UNDP Jobs - 66157- Social and Environmental Impact Assessment Expert

Social and Environmental Impact Assessment Expert to contribute to the development of a GEF LDCF Project on Climate Change Adaptation and Coastal Zone Management in Sierra Leone - (Open to Sierra Leonean Only)

Location :

Freetown and Proposed Project Sites, SIERRA LEONE

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

11-Jul-2016

Application Deadline :

27-May-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

10 working days distributed over July 2016

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) recently approved the Project Identification Form (PIF) that was presented by UNDP on behalf of the Environment Protection Agency on “adapting to climate change induced coastal risks in Sierra Leone”. This project will be one of the key instruments for implementing the adaptation priorities identified in the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). It aims to strengthen the ability of coastal communities to systematically manage climate change risks and impacts on coastal infrastructure and local livelihoods. The project will also strengthen government institutional capacity for the development of climate-resilient socio-economic development.

With support from Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF) resources, measures will be taken to improve policy design and implementation to deal with current and long-term climate change-induced risks to sustainable coastal management through the development of appropriate protection measures, policy/legal tools and establishment of integrated coordination mechanisms. It will (1) Enhance the availability of high quality climate risk information that is critical for improving the decision-making process in the coastal zone (2) Develop appropriate protection measures, policy/legal tools and integrated coordination mechanisms to improve and support design as well as implementation of relevant policies (3) Enhance public awareness and promote sustainable alternative livelihoods.

Following the approval of the PIF, a full project document should be developed through the LDCF Work Programme which includes a project preparatory phase that foresees the collection of information and gathering of useful data for project design, the validation of the indicative outcomes and outputs contained in the PIF, the development of a full M&E plan including appropriate indicators and baseline, a participatory plan to involve communities as well as the identification of implementing partners and the negotiations pertaining to the implementation arrangements and co-financing.

The services of an international consultant are sought to conduct a Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations as part of the development of a comprehensive Project Document as described above.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will work under direct supervision of the Lead International Consultant and in coordination with the UNDP Sierra Leone Energy, Environment & Natural Resource Management lead with guidance from UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor for Climate Change Adaptation. The consultant will work closely with government officials, donors, NGOs, CBOs, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders.

Expected tasks for the consultant will include but are not limited to:

Use the most appropriate investigation methods to collect data on a participatory approach, with a particular focus on women groups;
Conduct a vulnerability assessment of the proposed pilot sites;
Evaluation of climatic coastal risks in the different project sites and determine the level of risk for each of these sites through a detailed risk analysis. This will include the risk of coastal erosion, the sea level rise, the impacts of these climatic changes on livelihoods;
Conduct the full UNDP Social and Environmental Safeguards assessment, and compile a summary report indicating results of the PPG investigation and future actions;
In consultation with the IC and sectors, identify additional feasibility/baseline study that would arise from the observed risks during the PPG phase so that the feasibility studies do not have to be taken up during the project implementation.
Analyze the data collected;
Review drafts of the project document on an ad hoc basis, and provide relevant inputs into its development.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

Based on the scope of work outlined above, the consultant will be expected to deliver the following outputs and will be responsible for the delivery of the outputs within the suggested times;

Detailed work plan, including timelines and activities that the consultant plans to undertake in order to complete this assignment, to be submitted for review and approval to UNDP 1 Working day after signing of contract;
First Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations report: 18th July 2016 (5 working days);
Second draft integrating and/or responding to comments and/or recommendations: 20th July 2016 (2 working days);
Final Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations Report to be submitted to the Lead International Consultant and UNDP: 22nd July 2016 (2 working days).

Institutional Arrangement / Reporting Relationships

The consultant will work under direct supervision of the Lead International Consultant and in coordination with the UNDP Sierra Leone Energy, Environment & Natural Resource Management lead with guidance from UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor for Climate Change Adaptation. The consultant will work closely with government officials, donors, NGOs, CBOs, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders.
The consultant is expected to submit the periodic reports as indicated in the deliverables (iii above) to Lead International Consultant with copies sent to the UNDP Sierra Leone Energy, Environment & Natural Resource Management lead and the UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor for Climate Change Adaptation.

Logistics and Administrative support to prospect IC:

The consultant is expected to work full time from home and is expected to use his/her own laptop access to communication facilitates and internet.
The consultant will undertake assessment missions to proposed project sites in the northern coast around Kambia and the low beaches of the along the Western Area Peninsular, the Yawri Bay and other vulnerable coastal areas. The cost of the above missions should be reflected in the financial proposals of the consultant. The consultant is expected to arrange her/his own travel and be responsible for vehicle hire and accommodation. The fare will always be “most direct, most economical” at no additional cost to UNDP and any difference in price with the preferred route will be paid for by the consultant. Travel costs (fixed and non-negotiable) for above mission travels shall be included in financial proposal of applicants.

