UNDP Jobs - 66487- Senior biodiversity finance specialist to finalis

Senior biodiversity finance specialist to finalise the development of the BIOFIN workbook (2016 version)

Location :

Home Based with mission travel

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

20-Jun-2016

Application Deadline :

12-Jun-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Through 30 August 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

Available evidence and decisions adopted by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) indicate a significant gap in finance for biodiversity management – a major barrier for countries to scale up their efforts and achieve the 20 Aichi Targets defined in the CBD’s Strategic Plan for 2011-2020. While various global and national estimates exist, detailed national-level (bottom-up) assessments are required to provide more robust information on the biodiversity finance gap, fully taking into account the effects of the enabling policy environment. These need to be followed by significant national campaigns to mobilise the necessary resources to fill this gap.

In this context, at COP-11 in October 2012, UNDP and the European Commission (EC) launched a new partnership “The Biodiversity Finance Initiative - BIOFIN” seeking to build a sound business case for increased investment in the management of ecosystems and biodiversity at the national level. With the Governments of Germany, Switzerland, Norway and Flanders having joined this project since, it has grown into a multi-partner global endeavour, set to run up to 2018.

Led by the UNDP Ecosystem and Biodiversity Team and additional experts, an entirely new methodological framework has been developed for assessing – at national level – the biodiversity-relevant enabling context, baseline expenditures in biodiversity, biodiversity finance needs & gaps, and the suitability of finance solutions; and for establishing a policy engagement process that will lead to the adoption of the recommendations expected to emerge from these BIOFIN assessments.

At present 30 core countries participate in BIOFIN. Based on lessons drawn from national implementation, the methodological framework is regularly refined, and disseminated for wider application through global and regional workshops, and two important online platforms, the BIOFIN website and the NBSAP Forum. BIOFIN is hosted by the Ecosystems and Biodiversity (EBD) cluster under the Sustainable Development Group of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), responsible for providing leadership and technical support to engineer delivery of the Environment and Sustainable Development pillar of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.

An initial version of the BIOFIN workbook was developed in 2013, outlining the main steps of the BIOFIN methodology. Following further elaboration, a peer review process and discussions at the first global BIOFIN workshop early 2014, a user-friendly version was launched in October of that year at the CBD COP 12. The first cohort of participating countries has meanwhile started implementation, providing regular feedback and insights into the application of the methodology, initiating a further revision process. The Global BIOFIN team has integrated this learning into a new draft structure, to be elaborated and edited, while some remaining gaps require to be filled. UNDP is therefore seeking a writer/editor to undertake this work.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will be home based, working under the supervision of the BIOFIN Manager and Deputy Manager (based at the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub), including missions to key events and consultations.

Detailed tasks are as follows:

Review existing materials and develop an initial workplan:

Study existing BIOFIN materials, including the 2014 BIOFIN workbook, the draft 2016 workbook, reports from regional/global and technical BIOFIN workshops, relevant chapters of progress reports, and relevant PowerPoint guidance materials;
Hold discussions with BIOFIN Management;
Develop a workplan for the full assignment to be approved by BIOFIN Management.

Produce an updated outline of the 2016 BIOFIN workbook:

Engage in initial discussions with the global BIOFIN Team and review existing guidance materials in PowerPoint to identify gaps and opportunities with the current workbook outline and drafts;
Develop an updated detailed outline for the 2016 workbook and workplan, to be approved by BIOFIN Management. Identify in collaboration with the global BIOFIN team further inputs to be solicited from other team members.

Develop a full draft of the BIOFIN 2016 workbook:

Work with BIOFIN Global Team and Country Teams to fill in gaps and deepen material, integrating inputs provided by other team members;
Elaborate the draft version of the full BIOFIN Workbook (including text, tables and sketches for diagrams) and submit to the global BIOFIN Team for review and input;
Work with the global BIOFIN team to assure the integration and compatibility of the Excel financial tool into the BIOFIN Workbook text and guidance;
Present draft work at the BIOFIN meeting in Istanbul in early June 2016 (at whatever stage is reached by then);
Revise and submit the revised BIOFIN Workbook draft to external peer reviewers;
Coordinate inputs and reviews from team members and outside reviewers as required;
Do research and liaise with pilot countries to include country examples drawing from lessons learned within and outside the BIOFIN spectrum;
Ensure the draft is aligned with the main recommendations provided through BIOFIN feedback mechanisms, such as regional and global workshops and regular country feedback streams.

Finalise the text of the 2016 BIOFIN workbook:

Finalise all text, tables and sketches for diagrams, with instructions for the designer;
Present the final version to global BIOFIN team, UNDP-GEF senior management, BIOFIN steering committee (including donors), national stakeholders, and peer experts, as requested by BIOFIN Management;
Ensure all sections are adequately referenced, and include information for contents, footnotes, references, glossary and preliminary pages;
Final in-depth editing and proofreading of publication (formatting and lay-out work are not part of the assignment).

Final revisions and incorporation of final recommendations.

Expected deliverables:

Expected contract start date: 10 June 2016
Review of documentation and preparation of the work plan by 15 June 2016;
Outline of the 2016 BIOFIN Workbook, by 24 June 2016;
Draft BIOFIN 2016 Workbook, by 25 July 2016;
Final draft BIOFIN 2016 Workbook, by 10 August 2016.
Final revisions and incorporation of final recommendations collected on the Final 2016 Workbook, by 30 August 2016

Payment schedule:

Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of the deliverables by the Supervisor as per below percentages:

Review of documentation and preparation of the workplan - 10%;
Outline of the 2016 BIOFIN Workbook - 10%;
Draft BIOFIN 2016 Workbook - 60%;
Final draft BIOFIN 2016 Workbook- 15%.
Final revisions and incorporation of final recommendations to the 2016 Workbook - 5%.

Information on Working Arrangements:

The consultant will be home based with mission travel (estimated level of travel days is 6);
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 a reliable internet connection;
Payments will be made upon submission of a certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Supervisors on days worked and outputs delivered.

Travel:

Travel will be required to participate in BIOFIN meetings to the UNDP Regional Hub in Istanbul;
Any necessary mission travel must be approved in advance and in writing by the Supervisor;
The Advanced and Basic Security in the Field II courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
Consultant is responsible for ensuring s/he has the required vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
Consultants are responsible for obtaining any visa arrangements needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
The consultant is required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/;
The consultant will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;
All related travel expenses will be supported by the project travel fund and will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations for consultants. Costs for airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in financial proposal.

Competencies

Corporate

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Technical

Extensive knowledge in the development and application of environmental finance assessment and policy development tools, in particular those related to biodiversity;
Proven ability to organize and write in a clear technical voice and in an accessible style covering multiple areas of work.

Professionalism:

Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
Exercise the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Communication:

Outstanding writing and good verbal communication skills;
Communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.
Good command of video communication software packages such as Goto Meeting and Skype.

Teamwork:

Natural leader, able to build a shared vision amongst the team involved;
Works well in a team to advance the priorities of BIOFIN and UNDP as a whole;
Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
Focuses on results for governments requesting support;
Welcomes constructive feedback

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree or higher in economics, environmental economics, public administration, financial management, natural/environmental sciences, social sciences with a specialization in environmental finance and development, or other closely related field. (Max: 5 points)

Experience:

At least 10 years demonstrated expertise in the area of public or private sector finance, development or environmental finance, environmental resource economics, environmental mainstreaming, resource mobilisation, strategic planning or a related field (10 points);
Experience in developing, or implementing relevant financial flows assessment approaches such as or similar to the BIOFIN methodology (max 10 points);
Experience in environmental policy development, as well as in biodiversity conservation and biodiversity finance (max 5 points);
Significant international and developing country experience, in particular with international development organisations (max 5 points);

Language Requirements:

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language; (5 Points)

Evaluation Method:

Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated;
Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the technical criteria will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30%;
The technical criteria (education, experience and language [max.40 points], written test [max.20 points] and interview [max. 20 points]) will be based on a maximum 80 points. Only the top three candidates scoring 32 points or higher from the review of the education, experience and language will be considered for the written test and interview;
Applicants obtaining 70% of the combined total technical points (education, experience, languages, written test and interview) will be considered for financial evaluation;
Financial score (max 100 points) shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal of those technically qualified;
The financial proposal shall specify a lump sum fee, including breakdown per deliverable as outlined above. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal must additionally include a breakdown of the fee (including number of anticipated working days and all foreseeable expenses to carry out the assignment; costs for mission travel should not be included in financial proposal).
Applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.

Documentation to be submitted:

Applicants must submit a duly completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P11) to be downloaded from the below link. Kindly note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach). Incomplete applications will not be considered;
Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application.

UNDP Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants:

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

General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:

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