Governance Specialist Consultancy, Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) Activity

The USAID-funded Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) Activity in Maldives, implemented by Tetra Tech International Development (http://www.tetratech.com/intdev), is currently accepting expressions of interest from qualified Governance Specialist candidates for the Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) Activity in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The assignment will be implemented in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with possible travel to the Maldives.

The CCA Activity enhances the adaptive capacities of the public and private sectors and local communities in Maldives and Sri Lanka to climate change impacts in ways that contribute to sustained, inclusive market-based growth. This five-year project seeks to identify and scale up innovative solutions to adaptively manage climate-related risks through market-driven private sector and community engagement; strengthen central and/or local governance to address climate-related risks; and improve availability and access to high-quality information for decision-making to reduce vulnerability to climate change in both countries. The CCA Activity is a 5-year USAID contract being implemented by Tetra Tech, and runs through July 2026.

Summary:

The Governance Specialist will facilitate the PEA based on an initial desk study of previous, relevant PEAs for the Maldives and Sri Lanka, with special focus on climate change, and sustainable development in priority economic sectors of Agriculture, Fisheries and Tourism. This will be followed by extensive interviews with CCAA staff and a broad range of government, private sector and other partners to both impart an understanding of PEA as a planning tool and to ground-truth data and analysis for country-specific final reports. These country-specific final reports will include a summary report of main findings and recommendations, an extensive report also including methodology and more detailed findings, and a PowerPoint presentation with a summary of purpose, methodology, findings and recommendations. It is likely that the PEA reports will be updated annually, bi-annually or on an as-necessary basis.

Tasks:

*Work with the COP, DCOPs and M&E Manager to prepare a work plan. This includes literature and project document review, interviews with CCAA staff and USAID representatives, and analysis of initial findings. Special emphasis should be given to understanding the CCAA Theory of Change and strategic approaches.

*Conduct one week country-specific PEAs in the Maldives and Sri Lanka This will include initial meetings and interviews, field visits as necessary, facilitation of a one-day PEA workshop in each country to present and discuss initial findings.

*Analyze, check, refine and write-up PEA reports with initial findings and recommendations. This may require additional information gathering and interviews with CCAA staff and partners conducted virtually as necessary.

*Write-up and present final deliverables.

Deliverables:

*Detailed CCAA PEA work plan, including schedule, Maldives and Sri Lanka country-specific PEA processes that align with Activity objectives, PEA capacity building and training activities, and deliverable report and presentation outline

*Country-specific field notes and PEA final report outline, including main findings and recommendations.

*Final summary and full report (Word) and PowerPoint presentation documenting PEA processes, findings, follow-up recommendations, and bibliography for additional PEA and related resources.

Qualifications:

*Advanced degree in anthropology, sociology, political science or related field.

*At least 10 years’ experience in resource governance and/or climate change issues in tropical countries, preferably including Sri Lanka and/or the Maldives;

*Demonstrated ability to lead political economic analysis, preferably in Sri Lanka or the Maldives;

*Previous experience working on climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation and/or environmental governance issues in Sri Lanka or the Maldives;

*Strong understanding of climate change adaptation policy. Demonstrated experience with political economy or similar analysis.

*Strong oral and written communications skills, including fluency in both English and Sinhala, Tamil or Dhivehi.