UNDP Jobs - 59627- Consultancy Firm-Consultancy on State of the Envir

Consultancy Firm-Consultancy on State of the Environment in Guyana

Location :

GUYANA

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

28-Sep-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

60 days level of effort

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 economy of Guyana and the livelihoods of her people largely depend on the utilization of her rich natural resource base. This resource base is increasingly under pressure from human activities, resulting in environmental degradation, depletion, and impacts on human health. It is therefore imperative that Guyana ensures the sustainable use, effective management, conservation, and protection of its natural resources and the environment.

One of the key challenges is a lack of up-to-date information and baseline data to drive informed decision-making at all levels. Existing information is often out of date, too general in coverage and rarely centralized. In a climate of limited human and financial resources, maximizing synergies and avoiding duplication of effort is critical to the smart allocation of both funds and time.

Two kinds of reports are essential in that regard. A Country Environmental Profile (CEP) captures and provides an overview of a country's environmental situation, current policies, institutional capacities and environmental co-operation experience with clear recommendations for the integration of the environment in the economic and others sectors. A SoE Report present a critical analysis of current specific condition of the environment; the pressures and the drivers; the management initiatives and systems in place to address environmental concerns, and the impacts of those initiatives. Both of these are important tools used for providing up to date and accurate information for decision-making and monitoring, as well as report on progress made towards achieving sustainable development.

While there exist a ‘Guyana Country Environmental Profile’ (European Commission, 2006), a Guyana ‘Climate Change Country Profile’ (UNDP, 2010) and a ‘National Environmental Summary’ (UNEP 2010), these become of limited utility if not regularly updated and utilized by all stakeholders.

An updated CEP for Guyana could serve as a central repository for the latest available data in the environment/natural resources sector. The compilation of this data would also clearly underline significant information gaps which should be addressed by future research and/or significant legal and regulatory gaps which should be considered by relevant government institutions.

In accordance with the Environmental Protection Act of 1996, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with preparing SoE reports. Since the establishment of the EPA in 1996, only one SoE report was prepared in 2006, emphasizing the need for a much more current analysis of the state of the environment in Guyana. The focus of the SoE was the Demerara Watershed.

This consultancy proposes to comprehensively update Guyana’s CEP and prepare the second SoE by end 2015. Broad stakeholder engagement could ensure that these documents are: a) widely utilised and b) as complete as possible with regards to content. Regular comprehensive updates will ensure that these documents never outlive their usefulness. Moreover, broad stakeholder engagement on the formulation of the CEP and SoE will help to drive stakeholder communication and coordination with respect to environmental initiatives and projects in Guyana. This should be useful in avoiding duplication of activities and ensuring greater synergy for the future.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of, and reporting directly to the Programme Specialist, the Consultancy on State of the Environment in Guyana will be responsible for preparing two reports:

Country Environmental Profile report;
State of Environment report.

Specific Tasks and Deliverables:

Develop an Inception Report (inclusive of methodology, process and schedule for the assignment)

Hold consultations with DNRE and UNDP;
Hold consultations with other relevant stakeholders as indicated by DNRE and UNDP;
Develop an itinerary for visits to relevant stakeholders.

Deliverable 1:

Within five days of signing the contract: An Inception Report detailing the methodology, process and schedule to be followed for the assignment submitted to UNDP for approval

Carry out an analytical and results-based assessment of Guyana’s environmental situation, current policies, institutional capacities and environmental co-operation experience with clear recommendations for the integration of the environment into the economic and others sectors.

Deliverable 2:

A Country Environmental Profile report to include, but not limited to:

Overview of environmental setting, demographics and socio-economic context;
Institutional Framework (context and structure), considering relevant legal, regulatory and policy aspects. List of key laws, acts and regulations, with links, where possible to these documents;
Mapping of key donors/stakeholders, with list of completed and on-going projects they are engaged in. Links to project reports and findings should also be included;
List of key academic (or other) publications and studies related to the environment/natural resources sector. Links included, where possible;
Capture and document traditional, indigenous knowledge;
Natural resource base (forests, water - coastal and marine - biodiversity, etc.);
Economic uses of natural resources using a watershed-based analytical approach;
Pollution and environmental health aspects related to economic uses;
Climate, rainfall; seasons; exposure to extreme weather conditions;
Identification of key bottlenecks and challenges.

