Background

The Low Emission Capacity Building (LECB) Programme was launched in January 2011 as part of a joint collaboration between the European Union and UNDP.  Since its inception, the LECB Programme has grown both in scope and breadth, now including 25 participating countries, and providing enhanced technical and institutional support through generous contributions from the European Commission and the governments of Germany and Australia. The LECB Programme’s Global Support Unit is part of the larger Green, Low-Emission Climate Resilient Development Strategy team of UNDP and gains insight from, and builds upon, global initiatives already developed by UNDP and donor countries.

This collaborative, country-driven Programme aims to strengthen technical and institutional capacities at the country level, while at the same time facilitating collaboration between the public and private sectors in national/sub-national initiatives that address climate change mitigation.  Partner countries select from five Programme work areas: (i) design Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) in the context of national priorities; (ii) develop greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory management systems; (iii) identify opportunities for nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs); (iv) design systems of measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) for proposed LEDS and NAMAs; and (v) facilitate design and adoption of mitigation actions by selected industries.

In this context, a sub-set of five LECB countries will be undertaking a work component focused on mapping private sector flows that applies a new methodology prepared under the Programme. International technical assistance is sought to assist the countries in applying the methodology and reviewing the results.

Introduction

There is widespread consensus that the private sector must be mobilised to support the transition to low-emission, climate-resilient development if we are to ensure sufficient investment and move towards a greener global economy to limit the average global temperature rise to 2C or less. Indeed, the UNFCCC estimates that more than 85% of all finance to address climate change will need to come from the private sector (UNEP FI discussion paper, 22 May 2012).

The financial sums involved in a rapid shift to a low-emission, climate-resilient economy are considerable but not impossible to achieve. According to the Global Energy Assessment (IIASA, 2012), global investment in energy efficiency and low carbon energy generation, such as renewable energy, currently amounting to approximately US$1.3 trillion per year, will need to increase by 50% to 100% compared to present levels to meet climate and Sustainable Energy for All objectives over the coming decades. Similarly, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Energy Technology Perspectives 2014 finds that an additional US$ 44 trillion in investment is needed to secure a clean-energy future by 2050, but notes that this represents only a small portion of global GDP and is offset by over US$ 115 trillion in fuel savings.

However, the fundamental problem is not just capital generation. The Climate Policy Initiative (2013) reports global climate finance flows of US$ 359 billion, or around US$ 1 billion per day of climate finance is currently being provided to support low-carbon, climate-resilient development (of which the private sector has to date contributed US$224 billion), albeit noting that finance flows are plateauing. Rather, the key challenge of financing the transition toward low-emission and climate-resilient economies is the redirection of existing and planned capital flows from traditional high-carbon to low-emission, climate-resilient investments (Catalyzing Climate Finance, UNDP 2011). This redirection requires addressing private sector concerns around investment risk and putting in place an enabling environment that encourages further private investment through the use of policy and regulatory levers and strategic use of public finance.

The ability to redirect capital should therefore be one of the primary goals and effectiveness indicators of Low Emission, Climate Resilient Development Strategies and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs). However, based on discussions with a number of countries in the LECB programme, one of the main barriers to up-scaling mitigation activities is the lack of national capacities to document real expenditure and assess incremental costs of mitigation action, and then to generate adequate policy innovation in order to allocate sufficient budget to address these costs. Very few developing countries to date are adequately tracking public flows of climate finance, much less tracking private investment. Indeed, most literature and research to date on mobilizing private sector innovation and resources focuses on investor risk and return, rather than addressing the institutional coordination and management challenges that can lead to fragmentation of donor, government, and private sector financial allocations for climate change. More leverage could be achieved by better integrating private flows into the planning and deployment of mitigation financing.

In response to this challenge, the LECB Programme commissioned the following two products in 2014:

• A review of existing diagnostic tools and current research on tracking climate finance;
• A draft methodology for tracking private sector flows.

The methodology is harmonised with UNDP’s Climate Public Expenditure and Institutional Review (CPEIR) framework[1] as well as UNDP’s Investment & Financial Flows methodology[2]. Furthermore, the methodology has benefitted from a technical review from OECD experts, including those leading the Research Collaborative on Tracking Private Climate Finance.

Objective

In moving this work forward, the UNDP LECB Programme is seeking the services of an international consultant to support five countries as they engage stakeholders and apply the draft methodological approach for tracking private sector flows. The five countries are: Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Chile and Ecuador.

[1] http://www.aideffectiveness.org/CPEIR

[2] http://www.undpcc.org/en/financial-analysis/methodology

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the UNDP LECB Programme Manager, and in close collaboration with the national institutions and partners that will undertake the work, and together with UNDP country offices, the international consultant will be responsible for providing the following support services:

Direct technical assistance to participating countries

Desktop/literature review of country information to prepare for initial scoping visit.

Initial scoping visit/kick-off mission to each country to advise national partners during the scoping phase, including:

• Provide overview on ongoing international initiatives regarding private sector financial flows to create common understanding among participating countries;
• Assisting countries to refine the scope of the work, if deemed necessary;
• Assisting in identifying the most appropriate data parameters;
• Providing training on the draft methodology, as needed;
• Advising end-users (i.e. national institutions and government partners) on how they can best apply the findings – whether through: interrogation of incentive systems for ‘greening’ private sector operations; reviewing the efficiency/effectiveness of allocations to private sector entities; and/or shoring up weaknesses or gaps in public policy signals to various private sector actors;

Provide remote/helpdesk advisory role to countries as they undertake the private sector flows analysis.

Provide good practices to assist countries in conducting their analysis.

Undertake second in-country visit to participate in consultations on the draft results; support the national team in advocating/promoting the next steps; and identify any major gaps/issues in the results, as well as how to overcome these.

Provide technical review of the resulting analysis from countries and recommendations for next steps and implementation of results.

The technical assistance will be used to assist countries in delivering results under the outputs described below (List of Deliverables). The UNDP private sector climate finance tracking methodology can be downloaded here: http://www.lowemissiondevelopment.org/docs/UNDP_LECB_Methodology_v_2_Tracking_private_finance.pdf.

Global technical assistance (training, knowledge management & outreach)

The successful candidate will participate in the following meetings to support south-south exchange of experience and outreach to international partners:

• Represent UNDP at 2 meetings of the OECD Research Collaborative on Tracking Private Climate Finance, in Paris (September 2015 and March 2016);
• Lead an exchange workshop for all 5 countries, in Beijing (18 May 2015), using the work package described below.

Additionally, to ensure that the participating countries are consistent in their overall application of the draft methodology, the successful candidate will develop the following work packages:

Training package on applying the draft methodology that includes:

• A proposed agenda for a 1-2 day training that can be adapted to national needs;
• Powerpoint presentations;
• A 1-2 page description of the training that captures the objectives and expectations of the training, as well as recommended participants;
• Due: End April 2015.

Recommended approach(es) for formulating surveys/data collection instruments that countries will employ to collect data for the methodological analysis that will be tailored to country needs during the scoping phase in each country, but which will also assist in cross-country comparisons and analysis.

• Due: April 2015;

Design of 2-day exchange workshop (planned in Beijing, May 2015) that includes:

• Proposed agenda, including concept note describing objectives and expectations of the workshop, as well as recommended participants;
• Powerpoint presentations, and other proposed support materials (e.g. content for any breakout groups, recommended reading, etc);
• Summary report (6-10 pages) that highlights emerging themes and issues, national approaches, challenges, and lessons learned;
• Due: Training materials due end April 2015; summary report due no later than 2 weeks after the meeting is held;

Revised draft methodology (v3)

• That builds upon the lessons learned from the scoping phase in-country and the discussions from the exchange workshop. The revised methodology should incorporate key considerations emerging from the consultation phase as well as concrete examples/case studies of approaches being taken in the participating LECB countries. Due: July 2015;

Final methodology (v4)

That builds upon the lessons learned from the assessment phase in-country, as well as any emerging learning/recommendations from international partners (e.g., outputs of the OECD Research Collaborative). The final draft of the methodology should also provide concrete examples/case studies of approaches being taken in the participating LECB countries. Due: May 2016;

Knowledge product (15-20 pages):

The successful candidate will prepare a short publication that undertakes a comparative assessment of how the participating LECB countries applied the methodology and used the resulting reports, and the factors that contributed to these choices. The publication will include an analysis of the views of the participating countries, including their assessment of challenges, issues, successes, etc. Due: June 2016;

List of Deliverables

• Technical backstopping and review of draft and final products from Chile, Ecuador, Vietnam, Thailand & Indonesia (7.5%);
• Chile:  Scoping phase support, including kick-off and follow-up missions and desktop/literature review of country information (12.5%);
• Ecuador: Scoping phase support, including kick-off and follow-up missions and desktop/literature review of country information (12.5%);
• Vietnam: Scoping phase support, including kick-off and follow-up missions and desktop/literature review of country information (12.5%);
• Thailand: Scoping phase support, including kick-off and follow-up missions and desktop/literature review of country information (12.5%);
• Indonesia: Scoping phase support, including kick-off and follow-up missions and desktop/literature review of country information (12.5%);

Global Support (by Q2 2015) - (20%)

• B.1: Training package on applying the draft methodology:
• B.2: Recommended approach(es) for formulating surveys/data collection instruments;
• B.3: Design of 2-day exchange workshop (planned in Beijing, May 2015) and participation as resource person;
• B.4: Revised draft methodology;

Global support (Q2 2016) 9 (10%)

• B.5: Final draft of methodology;
• B.6: Knowledge product;

Duration of work:

It is roughly estimated that 140 man days is needed to complete the assignment. However, this may be increased or decreased.  Proposer should offer pricing based on their best estimate of man days required to ensure sufficient resources to successfully complete each project.

