Background

Candidates who previously applied need not re-apply.

As the UN system's development programme and a GEF Implementing Agency since 1991, UNDP supports countries in addressing development, climate, and ecosystem sustainability in an integrated manner.

In its role as a GEF Implementing Agency, UNDP-GEF offers countries highly specialized technical services for eligibly assessment, programme/project formulation, due diligence, mobilization of required co-financing, project implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management. UNDP-GEF’s Green, Low-emission, Climate-resilient Development Strategies team works to support countries to attract and direct public and private investment towards catalyzing and supporting sustainable economic growth through initiatives focused on integrated Climate Change Strategies, Advancing Cross-sectoral Climate Resilient Livelihoods and Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems for Climate Resilient Development.

Recently, the UNDP-GEF, launched the Multi Country Programme to Strengthen Climate Information for Resilient Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in Africa (CIRDA). The programme has the objective of supporting with 11 countries in Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia) to enhance national climate services in their efforts to collect, analyse and disseminate climate information as a key tool in long term planning and adaptation.

The CIRDA Programme is providing support by providing technical support and capacity building as well as by fostering knowledge sharing between experts, regional organizations and the countries’ themselves. A key component of the CIRDA Programme is helping countries identify stakeholders in order to foster strategic partnerships with civil society and the private sector. Private sector engagement is seen as an important aspect in assuring the programme’s long term viability.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the assignment

In order to advance the private sector strategy component the Programme is requesting the services of an International Consultant (IC) to prepare a market assessment of the potential for developing tailored weather information products for revenue generation within the 11 CIRDA partner countries. The market assessment will include the proposal of business models that are suitable for developing revenue streams to National Hydro Meteorological Services (NHMS). Outreach to the 11 CIRDA Country Project Managers will be a key aspect in conducting this assessment.

Scope of work

The Consultant will be home-based and work under the supervision of the CIRDA Manager, with possible missions to CIRDA partner countries. The Consultant will work with the CIRDA Team, national project managers, country offices and partner country representatives.  Outreach to the 11 national project managers will be a key component of the work in order to address country specific recommendations on private sector opportunities for engagement.

The IC will be required to perform the following tasks for the CIRDA Programme:

  • a) Build on the extensive work already undertaken by other organisations (including the IFC), on tailored weather information products for revenue generation;
  • b) Determine which private and public sector entities in the CIRDA partner countries are likely to play a role in buying and selling tailored weather information products. Analysis of current country work plans developed by the 11 CIRDA Project Managers should be taken into account;
  • c) Collect information on current tailored products that are available in each country, and identify potential new products which public and private entities have indicated they would consider paying for. Indicate the availability of national/international weather/climate data for developing these products;
  • d) Perform a broad survey and targeted literature research across developing countries to determine where the private sector is already generating a profit through the sale of tailored weather information products. Special attention should be paid to the 11 CIRDA partner countries;
  • e) Identify the potential for creating alternate revenue streams to the NHMS that could assure long term sustainability. Successful and relevant models that have worked in other countries and could be adapted to meet local realities should be explored;
  • f) Identify if there are market, legal or other existing barriers preventing the private sector from distributing tailored weather information products for sale in each CIRDA country and if and in what way public sector funding or public private partnerships could be used to remove the barriers. This investigation will require a literature review as well as identifying and interviewing relevant stake holders in CIRDA countries;
  • g) Work closely with the CIRDA team of experts and 11 national project managers throughout the market assessment;
  • h) Provide guidance to the 11 national project managers in the development of their private sector strategy;
  • i) Present results to CIRDA Country partners in the framework of the CIRDA Workshop that will be held in Zambia in November 2015;
  • j) Present a final market assessment document and presentation that incorporates the results of tasks a-e.

Conduct of Work

The IC will work in partnership with the CIRDA Team, UNDP Regional Technical Advisors and UNDP Country Offices under the leadership of the CIRDA Manager with technical support provided by UNDP-GEF. Outreach to the 11 national project managers will be a key component of the work in order to address country specific recommendations on private sector opportunities for engagement.

The IC is expected to:

  • Communicate frequently with the CIRDA Team and provide advisory services to other team members;
  • Undertake site visits if necessary for research and interviewing (subject to clearance by UNDP-GEF);
  • Draw from existing reports, overviews and information sources such as the work the IFC has presented on tailored weather information products for revenue generation as well as interviews with national, regional and international experts;
  • Interview and engage with relevant stakeholders in CIRDA Countries (site visits, telephone or email), continued outreach to 11 CIRDA Project Managers will be required;
  • Analysis of 11 CIRDA country work plans as well as guidance in the development of national private sector strategies;
  • Travel to Zambia to present results to CIRDA Countries;
  • Perform his/her duties from a home office through e-mail, telephone and fax correspondence combined with short, focused in-country missions when necessary and as approved by UNDP-GEF.

Competencies

  • Excellent English written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports;
  • Ability to speak, read and write technical and conversational English and French;
  • Ability to understand new terminology and concepts easily and to synthesize information from different sources into a coherent project document;
  • Skill in negotiating effectively in sensitive situations;
  • Skill in achieving results through persuading, influencing and working with others;
  • Skill in facilitating meetings effectively and efficiently and to resolve conflicts as they arise;
  • Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high-ranking members of international, regional and national institutions;
  • Displays sensitivity and adaptability to different cultures, genders, religions, races, nationalities and age groups;
  • Good oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors;
  • Good team player, self starter, has ability to work under minimum supervision and maintain good relationships;
  • Familiar with work and issues pertaining to adaptation to climate change.

Required Skills and Experience

The CIRDA Market Assessment Consultancy shall have the following qualifications:

Education:

  • Master’s degree in a relevant area such as business administration, finance and banking, resource management, agricultural development, climatology/meteorology, environmental sciences, disaster management.

Experience:

  • 4 years relevant work experience in climate change adaptation and natural resource management; disaster management and/or operational early warning systems, including implementation at national and decentralized levels;
  • Experience in private sector analysis;
  • 2 years relevant work experience developing market and/or financial assessments;
  • 1 year relevant work experience in project management;
  • Working with operationally viable adaptation projects with financing from international organizations;
  • Developing projects involving meteorological agencies;
  • Conducting cost effectiveness analyses;
  • Institutional assessment and development at national and decentralized levels;
  • Project development and design experience;
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Knowledge and experience working with African LDCs.

Language:

  • Fluency in English and French;
  • Knowledge of Portuguese an asset.

Institutional arrangement

The Consultant will be home-based and work under the supervision of the CIRDA Manager, with possible missions to CIRDA partner countries. The Consultant will work with the CIRDA Team, national project managers, country offices and partner country representatives.  Outreach to the 11 national project managers will be a key component of the work in order to address country specific recommendations on private sector opportunities for engagement.

Duration of work:

  • 7 months, expected starting date is April 27,2015

Country of assignment: 

  • Home based (Africa residency) with travel required. Destinations shall be assigned and approved prior to travel.

Schedule of payment

The Consultant must send a financial proposal based on lump sum amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all cost components required to perform the deliverables identified in TOR. Payment will be made in installments upon satisfactory completion and submission of deliverables and approval by UNDP-GEF, New York.  Travel expenses for the missions will be reimbursed separately per UNDP’s rules and regulations.

Payments will be done upon the completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentags:

  • A work plan to be authorized by the CIRDA Manager to be presented within the first two weeks of the contract signature (April 2015) – 15% of total payment;
  • A first draft of the market assessment, including details of consultations to date and key recommendations (1 June 2015) – 30% of total payment;
  • A market assessment final document detailing the results, methodology, approach, bibliography, surveys, and transcribed interviews that encompass tasks a through e) as stated above (1 September 2015). This document will be approved by the CIRDA Manager - 30% of total payment;
  • A Power Point Presentation with results and information to be presented during a CIRDA Workshop to be held in Zambia (November 2015) - 25% of total payment.

Review time required:

  • The review and approval of payments will be made by the assigned supervisor(s) within 21 days.

Evaluation method and criteria

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
  • Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (70%) and financial criteria (30%) specific to the solicitation.

Technical criteria for evaluation - 70% (maximum 500 points):

  • Criteria 1 : Education - 20% (100 points);
  • Criteria 2 : Experience - 60% (300 points);
  • Criteria 3 : Language - 10% (50 points);
  • Criteria 4 : Availability - 10% (50 points).

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 350 technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation-30% (maximum 100 points).

Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

  • 1. Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II;
  • 2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
  • 3. Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

Annexes:

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to brh.gef.procurement@undp.org