UNDP Jobs - 49638- National Consultant for Preparation of a Medium Si

National Consultant for Preparation of a Medium Size Project Document Acceptable to GEF

Location :

Kampala, UGANDA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

26-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

46 days spread over a period of 6 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

46 days

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

A Project Preparation Grant (PPG) has been approved by the GEF Secretariat to prepare a medium-Size Project (MSP) document for submission under the Global Environmental Facility Phase 5, System of Transparent Allocation of Resources (GEF-5 STAR). In this context an International expert on Climate change (with specific experience in mitigation and sustainable land/forest management) is required to support UNDP in developing the project document to achieve the expected outcomes outlined in the approved Project Identification Form (PIF). The Key Stakeholder groups include Government–Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), National Agricultural research Organization (NARO, Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) and three district local governments of Mbale, Manafwa, and Bulambuli. The resources being requested for this project will be targeted towards empowering communities in Mount Elgon to manage their production landscapes in an integrated manner for improved livelihoods and ecosystem resilience. Expertise will be sought from FAO for the transfer of knowledge through use of farmer field schools. The project will have local ownership through Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries which has the overall responsibility for implementing the vision of the Government of Uganda depicted in the Agiculture Sector dvelopment Strategy and Investment Plan (2010- 2015), National Development Plan, 2010-2015 and vision 2040.

Objective of assignment;

The objective of the project is to secure multiple environmental benefits by addressing the twin challenges of unsustainable utilization of fuel wood and poor land management practices common in Uganda’s highlands, through empowering communities to integrate landscape planning and management and demonstrating options to reverse land degradation and reduce GHG emissions. The project will be developed within the context of the National Development Plan (NDP) to promote a low carbon emission development path, the National Forestry Policy (2001) that seeks to promote the rehabilitation and conservation of forests, soil and water resources, the National Action Plan (NAP) to combat desertification under the UNCCD, the integrated Territorial Climate Plan for the Mt. Elgon region, and other relevant national policies and legal frameworks. In order to address the main barriers to transforming the current land management practices into sustainable business, the project proposes the following approach:

Establish supportive land use planning regulations and a policy environment to bridge the capacity gap between the law and its enforcement;
Establish relevant baselines on the constraints that impede Mt Elgon ecosystem resilience;
Carry out the pre-feasibility studies on climate smart agriculture and GHG emission reducing practices;
Strengthen stakeholders’ capacity in understanding the land policy and engaging in SLM/SFM to ensure positive buildup of carbon stocks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work:

The overall purpose of the consultancy is preparation of a UNDP/GEF compliant MSP. This will involve establishment of key baselines and analysis of information gaps regarding constraints that impede Mt Elgon ecosystem resilience, and carry out a detailed feasibility assessment of climate smart agriculture and GHG emission reducing practices. This will be done by performing the following principal tasks;

Provide technical capacity for the project development (particularly facilitating Technical Steering Committee Meetings and national consultations);
Engage with relevant stakeholders (institutions, civil society, government agencies and multi-stakeholder fora at district level including communities) to generate information required to fill crucial gaps;
Establish demonstration sites and conduct feasibility studies and development of critical indicators to be monitored;
Assess the potential applicability, efficacy and operational arrangement of proposed climate smart agriculture and GHG emission reduction practices;
Recommend the best set-up and model for the piloting of climate smart agriculture and GHG emission reduction practices;
Coordinate information-gathering in collaboration with Technical Steering Committee;
Identify and mobilise project co-financing commitments;
Facilitate Technical Steering Committee Meetings and stakeholder consultations;
Support elaboration of the Medium Size Project document and GEF CEO Endorsement document

In accomplishing this assignment, the Consultant is expected to:

Provide expertise on the design of the project document taking into account international best practices and lessons learnt from technology transfer and Land Use and Land Use Change and Forestry projects elsewhere;
Define the global environmental benefits from addressing the land degradation focal area;
Assess the bottlenecks hampering implementation of bye laws and carry out a gap analysis concerning local environmental ordinances and bye laws: they have clauses relating to use of steep land slopes : why are they not enforced and what are the processes for ensuring land tenure security;
Generate an exhaustive list of key stakeholders that must be involved in the project, and assess their capacities regarding the roles they should play in order to achieves the targeted outcome;
Establish average arable land area per capita in the 3 districts, the proportion of population practicing soil conservation measures like terracing, maintaining soil cover, on-site burning, grassland conversions, managing forests and number of farmers clearing farmers per season, how much land is cleared per season, and the existing area of forest cover. In addition, establish which incentives ( if any ) exist to improve land use practices and the issue of communal land use and to what extent is it used, particularly in land clearing vis a vis land cleared by individuals;
Assess the potential applicability of climate smart agriculture practices (with minimum tillage) in highland areas; the potential environmental benefits and emission reductions to be realized via reduced frequency of land opening, adoption of agro-forestry as a land use practice, control of soil erosion and reduced land use change linked with agricultural cultivation, livestock grazing, fertilizer use and burning of agricultural wastes;
Assess of the social, economic, financial and environmental sustainability of proposed project activities, including gender aspects;
Identify individuals, groups, schools, churches and others with significant areas of land and willing to dedicate parts of their land for fuel wood/ timber trees, and forest blocks on private or communal land of sufficient size and condition that would support extensive carbon sinking if rehabilitated and managed well.

Detailed Consultancy Activities:

Desk review of documents and preparation of inception Report (home-based);
Presentation of Inception Report;
Baseline report on the current status of climate smart agriculture and GHG emission reduction practices in the area;
Report on the bottlenecks hampering implementation of bye laws, the gap analysis on local environmental ordinances and bye laws;
Report on the applicability of climate smart agriculture practices and benefits associated with GHG emission reduction strategies proposed, existing opportunities where interventions to reverse land degradation and reduce GHG emissions would provide maximum results, gender parity issues that the project needs to address, the institutional capacity of potential implementing partners and proposed execution arrangements;
Presentation of acceptable draft Project Document with detailed budget in line with GEF requirements;
Support to Final Project document development

Consultancy Final Deliverables:

The consultant shall be responsible for:

A baseline report on the current status of climate smart agriculture and GHG emission reduction practices in the area;
Facilitate stakeholder consultation meetings and workshops;
A report on the assessment of the bottlenecks hampering implementation of bye laws, the gap analysis report regarding local environmental ordinances and bye laws and proposals of strategies to ensure implementation of the bye-laws, the resources required for village level land use planning, the stakeholders’ landscape, baselines associated with SLM activities and verified availability of the projected land sizes for project activities as stated in the PPG targets;
A report on the applicability of climate smart agriculture practices and benefits associated with GHG emission reduction strategies proposed, opportunities where interventions to reverse land degradation and reduce GHG emissions would provide maximum results, gender parity issues that the project needs to address, the institutional capacity of potential implementing partners and proposed execution arrangements;
Support to development of the final Medium Size Project document by the end of October 2014 including responding to the GEF and CEO Endorsement Requests incorporating comments which will be made by stakeholders and UNDP staff (including the Regional Technical Advisors).

Institutional Arrangement:

With overall reporting to the UNDP Country Director, the Consultant will work on day to day basis with the Lead Consultant, and shall be supervised by the Team Leader, Energy and Environment Unit of UNDP. UNDP will support the Consultant in the following areas:

Access to required information if it is available with UNDP;
Access to UNDP Office and its infrastructure (e.g. conference room and internet while at UNDP);
Pay for travel costs and per diems within the country as provided in the financial proposals;
Organization of stakeholder workshops to review the inception and draft reports.

Preparation of the project document and addressing stakeholder comments shall be done in collaboration with the UNDP Country Office and the Regional Technical Advisor.

The Project Implementing partner, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) will be responsible for constituting the Technical Steering Committee, arrange field visits and coordinate with Government to make sure consultants gain access to relevant stakeholders for consultations and mobilization of required co-financing commitments.

The Technical Steering committee shall:

Provide high level orientation and guidance for the project development;
Ensure that the project develops in accordance with national development objectives, goals and polices;
Pay special attention to the assumptions and risks identified in the log frame, and seek measures to minimize these threats to project success;
Ensure collaboration between institutions and free access on the part of project actors to key documents, land information systems, remote sensing imagery, etc;
Pay special attention to the post-project sustainability of activities developed by the project, including stakeholder consultations during the project development;
Ensure the integration and coordination of project activities with other related government and donor-funded initiatives

Reporting Arrangements:

The National Consultant will report to the Lead Consultant on all technical obligations and to UNDP on all contractual obligations.

Competencies

Excellent Analytical Skills;
Positive, constructive attitude towards work;
Ability to act professionally and flexibly to engage with government officials, donor representatives, and local communities.

Core skills;

Ability to conduct research and analysis and strong synthesis skills;
Ability to develop strong relationships with stakeholders and respond positively to critical feedback;
Highly developed inter-personal, negotiation and teamwork skills;
Regional and national knowledge is highly desirable.

Required Skills and Experience

Education;

Minimum postgraduate degree in Natural Resource/Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Economics, and/or related subjects with a bias in sustainable land management;

Experience;

At least 7 years’ experience designing projects for Uganda particularly, in GEF project formulation/design;
Proven and extensive experience in policy analysis, and land use and land use changes in relation to GHG emission reductions from applied technology interventions;
Proven and extensive experience with specific practices, tools and technical solutions for effective integration of SLM/SFM practices in agriculture;
Knowledge of land degradation assessment methodologies, particularly as it relates to LULUCF;
Proven experience in coordinating baseline analyses, log frame development, calculating GHG emissions reductions, quantifying global environmental benefits (GEBS), developing budgets and identifying project risks.

Language;

Excellent written and spoken English.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments;

20% upon presentation of an acceptable inception report;
30% upon completion of deliverable 3,4 and 5;
30% upon presentation of acceptable draft Project Document with detailed budget in line with GEF requirements;
20% upon submission of Final Medium Size Project document and approval by GEF, and after any final modifications.

Evaluation Method and Criteria - Cumulative analysis:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

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

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 70%-30%;
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.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/inforamtion to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP (Annex 11);
Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

Technical proposal:
Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment;
Financial proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided (Annex II).

For clarification or annexes, please send an email to justine.naiga-bagonza@undp.org and copy fredah.zawedde@undp.org accordingly.