Background
To apply, interested persons should upload the combined* Technical Proposal/Methodology (if applicable), CV and Offeror’s Letter to “UNDP Jobs” by navigating to the link below and clicking “APPLY NOW”, no later than the date indicated on the “UNDP Jobs” website. Applications submitted via email will not be accepted**: -
UNDP Job Site – https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=100310 (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work)
* PLEASE NOTE: The system allows the upload of one (1) document ONLY – if you are required to submit a Technical Proposal/Methodology, this document along with your CV/P11 and Offeror’s Letter, MUST be combined and uploaded as one.
NOTE: The Financial Proposal should not be uploaded to “UNDP Jobs” **.
<IMPORTANT>
**Please email the password-protected Financial Proposal to procurement.bb@undp.org. The subject line of your email must contain the following: “BBRSO##### Financial Proposal – Your Name”
If the password for your Financial Proposal is required, it will be requested by the Procurement Unit.
Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to procurement.bb@undp.org within three (3) days of the publication of this notice, ensuring that the reference number above is included in the subject line. The UNDP Barbados & the OECS Procurement Unit will post the responses*** two (2) days later, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to: -
http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=80420 (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work)
A detailed Procurement Notice, TOR, and all annexes can be found by clicking the above link.
*** UNDP shall endeavour to provide such responses to clarifications in an expeditious manner, but any delay in such response shall not cause an obligation on the part of UNDP to extend the submission date of the Proposals, unless UNDP deems that such an extension is justified and necessary.
Background:
Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries unanimously agreed to work toward global goals that would limit global average temperature rise. Specifically, the Agreement seeks to limit the rise in the world’s average surface temperatures to “well below” 2°C above pre-industrial times this century, while “pursuing efforts” for 1.5°C. It also sets a target of eliminating global GHG emissions by the second half of the century – or at least compensating any residual emissions through, for example, forest growth.
A key principle in the Paris Agreement is that no country should backslide on its intentions, which were put forward in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which describe each country’s self-determined strategy for curbing GHG emissions, typically in five- or ten-year periods and can also include plans to increase resilience. Individually, NDCs represent each country’s climate priorities and vision for achieving sustainable development. Aggregated, they represent the world’s collective efforts to fight climate change. However current NDCs are estimated to collectively result in a temperature rise of 2.9 to 3.4 °C by 2100.
All countries are expected to submit increasingly ambitious NDCs every five years; a first opportunity to do so is in 2020. Achieving the Paris Agreement’s goals will require an emissions peak as soon as possible, followed by sharp reductions in GHG emissions. Therefore, many see high ambition in 2020 as fundamental to get on track to 1.5°C and counter a worrying trend of rising emissions. The transformative climate action required needs a global commitment to raising ambition, articulated in the next generation of NDCs, to create economic drivers that shift investments away from fossil fuel use and carbon-intensive practices.
In the lead-up to the UN Climate Summit, UNDP and UNFCCC released the most comprehensive review to date of global ambition. The joint report, The Heat is On, revealed:
75 countries (representing 37% of global GHG emissions) intended to raise ambition through either mitigation or adaptation or both.
37 countries (16%) intended to update information in their NDCs.
71 countries (21%, including most developed nations) were either undecided on their approach, provided no information, or were seeking support for the NDC revision process; and
14 countries (26%) had no plans to revise their current NDCs.
The report reiterated that the choices made on ambition in 2020 would have profound consequences for future generations and required the world to move beyond business-as-usual as quickly as possible. It also highlighted that 2020 intentions represent a ladder of opportunity where advocacy efforts could potentially be undertaken at each level to persuade a country to undertake a positive step-change in ambition, e.g. a country that had no plans to revise its NDC submits an updated one, a country focused on adaptation ambition also increases mitigation ambition, etc.
In response, UNDP is leveraging its extensive climate portfolio and scale up urgently needed support for NDC enhancement in 100 countries, working in close collaboration with UN system partners (e.g. UNEP, FAO, UNICEF), IRENA, the NDC Partnership, the Green Climate Fund, and other strategic partners. An integrated approach will be used that harnesses the wide-ranging expertise of UNDP’s Global Policy Network to strengthen climate solutions with perspectives from governance, health, water, gender equality, women’s and youth empowerment, disaster risk reduction, and inclusive growth, among others.
