Background

The regional guideline for NVCFP will be developed as part of the NDC SP’s NDC Financing and Investment workstream which in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) aims to strengthen existing NDC private sector engagement strategies as well as financial and monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) mechanisms that are already being implemented to accelerate private sector engagement in NDCs in the region.

It is expected that this regional guideline will build upon the experiences of 3 champion countries in the region (Chile, Peru, and Ecuador) that already have an NVCFP in place and will also illustrate the different aspects to consider for the creation of such programmes, based on international literature and best practices.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for developing a regional guideline for NVCFP in Spanish which should include as a minimum the below-mentioned sections. This is an indicative guidance for reference and the final index could be revisited after an adequate analysis of the latest regional/global developments for each sub-section. A detailed analysis of ongoing UNDP work including but not limited to the 3 champion countries should be included:

1. What is a NVCFP and what are the key components? 

• What is an NVCFP in the LAC context
• Credibility and goals.
• National and international recognition (logos/ awarding systems / product, events, regional, organization or individual levels).
• National or international verification standards, methodological resources and database recognized GHG accounting methodologies, sector-specific guidance of emission factors. Inclusion on national GHG inventories and double counting considerations (Tracking voluntary mitigation contributions towards NDC targets, and LTSs or net-zero commitments).
• NVCFP vs other non-state driven initiatives.

2. Case studies: LAC country examples to illustrate this question.  

2.  What are the advantages for governments and non-state actors of establishing a NVCFP? 

a. Support towards national development priorities, NDCs, LTSs or net-zero commitments.

• The role of tracking voluntary1 mitigation contributions towards Global Paris Agreement goals (NDC targets, and LTSs or net-zero commitments including aspects such as inclusivity and just transition).
• Public sector benefits (e.g. advocacy, social, environmental, economic, green procurement, and support towards climate goals and increase national climate preparedness, support towards a just transition, channel private investment and monitor contributions).  
• Private sector benefits (e.g. reputational – championing climate action and NCVFPs, economic, fiscal, efficiency, and development of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for climate friendly projects).  
• Preparedness for long-term planning and building resilience against the climate crisis (leveraging on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the important role of the private sector). 
•  
• b. Access to climate finance (considerations towards performance-based payments), international cooperation, public finance or ITMOS) and contributions towards national climate targets in a reduced fiscal space and post-pandemic crisis.  Specific aspects related to the fulfillment of most recent discussion about article 6 (Corresponding adjustments, double counting etc.).
• c. Case studies: LAC country examples to illustrate this question. 

3. How to establish a NVCFP?  

• Main recommended structure to establish a NVCFP.  Case studies: LAC country examples. 
• Legal framework and governance.
• Verification strategies.  
• Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of NVCFP platforms (online platform considerations).
• Costs, sustainability, and potential fee structures.
• Recognition system.
• Linkage to national GHG inventories. How voluntary GHG reductions can be linked to NDC progress tracking/MRV platforms.
• Government support platform / dissemination strategies.  

4. Special remarks and best practices based on experiences in the region.

• Simplified GHG accounting methodologies maintaining accuracy and international recognition but reducing operational costs to expand participation.
• Avoiding greenwashing.  How to ensure private –public sector that green washing risk has been tackled
• Life cycle and Circular economy.   How NVCFP can foster benefits beyond climate change mitigation and consider resilience and sustainability efforts at the national level including the consideration of SDG impacts.
• Renewable Energy;  How NVCFP can consider potential double accounting for the use of renewable energy being adopted in the country as part of NDC/LTS implementation strategies (as a detailed topic of the 3.g)
• Forests.  How NVCFP can collaborate/develop synergies with the ongoing development of national and regional carbon markets related to, REDD+ including nature-based solutions (NBS) finance, result based payments and other stimulus packages.    (As a detailed topic of the 2.b). 
• Case studies: LAC country examples.

Conclusions and recommendations for governments.

The Consultant will be responsible for the following activities:

• Conduct interviews with participant country focal points, including but not limited to the 3 champion countries, to gather information that can provide the basis for the above-mentioned sections.
• Development of at least 2 specific S-S exchanges between the participating countries and others that could be invited (Panama, Paraguay, also working on the development of NVCFP´s with UNDP in LAC.
• Review and analyze relevant documentation regarding the “Huella Chile”, “Huella Perú”, and “Carbono Neutral” (Ecuador) programmes, to identify best practices and relevant experiences to be included in the guideline.
• Revision of international literature and best practices that can support the development of the guideline.
• Review of the progress of the publication with the participating countries (at least two exchanges / review meetings)
• Draft the guideline and incorporate UNDP feedback, as per agreed timelines.
• Prepare final document including final revision after proof reading of third parties.

Expected outputs and deliverables:

The consultant will be responsible for the following outputs:

• Chapter one: What is a NVCFP?
• Chapter two: ?
• Chapter three: How to establish a NVCFP?
• Chapter four:
• First draft of the guideline
• Final version of the guideline

Note : The consultancy entails review and vetting of results from a high volume of documents; extensive writing; and a commitment to deadlines while at the same time accommodating flexibility with regard to potential shifts in interim milestone deadlines due to fact checking and obtaining clearances from UNDP. While interim milestone deadlines may shift, the Regional Technical Advisor will work closely with the Consultant to manage these challenges and stay within the overall assignment period of approximately three months.

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to prepare high quality knowledge products and corporate publications.
• Sound knowledge of private sector and voluntary markets, ideally in LAC countries.
• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.
• Ability to read though a high volume of content across various sources, vet/distill noteworthy content and synthesize in a coherent narrative.
• Ability to be flexible and respond to changes to text as part of the review and feedback process.
• Ability to participate effectively in a team-based, collaborative environment

Required Skills and Experience

Language

Master’s degree in Sustainable Development, Environmental Sciences or related fields.

Experience

• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience producing knowledge products is required.
• Experience preparing high visibility corporate documents for large organizations is an asset.
• Substantive knowledge of climate action (mitigation and adaptation), NDCs and the Paris Agreement, sustainable development, and private sector engagement is required.
• Knowledge or practical experience of CDM/VCSs (or other GHG mitigation standard such as Gold Standard).
• Knowledge of SDG impact assessments would be a plus for this assessment.

Language

• Spanish proficiency. (The document will be developed in Spanish)
• English is desired.

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

1. A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment;

2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references;

3. A two-page methodology on how the Offeror will conduct the work including a Work Plan and approach in delivering the required outputs within the assignment period. Please note this is mandatory and applications without this methodology will not be accepted.

4. Samples/links to show track record of writing high quality Spannish language reports and information. Applications without this will not be reviewed.

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

1. The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around the specific and measurable deliverables of the TOR. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR, and deliverables accepted and certified by the technical manager.

1. The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; (excluding mission travel); living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.

2. This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel.

    

1. In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

2. If the 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 a 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.

   The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
2. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (70 points):

1. Criteria 1. At least 5 years of experience in writing, editing and formatting reports and other advanced written products for international organizations, national governments, NGOs, and/or development partners; Maximum Points: 25;

2. Criteria 2: Substantial experience in researching, reporting, writing and editing publications related to climate change, carbon markets, voluntary GHG reductions, GHG accounting methodologies (at national, organizational or project level), circular economy or Renewable energy. Maximum Points: 25;

3. Criteria 3: Demonstrated abilities and track record writing high quality Spanish-language reports and information. Maximum Points: 20

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

• 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

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Regional Technical Advisor on Climate Change for LAC of the NDC Support Programme in coordination with other members of the Global Support Unit.  and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Payment modality

1. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified above and deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.
2. The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

• Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs
• Annex 2 - IC Contract Template
• Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions
• Annex 4 – RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.