From 2010-2017, the UNDP oversaw a nationally implemented project called the "Standards and Labels for Promoting Energy Efficiency in Russia" (S&L Project). The goal of the S&L Project was to set new energy efficiency standards for lighting and household appliances (e.g., refrigerators and AC units). The S&L Project was approved and financed with $7.8 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). In line with GEF Council Policies and UNDP Policies and Procedures, the Project was executed by the Russian Government.

 UNDP  is initiating an external review of  its handling of  the S&L Project. The purpose is to review the governance, risk management and controls in place for S& L during its design and implementation phase up to its closure in 2017, including reviewing associated evaluations, audits and investigations. The review may assist UNDP  to further refine controls, risk management and governance arrangements established by UNDP  for the GEF  funded projects since the closure of  the S & L project. The review is aligned with the UNDP Accountability System, including its Oversight policy and Legal Framework. in which the UNDP  Administrator has the sole responsibility for holding UNDP  staff accountable for misconduct following legal advice and UNDP  Office of  Audit and Investigation (OAI) has the sole responsibility to investigate alleged individual misconduct in UNDP. The review is motivated to determine whether UNDP had the right tools to manage, escalate or investigate the S&L Project from a governance perspective and managed the project fully aligned with the UNDP Accountability  System. 

Interested candidates must apply through this UNDP job site.

All required documents must be uploaded as followings:

1. Use the section for the cover letter provided in the UNDP job site;

2. Upload your P11 or CV to this UNDP jobsite. Please note that UNDP jobsite accepts only one uploaded document.

3. The long-listed candidates will be invited to submit financial proposal to the designated email address within the given date.

TOR, template of P11 and template for financial proposal are provided in the UNDP Procurement-Notice site as below:

https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=65650

Scope

These terms of reference entail a post-facto, independent review of UNDP's handling of the S&L Project. The scope of the assignment is to review:

• Whether the UNDP S&L Project was managed effectively to ensure that it met its objectives.
• Whether the correct processes were followed to ensure that fiscal resources for the project were prudently managed. This will include a review on the scope and outcomes of the OAI investigation into the S&L project.
• If UNDP's management of the S&L Project was appropriate and existing oversight and accountability policies were effectively implemented at the country, regional and head office. This will include a review of whether conflicts of interest and alleged fraud were sufficiently managed and escalated in the S&L Project.
• How and when, where applicable, deficiencies in the S&L Project were escalated and why deficiencies in the S&L Project were not raised earlier at a senior management level and communicated to stakeholders.
• UNDP's existing whistleblower and non-retaliatory policies and their application in the context of whistleblower(s) linked to the S&L Project have been applied effectively and concerns raised by whistle-blowers have been satisfactorily assessed by the Ethics Office to determine if there is prima facie evidence to be investigated.
• Whether any red flags were raised during the course of the S&L Project and if so, whether they were appropriately addressed in the Project’s Terminal Evaluation.

Core Values and Ethics:

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness.
• Supports corporate goals.
• Complies with UNDP rules, regulations and code of conduct.

Task Management Skills:

• Produces timely, quality outputs.
• Exercises sound judgment/analysis.

Communications:

• Writes clearly and effectively.
• Speaks clearly and convincingly Listens actively and responds effectively.

Technical background of independent review team

• External experienced professional(s) with audit background from outside the UN Secretariat, Agencies, Funds and Programmes and with experience in the management of complex projects overseen by UN Agencies.
• Technical knowledge and experience relating to Standards and Labelling of appliances will be required in the review team.
• The review will be conducted in English, although some of the inquiries may require professional Russian language skills.