Background

This IC Notice is advertise Under the Fast Track

Background and Project Description: 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is providing assistance to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Physical Development of Sudan in the preparation of the GEF Medium Size Project (MSP) “Strengthening targeted national capacities for improved decision making and mainstreaming of global environmental obligations”.

In accordance with UNDP/GEF procedures, UNDP is hiring a consultant to develop the MSP proposal for ‘Strengthening targeted national capacities for improved decision making and mainstreaming of global environmental obligations’ for submission to the GEF Secretariat fully compliant with the enforced GEF rules and standards as part of the GEF Project Preparation Grant (PPG). The consultants will report to the Head of the Environment Unit at UNDP Sudan and work closely with UNDP Regional Technical Advisor.

The purpose of the PPG is to fully design the activities, outputs, and outcomes of the ‘Strengthening targeted national capacities for improved decision making and mainstreaming of global environmental obligations’ medium size project and to fully develop a full set of project documentation for submission to the GEF Secretariat and approval. Normal rules for development of medium-sized GEF projects apply. Copies of the GEF templates and guidelines can be found at: http://www.thegef.org/gef/guidelines_templates

Project Description

Sudan is a signatory to the Rio Conventions, having ratified the UNCCD on 24 November 1995, the UNCBD on 30 October 1995, and the UNFCCC on 19 November 1993.  As a Least, Developed Country, the Sudan is struggling to fulfill many of the objectives set forth in the Rio Conventions for the same reasons that it struggles to meet other development priorities.  Many of the developed frameworks and plans for action face limited implementation due to limited government resources, limited human capacity, and a lack of appropriate technologies. Sudan also struggles with gaps in policy and an inadequate system for information and data management and the poor information sharing between and within sectors.  The Government of Sudan has further demonstrated a desire to protect its natural resources through a number of policies and laws, including their 2005 constitution that bestows that right to a healthy environment for all citizens and the protection of the country's biodiversity.

Based on Sudan’s key policy and programme frameworks, several priority capacity development recommendations could be undertaken within the construct of a Cross-Cutting Capacity Development (CCCD) project. The proposed project would develop a targeted set of systemic, institutional, and individual capacities to strengthen the country’s underlying capacities to meet and sustain global environmental obligations. The objective of this project is to strengthen targeted national capacities to deliver and sustain global environmental outcomes within the framework of sustainable development priorities. This project will be implemented through five linked components. These are: Strengthened policy and legal instruments.

Enhanced capacities to mainstream, develop, and apply policies and legislative frameworks for the cost-effective implementation of the three Rio Conventions; Setting up and early implementation of an environmental management information system for improved monitoring and assessment of global environmental impacts and trends; Improved environmental attitudes and values for the global environment; and Enhancing awareness on the value of the global environment to meet socio-economic priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of the assignment is to work on development and preparation of a Medium Size Project document for submission to GEF Secretariat.

The overall purpose of the assignment is to work on development and preparation of a Medium Size Project document for submission to GEF Secretariat. The principal responsibility for managing the consultant will lie with Team Leader of the Sustainable Livelihoods Unit; The Environment Advisor of UNDP Sudan and the Senior Technical Advisor at the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub.

The principal responsibility of the international consultant is to contribute to the development of the MSP project document fully compliant with the enforced GEF rules and standards as lead expert on capacity development and project design.

Within the framework of this ToR, Capacity Development and Project Design Specialist is expected to perform the following tasks and duties:

• Work together with the local consultants (LC), UNDP and national counterparts on setting PPG implementation strategy;
• Finalize PPG work plan, TOR for LCs, and design consultation and validation workshops.
• Oversee completion of background studies, ensuring they are appropriate in scope and provide required analyses;
• Facilitate and guide consultations to determine project strategy, priorities, key partners, and key barriers to success;
• Provide technical and professional support to the LC and national stakeholders.
• Develop the project strategy; detailed budget, work plan and logical framework, develop a replication strategy.
• Assume main responsibility for finalizing the project document, with significant input from all local consultants.

Another key role of the project development expert should be to look for other key partners that the project might partner with and seek co-financing from, working closely with the UNDP Country Office and UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub.

The consultant will undertake a validation mission to the country, in full collaboration with the UNDP Country Office and team of consultants. The IC will facilitate a validation workshop to validate the deliverables with the with key partners in the National Government, responsible for environmental management as well as the relevant sectoral ministries.

The responsibility of the international Capacity Development and Project Design Specialist is to work on development and preparation of a Medium Size Project document for submission to GEF Secretariat.

Expected Deliverables and Schedule of Payments:

The key products, timeframe and duration of activities are estimated to be broken down as follows

.

Expected Deliverables and Schedule of Payments:

The key products, timeframe and duration of activities are estimated to be broken down as follows:

*The estimated timing and deadline are estimated ones, the actual one may vary depending on the contract commencement date.

Prior to approval of the Request for CEO Endorsement, UNDP Project Document fully compliant with the enforced GEF rules and standards, a draft version shall be submitted for comments to UNDP by 15th of August, 2017. UNDP and the stakeholders will submit comments and suggestions within 10 working days after receiving the draft. The finalized documents shall be submitted by 15th of September, 2017 with the aim of getting the project documents all approved by the GEF Secretariat by the end of October 2017 hence by the end of the assignment.

The consultant will develop a detailed Assignment Workplan; a detailed PPG work plan and design of consultation and validation workshops and a draft UNDP Project Document, Project Results Framework, GEF Request for CEO Endorsement.

Institutional Arrangements

The consultant will have direct contact with the Regional Technical Advisor, Team Leader of the Sustainable Livelihood Unit; The Environment Advisor and the Technical Working Group TWG at the HCENR. This group will work closely with the IC, assist in availing the required data and reports; and co-facilitate the availing the required documents and information for the task.  The TWG will assist the formulation and finalization of the deliverables above.; while UNDP and HCENR will provide the assurance role. HCENR will arrange the consultation meetings and will organize a validation w/shop at the end of the assignment. The Consultant will facilitate the consultation w/shop ensuring the all comments are captured into the final documents.

Duration of the Work

The total duration of this consultancy will be 25 working days, spread over a period of 7 months, to start in April/May 2017 and end on 15th Sep 2017. UNDP and the stakeholders will submit comments and suggestions within 10 working days after receiving the draft. The international Consultant will conduct a mission to Sudan during the month of Sep 2017 for a validation w/shop. However, the International Consultant should leave 2 working days to accommodate any comments after the submission to the GEF.

Duty Station

This is a home-based assignment with one mission to Sudan to be conducted  in 1st week of Sep 2017 for validation meeting with stakeholders for the documents finalization (the Draft UNDP Project Document & the Draft Request for CEO Endorsement).

Competencies

Corporate Competencies Functional Competencies:

• Corporate Competencies
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism;
  • Ability to work with a multi-cultural and diverse team.

• Functional Competencies:
  • Demonstrated experience in project design.
  • Demonstrated experience in technical issues related to capacity development issues
  • Ability to analyze large amounts of complex and diversified data related to the assignment
  • Demonstrated strong coordination and facilitation skills;
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to initiate discussions about capacity development issues, identification of gaps and proposing capacity building interventions in the environmental management.

Required Skills and Experience

The International Consultant should have the following minimum requirements:

• Masters’ degree in the fields of environmental management, public administration or relevant related fields.
• Proven expert knowledge in the GEF CCCD/CB2 Project Cycle 
• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience
• Proven experience in developing/implementing similar projects – preferably in the Arab or African region
• Previous successful experience in development and approval of the GEF project documents
• Previous experience with UNDP is a great advantage.
• Excellent English writing skills are essential.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The consultancy fee will be determined on a lump sum basis. The lump sum amount must be all-inclusive and the contract price must be fixed regardless of changes in the cost components. Payment will be made upon completion of key deliverables as outlined in section D above. 

Submission of Offers:

Applicants are kindly requested to complete and sign and submit all the following documents:

1. Duly completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. 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;
3. Brief description of why the individual/company considers him/herself/itself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.

Evaluation Criteria and selection of the consultant

The offers received from the candidates will be evaluated using combined scoring method. The combined scoring method assesses the offers with technical merits of the proposals – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a maximum of 70%, and later combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.

Eligibility Criteria:

The incumbent should have at least an Advanced University degree in the fields of environmental management, public administration or relevant related fields. H/she should also have the following:

1. Proven knowledge in designing similar projects – preferably for the region
2. Proven expert knowledge in the GEF CCCD/CB2 Project Cycle 
3. Ability to analyze large amounts of data to identify key messages and indicators for easy   visualization of complex analyses
4. Demonstrated knowledge with result-based management methodologies and its applications in designing projects.
5. Excellent written and communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of quality project documents and GEF endorsement documents

Technical Evaluation Gird:

The price proposals of candidates obtaining 49 points and above (or 70% and above) will only be technically qualified; then their price proposals will be reviewed and compared for the assessment of overall ranking of the proposals. Those obtaining lower than 49 points (or lesser than 70%) will be technically non-responsive proposals; price proposals of such candidate will not be compared.

Assessment of the Price Proposals (30 Points) or 30%

The lowest priced bid from among the technically qualified Offerors will obtain the full marks of 30 points in the price proposal. Price proposals of remaining qualified bidders will be prorated against the lowest priced bid using the following formula to derive the marks in their price proposal:

Marks obtained by a Bidder = Lowest Priced Bid (amount) / Bid of the Offeror (amount) X 30 (Full Marks)

Award of the Contract/Award Criteria:

The contract will be awarded to the candidate (bidder) whose proposal obtains the highest cumulative marks (points) when the marks obtained in technical and price proposals are aggregated together.