DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTTHE GOVERNMENT OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Job Title Consultant/Firm for the Development of Climate Resilient Medium-Term Development Strategy, Climate Change Adaptation Plan & Strategic Impact Assessment for Barbuda

Contracting Authority

Department of Environment, Ministry with responsible the Environment, Antigua and Barbuda (‘DOE’)

Date of Issue Monday 2nd March 2020

Extended Deadline Friday 10th April 2020, 11:59 PM (Antigua Time)

To Apply Individual consultants or firms are invited to apply for this opportunity. Please email the Procurement Officer at DOE@ab.gov.ag and copied to antiguaenvironmentdivision@gmail.com and michai.robertson@ab.gov.ag the following:

Request for Consultancy Services

Cover letter Curriculum Vitae Contact information for three (3) references Technical Proposal inclusive of a Proposed Budget

Please use email subject line: “Application for the Barbuda Adaptation Plan Consultant”

Equal Employment Opportunity

The DOE provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. The DOE also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programmes.

Late Bids Late Bids will not be accepted.

Duration Eight (8) months, Starting the 1st May 2020. The consultancy can be home-based, with outputs executed in Barbuda, namely stakeholder consultations and community validation exercise(s)

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I. INTRODUCTION

The Department of Environment of Antigua and Barbuda (‘DOE’) falls under the Ministry with responsibility for the Environment and is responsible for providing technical advice on the environment to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda (‘GOAB’). The DOE’s work is designed to protect and enhance the country’s environment and address national, regional and global environmental challenges. The DOE’s project portfolios cover four (4) main areas:

Climate Change Programme (including adaptation, mitigation and capacity building) Biodiversity Programme Pollution Programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Data Management Programme

In 2017, DOE was accredited as a direct access entity to Green Climate Fund (‘GCF’) a multilateral climate change fund for developing country. Since then, the DOE has since received financial support from the GCF’s Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme for the following National Adaptation Planning project:

USD 3 million for ‘National Adaptation Planning in Antigua and Barbuda’ (effective from 17th

April 2018); and

The Delivery Partner1 (‘DP’) and the Executing Entity2 (‘EE’) for this project is the DOE. The duration of this project is three (3) years.

The DOE has consequently created a National Adaptation Planning Sub-Programme within its National GCF Readiness Programme given the number of projects focusing on adaptation planning. This National GCF Readiness Programme also has the ‘Country Programming & Strengthening and Access to Finance’ sub-Programme that focuses on all other types of Readiness Support which enhances country ownership and access to the GCF.

The overarching objective of this consultancy is to develop an integrated suite of climate compatible development (‘CCD’) plans for the island of Barbuda, in accordance with the Government’s Guidelines for Sectoral Adaptation Planning as well as the DOE’s policy directions. The suite of CCD plans will comprise of:

Climate Resilient Medium-Term Development Strategy (ten [10] years) Climate Change Adaptation Plan (ten [10] years); and Corresponding Strategic Impact Assessment (‘SIA’).

This is a fixed price consultancy. Barbuda Council will, however, provide additional support towards activities related to the consultancy taking place in Barbuda including:

On-island Accommodation (on Barbuda)

1 A Delivery Partner is an entity that is responsible for the Readiness project’s proposal development, supervision, fiduciary

management, progress reporting, and project completion and evaluation.2

An Executing Entity is an entity that GCF proceeds are channelled for the purposes of the Readiness project as well as one that executes, carries out, implements or reports on the progress the Readiness project.

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On-island transportation (on Barbuda) Use of local venues, office space. where required.

The Consultant/Firm is expected to provide a proposed budget to support activities related to the consultancy.

II. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

NATIONAL ADAPTATION PLANNING IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

This main objective of this project is to develop a National Adaptation Plan (‘NAP’) in order to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change in Antigua & Barbuda. This project is also in direct support of the Paris Agreement 2015 adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The central aim of this Agreement is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change as well as the ability of countries to deal with its negative impacts.

This NAP is intended to cover the finance, infrastructure and housing, and protected areas sectors. The four (4) outcomes for this project are:

Outcome 1: Adaptation baselines are established through data collection, compilation, and comprehensive climate change risk mapping

Outcome 2: Stakeholders are engaged in consultative adaptation planning process

Outcome 3: Vulnerability Risk Assessment and Adaptation Plans are developed for the Public Sector and Private Sectors using a learning by doing capacity building approach

Outcome 4: Sustainable financing and workforce training strategies are developed to facilitate NAP implementation in the Public, NGO, and Private Sector

BARBUDA’S CLIMATE RESILIENT MEDIUM-TERM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, ADAPTATION PLAN & STRATEGIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Under Outcome 3 of this Project, Activity 3.3.1 seeks to develop detailed local level Vulnerability Risk Assessments and Adaptation Plans based on the climate regulations, policy and existing baseline and in accordance with the Government’s Guidelines for Sectoral Adaptation Planning (See Figure 1 for Sectoral Adaptation Planning Process).

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Figure 1: Sectoral Adaptation Planning Process

Furthermore, Activity 3.4.1 requires that site specific Strategic Impact Assessment ('SIA') on the Adaptation Plans coming out of Activity 3.3.1. It should be noted that the SIA will enable the Government and private sector interests to estimate the trade-offs of short-term investments versus long-term savings, and the cost implications of: the infrastructure remaining in its current location (e.g. grandfathered into the NAP/do nothing), relocation, changing land use designation to prevent future development, or other options as may be identified.

In order to adequately integrate Barbuda’s development priority areas with its adaptation needs with a local adaptation plan, the development of a Climate Resilient Medium-Term Development Strategy is first needed. This strategy aims to bring together all available information on current financial activities of the Barbuda Council, along with information on the island’s priority areas for economic viability, as to advance detailed findings, analysis, and recommendations that provide a strategy for Barbuda to advance economic and climate resilient development and sustainability (See Figure 2 for an Outline of the Relationship Between the Climate Resilient Medium-Term Development Strategy, Adaptation Plan & Strategic Impact Assessment For Barbuda).

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Figure 2: Outline of the Relationship Between the Climate Resilient Medium-Term Development Strategy, Adaptation Plan & Strategic Impact Assessment for Barbuda

This strategy will consider the following:

Existing legal framework outlining the functions and powers of the Barbuda Council, particularly as they relate to borrowing powers, acquisition of lands, revenues and expenditures;

Historical socio-economic traditions, including the allocation, distribution and use of land in priority areas;

Strengthened regulatory mechanisms for the Barbuda Council to advance its governance across key environmental, economic and social sectors;

Opportunities to have sustainable financing options that may include taxation and revenue inputs, while providing stabilization of the macroeconomic framework;

Opportunities for engagement with Barbuda’s diaspora population; Proposed targeted interventions within priority areas, which include:

o Advancing an economically viable Fisheries sectoro Advancing an economically viable Low-Density Tourism and Eco-Tourism sector o Advancing an economically viable Agriculture sector, promoting the sector as a

mainstay economic contributoro Identifying sustainable, environmentally responsive, revenue generating, communal

land use opportunities including an analysis of projected land use distribution over the medium term, based on current trends

o Restructured and upgraded Utilities sectoro Roads and Infrastructure improvements and developments, including opportunities

for ongoing maintenance and restoration of historical building and siteso Improved standards and capacity in health, education and social services, including

strategic interventions for poverty and vulnerability reduction through effective policy creation, and services provision

o Identification of opportunities for youth empowerment and women’s empowerment

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o Identification of opportunities indigenous Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises empowerment, including support mechanisms

o Adaptation plans developed and known for all of the above sectors; Current political, social, economic and environmental issues affecting Caribbean Small

Island Developing States (SIDS), including, but not limited to: rebuilding following catastrophic environmental events; international trade liberalisation agreements and preferential price agreements; two-island state economies; international human rights frameworks, and; related regional and international agreements and instruments.

