Historique

This UNDP-GEF Practice Note on Strategizing and Implementing Cross-Cutting Capacity Development:
Policy and Practical Guidelines would be a complement to the GEF Secretariat’s on-going assessment of the CCCD portfolio. The purpose of that study, as stated in those Terms of Reference, is “to assess the extent to which the GEF Cross-Cutting Capacity Development portfolio has catalyzed the work of the GEF to helping countries meet and sustain global environmental outcomes. To this end, the GEF study will assess the portfolio's range of strategic approaches, showcase successes, lessons learned, best practices, and opportunities to create capacity development synergies with countries' broader GEF focal area portfolios.”

The GEF study sets out to answer 16 evaluation questions. A number of these questions refer to the concept of the CCCD strategy or project design. To the extent that the GEF study will respond to these questions, the GEF study would effectively be a synthesis of the projects’ eligibility and design, and attempt to make some determination of the projects’ performance through project delivery (e.g., cost-effectiveness and output indicators).

Whereas the GEF’s study is somehow backward looking and reflective, the proposed UNDP-GEF Practice Note will be forward looking and provide practical advice, recommendations and best practices. This Practice Note would review the latest policy directions in the international community for advancing environmental sustainability, in particular through the decisions of the Rio Conventions’ Conferences of the Parties and protocols. Taking into account UNDP’s policies and programmes for advancing environmental sustainability, this Practice Note would seek opportunities for creating synergies and catalyzing the strengthening of national capacities to meet global environmental priorities in tandem with sustainable development objectives.

The Practice Note responds to feedback from national stakeholders conceptualizing, developing and implementing CCCD projects, who identified an insufficiency of practical guidance since the closure of the Global Support Programme on the NCSAs in December 2011. It is also aligned with capacity development obligations and needs under the three Rio Conventions. The Practice Note is intended to help address this demand by providing examples of CCCD project strategies, cross-referencing these with the proposed GEF-6 CCCD Strategy to provide concrete examples of how the CCCD portfolio could contribute to transforming conservation of the global environmental commons. This practice Note would also highlight how CCCD projects are to be integrated and/or aligned with focal area projects in their design and implementation. This will include the alignment of CCCD projects with multi-focal area projects. Comments from Council Members on the April 2013 draft GEF-6 Programming Directions (GEF/R.6/07) generally agreed and supported synergistic approaches to the GEF-6 Programming Strategy. This Practice Note will provide guidance on alternative approaches to create such synergies through the CCCD projects.

Within the framework of the GEF-6 Programmatic Frameworks, the Practice Note would provide guidance and options on how CCCD projects could respond to national sustainable development priorities, such as promoting a green economy or sustainable consumption and production. “Green economy” CCCD projects could, for example, be strategically designed and implemented through the development of innovative tools for decision-making, piloting reforms, or the strengthening of policy and legislative frameworks. A number of CCCD Rio Convention mainstreaming projects under implementation should already be, to a good extent, considered as “green economy” or “sustainable consumption and production” projects.

In this regard, UNDP-GEF is seeking a consultant to prepare the aforementioned Practice Note.

GEF Cross-Cutting Capacity Development Strategy and Programmatic Frameworks

While there are five programmatic frameworks under the GEF CCCD strategy , only four will be the focus of the present Practice Note. The programmatic framework that is excluded focuses on strengthening the capacities of the national GEF Operational Focal Points to participate in various GEF activities, such as the GEF Councils and the National Planning Formulation Exercises. The substantive programmatic frameworks that this study will examine are:

  • Information and knowledge (CD2);
  • Policy and legislative frameworks (CD3);
  • Management capacities, (CD4);
  • Monitoring and Evaluation (CD5);
  • Innovative tools for decision-making (CD2, CD4, CD5);
  • Piloting reforms (CD3, CD4);
  • Mainstreaming the global environment into sectoral development plans (CD3, CD4).

This list may expand or be re-organized on the basis of the approved GEF-6 CCCD Strategy and the GEF Sec Assessment of the CCCD portfolio during the process of researching and drafting this Practice Note.

Preliminary outline of Practice Note

Based on the discussion above, a preliminary outline of the CCCD Practice Note is suggested below. An estimated length would be approximately 36 pages, exclusive of annexes.

