Background
Available evidence and decisions adopted by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) indicate a significant gap in finance for biodiversity management – a major barrier for countries to scale up their efforts and achieve the 20 Aichi Targets defined in the CBD’s Strategic Plan for 2011-2020. While various global and national estimates exist, detailed national-level (bottom-up) assessments are required to provide more robust information on the biodiversity finance gap, fully taking into account the effects of the enabling policy environment. These need to be followed by significant national campaigns to mobilise the necessary resources to fill this gap.
In this context, at COP-11 in October 2012, UNDP and the European Commission (EC) launched a new partnership project “Building Transformative Policy and Financing Frameworks to Increase Investment in Biodiversity Management” that seeks to build a sound business case for increased investment in the management of ecosystems and biodiversity at the national level. With the Governments of Germany, Switzerland, Norway and Flanders having joined this project since, it has grown into a multi-partner global endeavour – the UNDP-managed Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN, set to run up to 2018.
Led by the UNDP biodiversity team and additional experts, an entirely new methodological framework has been developed for assessing – at national level – the biodiversity-relevant enabling context, baseline expenditures in biodiversity, biodiversity finance needs & gaps, and the suitability of financial mechanisms; and for establishing a policy engagement process that will lead to the adoption of the recommendations expected to emerge from these BIOFIN assessments.
At present 19 core countries participate in BIOFIN. A further 10 countries have started initial discussion to roll out national level activities. Based on the lessons drawn from national implementation, the methodological framework is regularly refined, and disseminated for wider application through global and regional workshops, and two important online platforms, the NBSAP Forum and the BIOFIN website.
BIOFIN is hosted by the Ecosystems and Biodiversity (EBD) cluster under the Sustainable Development Group of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), responsible for providing leadership and technical support to engineer delivery of the Environment and Sustainable Development pillar of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.
UNDP-GEF is seeking an Expert on Knowledge Management and Monitoring and Evaluation to develop a Knowledge Management Strategy and products, and to further develop and apply the M&E Plan for BIOFIN.
Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities
The Consultant will be primarily home-based and work under the supervision of the BIOFIN Deputy Manager, with limited missions to regional/global meetings and UN offices.
The Consultant will work with the global BIOFIN team, as well as, national BIOFIN and NBSAP teams as applicable, pilot BIOFIN and donor country governments, other international/multi-lateral organisations, and contractors on the following:
- Develop a Knowledge Management Strategy for BIOFIN, outlining the overall knowledge management structure and products;
- Produce further knowledge management products in line with the strategy;
- Expand and help implement the BIOFIN Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, including updating the logical framework to reflect the current scope of activities, and practical tools to monitor and evaluate BIOFIN activities, and develop and maintain specific monitoring tools, including a plan for their use.
Key Deliverables:
General:
- Initial workplan with updated timings for all deliverables (one month after commencing assignment);
- End-of assignment report (3- 5 pages) and handover notes, covering knowledge management/M&E issues, recommendations for improvement and follow up items for BIOFIN team (to be submitted one week before the latest contract expiration date).
Knowledge Management:
- By September 2015, a draft Knowledge Management Strategy for BIOFIN, developed through a consultative process with donors, the Global BIOFIN Team and national counterparts, identifying the most suitable KM products to be developed. Develop a final version of the strategy by November 2015. The strategy needs to include amongst others a proposed system for knowledge sharing within and outside of the global BIOFIN team and for BIOFIN country teams, recommended knowledge management products, such as a web-platform on biodiversity finance, online trainings, templates for knowledge products and practical guidance on knowledge management;
- Develop a concept note for an online knowledge management platform on biodiversity finance, in consultation with the global UNDP Sustainable Development Finance Team, to be produced in cooperation with an IT expert and global team members (by November 2015);
- Support the development of an online training programme on the BIOFIN methodology (by December 2015);
- Develop a template for BIOFIN case studies and produce by December 2015 at least 6 case studies on lessons learned from implementation in BIOFIN countries, on average around one per month, and produce at least 10 case studies by April 2016. The case studies need to identify how the BIOFIN methodology was applied, which unique features were in place in the country that triggered adaptation, and what have been positive results as well as what did not work.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- By October 2015, an updated M&E Plan including an updated logical framework and impact indicators developed, and practical tools developed in consultation with global and national BIOFIN stakeholders and the UNDP-GEF Results and Knowledge Specialist for Ecosystems & Biodiversity;
- Recurring tasks: Regular updating of the country progress monitoring tool, and support the Deputy Manager with collecting, reviewing and preparing inputs for donor reporting;
- Develop an analytical report (12-15 pages) for UNDP and donors on the impact of BIOFIN up to the end of 2015 (by April 2016);
- Support with the organisation of the BIOFIN Terminal Evaluation mid-2016;
- Support other global team members with carrying out capacity assessments;
- Carry out evaluations of key events such as global and regional workshops;
- Developing other M&E products as required.
