Background

1. Background

In June 2019, the project concept entitled “Implementing the National Framework on Access and Benefit Sharing of Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge in the Philippines” with a budget proposal of USD4,384,000.00 was cleared by GEF CEO.  The project aims for the Nagoya Protocol implemented effectively in the Philippines by strengthening the national Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework, building national and local capacities and developing critical experience in ABS agreements. Specifically, the project is envisioned to address the following barriers:

Barrier 1: Inadequate and weak enforcement of policies, institutional and regulatory frameworks on ABS implementation. The granting of access is delegated to three government agencies: DENR, DA, and PCSD which implement differently the existing procedures and approval process and there is a weak coordinating mechanism among these agencies including possible streamlining and harmonization of their processes and procedures;

Barrier 2: Lack of awareness and weak capacity of key stakeholders on ABS implementation at the national and local level: The academic community, local government units, and industry have limited awareness on the basic rules and rationale of existing ABS policies resulting in poor compliance and indifference. As a result, very few have actually applied for access to genetic resources, negotiated bioprospecting agreements, and developed ABS products.  Similarly, there is low awareness on patent information by researchers and scientists which contributed to the low patent applications from local researchers in the country.;

Barrier 3: Absence of good practices on ABS implementation from the initial stage of bioprospecting to research and development, product  innovation and commercialization : Since the passage of relevant ABS laws and issuance of policies to facilitate bioprospecting as early as 1995,  there  has not been a single case to cite as best practice in the whole continuum of ABS process from securing FPIC to conducting of R&D up until the commercialization of research products and to the sharing of benefits down to local communities.

To detail out the project concept into a full-blown project proposal, the GEF has provided a project preparation grant. This PPG aims to prepare and develop the following documents for final submission and approval by the GEF:

1.            UNDP-GEF Project Document (ProDoc), using the 2017 standard template.

2.            Mandatory annexes to the ProDoc, including gender analysis and action plan, and stakeholder engagement plan, Indigenous Plan, SESP, among others, and project specific annexes (e.g. landscape profile, institutional and legal analysis, feasibility studies etc).

3.            GEF CEO Endorsement Request.

4.            Validation Workshop report (as appropriate for projects with a moderate and high SESP risk rating).

The project preparation grant (PPG) has an allocation for the hiring of an ABS and Enterprise Specialist to lead and support the identification of viable business and enterprise development and investment opportunities, analyse the barriers to start-ups, conduct preliminary analysis of potential return of investments and make recommendations for creating an enabling environment for businesses and enterprises to be supported under component 3.

2. Institutional Arrangement

For the duration of the contract, the consultant will be part of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) Team that shall report to and coordinate with UNDP and key focal agencies such as DENR-BMB. All activities supported by this engagement should be cleared by UNDP.

The ABS and Enterprise Development Specialist is expected to work and closely coordinate with the Lead Project Development Specialist and other national consultants (ABS Policy & Institutional Specialist, Stakeholder Engagement and Safeguards Specialist & Gender Specialist) in the conduct of key project preparation activities and to deliver the necessary inputs and data for the drafting and finalization of the required UNDP Project Document including its mandatory annexes and the GEF CEO Endorsement

All outputs should be endorsed by the DENR-BMB as the Project’s proponent before UNDP issues the certificate of acceptance for the processing of payments.

3. Duration of Work

The Consultant shall be engaged for 73 days over 11 months

4. Duty Station

Home-based with missions to the proposed project sites as required. The Consultant is not expected to report on a daily basis to UNDP-ISD Philippines office based in Mandaluyong City but shall be available on an on-call basis.  

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the ISD Programme Manager through the ISD Programme Analyst, the National Expert on ABS and Enterprise Development Specialist shall:

Conduct an assessment of barriers and opportunities (legal, institutional, practical and otherwise) to development of ABS products from the two selected plant species. This work should facilitate:

• An analysis of the current understanding, including indigenous/traditional knowledge and scientific research on the 2 plant species as well as their availability and distribution (i.e. mapping) within the project sites, their current harvesting patterns, uses and potential for further development into ABS products;
• Targeted analyses of market potential of the supported value chains, including market trends in the respective business fields (including regional and other developing country markets);
• Baseline assessment of the current financial and other benefits accruing to users and groups of users and communities (e.g. in the form of royalties) generated from the commercialisation of the 2 products derived from genetic/biological resources;
• Baseline assessment of existing community-based business models;
• Baseline assessment of the number and type of existing local R&D innovations, products and technologies under development in the Philippines, and including collaboration with international partners (e.g. other universities and private companies);
• Baseline assessment of the nature and number of research collaborations between government authorities, private sector parties, academic institutions, holders of traditional knowledge and rural communities to develop and commercialise new genetic/biological resources;
• Baseline assessment of the benefit-sharing agreements negotiated between industry/users of genetic resources and communities, the number of bioprospecting products in domestic & international markets; the number of bioprospecting products that have community involvement in the supply chain; and the number of jobs being created in the sector including for disadvantaged communities, women and youth;
• Baseline assessment of indigenous biodiversity registration in regional and international inventories acknowledged for consumer use/trade; the product development and manufacturing potential of natural products; and the scope and extent of domestic business incubator support;
• Baseline assessment/analysis of the Biodiversity Management Plan for 2 plant species, if available, as a strategy to ensure the sustainable use of biological/genetic resources, assessment of threats and strategies for the conservation of biodiversity/species and whether this approach could be adopted for other species;
• Baseline assessment of the status of conservation of threatened species from where the plant resources in question will be harvested;
• A recommendation of valuation approaches to be used to capture the value and benefits from sustainable utilisation and conservation of the plant genetic resources;
• Identification of an appropriate, community-based, cost-effective and integrated package of ecological and physical measures to be implemented at a landscape level to promote sustainable harvesting, conservation and protection of key genetic resources and medicinal plants;
• Identification of alternative and complementary livelihoods and value-addition and business and enterprise development opportunities to generate jobs, incomes and to reduce over-dependence on unsustainable land harvesting and use practices.

2. Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Expertise in data collection and analysis
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Strong analytical and research skills; and
• Excellent organizational, and communication skills;

Required Skills and Experience

The combined scoring method where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a maximum of 70% and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30% shall be adopted.

The selection of the best offer from the shortlisted candidates will be based on a Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and experienced will be weighted a maximum of 700 points and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 300 points out of 1000 points. Having received the quantum core out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation:

Technical Criteria weight: 70%

Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Technical Evaluation (700 points, Weight 70%)

All applicants will be initially screened against the minimum qualification requirements as specified above.

Responsive candidates (longlisted) will then be further evaluated against the following criteria:

Recommended Presentation of Offer

For purposes of generating Offers whose contents are uniformly presented and to facilitate their comparative analysis, it is best to recommend the preferred contents and presentation of the Offer to be submitted, as well as the format/sequencing of their presentation.  The following documents may be requested:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
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;
3. Sample of previous papers or proposals (at least two) where he/she was the principal author;
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.  If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.