Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. Within this context, UNDP invests in a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. 

The SDG Integration Team sits at the center of UNDP’s Global Policy Network (GPN), with the aim to advance and connect UNDP’s integrated services across sectors and countries. The SDG Integration Team builds a coherent and consolidated menu of services emphasizing direct short- to medium-term engagements to support countries in formulating evidence informed integrated policy solutions using state-of-art tools and data. In this effort UNDP has been partnering with key agencies, academia and think tanks to tailor tools to country needs and make them available to governments, including building capacities in countries to have lasting impact.

UNDP has been collaborating with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) to mobilize state-of-the-art tools since 2016. DESA is the main research institution within the United Nations and is a vital interface between global policies and national action in the economic, social and environmental spheres. Rooted in the United Nations Charter and guided by the universal and transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other global accords, it supports the development pillar of the UN mandate. 

EAPD is the main development research division within the UN-Secretariat for development policies and strategies. One of its core activities is providing capacity building support to developing countries in the use modelling tools to best inform policy decisions. EAPD transfers country-tailored modelling tools to countries on demand, and delivers regional, national and remote trainings to transfer the know-how in using complex methodologies to assess interlinkages and trade-offs of different policy paths and shocks. Working closely with UNDP, EAPD has over ten years’ in providing capacity building support to governments. Through this engagement and partnership. a suite of modelling tools has been developed to assist governments to conduct quantitative analysis in support of policy formulation and strategies for sustainable development.  

One of the tools that UNDP has mobilized jointly with DESA, and KTH Institute of Technology, and others is the Climate, Land, Energy and Water Systems (CLEWS) framework designed for integrated assessment of natural resource systems. CLEWS was developed to provide policy makers and analysts with a means to simultaneously address matters pertaining to food, water and energy security, while taking into account how the utilization of these resources is contributing to climate change as well as how changes in climate might impact the use of these resources. Through a better of the interlinkages of these resource systems, the tool helps to guide policymakers in making polices that are coherent and help move multiple SDGs simultaneously. 

UNDP-DESA are jointly managing an escalating demand for CLEWS projects, which are currently being implemented  in 8 countries - Cameroon, Ethiopia, Senegal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Viet Nam, Indonesia; with activities starting in 2-3 additional countries during 2020, including Sri Lanka, Philippines and Mongolia. These projects enable building a national level CLEWS model and building capacity in countries to be able to apply and use the model for policy decisions. To support the growing number of country projects a consultant is needed to provide modelling expertise in the development of country tailored CLEWs modelling frameworks, implement additions to the modelling source code and improve visualization tools; as well as implement trainings in the use of the tailored national CLEWs models to transfer capacities in its use for evidence bases sustainable development policy decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities

The expert will support UNDP and UN DESA in developing country tailored CLEWs models, improve the visualization tools to ease the analysis of results, and implement a restructured capacity building program, considering the evolving situation of the COVID 19 pandemic, by assuming the following:

1. Implement additions and improvements as needed to the Osemosys source code to add additional functionality and improve performance of national CLEWs models in target countries

2. Develop scripts for automatic data handling, model pre-processing and results post-processing to facilitate ease-of use for model users, improve model performance and make additional results variables available

3. Develop scripts for interactive viewing, exploration and comparison of CLEWs model results, compatible with the CLEWs models of Ethiopia, Cameroon and Indonesia

4. Work with country teams and local consultants to collect, process and manage CLEWs data, documents and other information

5. Develop CLEWs modelling frameworks tailored to new country projects, such as Philippines, Sri Lanka and Mongolia.

6. Implement improvements to existing CLEWs models for Ethiopia, Cameroon and Indonesia, to tailor model structure and data analysis to national conditions and analysis objectives as agreed with national counterparts.

7. Provide remote support to country teams and local consultants by providing assistance with technical and substantive questions as well as support the organization of remote learning session(s) on CLEWs through development of training materials (Supporting documents, exercises, excel workbooks and other materials) and providing instructions and guidance during teleconference.

8. Support the organization of 5-7 national training workshops on CLEWs through development of training materials for in-country or remote learning, such as (Supporting documents, exercises, pre-recorded presentations, online tutorials and materials if required, excel workbooks and other materials), delivery of lectures and providing support and guidance during hands-on exercises. Workshops will be implemented in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Cameroon, Mongolia and Sri Lanka. Depending on the evolving situation of COVID 19, the national training workshops may be implemented remotely, making greater use of remote learning tools and technologies for information and communication (TIC) with no travel involved. Country by country assessments and internet access will be considered when designing remote learning programs.

9. Support national teams in preparing reports and notes on analysis.

   Deliverables:

The international consultant will be employed for 170 working days starting on 20 April 2020 with all tasks completed no later than 31 December 2020.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Professional and Innovation

• Teamwork - Work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise
• Leadership – Responsible for own work, takes initiative, inclusive in decision-making, creates excitement for work through demonstrated excellence.

Technical/Functional:

• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent quantitative skills
• Knowledge of sustainable development principles and practice
• Knowledge of national planning principles and processes
• Familiarity with the water-energy-food-climate nexus and related analytical approaches
• Knowledge of the Osemosys modelling system

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• PhD (or equivalent) in economics with specialization in quantitative analysis of energy, water or land systems/technology highly desirable. 

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in quantitative techno-economic analysis; 
• Experience with the use of modelling tools at the country level is required;
• Experience in the Osemosys modelling tool is required;
• Experience with the Python programming language required;
• Experience in target countries desired;
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other languages is an asset;
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills;
• Experience in teaching/instruction required

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment;
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references;

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7-hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).
• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; (excluding mission travel); living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

• If the 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 a 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.

  The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (70 points):

• Criteria 1. Demonstrated work experience in quantitative techno-economic analysis with the Osemosys modelling tool, including model, code and script development; Maximum Points: 25;
• Criteria 2. Demonstrated experience in providing support to developing countries in the application of modelling tools to inform sustainable development policy, particularly in the areas of energy systems, agriculture systems and water resource/supply management; Maximum Points: 25; and
• Criteria 3. Experience in working with international organizations; Maximum Points: 20

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

• p = y (µ/z), where
• p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated
• y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal
• µ = price of the lowest priced proposal
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

• The consultant will report to Serge Kapto, Policy Specialist, SDG Integration Team, BPPS; and Thomas Alfstad, Interregional Advisor, of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division of UN-DESA.

Travel

• Travel to Ethiopia, Indonesia, Cameroon, Mongolia, Philippines, Sri Lanka may be required, pending evolving situation of COVID 19.

Payment modality

• Payments will be made monthly upon submission of a detailed time sheet (including deliverables and their timely execution) and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the supervisor on days worked) and outputs delivered.
• Payment will be made in 8 monthly installments. 

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

• Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs
• Annex 2 - IC Contract Template
• Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions
• Annex 4 – RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.