Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ecosystems and Biodiversity Global Programme assists countries in developing capacity to manage biodiversity to deliver ecosystem services on which sustained human development depends. To achieve this objective it engages in mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation into development, strengthening the effective management and sustainable financing of protected areas, and strengthening climate resilience of ecosystems through restoration, among other areas of work.

UNDP is the world’s largest implementing agency for protected areas strengthening projects, with a current portfolio of $5.3 billion across 85 countries with a total area larger than the area of India and Indonesia combined. In collaboration with World Bank, Conservation International and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, UNDP is co-organizing a thematic stream on Protected Areas: Meeting Development Challenges. This stream will provide concrete tools, guidance and case studies in a range of inter-connected thematic areas on how to ensure that protected areas are fully integrated into development plans and policies, and how to ensure they become a core strategy for achieving National Sustainable Development Goals.

In this regard, UNDP is seeking a Biodiversity and Ecosystem consultant to will support work on global protected areas, including supporting the World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Ecosystems and Biodiversity Regional Technical Adviser and Technical Specialist, the consultant will be expected to:

  • Provide technical backstopping support to UNDP/GEF projects, including research for development of new project concepts and other technical documents;
  • Contribute to content of knowledge management products, including websites, e-learning module development, and training materials;
  • Support the development and coordination of a photo exhibit on protected areas, including the development of interpretive material;
  • Conduct research and literature reviews, including concise literature summaries, on key topics related to protected areas, including resilience, restoration, communications and other topics as required;
  • Assist with the development of a protected area portal, in collaboration with IUCN and other partners;
  • Assist with the development of e-learning module and related guides on resilience, restoration and ecosystem services;
  • Support communications related to the World Parks Congress, including to sub-stream leaders;
  • Assist in the compilation of learning materials, best practices, guidelines and other materials related to Stream 5 of the World Parks Congress.
Information on Working Arrangements:

The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment.

Final Products:       

  • Parks for Development photo exhibit for CBD COP and World Parks Congress and associated promotional products     Expected Due Date: July 15, 2014;
  • Delivery of 10 sub-stream sessions under the Stream 5 Reconciling development challenges at the World Parks Congress    Expected Due Date: 20 November, 2014;
  • Launch of BD Results Publication and PA Concession Publication Expected Due Date:    20 November, 2014;
  • Climate resilience and PA concession e-learning module Expected Due Date: 30 March , 2015;
  • Climate resilience and PA concession webinar training     Expected Due Date:  30 April, 2015;
  • Other learning materials, best practices guidelines as determined Expected Due Date: N/A.
Contract Duration:
  • 1 June 2014 – 31 May 2015.
Duty Station:
  • Bangkok, Thailand with travel to PyongChang, ROK and Sydney, Australia. No living allowance will be paid while the consultant is working in Bangkok.
Provision of Monitoring and Progress Controls:
 
The consultant will be supervised by the assigned Regional Technical Advisers, including technical quality assurance of the consultant’s work at the milestones.   The consultant will provide a progress report on a monthly basis.
 
Documents to be included when submitting proposal:
 
Interested individual consultant must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate your qualifications:
  • Technical Proposal: Brief motivation letter (not more than one page) indicating why the applicant thinks is an outstanding candidate for the job including a methodology on how applicant will approach and complete the assignment;
  •  Financial proposal: The financial proposal must indicate lump sum professional fee and travel costs in USD
  • Personal CV and/or P.11 including past experience in similar projects and the name and contact details of 3 references.
Financial Proposal:

The contract will be based on lump sum amount. Financial bid should be quoted as all inclusive lump sum per Outputs listed above.
 
The financial proposal will specify the lump sum professional fee and travel costs in USD and payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked and upon completion of the deliverables. 
 
Travel:

The contractor is expected to travel to Indonesia.   In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation:
 
The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
  • Responsive/compliant/acceptable;
  • 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%
  • Experience related to services: 30 points;
  • Written proposal/test AND/OR interview result: 30 points;          
  • Expertise & Availability: 40 points.
Financial Criteria weight; 30%
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 350 technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
 
Payments:

Payments will be made only upon acceptance and confirmation by the Regional Technical Adviser on satisfactory delivery and acceptance of outputs.   

Competencies

  • Demonstrates commitment to UNDP's vision, mission and values;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Excellent knowledge and understanding of global development issues, biodiversity mainstreaming, protected area management and ecosystem based adaptation;
  • Strong analytical skills;
  • Demonstrated technical and intellectual skills in the substantive area;
  • Innovation, facilitation, advocacy and coordination skills;
  • Entrepreneurial abilities and ability to work in an independent manner;
  • Ability to work effectively in a team, with good relationship management skills;
  • Strong coordination skills, including ability to coordinate various organizations and professional individuals;
  • Strong computer skills;
  • Demonstrated ability to deliver high quality outputs despite pressing deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree in natural/environmental sciences, public policy and management, development studies or other closely related field.

Experience:

  • Minimum 5 years’ of experience in the field of biodiversity and ecosystem planning and management, protected area and/or human development;
  • Demonstrated experience with project coordination and management;
  • Experience working with international organizations and civil society organizations;
  • Experience with research methods and tools.

Language Requirement:

  • Strong written and oral communications skills in English;
  • Working knowledge of French or Spanish an asset.