Consultant (Firm) to facilitate policy dialogue and building technical capacity of the Central Asian network of delegates attending the UNFCCC COP26

Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin (CAMP4ASB)

Terms of Reference 

Consultant (Firm) to facilitate policy dialogue and building technical capacity of the Central Asian network of delegates attending the UNFCCC COP26[1]

1.     Background 

On November 3, 2015, the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved an allocation of US$38 million from the International Development Association (IDA) to finance the first phase of the CAMP4ASB regional program. This approved financing includes US$9 million for Tajikistan, US$14 million for Uzbekistan, and US$15 million for regional activities to be implemented by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC-IFAS) with support from the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) for day-to-day regional coordination and implementation.

The Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin (CAMP4ASB) aims to enhance regionally coordinated access to improved climate change knowledge services for key stakeholders (e.g., policy makers, communities, and civil society) in participating Central Asian countries as well as to increased investments and capacity building that, combined, will address climate challenges common to these countries. CAMP4ASB[2] is comprised of three components as follows:

UNFCCC Conferences of Parties (COPs) are global forums for multilateral discussion on climate change. They rotate annually among the five United Nations regional groups, serve as the formal meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COP), the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (the CMA).

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) will take place in Glasgow[3] (COP26 hereinafter). The climate talks will be the biggest international summit the UK has ever hosted; bringing together over 30,000 delegates including heads of state, climate experts and campaigners to agree coordinated actions to tackle climate change.

Since the 1990s, almost all countries in the world negotiate on international climate policies as Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This has resulted in several milestones, but it has also become clear that countries have different negotiation interests, which complicates reaching agreements. Observations show that the effective participation of the Parties (especially small delegations – like Central Asian ones) is hindered behind the weak capacity, lack of proficient knowledge on global climate policy and negotiations skills.

Given the fact that 2020 is a critical year for the countries around the world and Central Asia in particular, to start fulfilling the promise of the Paris Agreement as well as to addressing the Sustainable Development Goals the implementation and raising ambition to the most extent depends on proactive actions of multiple stakeholders. Platform of the UNFCCC COPs is a good opportunity for the countries of Central Asia to have their voice heard as well as to inform the international community about the efforts the region has been putting forward to contribute to the success of the Agreement. 

In light of the abovementioned there is a need to build the capacities of the national delegations on climate related aspects (policy – diplomacy), improve their negotiation skills in preparation for the upcoming COP26 and formulate a conclusive and strong regional voice to be echoed through the statement.

1.     Objective and tasks 

The proposed assignment aims to build capacity and strengthen collaboration of the Central Asian network of delegates of the UNFCCC CoPs on climate law and policy, climate diplomacy and negotiation skills. The expected output is a jointly elaborated regional statement towards a climate resilient future, which will be included into the CoP26 programme agenda. 

These activities will be implemented in close collaboration with UNFCCC National Focal Points and national delegations’ members of Central Asian countries, UNFCCC Secretariat, British Embassies representing UNFCCC CoP26 hosting countries, international agencies (e.g. UNDP, UNEP, IPCC), CAMP4ASB team and other stakeholders.

The target audience will include but not limited to heads and members of official national delegations (Parties), civil society organizations (Observers) and young professionals from the Central Asian countries.

2.     Scope of work 

The Consultant (Firm) is expected to develop and perform capacity building exercises for members of national UNFCCC delegations of the Central Asian countries[4], assess their effectiveness, as well as to facilitate the process of formulation, consideration and agreement of a joint regional statement for the UNFCCC COP26. The Firm will also provide support in active participation of the delegations at COP26 meetings. 

Specific tasks 

The Consultant (Firm) is expected to carry on the following tasks:

1.     Conduct a series of online trainings for the 5 countries of Central Asia 

-        Hold the series of consultations with members of national delegations, observers and interested young professionals aimed to identification of capacity gaps in specific areas, related with climate negotiation process, incl. a) Climate Law, (b) Climate Policy, (c) Climate Diplomacy and (d) Negotiation skills;

-        Develop a package of on-line training modules and supplementary handouts on topics determined through the consultations. Particular focus should be put on ensuring that the language of instruction and training methodologies are accessible, including self-assessment exercises, interactive games and home-reading literature as well as best practical examples from the region and worldwide;

-        Conduct a series of online (webinar, video- conference) trainings (2 or 3 days long[5]) to all 5 countries of Central Asia with a particular reference to various target groups (policy makers, experts and civil society organizations/young professionals); 

-        Develop a comprehensive assessment report on every online training conducted with detailed description of lessons learned, results achieved and level of knowledge acquired: particular reference on figures and statistics is recommended; produce a road map containing recommendations and next steps on country- and region-specific actions on capacity building in respective or new topics;

-        Provide the guidance and assure that the on-line module is properly integrated into the E-Learning tool of the CACIP. 

2.     Support in developing a joint regional statement for COP26 

-        Conduct a practical 2-days regional workshop with the aim to (a) highlight key outputs and lessons learned from country-specific trainings and introduce the road map, (b) perform simulation exercise on CoP meeting(s), and (c) discuss and develop a joint regional statement on behalf of the countries of Central Asia to be voiced at COP26;

-        Provide expert support for members of national UNFCCC delegations in the process of consideration and agreement the statement within countries.  

3.     Ensure active participation of the national delegations at the COP26 

-        Provide suggestions, to the extent possible, to the COP26 official programme agenda to ensure the delivering a joint statement on behalf of the countries of Central Asia at one of the plenary sessions of the COP26;

-        Organize and facilitate at least 1 (one) regional side-events during the COP26; 

-        Organize at least 5 (five) bilateral meetings between financial institutions/funds and CAREC/CAMP4ASB team to explore opportunities for mobilizing additional climate finance for Central Asia;

-        Develop a comprehensive narrative report about the events held, lessons learned and results achieved, which in addition, will contain recommendations and next steps for further follow-up actions toward preparation to next COPs.

Schedule and deliverables  

3.     Required qualification  

·       Experience in negotiations at UNFCCC COP events and in organizing/facilitating high-level events at the global environmental/climate forums

·       At least 10 years’ experience in capacity building (trainings/courses) on climate-related aspects of  policy, regulations and international relations; 

·       At least 5 years’ experience of working with national ministries, government agencies, academia and civil society in the countries of Central Asia;

·       Proven experience of working with UN Agencies and MDBs, including other international funds and bilateral donor institutions

·       Strong contacts with state and non-state climate actors in EU countries and beyond

§  Language skills in English and Russian

4.     Timeline and Reporting

The estimated duration of the consultancy will be July 10, 2020 – July 31, 2021. 

The Consultant (Firm) shall report to the CAMP4ASB RCU Coordinator.

[1] Dependent on the date and circumstances of the forthcoming CoP26

[2] For more details about the project and description of all components and subcomponents please, refer to the CAMP4ASB Project Appraisal Document (PAD) 

[3] The new dates for COP26 will be announced later

[4] Incl. youth and civil society organizations 

[5] Dependent on the content of the training agenda and coverage of all required topics

The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia 

Attn: Sanzhar Mustafin, Procurement Specialist of CAMP4ASB project

40, Orbita-1, 050043, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan,

Tel: +7(727) 265 4334, 265 4327, 265 4342 (ext.111)

E-mail: SMustafin@carececo.org