Background
Candidates who previously applied need not re-apply.
In recent years, Chad’s Elephant population has declined due to a national massacre at Zakouma National Park and ongoing poaching elsewhere. The government of Chad, with the support of external actors such as the African Parks Network and the Wildlife Conservation Society, have fought to recover the situation which is now relatively stable at a protected areas level.
In February 2014, the president of Chad, along with five other heads of state from Botswana, Ethiopia, Gabon and Tanzania, signed the Elephant protection Initiative at the UK Government’s London Summit on the Illegal wildlife Trade. Later that month, the President has initiated a National Elephant Protection Plan, which included the destruction of ivory stockpiles and the proposed establishment of a National Elephant Monitoring Centre. However much is to be done to secure Chad’s wildlife and wildlife habitats.
The government of Chad has requested technical support from UNDP as a preferred Agency of the Government to accompany them to access GEF resources necessary for the securing wildlife Conservation for Chad through a Strategic National Approach in priority biodiversity conservation areas, including STAR and other funds under various windows of GEF funds for which the action is eligible.
The UNDP-GEF Regional Coordination Unit, in close collaboration with the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor (RTA) for Biodiversity based in Addis Ababa, would like to engage an experienced consultant, who both has a strong biodiversity background and who can quickly and effectively prepare the GEF pipelining documentation (a PIF and PPG Outline for project PIMS 5496 Chad Wildlife Conservation Strategy) for securing the funds under the Biodiversity and Land Degradation Allocation for Chad in the framework of the GEF’s System for Transparent Allocation of Resources (STAR).
Duties and Responsibilities
- Become familiar with the new GEF Focal Area Strategy, as well as, UNDP strategy for Biodiversity;
- Become familiar with recently approved UNDP-GEF PIFs and PPGs under the BD and LD focal areas;
- Carry out internet and document research, as necessary, on the themes covered by the project, in order to fill in information gaps or seek inspiration;
- Hold at least two teleconferences with the UNDP-GEF RTA;
- Maintain thereafter email communications with the RTA, the CO team, the government of Chad and, if applicable, the other stakeholders in Chad, posing specific questions that will allow the completion of information gaps and the development of the project logic;
- Review existing documentation and, with the aim of thoroughly completing an eligible BD/LD PIF in the correct template/format, obtain the necessary information and: a) Describe the biodiversity and land degradation baseline for the project: (1) what is the existing state of biodiversity for Chad, including the current management of existing protected areas and the management of surrounding landscapes; (2) what are the existing projects, programmes and initiatives that have a bearing for the biodiversity and the management of land resources and what do they seek to address; b) Carry out a cursory analysis of the adequacy of current institutional arrangement for the sustainable management of land and biodiversity in Chad; c) Identify key stakeholders likely to be involved in the project, including government, civil society organizations, local communities, private sector and academia, discussing briefly their respective roles, as applicable. This should be kept short but to the point; d) Develop, in an iterative manner, the project logic (i.e. its strategy), based on the principles of incremental reasoning and starting with the Project Framework of the PIF, under the guidance of the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor, defining thereby the project objective, outcomes (or proxy indicators) and outputs. In connection with it, propose indicative allocations for the GEF funds and co-financing per project component.[1]; e) Identify the barriers to achieving the project objective and elaborate on them; f) Within a logical framework approach, develop and describe the project outputs and outcomes for the biodiversity and land degradation in the PIF using clear and results-oriented language that is typical of such documents. This will be part of the narrative part; g) Provide an assessment of the required costing for the different activities; h) Estimate the available co-financing for the activities; i) Describe in succinct terms the socioeconomic benefits to be delivered by the Project at the national and local levels, including consideration of gender dimensions, and how these will support the achievement of global environment benefits (GEF Trust Fund. As a background information, read the following: Mainstreaming Gender at the GEF); j) Assess project risks and briefly propose mitigation measures. This can be presented through a simple matrix with three columns (risk, rating, mitigation measures); k) Outline the coordination with other related initiatives (in generic terms and to the point, noting that here the information is on projects, programmes and initiatives); l) Propose a set of PPG activities and types of consultants needed for completing the required PPG activities.[2]
- Submit the required products in English and French to the UNDP RTA, so they can carry out the required consultations and seek clearances and endorsement of the PIF and PPG.
[1] These will need to be followed up by the RTA.
[2] PPG budgeting will be completed by the RTA.
Outputs
A technically sound and eligible PIF and PPG outline in English and French for the project 5496 Chad Wildlife Conservation Strategy based around wildlife conservation that fits well with the government’s relevant priorities and policies.
- First draft due: TBD after contract signature;
- Final draft due: 28 Novembr 2014 including feedback.
Information on Working Arrangements:
- The Consultant will work from home;
- Estimated level of effort: 10 working days;
- The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
- Given the sensitive nature of pipelining before proposals are approved, the consultant shall not communicate to any person, government, or other entity external to UNDP-GEF, any unpublished information made known to the incumbent by reason of his or her candidacy or association with UNDP-GEF except as required by these TOR or upon written authorisation from the UNDP CO and UNDP-GEF;
- The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection;
- One lump sum payment will be made upon submission of a certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the RTA on satisfactory delivery of final output.
Competencies
Core competencies:
- 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;
- Strong analytical skills, particularly applied to project design; 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;
- 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.
- Capacity to submit high quality deliverables under time constraints.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced Degree with specialisation in relevant fields related to the environment (e.g. ecology, environmental management, NRM economics, agronomy, forestry, but not restricted to these) with consistent academic and professional specialisation in issues of biodiversity management, conservation, land use management. (max 10pts).
Experience:
- At least seven years working experience in biodiversity or natural resources management related field; (max 10pts);
- Extensive experience and proven track record with policy advice and/or GEF project development, preferably in protected area management, biodiversity mainstreaming and ecosystem-based adaptation; (max 10pts);
- Demonstrated experience with GEF projects, with particular focus on design of biodiversity projects with a long track record of approvals; (max 10pts);
- A good understanding of the biodiversity and land management sectors, as well as the climate change stakes for the sector’s development; (max 10pts);
- Up-to-date knowledge of GEF eligibility criteria under GEF 6 is desirable; (max 10pts).
Language:
- Excellent skills in written English and in French.
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) will be based on maximum 60 points. Only the candidates that have achieved a minimum of 42 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);
- 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 and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.
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.
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: