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 biodiversity finance needs and priorities, fully taking into account the effects of the enabling policy environment. These need to be followed by a dedicated campaign to implement a wide range of prioritised finance solutions.
In this context, at COP-11 in October 2012, UNDP and the European Commission (EC) launched a new partnership project “The Biodiversity Finance Initiative - BIOFIN” that seeks 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 through 2018.
Led by the UNDP 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.
BIOFIN has cooperated with the CBD over the past years to support countries not involved as core participants of BIOFIN with resource mobilisation efforts through support at the regional level. Multiple series of regional workshops were organized, as capacity development support was provided by the global BIOFIN team. Building on the results of these workshops, the CBD and BIOFIN intend to recruit resource persons who are to provide long term remote and face to face support on a variety of biodiversity finance areas.
UNDP is therefore seeking a biodiversity finance advisor to work with national governments following a demand driven approach, covering Asia and Pacific.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Consultant will be home-based, working under the supervision of the BIOFIN Deputy Manager, with dedicated missions to countries in the Asia-Pacific region based on government requests. The Consultant will work with the CBD Secretariat and global BIOFIN team and national level stakeholders on the following:
Scoping:
- Develop a format to gauge the present needs for support in target countries;
- Assess national level needs/requests for support to implement CBD/BIOFIN resource mobilisation concepts, and, in consultation with the CBD and BIOFIN, identify priority areas and countries for on the-ground support;
- Identify the most optimal system for Knowledge Management to enable access to information for, and transfer of, knowledge between countries;
- Develop a workplan with clear timelines and updated deliverables.
Technical assistance:
- Provide regular technical support on remote basis using online platforms and guide country participants to complete online BIOFIN/CBD trainings;
- For selected countries, carry out in-country support missions, providing on the ground support with:
General awareness raising on biodiversity finance methodologies,
Developing inter-sectoral national partnerships on biodiversity finance,
Organising national consultations,
Biodiversity Policy and Institutional reviews,
Developing and advocacy for policy recommendations,
The assessment of biodiversity impacts of subsidies,
Mapping existing finance solutions,
Biodiversity finance capacity assessments,
Biodiversity expenditure reviews,
Finance needs assessments,
The development and implementation of finance plans,
Studying the feasibility of finance solutions and supporting their implementation.
Organise specific dedicated activities to promote engagement with the private sector on biodiversity finance related issues;
- Deliver on the job and classroom trainings tailored to the national context to strengthen national capacities;
- Provide direct policy advice related to biodiversity finance, participate in policy review processes and debates, and review and provide editorial inputs as requested by national governments;
- Provide guidance to countries to strengthen the national reporting framework for financing biodiversity, building on CBD guidelines.
Knowledge Management:
- Organise thematic/regional webinars on a request basis;
- Facilitate discussion streams on regional topics related to resource mobilisation and/or other BIOFIN related topics on the NBSAP Forum;
- Produce other Knowledge Management Products based on priority demands;
- Deliver training sessions during regional and global workshops as required.
Integration/documentation:
- Conduct a mapping exercise of biodiversity finance and other sustainable development finance initiatives in the region and highlight entry points for cooperation in cooperation with UNDP Regional Hubs;
- Develop a lessons learnt report at the end of the assignment, capturing feedback on the application of CBD-BIOFIN resource mobilisation concepts in the region;
- Develop narrative monthly reports including assessments of the effectiveness of the support delivered and documentation of results.
Information on Working Arrangements:
- The consultant will be home-based;
- Estimated level of effort including travel days is 180 days during the first year;
- The initial contract would be for one year with an option for renewal in the subsequent year dependent on demand for services, availability of financial resources and satisfactory performance evaluation;
- 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 laptop and mobile phone with active calling and data plan;
- Payments will be made upon submission of a detailed time sheet and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Supervisor on days worked and outputs delivered.
Mission Travel:
- International mission travel might be required to core countries and relevant methodological and coordination meetings;
- In-country missions will take place on a request basis, with a maximum of 12 missions;
- 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 first mission travel, which ever takes place first;
- Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
- Consultants are responsible for obtaining any visas 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 the UNDP travel policies;
- All travel expenses related to mission travels will be supported by the project travel fund and will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations for consultants. Costs for mission 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
- Good knowledge in the application of environmental finance assessment and policy development tools, in particular those related to biodiversity.
- Familiarity with key CBD and BIOFIN resource mobilisation concepts and guidelines.
- Proven experience with biodiversity policy development processes, in particular related to finance aspects.
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:
- Excellent writing and 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:
- 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 5 years demonstrated expertise in the area of public or private sector finance, development or environmental finance, environmental mainstreaming, resource mobilisation, strategic planning or a related field (max 10 points);
- Experience in environmental policy development, as well as, in biodiversity conservation and biodiversity finance would be an advantage (max 5 points);
- International and developing country experience, in particular in the region (max 5 points);
- Experience in developing, training and implementing on relevant financial flows assessment approaches such as, or similar to, the BIOFIN methodology is desirable (max 5 points);
- Experience with UNDP policies, procedures and practices particularly in relation to project development and implementation and/or working experience in an international organization is an advantage (max 5 points);
Language Requirements:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language (3 Points);
- Good command of regional languages is a strong asset (Max: 2 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], interview [max 25 points], and submission of writing samples [max 10 points]) will be based on a maximum of 75 points. Only the top 4 candidates scoring 28 points or above from the review of education, experience and language will be considered for the interview and submission of writing samples;
- Applicants obtaining 70% of the combined total technical points (education, experience, languages, interview and writing samples) 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 an all-inclusive daily fee. 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);
- 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;
- Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application.
Kindly note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).
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: