Background

Bangladesh is endowed with huge natural resources and high species diversity. People’s life, livelihoods and culture is very much influenced by this diversity in nature compared to elsewhere in the world. But unplanned infrastructure development, unsustainable harvesting of natural resources, unplanned urbanization and industrialization, greed of vested interested people has caused a serious degradation of these resources in recent years. Some initiatives have been taken to restore these resources which resulted in some success at local levels. On the other hand, evidences of adverse impact of climate change are becoming more and more prominent, coupled with the increasing population pressure has exacerbated the degradation even more. Gradually the need was felt to engage community and other stakeholders in the management of Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) which is now established through the ECA Rules that was formulated in 2016.

More impetus to conserve the natural environment, improve environmental standards and, control and mitigate environmental pollution was introduced with the enactment of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act in 1995. Thereby, enabling the Department of Environment (DoE) to declare Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) where ecological sites are under significant threat of degradation from over-exploitation, pollution and other anthropogenic factors. Since the introduction of this Act and its subsequent amendment in 2010, 13 ECAs (totalling 379,022 ha) have been gazetted. All of these are wetlands, some with a coastal-marine component, which has doubled the protected areas system to 4.4% of the country’s total area. Tanguar Haor and Sundarbans are both Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance) and the latter is also a World Heritage site of globally outstanding natural value. While the boundaries of the Tanguar ECA and Ramsar site are complementary, those of Sundarbans ECA form a 10 km wide peripheral zone (292,926 ha) designed to buffer the biodiversity and ecosystem values of the core World Heritage and Ramsar site. This network of ECAs is vital for the survival of flagship species, such as Irrawady and Gangetic dolphins, Bengal tiger, numerous migratory bird species and various fresh and brackish water fish species, as well as the local communities who are dependent on its ecosystem services.

After declaration of the ECAs, few projects were implemented to restore the ecosystems of some of the ECAs – these are: the Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project (2003-2011); Community Based Adaptation in the Ecologically Critical Areas through Biodiversity Conservation and Social Protection Project (CBA-ECA) (2010-2015); SEMP; Management of Aquatic Ecosystem through Community Husbandry (MACH); Nishorgo; integrated protected area co-management (IPAC); Climate resilient ecosystem & livelihood (CREL), etc. These projects tested several practices and approaches for natural resource management and community engagement; and developed various tools and mechanisms.

Building on the past initiatives, Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and UNDP Bangladesh has developed a full-sized project (FSP) project concept for GEF funding i.e. “Implementing ecosystem-based management in Ecologically Critically Areas in Bangladesh” with the objective: To apply an ecosystem-based framework for managing Ecologically Critical Areas in Bangladesh to enhance the conservation of globally significant biodiversity and support local livelihoods. Thus, the project will mainstream an ecosystem-based approach to ECA management across government agencies and local communities, while also engaging the private sector in a pilot for the first time. The project components are:

• Component 1: Designing a financially viable, ecosystem-based management framework for ECAs;
• Component 2: Applying an ecosystem-based framework to effectively plan, manage, finance and monitor compliance in target ECAs; and
• Component 3: Strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of DoE to put in place measures to address threats to ECAs and ensure that responsible parties restore and maintain the integrity of ECAs.

The project concept (Project Identification Form/PIF) for the FSP has been endorsed by the GEF Secretariat, and a Project Preparation Grant (PPG) approved. The PIF can be accessed via https://www.thegef.org/project/implementing-ecosystem-based-management-ecologically-critical-areas-bangladesh.

The main purpose of this assignment is to develop a comprehensive project proposal to introduce ecosystem based management (EbM) of ECA to ensure sustainable management of ECAs in the country. In this regard, UNDP is recruiting a Project Design and Biodiversity Conservation Specialist (GEF PPG Team Leader) to lead the full project document development process.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work:

The Environmental Policy and Institutional Development Specialist will support the project development process by providing specialist technical inputs on policy, legislation and institutional development, including capacity building, that will strengthen the legal and institutional foundations for the nation’s ECA network and enhance their management through an ecosystem-based framework to which compliance is effectively enforced.

S/he will work closely with the Team Leader and Project Technical Coordinator, as well as other PPG consultants, especially the Corporate Partnerships and Ecosystems & Water Resources Management specialists, to frame the legal, policy and institutional development necessary to realize the changes piloted by the project; and at the same to build the capacity to mainstream such changes across the ECA network.

