The services of the consultant will bring a number of results, namely assessment of key sectors in Guyana to support decision-making regarding strategic investments for realising national sustainable development objectives, as articulated in the GSDS. This assessment will also serve as an input into other parallel PAGE activities in Guyana, namely the measurement of Guyana’s progress in its transition to an inclusive green economy and a green expenditure review for the country.
Remote
The consultancy contract will start on 15 October 2020 and expire on 30 April 2021. If the final deliverable under this contract is produced before 30 April 2021, the contract will be terminated sooner.
The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) is a joint initiative of five UN Agencies: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). PAGE responds to paragraph 66 of the Rio+20 outcome document "The Future We Want", which calls upon the UN system to support countries interested in pursuing green economy policies. The partnership supports nations and regions in reframing economic policies and practices around sustainability to advance the 2030 Agenda, to foster economic growth, create income and jobs, reduce poverty and inequality, and strengthen the ecological foundations of their economies.
PAGE began its work in Guyana in 2017 following the Government’s commitment to develop and implement the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 (GSDS) – its twenty-year national development policy. Through the Strategy, the Government is pursuing green economic and social growth, with core objectives focused on diversifying the economy, reducing reliance on traditional sectors and generating sustainable income and investment opportunities in high value-added and growth sectors, while promoting social equity and strengthening the economy’s ecological foundations. Since the completion of the GSDS, the country began to face social and political challenges, not least being the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the social and economic costs inflicted by the pandemic both on Guyana and globally, the GSDS can plan an important role in guiding the country’s long-term sustainable economic recovery. Within this context, there’s a demand for additional support from PAGE to undertake additional multisectoral modelling.
Previously, PAGE-supported green economy modelling provided valuable inputs regarding potential medium-to long-term impacts of green economy policies in a number of key sectors. These findings served as an input for informing the GSDS. Subsequent to the completion of the GSDS, PAGE received a request from the Ministry of Finance to support new inclusive green economy modelling that would build on the previous exercise. In contrast to the initial modelling work, which analysed the implications of investing in particular sectors for delivering the GSDS, this next phase of modelling should delve into questions regarding the amounts of investment, the type, locations, duration, sources, sectors and location of beneficiaries required to deliver GSDS goals and targets. In order to answer these questions, the second modelling phase will look at the required investments through the lens of infrastructure broadly, covering economic infrastructure (e.g. energy, transport), but linking priorities in education, health system, etc., and ecological infrastructure (forests, wetlands, etc.). This approach would ensure integration across the sectors
To create a technical modelling study, UNEP requires support from a consultant with expertise in this area. The UNEP, Economy Division, Resources and Markets Branch currently does not have the relevant expertise in house, to carry out the required tasks.
Specific tasks and responsibilities
The consultant will carry out the following tasks:
• Conduct scoping activities (e.g. desk research, remote consultations and/or conditions permit, a field mission). These activities will provide an opportunity for the consultant to consult stakeholders regarding the sectors to be analysed; obtain data; and provide guidance to national stakeholders to define the set of data, key indicators, and other information to be collected for the creation or updates of the models in Guyana;
• Create and customize inclusive green economy sectoral models for the simulation of green economy investment scenarios. The selection and number of sectors will be finalized based on data availability from key Government of Guyana ministries such as the Ministry of Finance;
• Conduct integrated modelling of the selected sectors;
• Participate in a stakeholder workshop (virtual or in-person, depending on post-covid-19 measures) to present initial findings from the modelling and solicit feedback in order to upgrade the initial assessment;
• Participate in a stakeholder workshop (virtual or in-person, depending on covid-19 measures) to present the final results of the modelling;
• Finalise the assessment;
• Draft a final technical report on the assessment
Skills: • Verifiable knowledge of green economy modelling approaches
• Established track record in implementing policy monitoring frameworks
• Proven capacity for conceptual, analytical, and critical thinking.
• Demonstrable communication skills, both oral and written, including the ability to write clearly and concisely on technical, socio-economic, and environmental topics.
• Proven ability to analyze and communicate complex information at a simpler level to a wide audience.
• Demonstrated experience in undertaking research and producing economic policy analysis in Guyana and/or developing countries would be highly desirable.
• Proven organization skills, problem-solving, teamwork and coordination skills.
• Ability to establish an effective working relationship with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Commitment to respect the values advocated by the United Nations.
Academic Qualifications: • A university Masters’ degree in a relevant field: e.g. economics, agroeconomics, environmental economics, public policy, natural resource management, development, environment.
Experience: • At least 5 years of experience in conducting green economy modelling, research, data analysis; and writing reports with practical recommendations in green economy related areas, including economic reports, briefings and research papers.
Language: • English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.