Information on Working Arrangements:
- Estimated level of effort including travel days: 150 days;
- 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 limited mission travel;
- The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for 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 outputs and a certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Supervisor on days worked and outputs delivered to satisfaction.
Travel:
- Limited travel to BIOFIN activities at the national, regional and global level may be required;
- Any necessary mission travel must be approved in advance and in writing by the Supervisor;
- The Advanced and Basic Security in the Field II courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
- Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
- Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/ ;
- Consultants are responsible for obtaining any visas and security clearances needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
- The consultant will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements (including travel claims) 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 for consultants. Costs for airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in the financial proposal.
Payment Schedule:
- Initial work plan - Due one month after commencing assignment – 8%;
- A draft Knowledge Management Strategy for BIOFIN – Due By September 2015 - 5%;
- An updated M&E Plan including an updated logical framework and impact indicators developed, and practical tools developed – Due by October 2015 - 8%;
- Deliver final version of the Knowledge Management Strategy – Due by November 2015 - 5%;
- Develop a concept note for an online knowledge management platform on biodiversity finance – Due by November 2015 - 8%;
- Support the development of an online training programme on the BIOFIN methodology – Due by December 2015 - 8%;
- Develop a template for BIOFIN case studies and produce at least 6 case studies on lessons learned from implementation in BIOFIN countries – Due by December 2015 - 8%;
- Develop a draft analytical report (12-15 pages) for UNDP and donors on the impact of BIOFIN up to the end of 2015 – Due by January 2016- 7%;
- Produce a further 4 case studies - Due by April 2016 - 8%;
- Deliver final version of analytical report (12-15 pages) for UNDP and donors on the impact of BIOFIN up to the end of 2015 – Due by April 2016 - 7%;
- Support with the organisation of the BIOFIN Terminal Evaluation mid-2016 - 8%.
Recurring tasks:
- Regular updating of the country progress monitoring tool, and support the Deputy Manager with collecting, reviewing and preparing inputs for donor reporting - 4%;
- Support other global team members with carrying out capacity assessments - 4%;
- Carry out evaluations of key events such as global and regional workshops - 4%;
- Developing other M&E products as required - 4%;
- End-of assignment report (3- 5 pages) and handover notes, covering knowledge management/M&E issues, recommendations for improvement and follow up items for BIOFIN team (to be submitted one week before the latest contract expiration date) - 4%.
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:
- Advanced editing skills;
- Good command of commonly used design and publishing software packages;
- Computer literacy for Microsoft Office Package or equivalent;
- Demonstrated skills in writing news articles, press releases, success stories, newsletters, communication strategies and programmatic reports.
Professionalism:
- Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
- Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
- Exercise the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.
Communication:
- Excellent writing and verbal communication skills;
- Communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.
Teamwork:
- Works well in a team to advance the priorities of BIOFIN and UNDP as a whole;
- Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
- Focuses on results for the client;
- Welcomes constructive feedback.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master’s degree in knowledge management, development studies, environmental science, statistics, economy or other closely related field; (Max: 5 points)
Experience:
- At least 5 years of professional experience in knowledge management and/or monitoring and evaluation, preferably in the environmental field; (Max: 10 points);
- Proven ability to develop knowledge management products such as case studies, success stories, capacity assessments or training materials; (Max: 5 points);
- Demonstrated experience with the development and application of Monitoring and Evaluation concepts and tools, including Results-Based Management, project evaluations and logical frameworks/indicators; (10 points);
- Previous work experience with UNDP and/or related organizations is a strong asset. (Max: 5 points).
Language:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language; (3 Points);
- Good command of Spanish or Portuguese is 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 technical criteria will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30%;
- The technical criteria (education, experience, languages [max 40 points], interview [max 25 points], and submission of work samples [max 10pts]) will be based on a maximum 75 points. Only the top 5 candidates from the review of the education, experience, languages will be considered for the interview and submission of writing samples;
- Applicants obtaining 70% of the combined total technical points (education, experience, languages, interview and submission of work samples) 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) to be downloaded from the below link. 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.
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: