Antecedentes

UNDP Bangladesh in partnership with the water, environment and health related public and private sector and CBOs/ NGOs intends to undertake a scoping study to identify the gaps and investigate, collect and collate water focused environment and ecosystem related facts and figures as a part of scoping of the Environmental Governance to improve the water quality in ECAs.. This scoping study document primarily helps for the formulation of environmental policies, programming and resource allocation. This study also  aimed at understanding of the impacts of human activities on the environment as well as the impact of the environment on human livelihoods; improve understanding of the causes and effects of environment and water quality  change, and recommend ways to respond; and provide a comprehensive scientifically credible assessment of both the past and the present  conditions, as well as presenting the future  scenarios to assist in proper  policy and programme development and decisions towards sustainable development. The key objective of providing environment and water quality  information to the public, industry, non-governmental organizations and all levels of government. The international consultant on Environmental Health with water governance Expert will assist UNDP as well as the Government to accomplish the objective of preparing the scoping study for programme development.

Study Framework

International Consultant with support from a National Consultant will make an assessment on environmental health in general and state of biodiversity, ecosystem and public health affected by water quality due to industrial, solid and liquid waste, agro-chemicals related pollutions.   onsultant will also go through a consultation process with the key stakeholders and review of literatures and collect facts and figures, baseline data on key environmental issues and information to establish the key messages for the Scoping Study Report. The report should look into the water governance issue and  the political economy of the environmental problem in the ECAs, scientific analysis and pressure-state-impact-response (PSIR) analytical framework. The report should therefore, as a minimum, describe the agent of the environmental changes (pressure/stress), condition of the environmental resources (state), effects on water quality (impact) and societal response with policies to affect state of the environment (response). To extend the scope, the report should also provide insight into environmental pressures exerted by different economic sectors, and how these sectors are responding to these pressures. The report should also specifically investigate and report on human vulnerability to environmental changes. The report must contain clear recommendations for action which will be useful for follow-up programme development.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Objective of the Assignment

This scoping study is aimed at identifying existing and potential role of stakeholders towards achieving SDG related to attaining healthy life for all with effective governance in general and community engagement in particular by ensuring  improvement in water quality in the Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs). This consultancy contracted under this ToR is designed to assist UNDP Bangladesh in understanding status of water quality and sources of pollution from the perspective of environmental health with focus on governance issues centred on ecological and public health concerns. This study will generate a policy paper and establish a baseline on water focused environmental health. This study will touch on water governance and prioritization of area of intervention for a pilot demonstration of a new water quality focused environmental health programme including river ecosystem restoration.

Specific objectives include:

• Provide objective, accurate and scientifically credible baseline information about the sources of pollution as a threat to the rivers in general and water resources in relation to environment, aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem in Bangladesh with emphasis on water quality factor influencing public health and green issues;
• Building on the previous studies, analyse the political economy, engage and consult closely in a focused and structured manner with a wide range of stakeholders, including community, GoB, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, managing agents, research and policy institutions, to draw on their expertise and insights, consider their interests and priorities, and build their ownership in the process. Particular attention should be paid consultation and engagement with GoB to build the foundation for a strong partnership in the new programme on water quality focused environmental governance (with significant GoB co-investment);
• To develop and appraise alternative, feasible intervention and delivery models, responding to key issues identified in the UNDP concept note and design brief. This should cover technical interventions options, the institutional home and management structure, and any geographical focus.  The design options should carefully consider and build on what has worked well in current programmes and other relevant international experience, while addressing key weaknesses or gaps in these programmes. The programme design should reflect lesson learning from the current programme and input for designing two small scale pilot demonstration one on industrial pollution site close to Dhaka and the other one on conservation of the Halda River in Chittagong;
• To deliver a policy paper with gap analysis and policy directions on governance for effective implementation strategy towards achieving the SDGs.

