Background

This is the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the UNDP-GEF Midterm Review (MTR) of the full-sized project titled ‘Global Support Programme for Preparation of National Communications and Biennial Update Reports of non-Annex I Parties under the UNFCCC’ (PIMS 5164) implemented through UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, which is to be undertaken in 2018. The project started on the May 1, 2015 and is in its third year of implementation. In line with the UNDP-GEF Guidance on MTRs, this MTR process was initiated before the submission of the third Project Implementation Report (PIR). This ToR sets out the expectations for this MTR.  The MTR process must follow the guidance outlined in the document Guidance for Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects. 
(http://web.undp.org/evaluation/guidance.shtml#handbook).

The Global Support Programme is a UNEP and UNDP implemented programme that provides support to non-Annex I Parties in order to prepare quality National Communications (NCs) and Biennial Update Reports (BURs) that are submitted to the UNFCCC in a timely manner. Technical support is being provided on-line, off-line and on-site to all countries that approach the GSP team, and complements the work of other supporting bodies such as the Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention. 

This 5-year long programme has the intention to deliver on the following three outputs, being 

  • strengthened technical and institutional capacities of non-Annex I Parties to report on NCs and BURs, consistent with national development plans and that meet the Convention objectives, 
  • established national systems/frameworks of documenting procedures and processes for NCs and BURs reporting under the UNFCCC, 
  • high quality and timely reporting on NCs and BURs by non-Annex I Parties.

The project activities commenced in late 2015 with conclusion planned for late 2020. The project runs on principal allocations of 3,575,000 USD from GEF per each of the two agencies engaged (UNDP and UNEP), for a total of USD 7,150,000. 

Co-financing is as follows:
UNDP: co-financing from recipient countries has been estimated to USD 450,000 and includes staff time of Government representatives in the national steering committees, higher level oversight of the project at ministries and other government staff who directly or indirectly contribute to the GSP. Further there is be a cash co-financing of USD 450.000 from UNDP’s Low Emission Capacity Building Program. Thus, total co-financing from UNDP is USD 900.000.

UNEP: co-financing from recipient countries has been estimated to USD 450,000 and includes staff time of Government representatives in the national steering committees, higher level oversight of the project at ministries and other government staff who directly or indirectly contribute to the GSP. Further, UNEP also provides directly an additional co-funding of USD 450.000. Thus, total co-funding from UNEP is USD 900.000. As per agreement in the Project Document between the two agencies, the Mid Term Review is responsibility of UNDP while the Final Term Review will be led by UNEP.

Duties and Responsibilities

The MTR will assess progress towards the achievement of the project objectives and outcomes as specified in the Project Document, and assess early signs of project success or failure with the goal of identifying the necessary changes to be made in order to set the project on-track to achieve its intended results. The MTR will also review the project’s strategy and its risks to sustainability.

The MTR must provide evidence based information that is credible, reliable and useful. The consultant will review all relevant sources of information including documents prepared during the preparation phase (i.e. PIF, UNDP Initiation Plan, UNDP Environmental & Social Safeguard Policy, the Project Document, project reports including Annual Project Review/PIRs, project budget revisions, lesson learned reports, national strategic and legal documents, and any other materials that the team considers useful for this evidence-based review). The consultant will review the baseline GEF focal area Tracking Tool submitted to the GEF at CEO endorsement, and the midterm GEF focal area Tracking Tool that must be completed before the MTR field mission begins.  

The consultant is expected to follow a collaborative and participatory approach ensuring close engagement with the Project Team, government counterparts, the UNDP Country Office(s), UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisers, and other key stakeholders. (For ideas on innovative and participatory Monitoring and Evaluation strategies and techniques, see UNDP Discussion Paper: Innovations in Monitoring & Evaluating Results, 05 Nov 2013.) .

