UNDP Jobs - 59269- International Consultant

International Consultant - Finalization of Programme Document to Support Bangladesh in Building Resilience to Climate Change and Disaster Risk

Location :

Dhaka, BANGLADESH

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

07-Sep-2015

Application Deadline :

01-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

21 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

21 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

There is broad consensus and commitment among the development partners to support the efforts of the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and other stakeholders i.e. civil society, private sector and academia etc. to enhance country’s resilience to disaster and climatic risks. Over the last years, key development partners (DFID, Norway, AusAid, SIDA, EU and UNDP) have supported the GoB in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) through the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme, among other programs. While there is a high level of government commitment the challenges remain massive and increasing with the climate change and developmental obstacles.

UNDP has been working closely with the GoB and many development partners in the field of DRR and CCA and has implemented several projects and programmes that have contributed significantly to reduce disaster and climate risk in Bangladesh. Two noteworthy projects are Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme – I (2004 – 2009) and II (2010 – 2015) (CDMP I and II). Both CDMP I and II were designed to address the felt need of the country and to link the national initiatives with regional (SAARC) and global (HFA 2005 – 2015) initiatives, thus fulfilling national priority needs in line with regional and global frameworks and commitments.

CDMP II will end in 2015. The UNDP team has taken a stock of key achievements and gaps of the programmes, which will be shared in the world conference on disaster reduction in Japan in March 2015. The lessons emphasized the need for renewed attention resilience building on the development achievements Bangladesh has made in recent years. There is also need to tackle the newer risk environment, opportunities, empowerment of vulnerable people, much greater effort in local governance and systematic investment in mainstreaming.

It is anticipated that a project formulation mission in consultation with key stakeholders and development partners will be able draft an ambitious yet pragmatic programme/ project document that addresses the assessed need of the country that will make measurable progress towards a disaster and climate resilient nation.

A disaster and climate resilient nation is prerequisite to achieve Bangladesh’s vision to become a middle income country by 2021. Since 2004, UNDP has been playing a significant role in promoting DRR and CCA related activities from central to local levels through different projects such as CDMP I, CDMP II, ERF, etc.

Since the inception of CDMP I (2004), UNDP has been instrumental in supporting the GoB on policy reform, strengthening institutional mechanisms, capacity development at all levels, and linking disaster with development. CDMP II was more focused on extending and expanding the risk reduction achievements of CDMP I, through a multi-hazard approach to disasters, including climate change risk management, to create and nurture the crucial paradigm shift in disaster management, away from relief and rehabilitation to a more holistic approach to reducing risks and vulnerabilities. The programme aims to generate participatory community assessments, planning and implementation of local risk reduction projects in 340 most vulnerable unions across the country.

CDMP II represents the Government of Bangladesh’s efforts to integrate DRR and CCA measures across the national development agenda. CDMP II was planned for a five-year implementation period between 2010 and 2014, but has been granted a one year no cost extension and will now end in December 2015. The extension was granted to enable a) full use of remaining resources and b) enhanced sustainability of key results and better handover to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

In general, CDMP II was instrumental in assisting GoB in finalizing and enacting the Disaster Management Act (2012), drafting nine Rules based on the DM Act, implementing the National Plan for Disaster Management (2010 – 2015) and addressing local risk reduction through implementation of small scale DRR and CCA mitigation/ adaptation interventions in close partnership with local authorities, community members and I/NGOs.

In the course of implementation, CDMP II further institutionalized the adoption of risk reduction approaches, not only in its host Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), but more broadly across 13 key ministries and agencies.

CDMP II has six outcome areas:

The development of strong, well-managed and professional institutions in Bangladesh that are able to implement a comprehensive range of risk reduction programmes and interventions;
Reduced risk to rural populations through structural and non-structural interventions, empowerment of rural communities and improved awareness of, and planning for, natural hazard events, including the likely impacts of climate change;
Reduced risk to urban populations through structural and non-structural interventions, improved awareness of natural hazard events and the piloting of urban community risk reduction methodologies that target the extreme poor;
Improved overall effectiveness and timeliness of disaster preparedness and response in Bangladesh by strengthening management capacity and coordination, as well as networking facilities at all levels;
Improved and broadened disaster-proofing of development funding in eleven government ministries by generating increased awareness of hazard risks and providing technical information, advisory services and resources to stimulate positive changes in planning and investment decisions over the long-term; and
Community-level adaptation to disaster risks from a changing climate is effectively managed.

With the experiences of implementing CDMP I, II and several other projects, GoB, development partners and UNDP realized that the disaster threat is continuously rising due to physiographic characteristics, socio-economic structures, development activities and changing climatic conditions, etc. Although the number of casualties due to disaster has been substantially reduced in last three decades, the frequency and intensity of disasters and the loss and damage they cause is growing. To mitigate such impending disaster threat due to above mentioned reasons and to sustain development gains and future development investments, GoB, development partners and UNDP realized that further resilience enhancement is a prerequisite to take forward the legacies of CDMP I, II and many other similar initiatives.

The new resilience enhancement programme should be aligned with development priorities set in the new five year development plan (2016 – 2020), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the expected National Plan for Disaster Management (2016 – 2020), UNDAF, CPD and several other policy documents.

Against this backdrop, UNDP fielded a team of international consultants to draft a pragmatic programme document for a new National Resilience Programme in May and June 2015. The team produced a comprehensive framework and project document draft for the programme. The UNDP is now looking for a suitable consultant to conduct a gap analysis of the DRR/CCA landscape in Bangladesh and consult with Government, development partners and UN partners to revise and finalize the project document.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective:

The major objective is to finalize the programme document for a national-scale resilience building programme for Bangladesh with strong government and stakeholder ownership. The specific objectives are:

Conduct a desk-based gap analysis of the disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation programming landscape in Bangladesh;
Conduct consultations with the Government of Bangladesh, development partners and UN partners to revise existing draft project document;
Revise and finalize Programme Document for the new National Resilience Programme.

Scope of Work:

The following list reflects the main activities that the consultant is expected to carry out during the mission:

Preparation

Familiarize herself/himself with the existing draft ProDoc;
Conduct desk review of the current CCA/DRR programming landscape in Bangladesh, based on the National Plan for Disaster Management, project review documents and lessons learnt documents.

Consultation

Consultations with relevant government ministries and agencies, including Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief - Department of Disaster Management, Ministry of Planning; Ministry of Finance; Local Government Division, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, etc;
Meeting with potential development partners (DFID, EU, AusAid, Norwegian Embassy, Swedish Embassy, Japan, China, World Bank, ADB, etc.);
Meetings with UNDP, UN Country Team, and other key UN agencies.

Finalization

Revise ProDoc on the basis of gap analysis and consultations with key partners and submit final version to UNDP;
Present ProDoc to UNDP senior management and Climate Change, Environment and Disaster Cluster.

Deliverables:

A finalized version of existing draft programme document with changes made on the basis of gap analysis and consultations with key government, UN, and development partners.

Supervision and Performance Evaluation:

The consultant will report directly to the UNDP Assistant Country Director, Climate Change, Environment and Disaster cluster, and work closely with the Portfolio Manager on Disaster Risk Management of CCED, UNDP and Project Manager, CDMP/UNDP.

Timeframe and Deadline:
The assignment is for a total of 21 working days from its commencement. The tentative starting date is 2nd week of September 2015.

Breakdown of working days per tasks:

Gap analysis based on key documents, including the National Plan for Disaster Management, project review documents and lessons learnt documents - 05 working days;
Dedicated discussion and joint consultations with relevant stakeholders - 04 working days;
Revise Programme Document on the basis of consultations and gap analysis - 05 days;
Workshop to share draft programme document - 01 working day;
Finalize document and share with UNDP - 06 working days

(Total 21 working days)

Documents:

The Consultant will prepare and submit the documents mentioned above at the end of the assignment. The scope for restructuring of Programme Document should be agreed at the beginning of the assignment and cleared by UNDP. Further work, or revision of the documents, may be required if is considered that the report does not meet the TOR, there are errors of fact or the document is incomplete or not of an acceptable standard.

Input:

CDMP and/or ERF projects of UNDP will provide office space and transport for the consultant as required and also arrange meetings, consultations, and interviews and ensure access to key officials as mentioned in proposed methodology. In addition, CDMP II will bear the cost of arranging consultation meetings, debriefing session and other events as required.

Proposed Payment Schedule:

1st payment (30% of the Total Contract Amount - Upon completion of the Gap analysis based on key documents, including the National Plan for Disaster Management, project review documents and lessons learnt documents and certified by the contract admiminstrator;
Final payment (70% of the Total contract Amount) - Upon completion of Dedicated discussion and joint consultations with relevant stakeholders, Revise Programme Document on the basis of consultations and gap analysis, Workshop to share draft programme document, Finalize document and share with UNDP and certified by the contract administrator.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Professionalism:

Flexibility to make ad-hoc changes as and when the need arises;
Ability to perform under stress;
Willingness to keep flexible working hours;
Ability to engage with high ranking Government Officials and provide policy advisory support services;
Good understanding of disaster management in South Asia / Bangladesh, including field experience;
Full conceptual and practical understanding of activities, legal framework of the government;
Excellent writing skills in the compilation of high level quality documents in the English language;
Demonstrable analytical skills

Teamwork:

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations as a team member, in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect.

Communication:

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
Excellent writing skills in the compilation of high level quality documents in English language.

Corporate Competencies:

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Disaster Management, Public Administration, Social Sciences or relevant field;

Experience:

At least 10 years’ of relevant experience in the area disaster management;
Proven experience in facilitating stakeholder consultations;
Proven experience in programme/project document (ProDoc) and proposal development;
Substantial experience in conducting context and gap analysis for the purpose of programme development;
Knowledge of current disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation issues;
Working experience in government ministries/ departments and UN / international organizations;
Proficiency in the use of the computer.

Language:

Excellent English writing and editing skills.

Evaluation of Candidates:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis: The candidates will be evaluated through Cumulative Analysis method. When using the weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will 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.

**Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% marks i.e. 49 marks in the Technical evaluation would be considered for Financial evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks):

Working Experience in the areas of design, writing and editing of project/programme documents, including gap and context analysis - 30 marks;
Relevant experience in building resilience to climate change and disaster risk and should have knowledge on climate change, disaster and risk reduction issues in South Asia / Bangladesh - 20 marks;
Working experience with stakeholder consultations - 10 marks;
Working experience with UN agencies/ international organization / donor funded projects - 10 marks.

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks):
Financial proposals from all technically qualified candidates will be scored out 30 marks based on the formula provided below. The maximum marks (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal.

All other proposals will receive points according to the following formula:

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.

Important note for Applicants

Interested applicants are requested to submit their financial proposal along with the application. Please note that, application in this system allows to attach only one document. Interested candidates are requested to prepare their CV's and Financial Prioposal as one document and upload that single document (CV + Financial Proposal) while applying.

The template for Financial Proposal can be found in the below link:
http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

Travel:
All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of a most direct economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. 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.