The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) aims to help decision-makers in developing countries design and deliver climate compatible development. CDKN does this by providing demand-led research and technical assistance, and channelling the best available knowledge on climate change and development to support policy processes at the country level. In Colombia, CDKN is supporting the mainstreaming adaptation strategies into sectors and local governments, a key mandate of the Colombian Policy Guidelines for Climate Change (CONPES No. 3700), as well as the National Development Plan (DNP 2010-2014).

One of the sectors that CDKN is starting to work with in Colombia is transport.  Climate scenarios for Colombia describe future changes in sea level, temperature and precipitation regimes, and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events that could significantly affect infrastructure planning, construction, use, and maintenance.  Recent flood-related disasters and future climate conditions make it necessary to incorporate climate risk management and adaptation into the planning and decision-making occurring today in Colombia’s transport sector.   Given that the highways built today in Colombia should be able to endure climatic events expected in the next decades, transportation infrastructure must be planned with the objective of reducing the vulnerability of the roads system to current and expected climatic variation, events, and impacts.

Considering this urgent need to address climate change in the transport sector, CDKN is partnering with Colombia’s Ministry of Transport in the project “Mainstreaming Climate Change into the Transport Sector in Colombia”.  This project will produce a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Transport Sector, one of the first of its kind in the region.  The Adaptation Plan will necessarily draw upon international and local knowledge and expertise, and it will be guided by a benchmarking of examples of effective adaptation to climate change in transport sectors around the world.   The Adaptation Plan will provide an action plan for incorporating the management of climate risk related in infrastructure planning and development, and it will be accompanied by measures to ensure that the plan is adopted by the entities and contractors associated with the transport infrastructure sector.  Because many infrastructure projects will be procured in the short term in Colombia, the project will also create a set of guidelines for use in upcoming public procurement processes in order to make sure that infrastructure contracts incorporate increasingly better standards and specifications to address climate risk.

CDKN are looking to procure:

Consultant(s), company, or consortium with relevant local and international expertise to develop and implement the project “Mainstreaming Climate Change into the Transport Sector in Colombia’, including the participatory development of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Transport Sector.

Suggested requirements:

Essential:

• Excellent project management skills.
• Experience and proven skills in working with multiple stakeholders and participatory planning processes.
• Strong knowledge and experience of transport and transport infrastructure sector, including standards and specifications, preferably including in developing countries.
• Strong knowledge and experience in climate change vulnerability and adaptation planning, preferably related to transport infrastructure.
• Knowledge and proven expertise in transport infrastructure engineering concepts.

Desirable:

• Knowledge and experience of working with Colombian governmental institutions.
• Knowledge of infrastructure procurement processes in Colombia.
• Knowledge of Colombian government policy processes, investment and financing structures and decision making.
• Established networks in the infrastructure and/or climate change sectors in Colombia and internationally.

Instructions for interested parties
In order to receive the full terms of reference for the role and the expression of interest selection document please send an email to cdknetwork.procurement@uk.pwc.com.

The email should include the following information:

• Subject line: ‘EOI: Mainstreaming Climate Change into the Transport Sector in Colombia’
• Organisation/company name.
• A contact name(s), email address and telephone number for the most appropriate person(s) to send further information to regarding application.

Please note that in order to formally submit an expression of interest, the EOI selection document must be completed and submitted in English or in Spanish accompanied with an English translation.

The deadline for submitting the completed Selection Document is 17:00 UK Time Friday 7th September 2012. Any questions regarding the EOI process should be submitted by 30th of August, 2012.  Applicants should be informed on whether they have been shortlisted for the next round on the week commencing 10th September 2012.

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