Background

UNDP recognizes that the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services and growing risks and impacts of climate change requires the world to urgently invest in a new green development paradigm. Based in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), the UNDP’s Global Environmental Finance (GEF) Unit’s goal is to assist developing countries to transition to green, low emission and climate resilient development. In line with UNDP’s sustainable development mandate, the UNDP-GEF team works closely with UNDP Country Offices, national and local governments, and UN and other partners to support partner countries in accessing a variety of vertical funds for global environment management (Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEFTF), Least Developed Countries Fund, Special Climate Change Fund; Adaptation Fund, Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund), and combining this with other sources of public and private financing (domestic resources, carbon finance, bilateral vertical funds for global environment management, etc.). This financing is used to develop capacity, remove policy and regulatory barriers, and expand/transform green markets in order to increase resilience, reduce poverty and make green, low emission climate resilient development possible. UNDP GEF Staff are organized into five thematic teams (Ecosystems and Biodiversity; Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology; Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development; Water and Ocean Governance; and Chemical and waste) of technical specialists led by Principal Technical Advisors (PTAs). Each PTA supports, guides, and supervises a team of Region-based Senior Technical Advisors (STAs), Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) and Regional Technical Specialists (RTSs).

Based at the UNDP Asia and Pacific Regional Centre, UNDP-GEF Ecosystem and Biodiversity Team in Bangkok provides support to 34 countries in the region as well as to some Arab states.  UNDP supported GEFTF financed projects and programmes are designed to help countries achieve outcomes outlined in UNDP’s Strategic Plan, UNDP country programmes, UNDAFs (United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks) and the GEFTF Focal Area Strategies. In line with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action, these programmes and projects are implemented by national entities - typically a national government agency or department, or on occasion a non-governmental organization or another UN Agency.

The strategic objective of the Ecosystems and Biodiversity (EBD) team is to support the effective management of biodiversity and ecosystem services for Sustainable Development. To achieve this, the team focuses its efforts on three signature programmes: (i) Integrate EBD management into development planning and production sectors to safeguard biodiversity and maintain ecosystem functions that sustain human well-being; (ii) unlock the potential of protected areas, including indigenous and community conserved areas, to conserve biodiversity while contributing to sustainable development; and (iii) manage and rehabilitate ecosystems for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change.

In order to ensure the timely and effective delivery of project concept notes to meet the government's request for support in the 34 countries, services of a Senior Biodiversity Project Development Consultant with proven knowledge and understanding of access and benefit sharing (ABS) of genetic resources is required for targeted short-term support for project concept development in Philippines, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective:

Under overall guidance of the EBD RTAs for Asia and the Pacific, and in close collaboration with the country offices (COs), the senior consultants will provide technical support to national and regional governments for development of GEF financed project concepts that meet the standard eligibility criteria of the GEF biodiversity, land degradation and sustainable forest management focal areas, as well as to meet objectives set under the UNDP EBD Strategic Framework (2012-2020) and country programmes.

Scope of Work:

For this assignment, each Senior Consultant is primarily responsible for the following tasks:

  • Engage in consultations with project/programme proponents (governments), Country Offices (COs) and RTAs, to understand governments needs and agree on a project scope and project framework;
  • Support development of Project Identification Forms (PIFs) for the three countries;
  • Revise PIFs based on comments received from RTA, COs and the governments before internal UNDP submission and GEF submission;
  • Support the Social and Environmental Screening Process following the UNDP format and incorporate action points within the Project Preparatory Grant (PPG) Initiation Plan (IP);
  • Take the lead in development of PPG IPs for the three projects;
  • Provide technical support to the COs and project counterparts on specific technical issues related to project development.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

The expected outputs from this assignment are:

  • UNDP technically cleared PIF and SESP for Cambodia. (Expected Due Date: February 2016);
  • UNDP technically cleared PIF and SESP for the Philippines. (Expected Due Date: March 2016);
  • UNDP technically cleared PIF and SESP for Bangladesh. (Expected Due Date: April 2016);
  • PPG IPs for the three PIFs. (Expected Due Date: May 2016).

Institutional Arrangement:

The consultant will report to the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisors for Biodiversity and Ecosystems for Asia and the Pacific.  S/he will work closely with UNDP Country Offices and government counterparts.

Review Time Required:

  • 10 days.

Contract Duration:

  • 20-30 days between December 2015 and May 2016

Duty Station:

  • Home based.

Expected places of travel:

  • Possibly 1-2 missions to Philippines, Cambodia and Bangladesh which will be financed separately from this contract.

Competencies

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
  • Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
  • Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
  • Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
  • Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
  • Comprehensiveness knowledge of biodiversity management, landscape management, wildlife management and enforcement, protected area management, forest management
  • IT literacy, familiarity with e-presentation techniques and ability to operate with on-line web-based applications;
  • Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
  • Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
  • Positive, constructive attitude to work;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Biodiversity Project Development Consultant shall have the following qualifications:

Education:

  • Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management, Economics and other social sciences or a closely-related field.

Experience:

  • At least 7 years of relevant experience in Ecosystem and Biodiversity or closely-related field projects in developing countries;
  • Demonstrable experience with project development, implementation, management and monitoring and evaluation of sustainable development projects, in particular in the areas of biodiversity and ecosystem management and ABS fields;
  • Demonstrated technical and intellectual skills in substantive area (biodiversity management, landscape management, wildlife management and enforcement, protected area management, forest management);
  • Experience in the policy development processes associated with environment and sustainable development issues;
  • Experience in supporting governments in Asia, particularly the governments of the country of assignment is a strong asset;
  • Demonstrated ability to manage relationships and develop and maintain strategic partnerships;
  • Demonstrated  leadership, facilitation and coordination skills;
  • Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities and demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner;
  • IT literacy, familiarity with e-presentation techniques and ability to operate with on-line web-based applications.

Language requirements:

  • Fluency in written and spoken English;
  • Knowledge of local languages of the country of assignment is an asset.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Lump Sum Amount.

The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include professional fee only. Travel will be financed separately from this contract. The contract price will fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

  • Deliverable 1: Upon approval of the technical approach and workplan for the assignment: 10% of total contract amount;
  • Deliverable 2: Upon successful completion of UNDP technically cleared PIF and SESP for Cambodia: 20% of total contract amount;
  • Deliverable 3: Upon successful completion of UNDP technically cleared PIF and SESP for the Philippines: 20% of total contract amount.
  • Deliverable 4: Upon successful completion of UNDP technically cleared PIF and SESP for Bangladesh: 20% of total contract amount.
  • Deliverable 5: Upon successful completion of PPG IPs for the three PIFs: 30% of total contract amount.

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

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 (70%) and financial criteria (30%) specific to the solicitation.

Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 350 technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 500 points):

  • Criteria 1 : Education - max 50 points;
  • Criteria 2 : Demonstrable experience with project development, implementation, management and monitoring and evaluation of sustainable development projects, in particular in the areas of biodiversity and ecosystem management and agrobiodiversity conservation - max 150 points;
  • Criteria 3 : Demonstrated technical and intellectual skills in substantive area (biodiversity management, landscape management, wildlife management and enforcement, protected area management, forest management) - 150 points;
  • Criteria 4 : Experience in the policy development processes associated with environment and sustainable development issues - max 50 points;
  • Criteria 5 : Experience in supporting governments in Asia, particularly the governments of the country of assignment is a strong asset - max 50 points;
  • Criteria 6 : Language  - max 50 points.

Documentation required:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

  • Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex 2;
  • Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
  • Technical proposal, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and b) a methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
  • Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex 2.

Annexes :

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to brh.gef.procurement@undp.org.