UNDP Jobs - 89831- Project Development Specialist to provide technica

Project Development Specialist to provide technical assistance to develop a full project document for the Project “Biodiversity Mainstreaming into Sectoral Policies and Practices and Strengthened Protection of Biodiversity Hot-Spots in Montenegro”

Location :

Home-based and Podgorica, MONTENEGRO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

17-Feb-2020

Application Deadline :

09-Feb-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

17 February 2020 - 31 December 2020

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

90 consultancy days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is supporting the Government of Montenegro, specifically the Ministry of Sustainable development and Tourism (MSDT), In implementation of project preparation grant of $100,000 from the GEF with expected result of developing a full project document for the Project “Biodiversity Mainstreaming into Sectoral Policies and Practices and Strengthened Protection of Biodiversity Hot-Spots in Montenegro”, with supporting documentation for submission to the GEF for CEO endorsement.
The focus of the proposed project is Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) of Montenegro. The project includes various types of intervention and involves both ecosystem protection and work with production sectors, such as tourism, agriculture, and forestry.

Expected final outputs of the GEF PPG are:

UNDP-GEF Project Document (ProDoc), using the latest standard template (currently dated September 2019);
Mandatory annexes to the ProDoc listed in the Annotated UNDP-GEF Project Document Template;
GEF CEO Endorsement Request and all its mandatory annexes; and
Validation Workshop report (becomes mandatory once and if the moderate/high SESP risk rating is confirmed for the FSP).

The GEF PPG team will be composed of the following:

International GEF Project Development Specialist (GEF PPG Team Leader);
Lead National Expert for PPG coordination and stakeholder engagement;
National Protected Area Management Specialist;
National Biodiversity Expert;
National Green Tourism Expert;
National Green Farming Expert;
National Gender Specialist;
GIS/Mapping Specialist.

The following activities will be conducted, building on the PIF and the comments received to the PIF (e.g. from GEF Council and STAP):
Preparatory Technical Studies & Reviews

a. Desktop and field-based studies and data collection
Targeted research and data collection should produce the background information required to prepare the ProDoc (including its Annexes) and CEO Endorsement Request, including but not limited to:

Development challenge and strategy (including threats, problems and barrier assessment);
Review of national policy and legislative frameworks;
Problem and solution trees developed in consultation with project stakeholders, for a robust Theory of Change, (to be prepared in Component B, see below); Results Framework and solid M&E plan;
Review of relevant past and ongoing projects for lessons including project evaluations; and
Any other analyses required to address all comments on the PIF received from GEF Secretariat, GEF Council members and STAP.

b. Gender Analysis
Key gender considerations relevant for the project are presented in the project PIF. A gender analysis will be prepared to fully consider the different needs, roles, benefits, impacts, risks, differential access to and control over resources of women and men (including considerations of intersecting categories of identity such as age, social status, ethnicity, marital status, etc.) and to identify appropriate measures to address these and promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. The analysis will form the basis of a Gender Action Plan and Budget to guide gender mainstreaming during project implementation. The Gender Analysis, and the Gender Action Plan and Budget must be developed in accordance with the respective guidance and attached as Annexes to the Project Document.

c. Social and Environmental Standards: Screening and Assessments
The social and environmental safeguards pre-screening (pre-SESP) prepared during the PIF design phase determined the overall risk categorization of this project as Moderate and highlighted potential safeguard risks to be further assessed during the PPG phase. The required targeted assessment(s) of the risks related to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, and stakeholder engagement will be undertaken. The assessments will identify ways to avoid negative environmental and social impacts where possible and if risk avoidance is not possible, then mitigation and management measures must be identified. These will be reflected in the required Gender Mainstreaming Plan and comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

d. Identification of project sites
Based on the baseline analysis and reviews, and through consultation with stakeholders, the targeted project demonstration sites will be identified and detailed, ensuring that geo-referencing is clearly presented for all targeted project areas and surrounding landscapes. This should include providing geographic coordinates, maps and shapefiles for inclusion in the ProDoc.

e. Financial planning, co-financing and investment mobilized
Co-financing and investment mobilized – as defined in the GEF Policy and Guidelines on co-financing - will be confirmed, and additional sources identified through a series of consultations with partners to ensure a coherent and sustainable financing package for the project, including post-GEF grant phase to the extent possible. The GEF is seeking high co-financing/investment mobilized to GEF grant ratios with a preference for grants, loans and other public investments over in-kind co-financing. The GEF also expects the Government to significantly support the costs associated with project execution (i.e. PMC).

