UNDP Jobs - 51659- Project Design Consultant

Project Design Consultant

Location :

Bangkok, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

8 months through August 2015

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 recognizes that the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services and growing risks and impacts of climate change requires the world to urgently invest in a new green development paradigm. Based in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), the UNDP-GEF Unit’s goal is to assist developing countries to transition to green, low emission and climate resilient development. In line with UNDP’s sustainable development mandate, the UNDP-GEF team works closely with UNDP Country Offices, national and local governments, and UN and other partners to support partner countries in accessing a variety of vertical funds for global environment management (GEF Trust Fund, Least Developed Countries Fund, Special Climate Change Fund; Adaptation Fund, Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund), and combining this with other sources of public and private financing (domestic resources, carbon finance, bilateral vertical funds for global environment management, etc.). This financing is used to develop capacity, remove policy and regulatory barriers, and expand/transform green markets in order to increase resilience, reduce poverty and make green, low emission climate resilient development possible.UNDP recognizes that the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services and growing risks and impacts of climate change requires the world to urgently invest in a new green development paradigm. Based in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), the UNDP-GEF Unit’s goal is to assist developing countries to transition to green, low emission and climate resilient development. In line with UNDP’s sustainable development mandate, the UNDP-GEF team works closely with UNDP Country Offices, national and local governments, and UN and other partners to support partner countries in accessing a variety of vertical funds for global environment management (GEF Trust Fund, Least Developed Countries Fund, Special Climate Change Fund; Adaptation Fund, Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund), and combining this with other sources of public and private financing (domestic resources, carbon finance, bilateral vertical funds for global environment management, etc.). This financing is used to develop capacity, remove policy and regulatory barriers, and expand/transform green markets in order to increase resilience, reduce poverty and make green, low emission climate resilient development possible.

UNDP – GEF Staff are organized into five thematic teams (Ecosystems and Biodiversity; Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology; Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development; Water and Ocean Governance; and Chemicals and waste) of technical specialists led by Principal Technical Advisors (PTAs). Each PTA supports, guides, and supervises a team of Region-based Senior Technical Advisors (STAs), Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) and Regional Technical Specialists (RTSs).

Based at the UNDP Asia and Pacific Regional Centre, UNDP-GEF Ecosystem and Biodiversity Team in Bangkok provides support to 34 countries in the region as well as to some Arab states. UNDP supported GEF financed projects and programmes are designed to help countries achieve outcomes outlined in UNDP’s Strategic Plan, UNDP country programmes, UNDAFs (United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks) and the GEF Focal Area Strategies. In line with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action, these programmes and projects are implemented by national entities - typically a national government agency or department, or on occasion a non-governmental organization or another UN Agency.

The strategic objective of the Ecosystems and Biodiversity (EBD) team is to support the effective management of biodiversity and ecosystem services for Sustainable Development. To achieve this, the team focuses its efforts on three signature programmes: (i) Integrate EBD management into development planning and production sectors to safeguard biodiversity and maintain ecosystem functions that sustain human well-being; (ii) unlock the potential of protected areas, including indigenous and community conserved areas, to conserve biodiversity while contributing to sustainable development; and (iii) manage and rehabilitate ecosystems for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change.

In order to ensure the timely and effective delivery of project concept notes to meet the government’s request for support in the 34 countries, services of a Project Concept Designer for Ecosystems and Biodiversity is required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the assignment:

Under overall guidance of the EBD RTAs for Asia and the Pacific, and in close collaboration with the country offices (COs), the consultant will provide technical support in the development of GEF financed projects that meet the standard eligibility criteria of the GEF biodiversity, land degradation and sustainable forest management focal areas, as well as, to meet objectives set under the UNDP EBD Strategic Framework (2012-2020) and country programmes.

Scope of Work:

For this assignment, the Consultant is primarily responsible for the following tasks:

In consultation with the RTAs and discussion with relevant Country Offices, list the potential projects and timeframes for development of project identification forms (PIFs) for the entire Ecosystem and Biodiversity portfolio in Asia and Pacific region;
In consultation with the RTA, prioritize the identified project for development based on agreed criteria including government urgency and readiness, submission dates, Country Office workplans;
Based on the prioritized list of projects, develop a detailed workplan and technical approach for the development of the seven (7) Project Identification Forms;
On a rolling basis, but per agreed dates, submit seven (7) draft PIFs to RTAs for their consideration/comments;
Revise PIFs based on comments received from RTA before internal UNDP submission and GEF submission;
Revise PIFs based on comments received from internal UNDP review and GEF Secretariat comments;
Undertake a social and environmental screening of all seven (7) GEF technically-approved PIFs using the standard UNDP ESSP template;
Work with Country Offices for which PIFs were developed and technically cleared by GEF in formulating a Project Preparation Grant (PPG) Plan, which includes an Initiation Plan (using template to be provided by RTAs) for the development of the full project document, detailing how the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) provided by GEF will be utilized;
Provide technical support to the CO and project counterparts on specific technical issues related to project implementation.

The expected outputs from this assignment are:

Approved workplan and technical approach (due date January 2015);
7 UNDP technically cleared Project Identification Forms (PIF) in at least 5 selected countries (Projects and countries to be agreed with RTAs during the consultancy period) as follows; PIF 1-2 and ESSP report, PPG plan (due date March 2015); PIF 3-4 and ESSP report, PPG plan (due date June 2015); PIF 5-7, ESSP report, PPG plan (due date August 2015).

Provision of monitoring and progress controls:

The consultant will report to the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisors for Biodiversity and Ecosystems for Asia and the Pacific;
S/he will work closely with other staff in the UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, UNDP Country Office staff and government counterparts as appropriate;
Payments will be made per deliverable upon satisfactory delivery and acceptance by the Ecosystems and Biodiversity RTA. If the quality does not meet standards or requirements, the consultant will be asked to rewrite or revise (as necessary) the document before proceeding to payment.

Travel:

International travel throughout Asia and the Pacific will be required. Exact locations to be determined;
Any necessary missions must be approved in advance by the Ecosystems and Biodiversity RTA.
The Advanced and Basic Security in the Field II courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
Consultants are responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives;
The consultant will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;
All related travel expenses will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations upon submission of an F-10 claim form and supporting documents. Costs for mission travel (airfares and living allowances) should not be included in financial proposal.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Applicants must submit a duly completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P11) to be downloaded from the below link. Please also provide a breakdown of your all-inclusive daily fee financial proposal for the assignment, including a detailed breakdown of the professional fee.

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.

Competencies

Demonstrated comprehensive technical knowledge related to biodiversity management, wildlife management and enforcement, protected area management, and/or forest management;
Strong analytical, reporting, and writing abilities;
Excellent presentation and facilitation skills;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to plan, organize, implement, and report on work;
Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
Positive, constructive attitude to work;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Economics or other social sciences and/or a closely-related field. (max 5 pts)

Experience:

At least 6 years of relevant experience in Ecosystem and Biodiversity or closely-related field projects in developing countries including at the global level; (max 10 pts);
Demonstrable experience with project development, implementation, management and monitoring and evaluation of sustainable development projects, in particular in the areas of biodiversity and ecosystem management; (max 20 pts);
Demonstrable experience in communication for sustainable development projects with excellent drafting ability, presentation, and communication skills, both oral and written; (max 10 pts);
Experience in the policy development processes associated with environment and sustainable development issues; (max 10 pts)
Experience with the GEF and UNDP-GEF systems, policies, and programming and in working in Asia and/or the Pacific; (max 10 pts);
Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities and demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner; (max 5 pts).

Language:

Fluent in English.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

Applicants must submit an all-inclusive daily fee financial proposal based on anticipated number of work days.

The total amount quoted shall include professional fees for completing all deliverables described below. The contract price will be a fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration (if necessary). As noted above, when calculating his/her financial proposal, airfares and living allowances should not be included in the financial proposal. Estimates for these will be required when mission location and timing is approved.

Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of the deliverables and as per below percentages:

Deliverable 1: Approved workplan and technical approach: 10% of total contract amount;
Deliverable 2: PIF 1-2 and ESSP report, PPG plan: 30% of total contract amount;
Deliverable 3: PIF 3-4 and ESSP report, PPG plan: 30% of total contract amount;
Deliverable 4: PIF 5-7, ESSP report, PPG plan: 30% of total contract amount.

Evaluation Method, Criteria, and Award of Contract:

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, and interview (max 30 pts)) will be based on a maximum 100 points. Only the top 3 candidates that have achieved a minimum of 49 points from the review of the education and experience criteria will be deemed technically qualified and considered for interview and financial evaluation;
Financial score (max 100 points) shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal of those technically qualified;
The financial proposal shall specify an all-inclusive daily fee, including breakdown per deliverable as outlined above. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal must additionally include a breakdown of this daily fee (including number of anticipated working days and all foreseeable expenses to carry out the assignment);

Applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.