Background

The UN-REDD Programme is the United Nations Collaborative Initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) in developing countries. The Programme was launched in 2008 to assist developing countries prepare and implement national REDD+ strategies, and builds on the convening power and expertise of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).As a signatory to both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, in 1992) and the Kyoto Protocol (1997), Bangladesh is fully aware of the causes and potential impacts of climate change. Bangladesh, therefore, is striving to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while maintaining its path of economic development.

The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC has taken a number of decisions to encourage developing country Parties to take forestry climate change mitigation actions. These measures relate to ‘policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries’, known as “REDD+”. Since Bangladesh became a partner country of the UN-REDD Programme in August 2010, the country has quickly taken steps to start implementing REDD+ readiness activities. The UN-REDD Bangladesh National Programme operation launched through the activation of its Programme Management Unit (PMU) under Bangladesh Forest Department (FD), Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) on November 2015 followed by the signing of National Programme Document (NPD) on May 2015.

The overall goal of the Bangladesh UN-REDD National Programme (NP) is to support the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) to initiate the implementation of its REDD+ Readiness Roadmap by establishing necessary REDD+ management processes, identifying strategic readiness options for completing its National REDD+ strategy, and developing the capacities required to begin implementation of REDD+, through full and effective participation of stakeholders. In March 2015, the NP marked the self-selection of CSO and IP representative institutions for its management structures i.e. the Programme Executive Board (PEB) and a proposed national multi-stakeholder platform, REDD+ Stakeholder Forum (RSF).

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of Assignment

Outcome 1 of the Programme aims to ensure that stakeholders’ awareness is raised to an improved level in order to ensure their effective engagement. To achieve this, mapping out the stakeholders involved in the REDD+ process, assessing their various interests and influence, and finally, identifying the appropriate forms of their participation are essential stages of the national REDD+ implementation. This stakeholder mapping and analysis consultancy aims to support both the design and engagement process for the REDD+ readiness phase, including, but not limited to developing a National REDD+ Strategy. The National Consultant will undertake comprehensive analysis and assessment of stakeholders to develop an engagement plan for REDD+ readiness phase.

Scope of Work & Methodology

The Individual Consultant will work closely with the PMU, in particular the Governance Coordinator, Communications Officer and the National Programme Director (NPD) of Bangladesh Forest Department, with technical assistance from UN-REDD Programme Regional Advisor and Regional Specialist to-

• Identify key stakeholder groups, and key entry points for engagement in the REDD+ readiness process, including but not limited to preparation of Bangladesh’s National REDD+ Strategy.
• Develop an engagement plan for the REDD+ readiness process. Support the PMU to validate stakeholder analysis through a national consultation process.

Tasks to be Performed

The Individual Consultant will deliver:

• Identify the basis or rationale for stakeholder engagement.
  • Conduct a rapid review and analysis of current stakeholder engagement in REDD+ processes, where available, or in the natural resource sector.
  • Review the national framework (e.g. relevant key policies, laws and regulations) and the extent it is implemented.
• Identify key stakeholder groups, and key entry points for engagement in the REDD+ processes.
  • Review stakeholder mapping produced in the REDD+ Roadmap.
  • Develop suitable tools and methods, such as interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussions, where necessary, to identify stakeholders’ interest, influence, capacity and position on REDD+, particular during the REDD+ readiness phase. Where possible, collaborate with other REDD+ initiatives or REDD+ networks.
  • Analyse different types of participation; entry points, short/medium-term potential for change to assess realistic achievements to be made by the Programme.
• Develop an Engagement Plan
  • Identify relationships, reporting lines and communications between and among different stakeholder groups. Map the existing roles and responsibilities and governance / institutional mechanism (including rules of business) among various groups of stakeholders. Suggest desired roles and responsibilities and governance / institutional mechanism (including rules of business) among various groups of stakeholders in light of REDD+ mechanism.
  • Identify strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) for stakeholder engagement in REDD+, particularly in the readiness phase.
  • Prepare a graph of stakeholder mapping (See Annex 1).
  • Tabulate the interest, influence, capacity and position of each stakeholder group.
  • Prepare an engagement plan for the key stakeholders: level of engagement, how to engage (methods), level of awareness& capacity and resources required. Where relevant, include recommendations to build coalitions and channeling of information and resources for effective REDD+ collaboration.
  • Outline a detail list of programmatic activities linked with the proposed Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
• Consultation Process
  • Facilitate a consultation workshop with key stakeholders to review and validate the analysis and engagement plan.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The assignment will be achieved through the following submissions throughout the contract period:

• Detailed Work plan - 6 days
  • The work plan will-
    • Outline key issues to be covered
    • Specific methodologies
    • Work Plan (including meeting, field visit etc)
    • Annotated table of contents for the final report
    • Output delivery timeline            
• Progress Report - 45 days
  • The report should include the three details:
    • Identification of the basis or rationale for stakeholder engagement.
    • Identify key stakeholder groups, and key entry points for engagement in the REDD+ processes
    • Develop an Engagement Plan 
• Final Technical Report - 15 days
  • The report should incorporate comments from the consultation workshop with the following annexes
    • Table Summary of Consultation & Participation Plan (Annex IV);
    • Stakeholder mapping table (Annex III);
    • Stakeholder Mapping Graph (Annex II);
    • SWOT table (Annex I);

Duration of the Work

66 working days spread over 3 months.

Duty Station

Dhaka with extensive field visits across the country.

Institutional Arrangement

The National Consultant will report directly to the Programme Manager, UN-REDD Bangladesh National Programme and work closely with the PMU.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; and
• Ability to maintain effective rapport with different kinds of people.

Functional Competencies:

• Management and Leadership
  • Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Proven ability to work flexibly and independently as part of an interdisciplinary and/or multi-cultural team working across disciplines and stakeholders at all levels, and delivery quality results against tight deadlines.
• Knowledge Management and Learning
  • Shares knowledge and experience.
  • Comprehensiveness knowledge of global development concerns and climate change discourse;
• Development and Operational Effectiveness
  • Strong analytical skills and the ability to master new material quickly;
  • Ability to manage priorities in order to meet tight deadlines;
  • Good communications, interpersonal and report writing skills;
  • Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research; and
  • Creativity and innovation abilities.

Required Skills and Experience