Carry out a critical analysis of current specific condition of the environment; the pressures and the drivers; the management initiatives and systems in place to address environmental concerns, and the impacts of those initiatives.

Deliverable 3:

A State of Environment report to include, but not limited to:

The issues most relevant to the sustainability of Guyana's natural resources and the environment as highlighted by the CEP;
DPSIR analyses/Social-ecological resilience analyses (social, ecological/environment, economic and governance factors) as it; relates to watershed management, resource use/livelihoods and development of productive/economic and other sectors, as well as opportunities (e.g. eco-tourism);
Recommendations for current and future governance and management, including the role of the private sector: classified sites, Environment Management Systems, development of eco-industries, clean taxes, CSR initiatives.

Candidate consultancy firms are invited to submit proposals. A Contract for Professional Services will be issued according to the specifications in the Terms of Reference.

Deliverables Schedule

The consultancy firm is expected to deliver the following key results:

September 28th: The inception report for the current consultancy.
November 27th: First draft of two high quality reports “Guyana Country Environmental Profile” and “State of Environment”.
December 11th: Final version of two high quality reports “Guyana Country Environmental Profile” and “State of Environment”.

The reports should each be approximately 200 pages in length (minus the annexes) and delivered to UNDP Guyana in electronic format (Word file). They should also include full data set as a Stata or Excel file (if applicable), bibliography with complete references for any data or examples used and full documentation for all sources drawn upon. The consultancy firm will provide UNDP Guyana with any relevant codes and detailed technical note for the data used.

The consultancy firm will submit a draft of the reports that is of high quality both in content and written English. The consultancy firm will be asked to participate in key consultations with stakeholders to discuss the work.

Institutional Arrnagements

Direct Supervisor:

Programme Specialist, UNDP

If there are field travel requirement, project will cover expenses.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The contractor will be paid accordingly to the submission of the deliverables as per the table detailing the expected outcomes and based on the total number of days worked and reported at the agreed upon rate and as per the target due date;
Payments are directly linked to deliverables;
Submit price proposal in an all-inclusive fee, supported by a breakdown of costs;
Contract price is fixed regardless of change in the costs components;
The contract signed does not involve any fees in advance at the beginning of the consultancy;
If travel is required for field work in Guyana, the costs will be covered by the project.

Deliverables:

Inception report (Estimated date: 28 September 2015)
Level of Effort (Days): 5
% of total payment: 20

First draft of two high quality reports “Guyana Country Environmental Profile” and “State of Environment (Estimated date: 27 November 2015)
Level of effort: 45 days
% of total payment: 50%

Final version of two high quality reports “Guyana Country Environmental Profile” and “State of Environment (Estimated date: 11 December 2015)
Level of effort: 10 days
% of total payment: 30%

All payments will be effective 5 days after delivery of product and the approval of direct supervisor

Competencies

Demonstrated ability to conduct empirical research prepare reports to be used by Government;
Ability to coordinate inputs from different agencies and present comprehensive report;
Able to communicate the results in a manner that is easily understood by all parties;
Able to interact with all parties in a sensitive and effective way;
Able to complete work within required timeframes.

Required Skills and Experience

Educaton:

Master’s degree in Natural or Applied Science, Environment, Geography, Development, Economics, or other closely related fields;
Ph.D. will be an asset.

Experience:

At least seven years of relevant work experience in environment, natural resource management, development, economics, or other related field;
Expert knowledge of the bio-physical, economic and social context in Guyana. Previous experience preparing SoE and CEP.

Language:

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.