UNDP Jobs - 72953- Long Term Agreement (Individual Consultancy) for S

Long Term Agreement (Individual Consultancy) for Senior Economist positions

Location :

Home Based with Travel to Certain Countires as mentioned in the Notice

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2017

Application Deadline :

09-Jul-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Up to 220 days per year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Up to 3 years, Long Term Agreement

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

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder for including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, South-South and triangular cooperation initiatives, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.

As the UN system's development program and a GEF Implementing Agency since 1991, UNDP also supports countries in addressing development, climate, and ecosystem sustainability in an integrated manner. UNDP’s Global Environmental Finance Team offers countries highly specialized technical services for eligibility assessment, program/project formulation, due diligence, mobilization of required co-financing, project implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management.

With financing from the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund, Adaptation Fund, Green Climate Fund, and donor Governments of Germany, Japan and other, UNDP, together with a number of partners is providing assistance to countries to integrate climate change into their national and sectoral planning and budgeting processes and design and implement priority adaptation interventions.

Within this overall background, UNDP is seeking to enter into a Long Term Agreement with a senior economist to provide the targeted countries with one-on-one technical assistance to conduct economic and financial appraisal of sector-based and distinct adaptation investments.

The Long-Term Agreement (LTA) will be established for one year and renewable up to three years linked to satisfactory performance of the individual consultant. "LTA" refers to a mutual arrangement whereby the Consultant will provide services as required, over a specific period of time.
An LTA is a mutual arrangement between UNDP and the individual to provide the required services at prescribed prices or provisions over a period of 12-36 months, with potential extension of one year. UNDP reserves the right to rescind the agreement during that period should performance of the consultant not meet its requirements.
Under an LTA, UNDP does not warrant that any quantity of services shall be purchased during the term of this Agreement. Where a request for services arises, UNDP shall directly contract the consultant based on its need to carry out those activities. A specific Term of Reference (TOR) outlining the outputs for each assignment shall be provided and an Individual Contract would be issued to the consultant, detailing the time frame.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives:

The consultant is expected to support the achievement of the following objectives:

Assist targeted countries to undertake cost-benefit analysis, economic analysis and assessment of adaptation projects that are seeking financing from various funds
Assist targeted countries to plan for skills building programmes in economic and financial analysis related to climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation appraisal techniques.
Sensitize senior decision makers on economic and financial appraisal techniques to evaluate adaptation options and how such tools/approaches can assist in the process of prioritization process for financing from domestic and external budgets.
Train technical personnel in ministries involved with sector planning and project formulation in applying economic and financial appraisal techniques for sector-based and distinct investment options. This is more specialized training designed to assist personnel with applying economic and financial assessment techniques to understand the impact of climate change impacts and adaptation on key sectors at both the micro and macro level. Evaluation techniques for adaptation and financial appraisal options will also be covered through this training.

Scope of Work:

Working in coordination with other project staff at the national and regional level based in UNDP and/or its collaborating partner the consultant will be responsible to

Prepare cost-benefit analysis, economic and financial analysis and assessments.
Assist targeted countries to develop sector specific economic and financial assessments of risk management measures that international funds could be used, together with domestic public and private funds to address those sector specific risks;
Assist targeted countries with one on one support to plan for skills enhancement on economic and financial appraisal for improved vulnerability assessments and adaptation appraisal techniques.
Provide direct training in the targeted countries on adaptation appraisal techniques for senior decision makers.
Provide in-depth training programmes on adaptation appraisal and vulnerability assessments for the targeted countries, when required, over the duration of the contract.
Provide remote technical advisory support to selected countries on the economics of adaptation including on applying economic and financial appraisal techniques.
Support UNDP staff involved in assistance to the targeted countries as well as programming support with technical assistance related to the economics of adaptation including preparation of training materials on cost effectiveness, cost-benefit analysis and financial appraisal of projects and programmes supported by UNDP that may also be delivered to external audiences.

The tasks associated with this Terms of Reference are expected to be completed through a combination of (a) home-based preparatory work; (b) leading or participating in country level missions (together with UNDP staff) in selected countries; (c) remote technical assistance to client countries and UNDP staff.

Contract duration: The Long Term Agreement shall be signed for an initial period of one year with extension on yearly basis up to a maximum of three years based on satisfactory performance.
Number of working days: up to 220 days a year
Duty station: Home-based, with possible travel to countries including but not limited to Papua New Guinea, Timor Lest, Laos, Palau, Tonga, Laos, Myamar, Thailand, Niue, Cambodia, Benin, Uganda, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Belize. Destinations shall be identified according to government request for UNDP assistance in project formulation.
Travel: The schedule of travel will be negotiated with the consultant according to the requirements of the programme. Mission travels shall be arranged by UNDP Office in accordance with UNDP travel rules and regulations.
It is expected that regular meetings be facilitated between the consultant and UNDP colleagues to ensure output quality and targets.

A separate ToR with clear deliverables and timelines will be prepared and agreed prior to each assignment within this ToRs.

