UNDP Jobs - 59115- International Consultant for EIA Capacity Developm

International Consultant for EIA Capacity Development and support in EIA Guides Elaboration

Location :

Bissau, GUINEA-BISSAU

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

07-Sep-2015

Application Deadline :

28-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

42 Working days

Languages Required :

English French Portuguese

Expected Duration of Assignment :

42 Working days

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

The UNDP project, “Strengthening the Capacity and Civil and Political Engagement in Natural Resources Management,” aims to enhance the capacity and engagement in the area of natural resources management, based on the premise that policies, laws, and scientific studies and equipment are worth much less if a decision-making structure does not allow effective use of these tools or if the decision-makers and the citizens are unaware of the power and the utility that these tools provide.

In 2010, the CAIA (Célula de Avaliação do Impacto Ambiental or Environmental Impact Assessment Unit) of Guinea-Bissau initiated the elaboration of environmental assessment guides for nine sectors (hereafter “sectorial guides”): agriculture, water, energy, mining, fishery, petroleum, industries, infrastructure and tourism. The guides aim to provide directives and standards for development and other economic activities in each sector so as to fulfill the international and national legal obligations on the environment. They also provide tools to stakeholders so as to fulfill their rights, in particular in relation to the environment. The guides were elaborated in 2011 and are in need of update and revision. While elaborate guides on environmental impact assessment exist elsewhere in the world, the socioeconomic and natural conditions of Guinea-Bissau---one of the poorest and the most vulnerable to climate change with important contributions to world’s ecosystems---warrant assessment guides tailored to the country.

The same justification applies to elaboration of country-specific guides for: (i) Strategic Environmental Assessment (hereafter “SEA guide”); and (ii) Economic Evaluation of Environmental Impacts (hereafter ”EEE guide”). These guides are to aid the country in integrating environmental and social issues by encouraging evaluation of major strategic options as early as possible in the planning cycle as well as iterative monitoring and planning. The guides would allow identification of the best path for achieving sustainable objectives by assigning economic values and evaluating potential costs. More specifically we are in search of SEA and EEE guides that would:

Ensure a strategic and systemic perspective of environmental aspects, social and economic goals, and sustainability;
Contribute to discussion, identification, and selection of sustainable-development options by taking into consideration environmental, social, institutional and economic factors;
Detect opportunities and strategic risks of the options under consideration and to facilitate the selection processes;
Suggest follow-up programs based on strategic management and monitoring; and

Ensure transparent and participatory processes that involve all relevant stakeholders through dialogues and promote integrated decision making.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant for EIA Capacity Development and Support in EIA Guides Elaboration (hereafter “International Consultant for EIA”) will be responsible for the tasks scheduled as follows:

Elaboration of SEA and EEE guides for Guinea-Bissau (20 days; Guinea-Bissau or home country);
Training of 28 technicians (10 of government officials in the field of environment and 2 persons from each sector targeted by the sectorial guides) on: (i) environmental impact assessment; and (ii) methods and techniques for writing sectorial guides (total 10 days, 8 hours/day; Guinea-Bissau);

2 days on basic principles of environmental impact assessment;
1 day on environmental impact assessment methods;
1 day on national and international safeguard policies;
4 days in the field to practice environmental impact assessment; and
2 days on preparing sectorial guides;

Consultation before training on the training content with 4 trainees selected for this purpose, UNDP and the government (1 day; Guinea-Bissau);
Elaboration of a document that details the follow-up programme for technicians’ EIA capacity building, specifying topics, methods and a calendar (1 day; Guinea-Bissau or home country);
Revision of the Terms of Reference for writers of sectorial guides, specifying the elements required in each of nine sectorial guides and a timetable for tasks leading to completion (2 days; Guinea-Bissau or home country);
Overseeing (in particular technical aspects) and coordinating the revision of sectorial guides undertaken by the writers chosen according to the above Terms of Reference (4 days; preferably in Guinea-Bissau);
Submission of draft SEA, EEE and 9 updated sectorial guides, satisfying the conditions in the Terms of Reference (Annex I) and tailored to the country, to UNDP and the government before their validation/presentation;
Validation/Presentation of the SEA, EEE and 9 updated sectorial guides (2 days; Guinea-Bissau);
Revision of the SEA, EEE and 9 updated sectorial guides by incorporating the comments given during the above validation/presentation (2 days; Guinea-Bissau or home country).

Competencies

Engaging and effective teaching and training skills;
Excellent technical, analytical and editing skills in Portuguese;
Excellent communication skills in Portuguese or Creole;
Strong strategic planning, results-based management and reporting capabilities;
Excellent team player with good interpersonal skills;
Ability to manage workload with minimum supervision;
Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
Ability to accommodate additional demands at short notice;
Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Skills in achieving results through persuading, influencing, & working with others;
Skills in negotiating effectively in sensitive situations; and,
Skills in facilitating meetings effectively and efficiently and to resolve conflicts as they arise.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

Advanced degree(s) (master or Ph.D.) in the field of ecology, environmental science, rural development, education or any other relevant discipline (bachelor’s degree with relevant professional experience in institutional capacity building may be substituted).

Experience:

At least 5 years of experience in application of environmental impact assessment;
Experience in strategic environmental assessment, economic evaluation of environmental impact, environmental audit, environmental monitoring, environmental risk analysis, environmental accounting, and other related fields;
Experience in textbook/manual development;
Experience in lecturing environmental science;
Knowledge of environment and development issues in Guinea-Bissau or the wider region;
Working experience in Guinea-Bissau or in the wider region will be an asset; and,
Experience in working and collaborating with governments in developing countries, and preferably with the UN and other international agencies, will be an asset.

Language requirement:

Excellent knowledge of Portuguese and working knowledge of French or English.

Interest candidates must submit following:

Cover letter (1 page) explaining interest, suitability and availability (precise dates) for this contract;
Curriculum vitae, including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references;
A brief (2-4 page) technical proposal, providing a summary on how the candidate will approach and conduct the work (satisfying the conditions specified in Section 3 Duties and Responsibilities of the Terms of Reference, Annex I)* and a timetable with precise dates for all the tasks under this contract;

The proposal must include:

Specifics of the country relevant to the elaboration of SEA and EEE;
A syllabus for classroom training as well as for field training with keywords for each topic and specificities of suggested locations for field training; and,
Concrete ideas as to how to improve the existing sectorial guides (available upon request to umaro.seidi@undp.org.

Financial proposal:

Financial proposal, preferably consisting of a contract lump sum (with a breakdown including number of days, daily fees, international economy class travel, per diems, etc.). In the case of unforeseeable additional travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses will be agreed upon between the respective business unit and the individual consultant, prior to travel, and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Lowest price and technically compliant offer:

When using this method, the award of a contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as both:

Responsive, compliant and acceptable;
Offering the lowest price.

Cumulative analysis:

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

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

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 point would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Evaluation creteria:

Advanced degree(s) (master or Ph.D.) in the field of ecology, environmental science, rural development, education or any other relevant discipline (bachelor’s degree with relevant professional experience in institutional capacity building may be substituted) - 5pts
At least 5 years of experience in application of environmental impact assessment - 12pts
Experience in strategic environmental assessment, economic evaluation of environmental impact, environmental audit, environmental monitoring, environmental risk analysis, environmental accounting, and other related fields - 12pts
Experience in textbook/manual development - 10pts
Knowledge of the environment and development issues in Guinea-Bissau or the wider region - 10pts
Working experience in Guinea-Bissau or in the wider region will be an asset - 3pts
Experience in working and collaborating with governments in developing countries, and preferably with the UN and other international agencies, will be an asset - 3 pts
Excellent knowledge of Portuguese and working knowledge of French and English - 5pts
Technical proposal - 30pts