UNDP Jobs - 43742- Individual Consultant for Review of National Flags

Individual Consultant for Review of National Flagship Programs-Gap and Opportunity Analysis for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction [DRR] and Climate Change Adaptation [CCA]) - (Open to Indian Nationals Only)

Location :

Home-based in New Delhi with travel as required, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

19-Feb-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Eighty five working days spread over four months.

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Twelfth Plan seeks to achieve ‘Faster, Sustainable, and More Inclusive Growth’. While striving for faster and more inclusive, growth, the Twelfth Plan also pays attention to the problem of sustainability. The plan states that no development process can afford to neglect the environmental consequences of economic activity, or allow unsustainable depletion and deterioration of natural resources. Unfortunately, the experience of development in many countries, including India past experience in some respects, suggests that this can easily happen unless appropriate corrective steps are taken at early stages. The Twelfth Plan strives to devise a strategy of development which effectively reconciles the objective of development with the objective of protecting the environment. The vision outlined in the 12trh FYP related to environment, forestry and wildlife section highlight the need of Managing Environment, Forests, Wildlife and challenges due to Climate Change for faster and equitable growth, where ecological security for sustainability and inclusiveness is restored, equity in access to all environmental goods and ecosystem services is assured through institutionalization of people’s participation; and that A future in which the nation takes pride in the quality of its environment, forests, richness of its biodiversity, and efforts by the State and its people to protect, expand and enrich it, for intra and inter-generational equity and welfare of the local and global community.

The Plan further states that India will be one of the countries most severely affected if global warming proceeds unchecked and as such appropriate domestic action is necessary. A National Action Plan for climate change has been evolved with eight component Missions. Implementation of these missions should be an integral part of the Twelfth Plan. Policies should be closely monitored to ensure that we achieve the stated objective of reducing the emissions intensity of our GDP by 20 per cent to 25 per cent between 2005 and 2020. Achievement of rapid and sustainable growth is critically dependent on India’s ability to manage its natural resources effectively.

The plan also states that in recent years, the deficiencies in the way in which natural resources are managed have come under increasingly critical scrutiny. Agitations around land acquisition, deforestation, water use, air and water pollution, and also the response to natural disasters, have become more common. The plans firmly states that these are no longer peripheral issues: They are issues which demand mainstream attention and pose challenges which the Plan must address squarely.

The UNDAF Outcome 6 is devoted to Sustainable Development. The outcome statement highlights that natural disasters and extreme events severely impede development gains. While India is a large economy with a relatively high capacity to respond to disasters, most of its poor have very low coping capacity to deal with natural calamities. The National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009 recognizes the challenges in the coming years and the need for more synergies in strategies for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

The proposed study’s goal is to review five key flagship programs closely linked with the sustainable development agenda and identify gaps and opportunities for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures aimed at promoting community resilience and ultimately lead to sustainable development.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of the study will be to support advocacy for risk informed development planning. The study will analyze key selected flagship programs to identify opportunities for mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation considerations in development planning. The findings of the study will also support mainstreaming of DRR/CCA considerations within UNICEF’s and UNDP sectoral strategies.

Schemes to be reviewed are:

Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM);
National Health Mission (NRHM) - Integrated - Rural and Urban;
Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY - Housing - rural poor);
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS);
Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).

Relevance:

DRR and CCA considerations at present are not clearly articulated in major flagship programs, therefore specific measures to address impact of disaster /climate change on development (e.g. nutrition, health, housing) and improve community resilience are not mainstreamed, relevant budgetary allocations are not part of these schemes and therefore sustainable development is compromised.

The study is specifically targeted to support GoI efforts in mainstreaming DRR and CCA in development planning as outlined in the country’s 12th FYP.

The study is a joint activity to be implemented by UNDP and UNICEF and is also part of the United Nations Disaster Manangement Team (UNDMT) work plan for 2013-2014, as well as part of the UNICEF work plan

The study is initiated to inform development of targeted five year advocacy and program strategies to promote the inclusion of DRR/CCA measures in India development planning and identify baseline and milestones against which to measure results at the end of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and country program.

Strategic use:

Support GoI efforts in mainstreaming DRR and CCA in development planning;
Inform the development of targeted five year advocacy and program strategies to promote the inclusion of DRR/CCA measures in development planning;
To identify baseline and milestones against which to measure results at the end of the UNDAF/ country program cycle and 12th FYP cycle;
To inform targeted sectoral approach towards risk reduction in India development process and major flagships.

The study will support the implementation of UNDAF DRR strategy for the period 2013-2017

The expected outcome will be:

Sustainable risk informed development planning and program implementation (at both government and UN level)
Improved resilience of communities in face of climate and disaster impact challenges;
The TOR has been discussed, with the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Disaster Management Authority. The Ministry of Home Affairs in due course will be organizing consultations with various ministries and identifying entry points for mainstreaming DRR and CCA in development planning. The current study will feed into this process.

The study will be implemented by United Nations Development Management Team (UNDMT).

Scope of Research Activity:

The study will adopt the following methodology:

Desk review of existing schemes as outlined as above. Key focus of the desk review will be:

General overview of the schemes (goals, strategies and current achievements);
Analysis of gaps and opportunities for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation;
Key recommendations for mainstreaming and suggested approaches.

Interview with key stakeholders (government representatives from ministries in lead of the selected schemes, non-government and civil society organizations and academia). Feedback from Solution Exchange network will be sought as well. Key state government representatives will also be consulted.

Methodology:

The bidders are expected to propose a detailed methodology for the study.

Mostly qualitative data will be collected. However, where possible quantitative data especially linked with the results achieved by schemes will be required.

The study will be done from Delhi. Possible trip to states for interview with stakeholders will be agreed in consultation between the contractor, UNDP and UNICEF. Particular scheme review, especially in what concerns the overview of results achieve, will provide specific examples for well faring and poorly faring states.

There are no specific ethical considerations arising from this study.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Excellent knowledge of computers applications;
Good communications and organizational & interpersonal skills;
Ability to work independently to fulfill assigned tasks.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
Positive, constructive attitude to work;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Strong personal commitment to gender equality and human rights.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualification:

Master’s degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Development Studies or Disaster Management.

Professional Experience:

Consultant must have extensive experience (minimum 7 years) in social research in a field related to the sector focus of the schemes as outlined above.

Language Requirement:

Excellent command of English language is required.

Submission of proposal:

Financial Proposal:

Consultant shall specify his/her per day consultancy rate;
Any travel with prior UNDP approval will be handled separately as per rules.

CV:

Consultant should submit his/her updated CV with three references.

Proposed work methodology:

Proposed work methodology for execution of work has to be submitted

Notes:

Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed;
Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;
Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
CV,Financial proposal and work methodology can be clubbed in one file for uploading;
The consultants must bring his/her own computing equipment.

Deliverables, Timeline and Payment Schedule;

Maximum up to 20% on submission of proposal for the study outline including detailed approach and methodology by 15 March 2014;
Maximum up to 20% on submission of desk review report by 15 April 2014;
Maximum up to 30% on submission of summary analysis of data interviews with stakeholders [including interview formats from respondents] by 5 May 2014;
Maximum up to 20% on submission of draft report by 30 May 2014;
Maximum up to 10% on submission of final report and power point presentation based on the feedback from UNDMT and consultations within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the feedback.

Evaluation Criteria:

Cumulative analysis:
The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive;
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical Criteria weight - 70%;
Financial Criteria weight - 30%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Criteria for Technical Evaluation would be as under:

Qualificatiion of the consulant- 10%
Relevant Work Experience-40%;
Proposed work methodology- 20% .

For any clarification please write to sandeep.sharma@undp.org.