Final Outputs:
The consultant will deliver the following final products, as relevant and agreed to prior to commencement of any task:

Completed cost-benefit analysis, economics analysis, financial appraisal and others assessments.
Technical review and finalization of selected country reports on (a) economic impact of climate change on the relevant sectors; (b) economics of adaptation in the relevant sectors; (c) regional level analysis of the impact of climate change on relevant sectors; and (d) regional analysis.
Technical support to model the impact of financing in selected countries using the end line survey data
Reports on the impact of the project on the resilience of livelihoods in targeted areas.
Design Impact evaluation frameworks for selected countries that can be used to evaluate the impacts on targeted aspects of adaptation projects.
Plan scope for missions and post mission assessment of areas of support needed given additional information gathered following the in-country workshop and project site visits.
Liaise with country team on priority areas and capacity building needs to guide in country training material preparation on the economics of adaptation
Provide in-depth training programmes on economics of adaptation and investment appraisal.
All PPTs and training material to be used for the trainings on the economics of adaptation and investment appraisal.
Solutions for policy and regulation risks reducing barrier and conducive to incentivizing private investment.
Investment proposals to access international finance;
Drafts of appropriate number of journal quality articles, prepared in collaboration with UNDP staff, on the economics of adaptation pertaining to relevant sectors in the targeted countries.

The consultant will be supervised by the Head of Climate Change Adaptation (Global), UNDP-GEF and/or his designate throughout the consultancy.
Payments will be made upon satisfactory achieved deliverables under each assignment and submission of time sheet in accordance with number of days worked. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the direct supervisor. Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for international civil servants;
Advocates and 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.

Functional Competencies

Knowledge about the UNDP programmes would be an advantage;
Strong analytical and writing skills and track record in producing relevant reports and other material.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

At least Master degree in economics, finance and/or environmental economics (PhD degree is an added advantage).

Experience

A minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience in areas such as application of (economic) cost-benefit analysis, investment appraisal for large scale development projects involving grant and concessional finance.
Experience working with economic analysis in regards to environmental issues and/or financial appraisal of revenue generating projects;
Experience in areas of institutional capacity-building for public administrators on economics and finance development planning and budgeting, development management, public administration and related initiatives
Experience working with and delivering technical assistance to public sector clients in LDCs or developing countries.

Language

Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Proficiency in French, Portuguese and/or Spanish is an added advantage.

Other Qualifications

Ability to deliver high quality documents by set deadlines (requiring minimal editing);
Strong presentation and communication skills;
Strong planning and coordination skills;

Application Process

Interested individuals must submit the following as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications:

•A letter indicating why the applicant considers himself/herself suitable for the required consultancy. This could be indicated online;
•Submission of UNDP Personal History form P11 which can be downloaded from http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc . A personal CV is welcomed in addition;
•Two signed references or three references contact details;
•Sample(s) of the applicant's work on cost-benefit analysis and/or financial appraisal (including associated spreadsheets) you consider to be the best and most relevant examples to this ToR, (not to exceed 2 examples).

(NOTE: THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW MULTIPLE UPLOADS OF DOCUMENTS THEREFORE APPLICANTS MUST MAKE SURE TO UPLOAD ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IN ONE SINGLE FILE).

Evaluation Process

Step I: Screening
Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:
A letter indicating why the applicant considers himself/herself suitable for the required consultancy. This could be indicated online;

UNDP Personal History form P11 or CV.
Two signed references or three references contacts;
Submission of sample(s) of the applicant's work on cost-benefit analysis and/or financial appraisal (including associated spreadsheets) you consider to be the best and most relevant examples to this ToR, (not to exceed 2 examples).
Master degree in economics, finance and/or environmental economics.
Minimum 7 years in relevant work experience in areas such as application of (economic) cost-benefit analysis, investment appraisal for large scale development projects involving grant and concessional finance.

Step II: Shortlisting by Desk Review: (70 Points)
UNDP will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates as follows:

10 - Education/qualifications including degree of the required experience relevancy,
35 - Functional competencies for assignment (analytical and writing skills based on the examples of work submitted);
15 - Experience and degree of relevancy working with economic analysis in regards to environmental issues and/or financial appraisal of revenue generating projects;
5 - Experience in areas of institutional capacity-building for public administrators on economics and finance development planning and budgeting, development management, public administration and related initiatives
5 - Experience working with and delivering technical assistance to public sector clients in LDCs or developing countries.

As applicable, up to 6 applicants scoring the highest in the desk review and achieving minimum 49 points shall be invited for an interview.

Step III: Interview: (30 Points)
A competency-based Interview shall be conducted for all 6 candidates who will be asked on the following:

Relevant experience
Sector Knowledge
Communication Skills

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points in the technical part will be considered as technically qualified and will be requested to submit their financial proposal for further evaluation.
The shortlisted candidates will be rated on both technical and financial submissions, providing a weight of 70% to the technical component and 30% to the financial component.

Award of Long Term Agreement:

The award of the LTA will be made to up to 3 individual consultants whose offers have been evaluated and determined (i) Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and (ii) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation including availability.

Individual IC General Terms and Conditions