Regional Environment Advisor (Middle East)

  • Contract
  • Remote
  • TBD USD / Year
  • Salary: TBD

Cowater International

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

Launched in December 2021 and implemented by Cowater International, the Middle East Support Services Project (ME-FSSP) will primarily support the development and humanitarian objectives of Canada’s Middle East Strategy by providing administrative, financial, procurement, and logistical services in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and the region.

The Middle East Field Support Services (ME-FSS) will also support the regional development programming for the Government of Canada through the provision of technical specialists in gender equality, governance and human rights, and environment and climate action

BACKGROUND

In February 2016, the Government of Canada released a new comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to respond to the ongoing crises in Iraq and Syria and their impact on the region, including on Jordan and Lebanon. Under the strategy for engagement in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria (2016-17 to 2018-19), also known as the Middle East Strategy, Canada committed up to CAD 270 million in development assistance to increase access to basic services, enhance employment and green economic growth and strengthen governance, and up to CAD 840 million in humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent basic needs of those most affected by the crises, including refugees.

Environmental Sustainability is acknowledged in Canada’s Official Development Assistance Accountability Act (2008) as one fundamental value behind Canada’s approach to development assistance. Canada is committed to supporting international environmental agreements such as those pertaining to the conventions on Climate Change, Biological Diversity, and Combating Desertification. Canada also supports environmental and climate change commitments adopted in the Sustainable Development Goals (2015) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (2015).

GAC recognizes that in order to achieve sustainable development results, it is imperative to integrate environmental sustainability considerations into all its policies, programs, projects, and decisions. GAC’s Environment and Climate Action Action Area (2019) commits the Department to mainstream environmental and climate change considerations in all sectors of Canadian international assistance programming to ensure its environmental sustainability. It also supports GAC’s programming in the sector. The environmental integration process ensures not only that international assistance efforts do not harm the environment, but also that environmental degradation does not erode development gains and that opportunities linked to environment, climate change, and natural-resources management are identified and seized.

As part of its Environmental Integration Process, GAC carries out environmental analyses of all its initiatives and complies with both the Government of Canada’s Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan, and Program Proposals (1999) and the Impact Assessment Act (2019).

The absence of qualified environmental expertise could affect the ability of the Middle East Development Program to meet its commitments under the Strategy. A need has therefore been identified for expert environment support beyond what the department is currently able to provide by engaging a senior-level consultant to deliver environment services in support of operational and planned initiatives until. The Regional Environment Advisor will assist GAC in implementing its environmental and climate change commitments through its development, humanitarian assistance, and, (ODA-related) security and stabilization programs.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical support to GAC programs in the area of environment and climate change and ensure effective and resource-efficient programming. The ultimate goal is to contribute to better programming results in Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon by limiting environmental risks and capitalizing on environmental opportunities.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

Description of Services

While the Advisor’s services will largely focus on supporting GAC’s programming efforts in Jordan, the Advisor will also provide technical advice and support on the environment and climate change issues in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria based on quarterly work plans and any additional services requested by the GAC Representative.

The provision of technical advice and support includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Technical Support to GAC:

  • Review project documents and advise on the quality and integrity of information and on compliance with local and Canadian regulatory and policy frameworks.
  • Review GAC’s programming documents for environmental integration and/or programming and provide written analysis and advice on best practices and approaches to achieving results, potential risks, issues, constraints, opportunities, lessons learned, and possible synergies with other programs and sectors.
  • Assist GAC’s programming teams to monitor and follow up on the implementation of the Feminist International Assistance Policy’s Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) recommendations.
  • Support GAC’s programming teams in the review and development of project proposals in the different thematic areas of programming, including environment and climate action. This includes providing advice on environmental sustainability and climate change into all planning documents including logic model, performance management framework, risk registry, project management framework, and budget, using results-based management and monitoring frameworks.
  • Assist GAC with project monitoring and follow-up on the implementation of environmental deliverables identified in project documents and related correspondence with the partners. Visit projects in the field, document progress, findings and results through progress reports, and make recommendations about any needed corrective or additional measures
  • Provide technical assistance to incoming missions from Canada. Provide written and oral briefings and accompany visiting GAC staff, Canadian Government officials and consultants on field trips and meetings. Prepare meetings notes and field visits reports and make recommendations about any needed corrective measures.
  • Provide guidance to GAC projects’ implementing partners and Executing Agencies on GAC and host country’ environment policy, legal and administrative requirements. Develop training material related to environment and deliver presentations and training.

2. Knowledge Management and Local Systems:

  • Maintain ongoing communications with the environment community of practice, which includes the HQ Assigned Specialist, GAC’s programming teams and other local specialists as appropriate. Research, collect, analyze, update and exchange country and region-specific environmental and climate change information and perspectives with GAC field staff, HQ desk officers (including relevant Environment Specialists) and recipient country partners as relevant.
  • Assess the capacity of local organizations and institutions to implement environmental and climate change initiatives and achieve meaningful results, and identify potential partners with appropriate environmental programming capacity.
  • Collect and analyze information from environment and climate change programs and environment integrated programs implemented by the government, GAC, other donors and organizations, including identification of best practices, new approaches and lessons learned in order to achieve better results in environment programming.
  • Provide advice to GAC’s programming teams on environmental and climate change issues that need to be raised in policy dialogue and advocacy with government, other donors, civil society organizations and the private sector. Attend donor and technical group discussions on environment and climate change as a resource person, contributing to knowledge-building/sharing and policy dialogue. Review and provide written analysis on environmental and climate change issues and challenges in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, as well as on environment and climate change policies, strategies and planning documents, outlining linkages with GAC’s policy framework and country program priorities.
  • Provide advice to GAC’s programming teams on opportunities, needs and entry points for action on environment and climate change issues, including on possible cooperation with other donors.

