Background

The Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has decided to prepare a full-sized Project that will address the worsening threats to globally significant species in Mindanao Island of the Philippines, including the dugong and marine turtles, for submission to the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Recognizing the need to address systemic barriers in selected sites to conserve these globally significant coastal and marine wildlife and their habitats, the proposed Project will involve strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, enhancement of local governance, improvement of conservation status as well as increasing capacity and affected behavioural change among stakeholders in existing and potential marine Key Biodiversity Areas (MKBAs). For this Project, BMB has selected the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to serve as the Implementing Agency (IA).

Targeting June 2020 Council meeting, UNDP seeks the services of a National Consultant who will be responsible for the formulation of the Project Identification Form (PIF) for “Improving the Resilience of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems to Conserve Globally Significant Biodiversity in the Eastern Seaboard of Mindanao, Philippines” Project. S/he will see to it that the PIF satisfies the requirements of the GEF and meets the GEF document requirements and policies, including specific Annexes and supporting documentation. Working closely with the International Consultant, the National Consultant will primarily be responsible for the completion of the PIF for submission to GEF.

Institutional Arrangement

For the duration of the contract, the National Consultant shall report to and coordinate with UNDP CO and key focal agencies such as DENR-BMB.  All activities supported by this engagement should be cleared by UNDP CO.

All outputs should be endorsed by the key focal agencies before UNDP CO issues the certificate of acceptance for the processing of payments.

Those who will be involved in PIF and Project Preparation Grant (PPG) are barred from participating during Project implementation.

Duration of Work

The Consultant shall be engaged for 44 days spread over 6 months.

Duty Station

The Consultant is not expected to report on a daily basis to UNDP-Climate Action Unit Philippines office based in Mandaluyong City but shall be available on an on-call basis.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The financial proposals from possible candidates should be expressed in lump sum amount inclusive of all financial costs related to this engagement (i.e. professional fees, transportation/travel to and from residence-Manila, reproduction, communications including internet). Domestic airfare, food and accommodation of the team outside Manila will be shouldered by UNDP separately.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the ISD Programme Manager through the ISD Programme Analyst and working closely with the International Consultant, the National Consultant shall:

• Lead the whole development process of the PIF
  • Design a detailed methodology and workplan in close coordination with the UNDP CO, International Technical Expert on GEF Project Concept Development (IC) and the Ecosystems and Biodiversity Regional Technical Adviser (RTA);
  • Implement the PIF development process through a participatory approach, i.e., lead technical discussions among DENR Foreign Assisted and Special Project Services (FASPS), BMB, UNDP CO and key stakeholders to ensure a wholistic perspective of addressing barriers to effective management of MKBAs;
  • With the IC and UNDP CO, provide quality assurance of the PIF, i.e., the over-all project design is technically sound and cost-effective.

• Lead the drafting of the PIF in close coordination with the IC
  • Collect relevant data that will provide the rationale for the justification of the Project in line with GEF-7 Programming directions and the GEF-7 BD focal area strategy, including: (i) global environmental problems, root causes and barriers; (ii) baseline data that will provide basis for describing the presentation situation of MPA and MKBA management in the selected sites; and, (iii) incremental reasoning for GEF’s investment  
  • Take the lead in the identification of the project sites, with documentation of the selection criteria
  • Draft the whole PIF, including the Sections on Program Identification (Part I), Programmatic Justification (Part II) and Approval/Endorsement by GEF Operational Focal Point (Part III) as well as the Annexes, including Annex B (GEF 7 Core Indicators Worksheet) and Annex C (Program Taxonomy Worksheet)
  • In collaboration with the IC and UNDP CO, prepare the Project Preparation Grant (PPG)/Initiation Plan (IP) document to ensure their compliance with the GEF requirements and strategies. Including the terms of reference of experts with number of days to develop project document for the PPG phase
  • In collaboration with the IC and UNDP CO, prepare the Social and Environmental pre-screening template as part of the development of project concept/PIF
  • Finalize the PIF, integrating feedback from stakeholders, for submission to GEF
  • Address and incorporate additional comments to the project concept from the CO, RTA and the Global Principal Technical Advisor (PTA);
  • In collaboration with COs, RTA and partners identified, prepare responses to revisions and comments to the PIF from the GEF Secretariat, the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAP) and the GEF Council, with adjustments made to the PIF

• Lead stakeholder consultations
  • Lead preliminary discussions with DENR-FASPS, BMB, UNDP CO and key stakeholders on co-financing
  • Lead technical discussions among DENR-FASPS, BMB, UNDP CO and key stakeholders on the project design
  • Provide assistance to BMB on presentation of the PIF to OFP towards securing endorsement of the PIF to GEF
  • Oversee all necessary revisions that arise during the stakeholder consultations
  • Document stakeholder consultations

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Competencies

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism.

Functional and technical competencies

• Ability to work in a diverse and multi-cultural environment;
• Self-motivated and ability to work under pressure and to meet strict and competing deadlines;
• Displays analytical judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;

Required Skills and Experience

Offers will be evaluated based on combined scoring method :

• Technical qualifications = 70%
• Financial Proposal =    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 will be qualified for the assessment of the Financial Proposal.

Recommended Presentation of Offer

Offerors must upload in one (1) file the documents below:

You may download the editable version of the Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Insterest and Availability for the IC by clicking on this link: http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU

1. Duly accomplished Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Insterest and Availability for the IC 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 (Annex 2 of Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Insterest and Availability)
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. Sample of previous papers or proposals (at least two) where he/she was the principal author

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