UNDP Jobs - 63338- Chief Technical Advisor

Chief Technical Advisor

Location :

Home-based consultancy with two missions to Georgia

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

07-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Up to 70 days during 10 month period, with two missions up to 10 days to Georgia

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

Georgia is fully committed to meet its obligations under the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and the proposed project is intended to facilitate an important step towards developing the capacities in Georgia for an effective national environmental management framework. More specifically the project, directly or indirectly, addresses the following articles under the Conventions: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (Articles 4 and 5); UN Convention on Biological Diversity (Articles 12, 14, 17 and 26) and UN Convention to Combat Desertification (9, 10 and 16).

The goal of the project is to make the best practices and innovative approaches available and accessible for implementation through national development policies and programmes for meeting and sustaining the Rio Conventions. The project’s objective is to develop individual and organizational capacities in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection (MENRP), in particular at the Environmental Information and Education Centre (EIEC) for improved monitoring of environmental impacts and trends for elaboration of collaborative environmental management.

To achieve its objective, the project works to deliver two components:

Component 1: Development of coordinated information management and monitoring system
Component 2: Enhancing capacities for evidence-based policy making and management

Under each component the project envisages outcomes to be the result of a number of expected outputs:

Outcome 1 Capacities for environmental monitoring are better enabled:

Output 1.1: System of information exchange among relevant departments in key ministries (Environment and Natural Resources Protection, Economy and Sustainable Development, Regional Development and Infrastructure, Agriculture etc) and the EIEC to support environmental monitoring in implementing Rio Conventions improved;
Output 1.2: Clear legal framework established to facilitate monitoring in implementing Rio Conventions;
Output 1.3: Data collection, analysis and monitoring system developed at the EIEC with optimal linkages to local authorities.

Outcome 2 technical and management staff sufficiently trained in monitoring and data analysis and linkage to decision-making process:

Output 2.1: Convention monitoring and reporting capacities developed;
Output 2.2:Inter-ministerial cooperation for collaborative decision-making among policy makers achieved.

Hence, the project addresses institutional constraints by establishing formal, informal and virtual collaboration mechanisms for catalyzing sustainable and coherent interactions and collaborations between relevant stakeholders. Collaboration frameworks is to be established by addressing the institutional responsibilities and mandates for global environment management at line ministries, by identifying and negotiating the appropriate collaboration frameworks and data sharing and analysis at the level of the concerned institutions, and by providing the appropriate mechanisms (formal, informal and virtual) for environment related data collection, analysis, monitoring and reporting.

The project is supported by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) to meet objectives number 1“Integrating global environmental needs into management information systems and monitoring”, and 2 “Strengthening consultative and management structures and mechanisms” under the GEF-6 Capacity Development Results Framework (GEF/R.6/20/Rev.01).

Duties and Responsibilities

The overall objective of the consultancy is to provide advisory services and technical assistance to the project team and relevant staff of EIEC. The tasks of the Chief technical advisor are focused on ensuring that the implementation of the technical aspects of the project is on a right track.

The consultant will work under direct supervision of the Project Manager. S/he will work closely with the Project Manager and relevant staff of EIEC to provide:

Support in coordination and planning by:

Guiding and assisting in overall technical management of the project and ensuring that deliverables are of appropriate quality;
Guiding and assisting in the development of ToR’s for national and international technical experts and organizations;
Advising during recruiting process on the selection of external technical experts and organizations, as needed;
Guiding and assisting in organizing technical committee meetings and stakeholder workshops (reviewing and commenting on the agenda, list of participants, meeting reports/minutes etc);
Advising on addressing critical situations, emerging or potential risks for achieving the project technical outputs, outcomes and objective during implementation of project, as needed;
Advising on reporting to the PEB on the progress of implementation of the project and organization of technical meetings, as needed;
Participating /contributing to the project planning/design of AWP.

