Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.  BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.  BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response.  BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

Based in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Sustainable Development Cluster, the Natural Capital and Environment Team, including the UNDP-Global Environmental Finance Unit (UNDP – GEF Unit) has an objective to help countries achieve the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion by assisting Country Offices in accessing environmental finance for sustainable development. UNDP is an accredited implementing entity for the following environmental vertical funds: (i) funds managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF): Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF TF), Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF), Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF); (ii) Adaptation Fund (AF); and (iii) Green Climate Fund (GCF). As an Implementing Agency, UNDP offers countries technical services for eligibly assessment, programme/project formulation, due diligence, mobilization of co-financing, project implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management.

The UNDP – GEF Unit is organized into five substantive technical teams which include Regional Technical Advisers (RTAs) based in UNDP’s four regional hubs who work closely with UNDP Country Offices and partners. These five teams cover: Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Water and Oceans, Climate Change, Energy, and Chemicals. UNDP’s Natural Capital Team also manages several other global and country programmes.

The Government of Sweden, through Sida, has agreed to fund a four-year, USD$40m global Strategic Collaboration Framework designed to strengthen UNDP capacities to achieve its overall SD vision for poverty eradication through a more integrated, coherent approach to the environmental and climate dimensions of the UNDP Strategic Plan. Sida funds will be used to hire new staff and consultants in each region and as well as to finance country programming in ways that leverage synergies across UNDP work on biodiversity, climate change, and energy, as well as cross-cutting themes of gender equality, safeguards, sustainable food systems, resilience, DRR, and green financing. This work will also have a strong communications and knowledge management focus with targeted support to ten pilot countries.

UNDP would like to engage a portfolio coordination support consultant to carry out a number of tasks needed to prepare for and start implementing the Sida Strategic Collaboration Framework and broader UNDP Natural Capital and Environment portfolio as described within these TOR.

Duties and Responsibilities

The portfolio coordination support consultant will provide support to the Natural Capital and Environment (NCE) to prepare for and start implementation of the Sida Strategic Collaboration Framework and linked NCE programming.

Scope of work:

1. Portfolio Coordination

• Assist with the generation and maintenance of Sida Framework information system;
• Assist with provision of timely quality information on the Sida Framework and its activities to country offices and regional hubs;
• Assist with quality assurance of Sida grant funding initiation plans including the preparation of the Framework project document, revised results framework indicators, workplan, budget and organogram;
• Support identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of Terms of Reference (TORs), identification and evaluation of experts and drafting/reviewing of reports;
• Support the Natural Capital and Environment (NCE) team to organize global and regional meetings and planning calls for the Framework;
• Assist with alignment of the SIDA activities with the rest of UNDP’s work on the vertical funds and thematic areas including Natural Capital and Environment, Climate Change and Energy.

2. Knowledge management, data, and communications

• Support the NCE team on Sida Framework related communications work, e.g. drafting press releases, conducting research for op-ed, preparing UNDP Management tweets, blogs and video messages, text and photos for UNDP website, photo essays, etc.;

• Support the NCE team in drafting briefing notes, and create Power Point presentations on the team’s work and lessons learnt from the portfolio to support a variety of Framework-related meetings and workshops;
• Support NCE team to populate, maintain and begin to moderate content for a revised knowledge management system drawing upon UNDP’s vertical fund portfolio;
• Support the design and conducting of a rapid assessment of existing UNDP NCE, Climate Change, and Energy programming in the ten Sida pilot countries.

Anticipated Key Deliverables:

• All internal UNDP documents needed to receive Sida Framework funds prepared within one month;
• Updated timeline of key milestones during the Sida start-up phase prepared within one month;
• Master table and organogram of all Sida-fund staff and consultancies prepared and updated-  within two months;
• Set of prioritized ToR for initial staff and consultancy positions drafted and finalized within two months;
• Rapid mapping of UNDP programming in 10 Sida pilot countries prepared within three months;
• Revised Framework Results Framework, budget and 2020 annual work plan drafted within three months;

• Other tasks as need to ensure the smooth implementation of the start-up phase of the Sida Framework within three months.

Payment schedule:

Information on Working Arrangements:

• Estimated level of effort including travel days: 66 days for three months;
• The initial contract would be 66 days over a period of three months with an option for renewal for additional 66 days within 4 additional months, dependent on demand for services and satisfactory performance evaluation;
• The consultant will be home-based with some travel to UNDP HQ NCE office;
• The consultant will report to, and be directly supervised by the NCE Senior Policy Advisor in consultation with the Executive Director, Environmental Finance and other NCE Global Advisors;

• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection;
• Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the consultant is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones;
• Payments will be made upon submission of a detailed time sheet and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Senior Policy Advisor on days worked (with a “day” calculated as 8 hours of work) and outputs delivered.

Travel:

• International travel may be required as part of this work, which in total will not exceed two weeks travel over the 3-month period;
• Any necessary missions must be approved in advance and in writing by the Supervisor;
• The BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
• The consultant is responsible for ensuring that s/he has the necessary vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
• The consultant is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
• Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives, set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/;  
• The consultant will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies; 

All travel expenses will be supported by the project travel fund and will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations upon submission of an F-10 claim form and supporting documents.  Costs for airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in financial proposal

Competencies

Corporate:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism.

Technical:

• Good computer skills, including use of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Experience in handling data;
• Experience in working with social media, e.g. Facebook, Twitter.

Professionalism:

• Works toward creative solutions by analysing problems carefully and logically;
• Has a dynamic, positive and adaptive attitude towards work-related challenges;
• Facilitates discussions and meetings effectively and efficiently;
• Resolves conflicts as they arise;

• Sets priorities, produces quality outputs, meets deadlines and manages time efficiently;
• Highly organized, detailed oriented.

Communication:

• Writes and presents clearly and convincingly.

Client Orientation:

• Maintains strong relationships with partners and clients.

Required Skills and Experience