UNDP Jobs - 73473- Technical Specialist (To support UNDP- GEF Climate

Technical Specialist (To support UNDP- GEF Climate Change Adaptation)

Location :

Bangkok, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Oct-2017

Application Deadline :

11-Aug-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

220 Working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

15 October 2017- 14 September 2018

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

UNDP-Global Environmental Finance Unit is based in UNDP’s Bureau of Policy and Programme Support and is responsible for providing leadership and technical support to, among other areas, delivery of the Environment and Sustainable Development pillar of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Its main focus is on helping countries develop the capacity to fully incorporate environmental sustainability and resilience into development at national and local, but also global and regional levels. The principal areas of work are in environmental mainstreaming, environmental finance, adaptation to climate change, and local governance of resources, including energy.

The UNDP-GEF Unit helps developing countries make green, low-emission and climate-resilient development and the sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystems not only possible, but also economically attractive. To achieve this, it works closely with UNDP country offices to help countries develop and implement programmes and projects which advance their capacity to put in place the right mix of regulatory and financial incentives, remove institutional and policy barriers, and create enabling environments that attract and drive private sector investment into green development.

The UNDP-GEF Unit is organized into five substantive technical teams corresponding to the principal areas of work above. Each area of work is led by a Principal (PTA) or Senior Technical Advisor (STA), who supports and guides a team of Regional Technical Advisors and Specialists (RTAs/RTSs).? The regional teams, working together under the leadership of a UNDP – GEF Regional Team Leader, are based in regional hubs/regional service centers (Addis Ababa, Istanbul, Bangkok and Panama) from where they support UNDP’s Country Offices and partners in their region.

The strategic objective of the Green Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development Strategies (GLECRDS) Team is to develop the capacity of national and sub-national governments to conduct long-term integrated planning exercises to transition to green, low-emission and climate-resilient (LECR) development.

To achieve this, the team focuses its efforts into the following signature programmes:

• Supporting Integrated Climate Change Strategies:? Supports national and sub-national governments (with focus on Ministries of Finance and planning bodies) to develop and strengthen policies, institutions, capacities and knowledge for integrated green, low-emission and climate resilient development (Green LECRD), and to make use of the full range of public and private financing mechanisms to support Green LECRD investment;

• Advancing Cross-sectoral Climate Resilient Livelihoods:? Supports climate resilient economic development and sustainable livelihoods, especially for vulnerable populations – the poor, women, and indigenous peoples. UNDP-GEF provides assistance to country-led efforts on climate change risk management in the context of food security, water resources, coastal zone development, public health, and climate change-related disaster risks;

• Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems for Climate Resilient Development: Supports the development of climate information and Early Warning Systems (EWS) across a range of countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific in order to help them respond to both short-term/rapid onset climatic hazards (e.g. cyclones, floods and storms), as well as long-term/slow onset hazards (e.g. drought and long-term climate change).

UNDP’s Global Environmental Finance Unit’s Climate Change Adaptation Team (GEF – Adaptation) is engaging an international expert to work in close collaboration with other RTAs/RTSs, Country Office programme and project teams, and government officials to successfully deliver research, technical and policy support. The Environmental Programme Expert, under the guidance and supervision of the Head of Climate Change Adaptation and Global Focal Point for Adaptation/Mitigation programming under the Green Climate Fund will be responsible for supporting the global climate change portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the assignment

The main objective of the consultancy is to support the UNDP-GEF team located in UNDP’s Regional Hub in Bangkok, Thailand to support country offices in the Asia Pacific region in accessing resources from a wide range of global environment and climate funds and to develop their capacities to transition to green, low-emission, climate resilient development. Under the overall supervision of the Head of Climate Change Adaptation, the consultant will assist national and sub-national governments to develop and implement programmes and projects that combine and sequence resources from GEF vertical funds such as the GEF Trust Fund, the Special Climate Change Fund, and the Least Developed Countries Fund, the Adaptation Fund, the Green Climate Fund as well as several other multilateral, bilateral, national, sub-national and private sector sources.

Scope of work

The Consultant is primarily responsible for providing technical, policy, and programming implementation support and oversight, and knowledge and capacity development services pertaining to the work of the GLECRDS signature programmes to UNDP country offices, working with other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors, the private sector and many others. Specific results are expected in the areas of:

Innovation, Strategic Leadership, Policy Dialogue and Advocacy:

Contributing to a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes within the region, including establishing contact and developing strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGOs, the private sector, scientific institutions and the like;
Participating in the development and implementation of UNDP’s global and regional strategies on environment and sustainable development within the BPPS and beyond; engagement in policy and advocacy work with external partners where relevant;
Providing policy development support and guidance;
Supporting the development of strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes;
Facilitating policy analysis and the development of technical tools and guidance;
Maintain a trusted? leadership role within the region;
Keeping the Regional Team informed of trends and issues with respect to the substantive technical area;
Keeping the Principal/Senior Technical Advisors informed of trends and issues in the region.

Portfolio Management:

Assisting in the maintenance of programme/project and portfolio information and corporate information systems;
Facilitating the identification, and sourcing of technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports.

Resource Mobilization:

Supporting programme and project identification and development, including on integrated approaches and multifocal area projects
Providing timely and quality information and technical advice on sources of funds, policies, priorities and activities – including the Global Environment Facility funds, the Green Climate Fund, other multilateral donors, bilateral donors and foundations;
Identifying and suggesting to the STA priorities and entry-points for UNDP assistance;
Facilitating the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of programme/project concepts and full-fledged proposals for financing;
Providing guidance and support in the identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports;
Facilitating liaisons with potential financing agencies and institutions.

Development Impact:

Assisting with inception, contracting and start up of programmes/projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks and work plans;
Supporting UNDP country offices and programme/project implementation partners in supervision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting and adaptive management;
Preparing reports and communications pieces effectively showcasing socio-economic development benefits as well as environment results.

Learning, Knowledge Management and Self Development:

Evaluating, capturing, codifying, synthesizing lessons and stimulating the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of knowledge materials;
Peer reviewing, commenting on, and seeking to improve the technical quality of programmes/projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications and the like;
Contributing to the preparation of regional Community of Practice meetings;
Supporting the preparation and delivering of training courses;
Responding to queries on programme/project progress, impacts and lessons;
Developing and carrying out a personal learning plan.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Development of strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes;
Facilitate policy analysis and the development of technical tools and guidance;
Facilitate the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of programme/project concepts and full-fledged proposals for financing;
Contribute to the start up of programmes/projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks and work plans;
Develop reports and communication tools showcasing socio-economic development benefits as well as environment results;
Develop knowledge materials that capture and synthesize lessons and best practices; and
Organization of regional Community of Practice meetings.

Institutional Arrangement

The Consultant will be supervised by the Head of Climate Change Adaptation (Global), UNDP- GEF. Reporting on deliverables will be on a monthly basis.

Duration of the Work

15 September 2017 – 14 September 2018 (up to 220 working days).

Duty Station

Home based with possible travel. (An estimated 8-10 missions (destinations to be identified) with expected total travel duration of approximately 4-8 days per mission. Expected mission travel would be discussed upon commencement of assignment and updated quarterly)

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Ability to persuade others to follow.

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Ability to get things done.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to provide guidance on climate change adaptation especially as it relates to livelihoods, early warning systems, and coastal risk management;
Ability to guide the design and implementation of multi-sectoral and sectoral programmes and projects at different scales, and to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines.
Knowledge of environment issues, concept and principles and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
Knowledge of climate change adaptation concepts, principles and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical
Knowledge of economics concepts, principles and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
Knowledge of development planning processes and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
Develop programmes through a process.
Ability to identify and organize programmes? and projects to implement solutions and generate resources.
Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results.
Ability to productively share UNDP knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues).

Secondary Competencies:

Knowledge of methodologies, tools, systems and apply practical experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting.
Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.
Ability to plan, organize, motivate, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualifications

Master’s degree or higher in environmental economics, development economics environmental law, business administration with a specialization in environment and development, or other closely related field.

Experience

Minimum of 8 years’ experience working with developing countries on climate change adaptation, community-level finance (e.g. microfinance), and development;
Experience with project development, implementation and management (direct project management experience is preferable);
Experience in the policy development processes in climate change risk management;
Experience working in?Africa region is strongly desired;
Working experience in an international organization is an advantage as is knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices.

Language

Excellent knowledge of the English language, with exceptional writing, presentation and communication skills;
Proficiency in other UN languages is an asset.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The contract will be based on Daily Fee

Consultant shall quote an all-inclusive Daily Fee for the contract period. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the consultant in completing the assignment are already factored into the daily fee submitted in the proposal. If applicable, travel or daily allowance cost (if any work is to be done outside the consultant’s duty station) should be identified separately. Payments shall be done on a monthly basis based on actual days worked, upon verification of completion of deliverables and approval by the IC’s supervisor of a Time Sheet indicating the days worked in the period.

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

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Travel costs shall be reimbursed at actual but not exceeding the quotation from UNDP approved travel agent.? The provided living allowance will not be exceeding UNDP DSA rates. Repatriation travel cost from home to duty station in Bangkok and return shall not be covered by UNDP.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology;

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 70 points)

Criteria 1: Education- Max 10 points;
Criteria 2: Relevant experience with developing countries on climate change adaptation, community- level finance and development- Max 20 points;
Criteria 3: Experience with project development, implementation and management- Max 15 points;
Criteria 4: Experience policy development processes in climate change risk management - Max 15points;
Criteria 5: Experience working in Africa region- Max 15 points;
Criteria 6: Working experience in an international organization/ knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices- Max 10 points;
Criteria 7: Proficiency in English language, including writing, presentation and communication skills- Max 10 points;
Criteria 8: Proficiency in other UN languages- Max 5 points.

Only top 3 candidates who have achieved a minimum of 70 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for an interveiw and 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 in Annex 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.
Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex 2.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

For required documents and form, please click the link below:

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=39265