UNDP Jobs - 63519- Poverty-Environment Initiative Consultant

Poverty-Environment Initiative Consultant

Location :

Bangkok, Thailand, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

240 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

Despite the region’s rapid economic growth, resource consumption and carbon emissions in Asia now outstrip the rest of the work. The region is home to 63% of the world’s poor (ADB, 2011) who mostly rely on natural resources for their livelihoods. Unsustainable natural resource management, unequal distribution of natural resources and lack of pro-poor environmental governance have left many in the region vulnerable.

The UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative is a global UN-led programme working in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe and CIS. It supports country led efforts to mainstream pro-poor and gender responsive environment objectives into national and sub-national development, from policy making, planning and budgeting to implementation and monitoring.

In Asia and the Pacific, PEI works in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal and the Philippines. PEI works with Ministries of Finance, Planning, Local Government and Environment to direct public and private investments to achieve inclusive green economies. PEI supports Governments in three broad areas, including analysis and developing evidence for policy reforms, capacity building for institutional change and advocacy and communications to support policy implementation.

The overall outcome of PEI is to “Enhanced implementation of pro-poor environmentally sound development policies, plans and budgets for inclusive and sustainable growth”.

The expected outputs are:

P-E approaches and tools for integrated development policies, plans and coordination mechanisms applied;
Cross-sectoral budget, expenditure frameworks, coordination mechanisms, and environment-economic accounting systems institutionalized;
P-E approaches and experiences are documented and shared to inform country, regional and global development programming by the UN and Member States.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Regional Team Leader, Inclusive Growth (RTL IG) and Regional PEI Advisers in UNEP ROAP and UNDP BRH. The Consultant will work as part of the PEI AP regional team, and will work closely with relevant colleagues from UNDP BRH and UNEP ROAP to access wider pool of expertise. The objective of the assignment is to provide technical support in implementing the regional PEI and country programmes.

Task 1: Support development and implementation of PEI country projects

Related actions:

Act as a back-up focal point for PEI country projects;
Provide day-to-day technical assistance to the implementation of PEI country projects;
Assist with the development of PEI country projects;
Provide technical input for quality assurance of PEI country project outputs.

Deliverables:

Summary notes for PEI country Skype calls, follow-up actions tracked and ensured regularly;
PEI country project documents drafted or revised;
Terms of references, background research papers, technical reports, concept notes prepared as required for PEI country activities;
Technical comments and advice provided for PEI country outputs.

Task 2: Contribute to annual reporting, monitoring and evaluation of PEI Asia Pacific

Related actions:

Liaise with PEI country programmes and PEF on mid-year and annual report-related information from Asia Pacific PEI countries. Support country efforts for contributions to mid-year and annual reports. Support compilation of mid-year and annual reports, at both country and regional level;
Contribute in compiling the M&E framework, Most Significant Change stories, country annexes and other country related information for the annual report of PEI;
Contribute to the monitoring of the PEI country programmes through liaising with country programmes and updating and maintaining the datasheet of results;
Support any other M&E-related activities at the country or regional level.

Deliverables:

PEI country progress reports (twice annually: Jul-Aug and Dec-Jan) compiled, reviewed and revised and the regional progress report submitted to PEF;
PEI country projects reviewed regularly with recommended actions (every quarter), Theory of Change reviewed and updated twice a year;
Consistently updated datasheet.

Task 3: Act as a focal point for issues of poverty, gender and social inclusion.

Related actions:

Review existing strategy on gender responsiveness and social inclusion;
Act as focal point for country programme questions on poverty, gender and social inclusion;
Analyse potential strengths and gaps in each of the country projects with regards gender responsiveness and social inclusion (APRs, AWPs);
Support the modification of country projects to link with poverty reduction, gender and social inclusion considerations;
Review all country outputs applying poverty, gender and social inclusion screening.

Deliverables:

AWP 2016 revision to include poverty, gender responsiveness and social inclusion if possible;
All country outputs are screened for poverty, gender and social inclusion;
Review of APR 2015 to include poverty, gender responsiveness and social inclusion where possible;
A knowledge product on poverty, gender, environment, climate nexus prepared.

Task 4: Regional support to the Asia Pacific Poverty Environment Initiative (PEI)

Related actions:

Work as part of the regional PEI team and provide information of PEI in related meetings, workshops and events;
Contribute to the organisation of regional PEI workshops, exchanges and study tours;
Participate in communication between the regional teams, countries and Poverty Environment Facility (PEF).

