TERMS OF REFERENCE CONSULTANCY: DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGIONAL GREEN GROWTH STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

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1 TERMS OF REFERENCE CONSULTANCY: DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGIONAL GREEN GROWTH STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Summary CONSULTANCY TITLE : PREPARATION OF THE REGIONAL GREEN GROWTH STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTION : SADC SECRETARIAT CONTACT ADDRESS : THE DIRECTOR DIRECTORATE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, SADC SECRETARIAT, PRIVATE BAG 0095, GABORONE, BOTSWANA. (ATTENTION: MR. ALEX M. BANDA at abanda@sadc.int or Mr. SAMSON MULONGA at smulonga@sadc.int) SUBMISSION DEADLINE : 30 th JULY COMMENCEMENT DATE : 1 st SEPTEMBER 2013 DURATION : 3 WORKING MONTHS OR TWELVE WEEKS, SPREAD OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS. EVALUATION CRITERIA : SADC 1

2 RELEASE DATE : 30 th JUNE The SADC Secretariat with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) would like to develop a Regional Green Growth Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Development. The Secretariat is therefore inviting technical proposals for the preparation of this Strategy and Action Plan. The Technical Proposal should include an understanding of the terms of reference, the methodology, an organized work plan and timeframe for deliverables and names and CVs of proposed personnel. Proposals may be hand delivered, couriered or posted to the above address not later than 30th July, The SADC Secretariat is not bound to accept the lowest or any bidder. 2

3 1. Background The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 was a landmark event marking international commitment to provide public and political support to address environment and development issues in a holistic and integrated manner, for the attainment of sustainable development. This Conference otherwise known as the Rio Summit, at which Agenda 21 was adopted, sought to build on the momentum engendered by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (UNCHE), which took place in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972, and which was the first global forum that sought to address the interlinked areas of environment and development. A five-year review conducted in 1997 revealed that little progress had been made in implementing Agenda 21. The desired momentum for accelerated implementation and a political declaration affirming a renewed commitment were not generated. In view of this, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was convened in Johannesburg, South Africa, in The goal of WSSD was to conduct a further (10- year) review of the implementation of the outcomes of UNCED, particularly Agenda 21, and to reinvigorate global commitment to sustainable development. The main outcomes of UNCED were the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development; and Agenda 21, a global plan of action that was adopted to ensure sustainable development through integration of environment and development issues. The outcomes of WSSD on the other hand included the Political Declaration; the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI); and Type II partnerships initiatives. The Political Declaration reaffirms global commitment to the objectives of sustainable development. The Plan of Implementation contains targets and timetables to engender actions on a wide range of issues, most of which converge with and reinforce the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). On 11 December 2009, the Second Committee of the General Assembly adopted a resolution to organize the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) at the highest possible level. The conference took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 13 th to 22 nd June The objectives of the Conference were: 1. To secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development; 2. To assess progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development: 3. To address new and emerging challenges. The Conference focused on two main themes which included: 1. A green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and 2. The institutional framework for sustainable development. 3

4 The outcome of the Conference is a document entitled the future we want that sets the global agenda for a sustainable future; a future that brings hope towards reduction of poverty and promotion of sustainable and equitable global growth. In preparation for this conference, the SADC region undertook a review of its progress towards attainment of sustainable development goals and objectives. The review identified a number of gaps and weakness but also made tangible recommendations for the enhancement of sustainable development in the region. The global debate has consolidated these recommendations into a set of priority areas and interventions that need to be undertake to ensure sustainable and equitable global growth as outline in the future we want As a response to these findings, and benchmarking on the outcomes of Rio+20, the SADC intends to develop a Regional Green Growth Strategy and Action Plan for sustainable Development that will facilitate a balanced and accelerated attainment of the agreed goals anchoring on the three pillars of sustainable development namely environmental sustainability, economic wellbeing and socio equity. 2. Justification for a Strategy and Action Plan In preparation for the Rio Conference, the Southern African Region developed a review detailing progress made towards attainment of sustainable development. The report indicates that the region has a number of good examples that demonstrate commitment to sustainable development. However, the impact of these efforts is not enough to have net poverty reduction. The report also notes that the challenges that were highlighted in the Johannesburg Plan of Action (JOPI) ten years ago still remain relevant today as they were then after ten years. The report identifies a number of factors, such as the multiplicity of development programmes, institutional weaknesses and lack of capacity. It highlights constraints to implementation which include, but are not limited to financial, technological and human resources. It further notes that the over-reliance of the sub-region and individual countries on donor funds makes predictable and long-term implementation difficult. The review report further discusses a number of gaps and shortfalls that limited the region in its efforts to attain the sustainable development goals. In broad terms, the report highlights that while the concept of sustainable development has been fully embraced as expressed in various policy documents at regional and national levels, the implementation of these policies for the full benefit of all the people remains a challenge for a number of reasons, such as financial constraints, institutional misalignment, and inadequate capacity. It also identifies new and emerging challenges that have aggravated this state of affairs. These among others include the global food crisis, the high oil prices and the global economic crisis which are constraining efforts towards sustainable development. Other greatest global challenges include poverty, HIV/AIDS, gender imbalance, failure to create opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and trade and fighting marginalization in a globalised world. 4

5 Poor enforcement of policies and regulations has also been identified as a bottleneck. While countries and the sub-region have many policy frameworks, the implementation of these frameworks remains a big challenge due to a variety of national, sub-regional, and global constraints. Further institutional inability to respond to the global challenges has contributed significantly to these constraints. These inabilities include poor coordination, inadequate capacity and skills to implement programmes. In addition, even though on paper and policy the integration of the 3 pillars of sustainable development into day to day practice are well understood, demonstrating this in practice is overshadowed by the need to provide basic services and livelihoods to the poor. This in itself compromises sustainability as it over-exploits the natural resource base. Finally, the report makes a number of recommendations to enhance sustainable growth. Among such recommendations is the need to fully integrate the green economy and green growth concepts. It is anticipated that the green economy will help to overhaul economies in a way that synergizes economic growth and environmental protection. Building a green economy will facilitate investments in resource savings as well as sustainable management of natural capital that will drive growth. It has been proven that economies which are in closer alignment with sustainable development objectives provides opportunities for using financial resources better to meet development needs and reducing the vulnerability of socioeconomic systems to environmental change and resource constraints. Implementation of these outcomes and recommendations will require concerted and sustained efforts at national level but also collaborative regional efforts. This can only be achieved through well packaged set of regional actions that are backed up by rigorous and resolute political will at the regional and national levels complemented by sustained and predictable financial resources and supported by technology and skills transfer and capacity building at the international level. These regional actions should fully integrate the green economy and green growth concepts. Further the SADC region has developed a number of strategies, protocols, policies and programmes. These among other include the Infrastructure Development Masterplan, the SADC Industrialization Policy, the draft Regional Agriculture policy and the various protocols. The Strategy should outline how implementation of these strategies and policies can fully harness the green economy concepts in order to ensure resource and natural capital savings that will enable the region meet its development needs while reducing the socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities and resource constraints. At the end of October 2013, SADC Secretariat with the support from GIZ and the World Bank will host a practitioners workshop at the Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The workshop aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and promote the uptake of Green Growth approaches and practices. One objective of the workshop is to develop together with relevant stakeholders from government, civil society and private sector of the SADC Member States the elements and priorities of a Green Growth Strategy. Specifically the Green Growth Strategy and Action Plan will aim to: 5