Competencies

• Expertise on private sector budgetary planning and financial structuring of climate finance, including financial analysis of climate-related investment portfolios;
• Expertise in working with financial data sets, including classifications of these;
• Sound knowledge of, and experience with, designing and implementing capacity building activities on climate finance, including preparation of methodological approaches on private sector finance for climate change activities;
• Working knowledge of UNDP methodologies and approaches to climate finance is an asset;
• Excellent report-writing, communication, and analytical skills in English; Spanish language is an asset;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impacts and results for clients, and responds positively to feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• University Master’s degree in climate change, energy and mitigation, business and finance, environment, and/or a closely related field.

Years of experience:

• Demonstrated experience in working on climate finance and climate change mitigation issues for at least 10 years;
• Demonstrates experience in providing technical assistance to developing countries on climate finance flows;
• Experience working with UN agencies as client is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in spoken and written English;
• Spanish is an asset.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposal:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Proposal: (The responses should be uploaded on the next page of the Jobs site)

• Explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position;
• Provide a brief methodology and process outline  on how you will approach and conduct the work (responses will be evaluated and scored as part of technical evaluation). Maximum 1000 words.

Financial proposal (see instructions below)

Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references

• Applicants must submit their CV or Personal History Form through this Online system.  Click “Apply Now” button, fill in necessary information on the first page, upload the document and click “Submit Application”. Please note that the system takes only one attachment. Scan all documents into a single PDF file to attach.  Alternatively, an updated Curriculum Vitae/Resume must be uploaded;
• To note, a completed PH 11 Form will be required at the time a consultant signs an Individual Contract (IC) or his/her employer, if employed, signs a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) for work associated with this assignment. UN Personal History form (UN PH11) can be downloaded from here(http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.

Financial Proposal:

Lump sum contract:  Applicants are instructed to submit their financial proposal in US Dollars for this consultancy to bpps.procurement@undp.org, using the financial proposal template available here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=45780. The proposals should be sent via email with the following subject heading: “Financial Proposal for Consultant, Technical Assistance for Tracking Private Sector Finance Flows for Low-emission, Climate-resilient Development" by the deadline for this vacancy. Proposals to be received after the deadline may be rejected. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal should be all-inclusive and include a breakdown. The term ‘all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel related expenses, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the financial proposal.

Travel:

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. In general, UNDP will not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

It is roughly estimated that 140 man days is needed to complete the assignment. However, this may be increased or decreased.  Proposer should offer pricing based on their best estimate of man days required to ensure sufficient resources to successfully complete each project.

The assignment is expected to include two missions per country (to the capital cities of the countries, five countries in total) with duration of approximately 3-5 days per mission to support the scoping phase in each country. The scheduling and specific dates of individual missions depend on the availability of the consultant and national counterparts. However, it is anticipated that the missions will be conducted primarily between Q2 to Q4 2015. Missions will be announced with at least one month notification period in order to allow the consultant a reasonable time period to procure flight tickets.

An anticipated timeline is as follows:

• Vietnam scoping phase: April to June 2015;
• Chile scoping phase: June to August 2015;
• Indonesia scoping phase: June to August 2015;
• Ecuador scoping phase: July to September 2015;
• Thailand scoping phase: August to October 2015;
• Furthermore, the assignment will include one mission to Beijing (18-19 May 2015) and two one-day missions to Paris (mid-September 2015 and mid-March 2016).

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis using the following methodologies:

• 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.

* Technical Criteria weight; 70%;

* Financial Criteria weight; 30%;

Technical Evaluation Criteria (70 points total):

• Does the candidate have demonstrated concrete experience in supporting developing country governments on assessments of public and private finance flows to address climate change? (10 points);
• Does the candidate have experience in facilitating private sector engagement for climate change mitigation actions and research? (10 points);
• Has the candidate authored international guidance on approaches to measuring public and private sector climate finance flows? (5 points);
• Does the candidate have experience in working with UN agencies and partner countries on climate finance? (10 points);
• Does the candidate provide an appropriate brief methodology and process outline for completing the assignment within the given timeframe? To what degree does the candidate understand the tasks and ToRs? (35 points).

Note:

Interviews may be conducted with shortlisted candidates with reference to the above criteria.

Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 49 of the obtainable points of 70 points (70%) in technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Evaluation. The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
z = price of the proposal being evaluated

UNDP is applies a fair and transparent selection process that takes into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their price proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores.

Annex - General Terms & Conditions to the Invidual Contract can be accessed through http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.