Background

UNDP works in some 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

The UNDP Brussels Representation Office has the key task to maintain, nurture and develop strategic partnership with the European Union (EU).

The relationship between the EU and UNDP has evolved considerably during the past years, resulting in a strong strategic partnership in political and policy dialogue on top of a consolidated cooperation in over 70 countries. Both partners are currently facing an expanding mandate on Climate Action, respectively based on the EU’s “European Green Deal” and UNDP’s “Climate Promise” and expanding portfolio on climate and biodiversity. This will open new venues for cooperation and joint actions.

The Policy Specialist for Climate and Biodiversity will work under the guidance and supervision of the UNDP Director in Brussels and of the New-York-based Executive Coordinator of UNDP Global Environmental Finance (GEF) Unit.

The incumbent will work to maintain, nurture and develop the relationship between UNDP and the EU DG CLIMA, DG DEVCO (with a focus on Climate and Biodiversity) and other relevant actors to advance the overall policy and programme relationship on Climate and Biodiversity between the two institutions.

S/he will identify all the relevant interlocutors in the EU institution and establish working relationships with them. In particular, s/he will focus on the preparation of an upcoming dialogue between UNDP and DG CLIMA in the first half of 2020, working together with DG CLIMA on the agenda, modalities and logistics of the event. S/he will ensure the appropriate follow-up of the event.

S/he will also more broadly work to position UNDP as a key actor in the field of Climate and Biodiversity within the broader policy community in Brussels.

The Policy Specialist will ensure close cooperation with the UN Environment Programme representation in Brussels and other UN entities when relevant.

Duties and Responsibilities

Through this contract, the consultant will provide policy support to the effective development of the UNDP-EU partnership on Climate and Biodiversity, and position UNDP as a key actor in the field of Climate and Biodiversity in Brussels.

Scope of work:

1. Stakeholder Engagement, Policy Development, Research and Reporting

• Identify all the relevant interlocutors in the EU institution and establish working relationships with them;
• Support the UNDP Brussels team in the design and implementation of policies and initiatives concerning UNDP-EU cooperation on Climate and Biodiversity;
• Track EU and UN/UNDP policy developments relevant to Climate and Biodiversity;
• Conduct research and write briefings on EU Institutions and relevant policies;
• Track and report on budgeted activities.

2. Partnership/Event Coordination and Communication

• Prepare and organize all aspects of an upcoming dialogue between UNDP and DG CLIMA in the first half of 2020;
• Ensure the relevant follow-up to the abovementioned dialogue, including the drafting of minutes, action plans, MoUs or other documents;
• Promote smooth information flows between the UNDP and the EU Institutions;
• Coordinate the preparation of missions and events in support of UNDP activities. Compile and prepare briefings, presentation materials and background information for identified UNDP missions, coordinating mission itinerary and logistics;
• Provide support in the preparation of information and advocacy materials;
• Provide direct assistance to the Director and Executive Coordinator in the drafting of correspondence, briefings and reports on relevant issues;
• Provide support to the Director and Executive Coordinator in the circulation of incoming/outgoing communications, ensuring adherence to appropriate protocol and correspondence guidelines.

Anticipated Key Deliverables:

• Identify all the relevant interlocutors in the EU institution and establish working relationships with them.
• Track EU and UN/UNDP policy developments relevant to Climate and Biodiversity.
• Design and implement policies and initiatives concerning UNDP-EU cooperation on Climate and Biodiversity.
• Prepare and deliver an upcoming dialogue between UNDP and DG CLIMA in the first half of 2020.
• Prepare and deliver follow-up documents and actions to the DG CLIMA dialogue.
• Deliver missions and events in support of UNDP activities.
• Provide support to the Director and Executive Coordinator in the circulation of incoming/outgoing communications, ensuring adherence to appropriate protocol and correspondence guidelines.
• Prepare and deliver correspondence, briefings and reports on relevant issues.
• Prepare and deliver advocacy and information materials.
• Enhance information flows between the UNDP and the EU Institutions on Climate and Biodiversity.
• Produce one final report outlining the achievements for the entire duration of the assignment at the end of the contract.

Information on Working Arrangements:

• Estimated level of effort including travel days: 132 days for six months;
• The consultant will be based in Brussels, UNDP Brussels Representation Office
• The consultant will report to, and be directly supervised by the UNDP Director in Brussels and the New-York-based Executive Coordinator of UNDP Global Environmental Finance (GEF) Unit
• 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;
• 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;
• Any necessary missions must be approved in advance and in writing by the UNDP Director in Brussels and the New-York-based Executive Coordinator of UNDP Global Environmental Finance (GEF) Unit
• The Advance and Basic Security in the Field II courses 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 and fairness, by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Technical:

• Sound knowledge of international Climate Governance and Climate Policy;
• Sound knowledge of work and mandates of the UNDP, UN System and EU Institutions;
• Ability to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time;
• Experience with stakeholder engagement, event organization, and policy development;
• Excellent communication/networking skills and proven problem-solving abilities;
• Excellent coordination, analysis, reporting and brief writing skills;
• Ability to conduct policy-oriented research on EU climate governance;
• Ability to communicate effectively across different constituencies;
• Experience in the usage of computer and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)

Professionalism:

• Initiative-taking with ability to work effectively under pressure and adapt to change;
• Displays creativity, flexibility and an innovative approach to problem-solving;
• Displays a high level of motivation, ability to show initiative and to work independently.

Communication:

Effective participation in team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating with others.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s or higher degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Political Sciences or fields related to Environment and Climate (max 10 points).

Experience:

• A minimum of three years of progressively responsible work experience in development, international relations or fields related to Environment and Climate (max 15 points);
• Experience working with the EU institutions and/or the United Nations (max 15 points);
• Experience with stakeholder engagement, event organization, research, and policy development (max 15 points).

Language requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English (Y/N); knowledge of French an asset.

Application Submission Process:

The application submission is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications:

Step 1: Interested individual consultants must include the following documents when submitting the applications in UNDP job shop (Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded therefore please include all docs in one file):

• Applicants must submit a CV and/or a duly completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P11) - the template can be downloaded from this link: http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc)
• Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application.

Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal - Annex II

Applicants are instructed to submit their financial proposals in EUR/USD for this consultancy to procurement.be@undp.org  using the financial proposal template available here: https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx&action=default. The proposals should be sent via email with the following subject heading: “Policy Specialist – Climate and Biodiversity" latest by Application deadline of January 3rd, 2020.

Proposals to be received after the deadline will be rejected. 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).

Evaluation method:

• Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated;
• Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30%;
• The technical criteria (education, experience, language [max 55 points] and interview [max 45 points]) will be based on a maximum 100 points. Only the top 3 candidates scoring 38,5 points or higher from the review of the education, experience, language criteria will be considered for the interview;
• Applicants obtaining 31,5 points or higher from the interview will be deemed technically qualified 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);
• The applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score and who has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract. 

General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf

Requirement:

Candidates must have the legal right to live and work in EU countries.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

• I have read, understood and hereby accept UNDP’s General Conditions of Contract for the Services of the Individual Contractors.
• Have you submitted a duly completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P11) and or/CV?
• Have you submitted Annex II via email to procurement.be@undp.org duly completed and signed reflecting your all-inclusive fee and all foreseeable expenses for this assignment (except travel)? Your application will not be considered without submission of Annex II.