UNDP Jobs - 93222- Individual Consultant-Research Associate

Individual Consultant-Research Associate – Environment and SDGs

Location :

Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, New Delhi, India, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2020

Application Deadline :

21-Aug-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 Month

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Six months

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 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction highlight that for development to be sustainable it must become resilient to growing risks from climate change and climatic disasters. The SDGs and targets will stimulate action in the following critically important areas: poverty, hunger, education, health and well-being, education, gender equality, water and sanitation, energy, economic growth and decent work, infrastructure, industry and innovation, reducing inequalities, sustainable cities, consumption and production, climate action, ecosystems, peace and justice, and partnership. This comprehensive agenda recognises that it is no longer sufficient just to focus on economic growth, but on fairer and more equal societies, and a safer and more prosperous planet. It recognises that the tasks of peace, justice, environmental protection, and industrial development are not disconnected from each other, but part of the same change. It recognises, above all, that global and interconnected challenges can only be fought with global and interconnected solutions. It is an ambitious plan that will require a renewed global partnership between governments, businesses, the civil society, and individuals.

India was an important voice in the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, and has made exemplary advances, since 2015, in the nationalization and monitoring of SDG indicators, localization and institutionalization of the goals in national and subnational planning and keeping the focus on Leave No One Behind in national development planning. As home to one sixth of humanity, a significant share of the world’s developmental challenges and opportunities by scale, and some of the world’s largest and most ambitious developmental and social inclusion schemes and programmes, India’s best practices provide a useful lens for the localization of Agenda 2030 in other parts of the world.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has been entrusted with the responsibility of developing the National Indicator Framework (NIF) which will help in monitoring the progress of the SDGs and associated targets. Statistical indicators of National Indicator Frameworks (NIF) will be the backbone of monitoring of SDGs at the national and state level and will scientifically measure the outcomes of the policies to achieve the targets under different SDGs. National Indicator Framework has been finalized and needs to be monitored and in this context and to support its SDGs work in India. Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is responsible for implementation and monitoring of SDG targets related to environment. A cell has been established in MoEF&CC to support the SDG implementation. UN in India is partnering with MoEF&CC to further strengthen the indicator framework for the environmental SDGs. Services of a qualified and experienced expert (Research Officer- Environment and SDGs) in the area of environment including work on statistics are required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Description of Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director General (Stats.), MoEF&CC, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks:

Report writing with regard to SDG Implementation/Progress Report of the Ministry and assistance in defining or altering implementation objectives and developing mechanisms for evaluation of implementation objectives of SDGs.
Mapping the various Schemes/Programmes/International agreements of the government and aligning the same with the targets and support in finalization of an Implementation Plan for targets under SDGs 6, 12 and 14 in MoEF&C and further developments in Goal 13 and 15
Assessing the data gaps, at both national as well as sub-national levels for SDG monitoring and facilitating in development of data systems to support compilation of data for the SDG Progress Report of MoEF&CC as well as environment related indicators ( for eg. 2.4 and 2.5 under SDG 2 and 15.5 under Goal 15 ) for MoS&PI
Correlating the SDG Monitoring with environmental regulation and developing practical measures to connect other environmental data (Eg. Pollution) with the monitoring process
Compilation and providing assistance to Divisions of MoEF&CC for preparation of metadata on the environment related national indicators of the SDGs
Assistance in refining the existing SDG indicators pertaining to MoEF&CC
Provide coordination support to the development of the Voluntary National Review on SDGs through drafting of inputs; Drafting policy briefs, speeches, presentations and other documents as regards SDGs
Helping in developing meta data and methodology for the Tier III SDG Indicators with which MoEF&CC is associated
Supporitng
Any other work related to the above

Competencies

Core Competencies

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Technical/Functional

Knowledge of environment

Strong substantive knowledge of environment and development issues and ability to link knowledge to national policies, processes and frameworks;

Strong Analytical skills

Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality reports and knowledge products

Knowledge Management and Learning

Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products;

Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of organisation

Demonstrates a strong capacity for innovation and creativity in providing strategic policy advice and direction

Managing Relationships

Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational management skills;

A sound global network of institutional and individual contacts

Required Skills and Experience

Advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in social sciences, environment or related field of study, preferably with a focus on environmental statistics.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in environmental research including statistics
Good knowledge of India and its climate change/energy and overall environmental related challenges and priorities,
Strong professional experience and knowledge about climate change, environment and sustainable development and environmental Statistics

Good writing skills and the ability to explain technical terms in a non-technical language

Language:

Excellent writing, editing and oral communication skills in English is required.

Duration of the Work:

6 months

Travel:

No Travel is anticipated.

SCHEDULED OF PAYMENTS AND DELIVERABLES:

Monthly based on the submission of the time sheet

DOCUMENTATION AS REQUIRED:

Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultants whose offer has been evaluated and determined as responsive to the requirement. Having received the highest score out of a predetermined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation;

Technical Criteria weight - 70%;
Financial Criteria weight – 30 %

Technical Criteria (70% of total evaluation)

Work experience at the national and/or international levels in journalism and report writing – 30%
Excellent communication, analytical, drafting and reporting skills – 15%
Excellent analytical skills with ability to link indicators with policy (framing ,implementation and outcomes)- 10%
Engagement with academic/ government institutions – 15%

Financial Criteria:

Technically qualified consultants will be requested to submit their daily fee rate i.e. consultants who score more than 70% i.e. 49 marks with respect to the above-mentioned evaluation criteria. Consultant should not specify their consultancy fee on their CV or with the submission. The CV will not be evaluated further in case the consultant submits the same.

Documents to be submitted by Consultants

Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual Contractor Assignment

Updated and signed P-11 form for ICs

No Financials ( Daily Fee) to be submitted at this stage

Note:

Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone, relocation charges etc. would not be reimbursed.

Travel, lodging and boarding as per UNDP rules subject to prior approval

Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual