This ToR is specifically within the scope of the project entitled “Enhancing climate resilience in Thailand through effective water management and sustainable agriculture”, which is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in the total of USD 17.5 million for 5 year duration (Funded Activity: FP170). UNDP is an Accredited Entity accountable to the GCF for the implementation of the project.  The Royal Irrigation Department (RID), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative, is the project Implementing Partner, with the King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammearbeit (GIZ) Gmbh are the two Responsible Parties.

Thailand is one of the 16 countries identified globally as being in the ‘extreme risk’ category of those most vulnerable to future climate change impacts over the next 30 years.  Severe drought and flood events are likely to be experienced increasingly in the near and longer-term future as a result of the combined effects of a more vigorous hydrological cycle and enhanced surface drying. Thailand’s agricultural sector, in particular, will be impacted by changing precipitation patterns with increasingly common extreme rain events and floods, as well as more extensive drought periods, which particularly affect poor households. With climate extremes expected to increase, climate-informed water management and climate-resilient water infrastructure will be critical in order to prepare for and respond to floods and droughts, which are the key priorities in Thailand’s National Adaptation Plan 2018.  Given the cost of upgrading existing water infrastructure across the country, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) is seeking to complement its grey infrastructure with ecosystems-based adaptation measures (EbA), an integrated solution which brings together water management and agriculture.

The project addresses the core problem of climate-induced droughts and floods threatening agriculture livelihoods and infrastructure in the Yom and Nan river basin (Phitsanulok, Sukhothai and Uttaradit provinces). Specifically, it seeks to:  a) support climate informed water management, planning and investment, and b) support vulnerable farmers in reducing volatility to changing climatic conditions, enhancing climate-informed and integrated planning as well as reduce disruption to smallholder farmers.

The objective will be achieved through generation of three complementary outputs:

Output 1:  Enhance climate and risk informed planning in the water and agricultural sectors through improved climate information and cross sectoral coordination

Output2:  Improve water management through strengthened infrastructure complemented by EbA measures, for greater resilience to climate change impacts

Output 3:  Reduce volatility of agriculture livelihoods in drought and flood prone areas through strengthened extension support and local planning, investment in on-farm adaptation measures and greater access to finance and markets.

Scope of Work 

Under the direct supervision of the Integrated Team Leader of UNDP and technical consultations and guidance of the UNDP Technical Support Team, the Technical Project Specialist  is responsible for, jointly with the Project Manager from Project Management Unit (PMU), the implementation and project management of the project. In so doing, the Technical Project Specialist is expected to provide technical guidance and direct contribution, based on  national and/or international best practices, to the implementation of the project and, if needed, to train the project technical team (PMU, RID, UNDP) on key issues. While the Technical Project Specialist will be based in Bangkok, he/she is expected to travel to and spend time in the 3 target provinces.

Ensure effective project management in coordination with PMU and RID

• Strongly support PMU in project implementation and management under the overall guidance of the RID
• In coordination with UNDP project and programme team, PMU and RID, provide strategic inputs to technical, financial and managerial aspects of the project to ensure that activities are on track in accordance with the Project Document, as well as provide technical and advisory support on the following elements, among others:
  • Annual work planning and budgeting
  • Procurement of goods and services
  • Budget and expenditure analysis
  • Contractual management
  • Periodical progress reporting
  • Monitoring of all the project risks and mitigation measures
  • Coordinating evaluations and auditings

Technical  expertise and oversight 

• Provide technical inputs across all project activities; control and coordinate all technical inputs and their delivery in a timely manner in close collaboration with the Project Manager (PM); provision of guidance and coordination of all technical inputs by the project consultants/technical experts
• Serve as the chief technical advisor on adaptation solutions outlined in the project document and any other technical issues needed, including developing and integrating technical systems, standards, guidelines and procedures for government officials
• In close collaboration with PMU, RID and UNDP CO supervise and provide guidance to the timely implementation of project ESMP

Policy advice and capacity building

• In close colaboration with RID, PMU and UNDP, directly contributes to annual work plan and budget revisions as to fully capture the sequencing of all technical deliverables during the project implementation
• Builds technical and managerial capacities within the PMU, including the introduction of management tools and templates that enable effective planning, implementation and monitoring
• Provides advice and support through technical assistance to the national counterparts, as required and relevant to the scope of the project and provides other advice as needed to UNDP concerning the evolution and role of the relevant Ministries/stakeholders within the scope of the project

Knowledge management 

• Identifies, analyses and communicates lessons learned that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects, shares and promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from project implementation
• Provides technical inputs and participate in producing technical materials, development and application of knowledge based tools, contributing to the analytical work of UNDP
• Promotes the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensures effective integration thereof with other pillars

Partnership development and advocacy

• Advices on the development and implementation of the partnership and advocacy strategies and outreach efforts
• Establishes and maintains relations with project members, the Board of Directors and other external stakeholders, key national and international partners
• Identifies prospects and sequencing requests to maximise opportunities for inter-agency cooperation and partnerships.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

The Technical Project Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Integrated Team Leader of UNDP Thailand and technical consultation and guidance of the UNDP Technical Support Team. He/she will also coordinate closely with PMU to collaborate for effective project management.