Scope of Work

  • Reviewing and commenting on environmental analyses, environmental impact assessments, project progress reports, annual work plans, implementation plans and other documentation, as requested.
  • Provision of research, analytical work and reports on environmental and climate change issues relevant to GAC’s development and humanitarian assistance programming in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, as requested.
  • Provision of strategic recommendations on how to maximize environment and climate change results achieved through GAC’s existing and planned programming in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and possibly other ME countries.
  • Provision of technical advice on environmental and climate change issues in relation to planning and implementation of GAC program/projects, as requested. Participating in relevant missions and events, as required.
  • Representing GAC at various events, preparing reports, and occasional translation from Arabic to English as requested.
  • Contribute to the development and dissemination of materials and tools for use by GAC and its partners, as requested.
  • Supporting GAC’s capacity development activities.

REPORTING/ DELIVERABLES

The Consultant is expected to work in close cooperation with GAC in the Region and in HQ to produce the deliverables as follows:

  • The Advisor reports directly to ME-FSSP (Project Manager) who has full responsibility for the administration of the contract, including the approval of timesheets and invoices. Technical assignments included the Tracking Table, Service Requisitions and deliverables, evaluation of the quality of services and deliverables against the Tracking Table, etc. are approved by GAC’s TA. Deliverables include, but are not limited to:
    • Financial reporting which consists of a detailed monthly invoice, covering the Advisor’s fees for the services rendered during the previous month indicating the date, the day and the number of hours worked for each day as well as any necessary and reasonable expenses incurred during the previous month, including all original receipts in support of the expenses claimed.
    • Research or analytical narrative reports, as requested by GAC.

LOCATION, TIMELINES AND ESTIMATED LEVEL OF EFFORT

This contract will be valid until March 31st, 2023. The advisor could be located in Jordan, Lebanon, or Iraq or could work remotely. The Advisor must be ready to travel in/to Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq to support GAC’s development and, to a lesser extent, humanitarian assistance programs’ planning and monitoring activities and to meet with partners. The ME-FSSP PM must approve all travel prior to the travel.

The basis for payment and payment schedule will be based on a fixed-time rate contract.

The level of effort is estimated at up to 105 days depending on the needs and activities of the program. No activities/tasks should be undertaken without ME-FSSP prior approval.

ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

  • The Advisor will report to the Cowater/ FSSP PM in Amman.
  • The contract will be signed between Cowater International/ME-FSSP and the selected candidate.
  • Work will be performed out of the Advisor’s own office and the Advisor will be responsible for providing all required overhead, including maintaining internet access and an email account.
  • The Advisor will be expected to use their own workspace, equipment and materials (office space is not provided).
  • The Advisor will be paid according to the agreed-upon daily rate based on the level of effort reflected in the monthly financial report and requisition forms. Activities and services rendered should be in line with the Tracking Table and requisition forms agreed and approved by the TA.

SUPPORT DOCUMENTS TO BE PROVIDED BY GAC ME-FSSP will provide the Advisor with the following documents:

  • GAC’s policies and strategies relevant to country programs
  • GAC’s programming documents [e.g. Strategic Environmental Assessment, Environmental Integration Process, Climate Finance requirements, RBM tools, Performance Evaluation Framework]
  • Existing GAC tools and resources related to Environmental Justice.

EXPERIENCE To be considered for the role, it is important that the Advisor have experience across the full project cycle, specifically experience mainstreaming Environment and Climate Change considerations in development projects as well as environmental programming in the ME region. Additional experience:

  • Minimum 10 years of experience since 2005 in assessing international development program and project proposals in various sectors, including assessing the quality and relevance of environment analysis of projects and programs; and the inclusion of environmental results, environmental indicators, environmental baseline data. (Extra points will be awarded for experience assessing GAC projects);
  • Minimum 10 years of experience since 2005 in providing project monitoring and evaluation services in environment and climate change in various programming sectors;
  • Minimum 10 years of experience since 2005 in providing advice to donors on environmental and climate change issues. (Extra points will be awarded if demonstrated experience working in at least two of the following three countries: Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq);
  • Minimum 10 years of experience since 2005 in conducting or writing environmental and climate change analyses or research.
  • Minimum 10 years of experience since 2005 in providing Environment and climate change knowledge building activities (training, coaching, mentoring) to development programs.

EDUCATION A minimum university degree in environment studies or a related discipline such as Water Resources Management, Renewable Energy, Environmental Studies, Environment Assessment, Physical Geography, etc.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS Fluency (Advanced Professional Proficiency – level 4) in oral, reading and writing in English and Arabic languages. French is an asset. The description associated with the language requirement can be found at the following website: http://www.international.gc.ca/ifait-iaeci/test_levels-niveaux.aspx?lang=eng

ABOUT US With more than 35 years’ experience, Cowater International is a global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development and has managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, financial and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Cowater International also has corporate offices in Montreal, Quebec; London, United Kingdom; Nairobi, Kenya; and Brussels, Belgium, in addition to project offices in a wide variety of other locations across Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

How to apply

APPLICATION PROCESS

For your application to be considered, please send all requested documents to [email protected], with “Environment Advisor” in the subject line latest by 9/October/2022.

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible by sending the following documents:

  • A CV indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) with at least three (3) professional references.
  • A brief statement as to why you consider yourself the most suitable for the assignment.
  • A Financial Proposal specifying an all-inclusive daily rate in USD.

Due to the large number of applications, we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidate(s) about the outcome or status of the selection process. Qualified women and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

Kindly note that received CVs may be added to the ME-FSSP database for experts for potential future assignments.

*Closing date: 9-Oct-22