INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

Climate change is a major threat to Vanuatu. As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) located in the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire”, it is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the adverse effects of climate change and geological disasters.

The Government’s climate finance priorities include simplified access to scaled-up climate finance for resilient development, capacity building, transfer of technology, support for climate smart agriculture, private sector engagement, traditional knowledge, and gender mainstreaming.[1] To implement these priorities Vanuatu requires additional technical and financial support.

GGGI as a Green Climate Fund (GCF) Delivery Partner has completed the delivery of the Readiness grant “Enhancing Vanuatu’s Ability to Seek Accreditation and Direct Access to the GCF”, approved in December 2019, focused on supporting the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) towards becoming the country’s first national Direct Access Entity (DAE) for Vanuatu. In line with the updated NDC (2021) and Vanuatu’s GCF Country Programme 2021-2023, this Readiness grant aims to address the following three interrelated barriers in order to fill the gaps and strengthen the capacity of NDA and in-country key stakeholders to enhance Vanuatu’s access to climate finance to fully implement the NDCs target:

1. Human resource and technical capacity gap within the NDA and in-country key stakeholders (e.g., MFEM) and absence of resources to support the engagement with the GCF such as i) no guideline/manual was adequately developed to standardize the project development; ii) no strategy and policy direction to best proceed with accreditation; iii) NDA and in-country key lacks the necessary technical capacity on project appraisal, development and management.
2. Limited access to climate finance as Vanuatu has no national institutions accredited to the GCF; and during the VUT-RS-005 grant, MFEM was not able to fully complete the accreditation application under the VUT-RS-005 (Phase 1) grant as further work and support are needed to strengthen MFEM’s internal systems and processes related to meeting accreditation competencies in Specialized Fiduciary Criteria, Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) and Gender.
3. Limited number of ideas that developed into concept notes.

In February 2023, GGGI in collaboration with the Vanuatu National Designated Authority (NDA) secured from the GCF the ‘Enhancing Vanuatu’s Ability to Seek Accreditation and Direct Access to the GCF – Phase 2’ project. This Readiness grant will focus on:

1. Developing an NDA Project Development Handbook that will guide NDA and the Climate Finance Working Group in project development.
2. Developing a national strategy on accreditation that will serve as a policy guide for direct access includes the information and action plans on the prioritized pipeline of projects and timeline of accreditation for MFEM and other government ministries.
3. Strengthening the capacity of NDA and in-country key stakeholders in project appraisal, development, and management, aligned with the new NDA Project Development Handbook and national strategy on accreditation.
4. Support the submission of MFEM accreditation application to the GCF by improving MFEM’s capacity, policy, and procedures.
5. Developing or improving two prioritized concept notes for submission to GCF and a pre-feasibility study for one prioritized or more concept notes for a priority sector.

The Readiness grant beneficiaries include: MFEM, the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Environment, Energy and Disaster Management (MoCC) and the Secretariat of the National Advisory Board on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (NAB). The indirect beneficiaries include other key relevant agencies, national and subnational governments, non-state actors, private sectors, proponents submitting project concept notes, and local CSOs representing communities and vulnerable groups.

The objective of the assignment is to provide local coordination support on the delivery of the NDA Project Development Handbook, the National Accreditation Strategy, the Concept Note Development and Pre-feasibility Study as key deliverables under the project.

The local consultant (individual) is expected to undertake the following key tasks and responsibilities:

i. NDA Project Development Handbook

• Support the international consultant in the desk study and screening process for developing an NDA Project Development Handbook.
• Assist in arranging and participating in consultation meetings and workshops.
• Support the finalization and publication of the NDA Project Development Handbook, including inputs and feedback from the consultation meetings and validation workshop to provide guidance to all stakeholders.

ii. National Accreditation Strategy

• Support the international consultant in the desk study by providing country context and support the inception report preparation by assessing stakeholders to consult and engage.
• Assist in arranging and participating in consultation meetings and workshops.
• Support the finalization and publication of the national strategy on accreditation to major climate change funds, with an emphasis on the GCF and MFEM’s anticipated operation as a national DAE.

iii. Concept Note Development and Pre-feasibility Study.

• Support the consulting firm in the assessment and review of the GCF Country Program investment pipeline, as well as situational analysis and rationale based on country context and priorities, baseline information, national policy/strategy review for the development of the concept notes.
• Assist in arranging and participating in meetings and workshops.

The local consultant will be allocated 120 working days to complete the assignment. Work must commence immediately after contract signing and will be spread over 12 months. The following work schedule is proposed only:

All reports and outputs must be in English, in accordance with GGGI’s formatting requirements, and submitted in hard copy and electronic formats along with complete sets of raw data, research materials, and interview notes.

Reporting Arrangements

• The consultant is expected to work under the general guidance of the GGGI Senior Officer (Vanuatu) in close collaboration with the Vanuatu NDA and the NAB Secretariat.
• The consultant maybe expected to make local travels within Vanuatu for the purpose of the project.
• All developed products under this assignment (incl. raw files and editable forms) will become property of GGGI and the MoCC.
• The Consultant shall submit the report in electronic versions readable by a Microsoft Office application.
• All outputs must be in English.

The description of required expert may be split into following parts:

• A minimum of a diploma in Climate Change, Project Management economics, international development or any other related discipline.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience and proven track record in working with development projects from bilateral and multilateral donors including the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, Global Environmental Facility (GEF), etc.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in climate finance or related discipline.
• A strong knowledge of gender, environment and social safeguards and related policies in Vanuatu.
• A sound working knowledge of the Vanuatu climate landscape including government mechanisms.
• Excellent report writing skills in English.
• Immediate availability of the contractor.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates are therefore encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Date to close is 22^nd August 2023, 11:59PM Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered Application. Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English. A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.