Historique

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 vulnerable 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 strategy for the livelihood initiatives along with exit plan (SSEP) of the project needs to be developed in consultation with MoEF&CC, State/UT Govt. and stakeholders engaged at various levels under the project.

An independent Mid Term Review (MTR) was carried out in 2022.Recommendations of MTR emphatically indicate that sustainability strategy for the existing livelihood related value chain will greatly enhance the effectiveness of initiatives, best practices   demonstrated under the project.

Sustainability is generally considered to be the likelihood of continued benefits after the GEF funding ends. A sustainability strategy specially for the SECURE Himalaya project will ensure that the positive impacts of the identified livelihood interventions are sustained beyond its duration. It should also include the creation/strengthening of monitoring systems to assess what changes, if any, are necessary to ensure sustained positive outcomes under the project.

In view of the above, the livelihood sustainability strategy with exit plan may include (but not limited to) following:

1. Assessment of long-term strategies including business plans developed for the identified livelihood value chains, emphasizing the socio-economic benefits of the local communities.
2. Identification of potential barriers in the sustainability and strategies to overcome them.
3. Measures to ensure institutionalization and continued support for project outcomes.
4. Identification of potential opportunities for resource mobilization and partnerships for sustainability.
5. Monitoring and evaluation plan or framework for community institutions to track the progress and impact.
6. Value chain/State and UT wise market linkage strategies. Linkages with National / State level schemes/ missions.
7. Any further capacity building needs and technology enhancement required to enhance sustainability.
8. Assessment of any further support required by resource/support/technical agencies such as community based Organisations/ Civil Society Organisations  or any other institution that may  help in  sustaining the benefits of value  chains supported by SECURE Himalaya Project.

In 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 and the state level implementing partner, the state forest / wildlife department may continue their leading role in ensuring that project’s impact/outcome sustain.

The overall goal of this assignment is to develop SSEP to ensure that project’s impact and benefit will be sustained after the project ends. The term SSEP does not refer to the process of withdrawal of its assistance but to ensure sustainability in a more profound and comprehensive ways. A project SSEP is a plan describing how the project could access funds from other sources such as government schemes/ programmes, corporates, and other vertical funds for continuity of action. Opportunity to access additional funds during the project period to ensure continuity and transition. Hence, these aims to:

1. Ensure the sustainability of project goals and impacts after the project ends.
2. Inform stakeholders and beneficiaries of project closure and outline their roles and responsibilities to sustain post-project activities.
3. Identification of funding sources from government schemes/ programmes, corporates and other vertical funds for sustainability and  
4. Ensure the orderly closure of the project.

UNDP seeks to engage the services of a consultant to develop sustainability strategy with exit plan (SSEP) for the project in consultation with the project stakeholder across the national, state and landscape level.

Devoirs et responsabilités

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 project document, project result framework (PRF), 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 phased down and phased out.
2. Assess the existing policy and institutional framework related to the farm and non-farm products sector at National/ States/UT levels.
3. Conduct assessment of all the stakeholders/institutions engaged at all levels and their role is in taking the activities forward after the project completion, assess their roles, interests, and influence in the sustainability and exit planning process. Document cases where the activities have already been mainstreamed within the existing programmes/system related to sustainable livelihood and management throughout the project implementation. Therefore, upon the withdrawal of the external funding from the project, the core project activities will be sustained.
4. Assessment of ongoing schemes, inputs for aligning it on the context of SEURE Himalaya project outcomes with special emphasis to outcome-2 and activities so that the efforts can be sustained by respective department and/or by relevant scheme and cater the recommendation provided in the mid-term evaluation. Effective plans for resource mobilization and partnership development.
5. Conduct a broad assessment of product development and market linkages/strategies initiated through the project.
6. Develop a plan for capacity building and knowledge transfer to empower local communities, farmers, and other relevant stakeholders. This should include training programs, workshops, and awareness campaigns to enhance their understanding of sustainable production practices, marketing techniques, and business management skills
7. Develop a stakeholder engagement and communication plan to foster collaboration, coordination, and knowledge-sharing among project stakeholders. This should include regular meetings, workshops, and communication channels to keep stakeholders informed and engaged throughout the process.
8. Prepare matrix for the phase out and phase down activities along with responsibilities, timelines, opportunities for sustainability, timeline, and tentative budget required to sustain livelihood interventions in the project landscapes. Conduct landscape level consultations/meetings with implementing partners, NGOs/CSOs and community institutions to build common consensus on the activities to be phased out, phased down, and interventions to be mainstreamed into existing govt. programmes & schemes. The meetings shall be organised in person and virtual as well.
9. Develop a sustainability framework that defines the guiding principles and criteria for assessing the sustainability of the products. This framework should consider environmental, economic, and social dimensions and incorporate relevant international and national sustainability standards. This framework will invariably include identification of sustainable production practices, sustainable marketing practices, sustainable consumption practices and sustainable waste management practices.
10. Formulate an exit strategy that outlines the steps and timeline for transitioning the products from the project implementation phase to the post-project phase. This should include strategies for scaling up production, establishing market linkages, ensuring product quality, and transferring ownership and management responsibilities to local actors.
11. Conduct meetings with relevant ministry and departments and CSOs to explore opportunities for new projects/partnerships based on the learnings of SECURE Himalaya.
12. Based on the above, livelihood sustainability strategy shall be drafted. The strategy should have national, state and landscape specific sustainability plan. The validation workshop of for exit strategy/sustainability SSEP plan with project stakeholders shall be organised with the support of State/UT Governments and Project Management Unit at States & UT.
13. Presentation on strategy developed for validation purposes shall be done to the State/UT/UNDP.

Expected Deliverables, timelines, and payment schedule

Compétences

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Good knowledge on government policies related to socio economic development of the mountain communities, challenges and issues related to sustainable livelihood enhancement in Indian Himalayan region.
• 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.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education 

• A Master’s degree or higher in Environment Sciences, Social Sciences, Rural Development, Public Policy, Management, or any other related field.

Experience 

• At least 10 years of experience of working on rural livelihood promotion, Handloom-Handicraft, Textile Industry, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Eco-tourism, NTFP based livelihood promotion preferably in the Indian Himalayan Region.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience on strategy and policy development, business development preferably in the Himalayan region.
• Demonstrated understanding of Externally aided and centrally sponsored projects/schemes in India – experience of project design or evaluation of at least one centrally sponsored /externally aided project.
• Experience of developing at least two strategy/policy/exit strategy documents for the projects on livelihood promotion and socio-economic development of Himalayan communities.
• Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender mainstreaming in sustainable forest land management, access benefit sharing, experience in gender sensitive programming.
• Good understanding of different geographies, environment, livelihood, 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: 

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• Miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone, relocation charges, local travel etc. would not be reimbursed separately.
• Individuals working with Institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of Institution 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.