Background

The National Adaptation Plans (NAP) is a Green Climate Fund (GCF) funded project "To advance the National Adaptation Plans (NAP) process for medium-term investment planning in climate-sensitive sectors (i.e. agriculture, energy, waste management, forestry and health) and coastal areas in Liberia". The project has duration of two years. The activities in this project focus on four components:

• Strengthening institutional frameworks and coordination for implementation of the NAPs process;
• Expansion of the knowledge base for scaling up adaptation;
• Building capacity for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into planning, and budgeting processes and systems;
• Formulation of financing mechanisms for scaling up adaptation.

The direct beneficiaries of the project are the Environment Planning Authority and the National Climate Change Secretariat. Key government partners are Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, National Disaster Management Agency, National Port Authority of Liberia, Liberia Maritime Authority, Bureau of National Fisheries, Liberia National Department of Meteorology, Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services and University of Liberia.
Overall, the project will contribute Fund level impact towards output A.5 --“Strengthened institutional and regulatory systems for climate responsive planning and development
The expected outputs are derived from the government of Liberia’s NAP formulation and implementation note issued in 2016, following national stakeholder consultations held during the launch of the NAP process in April 2015. A stock-taking exercise was prepared by UNDP in 2015 upon request of the government. The stock-taking exercise identified six climate sensitive sectors for Liberia’s NAP intervention-agriculture, forestry, energy, waste management, fisheries and transportation.

During the development of Liberia NAP road map, it was noted that there is a deficit in actual and past climate relevant data. In areas where such data exist public access is to some extent limited. There is also limited capacity to monitor, forecast, archive, analyze and communicate hydro-meteorological and climate change information. Hence, generation and management of climate information is one of the key areas where the NAPs project is focused.
Data related to climate change cuts across multiple sectors, it’s necessary for Liberia to implement a platform to make climate data and related information accessible across all sectors, and to engage all stakeholders in the process (producers and beneficiaries).

The NAP project seeks to establish an accessible knowledge sharing platform, which will be maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency. The platform will be designed to synchronize with existing climate information platforms used in other government departments. The platform will connect with national, regional and international networks and research institutes. This will facilitate access to relevant events, workshops and training courses. These measures will contribute to the sustainability of the project by creating highly accessible information systems, and strengthening capacity for knowledge sharing between divergent sectors beyond the lifetime of the current project.

UNDP Liberia is seeking for a competent local individual consultant (qualify female candidates are encouraged to apply) to conduct gap assessment of climate data and information and provide recommendation including cost for an accessible knowledge sharing platform.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work
Based on the Gap Assessment findings, identify existing sources of climate change data and information and offer recommendations including cost for the design of an accessible  knowledge sharing platform to be maintained by the EPA.

Specific Activities 

• Develop a tool for assessment;
• Provide in-depth analysis to identify the sources of existing information related to the key sectors of the NAPs;
• Identify and assess data and information gaps analysis on climate change data and information for the various sectors;
• Prepare recommendations to overcome gaps;

Methodology 

• The Service Provider must describe how it will address/deliver the demands of the RFP; providing a detailed description of the essential performance characteristics, reporting conditions and quality assurance mechanisms that will be put in place, while demonstrating that the proposed methodology will be appropriate to the local conditions and context of the work”.
• Facilitate the  active engagement of all the referenced sectors and development partners;
• Adopt a combination of participatory tools and methodologies (e.g. desk research, self-assessment, SWOT, interview with key stakeholders) and group facilitation techniques  to promote participation and buy-in; 
• Coordinate and work closely with the NAPs Project Management Unit throughout the entire gap assessment process. 

Deliverable 

• Design, methodology and detailed work plan A brief outline (table of contents) based on the outputs listed above and brief methodology for the report;  5 days after signing of the contract; 10% after adoption of the inception report;
• Assessment A soft copy of the First Draft of gap analysis report based on the outputs mentioned above for feedback from the project ; 10 days; 40% after presentation of the draft report;
• Finalization of  report Two (2) hard copies and a soft copy (on CD) of final consultancy report containing recommendations  after incorporating comments from the project;  10 days; 40% after the approval of the final report.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism
• Excellent analytical and organisational skills
• Excellent knowledge of UN/UNDP procedures, rules and regulations for project/programme implementation

Functional Competencies

• Promotes a knowledge-sharing and learning culture;
• In-depth knowledge of development issues;
• Ability to provide and advocate for policy advice;
• Analytical and conceptual ability and skills;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and successfully applies newly acquired skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• At least advanced university degree (Masters) in the field of regional science, political sciences and public administration, natural resource management or environmental science.

Experience:  

• Be a reputable individual with  a minimum of five years of proven track record in producing high quality analytical research/ assessment and consulting experience in governance, natural resource management, energy and environment;
• Experience in gap analysis is an added advantage;
• Proven experience in consultancy experience with International organizations, government agencies, and civil society organizations.

Languages: 

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Application procedure:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Technical proposal:
• Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
•Providing brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work;
•Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references (please use the UNDP P11 form provided in Annex 2 @ the following links) http://www.lr.undp.org/content/liberia/en/home/operations/procurement/? ;http://procurement-notices.undp.org/).

Financial proposal
The financial proposal shall specify a lumpsum  rate. Payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based on specific and measurable deliverables as specified in the TOR upon completion of the deliverables.
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 (communications, transportation etc). Please use the Financial Proposal Form provided in Annex 3 for the submission of your financial proposal @ the following links) http://www.lr.undp.org/content/liberia/en/home/operations/procurement/? ;http://procurement-notices.undp.org/).

Travel
All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This is a national consultancy (For Liberian nationals or legal residents of Liberia),all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel will be at the expense of the consultant.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract will 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 70% of the maximum points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Criteria Weight  Max. Point

Technical

• Relevance of Academic Qualifications 10.5% 15;
• Professional Experience in similar projects 24.5% 35;
• Appropriateness of proposed methodology for the requirements 21% 30;
• Adequacy of competencies and skills 14% 20;
• Financial 30 points x price of the lowest price proposed / price of proposal 30%.

Proposals should be submitted to bids.lr@undp.org.