Duration of the work:

The 10 day consultancy will be spread between June and July 2016. The consultant is expected to;

provide a detailed work plan, including timelines and activities that the consultant plans to undertake in order to complete this assignment, to be submitted for review and approval to UNDP within 1 working day after signing of contract;
provide the first draft Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations report to be submitted for review and approval by the team lead consultant on or before the 18th July 2016;
provide the second draft integrating and/or responding to comments and/or recommendations of the by the team lead consultant on or before the 20th July 2016;
provide the final Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations report to be submitted to the Lead International Consultant and UNDP on or before the 22nd July 2016.

Payment Milestones and Authority

Payment to the consultant will be made in four instalments upon upon certification of the completed tasks satisfactorily, as per the following payment schedule:

Installment of Payment/ Period Deliverables or Documents to be Delivered Approval should be obtained Percentage of Payment:
1st Installment: provide a detailed work plan, including timelines and activities that the consultant plans to undertake in order to complete this assignment, to be submitted for review and approval to UNDP within 1 working days after signing of contract: 20 %
2nd Installment: provide the first draft Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations report to be submitted for review and approval by the team lead consultant on or before the 18th July 2016: 40 %
3rd Installment: provide the second draft integrating and/or responding to comments and/or recommendations of the by the team lead consultant on or before the 20th July 2016: 30%
4th Installment: provide the final Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations report to be submitted to the Lead International Consultant and UNDP on or before the 22nd July 2016: 10%.

Competencies

Compliance of the UN Core Values:

Corporate Competencies

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Demonstrated knowledge of relevant environmental and sustainable development issues;
Strong analytical skills, particularly applied to environment profiling.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to identify needs and interventions for capacity enhancement of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
Ability to take responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

This assignment requires the services of an expert who can demonstrate adequate analytical capacity and who can provide expertise relevant to the terms of reference as described above and below.

Education:

Advanced University Degree (MSc or higher) in the Social Sciences, Sustainable Development or any related field.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of professional experience in related work preferably focused on climate change mainstreaming or related fields.
Strong analytical and strategic skills, particularly applied to Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and propose recommendations in developing countries.
Basic knowledge of the UN system would be an advantage.
Demonstrated experience with GEF projects, with particular focus on adaptation project would be an advantage;

Language Requirements:

Fluency in oral and written English required.

Important Note:

Qualified candidates are hereby requested to apply. The application must contain the following:

Brief letter of application.
Personal CV indicating relevant professional experience
Brief description (max. 2 pages) of the proposed methodology on how to complete the assignment.
Financial proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price supported by a breakdown of costs (including professional fee, travel, and specified other costs if applicable)

Applicants are encouraged to prepare their applications emphasizing on their relevant education, skills and experience required for this assignment. Methodologies must be subject oriented.

Group of Individuals and/or Firms are not eligible for this consultancy assignment (only at an individual level).

The information in the breakdown of the offered lump sum amount provided by the offeror will be used as the basis for determining best value for money, and as reference for any amendments of the contract. The agreed contract amount will remain fixed regardless of any factors causing an increase in the cost of any of the components in the breakdown that are not directly attributable to UNDP.

Please note that applications will only be considered if they include ALL of the items listed above. Also note that the UNDP job portal website only allows for one document to be uploaded, so please combine all of the abovementioned items into one single Word or PDF document before uploading. Only shortlisted the applicants will be contacted.

Criteria for Selecting the Best Offer

Upon the advertisement of the Procurement Notice, qualified Individual Consultant is expected to submit both the Technical and Financial Proposals. Accordingly; Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on Cumulative Analysis as per the following scenario:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. In this regard, the respective weight of the proposals are:
Technical Criteria weight is 70%
Financial Criteria weight is 30%

Criteria Weight Max. Point

Technical Competence (based on CV, Proposal and interview (if required)) 70% 100

Professional qualifications and experience preferably focused on climate change gender mainstreaming or related fields :10 points
Strong analytical and strategic skills, particularly applied to Vulnerability Assessment and Social and Environmental Impact Assessment : 20 points
Methodology of approach in accomplishing the consultancy including though not limited to (a) stakeholder engagement strategy, (b) timeline, (c) strategies addressing possible risks and barriers and management responses: 40 points

Financial (Lower Offer/Offer*100) 30% 30

Applicants are instructed to submit their financial proposals in Leones (Le) for this consultancy using the financial proposal template available here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=45780. All technically qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals receive points according to the following formula: p = y (µ/z) where: p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated; y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal; µ = price of the lowest priced proposal; z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

Total Score Technical Score * 70% + Financial Score * 30%

Confidentiality and Proprietary Interests:

The Individual Consultant shall not either during the term or after termination of the assignment, disclose any proprietary or confidential information related to the consultancy service without prior written consent. Proprietary interests on all materials and documents prepared by the consultants under the assignment shall become and remain properties of UNDP.