Background

In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets.

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN – was developed to provide a comprehensive methodology for governments to: 1) review the existing policy context, 2) measure expenditure levels for biodiversity, 3) calculate future financial needs and 4) design strategic plans to deploy the right mix of finance solutions, tailored to the country context. The methodology has been conducted in 35 countries to date, with many now having reached the implementation stage.

BIOFIN is supported by the Governments of Germany, Flanders, Norway, Switzerland and the European Union. The initiative is part of UNDP’s Global Environmental Finance (UNDP-GEF) unit, hosted by the Ecosystems and Biodiversity (EBD) cluster under UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS).

BIOFIN’s first phase (2012-2018) enabled full assessments and initial implementation of finance plan elements in target countries. Based on lessons learned, a new and comprehensive version of the BIOFIN Methodology was developed. Significant scaling up of finance solutions is required in all countries to address the biodiversity finance challenge.

BIOFIN’s second phase (2018 – 2022) focuses mainly on the implementation of prioritized finance solutions while also allowing additional countries to undertake the initial assessments and create the finance plan. See www.biodiversityfinance.org for further information.

Purpose of the Workshop

The workshop will bring together approximately 300 participants including representatives from up to 35 BIOFIN member countries (government, experts and UNDP country offices) and representatives from 36 OECD member countries, UNDP headquarters and regional offices, as well as, international thematic experts. The workshop has the following objectives:

  • Jointly examine global trends and lessons learned in biodiversity finance and policy incentives for 2011 – 2020;
  • Provide a platform for sharing insights, experiences and new opportunities across a wide range of countries and experts in the field;
  • Develop recommendations on financing for the Global Biodiversity Finance Action Plan for the CBD Post-2020 Framework;
  • Highlight existing and future opportunities for the private and financial sector to engage in biodiversity finance.

The BIOFIN Team is seeking a consultant who can help design and facilitate the 4th Global Conference to be held in Paris, France from 14th to 16th April 2020. Under the direct supervision of the BIOFIN Programme Officer, the facilitator is required to ensure the successful preparation and facilitation of the above workshop. The consultant is expected to deliver innovative and participatory approaches to maximize the effectiveness of the meeting. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be expected to carry out the following tasks:

  • Contribute to the overall design of the workshop methodology and agenda;
  • Develop the template and format for individual workshop sessions and support the session leads in the design of the sessions. Each session adequately prepared with a specific facilitation approach;
  • Ensure the workshop is conducted in an interactive and participatory style;
  • Facilitate participants’ sharing of experiences and identification of priorities;
  • Facilitate concrete action planning;
  • Collaborate with the Communication Specialist and the Knowledge Management and Monitoring and Evaluation Expert on the Workshop related products;
  • Produce a post-workshop synopsis of the process of the workshop with lessons learnt.

Outputs/Deliverables:

  • Proposal for overall workshop design and methodology, and a finalized agenda, including methodology and formats of individual workshop sessions and an outline for the workshop synopsis by 29 February 2020;
  • Workshop successfully facilitated in Paris, France in line with the finalized agenda from 14-16 April 2020;
  • Post-workshop synopsis produced by 30 April 2020.

Payment Schedule:

Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of the deliverables by the Supervisor as per below percentages:

  • Proposal for overall workshop design and methodology. Finalized agenda, including methodology and formats of individual workshop sessions and an outline for the workshop synopsis by 29 February 2020- 50%;
  • Workshop successfully facilitated in Paris, France in line with the finalized agenda by 16 April 2020 - 40%;
  • Post-workshop synopsis produced by 30 April 2020 - 10%.

Working Arrangements:

  • Estimated level of effort, including travel, is 15 days;
  • The consultant will carry out his/her tasks under the overall guidance of, and will report regularly via email and skype calls to, the BIOFIN Programme Officer;
  • Preparatory work, final report writing, and post-workshop synopsis: home – based with access to email and skype;
  • Workshop venue: Paris, France with arrival at least one day before the event;
  • The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment including background information of the workshop objectives, project methodology and other related materials;
  • 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 reliable internet connection, as well as, provide her/his own facilitation materials;
  • 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 timesheet 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:

  • Mission travel to Paris, France will be required with an arrival date of 13 April 2020;
  • Any necessary missions must be approved in advance and in writing by Supervisor;
  • The BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of official travel;
  • Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling 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/ ;
  • Consultants are responsible for obtaining any visas and security clearances needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
  • Travel (terminal expenses, economy class roundtrip ticket from home country to Paris) and living expenses such as hotel accommodation, meals, miscellaneous expenses for the mission in Paris should be included in the financial proposal. Mission will take place from 13th to 16 April 2020. Arrival date is 13 April 2020, departure date is morning of 17 April 2020, in total maximum 4 nights.
  • The consultant will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

  • 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 favoritism.

Technical Competencies

  • Demonstrated technical knowledge to perform effectively in own specialty.

Functional Competencies

Professionalism:

  • Capable of working in a high-pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
  • Excellent organizational skills;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, with analytic capacity and demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information in high quality papers/reports and in effective presentations to different audiences;
  • Ability to develop and maintain partnerships/relationships, including with clients, focusing on results for the client/partner and responding positively to feedback;
  • Exercise the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Communication:

  • Active listening and dialogue (acknowledge and responds constructively to the points of view of others).
  • Excellent writing and verbal communication skills;
  • Communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Teamwork:

  • Works well in a team to advance the priorities of BIOFIN and UNDP as a whole;
  • Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
  • Focuses on results for the client;
  • Welcomes constructive feedback;
  • Good interpersonal and networking skills;
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations;
  • Supports and encourages open communication in the team and facilitates team work

Required Skills and Experience

 

Education:

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in environment, development, social sciences and/or another relevant field (Max: 10 points);
  • Certifications/Qualifications in workshop/conference facilitation, Training of Trainers, etc. would be an advantage (Max: 5 points).

Experience:

  • At least 5 years of work experience related to environmental management, environmental finance, biodiversity or another related field (Max: 15 points);
  • Proven experience in the preparation and facilitation of workshops/meetings of culturally diverse groups for UNDP and/or other international, regional or bilateral organizations, preferably at the regional/and or global level and preferably on environmental, biodiversity, environmental finance or similar topics (Max: 20 points).
  • Computer literacy for Microsoft Office Package or equivalent is an asset (Max: 5 points).

Languages:

  • Fluency in English (Pass/Fail);
  • Spanish and/or French fluency would be an advantage (Max: 5 points).

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 technical criteria will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30%;
  • The technical criteria (education, experience, languages [max 60 points], interview [max 30 points]), will be based on a maximum 90 points;
  • Applicants scoring 42 points or higher from the review of the education, experience, languages will be considered for the interview;
  • Applicants obtaining 21 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 a lump sum fee, including breakdown per deliverable as outlined above. 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). Travel costs should be included in the financial proposal;
  • 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.

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