Antecedentes

UNDP would like to engage an experienced consultant, who has a strong background in GEF requirements for project planning, implementation and monitoring. The objective of the assignment is to develop a Full Sized Project (FSP) and corresponding supporting documents for PIMS 3298: Securing livelihoods, Conservation, Sustainable Use and Restoration of high range Himalayan Ecosystems (SECURE – Himalayas). This document will be submitted to the GEF following further information gathering and stakeholder consultation and will be accompanied by co-financing letters in line with the PIF.

The proposed project aims to support the Government of India to effectively promote sustainable land and forest management in the alpine pastures and forests in high range Indian Himalayan ecosystems that secures sustainable livelihoods and community resilience and ensures conservation of globally significant biodiversity and threatened species.

The project will engineer a paradigm shift from the current approach of relying solely on small, isolated Protected Areas and other conservation actions to deliver biodiversity conservation including conservation of threatened species to one that takes an integrated approach – that considers PAs as corner stone of biodiversity conservation but whose integrity and effectiveness can only be attained by working in important areas outside PAs, and also working with sectors and partners outside the conservation sector to effectively reduce threats to globally significant biodiversity. This approach recognizes that the major and emerging threats to biodiversity in the region, including to the survival of threatened species such as the snow leopard, stem from beyond protected areas and also in several cases beyond the conservation sector (and in some cases beyond the region) – these consist of land use change demands for development especially infrastructure development; harmful practices by production sectors and heavy reliance on natural resources by local communities; and emerging threats of illegal wildlife trade and wildlife crime etc. It further recognizes the importance of a landscape approach to the conservation and management of important areas in the Indian Himalayan region, by ensuring that key biodiversity areas, buffer zones, corridors are sustainably managed in tandem with the sustainable use and management of areas that are contingent to these conservation areas or outside of it in the wider landscape. Further, the project recognizes that these landscapes and ecosystems underpin the lives and livelihoods of a large number of local communities and that implementation of coherent strategy to secure livelihoods and promote alternative livelihood options is an integral part of the solution. It will be implemented over a six year period.

The project will be led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) together with the State Governments of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. In addition the project will engage several relevant government agencies, autonomous agencies and NGOs.

This Project falls under GEF-6 Programme 3 Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development, comprising one global coordination project and a series of national child projects. The development of the FSP will thus entail working closely with the global coordination project to ensure synergies in project planning and implementation, as well as to eliminate duplication of efforts.

Deberes y responsabilidades

During the Initiation Plan period, a number of studies and stakeholder consultations will be undertaken with a view to further developing the approved project concept (see GEF PIF) into a fully formulated project document.  The final output will be a UNDP-GEF project document and GEF CEO endorsement template, with GEF Tracking Tools ready for submission to UNDP and GEF:

• No. of Weeks and Work Period- 14 weeks between March  2016 and October 2016;
• Travel Requirement- Three missions to India (including the project states);
• Assignment Objectives-Formulation and submission of Project Document to the GEF.

The International Consultant is responsible for coordinating the work of all other consultants and experts, and will ensure the quality and timely preparation of all reports and documentation with three missions to India (including the target States) and home-based work.  The International Consultant will ensure the project coherence with the GEF-6 Global IWT programme as well as the UNDP Global IWT programme.

The consultant will carry out the following tasks:

• Engage closely with the UNDP global wildlife enforcement adviser, RTA and Country Office – Programme Officer to ensure the programmatic coherence and contribution of this project to the entire GEF-6 IWT programme;
• Provide limited technical inputs to the entire GEF-6 IWT programme, and provide technical inputs to regional and inter-regional PPG outputs as appropriate;
• Provide an overall orientation to the PPG team in relation to GEF requirements for project planning and monitoring;
• Provide methodological guidance for data collection related to project planning and monitoring with particular attention given to the description and quantification of the baseline investments;
• Based on the inputs from national and international experts and in close cooperation with the key national stakeholders, compile final baseline/situational analysis for the full size project (FSP). This will include a precise definition of baseline studies, activities, budgets, goals and co-financial links to GEF outcomes; define GEF incremental value per outcome and output; present results of the incremental cost-analysis in matrices;
• Based on the inputs from national and international experts and the best international practice, prepare a quantified assessment of global environmental benefits for biodiversity conservation;
• Analyse the socio-economic benefits of the proposed interventions at national and local levels;
• Based on the international experience, assist in reconfirming/specifying the project strategy, and finalizing project sections on: (a) An assessment of the social, economic and financial sustainability of proposed project activities; (b) Assessment of alternatives to the project strategy and establishing the cost effectiveness of the preferred strategy and suite of activities; (c) A replication strategy for project activities; (d) Assessment of the risks to the proposed project activities and identify measures to mitigate these risks;  (e) incremental cost analysis, and (f) pointers towards the Exit Strategy. Based on national experts’ inputs, develop project monitoring and evaluation system for the FSP including quality control of appropriate tracking tools, including a set of indicators, baselines and targets;
• Based on national experts’ inputs, establish baseline and targets for indicators reporting on the Results and Resources Framework;
• Based on national experts’ inputs, elaborate a Logical Framework of the project;
• Prepare M&E plan and budget;
• Prepare an indicative Procurement Plan for the project;
• Based on national experts’ inputs, draft ToRs for the key consultants/contracts to be employed by the project;
• Based on national experts’ input, elaborate Stakeholder Involvement and Public Participation plans;
• Develop action plan for incorporation of gender aspects in the project, with quantifiable baseline and target indicators, as per GEF and UNDP guidance;
• Define recommended project monitoring and evaluation indicators;
• Perform final reviews of the required project documentation;
• Conduct environmental and social safeguard screening following the UNDP procedure, producing the checklist and summary report.