6 outline processes for the region and national entities to adopt that will facilitate development of a coordinated set of participatory and continuously improving processes of analysis, debate, capacity-strengthening, planning and investment, which seeks to integrate the short and long term economic, social and environmental objectives to enhance the green economy and promote sustained growth; promote policies and investments towards a range of green sectors such as clean technologies and industries, renewable energies, water services, clean transport, waste management and green building with a view to address poverty; contribute towards a people-centred socio-economic development of the region by enhancing integration of the regions environmental and other natural assets into national economies; reduce social disparities by suggesting an accelerated framework for implementing the millennium development goals and the provisions of the outcomes of Rio+20 while strengthening equal opportunities and cultural identities; provide concrete recommendations to improve governance at the local, national and regional levels that fully integrates the green economy; and provide tools for the analyses of existing policies and programmes to enhance consistency and coherence that will promote sustainable development. 3. Objectives of this consultancy The overall objective of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive Regional Green Growth Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Development for the SADC region, taking into account the priority recommendations identified by the regional review process on sustainable development for the region and the outcomes of Rio+20; the future we want. 3.1 Specific objectives The specific objectives shall be to: (a) (b) (c) carry out a situation analysis on the extent of the adoption and application of the green economy as a tool towards achieving sustainable development in the region; develop a concise and comprehensive well-informed, action-oriented Regional Green Growth Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Development based on the situation analysis report and the discussions and outcomes of the regional workshop on green Economy to take place in Kinshasa October ; and make recommendations on how the green economy can effectively be harnessed to drive the sustainable development agenda of the region. 6

7 4. Description of tasks In order to meet the objectives specified in (III) above, the consultant shall carry out the following tasks: 1. Conduct a thorough and critical review and analysis of the following: (a) Progress in the implementation of sustainable development commitments since Rio, Rio+5 and Rio+10 (WSSD); (b) the region s transition to a Green Economy; (c) The institutional and strategic frameworks necessary for adoption of the green economy and enhancement of sustainable development. (d) New and emerging challenges in the region including gender and youth dimensions; and (e) Various SADC Policies, Protocols, Strategies and master plans. 2. In conducting the review and analysis, the consultant shall: (a) Undertake a desk review and consult with key actors in the region to identify, and acquire the necessary data and information from key sectors; (b) Be guided by Agenda 21 (A21) the Programme for Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (PFIA21), the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI). The Consultant shall also be guided by relevant decisions and resolutions of the African Union (AU) Summit, AMCEN and governing body of SADC. The Consultant shall also consult relevant reports to obtain the necessary data and information to inform all aspects of the Review Report. These include country reports of Member States, sub-regional and regional entities, UN agencies and other international organizations; and (c) review the green economy Initiative. 3. Use both quantitative data (charts, tables and graphs) and qualitative information to prepare the Consultancy Report for the Southern Africa region, which shall contain analytical account of: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) priority sustainable development issues in the Region; progress made, achievements, including best practices, constraints and challenges, lessons learned and provide well-articulated recommendations on the way forward to enhance implementation; the inter-linkages between the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainable development; the institutional and strategic frameworks for sustainable development and recommend ways of enhancing them with a view to make them responsive to the requirements of sustainable development; a transition to a Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication in the region; 7

8 (f) (g) new and emerging challenges for the region; and recommendations 4. Develop a situation analysis report with detailed and workable recommendations on the adoption and utilization of the green economy concepts and practices that promotes green growth in the region; 5. Present the draft report at the practitioners workshop in Kinshasa, in October Based on the situation analysis and the outcomes of the regional practitioners workshop, develop the draft Regional Green Growth Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable development for the Region which shall outline a detailed strategy and a (costed) Action Plan with a clear and concise implementation matrix for greening the regions development agenda. 7. Make recommendations on how the findings of the study can feed into the review of the RISDP. 8. Finalize the Consultancy Report and the Regional Green Growth Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Development on the basis of comments and additional inputs provided by key stakeholders and the regional consultative meeting. 5. Duration of the assignment and timelines The assignment is expected to last 3 working months or twelve weeks, spread over a period of four months. ***table below is tentative to be revised as appropriate Time frame Week 1, 7 days after signature of the contract Week 2-4 after signature of the contract Week 5-6 Week 7 Week 9 Consultant s deliverables Submits an inception note, including the conceptualization, work plan for the assignment and report outline Conducts literature review Consults with key stakeholders in Southern Africa, under the guidance of SADC Secretariat and submission of the inception report Submits the first Green Growth baseline Survey and Consultancy draft reports Present the draft report of the survey at the regional practitioners workshop in Kinshasa (October 28-31, 2013) to technical and policy makers Submits the first draft Regional Green Growth Strategy and Action Plan based on the outcomes of the regional workshop 8