Engagement of stakeholders is vital to a successful MTR. Stakeholder involvement should include interviews with stakeholders who have project responsibilities, including but not limited to UN Environment Global Support Programme (GSP) Team in Economy Division of Climate Change Mitigation Unit; UNFCCC, CGE, senior officials in recipient countries, key experts and consultants in the subject area, Project Board, project stakeholders including both developed and developing countries, etc. Additionally, the consultant is expected to conduct field missions to Istanbul, Turkey, (UNDP) and Nairobi, Kenya (UNEP) for a total of up to 6 days. (For more stakeholder engagement in the M&E process, see the UNDP Handbook on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluating for Development Results, Chapter 3, pg. 93.).

The final MTR report should describe the full MTR approach taken and the rationale for the approach making explicit the underlying assumptions, challenges, strengths and weaknesses about the methods and approach of the review.

The consultant will assess the following four categories of project progress. See the Guidance for Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects for extended descriptions. (http://web.undp.org/evaluation/guidance.shtml#handbook) .

Conclusions & Recommendations

The consultant will include a section of the report setting out the MTR’s evidence-based conclusions, in light of the findings.(Alternatively, MTR conclusions may be integrated into the body of the report).

Recommendations should be succinct suggestions for critical intervention that are specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant. A recommendation table should be put in the report’s executive summary. See the Guidance for Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects for guidance on a recommendation table.

The consultant should make no more than 15 recommendations total. 

Ratings
The consultant will include its ratings of the project’s results and brief descriptions of the associated achievements in a MTR Ratings & Achievement Summary Table in the Executive Summary of the MTR report. No rating on Project Strategy and no overall project rating is required. Ratings scales will be available upon request. 

Timeframe and Deliverables:
The total duration of the MTR will be approximately 24 working days over a time period of 16 weeks starting 5th of February 2018, and shall not exceed five months from when the consultant is hired. The tentative MTR timeframe is as follows: 

Activities:

  • Document review and preparing MTR Inception Report (MTR Inception Report due no later than 2 weeks before the MTR mission); Estimated work input: 3 days; Deadline: February 19th, 2018
  • MTR mission: stakeholder meetings, interviews, field visits; Estimated work input: 9 days; Deadline: March 5th, 2018 - March 30th, 2018 
  • Presentation of initial findings- last day of the MTR mission; Estimated work input: 1 day; Deadline: March 30th, 2018
  • Preparing draft report (due within 3 weeks of the MTR mission); Estimated work input: 7 days; Deadline: April 20th, 2018
  • Finalization of MTR report/Incorporating audit trail from feedback on draft report (due within 1 week of receiving UNDP/UNEP comments on the draft); Estimated work input: 4 days; Deadline: May 25th, 2018

Options for site visits should be provided in the Inception Report. List of Documents to be reviewed by the consultant will be available upon request.

Deliverables:

  • Deliverable 1: MTR Inception Report; Description: The consultant clarifies objectives and methods of Midterm Review; Timing: No later than 2 weeks before the MTR mission: February 19th, 2018; Responsibilities: The consultant submits to the Commissioning Unit and project management
  • Deliverable 2: Presentation; Description: Initial Findings; Timing: End of MTR mission: March 30th, 2018; Responsibilities: The consultant presents to project management and the Commissioning Unit
  • Deliverable 3: Draft Final Report; Description: Full report (using guidelines on content outlined in Guidelines on Contents for the Midterm Review Report) with annexes; Timing: Within 3 weeks of the MTR mission: April 20th, 2018 ; Responsibilities: Sent to the Commissioning Unit, reviewed by RTA, Project Coordinating Unit, GEF OFP
  • Deliverable 4: Final Report*; Description: Revised report with audit trail detailing how all received comments have (and have not) been addressed in the final MTR report; Timing: Within 1 week of receiving UNDP and UNEP comments on draft: May 25th, 2018 ; Responsibilities: Sent to the Commissioning Unit

*The final MTR report must be in English. If applicable, the Commissioning Unit may choose to arrange for a translation of the report into a language more widely shared by national stakeholders.

