Background

Introduction about the UN–Habitat

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN–Habitat, is the United Nations agency for human settlements development. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable communities, towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The main documents outlining the mandate of the organization are the Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements, Habitat Agenda, Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, and the Resolution 56/206. Its activities contribute to the overall objective of the United Nations to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development within the context and the challenges of a rapidly urbanising world.

UN–Habitat is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with a team of some 200 international and local staff, with regional offices for Asia and the Pacific in Fukuoka, Japan (ROAP–Fukuoka), for Latin America and the Caribbean in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (ROLAC), and for Africa and the Arab States in Nairobi, Kenya (ROAAS). The regional office for Eastern Europe and Transition Countries is also based in Nairobi. 

In the Philippines Country Office (CO), key programs and projects include national urban policy support, capacity development to manage urban development and settlements, climate change, post-disaster shelter recovery, urban planning, urban poverty reduction and slum upgrading. Support to climate change programs and projects started as early as early as 2008 under the MDG Demo Project of the UN. Since then, the climate change program has evolved and grown into a strategic and regular technical assistance component of the Philippines Country Office.

Project Background and Description

The “Building Climate Resiliency through Urban Plans and Designs project is a 3-year climate change adaptation project. The project supports the Philippine government in improving policies, regulations, and capacities to adapt to climate change through the promotion of climate-responsive sustainable urban development plans and designs. In support of the National Climate Change Action Plan, it will enhance national and subnational government representatives’ institutional capacities to guide and manage urban growth towards suitable areas and design the same incorporating resilience principles and practices.

This Terms of Reference elaborates the duties and expected outputs of the Climate Finance Consultant and will basically contribute to:

• Project Output II, Work Package II2: Capacity building of the five selected LGU teams on the preparation of climate resilient urban plans and designs, and Work Package II3: Packaging/Designing urban adaptation strategy and prioritized projects for implementation and funding (coaching/mentoring on finance strategy to access project funds) and
• Project Output III, Work Package III2: Organize and conduct an “urban resilience” investment forum primarily showcasing the urban design and adaptation plans of the five LGUs supported by the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant is expected to perform the following duties:

• Guided by the project work plan, the consultant will work with the project team and City Technical Working Groups in delivering her/his assigned tasks and outputs.
• Consistent with the project objectives and considering latest development in political framework related to the project, develop and implement a work plan (8 months) on how to mentor, capacitate and link the cities to potential financial institutions (public, private and other financial institutions)
• Conduct assessment of the five partner cities’ financial condition, borrowing capacity and project investment modalities, and identify priority areas of action to strengthen LGU capacity on project financing.
• For and with the city TWG, assess the economic internal rate of return , cost-benefit analysis and other investment measures for the identified projects of the five partner cities.
• In collaboration with the TWGs, formulate financing and investment strategies (innovative financing approaches/mix, identify funding sources and requirements, and facilitate linking with the potential sources identified) considering the Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAP) of the partner cities and available financing windows.

Provide technical assistance and guidance to the cities in accessing different modalities of climate-related project financing.

• Liaise with the Department of Finance on how to develop and package the projects of the five cities to access DOF funding windows (e.g. thru the MDFO, IFG, etc)
• Provide inputs into the development/packaging of the city climate project/investment portfolio to make it responsive to the audience (e.g. funders/donors/private sector partner)
• Participate in city missions, project workshops and other project activities to support the project.
• Draft a concept plan for the conduct of the project’s Investment Forum and work closely with the Project Coordinator and International Finance consultant to conduct pre and post event activities in order to ensure the success of the event and achieve results.
• Provide inputs to the formulation of the national guide on planning and design for urban climate change resilience and relevant training modules particularly on incorporating financial and economic considerations in the planning and design of projects

Expected Output and Deliverables and Schedule of Payment 

Competencies

The Core Values of the United Nations are:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for diversity.

Planning & Organizing:

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
• Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required;
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work;
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning;
• Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary;
• Uses time efficiently.

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation:

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view;
• Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
• Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
• Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
• Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;
• Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others;
• Places team agenda before personal agenda;
• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position;
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• With Master’s Degree in economics, public financial management, business administration or other related field

Work Experience

• At least 10 years work experience in areas of public finance and economic analysis of local government units and development projects and good knowledge on climate project financing.
• Proven technical knowhow on Public Financial Management Assessment Tool (PFMAT) and rich knowledge on innovative financing modalities of LGUs to access national public funds, relevant development financing  and other financing windows.
• Knowledge of project investment and financial analysis and modeling tools including economic internal rate of return,  cost-benefit analysis for project development and pre-feasibility study preparation. 
• Familiarity with city/municipal finance, government budgeting systems and Local Development Investment Program (LDIP) and Comprehensive Development Program (LDP).

Language

• Proficient in written and spoken English.

Criteria for Selection of Best Offer

Offers will be evaluated based on combined scoring method – where the Technical Proposal will be evaluated based on qualifications in the CV and brief description of previous work. The Technical evaluation and is weighted a max. of 70%.

The Financial Proposal that will be evaluated through submission of the Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the IC including Financial Proposal Template and combined with the price offer will be weighted a max of 30%;

For the evaluation of the Technical Proposal, the selection of the successful consultant must be based in the following qualifications (with the appropriate obtainable points):

Applicants who will only receive 70 points  from the assessment of the CV and approach of how to complete the assignment will be qualified for the assessment of the Financial Proposal.

Recommended Presentation of Offer

Offerors are requested to upload in one (1) file the documents below:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability that indicates the all-inclusive lumpsum contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided; If an 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 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;
2. Financial Proposal 
3. 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;
4. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment and how they will approach and complete the assignment

We encourage applicants to visit http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=54274  to access the Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and view the complete details of Terms of Reference.

In view of the volume of applications UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified.