Terms of Reference for International Consultant (firm) for
Facilitation of the student research competition in Central Asia
Background
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.
This assignment is to be carried under the Component 1 of the CAMP4ASB project, “Regional Climate Knowledge Services”, and refers to the following sub-activity of the project: 1.5. “Capacity building”[1]
The student research competition aims to build the capacities of young specialists in climate change issues and sustainable management of natural resources in the Central Asian countries. The competition is open for students (Master and PhD programs) from universities within the Central Asian region, who plan to focus their research on climate-related issues in water, land, energy resources or environmental management[2]
1. Objective
The main objective of these Consultant Services (firm) is to facilitate the student research competition in Central Asia for 2020-2021.
The facilitation will include the following tasks:
i. To facilitate selection process, including the organization of selecting committee;
ii. To identify external supervisors for selected applications and facilitate supervising process through face-to-face meetings and online tools;
iii. To organize online regional workshop on climate change issues for selected students;
iv. To arrange for and ensure presentation and discussion of the research findings during project’s regional event, and their publication in the peer reviewed journal;
2. Specific Activities:
I.To facilitate selection process, including the organization of selecting committee
Consultant will organize selection process, including determination of selection committee and criteria, and selection committee meeting. The selection committee members, selection criteria, selection procedures and the dates of committee meeting should be previously agreed with RCU. At least one RCU member should be included into the selection committee. The selection procedures will have at least two stages of selection. 15 students should be selected from the applicants. The number of students can shorten in case the lack of appropriate applicants collected. The number of selected students should be also agreed with RCU.
II. To identify external supervisors for selected applications and facilitate supervising process through face-to-face meetings and online tools
Consultant will identify international and national supervisors for selected applicants and facilitate supervising process. Supervisors should be selected in accordance with the research field of the students. Consultant coordinates the regular meetings of students with the supervisors, and also the progress of students’ research works. Consultant in cooperation with supervisors develop a schedule of the supervising process, including the methodologies of assessment the research progress and description of tools for communication with students.
III.To organize online regional workshop on climate change issues for selected students
Consultant will organize one technical workshop on climate change issues for the selected applicants. The training agenda, duration of training, selected trainer should be agreed with RCU. The training should be organized until the end of August 2020 (through online platform) agreed with RCU. During the training Consultant will conduct the evaluation of the participants’ knowledge on climate change issues (online questionnaires). Evaluation should take place before (diagnostic evaluation), and at the post-conclusion (summative evaluation). Consultant will provide students payments of grants (1500 USD dollars) for the research.
IV.To arrange for and ensure presentation and discussion of the research findings, and their publication
Consultant will organize a side event during the Central Asia Climate Change Conference (CACCC 2021), or another event in Central Asia agreed with RCU. Consultant will arrange for and ensure presentation and discussion of the research findings of students during the side-event to conference. The ways of presentation the research results will be agreed with RCU. Consultant will facilitate the publication of articles based on the research findings of all selected students in peer reviewed journals. Consultant will report on each task to RCU and also provide articles for news (at least 2 articles for the contracting period).
3. Scope of Work - Tasks, Deliverables and Schedule
Proposed timetable for the process and deliverables:
# |
Deliverables: |
Due date |
1 |
Develop and agree on the selection criteria with members of selection committee and RCU
|
July 15, 2020
|
2 |
Facilitate the selection of substantive number of applications ensuring a diverse representation across Central Asian countries and proposed research themes
|
July 20, 2020 |
3 |
Identify and assign international and national supervisors[3] for selected students |
July 25, 2020
|
4 |
Develop schedule for regular supervising process |
July 30, 2020 |
5 |
Conduct a technical workshop on academic writting for the selected students |
August 30, 2020 |
6 |
Provide grants (1500 USD per student) for research work
|
September 30, 2020 |
7 |
Facilitate the presentation and discussion of research findings during CACCC 2021 or another agreed regional event
|
February 20, 2021 |
8 |
Arrange for the publication of research outcomes (articles) of all selected students in the peer reviewed journal
|
February 20, 2021 |
9 |
Bi-monthly report on activities done on the student competition, including the meeting outcomes; regional events; the selected thesis topic; publication of articles in social media.
