Background

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India has been implementing the GEF-6, SECURE Himalaya Project along with UNDP, State Forest and Wildlife Division of Uttarakhand, UT of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim. The project aims at promoting sustainable management of alpine pastures and forests in the high range Himalayan ecosystems that secures conservation of globally significant wildlife, including endangered snow leopard and their habitats, ensure sustainable livelihoods and community socio-economic benefits. In particular, the project aims at implementation of four inter-related components (project strategies) that are focussed at addressing the conservation, wildlife crime and livelihood issues with emphasis on protection and management of areas outside protected area networks.  The uniqueness of the project lies in adopting landscape approach to resource governance as against the exclusive protected area centric approach to facilitate the maintenance of the ecological integrity of the snow leopard landscape and its constituent parts.

The project was launched on October 2, 2017 and will end by March 2024. The operational closure of the project is expected by December 2023. As per the GEF requirements, sustainability plans/exit strategy of the project needs to be developed in consultation of MoEF&CC, state Govt. and stakeholders engaged at various levels under the project. Lessons from earlier projects have demonstrated that a well-planned exit strategy contributes to better program outcomes and encourage commitment of beneficiaries to commit to program sustainability. Specifically for conservation projects, exit strategies are critical component of conservation planning.

The overall goal of this assignment is to develop an exit strategy to ensure that project’s impact and benefit will be sustained after a project ends. The term exit strategy does not refer to the process of withdraw its assistance but to ensure sustainability in a more profound and comprehensive ways. A project Exit Strategy is a plan describing how the project intends to withdraw its resources while ensuring that achievement of the project goals is not jeopardized and that progress towards these goals will continue. Hence, the exit (and sustainability strategy) aims to:

• Ensure the sustainability of project goals and impacts after the project ends;
• Inform stakeholders and beneficiaries of project closure and outline their roles and responsibilities to sustain post-project activities; and
• Ensure the orderly closure of the project.

As for the context of this project, project exit refers to the withdrawal of external support by the GEF and UNDP, coincident with the end of the project funding cycle (GEF-6) as agreed within the Project Document. The national implementing partner is the MoEF&CC will continue its leading role in ensuring that project’s impact/outcome will sustain.

UNDP seeks to engage the services of a Consultant to develop exit strategy for the project in consultation with the project stakeholder across the national, state and landscape level.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for developing an exit strategy for the project in consultation with the project stakeholders. The specific tasks would be

1. Review the prodoc, project result framework, Project Implementation Report, Annual Progress Report, Quarterly Progress Report, Mid-Term Review report and other related documents. Assess all the interventions/actions against the PRF to identify activities required to be phase down and phase out.
2. Conduct assessment of all the stakeholders/institutions engaged at all levels and their role is taking the activities forward after the project completion. Document cases where the activities have already been mainstreamed within the existing progammes/system related to conservation and management throughout project implementation. Therefore, upon the withdrawal of the external funding from the project, the core project activities will be sustained.
3. Prepare matrix for the phase out and phase down activities along with responsibilities, timelines, opportunities for sustainability, timeline, and tentative budget required. Conduct state-wise consultations/meetings with implementing partners to build common consensus of activities to be phase out, phase down, and interventions to be mainstreamed into existing govt. programmes. The meetings shall be organised in person and virtual as well.
4. Conduct meetings with MoEF&CC, State Forest and Wildlife Departments and UNDP to explore opportunities for new projects/partnerships based on the learning of SECURE Himalaya.
5. Based on the above, draft strategy to be drafted. The strategy should have national, state and landscape specific sustainability plan. The validation of exit strategy/sustainability plan with project stakeholders to be organised with support of Project Management Unit.

Expected Deliverables, timelines and payment schedule

Schedule of Payment

Payments will be released on successful completion and submission of deliverables mentioned in above table.

Project Location: The assignment will be home based with travel. 

Competencies

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Good knowledge on government policies related to biodiversity focal area, trans-boundary biodiversity issues, wildlife conservation, land degradation and sustainable forest management
• Excellent documentation skills and prior experience in the relevant field will be useful
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.

Communication skills

• Good communication, interpersonal skills, with an ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates/safeguards ethics and integrity
• Works as a team member

Language Requirements 

Fluency in English and Hindi is essential.

Required Skills and Experience

Education 

• A Master’s degree or higher in Environment Sciences, Biodiversity conservation, Wildlife Conservation, Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Land and Forest Management or any other related field 

Experience 

• Atleast 15 years of experience of working on biodiversity conservation, eco-system management, wildlife crime and related issues of Indian Himalayan Region. 
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience on strategy and policy development for Himalayan region
• Demonstrated understanding of GEF projects in India – experience of project design or evaluation of atleast one GEF project
• Experience of developing atleast two strategy/policy/exit strategy documents for the projects on conservation and management of high range ecosystems 
• Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender biodiversity, wildlife conservation, land degradation and sustainable forest management, experience in gender sensitive programming
• Good understanding of different geographies, environment, and conservation issues in India and particularly in the high-altitude Himalayan landscapes. 

Submission of Proposal 

Updated CV with cover letter

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

The consultant would be selected based on the following criteria:

Technical: 70 points

Financial: 30 points

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Criteria for Technical Evaluation would be as under:

Educational Qualification - 20 Marks;

Relevant Experience - 50 Marks;

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should 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

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.

Notes: 

Miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone, relocation charges, local travel etc. would not be reimbursed separately.
Individuals working with Instituions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of Instituion for the specific services of the  Individual.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individual from minority groups, indigenous groups and person with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination.

All selections is on merit.