UNDP Jobs - 48029- Chief Technical Advisor

Chief Technical Advisor - Private Sector Development

Location :

Home-based with travel to Benin, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Cambodia

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Aug-2014

Application Deadline :

24-Jul-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

8 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

8 months

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

UNDP-Benin is helping countries develop their capacity to fully incorporate environmental sustainability into development at national and local, but also global and regional, levels. The principal areas of work are in environmental mainstreaming, environmental finance, adaptation to climate change, and local governance of resources, including energy.

Recently, UNDP-Benin, with the support of UNDP-GEF initiated a project that focuses on strengthening climate information and early warning systems (CI/EWS) for climate resilient development and adaptation to climate change. This project is linked to a Regional project on Climate Information for Resilient Development and Adaptation that supports an additional 10 countries in Africa.

The National Adaptation Plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP) is a UNDP-UNEP programme, financed by the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), created to assist LDCs to prepare National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). NAPs will bring greater focus and coordination to country-led efforts in disaster management and disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation. The NAP will add to the strategic suite of other sectoral plans and policies for countries that help to guide internal development resourcing mechanisms as well as those provided by donors. The programme was launched on 14 June 2013 following its CEO approval by the GEF on 29 May 2013.

In the context of the above project, UNDP- is looking for a Senior Technical Advisor who will assist UNDP’s client countries to develop and implement a private sector program in support of advancing national adaptation plans, and especially in the context of climate information services. ). The Senior Technical Advisor will report to the Head- Climate Change Adaptation (Global). S/he will work closely with UNDP colleagues in the UNDP country offices, and associated project staff including at the national and regional level with responsibility for delivering high quality of deliverables related to this terms of reference.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objectives of this consultancy are:

To provide technical advice and support, on the latest approaches and strategies to engage the private sector and develop public private partnerships to support the development and diffusion of climate information services in the context of national adaptation planning as well as sectoral decision-making;
To support country teams to identify and implement partnerships with private sector partners to advance climate resilient development including advising on creating an enabling environment for the private sector as implementers of adaptation programs. Potential partners include utilities, large agri-business companies, telecom companies, insurers, and civil aviation, all of which could contribute to climate resilient development objectives.

Scope of Work

In close collaboration with the Head of the UNDP-GEF Adaptation Programme, other Technical Advisors, each UNDP Country Office and the Implementation Partner, the STA will support each of the country teams to engage with LDCs as part of the NAPs-GSP.

The STA will undertake the following duties:

Advise UNDP client countries in Africa in the development of a private sector strategy for climate information services, including the identification of relevant sectors and business partners;
When identified as appropriate by participating LDCs, conduct regional/national trainings to support country teams to effectively engage with potential private sector partners in supporting climate adaptation;
Advise country teams on strategies to co-finance climate information services including on how to leverage private sector finance that can support the deployment of weather observing technology, as well as, its operations and maintenance;
Where requested/identified as appropriate by participating LDCs , support country teams and work with key government departments to develop business plans to engage with private sector partners most relevant to the country’s climate risks and adaptation needs and;
Guide country teams to design contracts and agreements between the NHMSs and the private sector to ensure identification of win-win solutions.

Final Products:

Completed strategy for inclusion in project work plan with respect to the involvement of the private sector, including the identification of relevant sectors and business partners with most to gain from improved climate information services;
3 regional or national training programs completed to support country teams to effectively engage with potential private sector partners to identify national needs and opportunities for revenue generating activities in the context of supporting climate information services;
At least 5 country specific strategies to include private sector entities in NAPs development and to leverage public and private sector finance.

Contract Duration:

1 August 2014 - 31 March 2015.

Duty Station:

Home-based with travel to Benin, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Cambodia.

Provision of Monitoring and Progress Controls:

The specialist will work under direct supervision of the UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, the UNDP Country Office in each country and the national Implementation Partner (IP), as identified in each project document. Following is the key performance indicators for which the STA needs to complete within the duration of contract:

Finalized and approved strategy for inclusion in project work plan with respect to the involvement of the private sector;
Satisfactorily concluded 3 regional or national training programs completed to support country teams to effectively engage with potential private sector partners in the NAPs preparation process;
Finalized at least 5 country specific strategies to engage private sector participants including, where possible, to leverage public and private sector finance;
Quality of technical advice provided, based on feedback from countries for the development of at least 10 NAPs to ensure operationalization of public-private partnerships.

Documents to be included when submitting proposal:

Interested individual consultant must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate your qualifications:

Tehnical Proposal: 1 pager outline of what the candidate will do to help develop and implement a strategy to engage with the private sector for the development, distribution and maintenance of climate information and associated infrastructure;
Financial proposal: indicating all-inclusive daily professional fee in USD;
Personal CV and/or signed 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 daily professional fee. The financial proposal will specify the all-inclusive daily professional fee in USD and payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based upon completion of the deliverables.

In the event 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: 40 points;
Written proposal and/or interview result: 40 points;
Expertise & Availability: 20 points.

Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 350 technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Competencies

Technical Competencies:

Ability to provide guidance on private sector and climate information services;
Ability to support the participation of the private sector in the projects;
Ability to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines;
Strong understanding of climate policy and operational matters with experience addressing the intersection of science, technology, policies and resource mobilization;
Demonstrated ability to contribute to the development of high quality knowledge materials and exchange platforms;
Ability to design contracts and agreements with private sector entities in LDC countries.

Corporate Competencies:

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

Communication:

Communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Professionalism:

Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
Exercise the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Teamwork:

Work well in a team to advance the priorities of UNDP and the LDCF;
Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
Focuses on results for the client;
Welcomes constructive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

Master’s degree or higher in economics, environmental economics, public administration, financial management, natural/environmental sciences, social sciences with a specialization in environmental finance and development, or other closely related field.

Experience:

At least 15 years demonstrated expertise in private sector finance, development or environmental finance, environmental mainstreaming, innovative resource mobilisation strategies, climate information for resilient development, climate change adaptation;
Experience in environmental policy development and project design and implementation;
International and developing country experience would be desirable;
Expertise in planning and conducting exchange workshops and technical trainings on financial assessments at the international level;
Experience in and deep understanding of the complexity of climate change finance and international negotiations;
Knowledge of climate risk management from a private sector perspective and;
Experience with UNDP and GEF policies, procedures and practices particularly in relation to project development and implementation and/or working experience in an international organization is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language;
Proficiency in other UN languages is an asset.