Scope of Work

The sequence of the Consultant’s assignment with support from the National Consultant will be as follows:

• Problem Tree/Stakeholders Analysis, Gap Analysis, Needs Assessment based on 3W Mapping Exercise and Prioritization of Problems with evidence based challenges & issues;
• Inventory of environmental hotspots, Analysis of Political Economy and development of Results Framework and Theory of Change on Water Governance for quality  improvement;
• Based on the stakeholder’s consultation and literature review or horizon scanning, consultant will identify the key problems and governance issues related to environmental health in general and water quality in particular;
• The Water Pollution and Scarcity may emphasize on inland surface and groundwater quality, pollution problems, salinity attributed to low water flow and coastal water pollution. It will also touch on the climate induced water quality issues;
• Finalisation of scoping studies, a Policy Brief for the policy makers and Development Partners by November 2015.

Under the guidance and supervision of the UNDP CO Senior Adviser, Sustainable Development of UNDP CO will share a concept note and will guide the Consultant to:

Produce a scoping study report, based on the methodology to be agreed at the start of the consultancy. As a guide, the scoping study will include  information on:

• The national development planning processes including key institutions, stakeholders and enabling partners and their (potential) roles;
• Current in-country status related to ecosystems and environmental assets and water quality  linkages;
• Review and assessment of relevant existing state of environment, national development strategies (NDS), plans and policies (including macro-economic) with particular emphasis on addressing environment and climate related water issues  and sustainability and bottlenecks in adoption of  sustainable development;
• Review what role sector ministries and local government, NGOs play as implementation partners in achieving national development objectives;
• The tools and methodologies available or applied to identify and assess integrated development approaches and the gaps in availability and application of tools;
• Review of national, bi-lateral and multi-lateral support for the subject issues and potential gaps – (with an emphasis on policy and programme implementation);
• Review and assessment of indicators and methods to measure integrated progress on improving water quality and their incorporation into national planning processes and potential gaps;
• Review and assessment of implementation mechanisms to support integrated development approaches and (potential gaps and challenges);

 A high level overview of data / information availability and identification of the anticipated challenges to completing the scoping studies.

Draft of scoping study report, a Policy Brief and an outline of two pilot demonstrations.
Deliver final scoping study report, which addresses comments received on draft.

Deliverables:

• Bangladesh Integrated Environmental Governance for improvement of Water Quality Scoping and Design Report.

Specifically the final report will include:

• A detailed review of the water management in ECAs  and technical intervention approach and options  (reference-concept note will be shared), including how complementary interventions can be integrated to maximise impact and the value of integrated programming (eg. around water). The review should set out the evidence base supporting different intervention approaches as well as indicative results for each;
• A theory of change setting out in detail the various assumptions that link the causal pathway between different interventions (including inputs and outputs) and indicative results (including outcomes and impact);
• A detailed assessment of any geographical focus for the new programme based on agreed criteria and drawing on available secondary data. This should include consideration of governance isues, coordination and reform requires for engagement of broad based stakeholders, socio economic aspects and climate change issues;
• An appraisal of programmes relevant projects funded by UNDP and GoB, other donors and recommendations as to how the new programme could be integrated with or structured to complement such activities;
• A Scoping Study Report, Outline of two pilot demonstration and a policy brief paper on the water quality focused environmental governance and management.

Timeframe and Deadline

The assignment is for a total of  30 working days over 2 months as per the timeframe below:

• Produce a stakeholders consultation and information collection for  scoping study report and facts and figures compilation for pilot demonstration design outline - 15 working days;
• Provide  a high level overview of data / information availability and identification of the anticipated challenges to completing the scoping studies - 5 working days;
• Draft of: (i) Scoping study report and pilot demonstration design outline & (ii) Policy Brief Paper for the Policy makers and Donors - 8 working days;
• Deliver final scoping study report, pilot outline  and policy paper which addresses comments received on draft - 2 working days.

