Background

UNCDF works with local and central government institutions to improve the capacity of local governance institutions in planning, budgeting, public expenditure management, procurement and delivery management and other areas related to the application of development capital and other resources.

UNCDF is supporting an expanding portfolio of programmes in all regions that provide capital resources to local governance processes to enable them to meet the challenges of poverty reduction, the Millennium Development Goals and climate change. These programmes promote local level public financial management and decentralized governance responses to these challenges.

The goal of the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) is to promote climate change resilient communities and local economies by increasing investments in Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) at the local level in target countries, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the specific goals of poverty eradication (SDG1) and climate action (SDG13). The objectives are to increase local government access to climate finance to implement climate change adaptation investments in participating countries and to establish a standard and internationally recognized country-based mechanism to channel climate finance and increase local resilience through PBCRGs

LoCAL focuses on the delivery of four outputs that will directly contribute to increasing local governments’ access to climate finance and building resilience to climate change:

• Output 1 – Awareness and capacities to respond to climate change adaptation at the local level are increased
• Output 2 - CCA is mainstreamed into government’s planning and budgeting systems and investments are implemented in line with the PBCRG mechanism
• Output 3 - The PBCRG system is effectively and sustainably established in participating countries and leads to an increased amount of CCA finance available to local government and local economy
• Output 4: The role of local authorities and of the PBCRGS in addressing climate change are increasingly recognized at international level, through outreach, learning and quality assurance

The LoCAL approach entails into capacity building of local governments and operates through Performance Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRG).

LoCAL works in three phases.

Phase I: Following scoping, the first phase entails testing in a small number (2-4) of local governments.

Phase I has a budget of USD 300,000 per year. It can include co-financing from government or other partners. Phase I introduces the Performance-Based Climate Resilient Grant (PBCRG) over one or two fiscal cycles; it tests the minimum conditions and performance measures of the PBCRG and the relevance of the menu of investments (eligible adaptation measures). It provides the necessary experience and lessons for the refinement of the approach and the design of phase II in conjunction with the appropriate national authorities and partners.

Phase II: Phase II takes place in around 5 to 10 of local governments (of the appropriate tier) in a country. Phase II is usually financed by UNCDF together with financing partners and has generally a budget of USD 3,5 to USD 10 million. Funding can come directly through the LoCAL project or through parallel financing if government or other development partners make resources available to the LoCAL methodology, with TA and QA by UNCDF. The purpose of this phase is to demonstrate the effectiveness of LoCAL and create the conditions for a full national rollout of the approach.

Phase III: Phase III consist of a full national rollout of the PBCRG in the country based on the results and lessons of the previous phases. It is gradually extended to all local governments (of the appropriate tier). Phase III is expected to be financed by central government through a re-adjustment of the architecture of existing resources to enable financing of local adaptation, as well as through financing from international organizations, financing institutions and funds such as the Green Climate Fund.

Duties and Responsibilities

To support the expansion of the LoCAL portfolio of programmes in the Pacific to integrate climate change adaptation into local development planning and budgeting by providing technical assistance to UNCDF and beneficiary countries, the objective of this consultancy is to conduct pre-scoping of candidate countries, assessing the conditions to successfully launch and implement a LoCAL project in the countries

SCOPE OF WORK

Working under the direct supervision of the LoCAL Programme Manager (Global a.i) in close collaboration with the governments and UNCDF, the consultant will be responsible for providing technical support to LoCAL by:

• Developing knowledge of LoCAL (e.g. from global project document, brochure, annual reports, selected examples from other countries)
• Undertaking scoping analysis (desk review) of Pacific candidate countries, assessing the conditions to successfully launch and implement a LoCAL initiative in the country, including? understanding/reviewing:
  • Existing climate change information and vulnerability and adaptation assessments, gaps in terms of information, systems or guidance, and the level of information in possible target areas;
  • National development strategies and priorities, planning and budgeting practices and how they relate to climate change adaptation and local governments;
  • Decentralization strategies and inter-governmental fiscal transfer systems to the local level, as well as the institutional set-up and level of integration of climate change adaptation in these strategies and systems (e.g. operating manuals);
  • Macro-fiscal and budgetary situations and their impact on decentralization and financing of deconcentrated services;
  • Climate related institutions, policies and strategies in particular in relation to adaptation, mainstreaming, and local governments;
  • On-going and planned climate change adaptation and decentralization/local governance programmes of relevance to LoCAL;
  • Technical and management capacities and needs of local and national stakeholders including local governments and ministries in charge of climate change, finance, planning, and local governments;
  • The awareness and commitment of local governments and central ministries to LoCAL
• Exploring technical and financial partnerships with bilateral agencies and donors, multilaterals organizations and financial institutions and (inter)national NGOs and initiate contacts with key potential partners who could engage with LoCAL for phase I/II
• Write one article on the scoping exercise and prospects for a LoCAL expansion in the Pacific for dissemination on LoCAL website, UNCDF newsletter, Cap4Dev and/or Twitter
• Carrying out other relevant tasks

In performing the tasks, the incumbent will, inter alia, undertake, organize and facilitate consultations and workshops and promoting participatory approaches at all steps of the process.?

DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT, DUTY STATION AND EXPECTED PLACES OF TRAVEL

Duration:? Up to 36 days over 12 weeks.

Duty Station and expected places of travel: Home based with possible travel to the targeted Islands in the Pacific.

If a travel schedule is agreed, the travel costs associated to the assignment will be paid as reimbursable basis and following the UNDP/UNCDF rules and regulations which states that consultants shall only be paid the most direct and most economical route.? Please note that consultants that are home-based will not be compensated for living expenses.

FINAL PRODUCTS AND INDICATIVE SCHEDULE

• Twelve (12) scoping preliminary 2-4 pages concept note (12 concept notes, 1 per Small Island Developing States -SIDS ) including as applicable sector context (climate change and decentralization), stakeholder analysis, and institutional arrangements, complementarities and lessons learned, possible geographical scope, indicative budget (for PBRCGS), in line with UNCDF templates and/or other partners depending on the outcome of the scoping and relevant annexes (template to be provided).

Depending on the country situation and information available, some sections might not be fully developed in the first draft.

PROVISION OF MONITORING AND PROGRESS CONTROLS

A schedule of days worked, outputs produced, and costs incurred will be monitored by the UNCDF LoCAL Programme Manager.

There will be a briefing and debriefing and regular discussions between the Consultant and the LoCAL Programme manager

Payments within each assignment will be phased and payment will be made against key deliverables. Payment will be made upon submission of deliverable(s) to the satisfaction of LoCAL Programme Manager, which shall be formalized through a written acceptance of outputs and explicit authorization of release of payment.

Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Owns a comprehensive knowledge and experience of sustainable and local development climate change in Pacific
• Owns a comprehensive knowledge and experience on the administration of project management and community development
• Owns a comprehensive knowledge and skills in participatory consultations and planning.
• Owns a comprehensive knowledge and experience in Capacity Development both at the national and local government levels in Pacific
• Has knowledge and understanding of? performance-based grants and similar tools like budget support, ideally for climate change adaptation

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
• Displays cultural, gender religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional competencies:

• Speaks confidently and exercises diplomacy in dealing with all partners, demonstrating tact, determination and sensitivity;
• Builds strong relationships, focuses on impact and result and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to lead effectively, facilitation as well as conflict resolution skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;

Professionalism

• Expert knowledge of or field experience with political and development strategies for building sustainable green economies; understanding of and respect for the interests and perspectives of different stakeholders in at the local and national level; proven ability to uphold, implement, and evaluate programmes.

Planning and organizing

• Demonstrated ability to undertake a diversity of tasks within a demanding, multi-stakeholder environment, to prioritize among these tasks, and to work toward short deadlines.

Communication

• Excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both oral and written, including a proven ability to communicate complex processes or technical information orally and to prepare documents that are clear, concise and meaningful;
• Proven ability to represent the UN effectively to external stakeholders, such as governments of host countries, donors, and international financial institutions.

Teamwork

• Superior client orientation and inter-personal skills with a proven ability to work cooperatively with multi-disciplinary teams and staff and managers at all levels.

Required Skills and Experience

The consultant will have the following qualifications and experience:

Education:

• Minimum Master’s Degree in the Development Administration, local government, rural development

Experiences:

• 15 years of professional experience with at least 10 years in Pacific
• Having at least 7 years of direct experience working with or related to Government Administration and local government level in the Pacific Islands
• At least 10 years of professional experience in the fields of aid management, local development and decentralization and/or environment and climate change adaptation with a specific emphasis on either local or climate governance, adaptation and development planning, public financial
• Proven track record of providing advisory service and coordination with the high level government official in the Pacific
• Proven track record of directly involving in performance-based grants and similar tools like budget support, ideally for climate change adaptation
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and experience in organizing and facilitating consultations and workshops
• Experience in capacity development and institutional strengthening in Pacific in the context of fiscal transfer, decentralization processes and/or climate change adaptation

Languages:

• Oral and written profiiency in English is required.
• Strong asset but not mandatory would be fluency in any Pacific language(s)

Evaluation of 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 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, including desk review and interview, will be considered eligible for financial evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks):
Education 10 Marks

Experience 55marks

Language   5 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.

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.

Application Procedure

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.

• When applying for this consultancy position, please apply with your official name as shown in the government issued identification document (e.g. passport and/or driver license). Contract award is subject to this verification;
• Personal CV 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;
• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment;
• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
• Confirmation of interest and Financial proposal: Template for Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal
• Earliest Availability.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when traveling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org.

Both individual consultants and individuals employed by a company or institution are welcome to apply. Any individual employed by a company or institution who would like to submit an offer in response to a Procurement Notice for IC must do so in their individual capacity (providing a CV so that their qualifications may be judged accordingly).

Women candidates or women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged to apply. UNCDF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.