Background

Some 140+ countries have accessed the Global Environmental Facility’s (GEF) Biodiversity Enabling Activities (BD EA) with the aim of updating their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and fulfilling other related obligations under the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The new generation of NBSAPs being now produced will be aligned with the Aichi Targets that were agreed upon by CBD Parties during the COP10 in Nagoya, as part of the CBD’s Strategic Plan.

The project relates to Aichi Target 17, which predicates the development, adoption and initial implementation of NBSAPs as effective policy instruments for biodiversity mainstreaming. Target 17 relates to all other Aichi Targets with respect to biodiversity policy development. UNDP and UNEP are the two main GEF agencies for BD EA. They noted that countries that accessed GEF funds for preparing their Post-Nagoya NBSAPs count on uneven levels of technical support for the task, in spite of current and growing demand for support services within the framework of their BD EA. Most countries receive only basic technical and operational support, while others, in particular those that accessed GEF funding directly, receive no support at all. Yet, experience shows that support is vital for a successful outcome of policy-oriented projects. Through close collaboration, UNDP and UNEP obtained GEF funding for a new and joint global initiative that will address the technical support issue and make thereby a key contribution to the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Target 17 at the global level. Refer to the approved UNPD-UNEP Medium Size Project (in the GEF’s page and to the complete MSP file).

The project cements the ‘NBSAP global partnership’', together with the CBD Secretariat, a key partner in the equation. It will also provide quality and focused technical support to all countries that have accessed—or will access—GEF resources for BD EA. An important mechanism for support provision in the context of this partnership is the NBSAP Forum (http://nbsapforum.net). Given its global nature, the project implementation is carried out in close collaboration with UNEP, in particular with UNEP’s Centre of Excellence, World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), plus UNEP-GEF other relevant UNEP divisions

UNDP would like to engage a junior consultant to carry out a number of tasks under NBSAP Forum project as described within this TOR.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective

Provide support to the NBSAP Forum Team on communications, knowledge management, organization, content development and data tracking, and monitoring and evaluation.

Scope of Work:

  • Support the Project Coordinator and NBSAP Forum Moderator to populate, maintain and moderate content on the NBSAP Forum website;
  • Support EBD Senior Technical Advisor, NBSAP Project Coordinator and NBSAP Communications Expert on communications work related to the above point,  drafting press releases, talking points, conducting research for op-ed, preparing PowerPoint presentations drafts, preparing  tweets, blogs and video messages related to NBSAP project, text and photos, photo essays for NBSAP Forum website, Twitter account, support to develop NBSAP Forum Newsletter etc.;
  • Draft speeches and talking points, and create presentations to support a variety of meetings and workshops related to NBSAP project;
  • Conduct focused literature review and research related to biodiversity and ecosystems, with a focus on protected areas, biodiversity finance, biodiversity resilience, communications and NBSAPs;
  • Define, gather and organize key data related to NBSAPs;
  • Develop and document best practices and lessons learned from across the UNDP portfolio, including developing best practices related to protected areas, NBSAPs, biodiversity finance and other related topics, and upload these onto the NBSAP Forum;
  • Provide support to the development, editing and production of one or more publications on biodiversity-related themes, including on topics related to protected areas, biodiversity planning, ecosystem services and/or resilience, among others.

Key Deliverables:

  • Press releases, research briefs, text for tweets, blogs and video messages, text and photos for websites and photo essays;
  • Draft speeches, briefing notes, and Power Point presentations;
  • Define key data related to NBSAPs;
  • Draft content for NBSAP Forum, events and publications;
  • Develop and document best practices and lessons learned.

Information on Working Arrangements:

  • Estimated level of effort including travel days: 150 days per year;
  • The initial contract would be for one year with an option for renewal in the subsequent year dependent on demand for services and satisfactory performance evaluation;
  • The consultant will work from home with possible mission travel;
  • The consultant will report to, and be directly supervised by the EBD Senior Technical Advisor;
  • The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
  • 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;
  • Payments will be made upon submission of a detailed time sheet and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Senior Technical Advisor Ecosystems and Biodiversity on days worked and outputs delivered.

Travel:

  • International travel may be required to attend various relevant meetings  which, in total, will likely not exceed 15 days in a 12-month period;
  • Any necessary missions must be approved in advance and in writing by the EBD  Senior Technical Advisor;
  • The Advanced and Basic Security in the Field II courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
  • The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that s/he has the necessary vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
  • The incumbent is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
  • Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/;
  • The incumbent will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;
  • All related travel expenses will be supported by the project travel fund and will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations upon submission of an F-10 claim form and supporting documents.  Costs for airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in financial proposal.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

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

Technical Competencies:

  • Strong technical knowledge of Microsoft Excel.  Able to work on data-heavy Excel worksheets with ease and accuracy;
  • Data management and quality assurance;
  • Excellent overall computer skills.

Professionalism:

  • Works toward creative solutions by analysing problems carefully and logically – inspires and fosters innovation;
  • Has a dynamic, positive and adaptive attitude towards work-related challenges, bringing innovative and effective solutions to them;
  • Facilitates meetings effectively and efficiently;
  • Resolves conflicts as they arise;
  • Sets priorities, produces quality outputs, meets deadlines and manages time efficiently;
  • Highly organized, detailed oriented.

Communication:

  • Writes and presents clearly and convincingly.

Client Orientation:

  • Maintains strong relationships with partners and clients.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in environmental management, biology, economics, social/political sciences, international relations, development studies, economics, administration & management or other related expertise areas (max 10 points);
  • Master’s degree in environmental management, biology, economics, social/political sciences, international relations, development studies, economics, administration & management or other related expertise areas would be an advantage (max 5 points).

Experience:

  • At least 1 year of  experience (employment, internships, apprenticeships) in communications, knowledge management, organization, content development and data tracking, and/or monitoring and evaluation (max 5 points);
  • Knowledge of online communication, networking and collaboration tools (max 5 points);
  • Experience in delivering draft speeches, talking points and presentations to support a variety of meetings and workshops is an advantage (max 10 points);
  • Experience in data collection/analyses (max 10 points);
  • Experience in conducting research, summarizing material and literature review is an advantage (max 5 points);
  • Any experience with UNDP or a related organization is an advantage (max 5 points);
  • Computer literacy, including MS Office, Internet is a must (max 5 points);

Language:

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language. (max 3 points)
  • Good command of French, Spanish, or Portuguese will be an advantage. (max 2 points).

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 qualifications  will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30% ;
  • The technical criteria (education, experience, language [max 65 points], written test [max 30 points] and interview [max 35 points]) will be based on a maximum 130 points. Only the top 5 candidates scoring 45.5 points or higher from the review of the education, experience, languages will be considered for the written test;
  • Only those obtaining a score of 21 points or higher on the written test will be invited for interview;
  • Applicants obtaining 70% of the combined total technical points (education, experience, languages, written test and interview) will be considered for 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.  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.

Documentation to be submitted:

  • Applicants must submit a duly completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P11);
  • Kindly note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).  Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application.

General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf

UNDP Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc