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.

Addressing climate change is one the key global challenges and priorities for UNDP. Working in over 170 countries and territories, UNDP is uniquely placed to work with all sectors of society to help mobilize the institutions and resources required to support countries implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the context of the Paris Agreement.

UNDP seeks to engage a consultant as a Senior Advisor on Environmental Finance and Private Sector Development to support Region and CO based staff with delivering technical assistance to client Governments. The consultant will be expected to deliver high quality, cutting-edge technical advisory support relating to environmental and climate finance to facilitate the unlocking of private sector finance for meeting SDG related outcomes. He/she will coordinate, working via global and region-based technical advisors.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of the assignment:

The scope of work over the course of the period will vary depending on the specific assignment and region, but will include one or more of the various deliverables below:

Development Impact:

• Assisting with inception and start-up of UNDP supported programmes/projects, financed by the GEF and GCF, including formulation, refinement and negotiation of indicators, benchmarks, co-finance agreements and work plans (including presenting at inception workshops, if needed);
• Supporting the BPPS/Global Environmental Finance Unit in supervision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting and adaptive management;
• Provide support to the review of annual performance reports (PIR) prior to their finalization;
• Advise on the selection, design and use of appropriate ‘innovative financial instruments’[1] under UNDP’s Programme and Project Management (PPM) policies (e.g. low-value grants, performance-based payments and/or guarantee mechanisms) in UNDP programmes and projects; and
• Technical support to the BPPS/Global Environmental Finance team on evaluating, capturing, codifying, and synthesizing of lessons learned and strategies to promote the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of knowledge materials and guidance notes.

Training/support on innovative financial instruments:

• Provide advisory support to project teams, bureau units and UNDP Country Offices on the use and application of 'innovative financial instruments' and innovative programming modalities compliant with UNDP's Programme and Project Management (PPM) policies; and
• Prepare and conduct a training and/or undertake a dedicated support mission to relevant COs to support the proper design and use of 'innovative financial instruments' (e.g. low-value grants, performance-based payments, guarantees, innovation challenge awards, etc.) or other subjects (as required) for UNDP regional hub teams.

For BPPS/Global Environmental Finance Unit projects under implementation:

• Reviewing project outputs and providing advice/guidance to Global Environmental Unit staff to strengthen the probability that they are satisfactorily contributing towards expected project outcomes and have robust theories of change;
• Providing technical reviews of draft annual performance reports (PIR) and where necessary reviewing final draft and complete project implementation reports appropriately;
• Providing technical backstopping, as necessary, to on-going studies on policy and financial de-risking for specific projects on energy, forests and adaptation;
• Providing technical review and comments on evaluation reports;
• Supporting the BPPS/Global Environmental Finance team in working with UNDP Country Offices to ensure that logframes and indicators reviews following the Mid-term Evaluation are practicable for the available budget, and that the project implementation workplan can achieve the project outcomes;
• Conducting troubleshooting and recommending remedial measures for projects that have received unsatisfactory PIR ratings or which are not on track to meet project outcomes; and
• Providing information on project progress, impacts and lessons to HQ and others upon request.

Resource Mobilization for Natural Capital and Environment Projects:

• Programme and project identification and development, with a focus on finance and private sector development;
• Providing timely quality information and technical advice on sources of funds, policies, priorities and activities;
• Identifying and suggesting to the relevant technical team managers priorities and entry-points for UNDP assistance, particularly as regards collaboration with the private sector and blended finance vehicles;
• Facilitating the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of programme/project concepts and full-fledged proposals for financing;
• Identifying and sourcing of technical expertise and support, including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports; and
• Preparing background notes on key issues relating to climate change and natural capital as it pertains to private sector approaches and innovative finance models.

Strategic Advisory Support:

• As needed, assisting in the design, development and implementation of project, programs and initiatives under the Natural Capital and Environment Hub and SDG Finance Hub;
• As requested, providing strategic inputs and guidance on new and existing signature programs under the following GPN programming areas:
• Sustainable management of ecosystem goods and services;
• Scaling up of climate change adaptation and mitigation;
• Sustainable, affordable and accessible energy services;
• Sustainable management of chemicals and waste;
• Sustainable forestry and agriculture; and
• Improved water and ocean governance
• Advise the Director, Finance Sector Hub, on new policy options, innovative approaches and entry points to support the implementation of the new private sector strategy and the Global Policy Network (GPN) and leverage visibility and impact;
• Under the direction of the Director, Finance Sector Hub, provide support for the development of partnerships with the private sector and/or financial sectors;
• Provide advisory support to the Finance Sector Hub and other GPN teams on the use and application of ‘innovative financial instruments’ and innovative programming modalities with the private sector (compliant with UNDP’s Programme and Project Management policies);
• Assist in the development and implementation of global strategic initiatives for the Green Commodity Platform and other UNDP global initiatives (as needed); and
• Assist in the implementation and oversight of activities under the Climate Aggregation Platform and other UNDP-GEF global initiatives (as needed).

The tasks associated with this Terms of Reference are expected to be completed through a combination of (a) home-based preparatory work; (b) participating in country level missions (together with UNDP staff) in selected countries; (c) remote technical assistance to client countries and UNDP staff.

Outputs:

Expected missions

Payment Method:

Daily Fee, based on deliverables agreed in advance as per annual work plan. Payment must be limited only to the days when actual work for UNDP was done.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS:

• The consultant will work from home;
• The consultant will report to, and be directly supervised by the UNDP-GEF Executive Coordinator, based in New York.
• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own work station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to 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 Supervisor on days worked (with a “day” calculated as 8 hours of work) and outputs delivered.

Travel:

• Missions to, San Jose, Bangkok, Addis Ababa and Panama with and estimated duration of 21 days might be required, at a minimum;
• Any necessary mission travel must be approved in advance and writing by the Supervisor;
• The BSAFE course must be completed before the commencement of travel;
• 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 https://dss.un.org/dssweb/; 
• The consultant will be responsible for making his/her mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;
• All travel expenses related to mission travels will be supported by the project travel fund and will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations for consultants. Costs for mission airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in financial proposal.

[1] The term ‘financial instrument’ refers to a product involved in the outflow of funds from UNDP to a beneficiary in the pursuit of development objectives.

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 favoritisms.

Technical:

• Specialist in environmental and climate finance including both public and private international sources.
• Specialized with the workings of the Global Environment Facility and Green Climate Fund
• Experienced in working with private financial intermediaries including investment banks, hedge funds, mutual funds etc.
• Extensive experience in securing public funds for environmental and climate projects;

Functional:

Communications

• Able to communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Professionalism

• Capable of working in a high- pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;

• Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
• Exercises the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Teamwork

• Works well in a team;
• Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
• Focuses on results for the client;
• Welcomes constructive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master´s degree or higher in engineering, environmental economics, finance or environmental science or other closely related field (maximum 20 points).

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience working with developing countries on two or more of the following: energy management; energy systems operations in the residential, industrial, commercial and transport sectors, as well as, in energy-integrated urban development planning and applications; energy access and distributed energy solutions; the design and implementation of RE-based energy systems both for thermal and power generation and applications; energy finance; urban transport; land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) projects; agricultural value chains; and/or forestry (maximum 20 points);
• Experience with project development, implementation and management (direct project management experience is preferable) (maximum 10 points);
• At least 5 years of experience working in or with the private sector related to sustainable development issues (maximum 5 points);
• Proven experience in the technical, operational and fiduciary issues concerning the use of financial instruments or grant-making to assist end beneficiaries by international organizations or major foundations working in developing country contexts (maximum 15 points);
• Knowledge of GHG management protocols and mitigation options would be an asset (maximum 5 points);
• Experience in design and implementation of multi-sectoral and sectoral programmes and projects at different scales (maximum 15 points);
• Experience working in developing countries would be an asset (maximum 5 points);
• Working experience in an international organization is an advantage as is knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices (maximum 5 points);

Languages:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English (Y/N)

Evaluation Method:

• Only those applications that are responsive and compliant will be evaluated.  Incomplete applications will not be considered;
• Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the technical criteria will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30%;
• The technical criteria (education, experience, language [max. 100 points] and interview [max. 20 points]) will be based on a maximum 120 points;
• Only the top 3 candidates that have achieved a minimum of 70 points from the review of education, experience and language will be considered for the interview;
• Candidates obtaining 14 points or higher in the interview will deemed technically qualified and considered for financial evaluation;
• Financial score (max 100 points) shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal of those technically qualified;
• The financial proposal shall specify an all-inclusive daily fee. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal must additionally include a breakdown of this daily fee (including all foreseeable expenses to carry out the assignment);
• Applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.

Documentation to be submitted:

• Applicants must submit a duly completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P11) and/or CV including Education/Qualification, Professional Certification, Employment Records /Experience;
• Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application.
• Applicants must submit a duly completed and signed Annex II Offeror´s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment to be downloaded from the UNDP procurement site.

Kindly note you can upload only ONE document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).

UNDP Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants:

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.

General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.

Annex II Offeror´s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment: Reference No,59268

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm