UNDP Jobs - 50126- Myanmar PEI Coordinator

Myanmar PEI Coordinator

Location :

Yangon and Nay Piy Taw, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

17-Nov-2014

Application Deadline :

12-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year with maximum 195 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year

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 Poverty Environment Initiative (PEI) is a joint UNEP and UNDP global programme working in over 20 countries and currently including 9 countries in Asia Pacific (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines and Thailand). Working with non-environment agencies, PEI aims to highlight the economic and sustainable development importance of good environmental and natural resources management. Work in Asia has included natural resource management in Philippines (mining), Lao PDR (natural resources & foreign investment), Thailand (planning for watershed management) and planning and budgeting for climate change in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

PEI Phase I ended in December 2012. Donors agreed to fund a second phase of the global PEI from 2013-2017. In Phase II, the PEI Asia Pacific (AP) began scaling up and increasing the number of countries in their portfolio. Myanmar was selected because of: a) the desire expressed from Myanmar officials to learn from PEI experiences in the region, specifically Thailand and Lao PDR; b) its significant projections for economic growth; c) opportunities to address wider issues of human rights and marginalised groups; and d) its strategic importance to the UN globally and in the region.

From November 2013 – 2014, PEI Myanmar launched its first year, embedding its activities within the existing UNDP Country programme, Pillar 3 for ‘Support to Democratic Governance in Myanmar,’ under the ‘Development Effectiveness' Output.

The PEI outcome for Myanmar is ‘Strengthened capacity of Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development and related agencies to work with other line agencies and stakeholders to promote, negotiate and manage quality Foreign Direct Investment in natural resource based sectors with maximum social benefits and minimum environment costs’.

Under the above outcome, PEI has worked with two departments: Planning Department to mainstream poverty-environment linkages by submitting a brief on protection and conservation of the environment and natural resource base for review for the National Comprehensive Development Plan, and to raise awareness around methods related to “Green GDP” such as natural capital accounting. PEI has also worked with the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) to support capacity to attract and monitor quality investment in the natural resources. At the request of government, activities have included a needs assessment, inception workshop, multi stakeholder consultation and drafting retreat to support government capacity building on international investment treaties. South-south exchange with the PEI programme and government counterparts in Lao PDR provided government officials with additional insights into capacity building and technical support activities for Myanmar to encourage quality investment objectives and practices.

During the upcoming 2015-16 period, PEI proposes two outputs:

Output 1 would be strengthened institutions, national policies and laws to maximize sustainable developmental impacts of FDI in natural resources. Activities under Output 1 could include south-south exchange with countries representing significant sources of FDI, field exposure visits for parliamentarians and government officials, sharing of international and regional best practice, continued support for capacity building around International Investment Treaties, exploration of model contracts, and promoting government-civil society dialogue around regulatory reforms;
Output 2 is related to developing the capacity of institutions for implementation and monitoring of sustainable development impacts of natural resource based FDI in selected states/regions. In cooperation with DICA, selected locations would be identified in line with UNDP strategy for sustainable development, to support capacity building in the implementation of strengthened management of foreign direct investment in natural resource sectors.

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide support for the implementation of the PEI programme to the Government of Myanmar, UNDP Myanmar Country Office and PEI Asia-Pacific Regional Team based in Bangkok.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will be required to provide assistance for the continued development and implementation of PEI activities. He/she will need to act as an effective liaison point between the PEI, UNDP CO, Government and Development Partners. The consultant will also be required to help to identify opportunities which promote working across practices (UNDP) and inter-agency cooperation (UNDP, UNEP, other UN agencies).

Planned PEI activities during 2015-2016 will include continued capacity building support for government regarding international investment treaties; support to government partners in screening and appraisal of mining investment proposals for financial viability, funds for environmental rehabilitation and revenue transparency; government capacity building programme for data collection and analysis for input into investment planning and investment monitoring processes; and engagement in south-south exchange in Asia Pacific to support responsible investment initiatives and policy recommendations. The consultant will be responsible for handling operational and reporting responsibilities of PEI activities as part of UNDP requirements.

The consultant will be encouraged to explore avenues to support implementation of sustainable development objectives in natural resource sectors which include mining and agriculture, such as contractual templates. The consultant will be expected to support possible linkages between Environmental Conservation Department and DICA. The consultant will be encouraged to explore opportunities to support the development of state/region investment strategies in selected states and regions.

In addition to the specific outputs, the consultant will also respond to, and take forward, additional relevant activities that emerge during the period of the consultancy, as requested by UNDP and Government counterpart.

Final Products and Due Date:

Brief progress report to be provided on a monthly basis which states activities undertaken, problems encountered and activity plan for the following month: On the last day of each month;
Inception report: November 2014;
Agree with DICA the final investment treaty and review options for model investment agreements:November – December 2014;
South-south exchange for relevant officials: November 2014 - November 2015;
Support the development of three PEI videos: November 2014;
Workplan for PEI activities 2015: December 2014;
Facilitate scoping visit on financial model for screening mining investment proposals: December 2014;
Facilitate implementation workshop on use of financial model: January 2015;
Support recruitment of programme staff: January 2015;
Develop a database for investment monitoring: January – March 2015;
Capacity building training on data collection and analysis: January – June 2015;
Region/state field visits and training workshops around data collection methods: June – November 2015
Follow up training workshop on analysis of mining financial model data: June 2015;
Additional PEI programme activities: June- November 2015.

Competencies

Strong interpersonal skills with ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
Strong oral and writing communication skills with a very good ability to express ideas and write clearly and concisely in English;
Excellent coordination skills, with ability to work under pressure and handle multiple activities and projects concurrently;
Ability to work independently and to participate effectively in a team based information sharing environment;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualification:

University degree in development, economics, environment or associated field;
Post graduate qualification preferred.

Work Experience:

Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in the areas of coordination and carrying out research, coordinating studies, report writing and editing;
Experience of research on Myanmar issues would be an asset;
Knowledge of Myanmar context/issues;
Full computer literacy.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in spoken and written English is essential;
Some knowledge of Myanmar language would be advantage.

Contract Duration:

17 November 2014 - 16 November 2015 with maximum of 195 working days.

Duty Station:

Yangon, Myanmar. The consultant is expected to travel regularly between Nay Piy Taw and Yangon and to the States/Regions relevant whenever relevant to the assignment. UNDP may arrange air ticket or the Individual Contractor may need to arrange air ticket by his/her own and the air ticket cost shall be reimbursed at actual but not exceed the price quoted by UNDP’s travel agent. The Individual Contractor shall receive living allowance and Terminal Expenses in locations as assigned and mutually agreed by both parties prior to travel. UNDP will not cover the cost of air tickets to join duty station and living allowance while the Individual Contractor is working in Bangkok.

Provision of Monitoring and Progress Controls:

The relevant Output Lead in UNDP Country Office (1st reporting officer) in close collaboration with PEI Regional Programme Manager (2nd reporting officer) will provide the monitoring and progress controls for the deliverable from the consultant.

Documents to be included when submitting proposal:

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

Cover Letter: Brief motivation letter explaining why the applicant thinks is an outstanding candidate for the job;
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 financial proposal shall specify the all-inclusive daily professional fee in USD. Payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked.

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% (total 500 points):

Experience related to services: 200 points;
Written proposal and/or interview result 100 points:
Expertise & Availability: 200 points.

Financial Criteria weight; 30%.

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