9 Week Week 12 Prepare the final Report and Strategy and Action Plan Provides comments and inputs into the Review Report for Africa 6. Deliverables and other provisions (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) An inception report, including the conceptualization, work plan for the assignment and report outline; A Green Growth baseline report A consultancy report as articulated under objective 2 above; and A Regional Strategy and Action plan for sustainable development as outlined in objective 3 above. 7. Reporting The consultant shall report to, and perform the assigned tasks under the guidance and direct supervision of the Director, Food Agriculture and Natural Resources in the SADC Secretariat. The Director will among other things, facilitate the consultant s contacts with key actors and access to relevant documents. The Director will work in collaboration with all the key SADC Directorates, UNDP, IUCN and other relevant stakeholders across the region. 8. Qualifications (i) Education: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in development studies, economics, sustainable development, environmental sciences, social sciences or related fields. (ii) Experience: A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in a sustainable development- related field in the context of Southern or Sub-Saharan Africa. He/she must have a good understanding of the sustainable development agenda and challenges in the SADC sub-region, as well as a good publication record, including in the field of sustainable development. (iii) Languages: He/she must be fluent in English and have good working knowledge of English. He/she must possess excellent written and oral communication skills. (iv) Other Skills: Computer skills for compilation, analysis and dissemination of statistical data are is required. Proficiency in database development and management and information management and technology is an advantage. He/she must have good networking skills and proven ability to speak in public. 9 Remuneration 9

10 The consultant shall be paid a maximum of US$ 30,000 (Thirty thousand Dollars), for the entire duration of the assignment in accordance with the following payment schedule: (i). (ii). (iii). (iv). Fifteen per cent upon signing of the contract and submission and acceptance by SADC of the assignment inception note; Twenty-five per cent upon submission and acceptance by SADC of the final draft report and other outputs; Twenty-five per cent upon presentation of the draft report at the sub-regional consultation meeting; Thirty-five per cent upon finalization and submission of all outputs chapter and its acceptance by SADC. The payment shall cover the consultant s fee and costs, excluding his/her travel expenses to conduct consultations and to attend the sub-regional consultative meeting. 10

11 Annexes 1. Agenda 21, 2. The Programme for Further Implementation of Agenda The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation 4. Second Issue of the Sustainable Development Report on Africa (SDRA)- Five-Year Review of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Outcomes 5. Relevant decisions and resolutions of the African Union (AU) Summit and governing body of SADC 6. The Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP); 7. The Regional Infrastructure Development Master plan 8. The SADC Region Industrialization Policy 9. Review Report on Progress towards Sustainable Development in Southern Africa 10. Review Report on Progress towards Sustainable Development in Africa 11. Review of Regional Mechanisms for Managing Shared Environmental Resources in Africa-Southern African Development Community 12. The African Consensus Statement for Rio The African report on the New and emerging challenges in the sub-region; 14. Outcome of the Conference The future we want 15. The SADC policy and Strategy for Environment and Sustainable Development 16. The Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 17. The SADC Policy and Strategy for Environment and Sustainable Development 18. SADC Protocols on Natural Resources, Shared Water Courses, Gender, Health, Education etc 19. Sustainable Development indicator Framework for Africa 20. The African Ministerial position paper on the Green Economy 11