|
Over the contracting period |
4. Qualification Requirements
· At least three experts, with master degree in environmental science and related subject;
· Proven experience (at least 5 years) in working with international, regional and national academic networks on climate related issues;
· At least 5 years’ experience in the facilitation of the research competition, including organization of selection committee and supervising process;
· Language skills Russian, and at least one expert with language skills in English
5. Reporting Requirements
· Consultant should report to the RCU Coordinator
· Estimated duration of the consultancy will be July 2020 – February 2021
Annex A
Main topics of the competition:
All thematic areas should be directly or indirectly related to climate change processes in the Central Asian region.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
The competition is open for students from universities within the Central Asian region, who plan to focus their research on:
Proposed research will be a part of the applicant`s dissertation and must be completed until January 2021 and findings and recommendations to be presented on the Climate Conference in February 2021.
Key Dates
More details are on http://student.carececo.org/
[1] For more details about the project and description of all components and subcomponents please, refer to the CAMP4ASB Project Appraisal Document
[2] For more details on the Competition refer to the link: http://student.carececo.org/
[3] The supervisor will:
- Provide an advice/idea for identification of research questions;
- Provide an advice while choosing tools and approaches for conducting research work;
- Provide list of sources for information on the research topic.
- Provide a regular support while student asks some advice during the research
- Review pre-final and final versions of the final outcome (article)
announces a vacancy for the following position:
Name of the position: |
International Consultant (firm) for Facilitation of the student research competition in Central Asia |
Host organization: |
The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia |
Location: |
Almaty, Kazakhstan |
Starting date: |
July 10, 2020 |
Duration and form of contract: |
Small Assignments Lump-Sum Payments June 23, 2020 – February 28, 2021 |
Closing date of the vacancy |
July 06, 2020 |
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)
Country: Central Asia
Project Id: P151363
Project Name: CAMP4ASB
Loan Info.: IDA D0940
Assignment Title: International Consultant (firm) for Facilitation of the student research competition in Central Asia
Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): 35
Contract # CCSE-2019-C-056
The Regional Environment Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the GRANT #D094-7C «Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin» (CAMP4ASB), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
The consulting services (“the Services”) include to facilitate the student research competition in Central Asia for 2020-2021.
The facilitation will include the following tasks:
a. To ensure information dissemination/outreach for collection of research applications from students across key thematic topics listed in Annex A;
b. To facilitate selection process, including the organization of selecting committee;
c. To identify external supervisors for selected applications and facilitate supervising process through face-to-face meetings and online tools;
d. To organize online regional workshop on climate change issues for selected students;
e. To arrange for and ensure presentation and discussion of the research findings during project’s regional event, and their publication in the peer reviewed journal;
CAREC now invites eligible Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:
· At least three experts, with master degree in environmental science and related subject;
· Proven experience (at least 5 years) in working with international, regional and national academic networks on climate related issues;
· At least 5 years’ experience in the facilitation of the research competition, including organization of selection committee and supervising process;
· Language skills Russian, and at least one expert with language skills in English
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 1.9 and 1.11 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants Under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers dated January 2011 and revised July 2014 (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest and eligibility.
Consultants may submit their REOI as an individual firm or in association in the form of a joint venture or subconsultancy. All the members of the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire assignment. However, the experience of sub-consultant will not be considered while short-listing. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection Based on Consultants' Qualification (CQS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. The best qualified and experienced firm shall be selected and only this one selected firm shall be asked to submit a combined technical and financial proposal.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 09:00 to 17:00 (Almaty time).
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by July 06, 2020.
The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia
Attn: Sanzhar Mustafin, Procurement Specialist of CAMP4ASB project
40, Orbita-1, 050043, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan,
E-mail: SMustafin@carececo.org