1. Review the current policy, legislative and institutional framework for ECAs, including provisions for their establishment under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 and more recent incorporation of their governance structure into the ECA Management Rules in 2016, in order to identify:
   • how the Rules may be operationalized with support from the project; and
   • outstanding policy gaps that will need to be addressed by the project. Review should include delegation of powers to district authorities to oversee ECA planning, ecosystem-based management and compliance monitoring; and both existing provisions and potential opportunities for applying the ‘polluter pays’ principle within the manufacturing and agriculture sectors in the context of wetland ecosystems (rivers and lakes).
2. Develop a framework plan for the institutional development of capacity at national, district and community levels to implement and enforce compliance with ECA management plans. This will be informed by an assessment of current capacities at national and district levels to manage ECAs across relevant sectors (agriculture, environment, fisheries, health, tourism, shipping etc.) and existing provisions for training and capacity development.
3. Apply and facilitate completion of the UNDP Capacity Development Scorecard and GEF-6 Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool for Protected Areas and Financial Sustainability Scorecard by the competent national and district authorities to assess the current baselines of capacities to effectively manage ECAs and use these finding to inform a modular training program.
4. Outline a modular Training Programme in ECA ecosystem-based planning, management and enforcement of compliance, with due consideration given to its institutionalisation as a Certified course.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

1. A detailed methodology and work plan for the PPG process -3 days after signing the contract.
2. Policy and institutional gap analysis for effective management of ECA; Prepare report on potential opportunities for applying the ‘polluter pays’ principle in ECA management - within 4 months after signing the contract.
3. Prepare framework plan for the institutional development of capacity at national, district and community levels to implement and enforce compliance with ECA management plans - within 8 months after signing the contract.
4. Outline institutional capacity building action plan for ECA manager/operational staffs- End of the contract.

Supervision and Performance Evaluation:

The consultant will report directly to Programme Specialist (Environment Sustainability and Energy) and Team Leader.  S/he will also closely coordinate tasks with Country Office through other team members in the cluster. S/he will also work closely with the other PPG team (national and international consultants) recruited by UNDP and the relevant stakeholders of the Government. S/he will keep UNDP informed of any issues that emerge during the PPG process which will likely affect the scope of the project design.

Timeframe and Deadline:

• The assignment is for a total of 30 days over a period of 09 months on intermittent basis from April to  December 2018.
• Timelines and milestones will be reflected in the inception note which will be prepared by the PPG team and reviewed jointly by UNDP and MoEF.
• The final document shall be submitted to GEF SEC by 31st January 2019.

Tentative payment schedule:

• 1st payment (15% of total contract value)-will be paid after submission and acceptance of a detailed methodology and work plan for the PPG process
• 2nd payment (30% of total contract value) will be paid after submission and acceptance of the report on potential opportunities for applying the ‘polluter pays’ principle in ECA management
• 3rd payment (20% of total contract value) will be paid after submission and acceptance of framework plan for the institutional development of capacity at national, district and community levels to implement and enforce compliance with ECA management plans
• Final payment (35% of total contract value) will be paid after submission and acceptance of Outline institutional capacity building action plan for ECA manager/operational staffs.

Duty Station

The consultant will be based in Dhaka with field mission in project site (in selected ECAs) in Bangladesh. The consultant is expected to spend at least 10 days out of the total 30 working days in selected ECAs for stakeholder consultation and field trips.

Inputs:

The Consultant will use his/her own personal equipment. UNDP will provide office space and an UNDP e-mail address.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• High level planning, organizational and time management skills, including flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure to meet challenging deadlines;
• Analytical and problem-solving skills of a high order, including the ability to formulate recommendations and advice senior management on tackling difficult scenarios;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to establish strong cooperative relationships with senior government officials, civil society and donors;
• Ability to quickly adapt to change, and to remain calm under pressure;
• Proven cross-cultural communication and the ability to function effectively in an international, multicultural environment

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

•  Minimum Master’s degree in relevant field, such as environmental law, institutional development or development studies, economics, public administration, social science, etc.

Experience:

• Minimum of 15 years of demonstrable experience in the technical area of environmental policy, planning and management, with at least 7 years of experience in institutional development and capacity building within the government;
• Sound knowledge and experience in environmental policy and institutional development, particularly with respect to Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs);
• Demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams and deliver quality outputs in a timely manner;

Language:

• Fluency in English and Bangla is required.

Lump sum contracts:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Evaluation of the Candidates:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

Cumulative analysis-

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant up on Cumulative Analysis/evaluation and determined as:

• 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;

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% mark in technical evaluation will be considered eligible for financial evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks):

1. Educational Qualification; (15 marks)
2. Completed at least 2 assignments on the preparation of capacity building plan for the government; (20 marks)
3. Prepared training module for public servant (at least 02 proven assignments): (20 marks)
4. Working experience in designing project development in particular donor funded projects.; (15 marks)

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks)

All technical qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below.

The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula:

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.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Proposers who shall not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation.

• 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; P11 can be downloaded from the link below: http://www.bd.undp.org/content/bangladesh/en/home/operations/jobs/
• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment and a methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
• Financial Proposal: Financial Proposal has to be submitted through a standard interest and availability template which can be downloaded from the link below:

http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.