UNDP Jobs - 63807- Individual Consultant - Environmental Sustainabili

Individual Consultant - Environmental Sustainability Due Diligence

Location :

Islamabad, Pakistan, PAKISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 Working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

2 Month

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 UN operates to achieve the goals of peace, equality, sustainable development and respect for human rights. The way the UN manages its operations and procures products and services should reflect these goals. UN believes in leading by example. Through its significant purchasing power, UN procurement activities have an opportunity to leverage markets to produce more sustainable goods and services, to offer a stimulus for eco-innovation and thus to contribute to better resource efficiency and a more sustainable economy. This concept is also enshrined in Goal 12 of the Sustainable Development Goals aimed at ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. The objective is, therefore, to achieve a new face of UN procurement, which is harmonized, efficient and sustainable.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon publicly called on all UN agencies, funds and programs to “go green” and become more climate friendly and sustainable. To reach that goal, the UN launched the “Greening the Blue” campaign introducing a climate neutral strategy that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its premises and work practices world-wide. The UN’s ambition is to be at the forefront of and to actively take part in the global agenda for sustainability. It has facilitated the development of the UN Global Compact’s ten principles for companies and organizations to commit to embedding in their business methodology. The ten principles also include tenets on environmental sustainability.

The UN in general strives to minimize its own and its suppliers’ environmental impact not only by working towards corporate environmental management but also by promoting environmental management globally through its programmatic work in a wide range of areas, such as: climate change, clean water, resource efficiency and biodiversity. By embedding sustainability in the core of the UN organization, both short- and long-term benefits can be achieved.

As a globally operating system of organizations, UN agencies must consider its impact on the environment, focusing on its own operations as well as its supply chain. Through coordinated efforts with suppliers and transportation partners, who form an integral part of the UN’s business operations, it strives to minimize the environmental impact across its supply chain. The United Nations in Pakistan has joined the global initiative on sustainable procurement and strives to roll it out on the country office level.

To support Office of the Resident Coordinator (RCO) and the UN Pakistan Operations Management Team (OMT) with devising of environmental due diligence standard operating procedures (SOPs) towards vetting of vendors and long-term partners. The Consultant will work closely with the RCO and the UN Country Team on the implementation of sustainable procurement operations and climate neutral strategies adapting UN sustainable procurement policies to a country setting like Pakistan with limited supply capacity. In doing so, the OMT would like to set best practices that can be replicated internationally in similar environments.

Duties and Responsibilities

Main objective, responsibilities and description of the proposed work:

Developing environmental due diligence protocols for vetting of LTA partners;
To coordinate the development of a country-level implementation strategy towards green procurement based operations at the UN Pakistan aimed at achieving full compliance with global UN standards while also adapting/customize them to the country office level;
Evaluate on operations procedures and documents and advise agencies how to amend them to conform to green procurement principles;
Procurement staff is trained in environmental assessment protocols.

Scope of work, responsibilities and description of the proposed work:

Desktop review of the UN global guidelines and current procedures for vetting of the potential partners for LTAs across UN entities in Pakistan;
Development of country-level Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for vetting of the potential partners with view at assessing their sustainable business practices. Country-level SOPs include protocols of assessments based on UN green procurement guidelines and procedural decision trees / workflows. This includes weighted grading scales on environmental compliance defining a range of acceptability;
Developing a county-level green procurement due diligence policy implementing global UN guidelines in Pakistan;
Developing education modules for green procurement trainers (train-the-trainer) working with both UN administrative officers as well as with vendors;
Development of protocols on making recommendations for change based on environmental assessment and for the appropriate follow-up;
Develop guidelines with regards to legal arrangements on the non-compliance of environmental protocols by vendors during LTA period; Recommend disciplinary regimes and procedures including sanction measures such as debarment;
Develop a presentation for the UNCT and other partners on the green procurement due diligence initiatives;
Design the outline of and contribute to the organization of the conference on the UN environmental sustainability vetting protocols, corporate social responsibility and the UN guiding principles on sustainable procurement.

Competencies

In-depth knowledge of procurement operations, including the sustainable procurement policies and the “Greening the Blue” campaign desirable;
Understanding of UN reform process, procedures and instruments desirable;
Excellent organization and inter-personal skills to effectively cooperate with different individuals at varying professional levels;
Ability to react fast, meet deadlines and work under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) business or public administration, environmental studies or related area is required;
A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years work experience in environmental policy and programming;
Prior experience with UN procurement units and operations, including environmental assessments and programming desirable.

Language:

Excellent writing and oral presentation skills in English.