Terms of Reference: Technical Assistance to Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning – Sudan

19 August 2021

OVERVIEW

 

Climate Change represents real threats to Sudan’s effort to achieve the sustainable development agenda due to the country’s environmental, social, and economic vulnerabilities. Even though Sudan is not a high emitting country, it has pursued a climate-friendly development path and has consistently worked to contribute to international efforts to mitigate GHG emissions while increasing resilience to climate change impacts.

Since its first national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2003, Sudan has undertaken a range of climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives. Sudan elaborated several sectoral studies—e.g., Nationally Adapted Mitigation Actions (NAMA) and standardized baselines for grid emissions, landfill gas capture, and liquid waste management. Adaptation is the country’s key priority; it is reflected in Sudan’s policies and strategies and detailed in the National Adaption Plan of Action (NAPA 2007) and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP2016). In 2015, Sudan elaborated its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the Paris Agreement, which is currently being revised with NDC Partnership support.

The objective of this technical assistance is to broaden Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) readiness to mainstream climate change and mobilize resources for climate action in alignment with Sudan’s updated NDCs, the sustainable development agenda, improved resilience of vulnerable communities, and COVID 19 green recovery measures. The support will be provided by the Government of the United Kingdom through its Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The focus of the Technical Assistance will be on improving the understanding of climate change impacts in Sudan’s economic and financial indicators; elaborating upon an economic model incorporating climate change considerations, capacity building, and a road map and guidelines for establishing and implementing institutional arrangements to improve the identification, preparation, and resource mobilization for climate change projects in Sudan; and mainstreaming climate change into MOFEP mandates. The preferred form of support is through an embedded economic advisor that will be based in Sudan’s MOFEP. International applications will be considered, provided a strong in-country presence is guaranteed through a local counterpart.

About the NDC Partnership

The NDC Partnership is a global coalition of countries and institutions working to mobilize support and achieve ambitious climate goals while enhancing sustainable development. Through the Partnership, resources and expertise are leveraged so that members are able to implement their NDCs and combat climate change to build a better future.

OBJECTIVES

 

Activities and Deliverables

 

Activities	Deliverables	Deadline
Elaboration of a detailed work plan, including timeline, consultation plan, information needs, coordination plan, and detailed activities and deliverables.	·       Detailed work plan approved by the government.	4 weeks
Compile studies and relevant existing information on climate change impacts in Sudan.	·       Detailed report assessing climate change impacts in Sudan’s economy and special focus on financial indicators, and priority response measures for Sudan.	3 months
Assess current and potential future climate change impacts on economic and fiscal performance in Sudan using economic models.
Identify opportunities to mitigate those impacts through economic and financial instruments.
Prioritize interventions considering national context and priorities.
Integrate climate change variables into economic models used by the MOFEP to support decision making.	·       Economic models used by MOFEP adjusted to include climate change variables.	5 months
Assess the institutional setting, including administrative setup, guidelines, regulations, and arrangements to identify and develop projects in Sudan. Assess MOFEP staff capacity and knowledge gaps.	·       Report with road map and guidelines for establishing and implementing institutional arrangements to improve the identification, preparation, and resource mobilization for climate change projects in Sudan and the mainstreaming of climate change into MOFEP mandates. ·       MOFEP and other stakeholders trained on tools and processes to mainstream climate change into MOFEP mandates and mobilize climate finance.	7 months
Prepare recommendations for improving the institutional setting, coordination, and national capacities to increase access to climate finance opportunities and mainstream climate into MOFEP mandates.
Based on recommendations identified in previous activities, conduct capacity building to MOFEP and other stakeholders

Activities	Deliverables	Deadline
on mainstreaming of climate change into MOFEP mandates and mobilization of financial resources for climate action.
Periodic and final report on progress.	·       Monthly and quarterly reports approved by government (including progress and results of the work, next steps, and lessons learned). ·       Final consultancy report (including results of the work, lessons learned, and opportunities for future improvement).	Monthly

 

Duration

This work is intended to start as soon as possible and should be delivered by March 2022. The support to MOFEP might be extended to cover new activities and deliverables based on availability of resources and the assessment of the outcomes of the consultancy.

Reporting

The consultant will be sitting in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) and will report to the Acting Secretary for Planning. The consultant will also report to the UK and the NDC Partnership Support Unit. The consultant will agree on the work plan with MOFEP, UK, and the NDC Partnership. After completion of the deliverables and reports defined in the work plan, the consultant will:

1. 1. Submit them for comments and review by the Government, UK, and Support Unit;
   2. Review reports as per feedback; and
   3. Submit the deliverables for final

The consultant will work closely with the Partnership’s focal points in the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources (HCNER) and will coordinate with the NDC Partnership facilitator embedded in HCNER and other embedded advisors being supported by UK and other NDC Partnership members to ensure harmonization and alignment of support.

Qualifications and experience

Requirements

• • Advanced academic degree (Master’s or above) in economics, public policy and/or
  • At least 10 years of professional experience in national economic planning, budgeting, economic modelling, and public financial management, including strong developing country experience.
  • A proven track record on assignments to ministries of economy, planning, and finance on the intersection of climate change and economy, including the assessment of climate change impacts in economic and financial indicators and proposition of economic and financial instruments to reduce risks and catalyze
  • Experience in macro-economic modeling, especially in developing

• • Proven experience in developing investment projects for public and/or private sectors, project finance, blended financing, equity, and impact
  • Strong experience across multiple contexts and understanding of international policy debates and challenges in economics and climate
  • Demonstrated experience in relationship management with senior leaders and high-level audiences and proven ability to network and develop partnerships across a range of stakeholders and managing complex
  • Excellent writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills across a range of stakeholders, including senior financial institution or governmental
  • Fluency in English and

o  Note: If more than one consultant is proposed, local consultant should have Arabic and English fluency and international consultant should have at least English fluency.

Desirable

• • Previous experience in related assignments in Sudan will be considered an
  • In-country presence or ability to move for the assignment strongly

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

 

Interested candidates should submit a proposal including:

• • A statement of interest, including a table summarizing how the proposed applicant meets each of the qualification and experience requirements of this ToR, including references with contacts (name, organization and, email) of similar previous work;
  • Proposed methodology and workplan to deliver on the above-mentioned deliverables (no more than seven pages), including time allocation to in-country work;
  • If more than one consultant is proposed, detail the composition, responsibilities, and time allocation of the proposed team;
  • CV(s);
  • A detailed budget including all related

All proposals must be submitted by 5 September 2021 to Margaret.barihaihi@ndcpartnership.org and Joaquim.leite@ndcpartnership.org.

Please use the following format for the email subject line: SUDAN_MOFEP_ VENDOR NAME. All proposals must be submitted in electronic format.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.