Background

UNDP Global Mission Statement:

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with national counterparts on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

UNDP Afghanistan Mission Statement:

UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in Afghanistan. UNDP support, in partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, has contributed to institutional development efforts leading to positive impact on the lives of Afghan citizens. Over the years UNDP support has spanned such milestone efforts as the adoption of the Constitution; Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council elections; institutional development through capacity-building to the legislative, the judicial and executive arms of the state, and key ministries, Government agencies and commissions at the national and subnational levels. UNDP has played a key role in the management of the Law and Order Trust Fund, which supports the Government in developing and maintaining the national police force and in efforts to stabilize the internal security environment.

UNDP Livelihoods and Resilience Unit:

The UNDP Livelihoods and Resilience Unit supports the government of Afghanistan to create livelihood opportunities and reduce poverty, especially among the most vulnerable groups. It works work with businesses to create jobs and economic growth, and with government to build infrastructure, link rural areas to markets and develop new forms of employment, including in the sustainable mining sector. Since most people depend on the land for an income, the Unit works on livelihoods is closely linked with efforts to protect the environment, bring sustainable energy to rural areas, and prepare for natural disasters.  The Unit works closely with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that finances environment projects focusing on climate change and adaption, climate change-induced risks and biodiversity.

Assignment Context

Some 140+ countries have accessed the Global Environmental Facility’s (GEF) Biodiversity Enabling Activities (BD EA) with the aim of updating their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and fulfilling other related obligations under the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). A new generation of NBSAPs have been produced to align with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (ABT) that were agreed upon by CBD Parties during the COP10 in Nagoya, as part of the CBD’s Strategic Plan. They are now being implemented.

The “Global Support to NBSAP” project relates to ABT 17, which emphasizes that each Party should develop, adopt as a policy instrument, and commence implementing an effective, participatory and updated NBSAP. UNDP would like to engage a consultant to carry out a number of tasks to support its work to create mechanisms and pathways for increasing the engagement of NBSAP practitioners in facilitated learning opportunities that are hosted through the NBSAP Forum, and in documenting case studies that are related to the efforts of federal, regional and local governments and policy makers, as well as women, local communities and indigenous populations, women and local communities in key policies that affect them, with an emphasis on the intersection between biodiversity and development during NBSAP revision and implementation.

UNDP is seeking a Spatial Data Expert (TPC) to lead the identification of data layers for the project technical package and to provide on-demand data services for participating countries.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work and Deliverables:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the UNDP Afghanistan Section Chief of Livelihoods and Resilience Unit, the consultant will carry out the following key tasks:

Manage the identification of data layers for the project technical package:

• Develop geospatial datasets including those prepared internally and those acquired from external sources;

• Produce monthly report regarding status and updates of data layers and spatial database;

• Support the achievement of delivery targets and results as outlined in the project work plan.

Provide on-demand data services for the Afghanistan:

• Develop the application and analysis of spatial datasets and other data and information related to spatial data layers;

• Produce spatial maps that clearly illustrate information required for the of robust 6th National Reports;

• Provide technical data support to participating countries including analysis of country-specific spatial data;

• Work with UNDP staff and partner organizations to feed lessons learned from 6NR projects into specific case studies, the NBSAP Forum, partner’s website.

Expected Outputs/Deliverables, Timelines and Payment percentage:

The following key deliverables are expected from this assignment:

• Deliverable 1: Submission and Approval of inception report; 5 working days; 25%

• Deliverable 2: Submission and Approval of Geospatial datasets (including monthly reports regarding status and updates of data layers, develop application and analysis of spatial datasets, produce spatial maps, and prepare lessons learned); 15 working days; 75%

Payment Modality:

• Payment to the consultant will be made in two installments upon submission and acceptance of deliverables as indicated above.

Competencies

Corporate:

• 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.

Technical / Functional:

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Ability to oversee timely project implementation and to provide the necessary troubleshooting to keep project implementation on schedule; 
• Promotes knowledge management in the organization and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;

• Ability to conceptualize issues and analyses data;

• Ability to implement new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/attitudinal change;  

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;

• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Communication:

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in a simple, concise and persuasive manner.

Professionalism:

• Ability to work and build partnerships with multiple stakeholders and partners across a wide range of disciplines;
• Demonstrated ability in strategic thinking;
• Strong organizational, reporting and writing abilities;
• Able to work independently and remotely with minimal supervision;
• Remains calm, in control and good-humored, even under pressure;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.

Teamwork:

• Demonstrated the ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team and process.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree, Ph.D. preferred, in environmental management/sciences, geography, conservation biology/ecology, natural resource management, or another related field.  

Years of experience:

• At least five years’ experience in spatial data/GIS/remote sensing or in analytical and practical experiences in biodiversity conservation/spatial analysis/ technical process of GIS;

• Proficiency in using GIS software and spreadsheet software;

• Experience liaising with international institutions, civil societies and/or national, regional or local governmental authorities is an advantage;

• Experience supporting UNDP projects is an advantage;

• At least two years of experience with measuring the conservation status of protected areas and/or threats to biodiversity is an advantage.

Language skills:

• Fluent in English with excellent oral and written communication skills.

Working Arrangements

Institutional Arrangements:

• The international consultant will be responsible for providing the above products and actions at the latest (unless the dates are mutually adjusted).

Duration of the Work:

• 7 Months with maximum 20 Working Days with 2 weeks in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Duty Station:

• Home-based with a mission to Kabul Afghanistan (2 weeks) with the for provincial travel in consultation with National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA).

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The contractor shall submit a price proposal as below:

• Daily Fee – The contractor shall propose a daily fee, which should be inclusive of his professional fee, local communication cost and insurance (inclusive of medical health insurance and evacuation). The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract is 20 working days;
• The contractor shall propose a Living allowance at the Kabul applicable rate of USD 162 per night for his/her stay at the duty station. The number of nights for which the Living allowance shall be payable under the contract is 14 nights. The contractor is NOT allowed to stay in a place of his choice other than the UNDSS approved places. UNDP will provide MORSS compliant accommodation in UNOCA Complex to the contractor. The payment of accommodation shall be made directly by the contractor;
• Travel & Visa – The contractor shall propose an estimated lump-sum for home-Kabul-home travel (economy most direct route) and Afghanistan visa expenses.

The total professional fee, shall be converted into a lump-sum contract and payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of deliverables under the contract in accordance with the schedule of payment linked with deliverables.

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:

• 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.

* Technical Criteria weight 70%

* Financial Criteria weight 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria 70 points

• Technical Proposal (40 marks)

  • Technical Approach & Methodology (20 marks) – This explains the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, a methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the degree of detail of such output. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach;

  • Work Plan – The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan;

  • Interview (10 marks).

• Qualification and Experience (30 marks) [evaluation of CV for shortlisting]

  • Relevant education (10 marks);

  • Relevant work experience (20 marks).

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

• Duly accomplished Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II);

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

Technical proposal:

• A brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;

• A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment and work plan as indicated above.