Institutional Arrangements:

The principal responsibility for managing this MTR resides with the Commissioning Unit. The Commissioning Unit for this project’s MTR is the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub and UNDP/ UN Environment GSP team. The commissioning unit will contract the consultant and ensure all necessary support throughout the process, including with travel arrangements within the country for the MTR consultant. The Project Team will be responsible for liaising with the MTR consultant to provide all relevant documents, set up stakeholder interviews, and arrange field visits.

The commissioning unit will contract the consultant and ensure the timely provision of per diems and travel arrangements within Turkey and Kenya for the consultant. The Project Team will be responsible for liaising with the consultant to provide all relevant documents, set up stakeholder interviews, and arrange field visits. Field visits will be two: up to three (3) days at UNEP Headquarter in Nairobi and up three (3) days at UNDP’s Istanbul Regional Hub.

An independent consultant with experience and exposure to projects and evaluations in other regions globally will conduct the MTR).  The consultant cannot have participated in the project preparation, formulation, and/or implementation (including the writing of the Project Document) and should not have a conflict of interest with project’s related activities.  

Payment Schedule:

  • 20% of payment upon approval of the final MTR Inception Report 
  • 40% upon submission of the draft MTR report
  • 40% upon finalization of the MTR report

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; 
  • Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment. 

Functional competencies:

  • Ability to analyze policy documents and make constructive policy suggestions;
  • Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
  • Capacity building skills and flexibility depending on the public;
  • Demonstration of commitment to the Project’s mission, vision and values;
  • Good writing and reporting skills;
  • Good presentation skills;
  • Excellent communication skills; 
  • Demonstrable analytical skills; 
  • Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations, and to meet tight deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A Master’s degree in environmental sciences, environmental policies, social sciences, economics, business administration, international relations, or other closely related field. 

Experience:

  • Work experience in climate change, capacity development or environment, economics and/or development related field for at least 7 years; 
  • Experience with result-based management evaluation methodologies;
  • Experience applying SMART indicators and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios; 
  • Competence in adaptive management, as applied to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; 
  • Experience working with the GEF or GEF-evaluations; 
  • Experience working in global projects, with focus on non-Annex I Parties under the UNFCCC; 
  • Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender and climate change; experience in gender sensitive evaluation and analysis. 
  • Project evaluation/review experiences within United Nations system will be considered an asset.

Language skills:

  • Excellent communication skills in English.


Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: 1) Responsive/ compliant/acceptable; 2) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation. 

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

  • Criteria A Work experience in climate change, capacity development or environment, economics and/or development related field for at least 7 years – max points: 10;
  • Criteria B Recent experience with result-based management evaluation methodologies – max points: 10;
  • Criteria C Experience applying SMART indicators and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios – max points: 10;
  • Criteria D Competence in adaptive management, as applied to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation – max points: 5;
  • Criteria E Experience working with the GEF or GEF-evaluations – max points: 10;
  • Criteria F Experience working in global projects, with focus on non-Annex I Parties under the UNFCCC – max points: 5;
  • Criteria G Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender and climate change; experience in gender sensitive evaluation and analysis - max points: 5
  • Criteria H Project evaluation/review experiences within United Nations system will be considered an asset - max points: 5;
  • Criteria I Excellent communication skills in English; - max points: 5;
  • Criteria J A Master’s degree in environmental sciences, environmental policies, social sciences, economics, business administration, international relations, or other closely related field – max points: 5;

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Application Procedure

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

  • Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application. 
  • Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV. 
  • Brief description of approach to work/technical proposal of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a proposed methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment;
  • Financial Proposal* in USD – as total lump-sum specifying a) total amount for tasks specified in this announcement and b) missions related costs (including i) travel costs and ii) per diem for 3 days in Istanbul, Turkey and for 3 days in Nairobi, Kenya)

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

* Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...).

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner. 

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org.

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs. Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply. Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

Annexes:
Annex I - Full Terms of Reference (https://www.dropbox.com/s/mljvzk2x3jen3dd/UNDP-GEF-MTR_TOR_GSP_Dec%205_2017_long%20version.docx?dl=0m, update on 20.12.)