UNDP Jobs - 48844- Consultant – Regional ABS/Nagoya Protocol Experts

Consultant – Regional ABS/Nagoya Protocol Experts (4 Positions)

Location :

Home-based with mission travel

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Sep-2014

Application Deadline :

25-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

60 working days (spread through the period from September 2014 to October 2015)

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 “Strengthening human resources, legal frameworks and institutional capacities to implement the Nagoya Protocol” project is in direct response to the decision at the Second meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ICNP-2) held in Delhi, July 2012, where the Conference of the Parties “Reiterates its invitation to the Global Environment Facility to provide financial support to Parties to assist with the early ratification of the Nagoya Protocol and its implementation.”

The full-size global project aims at supporting up to 25 countries that have completed national strategies-plans and/or NBSAPs or National Reports that include explicit references to national ABS frameworks and the Nagoya Protocol. These participating countries will also need to provide proof of a “baseline project”, that is, the ABS investments over the duration of this project that will take place whether or not this GEF project is funded. The level of support will take into account a preliminary assessment of needs not already covered by current ABS investments. This preliminary assessment will include the development of a decision-making matrix identifying the specific gaps to be filled by this project in the participating countries. The information will be country-specific and derived from the scoping study carried out to identify the gap.

The overall approach for the project strategy and main components of the project were identified during the preparation of the PIF. However, Project Preparation Grant (PPG) resources are needed to support detailed analyses and consultations, and to define the roles and responsibilities of different institutions for project implementation, as the PPG process will seek to identify, assess and engage the potential partner countries, and concretize a globally-representative list of participating States.

The four (4) Regional ABS/Nagoya Protocol Experts will work as part of the PPG-phase team under the guidance and leadership of the Project Planning and Monitoring Expert and the UNDP-GEF Global Adviser on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (ABS).

Each Regional ABS/Nagoya Protocol Expert will be in charge of coordinating preparation activities in a group of six to seven countries within an assigned region (Latin American and the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, Africa or Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Arab States), and will be expected to undertake one field mission to each country and help coordinate a Regional Validation Workshop at the end of the process, with the participation of one representative from each of the countries under the consultant’s portfolio.

In his/her proposal, the consultant may indicate preference for working in one or more regions, duly substantiated by the consultant’s qualifications.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will perform the following duties: Following the selection of up to 25 countries, the Regional ABS/Nagoya Protocol Experts will be responsible for the following activities in their group countries (7, 6 or less):

Identification and assessment of gaps in relation to each of the outcomes and outputs of the PIF (e.g., national ABS legal/policy frameworks and linkages with national policies on scientific and technological innovation, research and development at sectoral level, capacities of ILCs, etc.);
Preparation of a gap analysis matrix, identifying the specific gaps to be filled by the project in each country;
Proposal of outcomes and outputs per country aligned and consistent with each of the outcomes and outputs of the indicative project framework of the PIF;
Identification and engagement of key stakeholders including indigenous peoples and local communities (ILCs), ensuring the active involvement of women’s organizations;
Assessment of ABS capacities of key national and state competent authorities and related agencies for the baseline of project indicator using the ABS Tracking Tool or the ABS Capacity Development Scorecard;
Scoping of existing and emerging initiatives and opportunities for biodiscovery projects (ABS incubators) and identification of potential research capabilities necessary to add value to their own genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources;
Estimation of percentage of stakeholders (government officials, population of researchers, local communities, and relevant industry) to be targeted by the campaign to raise awareness on the ABS national frameworks, CBD and Nagoya Protocol provisions related to ABS and Traditional Knowledge (TK);
Measurement of capacities of local ILCs to negotiate ABS agreements for the baseline of the relevant indicator using the ABS Tracking Tool (if available) or the ABS Capacity Development Scorecard;
Determination of baseline investments in each of the participating countries related to ABS;
Identification and Evaluation of opportunities/risks as a basis for the development of the environmental and social screening proposal for the project;
Identification of baseline information (e.g., development plans, policies, budgets and complementary projects related to ABS in each selected country);
Support the International Project Planning and Monitoring Expert in the completion of the GEF ABS tracking tool (if available) or the UNDP-GEF Capacity Development Scorecard by providing baseline information by country;
Mobilize and engage key stakeholders during country visits and document all consultations;
Participate in the development of the project results framework by providing baseline and target information and advice on relevant indicators;
Outline project activities to be implemented per country and costing of activities;
Support the identification of co-financing sources and opportunities;
Support the organization and participate in regional validation workshops with country representatives.

Assignment Deliverables

Deliverable 1: Report with results derived from bullet points 1, 2, 4, 9 and 11 in the above section on “Duties and Responsibilities”;
Deliverable 2: Report with results derived from bullet points 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 16 in the above section on “Duties and Responsibilities”;
Deliverable 3: Report with results derived from bullet points 13, 17 in the above section on “Duties and Responsibilities”;

Estimated duration

The consultancy will be for 60 working days (for each of the 4 consultants selected) over a period from mid-September 2014 to October 2015.

Institutional Arrangements

The Consultant will be home-based however extensive travel is anticipated for country visits and validation workshops;
The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection;
Payments will be made per deliverable. The quality of the final documents will be evaluated by the UNDP-GEF Global Adviser on ABS. If the quality does not meet standards or requirements of the UNDP-GEF, the consultant will be asked to rewrite or revise (as necessary) the document before proceeding to payment. In that sense, payments shall be made upon delivery and approval by the UNDP-GEF Global Adviser on ABS of the products agreed as per following distribution: Deliverable 1 (30% of total contract amount); Deliverable 2 (50%) and Deliverable 3 (20%).

Travel:

International travel will be required country visits and validation workshops with an expected total travel duration of 45-50 days (for each of the 4 consultants selected);
Costs for mission travel should not be included in financial proposal. All related travel expenses will be supported by the project travel fund and will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations upon submission of an F-10 claim form and supporting documents;
Consultants will be responsible for making their own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;
Any necessary missions must be approved in advance and in writing by the supervisor;
The Basic Security in the Field II and Advanced Security in the Field 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;
The consultant shall be solely responsible for taking out and for maintaining adequate insurance required to meet any of its obligations under the Individual Contract, as well as for arranging, at the consultant’s sole expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance as the consultant may consider to be appropriate to cover the period during which the consultant provides services under the Individual Contract;
Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/;
Consultants are responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP.

Competencies

Corporate

Excellent communications and networking skills and the ability to work in a team;
Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills;
Ability to work in a multicultural environment; and
Sound judgment and discretion.

Functional Competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally; and
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Management and Leadership

Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Remains calm, in control and composed even under pressure;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Communicates effectively with staff at all levels of the organization;
Acts with tact and diplomacy;
Proves outgoing and comfortable in handling external relations at all levels;
Demonstrates compelling communication skills and cross-cultural effectiveness;
Demonstrates experience in bilateral and/or multilateral negotiations, and negotiating and training / facilitation skills; and
Possesses the ability to convey difficult issues and positions to senior officials, proven political judgment, sensitivity to local cultures.

Professionalism:

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

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Masters’ degree or higher in Law, Environmental Law or Policy, Genetics, or a closely-related field. (max 20 points).

Experience

Minimum of 5 years’ experience working with developing countries on law or policy issues related to Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (ABS) and biodiversity (max 30 points);
In-depth knowledge of and experience working on the negotiation/development of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity. (max 25 points);
Demonstrated work experience in the region(s) where the consultant applied for. (max 15 points).

Language:

English is the working language for this assignment, therefore excellent oral and written communications and presentation skills in English are required;
Fluency in language(s) of the Region(s) applied for, both oral and written is an advantage (max 10 points).

Evaluation method:

Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated;
Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the technical criteria will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30%;
The technical criteria (education, experience, language) will be based on maximum 100 points. Only the candidates that have achieved a minimum of 70 points of the technical criteria will be deemed technically qualified and considered for financial evaluation;
The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, including breakdown per deliverable. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal must additionally include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including number of anticipated working days and all inclusive daily provisional fee). Costs for mission travel should not be included in financial proposal;
Financial score (max 30 points) shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal of those technically qualified;
Applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score per region and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract. Each consultant will be assigned to a maximum of one region.

Documentation to be submitted:

Applicants must submit a duly completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P11) to be downloaded from the below link. Kindly note you can upload only ONE document to this application. In addition, applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application.

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

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

General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:

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