  • Introduction (~ 2 pages);
  • Background (GEF-5 and GEF-6 CCCD Strategy and Programmatic Frameworks) (~ 4 pages);
  • Opportunities for CCCD to better operationalize the Rio Conventions (~ 6 pages);
  • Opportunities for CCCD to better operationalize UNDP programmes and initiatives (~ 6 pages);
  • Criteria and Indicators for CCCD’s contribution to the global environment (~ 6 pages);
  • Institutionalizing CCCD outputs and outcomes through adaptive collaborative management (~ 6 pages);
  • Areas for further research/work (~ 6 pages);
  • Annex: CCCD Paradigm Cases;
  • Annexes: CCCD Templates: PIF, PPG, Prodoc.

Methodology

This first version of the Strategizing and Implementing Cross-Cutting Capacity Development Policy and Practical Guidelines will be subject to consultations for further improvement. UNDP will seek inputs, insights and experiences from readers, implementing partners and other stakeholders.

This Practice Note would be initiated at the conclusion of the GEF study on the CCCD portfolio (circa October 2013) in order to build upon its findings. This Practice Note would be carried out through an extensive review of the programmes and initiatives that are currently being used to frame development assistance to countries that are relevant to the CCCD Strategy. This exercise will be an entirely home-based study that will benefit from targeted communications with key informants from the GEF Secretariat, GEF implementing and executing agencies, and the secretariats of the three Rio Conventions. As a UNDP publication, it will be circulated for peer review among key UNDP staff, including those in key divisions of BDP. This Practice Note will follow UNDP guidelines for the preparation of similar Practice Notes.

Target

This Practice Note would be structured as a practical tool for development practitioners, notably those that are developing CCCD projects, but also GEF focal area projects. The study should also become a third product that complements the NCSA Synthesis Report and the Monitoring Guidelines for CCCD projects. Opportunities should be sought for presenting the study and its findings at key meetings of the GEF and/or the COPs of the Rio Conventions. This would have a two-fold purpose: First, such a discussion would serve to vet the findings and inform areas for its improvement; and second, it would serve as a capacity building exercise to raise government technocrats’ awareness of added value of the CCCD strategy and programmatic frameworks.

Time Frame

  • Time-frame for the preparation of the Practice Note, including peer review after completion of first draft and subsequent revision and presentation at appropriate GEF meeting and/or other international fora, would be completed over a two-month period, beginning in 1 November, 2013;
  • Level of effort: In addition to UNDP-GEF staff time, 30 working days are estimated to prepare the draft Note.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Description of Responsibilities

The principal responsibility of the international consultant is, in close consultation with the Regional Technical Advisor, to write the aforementioned Practice Note in line with the preliminary outline, and to conduct the necessary research, analysis and substantive input.

Expected Deliverables

The key products to be delivered are as follows:

  • Detailed assignment work plan (within 1 week of start of the assignment);
  • First draft Practice Note by 1 December 2013;
  • Final Practice Note by 31 December 2013.

Payment for Services

The consultant shall receive payment in three installments from UNDP upon satisfactory acceptance of the deliverables as follows:

  • 25% upon preparation and acceptance of the assignment work plan;
  • 50% upon completion of first draft Practice Note;
  • 25% upon clearance by Regional Technical Advisor that final deliverables are in line with expectations.

Working Arrangements

  • The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
  • The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection;
  • Any necessary missions must be approved by the RTA and the Basic Security in the Field II and Advance Basic Security in the Field courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
  • Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/. 

Compétences

Technical work

  • Strong expertise in Environmental Management;
  • Experience in developing institutional arrangements for multi-national projects;
  • Familiarity with the International Conventions addressing Climate Change, Desertification and Biodiversity Conservation;
  • Experience in drafting UNDP and GEF related reports;
  • Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily.

Partnerships

  • Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior members of national institutions;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of quality analysis for the project proposal;
  • Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with colleagues – especially for this case the national level consultants.

Results

  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education

  • Advanced University degree in the fields of environmental management, public administration or relevant related fields.

Experience

  • 7 years of capacity development, environmental management or closely related professional experience;
  • Proven expert knowledge in the GEF CCCD/CB2 Project Cycle;
  • Proven experience in developing/implementing similar projects – preferably in the region;
  • Previous successful experience in development and approval of the GEF project documents;
  • Previous experience with UNDP is a great advantage.

Languages

  • Excellent English writing skills are essential.

Evaluation method

  • Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated;
  • Individual consultants will be evaluated based on Combined Scoring method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal;
  • Combined weighted scoring: Technical (70%); Financial (30%).

General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.

UNDP Personal History form (P11):

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.