Detailed description of the project

The general purpose of the Capacity Needs Assessment is to identify the capacity building needs and gaps in order to strengthen the RCCs to enhance their effectiveness and sustainability. This will involve identifying existing capacities and determining opportunities and constraints to the achievement of the result areas of the programme. To this end, the Capacity Needs Assessment shall reflect the ground picture and if possible, complement the activities crafted by technical and regional partners of the Intra-ACP Programme under their respective grant proposals, and realize synergies with other related intitiatives/programmes in the climate services domain within the ACP members.

The overall objectives of the Consultancy are to:

  1. Identify areas for improving the institutional and policy environment of the RCCs that
    will support the achievement of the results of the programme;
  2. Identify available technical and financial resources at the regional level capable of
    providing institutional and technical capacity development to the RCCs in the region;
    and
  3. Recommend strategies and actions to strengthen the human, technical and
    institutional capacities of the RCCs.

Specific Objectives
The tasks of the Consultancy include, inter alia:

  1. Review outcomes of survey conducted in the context of the Global Review of RCC Operations conducted by WMO in 2018 (survey results to be provided by WMO); and review outcomes of the survey conducted in the context of the Global RCOF Review conducted by WMO in 2017 (survey results to be provided by WMO);
  2. Review and update relevant capacity assessments conducted recently and, in particular, those conducted in the context of the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications Programme including also that conducted by WMO;
  3. Assess and analyse the institutional capacities of the RCCs in order to identify capacity gaps that inhibit their efficiency, effectiveness and ability to produce, deliver and assist users in the uptake of the climate services;
  4. Review the organisational structure (governance, management and programming) of the RCCs;
  5. Review the existing the Meteorological Infrastructure System supporting the Climate Services Information System (CSIS) in the region:
  6. Review capacity building activities proposed by technical and regional partners of the Intra-ACP Programme under their respective grant proposals;
  7. Review the existing capacity building activities including collaborative activities with universities and other relevant academic and research institutions available in the regions and establish their efficacy;
  8. Review the communication practices in each region and its effectiveness to inform the knowledge management strategy development;
  9. Analyse the risks (and mitigation actions) that may hinder the implementation of a comprehensive capacity development programme to strengthen the RCCs, in the Covid pandemic environment;
  10. Suggest the innovative mechanisms and activities required to address capacity building needs of RCCs in each region; and
  11. Propose options and recommendations for an effective capacity development programme in the OACPS at both regional and national levels.

Nature and Scope of Services Provided

Deliverables include: