Background

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities, and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s current Country Programme, 2018-2022, has entered its final year of implementation. Our new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios: 

•              Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs

•              Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized

•              Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability

South-South cooperation and gender equality are promoted across the pillars and the programme is  supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the 2030 Agenda. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

India will assume the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023. Amongst others, this occasion is an opportunity to showcase India’s leadership and spearheading the call to action, specifically under climate action where nationally, India has made significant progress. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal Ministry leading the Environment & Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG). Key themes have been identified under the ECSWG, which include the “promotion of blue economy along with coastal sustainability, amongst others.

During the upcoming G20 Presidency for the year 2023, India seeks to build a G20 consensus for the ‘G20 Principles for a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Blue Economy’ under the CSWG. The expected outcomes under the Indian Presidency would be

1. Development of G20 Principles for a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Blue Economy to promote G20 cooperation on conservation, protection and responsible use of ocean resources while building resilience to climate impacts, incorporating ‘Responsible LiFE practices’ for the marine ecosystem.
2. Convening a G20 Oceans Dialogue to assess best practices in blue asset conservation, protection and management for adaptation with mitigation co-benefits, and in mobilising finance for SDG 14.
3. Organisation of coordinated beach cleaning activities in G20 Countries to draw global attention to the need to combat coastal and marine pollution.

With the above context, UNDP and MoEFCC seeks the services of a National Consultant for technical support provision for India’s G20 Blue Economy agenda.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Provide technical support to International Consultant to support the Government of India (during India’s G20 Presidency) to further strengthen global cooperation for a climate resilient and sustainable blue economy. This will be done by identifying specific action-oriented priorities for G20 member countries, while taking stock of key milestones and linkages from previous Presidencies. Key tasks include:

• Collate, document and conduct an analysis on existing initiatives and strategies implemented for the Blue Economy track under previous presidencies and identify avenues for alignment with India’s emerging priorities.
• Provide technical support to draft policy recommendations, strategic approaches and institutional capacity design required to strengthen the three priorities identified by GoI- (i) Marine Pollution: Challenges surrounding land-based sources of marine pollution acknowledged since G20 presidency in 2017 (ii) Promoting Blue Economy: Livelihoods would prosper only when our oceans remain pristine and support life. (iii) Conservation and Coastal & Marine Spatial Planning
• Provide technical support to identify and document international and national high-level principles on Blue Economy
• Support research and development of input papers, issue briefs, technical studies, identifying concrete deliverables / outcomes throughout the presidency.
• Support the Ministry in facilitating relevant meetings and documentation.
• Any other tasks assigned by Senior Specialist  / Head, Environment, Energy and Resilience.

Competencies

Competencies

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity. 
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Self-development, initiative-taking.
• Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork.
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control.
• Managing conflict.
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making.

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP's values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN/UNDP; and
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualification:  

• Master’s or advanced degree is preferred) in Marine Science, Marine Biology, Chemistry or any relevant related field

professional Experience: 

•   Essential: At least 3 years of experience in research on Blue economy and or climate change adaptation and resilience. 

• Preferred: Demonstrated experience in research and development of written documents, policy papers, advocacy projects related to climate change impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems.

PAYMENT TERMS

The method of payment is output-based lump-sum scheme. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive lump sum and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration.

The payments shall be released upon submitting the required deliverables/outputs with satisfactory by the Project Manager , as per agreement for each deliverable in accordance with a set time schedule to be agreed in the contract.

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including his/her consultancy and professional fee, travel, honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is 62 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided.  Such medical examination costs must be factored into the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts.

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 % (only candidates who score a consolidated 70% in the technical criteria and interview would be invited to submit financial proposals) 

Technical Criteria (70% of the total evaluation)

• At least 3 years of experience in research on Blue economy and or climate change adaptation and resilience.  – 40%
• Master’s or advanced degree is preferred relevant field – 10%
• Demonstrated experience in research and development of written documents, policy papers, advocacy projects related to climate change impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems. – 20%

 (Please note UNDP reserves the right to request that these be shared, if readily accessible links are not available or referenced). 

Submission of Proposal 

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 (which includes both the technical and the interview). 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. When submitting CVs, candidates are requested to submit a document that is clearly responsive to the technical evaluation criteria. 

Notes:

Miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone, relocation charges, local travel etc. would not be reimbursed separately