Job Description

About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action - helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Background
Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, oppression by building secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps has been present in Zimbabwe since 2002 focusing its interventions on a multi sectoral market systems development portfolio mobilizing communities to promote small-scale agriculture and revive local economies. Its current operations focus on helping smallholder farmers increase their incomes and harvests through the power of technology and increasing urban household access to quality, reliable water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Zimbabwe continues to experience recurrent environmental, economic, and social shocks affecting the wellbeing of its communities and undermining development investments. Mercy Corps puts resilience at core of its strategy to contribute to the wellbeing of Zimbabweans by building communities’ capacities and strengthening systems and institutions.

The climate crisis is indeed a pressing global issue that requires urgent action and a comprehensive response. The climate crisis is here, and it is disrupting the way communities around the world live, work, and care for each other. For some, these changes are irrevocable. As a global organization looking to meet not just urgent needs but also facilitate communities’ efforts to make lasting change in their lives, we know the climate crisis is already impacting every aspect of what we do. This is why Mercy Corps has outlined an ambitious Climate Smart Commitment, through our new Pathway to Possibility (P2P) strategy that will ensure our team’s technical approaches and operations are ready for and reflective of the urgency of this crisis.

In line with P2P Mercy Corps Zimbabwe seeks to generate evidence on climate risks and vulnerabilities in different communities through participatory processes and socialize the evidence with key stakeholders to build a common climate adaptation vision and engage key donors and partners. Mercy Corps is operational in five provinces in Zimbabwe namely Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Bulawayo Metropolitan. These are some of the provinces that are most vulnerable to climate related shocks and stresses, particularly floods and droughts. Of particular interest is to map and engage innovative partners in the climate adaptation financing space.

Purpose / Project Description:
In line with Mercy Corps’ global climate-smart commitment, Mercy Corps Zimbabwe will engage in a strategy realization initiative to develop a robust assessment to generate evidence, providing a framework for analyzing vulnerability and capacity to adapt to climate change at the community level. In line with Mercy Corps’ Climate Smart Commitment Mercy Corps has availed resources to undertake a comprehensive community-based climate vulnerability capacity assessment (CVCA) of the rural, urban, and peri-urban communities in Manicaland, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo provinces. The assessment will provide actionable research and learning about how to operationalize and maximize climate smart programming in Zimbabwe and in the Southern African Region through generating robust evidence and sharing widely to influence climate resilience programming. With a focus on market-driven approaches, the assessment will identify areas where implementing partners and donors can make scalable and transformative climate investments. The assessment will be validated with key stakeholders and different communities. The purpose of the assignment is to carry out participatory climate change vulnerability assessments in up to 3 communities, including 1 rural, 1 urban and 1 peri-urban communities.

The goal is to create a bank of evidence for current and future climate vulnerability in the targeted areas and build on this for strategic and evidence-based programming.

The main objectives are:
● To analyze vulnerability to current and future climate variability and adaptive capacity at the community level.
● Combine community knowledge and scientific data to yield greater understanding about local impacts of climate change.
● Assessing possible adaptation options such as implementing resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable water management, protecting
ecosystems, and enhancing disaster preparedness.

Duties and Responsibilities

Consultant Activities:
The Consultant will lead on the Climate Vulnerability Capacity Analysis methodology, assessment design, survey design, data analysis and report writing.
Climate Vulnerability Capacity Analysis
• Conduct a desk review including but not limited to: other vulnerability assessments in the given areas or sectors, including national reports submitted to the UNFCCC; project documents for climate adaptation projects conducted in the given areas; sources of climate data, including downscaled, used for other reports; hazard maps; disaster risk reports; (if applicable) sector specific reports of historical records from past climatic events (e.g., costs of recovery post flood event).
• Stakeholder mapping and consultation (or workshop): lead on mapping, interview/workshop protocols and summary write-up.
• Design approach to community-based approach as a PRA related approach. These can be discussed with the MC team and may include: HH surveys, community asset mapping and vulnerability, seasonal calendars; and vulnerability matrices.
• Define methodology for additional analyses such as: impact modeling, historical trend analysis, economic impact analysis - the scope of this to be decided in discussion with the MC team.
• All data collection and analysis tool development
Dissemination workshops
• MCZ team
• Mat South
• Bulawayo
• Manicaland

Documentation of outputs:
The following outputs are expected as part of this consultancy:
1. Main report
Summary of findings from the full CVCA process, including:
• Vulnerability index to prioritize locations or systems based on magnitude of vulnerability (map or qualitative ranking).
• Profiling of different climate action actors (including key government ministries and departments, donors, climate finance actors, local partners, and private actors).
2. Profiling to help demonstrate relative differences among components of vulnerability.
3. Discussion on uncertainties:
• Development of a list of possible adaptation options.
Consultant Deliverables:
The Consultant will:
1. Present an inception report to the technical team: including desk review and detailed methodology for data collection and data analysis.
2. Draft outline of main report to be reviewed and agreed upon with Mercy Corps team.
3. Draft of main report for review.
4. Second draft of main report for review and finalization.
5. Presentation of initial findings.
6. Validation report demonstrating key learning.
7. Submission of a list of different climate action actors (including key government ministries and departments, donors, climate finance actors, local partners and private actors).
8. Submission of all documents, including datasets used and final reports. (this should include presentation slides and a one pager summarizing the final document).
9. Presentation of the findings to MC team, different provincial and district stakeholders and the selected community.

Timeframe / Schedule:
The expected start date is 1 March 2024. This assignment will be spread over a period of not more than 3 months from the date of the contract and final deliverable should be received by 31 May 2024.

Qualifications and Experience

Required Experience & Skills:
1. 10+ years of experience in progressive climate change work.
2. Advanced degree in environmental science, climate science, sustainable development, environmental engineering, or a related field. PhD preferred.
3. Familiarity with global national and international climate change policies, agreements and regulations is a requirement. Familiarity and/or direct experience with Zimbabwe’s climate change policies, agreements, and regulations such as the Zimbabwe National Policy and Response Strategy on Climate Change and the Zimbabwe Climate National Adaptation Plan is highly desired.
4. Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively convey complex climate change concepts to a diverse audience, including policymakers, businesses, and the general public.
5. Ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, NGOs, community leaders, and industry representatives.
6. Project management experience – including the ability to demonstrate previous successes in leading and implementing major climate landscape assessments and/or the development of policies and frameworks related to climate change policy.
7. Strong research skills, including the ability to conduct thorough and comprehensive research on climate smart programming.

How to Apply

How to Apply
Mercy Corps is committed and accountable to the community members we work with and the beneficiaries we serve. As part of this commitment, Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to violations of the Code of Conduct (Sexual Abuse of Beneficiaries and Community Members (PSEA) Policy, Anti-Trafficking Policy, Child Safeguarding Policy, Mercy Corps Ethics Complaint and Whistle-blower Policy, Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace Policy, Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy and Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy).
Applicants are required to download and sign the MC Candidate Declaration Form (copy and paste this link to your web browser). https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RmlrQfcgAa7S5d5WkcUUHoKTNXXOPD74/edit and submit example outputs of your related research work from at least 3 pieces of relevant work. CV and Cover letter to Mercy Corps [email protected] by COB 28 February 2024. Please note that CV and Cover should be on one document.

Applications should be clearly marked with the position applied for in the email subject line.
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity organization and encourages both female and male candidates to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis and shortlisting will proceed as applications are received.