Background

UNDP has been supporting the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in meeting its national and international environmental priorities and commitments. These include close to 40 projects in the area of biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, climate change and chemical management. UNDP’s support focuses on technical and policy advisory, institutional strengthening and building capacities of various stakeholders to utilize natural resources in a sustainable way, while increasing resilience to climate variability and associated risks and impacts. UNDP also supports India’s engagement with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and works with Central Ministries and state governments to implement GEF financed projects.

UNDP India is developing a GEF-supported project entitled, “Strengthening institutional capacities for securing biodiversity conservation commitments”. The project would be led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in partnership with National Biodiversity Authority and UNDP. The project aims to mainstream biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use and management into local level self-governance institutional planning and budgeting systems in two high biodiversity landscapes in India.

UNDP seeks to engage a National Livelihoods and Value Chain Specialist who will be responsible for designing project interventions related to livelihoods and its possible linkages with the private sector.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

The list below outlines key responsibilities and deliverables for the consultant:

1. Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): Prepare inputs and support the required analysis/studies, as agreed with the GEF Project Development Specialist including:

1. a.Review and assess the project baseline covering assessment of existing livelihood practices and market opportunities; major commodities and value chains related natural resources in the target landscapes; key opportunities for establishing value chains in the project landscape that support the avoidance of biodiversity degradation; existing mechanisms and partnerships for private sector engagement and potential complementarities; and identification of private sector stakeholders and level of awareness, capacity and interest in supporting achievement of conservation in the target landscape;
2. On the basis of findings and stakeholder consultations, identify priorities and appropriate project interventions, including: a roadmap/methodology for promoted to improve community livelihoods and build local support for avoidance of biodiversity loss and promote sustainable use of natural resources; targeted opportunities for strengthening and/or establishing value chains supporting in the target landscape; awareness-raising and capacity development needs for private sector stakeholders including small-scale producers/micro-enterprises; and needed incentives, policy, financial and technical support to establish value chains
3. Support the completion of any additional studies that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs as guided by the GEF Project Development Specialist.

2. Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory Annexes as well as project specific annexes (Component B): Prepare inputs and support the development of final PPG deliverables, as agreed with the GEF Project Development Specialist 

3. National, state and local level consultations and validation workshop (Component C):

1. Participate in and contribute to the national, state and local level consultations and validation workshops, if needed; and
2. Support necessary revisions that arise during the workshop, as appropriate.

Competencies

Competencies:

• Analytical skills: Able to synthesize large sets of inputs and data to form coherent outputs
• Ability to interact with senior members and stakeholders effectively and efficiently
• Must be detail-oriented
• Communication skills: Able to communicate clear ideas across a variety of mediums
• Writing and presentation skills: Able to produce high quality reports and presentations
• Team skills: Able to work independently as well as in teams
• Great organizational and time-management skills

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualification:

• Masters’ degree in business, social sciences, economics, or a related field, such as agriculture, environment economics.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of experience in economics and value chain analysis;
• Experience working strengthen/develop community livelihoods/ commodity markets;

Language:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

Expected Deliverables

1. A report summarizing the baseline analysis as described above and detailing priority project interventions for enhancing community livelihoods, strengthening/establishing value chains, with budget, ToR and timelines for implementation
2. Mapping of alternate/diversified livelihood options and potential private sector partners and partnership opportunities; and
3. Appropriate inputs provided to the Final Project Document and Annexes, as agreed with GEF Project Development Specialist.

Payment Scheduled: Payments will be deliverable linked per the following schedule of payments:

Evaluation Criteria

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as Responsive to the requirement. 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 %

Technical Criteria (70% of the total evaluation)

Criteria 1: Prior Experience (30%)

7 years of demonstrated relevant professional experience in economics and value chain analysis.

Criteria 2: Demonstrated Knowledge on Community Livelihood and value chain (20%)

Experience of working on developing/strengthening community livelihoods with relevant private sector actors; and demonstrated experience in coordinating and working with multi-stakeholder groups.

Criteria 3: technical competency to undertaking the task (20%)

The methodology/approach for undertaking the assignment

Financial Proposal:

Technically qualified consultants will be requested to submit their lump sum rate i.e. consultants who score more than 70% i.e. 49 marks with respect to the above-mentioned evaluation criteria. Consultant should not specify their consultancy fee on their CV or with the submission. The CV will not be evaluated further in case the consultant submits the same.

Note:

• CV should be submitted with a technical proposal (2 pages max) with the methodology/approach to be adopted to deliver on the assignment. (Upload as 1 document)
• The shortlisted applicants may be invited to present on their technical competency as per the requirement of the position.