UNDP Jobs - 48671- Re-Advertise - Consultant

Re-Advertise - Consultant – Community Based Reed+ Country Plan Development

Location :

Colombo, SRI LANKA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Sep-2014

Application Deadline :

29-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons 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 selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

*Previous applicants need not re-apply

‘Support to Community-Based REDD+’ (CBR+) is a partnership between the UN-REDD Programme and the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), to deliver grants to indigenous peoples and community-based organizations to empower them to engage in REDD+ readiness activities. The vision for CBR+ is to bring resources and capacity to communities, empowering them to define their engagement in national REDD+ readiness activities and to develop experiences, lessons, and recommendations at the local level to feed into national REDD+ readiness processes. Specifically, CBR+ aims to:

Support the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples, communities and civil society in national-level processes related to climate change mitigation, including supporting communities to determine whether and how they see themselves engaging in REDD+;
Build the capacity and awareness of communities to engage in REDD+ activities and processes;
Facilitate the integration of community-based activities, knowledge and ideas into national REDD+ processes; and
Develop and share knowledge and lessons learned from community-based experiences to inform national and international REDD+ policies and practice.

The initiative will focus primarily on supporting community-level projects that align with existing national REDD+ processes, including UN-REDD National Programmes, national REDD+ readiness processes and/or national REDD+ strategies (when developed) . During the pilot phase, CBR+ will be implemented in six countries that have benefitted, or are benefitting, from UN-REDD National Programmes, of which Sri Lanka is one. CBR+ is co-financed by UN-REDD and SGP, and grants will be delivered to the community level, through the existing grant-delivery mechanism of SGP.

In each participating country, a CBR+ Country Plan will be prepared .This Plan will be a simple and user-friendly tool to guide the CBR+ National Steering Committee in the selection of CBR+ projects. The Plan will describe the approach to prioritizing and selecting CBR+ projects within the country. It will also ensure that CBR+ activities align with the UN-REDD National Programme and/or existing REDD+ readiness processes in the country, and are complementary to the SGP Country Programme Strategy (CPS) in the country.

The CBR+ Country Plan should lay out a strategy for the disbursal of CBR+ grants in Sri Lanka, in a way that complements ongoing national REDD+ processes and existing SGP Country Programme Strategy. The Plan should identify priority focus areas for the disbursal of CBR+ grants. These could be geographic or thematic focus areas. The CBR+ Country Plan may allocate a certain percentage of available CBR+ funds for activities by indigenous peoples specifically.

The Plan should be developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, forest-dependent communities, and civil society. Before the Plan is finalized, the grantee should conduct a multi-stakeholder validation meeting to take on board the views of relevant stakeholders.

The UN-REDD Programme and the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) are seeking to identify one national consultant, who will work with the Sri Lanka UN-REDD programme Programme Management Unit (PMU) to carry out a participatory process to develop and produce a CBR+ Country Plan to guide the disbursement of CBR+ grants in Sri Lanka. The process should include consultation with and validation by relevant stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, forest-dependent communities, and civil society, and the preparation of the Plan.

Scope and Objectives

The overall aim of the assignment is to develop and produce the above-mentioned CBR+ Country Plan to guide the disbursal of CBR+ grants in Sri Lanka. The process should include consultation with and validation by relevant stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, forest-dependent communities, and civil society, and the production of the Plan. The CBR+ Country Plan for Sri Lanka should be developed following the template and guidelines provided for this purpose.

The Consultant will work with the Forest Department and other key stakeholders to achieve the tasks detailed under the Responsibilities section of the Terms of Reference. The position is of full time basis.

The Consultant will work under the direct guidance of GFE Small Grants Programme Coordinator and UNDP Technical Advisor for UNREDD programme, with additional guidance from the Regional Advisors of the UN-REDD Programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant - CBR+ Country plan development is an expert in environment small grants programmes in Sri Lanka and in stakeholder consultations. Further s/he should have a good track record of working with the international organizations in a related area. Further s/he will ensure the quality and timely preparation of all reports and documentation related to the consultancy.

The Consultant - CBR+ Country plan development will carry out the following tasks:

National Consultant (CBR+ Country Plan development)

Develop methodology and work plan;
Ensure good coordination and consultation with relevant partners;
Develop questionnaire or other tools for data collection, as necessary;
Develop key messages regarding CBR+ in relation to REDD+ in Sri Lanka for awareness raising among relevant stakeholders in conjunction with consultations for CBR+ Country Plan;
Lead awareness raising for CBR+ in relation to REDD+ in Sri Lanka in conjunction with consultations for CBR+ Country Plan;
Lead national validation meeting for the CBR+ Country Plan; and
Lead and finalize the CBR+ Country Plan.

The National Consultant is responsible to conduct the following tasks:

Task 1: Desk Review (3 days)

Carry out a thorough review of the relevant documents and frameworks guiding REDD+ readiness processes in Sri Lanka, to identify ways that CBR+ grants can link to and complement ongoing REDD+ processes. This may include a guiding document linking CBR+ to REDD+, the UN-REDD National Programme Document, Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP), National REDD+ strategy (If it has been developed);
In the process of developing the Plan, the NC should identify the REDD+ readiness processes underway at the national level, the current status of stakeholder engagement in those processes, the stakeholder and institutional platforms for REDD+ that have been established and the avenues that exist for communities and indigenous peoples to participate and contribute to the process.Task 2: Participatory Development of CBR+ Country Plan (12 days).

Task 2: Participatory Development of CBR+ Country Plan (12 days)

Develop a 10-15 page Plan (following the Template and Guidelines for CBR+ Country Plans provided), outlining the objectives, strategy and approach to be taken in prioritizing and selecting CBR+ projects in Sri Lanka;
This Plan should be a comprehensive yet focused document that represents the consensus of the UN-REDD Programme team, SGP Country Programme team, SGP and CBR+ National Steering Committee, representatives of national REDD+ readiness processes, and relevant indigenous and non-indigenous forest dependent communities, through existing networks such as the IP Forum and CSO Platform on key issues such as priority thematic and geographic areas of focus, potential sites for CBR+ activities, and eligible CBR+ activities;
The Plan will outline how CBR+ projects will complement existing REDD+ readiness processes in Sri Lanka.
The CBR+ Country Plan must be developed in consultation with key stakeholders including, but not limited to: indigenous peoples and community stakeholders involved in REDD+; government, indigenous peoples and civil society representatives in the country’s national REDD+ readiness processes; the UN-REDD National Programme team; UN-REDD Regional Technical Advisors and Stakeholder Engagement Specialists; and the SGP Country Programme Team;
The Plan should make provisions to ensure that it responds to the needs of IP and community stakeholders, and is in line with the REDD+ readiness process underway in Sri Lanka.

Task 3: Awareness Raising for CBR+ (10 days)

Develop key messages regarding CBR+ in relation to REDD+ in Sri Lanka;
Conduct awareness raising activities for key stakeholders, particularly the indigenous and non-indigenous forest dependent communities, civil society in conjunction with consultations for the Plan.

Task 4: Validation Meeting & Finalizing Report(5 days)

Organize a national-level, multi-stakeholder validation meeting to present the draft proposal to the relevant stakeholders and seek comments and approval;
Any comments received should be addressed before the CBR+ Country Plan is submitted to the CBR+ GEF/SGP National Steering Committee for approval. The CBR+ Country Plan will also be validated by a meeting of the UN-REDD Programme Executive Board, and the team should take on board input from this validation meeting as well.

Expected Outputs

The key outputs to be delivered by the Consultant - Roadmap Development Support are as follows:

CBR+ Country Plan for Sri Lanka;
Synopsis of the Awareness programmes conducted on CBR+.

Competencies

Technical work

Strong expertise in the stakeholder consultations;
Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily.;
Demonstrated leadership, facilitation and coordination skills, ability to work with technical teams and develop long term strategic partnerships;
Excellent communication (both oral and written) and partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners, people skill for conflict resolution and negotiation;
Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office).

Partnerships

Maturity and confidence in dealing with the staff of government 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 relevant documents;
Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with colleagues.

Result

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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in natural sciences, environmental management, Sociology or related fields.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of demonstrable experience and knowledge in the field of Climate change, related Environment work;
Experience and expertise in REDD+. Familiarity with development of REDD+ in Sri Lanka will be an added advantage;
Proven experience working with a broad range of stakeholders such as government, policy makers, indigenous and non-indigenous forest dependent communities, civil society in Sri Lanka;
Working experience with international organizations will be an added advantage.

Language:

Fluent English with Sinhala or Tamil.

How to Apply:

The application should contain:

A brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work;
Updated CV to include qualifications/competencies and relevant past experience in similar projects and name/contact details of 2 professional referees who can validate and recommend your professionalism, competencies and suitability to undertake this assignment.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a combination of a desk review of the CV, the draft work plan and the offer that provides the best value for money. (please refer and adopt the financial model format provided below in your financial offer). The Evaluation Panel may decide to call for an interview (face to face or telephone) if required

Please duly fill the below financial proposal and attach to the last page of the CV along with all other required documentation above.

Financial Proposal

All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee (Professional Fees): (LKR) ___________________
All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee (other costs as indicative below): (LKR) _________________
Total Lump Sum Fee (a+b): (LKR) _______________________

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/Daily Fee” financial proposal including his/her consultancy and professional fee, honorarium, communication cost such as telephone/internet usage, printing cost, return travel from home to office, ad-hoc costs, stationery costs, 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. The 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 of 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 under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided. Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above.

Payment for Services

The National Consultant – CBR+ Country Plan Development shall receive payment in two installments from UNDP as follows

First payment work plan 40%;
Second payment completed CBR+ Country Plan 60%.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.