The strategy is expected to:

Provide a fulsome account of the current factors affecting/impacting Barbuda’s economic development, including political and socio-cultural contributing factors;

Review and analyze the Barbuda Council’s current revenue and expenditures, economic development strategies, and underlying areas of priority, recommending changes to improve and advance overall economic outputs;

Reflect economic growth opportunities identified by the Barbuda Council and the Barbudan community;

Consider and support Barbuda’s political and socio-cultural context in its articulation of proposed strategies and interventions; and

Contribute to the establishment of related systems and structures to advance recommendations proposed therein.

This consultancy will also be done in consultation with the Barbuda Council in line with its powers and functions to oversee critical areas of Barbuda’s economy.

III. KEY TASKS

The Consultant/Firm has the following key tasks:

Desk review of relevant legislation, policies, internal documents and records, programmes and plans related to the Barbuda Council, and its functions, powers, and activities to advancing economic development as well as other relevant documents necessary for the CCD plans and the National Medium-Term Development Strategy;

Engagement with all relevant stakeholders including the Barbuda Council, micro, small, and medium enterprises in Barbuda, community members and groups, and other government, non-government and development partners critical to the effective delivery of the consultancy;

Planning and executing all island-based consultations necessary for this purpose, including key government staff, civil society organizations, and registered and non-registered business owners/operators, bilateral and multilaterals. One (1) set of consultations at the beginning of the consultancy and another set of consultations after drafting the CCD plans. As necessary, the Consultant/Firm may undertake focus group discussions with identified target groups including but not limited to: Barbuda Council employees, private sector employees/employers, vulnerable populations, and political party executives;

Reporting on the aforementioned consultations;

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Development of the Climate Resilient Medium-Term Development Strategy for Barbuda in line with this TOR;

Development of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Barbuda in accordance with the Government’s Guidelines in Sectoral Adaptation Planning;

Development of the Strategic Impact Assessment of the Climate Resilient Medium-Term Development Strategy and Climate Change Adaptation Plan

IV. INDICATIVE DELIVERABLES

The Consultant is expected to produce, inter alia, the following stated below in line with the requirements within this TOR:

DELIVERABLE DEADLINEGENERAL

Work Plan in a technical inception report outlining the proposed approach, milestones identification and outputs

No later than two (2) weeks after commencing role

Monthly Progress Reports to the Project Manager and Immediate Supervisor via email and SmartSheet

End of every month

Final Report to the Project Manager and Immediate Supervisor via email and SmartSheet

Fifteen (15) working days of completing the specified scope of work

PROJECT SPECIFIC Initial Consultation Report July 2020Climate Resilient Medium-Term Development Strategy

August 2020

Climate Change Adaptation Plan September 2020Strategic Impact Assessment October 2020Final Consultation Report December 2020

V. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The implementation of this activity will be monitored by the Barbuda Council’s technical team. The Consultant/Firm will participate in a briefing session on the nature, scope and methodology at the start of the consultancy. All deliverables must be reviewed and accepted by the Barbuda Council and the DOE before any disbursements.

The Consultant/Firm will be contracted to undertake the key tasks outlined in Section III (Key Tasks) and ensure the finalization of the deliverables outlined in Section IV (Indicative Deliverables) by the specified deadlines and to the Barbuda Council and DOE’s satisfaction.

The Consultant/Firm will work under the direct supervision of the Barbuda Council, and/or a person appointed by the Barbuda Council among its technical team.

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Within fifteen (15) working days of completing the specified scope of work, the consultant will prepare and submit to the DOE, a Final Report.

The Final Report should be submitted electronically via SmartSheet and email to the DOE.

VI. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Must have at least five (5) or more years working in economic policy, and social and economic development in the Caribbean;

Hold post-graduate qualification in Economics, Political Science, Social and/or related Sciences; Development Studies, or equivalent qualification; An undergraduate university degree with a relevant combination of professional training, certification and/or experience in climate change adaptation may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience drafting economic policies and action plans within a Caribbean context is desirable;

Experience in conducting research in Barbuda or other Small island states (preferred, not required);

Relevant knowledge on climate change and the economics of climate change Excellent verbal, writing and analytical skills; Excellent facilitation, stakeholder engagement, community engagement, and presentation

skills; Must be proficient in English; Knowledge of legislative framework governing role of Barbuda Council is considered an

asset; Individual Consultants, Consultancy Firms, and Consortiums are invited to apply.

