Background

The Government of Seychelles (GOS), in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently implementing a programme of mainstreaming biodiversity management across the Production Landscape of Seychelles.

Isolated from the continents for 65 million years, the fauna and flora of the Seychelles have evolved into unique forms with ancient Gondwanan lineage. The archipelago is a repository of globally important terrestrial diversity. It is also a storehouse of marine biodiversity. The Seychelles is part of one of the major biodiversity hotspots in the world: Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands. Its biodiversity is at risk of extirpation, and in some instances outright extinction, from a variety of human induced pressures. Seychelles faces the typical constraints of a SIDS, with its small land area and population, remoteness from major markets, limited natural resources and environmental vulnerability. Its most important assets are the truly rare beauty of the environment, and a significant fishery resource including pelagic and various coastal stocks. Biodiversity is the base upon which the two major economic sectors – tourism and fisheries – have developed. This makes the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity of vital importance for the country’s sustainable development. Seychelles is a frontrunner in environmental management in the region – one of the success stories has been the effective partnerships developed between tourism operators and NGOs for the eradication of invasive alien species and the restoration of small islands. Seychelles’ ecosystems and biodiversity are relatively intact compared to that of many other islands, but development pressures are expected to increase substantially. Past efforts at biodiversity conservation have focused on protected areas, but the major threats are associated with the main production sectors. The main threats stem from over fishing, tourism, and physical infrastructure development. This project differs from past programs by taking a sector-based approach that seeks to integrate biodiversity conservation into the day-to-day operations of the main production sectors. Barriers to this integration include insufficient capacities at the systemic and institutional levels, resource tenure and access rights, and insufficient know-how for sustainable ecosystem management. The project will: a) create enabling conditions for mainstreaming biodiversity management; b) develop methods and means for integrating biodiversity into artisanal fisheries management; and c) make biodiversity conservation a routine part of business operations in the tourism sector.

The project was originally planned for 6 years, but has received a no-cost extension of 1 year, terminating end of June 2015.

See Detailed TOR for more information.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective and Scope

Objective:

The TE will be conducted according to the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects (2011).  
http://web.undp.org/evaluation/documents/guidance/GEF/UNDP-GEF-TE-Guide.pdf

The purpose of the evaluation is to:

• Assess overall performance against the project objectives as set out in the Project Document and other related documents.
• Assess project relevance to national priorities, as well as UNDP and GEF strategic objectives.
• Assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the project.
• Critically analyze the implementation and management arrangements of the project, including financial management.
• Assess the sustainability of the project interventions and consider project impacts.
• Document lessons and best practices concerning project design, implementation and management which may be of relevance to other projects in the country and elsewhere in the world.

Scope:

The TE should consider and report on the following evaluation issues and criteria:

• Project relevance and consistency with country priorities and the GEF Focal Area.
• Ownership of the project at the national and local levels; stakeholder participation across local levels and partnerships developed through the project.
• Effectiveness in realizing project immediate objectives, planned outcomes and outputs; the effects of the project on target groups and institutions; the extent to which these have contributed towards strengthening the institutional, organizational and technical capability of the government in achieving its long-term sustainable development objectives (including environmental management goals).
• Sustainability of project achievements and impacts, including financial and institutional sustainability, and an assessment of planned replication and exit strategies.
• Management arrangements, including supervision, guidance, back-stopping, human resources, and the Implementing Agency’s (UNDP) supervision and backstopping; the quality and timeliness of inputs, activities, responsiveness of project management to changes in the project environment and other M&E feedback.
• Financial planning and sustainability, including the timely delivery and use of committed co-financing.
• Efficiency or cost-effectiveness in the ways in which project outputs and outcomes were achieved.
• Adaptive management, including effective use of log-frame, UNDP risk management system, annual Project Implementation Reviews, and other parts of the M&E system, tools and mechanisms as appropriate; evaluate whether project design allowed for flexibility in responding to changes in the project environment.
• Risk management, including the UNDP risk management system within ATLAS, which is also incorporated in the annual PIR.  The evaluator is requested to determine how effectively the risk management system is being used as an adaptive management tool.  Risks may be of a financial, socio-political, institutional, operational, environmental (or other) type.

Cross-cutting issues:

• Governance: How has the project facilitated the participation of the local communities in natural resource management and decision making processes;
• Promotion of gender equity: Has the project considered gender sensitivity or equal participation of man and women and boys and girls in decision making processes;
• Capacity development of participants and target beneficiaries, communications and use of technology.

Lessons and Recommendations:

• The evaluator will present lessons and recommendations on all aspects of the project s/he considers relevant. with special attention given to analysing lessons and proposing recommendations on aspects related to factors that contributed to or hindered attainment of project objectives, sustainability of project benefits, innovation, catalytic effect and replication, the role and effectiveness of M & E and adaptive management in project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The evaluator conducting the TE for this Project will be an international consultant with in depth understanding of UNDP and GEF projects, including evaluation experience.  S/he will be responsible for developing the evaluation methodology, conducting the evaluation and delivering the key products expected from the evaluation.  The evaluator will work with a small consultative group from PCU and UNDP Seychelles.  The evaluation exercise will be supported and facilitated by the Project Manager and International Technical Advisor to the project, in conjunction with Programme Coordination Unit and UNDP Seychelles.  The consultant will sign an agreement with UNDP to undertake the Biodiversity Project TE and will be bound by its terms and conditions set out in the agreement.
• The evaluator selected for the assignment should not have participated in the project preparation and/or implementation and should not have any conflict of interest with project related activities.
• See Detailed TOR on the link http://www.mu.undp.org/content/mauritius_and_seychelles/en/home/operations/procurement/

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UNs values and ethical standards;
• Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

• Operational effectiveness;
• Solid knowledge of financial and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration;
• Ability to lead business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems (business Management and Leadership;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An MSc (minimum requirement) or higher degree in Environment, Natural Resource Management or related fields, and adequate experience in the management, design and/or evaluation of comparable natural resources management projects.

