Background

The project “Strengthening the Marine Protected Areas to Conserve Marine Key Biodiversity Areas in the Philippines” or SMARTSeas PH, being supported by UNDP and GEF, is currently implemented through the Biodiversity Management Bureau of Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The Project covers five (5) demonstration sites:Southern Palawan [SP]; Tanon Strait Protected Seascape [TSPS]; Verde Island Passage [VIP]; Lanuza Bay [LB] and Davao Gulf [DG].Project interventions are implemented in collaboration with Local Responsible Partners [LRPs] on site, namely:National Fisheries Research and Development Institute [NFRDI] for SP; Rare Philippines for TSPS; Conservation International Philippines Foundation, Inc. for VIP; Haribon Foundation for LB and Kabang Kalikasan sa Pilipinas Foundation, Inc for DG.PMU is also collaborating with Provincial Agriculture Office for Oriental Mindoro [PAgO] for ecotourism potentials in their better managed MPAs.

The project seeks to accelerate the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) and marine protected area networks (MPANs) to include more key marine biodiversity areas and improve MPA/MPAN management effectiveness to reduce the rapid degradation of marine and coastal habitats and alarming biodiversity loss.

Outcome 2 of the project (Improved Financial Sustainability of MPAs and MPANs), interventions at the national, MPAN, and individual MPA level aims to promote cost efficiencies and cost effectiveness in MPA management, improve and diversify funding sources, enhance capacities for financial and business planning including sound decision making pertaining to resource allocation, and transparent processes for fund management. A functioning system for tracking expenditures and monitoring fund inflows should be in place, firmly supported by an enabling legal and policy framework. The project has formulated four major outputs to achieve this outcome, namely:

Output 2.1: Benchmark management costs established for MPAs of varying size and potential cost savings or costefficiencieson average per site identified through consolidation of management functions in MPANs.

Output 2.2: At least two MPANS (Verde Island Passage and Davao Gulf) implementing financing and business plan targeting increases in revenue generation from the tourism and fisheries sectors.

Output 2.3 At least five (5) of locally managed MPA in each of five (5) sites have revenue generation schemes in operation, including market-based visitor and service fees for tourism operators, pilot ecological service payments from the fisheries sector and local taxes for conservation and management of key tourism draws.

Output 2.4 MPA financing plans developed and piloted in at least 30% of MPAs in each of five sites, incorporating governance mechanisms to ensure participatory management of revenues and resources involving local communities, local government and national government agencies as appropriate.

To fast track BDFE implementation while consciously capacitating the POs managing the businesses, DENR SMARTSeas PH has engaged the services of Consultants.Current scope of work of these Consultants include business planning, business planning validation, business development services delivery, and incubation.

To date, the Project’s BDFE intervention have addressedthe following requirements:

• social capital build-up through training on basic meeting management; identification of roles and functions of members and officers;  introduction of what is an enterprise; importance of having regular meetings;  PO networked to possible market and other PO producers  and instilling the concept of equitable distribution of benefits – who works, earns;
• human capital build-up activities including orientation on BDFE – Technical Bulletin;  tailor-fitted skills training: catering – food service and GMP; ecotourism – basics of CarCAP, etc; snorkeling – life support and WASAR; and  an across sites financial management  training;
• physical capital build-up, wherein CI provided bamboo and sewing machines, Haribon provided  scissors and solar dryer,  BFAR – crab pens and  TSPS  which facilitated  processing area for its PO, and
• natural capital build up focusing on sensitization on POs for reduction of waste and pollution – No single plastic use; biowaste depositor in ecotourism sites;  mangroves rehabilitation for  climate change adaptation; catering services of POs undertaking community gardens for reduction of carbon footprints; promotion of circular economy – waste goes to input: trash fish and “sepal” for feeds of crabs and over-all BDFE sensitization that the enterprise has a role in conservation.

An essential requirement though remains lacking:  financial capital.  The Project Document does not state provision of financial capital to output 2.3, it does not prohibit however other modalities the Project will undertake.

Thus, on its 8th Project Board on 20 August 2019, the Project sought board approval to use UNDP’s Low Value Grant (LVG) as modality for financial capital source.    The LVG, which is intended for POs engaged in conservation work and is currently capacitated to manage the BDFE requires focused coaching and hand-holding.

Institutional Arrangement

The SMARTSeas Project Manager with PMU focal for Outcome 2 shall directly supervise the Consultant, in coordination with  the local responsible partner (LRP). 

At different points during the contract, the Consultant is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with the SMARTSeas PH project team, DENR BMB, DENR Regional offices, PENRO/CENRO  and LRPs.  As needed, the SMARTSeas PH project staff shall provide logistical assistance to the Consultant in order for her/him to accomplish enumerated outputs.

Duration of the Work

The expected duration of work is estimated to be 120 working days spread over (6) months.

Duty Station

The Consultant is not expected to report on a daily basis to the Project Management Office based in BMB, Quezon City but shall be available on an on-call basis.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the SMARTSeas PH Project Manager and Outcome 2 Officer, the hired Consultant shall deliver the following:

• LVG application facilitation:  
  • Orient POs on the LVG agreement;
  • Based on the business plan, transpose  details into LVG application;
  • Finalize the LVG application with the concerned POs, including responding to comments of LVG application reviewers
  • Facilitate PO bank account opening;
  • Oversee over-all readiness and compliance of PO to LVG agreement.

• Setting-up of grant projects
  • Assist the concerned POs in setting-up the approved grant projects in compliance with the LVG agreement;
  • Ensure that grant projects are set-up on a timely manner and in accordance with the approved financial details of the LVG application;
  • Assist the concerned POs in setting-up administrative and financial management system;
  • Assist the concerned POs in coordinating with DENR and LGUs for updates on approved LVGs

• LVG monitoring:
  • Assist POs in identifying indicators for activity completion;
  • Assist POs in preparing reportorial and other documents required in monitoring;
  • Assist POs in complying with over-all LVG monitoring requirements;
  • Monitoring of cash disbursements for every tranche.

• Capacity development facilitation:
  • Provide technical training identified for POs;
  • Prepare instructional materials, templates  suitable for PO use;
  • For other identified technical training, link or assist POs to undertake training as provided by identified government agencies; private sector institutions and subject matter experts.

• Knowledge management contribution:
  • Organize all instructional materials used by POs;
  • Collate all data gathered onsite for possible references;
  • Coordinate with other sites for knowledge sharing/learning.  
  • Document and submit bi-monthly progress reports for the approved LVGs, including establishing baseline data of the concerned POs and grant projects

• Operationalization of the BDFE:
  • Oversee 1st cycle implementation of the BDFE;
  • Facilitate the assessment of the 1st cycle implementation;
  • Facilitate the identification and formulation of adjustments in preparation for 2nd cycle.

• Sustainability and exit strategy:
  • Explore scaling up of enterprise;
  • Explore entry into big business value chain;
  • Connect BDFE into MPAN business plan.

• Provide assistance to PMU Team in developing BDFE toolkit, including modular materials that can be used by BMB in scaling-up BDFE initiatives.

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):