VII. EVALUATION CRITERIA

The evaluation criteria and weightings that will be applied to this TOR are as follows:

Category Description Weighting

1 Qualifications of consultant 302 Capability to carry out tasks and adherence to TOR

specifications: Clear understanding of required deliverables

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3 Experience of consultant in development planning 304 Experience of consultant in climate change

adaptation and/or familiarity United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process

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TOTAL 100

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ANNEX I

CONTEXT FOR DEVELOPING THE SUITE OF CLIMATE COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR BARBUDA

INTRODUCTION

With its powers and functions to oversee critical areas of Barbuda’s economy, the Barbuda Council is desirous of the development of a comprehensive suite of climate compatible development plans which provide a thorough assessment of the island’s current economic, social and environmental situation through a climate change adaptation lens, while envisioning the way forward to adapt to these challenges, while advancing sustainable outcomes.

The suite of climate compatible development plans will be the first of its kind developed by the Barbuda Council, representing a paradigm shift towards the island’s formation of truly sustainable self-determining outputs, including those which concretely articulate a strategy for building development that is holistic and reflective of the will, interests, and needs of the Barbudan community while taking into consideration the negative impacts of climate change. While cognisant of current limitations, and recognising the urgency to envision opportunities for viable economic growth, the Barbuda Council seeks the development of a medium term plan that is feasible, realistic, and forward-thinking, while addressing persisting and prevailing challenges to the island’s economy from climate change. With its critical function to support health care and social services, the climate resilient medium-term development plan will support the goals and interests of the Council to restore and empower the population, while building opportunities for young people to contribute to the island’s holistic and climate resilient development.

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PROFILE

Population, approximately 1200 (in 2011 at last Census, 1625) Historically low indigent population (CPA 2007); collaborative and cooperative population

sustained by fisheries and agricultural outputs Low density tourism historically, push towards new and innovative eco-friendly tourism as

significant economic contributor Two-island state with Antigua Barbuda Council governing affairs as outlined in legislation, Local Government Act (1976)

and Constitution Order (1981); elections held every two years; Chair; various departments for key and priority sectors of Council

Population concentrated in Codrington Village

LAND SYSTEM

Historical communal land tenure system, more than 300 years Central government repealed 2007 legislation abolishing system; established new system

with central government control Significant opposition in Barbuda to change in land system; matter currently before the

Courts

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Large scale hotel developments approved by central government accounting for recent allocation of over 1000 acres of land towards FDI initiatives

POLITICAL CHALLENGES

Some support from previous administrations towards Barbuda governing its own affairs, tumultuous relationship with current central government administration

Historical, longstanding calls for self-determination in light of political challenges between two-islands

Failure to be given full transfer payments from central government on monthly basis; result an inability to meet recurring expenditures

CLIMATE CHANGE RELATED CHALLENGES: HURRICANE IRMA

Significant infrastructural damage, environmental degradation Full evacuation of population, inability to immediately reinvigorate economy; significant

and sustained loss to infrastructure due to evacuation Delayed return of population to island; families stabilising in Antigua; homeless population

in shelter environments with limited resources to repair and/or rebuild homes Strong reliance on donor partners, significant participation of Barbuda Council in seeking

supports to restore core infrastructure, including utilities, while meeting regular salaries and payments

Central government failure to disclose donations received; promised support to island not delivered (over 2 years after hurricane), including rebuilding of hospital and other essential services

EMPLOYMENT AND SERVICES, DIASPORA

Barbuda Council significant employer of population; weeks delay in payment of salaries inherited from previous administration and also current

“Brain drain” of Barbudans to UK, US, Canada and Antigua customary over decades, outlook of limited economic opportunities influencing growth of significant diaspora population

Longstanding use of sand mining as economic driver; no longer considered environmentally sustainable; expectation to completely phase out and cease operations in the next year

Hotels historical employment for Barbudans, seasonal employment; employers subject to national labour standards

Micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs), largely indigenously owned/operated, in entertainment, goods and services

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