Experiences:

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant working experience is required.
• In-depth understanding of land and environment issues in tropical/subtropical and island environments (particular experience with Small Island Developing States and in the Western Indian Ocean is an advantage).
• Experience with biodiversity mainstreaming, or similar environmental projects involving engagement of land use agencies and private sector interests is an advantage.
• Prior experience in the evaluation of international technical assistance projects with major donor agencies, including UNDP-GEF projects.
• Demonstrated ability to assess complex situations, succinctly distil critical issues, and draw forward-looking conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to deliver quality reports within the given time.

Language:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;
• Good knowledge of French is advantageous.

Evaluation timeframe: 

• The total duration of the evaluation will be 30 working days over approximately 2.5 month according to the following plan (for details see Annex 4):  Expected date of contract  20 March 2015.

Activity: Preparation;
Timing: 3 days;
Completion date: 25th March 2015.

Activity: Evaluation Mission to Seychelles;
Timing: 15 days;
Completion date: 15th April  2015.

Activity: Draft Evaluation Report;
Timing: 8 days;
Completion date: 28th April 2015.

Activity: Final Report;
Timing: 4 days;
Completion date: 10th  May 2015.

TE is expected to deliver the following:

Deliverable: Inception Note.
Content: Evaluator clarifications on timing and method.
Timing: No later than 1 week before the evaluation mission.
Responsibilities: Evaluator submits to UNDP CO.

Deliverable: Presentation.
Content: Initial Findings.
Timing: End of evaluation mission.
Responsibilities: To project management, UNDP CO.

Deliverable: Draft Final Report.
Content: Full report, (per annexed template) with annexes.
Timing: Within 2 weeks of the evaluation mission.
Responsibilities: Sent to CO, reviewed by RTA, PCU, GEF FPs.

Deliverable: Final Report.
Content: Revised report.
Timing: Within 1 week of receiving UNDP comments on draft.
Responsibilities: Sent to CO.

An outline for the final report is given in Annex 5.  

Evaluator Ethics:

• Evaluation consultant will be held to the highest ethical standards and are required to sign a Code of Conduct (Annex 6) upon acceptance of the assignment. UNDP evaluations are conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the 2008 UNEG Ethical Guidelines for Evaluations.

Scope of Price Proposal

A financial proposal has to be submitted by offerors which specifies:

• Daily Fee. The Daily fee should be all inclusive. The term “All inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances, communications, consummables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the consultant wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. (For information only, the UN Daily Subsistence Allowance at the duty station is 363 USD as of January 2015.)
• An IC Time Sheet must be submitted by the Contractor, duly approved by the Individual Contractor’s supervisor, which shall serve as the basis for the payment of fees (as per template)

Payment modalities and specifications:

%: 20%.
Milestone: At contract signing (due date March 2015).  

%: 50%.
Milestone: Following submission and approval of the 1st draft terminal evaluation report (April 2015).  

%: 30%.
Milestone:  Following submission and approval (UNDP-CO and UNDP RTA) of the final terminal evaluation report Aug 2015.

Prior to the final payment, sign-off is required as per Annex 7.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

Applicants are requested to apply online http://jobs.undp.org. Individual consultants are invited to submit applications as per the below requirements.

• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (e-mail and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment;
• Financial Proposal supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.  

All Applicants will be requested to submit a price offer indicating their proposed daily fee rate for the assignment.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer:

Following UNDP procurement rules, both technical competence (70%) and the consultant daily fee rate (30%) will be taken into account in the selection process.  The Technical Evaluation will be based on the following Evaluation Criteria.

• Masters or equivalent in Environmental sciences or agricultural sciences, environmental management: 15 marks;
• 5 years minimum field  experience in project development and/or evaluation and/or implementation  preferably in the field of biodiversity conservation and protected areas: 25 marks;
• Minimum of 5 Project Evaluations of which 3 must be GEF related: 25 marks;
• Experience and skills in multi-stakeholder and participatory approaches in project management especially in SIDS: 15 marks;
• Proficiency in English and workable knowledge of French: 10 marks;
• Knowledge of UNDP and GEF projects evaluations and procedures an advantage: 10 marks;
• Total: 100 marks.

Important Note:

• Interested offeror is strongly advised to view the general terms and conditions of IC and  templates to be included when submitting offer from the CO website at http://www.mu.undp.org/content/mauritius_and_seychelles/en/home/operations/procurement/ ;
• Interested offerors above the age of 62: UNDP regulations require, at their own cost, to undergo a full medical examination including x-rays. Medical evaluation documentation does not need to be submitted with the other requested documents listed above, but will be requested should the candidate be chosen;
• Interested offeror is required to submit application via UNDP jobsite system, because the application screening and evaluation will be done through UNDP jobsite system;
• Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file. Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary.