Consultant to Conduct a Vulnerability to Climate Change and Environmental Degradation Assessment

CALL FOR CVs

Position Title               : Consultant to conduct a vulnerability to climate change and environmental degradation assessment in the provinces of Dac Lac and Phu Yen
Duty Station                : Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Type of Appointment  : Consultant contract,
Estimated Start Date  : 05 April  2019
Closing Date               : 5:00 PM, 29 March 2019
Reference Code          : SVN2019/HN/08 (C)

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment. Internal and external candidates are eligible to apply to this vacancy. Internal candidates should meet the minimum of time in post requirement of six months or more.

1.    Background

This consultancy is part of the project “Building resilience of communities affected by climate change and environmental degradation in Viet Nam” funded by the IOM Development Fund (IDF).

The project will enhance the protection of migrants and those vulnerable to forced migration caused by climate change or environmental degradation by actively engaging government agencies in the prevention and mitigation of risks of forced migration with a focus on Dac Lac and Phu Yen.

2.    IOM in Viet Nam

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IOM Viet Nam has extensive experience in addressing migration, environment and climate change through research and capacity building as well as direct experience responding to natural disasters.

While working with provincial authorities on implementing relief activities of other projects, IOM Viet Nam has built strong relations with People’s Committees, the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA), the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Red Cross – this project’s main partners in the provinces of Dac Lac and Phu Yen.

This project will address a broad range of targets outlined in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10, 13 and 15, from strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters to combating degraded land and soil affected by floods with a focus on promoting gender equality. This project is linked to SDG 10 (Target 10.7), which involves “facilitating orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies”. It is directly connected to SDG 13 which promotes “improved education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on cliamte change mitigation, adaptaiton, impact reduction and early warning” and SDG 15, which aims to “integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts”.

3.    Introduction to climate change and environmental degradation in Viet Nam

Viet Nam is one of the countries most affected by climate change and is increasingly feeling the impacts of environmental degradation, both of which contribute to higher levels of displacement from sudden onset (tropical storms, typhoons, flash flooding and landslides) and slow-onset events (sea-level rise, coastal erosion, salinization and droughts).

Although the Government of Viet Nam has put in place national action plans and targets related to climate change adaptation, there is an institutional and policy gap at the provincial and local levels to implement steps to respond to the effects of climate change. Further, the importance of migration dynamics in relation to climate change and environmental degradation has yet to be fully captured within national action planning-whether that be as vulnerability, consequence or as an adaptive strategy to build resilience. Although much information is available on environmental degradation and its impacts on certain regions of the country, other areas (particularly the Northern and the Central regions of the country) remain understudied.

This project builds on the Migration, Environment and Climate Change: Evidence for Policy (MECLEP) report. As highlighted in this document, the current capacity gap prevents the full social protection of environmentally-induced migration. There is therefore an important need to better capture the nexus between climate change, mobility, migration and resettlement, to reinforce national and provincial policies that enhance the resilience of migrants and resettled people, and strengthen institutional capacities and operational processes.  

4.    Purpose of the Consultancy

The project will enhance protection for migrants and those who may be vulnerable to environmentally-induced migration. More specifically, with support from the IOM, the project will deliver this key outcome:

Outcome 1. Government agencies are actively engaged in preventing and mitigating risks of forced migration as a consequence of climate change or environmental degradation.

This consultancy is an output of Outcome 1 and aims to assess the nexus between migration, climate change, environmental degradation, and their impacts on gender equality. More specifically, it seeks to:

• Conduct an assessment of the nexus of migration, environment and climate change and the institutional capacities and operational processes linking migration, displacement, climate change and environmental degradation, and
• Expand knowledge of the current staffing of provincial departments as well as their level of coordination and cooperation.

The assessment will also inform a training curriculum for district and commune authorities on environment-related migration management policies, and will promote the different ways migrations can support adaptation actions with a focus on gender. 

The establishment of the training program is not within the scope of these terms of reference.

5.    Tasks and Responsibilities of the Consultant

The consultant will be responsible for the study design, data collection and analysis. More specifically, she or he will:

• Develop a detailed methodology for the assessment, including a work plan and activity schedule with specific timeframes that will be agreed upon by the consultant and project supervisor. The consultant is expected to meet all reporting and output requirements on time.
• Participate in inception meetings and consultation sessions;
• Advise on the vulnerability assessment methodology;
• Design the sampling strategy with partners;
• Design questionnaires for the survey, guidelines for focus group discussions, and informed consent forms;
• Train interviewers before conducting field survey;
• Pilot data collection tools and monitor data quality;
• Lead group consultations with local government representatives and the Red Cross;
• Lead local focus group discussions;
• Analyse data;
• Create compelling visuals;
• Write the final report under the Project Manager’s supervision.

The consultant’s fee will include funding to hire a research assistant. Field days are expected.

6.    Main stakeholders

The final report will be distributed to non-government agencies and presented to relevant government departments for consideration. The consultant will work closely with the IOM and the Red Cross.

7.    Supervision

The consultant will be supervised by the IOM Project Manager.

8.    Location

The consultant will preferably be based in Ha Noi with field trips to Phu Yen and Dac Lac, Viet Nam.

9.    Qualifications

The consultant must have the following competencies:

• A minimum of seven years of experience in mixed-methods research and/or conducting vulnerability assessments;
• A master’s university degree (minimum) with significant research experience in a relevant field, including but not limited to:
• Environmentally-induced migration;
• Vulnerability to climate change and environmental degradation;
• Gender.
• Experience in consulting and report writing;
• Excellent analysis and drafting skills;
• Demonstrated ability to create compelling visuals;
• High proficiency in English and Vietnamese languages is mandatory.

10.    Deliverables

Payment will be made upon reception of these deliverables:

The IOM reserves the right to withhold payment in full or in part if the services are not provided in full or inadequate.

11.    Tentative timing of engagement

The consultant will work intermittently for 66 full working days over a 10 months period. The consultancy should start on 5 April 2019.

How to apply:

All interested candidates should download and complete an IOM Personal History Form from the IOM Viet Nam website at www.iom.int.vn 

Completed applications, including IOM Personal History Form, application letter, and copies of diplomas and certificates, recommendation letters, etc. may be delivered to the IOM Mission Office at 304 Kim Ma st, Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi or submitted electronically to [email protected] and [email protected] . Email title should indicate to Vacancy Notice’s Position Title.

IOM only accepts profiles with IOM Personal History Form duly completed.

Applications are non-returnable and only short-listed candidates will be contacted.