Documents

The Consultants will prepare and submit the documents mentioned above. The format for Scoping Study and an outline pilot design document should be agreed at the beginning of the assignment and cleared by the CCED Cluster. Further work, or revision of the documents, may be required if is considered that the report does not meet the TOR, there are errors of fact or the document is incomplete or not of an acceptable standard.

Supervision & Performance Evaluation

The consultant will report to the Senior Advisor at UNDP Bangladesh CO for any queries and assistance on a day-to-day basis. The consultant is expected to incorporate comments and suggestions from other UNDP staff engaged in the process including from Regional Service Centers, Bangladesh Country Office –especially Governance, Poverty, Local government and CCED Cluster and other potential reviewers of the documents to be submitted.

Inputs

If require, UNDP may provide office space for the consultant as required. The Transport & subsistence allowance costs during field trip (if required) outside Dhaka, will be paid by UNDP.

Proposed Payment Schedule for the Consultancy:

• 1st Installment (30% of the Total Contract Amount) - Upon submission of work plan and methodology for Scoping Study Report and certified by the contract administrator;
• 2nd Installment (40% of the Total Contract Amount) - Upon submission of the draft Scoping Study Report and certified by the contract administrator;
• Final Payment (30% of the Total Contract Amount) - Upon submission of the final Scoping Study Report and certified by the contract administrator.

Competencias

Functional Competencies:

Professionalism:

• Flexibility to make ad-hoc changes as and when the need arises;
• Ability to perform under stress;
• Willingness to keep flexible working hours;
• Ability to engage with high ranking Government Officials and provide policy advisory support services;
• Good understanding of disaster management in South Asia / Bangladesh, including field experience;
• Full conceptual and practical understanding of activities, legal framework of the government.

Teamwork:

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations as a team member, in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect.

Communication:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Excellent writing skills in the compilation of high level quality documents in English language.

Corporate Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• At least a Master’s degree in Public Policy & Administration with Water Governance, Chemical Science and Management, Water; Resource & Environmental, Chemical Engineering, Environment Sciences and Management, Social science with relevant water governance public policy and management or any relevant field;
• A PhD in the relevant field is preferred.

Experience:

• At least 10 years relevant experience in  international agencies, an academic institution, research think tank, government and/or consultancy;
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of  multi-dimensional environment, natural resources management and water  aspects;
• Good knowledge of water quality management,  environment, sustainable development, climate change, ecosystem services and the links to multidimensional development dynamics;
• Proven experience in producing or facilitating similar development-related knowledge products;
• Working experience in government ministries/ departments and UN / international organizations;
• Knowledge of UN or  corporate priorities, with a focus on Environment and Water Science and Management  preferred.

Language:

• Excellent English writing and communication skills.

Evaluation of Candidates

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis: The candidates will be evaluated through Cumulative Analysis method. When using the weighted scoring method, 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 and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

**Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% marks i.e. 49 marks in the Technical evaluation would be considered for Financial evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks):

• Past experience, knowledge and understanding of environmental health and ecological critical area management aspects - 30 marks;
• Past work or knowledge of sustainable development, environmental health, climate change, ecosystem services and the links to water governance - 30 marks;
• Relevant experience with GoB/ UN agencies/ National org./ Donor funded Projects - 10 marks.

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks)

Financial proposals from all technically qualified candidates will be scored out 30 marks based on the formula provided below. The maximum marks (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal.

All other proposals will receive points according to the following formula:

• p = y (µ/z).

Where:

• p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
• y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
• µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

Important note for Applicants

Interested applicants are requested to submit their financial proposal along with the application. Please note that, application in this system allows to attach only one document. Interested candidates are requested to prepare their CV's and Financial Prioposal as one document and upload that single document (CV + Financial Proposal) while applying.

The template for Financial Proposal can be found in the below link:
http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of a most direct economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In the case of unforeseeable travel, 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 and will be reimbursed.