facilitate consultation and exchange of information, synergies, learning and know-how at the local level, in relation with partners and stakeholders involved with LoCAL expected results.
• Support the knowledge and communication efforts of LoCAL in The Gambia (i.e., LoCAL stories, news articles, photos, videos, social media presence, country webpage and web presence, as appropriate) with support and guidance from the UNCDF MEAL/KM Specialist.
• Perform any other related duties as required by supervisor/ management.

Institutional Arrangement

The Field Associate will be based in Low River Region (LRR), the Gambia, and will technically support the Programme Management Specialist to oversee, supervise & support the Department of Community Development (DCD) Community Development Assistants (CDAs) with the overall implementation of the PBCRG mechanism at the sub-national level in line with the UNCDF rules and regulations for a DIM Project.

The Field Associate will have direct report to the Programme Management Specialist and will work closely and collaboratively team based in Banjul, and coordinate with the LoCAL Global Facility.

In carrying out his/her work, the Field Associate will work in close collaboration with the UNCDF Gambia Office, together with the Ministry of Local Government & Religious Affairs (MoLGRA), the Ward Development Committees (WDCs), the target CDAs and other LoCAL stakeholders.

The incumbent is expected to travel and engage the LoCAL implementing region in either Lower River Region, Central River Region – South, Central River Region – North or North Bank Region and Greater Banjul regions.