Background

In the spirit of the Joint Declaration of Intent of Durban, and to respond to the complex and evolving challenges of deforestation, a group of donor countries have created the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) to coordinate their efforts and to deliver aid more efficiently through supporting the implementation of integrated, ambitious, high quality national low emission and/or REDD+ investment frameworks. The framework for this Initiative is defined by a Joint Declaration endorsed by the Central African and Donors countries.

Within this context and in order to scale up funding support, a CAFI Multi-Partner Trust Fund (CAFI MPTF) is established to reduce aid fragmentation and increase predictability through multi-year country-based financing strategies.

As agreed in the CAFI TORs the Secretariat of CAFI will commission two separate assessment reports (double blind process) on the proposed National Investment Framework by two independent international experts with proven experience and expertise in REDD+ processes.

The review should:

  • Be independent;
  • Reflect the objectives and investment criteria of CAFI;
  • Provide knowledge and experience for interested stakeholders, including members and observers of the CAFI.

It is recognized that the investment plans are country-owned. The main objective of the assessment is to support the development of a high-quality investment framework and ensure that the investment frameworks meet the objectives, principles and criteria of CAFI.

These procedures complement the procedures for the preparation of independent assessment of programs developed to implement the country investment frameworks. As a result, the eligibility assessment of country investment frameworks is expected to be less detailed and less focused on operational aspects. Instead it should seek to assess whether the investment frameworks as a whole have the potential to meet the objectives of CAFI (emission reductions and development co-benefits).

Duties and Responsibilities

The reviewers will conduct an eligibility assessment of the first complete version of the Country Investment Framework of GABON in accordance with the procedures adopted by the CAFI Executive Board (see Procedures for the preparation of the independent eligibility assessment of the investment plans under the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI)). The reviewer should familiarize him/herself with the CAFI programming modalities, investment criteria, terms of reference, M&E framework and other documents provided by the Secretariat prior to undertaking this work.

The expert reviewers should assess whether the investment framework is consistent with CAFI objectives, principles and investment criteria agreed in the CAFI Terms of Reference : http://mptf.undp.org/factsheet/fund/AFI00.

The reviewers may also be requested to participate in one or more meetings of the CAFI Executive Board, to present the outcomes of the review, offer advice, and serve as expert for any discussion or questions that arise on review methods, results, or general technical issues. Such participation may be arranged through video-conference.

The reviewers should:

  • Make all efforts to support the development of high quality investment frameworks;
  • Work in his or her personal capacity and perform duties in an objective, neutral and professional manner;
  • Disclose any potential conflict of interest relating to review activities;
  • Protect any confidential information provided in the course of the reviews both during and after the term of service; and
  • Each individual expert selected to review an investment framework should complete his or her review according to the agreed criteria.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Demonstrate integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

  • Extensive knowledge of evaluation methods;
  • Strong analytical skills and ability to deliver high quality reports;
  • Understanding of REDD+, climate change and the dynamics of sector policies behind drivers of forest loss in Central Africa;
  • Understanding of DRC/Gabonese government systems;
  • Ability to work efficiently and independently under pressure, handle multi-tasking with strong delivery orientation.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree in economics, environmental management, development studies or related field.

Experience:

  • At least 7 years of experience in forests, climate change or development in Central Africa;
  • Demonstrated experience in the development or analysis of the following, national development strategies, low emission development strategies, national REDD+ strategies or the implementation/operational plan of any of the above or large scale program development (for example FCPF ER program, FIP), analysis of drivers of deforestation and forest degradation;
  • Policy option analysis and prioritization, results frameworks and result indicators;
  • Risk analysis and management;
  • Governance framework and implementation arrangements for climate change or REDD+;
  • Socio- environmental safeguards including gender aspects.

Languages:

  • Fluency in English is required;
  • Knowledge of French is an asset.

Application Procedures

All applications must contain the following information in one word or PDF document (as the system only allows to upload maximum one document) combining the following: