UNDP Jobs - 46616- Expert Review Support Consultants with Specialisat

Expert Review Support Consultants with Specialisation in Biodiversity Planning and Language Mastery in English, Spanish and/or Russian

Location :

Home-Based with possible mission travel

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Jul-2014

Application Deadline :

05-Jun-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Through 31 December 2014

Languages Required :

English Russian Spanish

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Up to May 2016 dependent on demand for services and performance

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

By end-2013, some 140+ countries have accessed the GEF’s Biodiversity Enabling Activities (BD EA) with the aim of updating their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and fulfilling other related obligations under the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The new generation of NBSAPs being now produced will be aligned with the Aichi Targets that were agreed upon by CBD Parties during the COP10 in Nagoya, as part of the CBD’s Strategic Plan.

This project relates to Aichi Target 17, which predicates the development, adoption and initial implementation of NBSAPs as effective policy instruments for biodiversity mainstreaming. Target 17 relates to all other Aichi Targets with respect to biodiversity policy development.

UNDP and UNEP are the two main GEF agencies for BD EA. They noted that countries that accessed GEF funds for preparing their Post-Nagoya NBSAPs count on uneven levels of technical support for the task, in spite of current and growing demand for support services within the framework of their BD EA. Most countries receive only basic technical and operational support, while others, in particular those that accessed GEF funding directly, receive no support at all. Yet, experience shows that support is vital for a successful outcome of policy-oriented projects.

Through close collaboration, UNDP and UNEP obtained GEF funding for a new and joint global initiative (through a) that will address the technical support issue and make thereby a key contribution to the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Target 17 at the global level. Refer to the approved UNPD-UNEP Medium Size Project (in the GEF’s page and to the complete MSP file).

The project, will cement the ‘NBSAP global partnership’, together with the CBD Secretariat, a key partner in the equation. It will also provide quality and focused technical support to all countries that have accessed—or will access—GEF resources for BD EA. An important mechanism for support provision in the context of this partnership is the NBSAP Forum.

Given its global nature, the project will be is implemented directly by UNDP, more specifically by the functional cluster ‘Ecosystem & Biodiversity’ (EBD) within UNDP-GEF. Project implementation will be carried out in close collaboration with UNEP, in particular with UNEP’s centre of excellence, World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), plus other relevant UNEP’ GEF division.

UNDP would like to create a roster of qualified consultants (English/Spanish/Russian speaking) to provide central and significant expert input to key products and activities foreseen under the project’s Output 2.1 (on Peer & Expert Review) and to co-support activities in this and in other biodiversity projects of UNDP-GEF where similar expert inputs may be required.

Duties and Responsibilities

In connection with the NBSAP’s Peer and Expert Review process, facilitated by the NBSAP Forum, the consultants will undertake expert review of NBSAPs (or parts thereof). Working under the purview of Country Office Environmental Focal Point and in close collaboration with the Project Coordinator, the consultants will:

Expertise mapping and support to match-making

Ensure the relevance and usefulness of the Peer and Expert Review mechanism in the NBSAP Forum;
Prepare his/her own CV and biography in different languages, as well as, profile for the NBSAP Forum and related pages (e.g. LinkedIn) for the purpose of the Expert Review Platform;
Outline, according to a pre-set ‘NBSAP expertise taxonomy’ (to be posted in the NBSAP Forum site), own profile of expertise and qualifications, as well as, interest in supporting NBSAP processes in different regions and countries;
Indicate availability, through NBSAP Forum tools, for providing expert review support, keeping this information always up-to-date;
Respond in a timely manner to requests for support.

Provision of Technical Support

Provide peer and expert review technical support to countries on a ‘demand-driven’ and ‘match-making’ basis for each phase of NBSAP development process;
Be available to provide direct technical support to countries through: short-term missions, participation in webinars, and other project activities;
Provide expert support to the global project team in the implementation of: Output 1.1 and 1.5 (Tools, methodologies, e-learning & guidance; the latter on CC resilience), Output 2.2 (Webinars) and Output 2.3 (Site moderation, adaptive feedback & evaluation).

Description of Key Outputs relevant for this Assignment:

User-friendly, customizable tools and assessment methodologies, e-learning, voluntary templates and other guidance material, including for benchmarking the technical quality of NBSAP products before submission, are developed and widely applied in GEF-financed NBSAP development processes. They are primarily disseminated through the NBSAP Forum;
Online webinars, and both virtual and in person workshops, are facilitated guiding NBSAP processes through critical steps and to the benefit of client countries;
A framework for monitoring client satisfaction and for creating a feedback loop for technical support delivery is effective by end 2014.

Key performance indicators

Expertise and profile on display in the NBSAP Forum;
Requests for support responded to within 48 hours, and support provided/delivered within 2 weeks of initial request;
Takes timely actions to respond to additional countries’ requests for information on various NBSAP-related issues;
Capacity to incorporate Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Planning into NBSAPs is strengthened through the NBSAP Forum;
Quality inputs, as per demand, to other project products.

Time Frames

Intermittent services to be rendered from June to 31 December 2014 for all assignments. Extension into 2015 may be envisaged, on the basis of need and good performance.

Working Arrangements

Individual Contract as Framework Agreement are for services on an intermittent and repetitive basis;
Cumulative contract amounts will not exceed $100,000 (including travel costs);
It is estimated that the consultants may be needed for 5 full working weeks over a 7-month period;
This amount must not be interpreted nor understood to be a financial obligation or commitment nor guarantee of business volume;
Client countries’ demand for expert services will be conveyed and articulated through the NBSAP’s Peer and Expert Review platform with timelines/deadlines to be discussed and agreed to with supervisor;
The contractors must advise within 48 hours the estimated time it will take to deliver the requested service(s). Thereafter a purchase order will be raised;
Financial commitments will only be established each time the services are requested within the scope of the IC through the transmitted email and purchase order;
IC as a Framework agreement is non-exclusive (i.e. it does not prohibit UNDP from entering into another such framework agreement with another individual or entity);
Payments will be made upon submission of detailed time sheets and a certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Country Office Environmental Focal Point and Senior Technical Advisor on satisfactory delivery of outputs;
Additional demand-driven work may be required and engaged on a rolling basis in 2015. This is to be determined at a later stage and dependent on demand for services;
Templates and project documents will be provided by UNDP;
The Consultants will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection;
The Consultants must use file sharing platforms to make information, including detailed records and evidence of support provided and the time-spent, available to the Country Office Environmental Focal Point, Project Coordinator and senior UNDP-GEF staff in real-time.

Travel:

Specific mission travel will depend on arrangements with the contracting unit and must be approved in advance and in writing by the contracting unit;
The Advanced and Basic Security in the Field II courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/ inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives;
The consultants will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;
All related travel expenses will be supported by the project travel fund and will be reimbursed as per UNDP travel rules and regulations upon submission of an F-10 claim form and supporting documents.

Competencies

Corporate

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Professionalism

Focuses on achieving results;
Sets priorities, produces quality outputs, meets deadlines and manages time efficiently;
Works toward creative solutions by analyzing problems carefully and logically;
Has a dynamic, positive and adaptive attitude towards work-related challenges, bringing innovative and effective solutions to them;
Facilitates meetings effectively and efficiently;
Resolves conflicts as they arise.

Communication

Writes and presents clearly and convincingly.

Knowledge Management

Coaches, trains and shares knowledge and is willing to provide support to others who request advice or help.

Client Orientation

Maintains strong relationships with partners and clients.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master’s degree in relevant field for biodiversity planning. These may be: environmental management, biology, economics, social/political sciences, international relations, development studies, law, administration & management or other closely related field. (5pts)

Experience

At least 8 years of working experience in biodiversity assessments or national reporting on matters that relate to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and alternatively to other related multilateral environmental agreements (5 points);
Demonstrated working experience in applying technical expertise and advisory services to the needs of individual countries and regions (5 points);
Experience liaising with international institutions, civil societies and/or governmental authorities (5 points);
Experience in organizing and functioning as key resource person at capacity building workshops and webinars (5 points);
Working experience with developing countries would be an asset (5 points);
Experience in developing tools, methodologies, guidance and e-learning (5 points);
Experience in biodiversity planning in general (i.e. strategies, action plans and global biodiversity targets) (5 points);
Demonstrated experience in at least one of the specific areas of biodiversity planning, namely: process management and facilitation; stocktaking; stakeholder engagement; communication; biodiversity status and trends; linkages society & biodiversity; consumption patterns; incentives and subsidies that affect biodiversity; policy analysis and mainstreaming; institutional framework; capacity assessment; biodiversity data management; spatial planning; biodiversity valuation; biodiversity finance assessments; biodiversity expenditure review; target setting; strategy development; mainstreaming biodiversity into sectoral policies and practices; protected areas; biodiversity impact assessment; action planning; resource mobilisation for conservation; biodiversity monitoring frameworks; clearing house mechanism (CHM); CHM and website conceptualisation; national reporting (in particular to the CBD) (20pts)

Language requirements (eliminatory criteria)

For all consultants: Good oral and written communication skills in English language;
English speaking experts: Masters the language with ease and writes it as a native;
Spanish speaking experts: Masters the language with ease and writes it as a native;
Russian speaking experts: Masters the language with ease and writes it as a native.

Application process:

Candidates must clearly indicate in a cover/motivation letter for which of the three sought languages the application is for (English, Spanish or Russian), stating why s/he considers him/herself as an expert in the language in question and fulfils the technical profile sought with respect to the specific expertise required within the topic ‘biodiversity planning’;
Candidates may apply for more than one assignment keeping in mind that products under all themes are expected more or less concomitantly;
Applications ought to include as a minimum a UNDP Personal History form (P11); it may optionally include a CV or résumé;
Shortlisted candidates will be subjected to a written assessment and may be requested to submit, in due course, other documents, including a financial offer.

Evaluation method:

Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated;
Applicants must submit a duly completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P11). Kindly note you can upload only one document to this application. Incomplete applications will not be considered;
Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications (max 60pts) and written assessment (max 35pts) will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30% (out of Max 100pts.);
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 39 points from the review of qualifications will be considered for the written assessment and financial evaluation;
Applicants receiving a Combined Score of 67.5 or higher and have accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be part of the roster and awarded the contract.

General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.

UNDP Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants:

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.