Background

UNDP’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan emphasizes the critical links between environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and broader efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate Change, and Energy (NCE) Team promotes and scales up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

The NCE Team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion dollar portfolio encompasses: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests; Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems; Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Renewable and Modern Energy; Extractive Industries; Chemicals and Waste Management; Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning. UNDP's Nature, Climate and Energy practice spans 137 countries, with a portfolio directly benefiting 86 million people. Our support to Governments focusses on enabling an inclusive, resilient, green recovery by: building competency to accelerate access to sustainable energy and climate and nature-positive policies and finance; scaling capacity to ensure No One is Left Behind; catalyzing SDG and Paris-aligned investments (public and private); delivering client-focused solutions that respond to countries' immediate, mid- and long-term recovery and socio-economic development priorities; and leveraging our on-the-ground presence and networks to unlock bottom-up solutions that deliver lasting impacts at country level.

In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships on nature climate and energy, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which  includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund); the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services.  The Nature, Climate and Energy Team focuses on managing the oversight of climate and environmental financial resources from global trust funds to catalyze and unlock other types of public and private financing for sustainable development. This includes oversight of the design as well as implementation phase of projects (together with Country Offices and Regional Bureas), as well as portfolio level oversight and management.

The Chemicals and Waste Sub-team focuses on how sound chemical and waste management can reduce the risks of exposure to hazardous chemicals and protect the human health and environment. UNDP Montreal Protocol/chemicals unit (MPU) focuses on providing policy and technical advisory, design and implementation oversight to the chemical projects funded by Global Environment Facility, the Multilateral Fund, and bilateral donors. The chemicals team is organized into a number of substantive technical teams with staff located in both HQs and UNDP's Regional Hubs in Istanbul, Panama, and Bangkok. Currently, UNDP supports over 73 countries in meeting their obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depleting Substances and its Kigali Amendment on HFCs, Stockholm convention on POPs, Minamata convention on mercury, as well as strategic approach of international chemical management (SAICM). UNDP has been on the forefront of efforts to advance the Kigali Amendment to tackle the climate change and improve cooling efficiency by partnering with developing countries, MLF, GEF, K-CEP, CCAC, Cool Coalition, bilateral donors and private sectors. UNDP’s Chemicals and Waste programme helps client countries improve their capacities for sustainable production and consumption, clean air action plan, integrated waste management (healthcare waste, E-waste, plastics), sustainable and non-chemical development in SIDS, promotion of Green/Circular Economy, resource efficiency, good practice in Artisanal and Gold Mining sector (ASGM).

As part of this work, the NCE team based in Istanbul would like to engage the services of a consultant to cooling technologies (products and services) to implement the Kigali Amendment across the region.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of, and upon request by, the NCE Regional Technical Leader, and in coordination with the global MPU team, the consultant will be expected to carry out the following tasks:

• Liaise closely with the project team and participate in collaborative, ongoing discussions to scope the project with the project and global teams, country offices and external partners and stakeholders
• Collect data and strengthen the evidence base for the proposed engagement
• Provide advice on different aspects of cooling and CCHP technologies and the readiness of the region to absorb these
• Prepare stakeholder mappings, identify relevant stakeholders or partners
• Facilitate discussions with relevant technology products and service providers, and government policymakers
• Develop the technology tool/database for our region
• Conduct regional and/or national consultations and trainings on the technology tool
• Prepare reports, presentations and contribute to proposals

Expected deliverables:

1. Based on desk review and country-level consultations, write up the conclusions per country (max 10 days)
2. Development of digital database with a taxonomy that captures the key specifications of the suitable, viable cooling/CCHP technologies for the region (30 days)
3. Powerpoint presentation prepared summarizing country contexts, main findings and recommendations for financing instrument; presentation and discussion of work achieved in at least one webinar for interested stakeholders (3 days)
4. At least three workshops for country offices on the digital tool (3 days)

Information on Working Arrangements:

• Estimated level of effort: 46 days
• The consultant will work from home;
• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection;
• The consultant will engage with the Supervisor by email, MS Teams, Zoom or other digital platform as needed;
• The consultant is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones;
• Payments will be made upon submission of a detailed time sheet and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Supervisor on days worked and outputs delivered.

Competencies

Corporate:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism.
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional:

• Demonstrates commitment to human development principles and values;
• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Provides helpful feedback and advice;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
• Acknowledges and responds constructively to the points of view of others;
• Works toward creative solutions by analyzing problems carefully and logically;
• Expert excel skills to generate various worksheets, pivot tables, presentations;
• Highly organized, detailed oriented, ability to work with ease and accuracy to generate financial related worksheets
• Results-driven and initiative-taking
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
• Ability to plan and organise work and establish priorities
• Remains calm and in control even under pressure, and consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Thoroughly and methodically collects, verifies and records data, demonstrating attention to detail and identifying and correcting errors on own initiative.

Client Orientation and Communication

•           Effective written and oral communication skills;

•           Good interpersonal and networking skills;

•           Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations;

•           Supports and encourages open communication in the team and facilitates teamwork;

•           Ability to work under minimum supervision.

•           Ability to work with multiple stakeholders from a wide range of disciplines and fields, from both developed and developing countries, and having diverse and competing worldviews and interests. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•           Masters Degree in Engineering, Information Technology, Technology, Environmental Science, Chemistry or any other closely related field.

Experience:

•           At least 7 years of experience in engineering, technology, IT, or environmental regulation of polluting industries required.

•           Knowledge of environmental, energy-efficiency technologies, especially in the cooling sector, highly desirable

•           Proven experience in preparation of technical databases or IT tools desirable

•           Experience liaising with technology providers and/or government policymakers desirable

•           Experience in working with a UN agency is desirable

•           Experience of working in Europe and Central Asia is highly desirable

Languages:

•           Fluency in spoken and written English.

•           Working knowledge of Russian preferred.

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation

• Technical Criteria weight – 70%
• Financial Criteria weight – 30%

Technical Criteria (70% of the evaluation)

Criterion 1: Prior Experience (35%)

1. At least 7 years of relevant professional experience working in  engineering, technology, IT, or environmental regulation of polluting industries (with focus on sustainable finance) - 30%
2. Experience with aspects of cooling and CCHP technologies and experience with data collection – 5%

Criterion 2: Demonstrated Knowledge and Networks (25%)

1. Knowledge of environmental, energy-efficiency technologies, especially in the cooling sector, highly desirable – 10%
2. Familiarity with preparation of technical databases or IT tools desirable – 5%
3. Knowledge of the Europe and Central Asia region – 10%

Criterion 3: Multi-stakeholder coordination (10%)

1. Experience liaising with technology providers and/or government policymakers desirable – 10% 

Financial Criteria (30 % of evaluation)

Application procedures

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Short cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees
  (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
• Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days, travel, per diems and any other possible costs).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...).No travel is envisaged for this assignment. 

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.