Final Product

The key deliverable of the International Consultant will be a final comprehensive project document in both GEF/UNDP formats and the CEO Endorsement Request in a style accessible to senior policy makers. The document should make full use of figures, diagrams and boxes to bring out key points and summarize materials emerging from the PPG phase. The key deliverable will need to be cleared by the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor for Biodiversity and Ecosystems and will consist of the following:

 Deliverable 1:

• Detailed timeline of activities and responsibilities for the preparatory process;
• Proposed methodology and formats for collecting information for the PPG consultant team including agreed schedule of field visits, consultation meetings and validation workshops;
• Inception report that includes technical advice on data collection, planning and project monitoring, focusing on the approach to describe and quantify the project baselines;
• Final report with observations and comments on the products;
• Deliverable 1 Due Date:  30-March-2016.

 Deliverable 2:

• Logical framework and Total Budget and Work Plan table;
• Draft documents: ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request, SESP and Tracking Tool, in English, revised, updated and including required attachments, in accordance with the guidelines and requirements of UNDP-GEF;
• Deliverable 2 Due Date: 30 June 2016.

 Deliverable 3:

• Final documents: ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request, ESSP checklist and GEF BD Tracking Tool, updated in response to the reviews and opinions of relevant stakeholders;
• Deliverable 3 Due Date: 31 July 2016.

Deliverable 4:

• ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request, SESP and Tracking Tool, updated in response to the reviews and comments of the UNDP-GEF RCU, the GEF Secretariat and the GEF Council;
• Deliverable 4 Due Date: 30 September 2016.

Competencias

Functional Competencies:

• Strong technical writing skills in English;
• Excellent coordination and leadership skills; as well as
• Relationship management skills.

Corporate Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Advanced degree in relevant natural sciences, social sciences or political sciences.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in preparing high quality project documents, in particular for UNDP and GEF projects;
• Specialist knowledge of and experience in biodiversity conservation and biodiversity mainstreaming in development planning, sector and landscape;
• Knowledge on and work experience in tropical Asian countries and Himalayan region preferred.

Language:

• Written and oral proficiency in English is required.

Payment Schedule:

• 30% upon successful completion and acceptance of deliverable 1;
• 25% upon successful completion and acceptance of deliverable 2;
• 25% upon successful completion and acceptance of deliverable 3;
• 20% upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of the deliverable 4.

 Documents to be submitted:

• Financial Proposal specifying all-inclusive per day consultancy fee. All travel expenses will be reimbursed as per actuals in line with UNDP rules or arrangements would be done by UNDP;
• Detailed CV with contact details of three references;
• A brief (not more than 3 pages) technical proposal that includes a write up on the way forward for preparing this Project Document focusing on sustainable livelihoods, community resilience and conservation of globally significant biodiversity in the high range Indian Himalayas. The documents should be referenced appropriately and a select bibliography provided with the proposal.

Cumulative analysis:

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive;
• 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 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

• Technical Criteria weight - 70%;
• Financial Criteria weight - 30%.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Technical Proposal: 35 Marks;
• Relevant Experience:25 Marks;
• Qualification:10 Marks.

 Notes:

• Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed; Tickets will be issued considering the most direct and economical option and Consultants are not eligible for DSA;
• Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;
• Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
• CV, Technical Proposal and  Financial proposal have to be  be clubbed in one file for uploading; Proposal has to be sent online only;
• The consultants must bring his/her own computing equipment.