Guidance and technical expertise by:

Reviewing and commenting on assessment methodologies or assisting on development of assessment/report methodologies as needed;
Reviewing and revising work plan prepared under contractual services;
Reviewing and commenting on prepared assessments/analysis and other reports.

Consultancy on monitoring and evaluation by:

Supporting in preparation of project progress/monitoring/review reports as well as information releases in accordance with UNDP/GEF rules and procedures.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN system;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Proven ability to work in a complex environment with different national and international experts;
Demonstrated ability to co-operate with various stakeholders;
Pro-active approach to problem-solving;
E-literacy;
Good technical writing and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's degree in environmental sciences/policy/management or related field (minimum qualification requirement: Master's degree - 5 points, higher - additioanl 5 points).

Experience:

At least 7 year of experience in providing technical advice or consultancy services in the field of environmental protection (minimum qualification requirement: 7 years - 10 points, more than 7 years - additional 5 points);
Proven experience in delivering consultancy on the implementation of projects related to climate change, biodiversity and land management (minimum qualification requirement: at least two assignements - 10 points);
Excellent understanding of monitoring and reporting obligations under UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN Framework Convention on Biodiversity and UN Framework Convention Convection to Combat Desertification;
Working experience with the UN or other international organizations on cross-cutting capacity developmen (5 points);
Demonstrated experience in reports writing (5 points);
Working experience with governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations in the field of environmental protection (5 points).

Language:

Fluency in English.

Evaluation:

Offerors will be evaluated against a combination of technical (70 points) and financial (30 points) criteria provided in the below table. Technical criteria consist of a desk review (50 points) and an interview (20 points). Offerors passing 70% threshold of maximum obtainable scores 50 points as a result of the desk review, i.e. obtaining minimum 35 points, will be short listed and invited for an interview. Those offerors passing 70% threshold of maximum obtainable scores as a result of the technical evaluation (desk review and interview) will be shortlisted and requested to provide financial proposal.

Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum. Payments are based upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount.

Deliverables:

ToR for international legal expert;

ToR for national experts and methodologies, as appropriate under the following assignments:

Reconcile and harmonize the various mandates and operational plans of the relevant national agencies to integrate Rio Convention obligations and determine roles and responsibilities pertaining to information sharing;
Identify key databases to be linked with environmental information management system;
Conduct a comprehensive assessment within concerned stakeholders (decision-makers) and institutions on their roles pertaining to the implementation of the Rio Conventions;
Prepare outreach plan (communication plan) that includes selecting and accruing strategic partners, and defining the levels and types of contribution from each partner (i.e. funding or in kind support such as content creation);
Develop a capacity development plan based on the capacity needs assessment, and present to relevant authorities for validation through peer review of experts and stakeholders;
Conduct institutional analysis of the challenges and barriers for inter-ministerial cooperation in relation to managing environmental data and monitoring of Rio Conventions implementation and reporting;
Develop a plan for addressing content gaps according to national needs and global commitments;
Develop mechanisms for managing information flows from identified sources (government, multilateral, NGOs, indigenous organizations, academic, corporate and other) accessing data online, through a communication strategy;

Reviewed and commented project implementation report (PIR) for GEF;

Reviewed and commented AWP for the following year;

Quality assurance of the outputs (proof reading of the reports/documents) under the following assignments:

Revised assessment on the needs of relevant Ministries and agencies for environmental data, type, format and frequency, and data flow for the monitoring of implementation of UNFCCC;
Assessment of the relevant national agencies, with special focus on the EIEC, on their roles on environmental information management and monitoring;
Institutional mapping of existing stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Rio Conventions;
In-depth capacity needs assessment among officers, respective committee members and convention focal points on the Rio Conventions reporting and monitoring in Georgia;
Assessment of roles and responsibilities of various agencies on three Rio Conventions and data management;
Identification of key databases that need to be linked to the environmental information management system;
Preparation of outreach plan (communication plan) that includes selecting and accruing strategic partners, and defining the levels and types of contribution from each partner (i.e. funding or in kind support such as content creation);
Comprehensive assessment within concerned stakeholders (decision-makers) and institutions on their roles pertaining to the implementation of the Rio Conventions;
Preparation of a plan for addressing content gaps according to national needs and global commitments;
Preparation of concept document of the environmental information management system;
Development of design of the environmental information management system;
Development of mechanisms for managing information flows from identified sources (government, multilateral, NGOs, indigenous organizations, academic, corporate and other) accessing data online, through a communication strategy;
Development of a capacity development plan based on the capacity needs assessment, and present to relevant authorities for validation through peer review of experts and stakeholders;
Institutional analysis of the challenges and barriers for inter-ministerial cooperation in relation to managing environmental data and monitoring of Rio Conventions implementation and reporting.

Payment Modality:

The payment of a lump sum will be made in 3 instalments upon successful acceptance of deliverables by UNDP CO as given below:

First installment 30% - upon acceptance of the following deliverables:

ToR for international legal expert;
Reconcile and harmonize the various mandates and operational plans of the relevant national agencies to integrate Rio Convention obligations and determine roles and responsibilities pertaining to information sharing;
Identify key databases to be linked with environmental information management system;
Conduct a comprehensive assessment within concerned stakeholders (decision-makers) and institutions on their roles pertaining to the implementation of the Rio Conventions;
Revised assessment on the needs of relevant Ministries and agencies for environmental data, type, format and frequency, and data flow for the monitoring of implementation of UNFCCC;
Assessment of the relevant national agencies, with special focus on the EIEC, on their roles on environmental information management and monitoring;
Institutional mapping of existing stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Rio Conventions;
In-depth capacity needs assessment among officers, respective committee members and convention focal points on the Rio Conventions reporting and monitoring in Georgia.

Second installment 30% - upon acceptance of the following deliverables:

Prepare outreach plan (communication plan) that includes selecting and accruing strategic partners, and defining the levels and types of contribution from each partner (i.e. funding or in kind support such as content creation);
Develop a capacity development plan based on the capacity needs assessment, and present to relevant authorities for validation through peer review of experts and stakeholders;
Reviewed and commented project implementation report (PIR) for GEF.
Assessment of roles and responsibilities of various agencies on three Rio Conventions and data management;
Identification of key databases that need to be linked to the environmental information management system.

Third installment 40% - upon acceptance of the following deliverables:

Prepare outreach plan (communication plan) that includes selecting and accruing strategic partners, and defining the levels and types of contribution from each partner (i.e. funding or in kind support such as content creation);
Develop a capacity development plan based on the capacity needs assessment, and present to relevant authorities for validation through peer review of experts and stakeholders;
Conduct institutional analysis of the challenges and barriers for inter-ministerial cooperation in relation to managing environmental data and monitoring of Rio Conventions implementation and reporting;
Develop a plan for addressing content gaps according to national needs and global commitments;
Develop mechanisms for managing information flows from identified sources (government, multilateral, NGOs, indigenous organizations, academic, corporate and other) accessing data online, through a communication strategy;
Reviewed and commented AWP for the following year.
Preparation of outreach plan (communication plan) that includes selecting and accruing strategic partners, and defining the levels and types of contribution from each partner (i.e. funding or in kind support such as content creation);
Comprehensive assessment within concerned stakeholders (decision-makers) and institutions on their roles pertaining to the implementation of the Rio Conventions;
Ppreparation of a plan for addressing content gaps according to national needs and global commitments;
Preparation of concept document of the environmental information management system;
Development of design of the environmental information management system;
Development of mechanisms for managing information flows from identified sources (government, multilateral, NGOs, indigenous organizations, academic, corporate and other) accessing data online, through a communication strategy;
Development of a capacity development plan based on the capacity needs assessment, and present to relevant authorities for validation through peer review of experts and stakeholders;
Institutional analysis of the challenges and barriers for inter-ministerial cooperation in relation to managing environmental data and monitoring of Rio Conventions implementation and reporting.