Deliverables:

Support the organisation and execution of PEI bi-annual regional meeting and other regional south-south or knowledge sharing events (May 2016, tentative) including workshop agenda, concept note, background papers and logistical support as required;
Reactive / ad hoc support depending on regional team needs.

Task 5: Undertake any other tasks assigned by direct Supervisor and Director:

Related actions:

Ongoing use of Dropbox to organise and share PEI Asia Pacific documentation;
Provide technical input to UNDP and UNEP documentation outside of PEI country and regional programmes as required;
Any other tasks assigned by direct supervisor and regional director in the Inclusive Growth team.

Deliverables:

Input provided to UNDP and UNEP documentation as requested;
Reactive / ad hoc support depending on regional and IG team needs.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

Summary notes for PEI country Skype calls, follow-up actions tracked and ensured regularly;
PEI country project documents drafted or revised;
Terms of references, background research papers, technical reports, concept notes prepared as required for PEI country activities;
Technical comments and advice provided for PEI country outputs;
PEI country progress reports (twice annually: Jul-Aug and Dec-Jan) compiled, reviewed and revised and the regional progress report submitted to PEF;
PEI country projects reviewed regularly with recommended actions (every quarter), Theory of Change reviewed and updated twice a year;
Consistently updated datasheet;
AWP 2016 revision to include poverty, gender responsiveness and social inclusion if possible;
All country outputs are screened for poverty, gender and social inclusion;
Review of APR 2015 to include poverty, gender responsiveness and social inclusion where possible;
A knowledge product on poverty, gender, environment, and climate nexus prepared;
Support the organisation and execution of PEI bi-annual regional meeting and other regional south-south or knowledge sharing events (May 2016, tentative) including workshop agenda, concept note, background papers and logistical support as required;
Input provided to UNDP and UNEP documentation as requested;
Reactive / ad hoc support to country and regional-level work depending on regional team and IG team needs.

Competencies

Excellent communicator, writer and editor;
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
Strong team player with belief in UNDP and OCHA’s mission and mandate;
Excellent coordination and organizational skills;
Ability to multi-task to meet simultaneous deadlines and be able to deliver high-quality products while able to work independently with medium to minimal supervision from supervisors;
Ability to work under pressure;
Creative communication ideas and strategies;
Excellent attention to detail; and
Excellent fact-checking skills;
Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team;
Flexible and open to learning and new experiences;
Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in development, natural resources management, environmental sciences, engineering or other fields relevant to sustainable development.

Experience:

At least two years of work experience in a relevant field;
Fully proficient computer skills in standard software applications.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English is essential;
Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.

Note:

Interested individuals must submit the following documents /information to demonstrate their qualification, experience and suitability to undertake the assignment. All supporting documents (a-d) must be part of the detailed CV and uploaded as one document;
Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
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;
Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive daily rate/fee of the candidate in US dollar.

Supporting documents to be included with this application:

Completed P11 form (attached) or CV, with a minimum of 3 references;
Financial proposal in Daily fee , based on outcomes, which should include all related expenses including related benefits and insurance but should not include cost of travel and DSA.

This contract does not carry any expectation of any future engagement by UNDP

The method of payment shall be made based on daily fee. Each deliverable must be approved and based on satisfactory by, Regional Team Leader for Inclusive Growth. The proposed daily fee must be all-inclusive. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. In general, UNDP/OCHA should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket, quoted by UNDP/OCHA authorized travel agent. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

Contracts based on daily fee

The financial proposal will specify the daily fee, travel expenses and per diems quoted in separate line items, and payments are made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked.

Travel

Travel might be required to some of PEI Asia Pacific countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal and Philippines) subject to an approval of Regional Team Leader for Inclusive Growth and the Regional Advisor at UNEP ROAP prior to each mission.

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.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should 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;
Technical Criteria weight; [70/100];
Financial Criteria weight; [30/100].

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 350 point would be considered for the Financial

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/complaint/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weight technical (70%) and financial criteria (30%) specific to the solicitation.

Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of 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.

Annexes:

Annex 1 – Terms of References (TOR);
Annex 2 – Individual Consultant General Terms and Conditions;
Annex 3 - Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability Template;
Annex 4 - Financial Proposal Template.

All document can be downloaded at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=27900

This contract does not carry any expectation of any future engagement by UNDP.