Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s Global Development Network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in over 170 countries, employing participatory approaches to developing local solutions to national and global development challenges. UNDP’s core vision is to help countries achieve simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion.  We do this through three main areas of work which are: (1) sustainable development, (2) inclusive and effective democratic governance, and (3) climate and disaster resilience.

UNDP’s Low Emission Capacity Building Programme (LECB Programme) has been supporting countries to define their low-emission development vision since 2011, including the preparation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to assist national government design and implement their climate change plans under the Paris Agreement.

Moving forward, UNDP launched a new global project “NDC Support Programme” to provide direct financial and technical support to countries on NDC implementation in the context of national development priorities.  The program seeks to enhance the capacities of public - and private - sector actors to deliver on NDC targets through strengthened climate governance; implementation of mitigation actions and mid-century low-emission development strategies; engagement of private sector; and improved investment environments.  It will initially support 27 countries in a variety of NDC-related work areas that also include the development of NDC implementation plans, strengthening of monitoring systems, and mainstreaming of gender-responsive approaches.  The program will also collect and disseminate best practices and lessons learned to advance global progress on NDC implementation.  This support will build on the results of the LECB Programme at the country and global levels. 

The Latin American and Caribbean Region is one of the priority regions in the new NDC Support Programme. Countries in this region that will be supported under the Programme include Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Paraguay Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK

UNDP is seeking to recruit a Climate Change Technical Specialist to support countries in the LAC Region and align national outputs with the Programme at the global level, ensuring meaningful outcomes for the implementation of mitigation action under the NDCs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

UNDP is seeking to recruit a Climate Change Technical Specialist with the following objectives:

  • Contribute to technical backstopping of the NDC Support Programme initial phase at the global level, with emphasis in Latin American and Caribbean Region by ensuring the timely and accurate provision of technical advice for project design.
  • Provide substantive expertise and ensure the technical quality, accuracy, and relevance of country-level climate change activities to support the implementation of the NDC projects in the LAC Region.

Technical backstopping and support for the development and delivery of project activities

  • Advise the Programme Manager and national teams on the activities related to the design and implementation of mitigation, low emission development strategies, NDCs implementation plan and roadmap, sectoral strategies, and other related activities in the context of NDC processes.
  • Provide technical inputs to the NDC Support Cluster Finance thematic group and NDC Helpdesk to assist countries strengthen the effective use of domestic finance for climate action.
  • Provide technical assistance to countries on the use climate finance tools, such as Climate Public Expenditure and Institutional Review (CPEIR).
  • Coordinate with relevant partners, such as IDB, ECLAC, WB, UNEP, UNFCCC, in the area of public finance and budgeting for NDC implementation in LAC countries under Programme.
  • Undertake country visits, as needed, to perform inception meetings with relevant stakeholders and local authorities and to provide guidance for project implementation, and further technical recommendations. This will include follow up with UNDP country offices and government counterparts to ensure the work is implemented in alignment with the global Programme.
  • Guide the development of terms of reference for the work to be performed in different areas of the country projects and carry out technical evaluations of the studies produced by the national teams and consultants.
  • Monitor progress of project implementation, including the coordination of quarterly and final reports of country projects.

Policy Research and Development

  • Prepare relevant materials for advocacy and outreach activities related to finance, private sector engagement in mitigation actions, and MRV systems.
  • Contribute to the development of guidance in the area of finance and climate change, and related tools for the implementation of the NDCs, including coordinating testing and rolling out of tools and methodologies.
  • Prepare case studies to support climate policy work, based on the work performed by countries in the region, focusing on challenges and lessons from the NDC process at country level.
  • Conduct data analysis to identify potential new research area on finance of the mitigation actions to achieve the NDC targets, focusing on demands and gaps at the country level.
  • Design and deliver trainings on climate finance and private sector engagement, as needed.

Production of knowledge products at the global and regional level:

  • Provide technical comments on the studies produced by countries.
  • Support the visibility and dissemination of the NDC Support Programme’ s activities.
  • Conduct peer reviews, comment on, and seek to improve the technical quality of project outputs.
  • Establish synergies and partnerships between the NDC Support Programme and other UNDP projects and programmes in LAC, as well as with other institutions in the region, to seek opportunities for resource mobilization to implement mitigation actions identified in the NDCs.
  • Monitor and gather intelligence on activities related to the development of NDCs, NAMAs carbon markets, scaled up climate change mitigation, climate finance architecture, and sustainable energy, and facilitate knowledge transfer to stakeholders.

 

Competencies

Functional

  • Demonstrated practical experience in supporting national-level processes in the area(s) of climate change, energy and/or other relevant sectors.
  • Solid knowledge of issues related to climate finance and private sector engagement.
  • Expertise in the design of climate change mitigation projects and strategies.
  • Demonstrated experience working with national or local governments and/or civil society organizations in climate related areas.
  • Experience with the work of multilateral, bilateral and civil society development partners is an asset.
  • Excellent analytical and communications skills
  • Demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

  • Master's Degree or equivalent in Environment, Economics, sustainable development, or International Relations is required; 

Experience:

  • At least seven years of experience working in the field of climate change and related areas is required.
  • Experience in the design of mitigation actions and low emission strategies to support greenhouse reduction efforts at country level in relevant sectors is required.
  • Expertise in assisting countries in designing financial schemes to support the implementation of mitigation actions is required.
  • Knowledge of the climate finance architecture, and mechanisms, as well as relevant tools is required.
  • Demonstrated experience in working with national governments and agencies on climate change is required.
  • Practical experience in providing technical assistance to countries in the Latin American and Caribbean Region on climate related areas is an asset.
  • Establishment of Networking and partnership experience, including mobilization of relevant expertise to support work on the ground is an asset.
  • Demonstrated experience in project management is desirable. 
  • Experience in working with private sector participation in climate change activities is desirable.

Language:

  • Fluency in Spanish and strong command of English are required.

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

  1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.

  2. A Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

  • The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7 hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).
  • The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
  • In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should 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.
  • If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
  • Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (700 points):

  • Criteria 1. Substantive experience in the design of mitigation actions and/or NDCs to support greenhouse reduction efforts at country level in relevant sectors Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 100;
  • Criteria 2. Expertise in the area of climate financial schemes to support the implementation of mitigation actions at country level - Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 100;
  • Criteria 3. Experience in areas related to Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS), NAMAs, and/or MRV – Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 100;
  • Criteria 4: Experience in supporting national-level processes in the area(s) of private sector engagement to support implementation of climate actions–  Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 100
  • Criteria 5: Practical experience in carrying out capacity building initiatives in developing countries in at least one of the areas of expertise listed above (mitigation, climate finance, MRV, private sector engagement, LEDS, or NAMAs) Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 100
  • Criteria 6: Experience in establishing relevant networks and partnerships. Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 100

  • Interview: Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 100.

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three/four shortlisted candidates for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (490 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (300 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of NDC Support Programme Manager and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

  • The Consultant will be requested to work from the UNDP Regional Hub in Panama City, Panama;
  • The consultant will be supervised by and report directly to the NDC Support Programme Manager;
  • Payments will be made upon submission of a detailed time sheet and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Supervisor on days worked and outputs delivered
  • The consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
  • The consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.);
  • Any necessary missions must be approved in advance and in writing by the NDC Support Programme Manager;
  • The Advanced and Basic Security in the Field II courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
  • The selected candidate is responsible for ensuring that s/he has the necessary vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
  • The selected candidate is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
  • Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/;
  • All related travel expenses will be supported by the project travel fund and will be arranged according to UNDP entitlements and travel policy.Costs for airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in financial proposal.

 Payment modality

  • Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.
  • The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Framework Agreement

UNDP plans to enter into the Long-Term Agreement (LTA) with the TOP ranked successful Individual Contractor/s to assure resources availability at the required timeframe and/or increased demand for services requested. The service of who will be used on an intermittent and repetitive basis when needed and based on the fixed daily rate. Other prospective applicants that are not contracted, at the UNDP discretion, will be placed in the roster of consultants to be used based on call basis for similar services.

Please note that the LTA does not form a financial obligation or commitment from UNDP at the time the LTA contract is signed, and that such an agreement is non-exclusive. When a specific need arises, the successful Individual Contractor/s will be approached and be provided with a specific TOR and deliverables (and time frame) but still within the scope of the responsibilities stated in the LTA. The successful Individual Contractor/s is expected to provide Confirmation of Interest on the specific services required. Financial commitments will only be established each time a Purchase Order for the specific services/TOR for Individual Contractor is committed. The purchase order will be based on the agreed LTA Daily Rate Consultancy Fee.

This LTA has a cumulative ceiling amount that may accrue to the individual contractor during the life of the LTA, but said amount shall remain as an upper limit, and must not and cannot be interpreted nor understood as neither a financial commitment nor guarantee of business volume.

The duration of LTA is for 3-year period subject to satisfactory contract performance, funding and project demand.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.