UNDP Jobs - 70017- International Technical Expert for “Supporting Kaz

International Technical Expert for “Supporting Kazakhstan’s Transition to a Green Economy Model” Project

Location :

Home-based with four missions to Astana, Kazakhstan

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Feb-2017

Application Deadline :

20-Jan-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

February-November 2017

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Up to 150 working days

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

At present the Government focuses on the implementation of the most recent long-term strategy Kazakhstan 2050, which includes a substantial chapter on the country's transition to a green economy model, triggering the development of a comprehensive Green Economy Strategy. While inspired by experience abroad, in particular from world leading economies, strategic policy decisions are fully developed and owned by the country's leadership and have, in the past, resulted in an impressive record of economic growth and poverty reduction.

The government's environmental management systems have made some progress in the past but remain short of meeting the sector's significant challenges. One of the recent positive moves has been a surge in interest by city administrations to sign up to the Covenant of Mayors – East, which will generate substantial synergies with the Project here presented. Kazakhstan also recently became a fully-fledged member of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Aware of the significant existing and long-term direct and opportunity costs (including a huge environmental burden on health, resource use inefficiencies and resource degradation), and aware of the need to respond to the impact of climate change, Kazakhstan took a landmark decision to transition to a green economy model.

The overall objective of the government's strategy is the transition to an environmentally sustainable development model and the significant reduction of environmental risks and ecological scarcities while maintaining economic growth and competitiveness, creating high-value jobs and improving human well-being. Following the adoption of the Green Economy (GE) Strategy, Kazakhstan now faces the following key challenges:

Develop/adapt and implement sector strategies and action plans for each of the pillars for GE, while ensuring that a strategic environmental assessment is carried out for strategies and action plans that are likely to have significant environmental including health effects;
Develop and implement a new, "green stimulus" - oriented environmental governance system for based on modernized institutional mechanisms, stakeholder capacities and adequate data collection and analysis;
Raise awareness about GE benefits among stakeholders including the private sector, and mobilize human and financial resources for a comprehensive GE development model. An indicative plan foresees an average annual investment of 1% of GDP per annum in this sphere over the coming 25 years, with a peak in the years 2015-2020.

Kazakhstan has decided to transform its economy into a sustainable Green Economy, implementing a completely new development paradigm. The overall objective of the Project is to contribute to the long-term environmental sustainability and inclusive economic development of Kazakhstan through introducing a modern environmental governance system, state-of-the-art water management policies and practices, enhanced environmental impact assessment procedures and economic incentives for sustainable use of water resources.

Joint EU/UNDP/UNECE "Supporting Kazakhstan’s Transition to a Green Economy Model" aims to support Kazakhstan in achieving long-term sustainable development through the transition to a model of "green economy". The project anticipates the development of appropriate political, legal and regulatory guidelines and specific mechanisms to encourage the sustainable development of water resources management, methodological approaches and tools, as well as possible solutions to the technological and infrastructural problems.

The Project is being developed in consultation with key stakeholders, in full alignment with the policy priorities of the Government of Kazakhstan. National ownership is ensured through active participation of national Governmental and non-governmental institutions. To ensure long-term sustainable impact, the Project builds upon experiences and lessons learnt previously, and synergizes with on-going sustainable development activities.

The overall objective of the Project is to contribute to Kazakhstan’s long-term environmental sustainability and inclusive economic development, supporting the country's transition to a Green Economy Model.

The specific objectives of the Project are:

To contribute to sustainable water management policies and practices;
To promote a modernized environmental governance system, generating incentives for transition to a Green Economy Model, focusing on water resources and climate change; and
To promote GE transition at local level, focusing on water resources and climate change.

The International Technical Expert will work as a project quality reviewer and provide professional advice/solution under specific outcomes. The responsibility of the IC is to ensure that the overall technical direction of the project is maintained and flexibly adapted to meet the practical challenges faced during implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work:

Provide recommendations on the overall project implementation strategy and activities under the project 2017 work plan for outcomes 2 ”Water use efficiency increased” and 4 “highly visible and replicable pilot actions, focusing on water resources and climate change, with demonstrable effects at local (region, city, district) level.
Provide quality review of interim narrative donor report 2017 and technical expertise support to the project abovementioned outcomes 2 and 4 in 2017;
Provide recommendations to the project manager in identification of activities for replication of project results under the outcome 4;
Contribute in development of narrative part of annual work plan for 2017 and assessment of results for 2016;
To develop a Risk mitigation actions preparation to incorporate in the project work plan 2017;
Log frame and internal monitoring matrix preparation for the project activities based on the inception report, annual work plan and narrative project report;
Development of exit plan/ project result sustainability strategy;
Development of the project proposal and idea on following up activity;
Act as quality reviewer of selected project outputs and TORs and provide professional advice/solution for quality improvement

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

Deliverable 1. Provide recommendations on the overall project implementation strategy and activities under the project 2017 work plan for outcomes 2 and 4 ;
Deliverable 2. Development of narrative part of annual work plan for 2017 and assessment of results for 2016;
Deliverable 3. Log frame and internal monitoring matrix preparation for the project activities based on the inception report, annual work plan and narrative project report;
Deliverable 4. Review of interim narrative donor report 2017;
Deliverable 5. To develop a Risk mitigation actions preparation to incorporate in the project work plan 2017;
Deliverable 6. Development of exit plan/ project result sustainability strategy;
Deliverable 7. Development of the project proposal and idea on following up activity;
Deliverable 8. Provide recommendations to the project manager in identification of activities for replication of project results under the outcome 4

Institutional Arrangement

The assignment will be a combination of in country and out-of-country arrangement. All translation, verbal and text, will be the responsibility of the project. All necessary documents including Project document, inception report, narrative donor 2016 report will be provided by UNDP project. Reports and materials should be submitted in English. Expert will work in close collaboration with project team and under supervision of a project manager.

Competencies

Full proficiency in English both written and verbal including ability to review, draft and edit required project documentation;
Familiarity with result-based management in project formulation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation

Required Skills and Experience

Advanced university degree in the disciplines related to energy and environment
At least 7 years of practical experience in the field of green growth and water management;
Prior working experience in CIS countries;
Experience with international organizations/projects/programs

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

This is a lump sum contract that should include all costs including consultancy, travel costs and all other related costs required to produce the above deliverables. The contract price will be fixed regardless of changes in the cost components.

Four missions to Kazakhstan, Astana are envisaged: 4 missions for 3 days to Kazakhstan (Astana). The calculation of travel expenses including daily subsistence allowance, ticket costs, terminals and other travel related cost should be included into the financial proposal. As an example, UNDP Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate in Astana is USD 177.

The dates for these missions will be agreed upon the contract signing between the consultant and project manager.

Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

Deliverable 1. Provide recommendations on the overall project implementation strategy and activities under the project 2017 work plan for outcomes 2 and 4: 10% of total contract amount;
Deliverable 2. Development of narrative part of annual work plan for 2017 and assessment of results for 2016: 10% of total contract amount;
Deliverable 3. Log frame and internal monitoring matrix preparation for the project activities based on the inception report, annual work plan and narrative project report: 10% of total contract amount;
Deliverable 4. Review of interim narrative donor report 2017: 10% of total contract amount;
Deliverable 5. To develop a Risk mitigation actions preparation to incorporate in the project work plan 2017: 15% of total contract amount;
Deliverable 6. Development of exit plan/ project result sustainability strategy: 15% of total contract amount;
Deliverable 7. Development of the project proposal and idea on following up activity: 15% of total contract amount;
Deliverable 8. Provide recommendations to the project manager in identification of activities for replication of project results under the outcome 4: 15% of total contract amount

In general, UNDP shall 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.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on Cumulative Analysis.

The award of the contract shall 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 set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 500 points)

Criteria 1:Advanced university degree in the disciplines related to energy and environment - max 100 points;
Criteria 2: At least 7 years of practical experience in the field of green growth and water management- max 150 points;
Criteria 3:Prior working experience in CIS countries - max 75 points;
Criteria 4:Experience with international organizations/projects/programs- max 75 points;
Criteria 5: Full proficiency in English both written and verbal including ability to review, draft and edit required project documentation - max 50 points.
Criteria 6: Familiarity with result-based management in project formulation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation - max 50 points.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Documentation required:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
A brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

Please click on the link below to download all required documents:

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=34943