f. Stakeholder analysis
Building on the initial identification of stakeholders in the PIF, an appropriately scaled analysis of project stakeholders will be undertaken. This stakeholder analysis will provide the foundation for development of the project’s comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan and will facilitate prioritization of engagement activities with particular stakeholder groups and individuals. See the UNDP SES Guidance Note on Stakeholder Engagement.

g. Other required studies
During the PPG phase, the project will map the existing and proposed nature protected areas within the national PA system, KBAs, proposed Natura 2000 sites, Ramsar sites, Emerald sites, global biodiversity hot-spots and connectivity corridors, thus defining the geographical scope and confirming the impact area for the project main phase. The PPG process will ensure the compatibility and continuity of the data to be made available to support governmental decision-making, and to prepare the new Spatial Plan of Montenegro and the General Regulation Plan by the Government.

Formulation of the UNDP-GEF Project Document, CEO Endorsement Request, and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes

Based on the technical studies and reviews undertaken the UNDP-GEF Project Document will be developed, and the GEF CEO Endorsement Request will be prepared.
Preparation of the UNDP-GEF ProDoc includes a specific focus on the following areas, which do not exhaustively capture the required ProDoc content:

a. Stakeholder Engagement Plan:
Based on the consultations undertaken during the PPG phase, a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan will be developed, based on the available guidance and a standard outline.

b. Gender Action Plan and Budget
The conducted Gender Analysis along with relevant findings from the stakeholder analysis and background studies, will form the basis of a Gender Action Plan to guide gender mainstreaming during project implementation. The Gender Action Plan must include indicators, targets, timeframe, responsible party and budget which are linked to the project’s components/outputs, outcomes and activities. As part of the work of preparing the Gender Action Plan, indicators should be proposed for inclusion in the Results Framework to facilitate the monitoring of the proposed gender mainstreaming actions.

c. Social and Environmental Standards: Screening and Management Measures
In line with the assessments conducted during Component A (above) and UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) policy and all associated SES Guidance Notes, the SESP will be updated and all risks identified in the SESP will be reflected in the risk table and risk section of the ProDoc. Based on the required targeted assessment(s), the relevant stand-alone management plan(s) will be prepared: A Gender Mainstreaming Plan and a Comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan (as outlined above). The PPG will determine if a Livelihood Action Plan is required (screened as TBC during SESP pre-screening). Per the pre-SESP, all other risks can be managed through the design of the project.

d. GEF Core Indicators
The CEO endorsement-stage data for the relevant Core Indicators and sub-indicators will be prepared. The completed Core Indicators worksheet—with both the original PIF-stage data and the CEO endorsement-stage data—will be annexed to the ProDoc. See the GEF’s website for the most up-to-date templates as these may change. Core indicators for this project are the METT and Hectare Area (Ha) of PA under improved management; area of land restored; area of landscapes under improved management to benefit BD (outside PAs); area of landscapes under sustainable land management in production systems; number of direct beneficiaries disaggregated by gender.

e. Completion of the required official endorsement letters
These letters include the official letters on co-financing guarantee(s) from participating government institutions, bilateral development partners, multilateral development partners, NGOs, private sector, or others who wish to provide co-financing and/or investment mobilized to the project.

f. Mandatory Annexes

In addition to the documents listed above, the following Annexes should be prepared by the GEF PPG team:

Project maps
Multi Year Work Plan
Monitoring Plan
UNDP Risk Log
Overview of Technical Consultancies
GEF 7 Taxonomy
Initial Project Team Procurement Plan and TORs for key Project Team staff
List of people consulted during project development.

Upon a request from the UNDP Regional Technical Adviser during the PPG implementation, the PPG team may be required to prepare additional annexes.

Validation Workshop and Report

A validation workshop will be held with relevant stakeholders to present, discuss and validate the project activities, and the final draft of the UNDP-GEF project document if possible. A validation workshop report will be prepared for projects with an overall safeguards risk rating of moderate or high.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Project Development Specialist will be the GEF PPG Team Leader and will be responsible for quality assurance and timely preparation of all reports and documentation, including the finalized UNDP Project Document (ProDoc) and CEO Endorsement Request, with all mandatory and project specific Annexes and supporting documentation.
Responsibilities and Deliverables: the list below outlines key responsibilities and deliverables of this contract. The PPG Initiation Plan for this project provides further and more detailed guidance regarding the responsibilities of the prospective PPG team and must be consulted accordingly.

Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): With inputs from the national consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs:

1. Compile baseline/situational analysis for the full-size project (FSP). This will include a precise definition of baseline projects, activities, budgets, goals and co-financial links to GEF outcomes; definition of GEF incremental value per outcome and output; and presentation of results of the incremental cost-analysis in matrices as appropriate;
2. Oversee the stakeholder analysis and consultations and ensure that they are complete and comprehensive;
3. Ensure the gender findings are meaningfully integrated into the project’s strategy, theory of change and results framework;
4. Ensure action points, including risk assessments, from the UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) at the PIF stage (“pre-screening”) are fully implemented during the PPG, and update that screening in an iterative process throughout the PPG, and as appropriate;
5. Oversee the identification of the project sites, with documentation of selection criteria, as applicable;
6. Ensure the design of appropriate project knowledge management activities, ensuring appropriate linkages to existing mechanisms and knowledge sharing in project landscapes;
7. Oversee the preparation of partner capacity assessments and discussions on management arrangements early in the PPG process;
8. Oversee the consultations with partners regarding financial planning; and
9. Ensure completion of any additional studies that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs.

Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B): With inputs from the national consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs, and based on international best practice:

1. Develop, present and articulate the project’s theory of change;
2. Develop the Results Framework in line with UNDP-GEF policy;
3. Develop a detailed Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and Budget;
4. Oversee the preparation of a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan;
5. Oversee the preparation of a Gender Action Plan and Budget;
6. Oversee the updating of the SESP based on assessments undertaken during Component A, the national expert input, and ensure the development of required environmental and/or social management plan(s) for all risks identified as Moderate or High in the SESP, as required;
7. Oversee the preparation of the required GEF tracking tools (METT)
8. Revise the GEF Core Indicators Worksheet to reflect the agreed results framework and ensure these are supported by robust and validated data;
9. Present agreements on project execution and management arrangements and ensure that the project aligns to UNDP-GEF guidance on UNDP execution support;
10.Synthesize all analyses, studies, etc. that are prepared under Components A and B to produce the draft UNDP-GEF ProDoc, GEF CEO Endorsement, and all mandatory and project specific Annexes, using the templates.

Final Deliverables:

a. Consolidation of all technical and consultation inputs and comments including from national stakeholders, UNDP, GEF Secretariat, STAP and GEF Council, into a well written and concise UNDP ProDoc with all required sections and Annexes, in line with the standard UNDP-GEF ProDoc template and annotated guidance;
b. Completion of the GEF CEO Endorsement Request;
c. Finalized SESP (and stand-alone management plans as required).

Time duration: The Consultant will be engaged during the period 17 February 2020 – 31 December 2020.
The selected consultant should have at least 90 working days.

Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field, such as environmental management, economics, public administration, Natural Resource Management, Environment, Natural Sciences, Agriculture, Development Studies or another closely related field;

Experience:

Minimum 7 years of demonstrable experience in the technical area of sustainable land management/BD conservation and in preparing high quality project documents, particularly for UNDP and GEF projects;
Experience in team management;
Experience with UNDP project implementation or other GEF considerable agencies;
Demonstrated understanding of the GEF rationale and procedures, and demonstrated experience in formulation of GEF-funded project proposals, using the logical framework and the results-based management approaches;
Experience working in the region on related initiatives highly desired.
Experience with the usage of various systems analysis methods and techniques.

Language:

Fluency in English is required.
Knowledge of local language would be considered as advantage.

Other:

Capability to work effectively under deadline pressure and to take on a range of responsibilities;
Ability to work in a team, good decision-making skills, communication and writing skills.

Criteria for selection:

Combined Scoring method will be used. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: (i) responsive, compliant, acceptable, and (ii) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical criteria weight - 70% (Background and education 10%; Relevant previous experience 20%; Substantial knowledge/Required competencies 30%; Required language 10%);
Financial criteria weight - 30%.

Only offerors obtaining a minimum 490 points for technical criteria will be considered for the financial evaluation. For more information on procurement methodology for Individual Contractors, please refer to Procurement Notice.

Application procedure:

Interested applicants are requested to submit their applications by February 2, 2020 by using the Apply now button. The application should contain CV or P11 that can be downloaded at http://www.me.undp.org/content/montenegro/en/home/operations/jobs.html. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file.

Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in EUR) requested for the work envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".