Antigua and Barbuda submitted its first NDC on September 21, 2016 which included efforts to improve the country’s energy efficiency. The country aims to, by 2030, have 100% of electricity demand in the water sector and other essential services (including health, food storage and emergency services) be met through off-grid renewable sources[1]. As the country relies heavily on imported fossil fuels, fuels costs and the associated emissions are extremely high. However, important strides have been made in the endeavours to address Antigua & Barbuda’s fossil fuel consumption through the development of a National Energy Policy (NEP). This will serve as the main policy addressing renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE). In addition, a Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) was released. This plan was implemented to support energy conservation and efficiency, diversification of energy sources, sustainable energy consumption and generation as well as the utilisation of renewable energy sources.
The UNDP through its Climate Promise initiative is assisting Antigua & Barbuda in its efforts to update its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). UNDP will support activities that will contribute to raised mitigation and adaptation ambition in the revised NDC. It is expected that the implementation of the NDCs will be closely linked to global and local goals and agreements such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and other national sectoral policies.
The present consultancy is necessitated given that the country is revising its NDCs and based on the recognition of the need for goals and targets to be anchored in national policies. The consultant will therefore analyse the consistency of such targets and propose recommendations for the integration of them into medium- and long-term development policy documents and strategies, and disaster risk reduction plans.
[1] At the time of posting, Antigua & Barbuda’s 2nd NDC is being finalized. The consultant is expected to consult this document to support the accuracy of final reports.
Duties and Responsibilities
The main objective of this assignment is to support Antigua & Barbuda in the alignment of the revised NDC targets with national energy transition strategies and disaster risk reduction plans.
The engaged expert(s) will be expected to:
Identify the main policy documents, strategies, regulations related to energy and disaster risk reduction in Antigua & Barbuda and ensuring its relevance and completeness with authorities.
Assess previously submitted and proposed (revised) NDC targets and determine their robustness in supporting effective energy transition in Antigua & Barbuda. Propose a methodology which compliments measures outlined in the national NDC implementation plan for this purpose that takes into consideration security and resilience, reliability, affordability, climate ambitions, and reducing dependency on fossil fuels. This methodology should highlight gaps in the implementation plan and recommend aspects for inclusion. The methodology shall also take into consideration state of the art technologies and its current costs, as the landscape has changed significantly in recent years, and technologies that were not viable in 2019 may now be much more viable. Methodology must also incorporate end uses of energy including transport and building/residential.
Conduct consultations with decision makers and Government Ministry officials throughout the consultancy to ensure adequate inputs are provided by all relevant stakeholders. Data requests should also be made at the start of and during the consultancy.
Consultations should also occur throughout the consultancy to facilitate the sharing of findings to ensure feedback can be incorporated into the final report.
Collect data on work already underway in the country and build on recommendations for specific policies to strengthen NDC implementation in the energy sector. Proposals must cover the whole policy framework from legal, regulatory, normalization, as well as updates and revisions of key policy documents.
Suggestions from a de-risking approach should also be incorporated (UNDP’s de-risking renewable energy investment may serve as reference).
Recommend policies that may require strengthening for disaster risk reduction in the energy sector.
Develop an indicative timeframe for the implementation of the policy recommendations.
Provide recommendations to support the revision of the Medium-Term Development Strategy and for the revision of the National Energy Policy.
Identify necessary data requirements, research, and activities to support future activities related to NDC update and review.
Review of prepared data gaps and needs is required. The Consultant will be expected to build on this work and provide recommendations on measures for continued data collection.
It is anticipated that the consultant’s work under this area will align with current actions being conducted in country to support the Ministry of Finance to conduct economic recovery planning and medium-term development planning, particularly considering COVID-19.
Competencies
Functional
Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products.
Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of sustainable development.
Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs.
Strong organisational skills.
Ability to work independently.
Communication
Strong command of the English language (speaking, writing, comprehension)
Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly.
Strong analytical, research and writing skills
Strong inter-personal, negotiation and liaison skills.
Required Skills and Experience
A Master’s Degree (or higher) in Sustainable Energy (or related field), Environmental Economics, Climate Policy and Development, or other fields applicable to the scope and objective of the study.