Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides an opportunity to support Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) efforts to reduce deforestation and help to maintain and protect its natural forest. In preparation for REDD+ implementation, and as an effort to mitigate ensuing impacts from REDD+ actions, the Cancun Agreements (Decision 1/CP. 16) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) call countries to address and respect a set of seven safeguards. One of these safeguards is (d) The full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, in particular indigenous peoples and local communities, in actions referred to in paragraphs 70 and 72 of this decision.

Building on work undertaken by the UN-REDD Programme (2011 – 2015), UNDP, as Delivery Partner for the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) project supporting Office of Climate Change and Development in the implementation of the National Climate Compatible Development Management Policy, will contribute to the development of PNG’s capacity to design a sound national REDD+ strategy, develop and sustain national readiness management arrangements, elaborate REDD+ strategy options, develop the REDD+ implementation framework, assess social and environmental impacts, develop a Reference Level, and design a monitoring system.

These objectives will be achieved through two outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Capacities exist for effective and efficient management of REDD+, including full and effective participation of all relevant stakeholders;
• Outcome 2: National REDD+ Strategy.

One of the fundamental gaps identified during the consultation and participation process in PNG is the sustainability of the process at the community level. For example, often women within the country, given existing customary law and cultural barriers, have very limited rights over land and limited ability to control income and other resources, face other legal barriers, as well as face exclusion from decision-making and violence directed against them. The consultation and participation process can only be effective if there are mechanisms established at the national level and within the provinces to ensure its sustainability, wherein men, women and youth are equitably involved.

As such, this assignment will develop gender responsive and inclusive consultative and participatory REDD+ mechanisms at the national and provincial levels. These mechanisms will inform the implementation of the draft national REDD+ policy, including the design of an implementation plan for demonstration activities in pilot sites. Both these areas will ultimately provide lessons during the drafting of the national REDD+ strategy. Additionally, this assignment will also review existing national REDD+ related guidelines such as among others, Free, Prior and Informed Consent, Social and Environmental Safeguards, Benefit Sharing Distribution Mechanism in the draft national REDD+ policy, to ensure gender is included. These outputs will help achieve the two outcomes of the project, and pave the way for the institutionalization of formal consultation and participation mechanisms for REDD+ implementation.

The relevant Decision 1/CP. 16 related to safeguards is found in Annex 1.

The objective of this assignment is to ensure that gender responsive and inclusive consultative and participatory REDD+ mechanisms are in place, while gender aspects are clearly articulated and mainstreamed into the draft REDD+ Policy. In turn, this will assist the future design of a national REDD+ strategy that reflects both national priorities as well as concerns of key stakeholders, including men, women and youth at the provincial levels.

The International REDD+ Participatory Approach Expert with participatory and gender related experience is expected to work closely with the National Gender Expert to complete the tasks under this assignment, in close coordination and consultation with government counterparts and the team of national and international UN-REDD and FCPF staff, who will liaise with UNDP Country Office, UNDP REDD+ regional and global advisors. The conceptual leadership of this assignment will be assumed by the International Consultant, including work plan preparation and methodological leadership.

The International REDD+ Participatory Approach Expert will work closely with a National Gender Expert to prepare the necessary studies, concept notes, agendas and other materials in PNG and following-up on activities.

The expert is expected to undertake the following activities in order to achieve the stated objectives above:

• Be responsible for the day to day management of the team, work plan and outputs to ensure quality control;
• Lead and finalise the review of the situational analysis: formal and informal rules and institutions, stakeholder mapping and analysis, capacity building needs analysis, and review of national REDD+ related guidelines;
• Lead and finalise the development of the gender responsive and inclusive consultative and participatory mechanisms for the national and provincial levels.

• Strong experience providing strategic advice and dealing with the government and development partners;
• Strong research, analysis, report-writing, facilitation, communication and inter-personal skills;
• Ability to adapt and work in politically sensitive situations.

Education

• PhD or Masters in a relevant discipline, such as Anthropology, Political Science, Development Studies and Natural Resource Management.

Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant working experiences in the areas of natural resource management or social development: experience in participatory and gender responsive processes is an advantage;
• Experience working in Papua New Guinea or the Pacific Islands;
• Experience working in REDD+ or climate change is an added advantage;

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are requested to apply by 19 August 2015 by sending their application packages to registry.pg@undp.org with the subject line “FCPF - International Consultant – REDD+ Participatory Approach Specialist".

The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees, please upload the P11 instead of your CV. P11 form can be uploaded from the following link: P11 form can be uploaded from the following link http://www.pg.undp.org/content/papua_new_guinea/en/home/operations/jobs/.

Financial Proposal:

• Specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days – in home office and on mission, travel – international and local, per diems and any other possible costs).

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

Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, office costs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.

Financial Proposal

Lump sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and their acceptance and certification by UNDP.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

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 dss.un.org

Evaluation

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative analysis: the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: (a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and (b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Individual consultants will be evaluated based upon the offer which gives the best value for money based on the Lump Sum proposal submitted, selected by the UNDP PNG Country Office in consultation with the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Centre Technical Advisor.

The Technical and the Financial Proposal submitted to by the International Expert will be evaluated on the basis of the weight of the technical criteria [70] and of the financial proposal [30]. The evaluation will be performed in two stages:

Stage One (Technical Evaluation of Proposals).  All Individual Consultants proposals comprising the information/documentation provided will be evaluated to ascertain the suitability of the individual consultants to carry out the assignment. Candidates who obtain the minimum of 49 points of the full mark (70 points) will be considered technically compliant and their financial evaluations will be evaluated thereafter.

Stage Two (Financial Evaluation). The financial proposals of all the individual consultants who pass stage one will be evaluated. The maximum 30 points will be allotted to the lowest financial bid, and all other bids shall receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest fee e.g. [30 Points] x [USD lowest] / [USD other] = points for other proposer’s fees

The award of contract shall be based on the individual consultant who receives the highest cumulative score.

Technical criteria
The following criteria will be used to evaluate the individual consultants’ technical proposals:

Academic Qualifications (10 points):

• PhD or Masters in a relevant discipline, such as Anthropology, Political Science, Development Studies and Natural Resource Management (Criteria A).

Years of experience (10 points):

• At least 10 years of relevant working experiences in the areas of natural resource management or social development: experience in participatory and gender responsive processes is an advantage (Criteria B).

Competencies (40 points):

• Strong experience providing strategic advice and dealing with the government and development partners (Criteria C);
• Ability to adapt and work in politically sensitive situations; experience working in Papua New Guinea or the Pacific Islands is an added advantage (Criteria D);
• Strong research, analysis, report-writing, facilitation, communication and inter-personal skills (Criteria E);
• Experience working in REDD+ or climate change is an added advantage (Criteria F);
• Language requirements (10 points).

Proficiency in both spoken and written English (Criteria G).

Criteria   Weight    Max. Point

Technical:          70               70
    Criteria A          14.29%            10
    Criteria B          14.29%            10
    Criteria C          28.57%            20
    Criteria D          10.00%              7
    Criteria E          11.43%              8
    Criteria F           7.14%               5
    Criteria G          14.29%            10
Financial:          30               30

Note:

For annexes mentioned please contact yvonne.baloiloi@undp.org