Project Title: Reduction of POPs and UPOPs through integrated sound management of chemicals

Project Description

According to the recently completed “the update of the National Implementation Plan (NIP) of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) of the Philippines,” the Philippines still needs to work further in sound management of chemicals, in particular, the issues of:

1. inappropriate management and unclear labelling of products containing POPs labelling;

2. the need for a more comprehensive inventory on the use and stockpiles of PFOS and PBDE;

3. review of government policies on the new POPs for its reduction and eventual elimination;

4. necessity of regulatory control of newly included POPs such as Lindane, Chlordecone and Endosulfan;

5. Lack of awareness and reduction measures of POPs, particularly PFOs and PBDEs, as hazardous chemicals;

6. Inefficient and in sufficient monitoring of the health impacts of POPs pesticides, PCBs, UPOPs, PFOs and PBDEs; and

7. Lack of the knowledge and capacity to introduce clean alternative technologies/substances.

In light of the above, UNDP Philippines in collaboration with the Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) will be developing a project to be funded under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with the aim to reduce POPs and unintentionally produced POPs (UPOPs) through integrated sound management of chemicals by having a sound chemical management practice in place. A Project Preparatory Grant (PPG) Team will be formed to develop the full-size Project Document entitled – “Reduction of POPs and UPOPs through Integrated Sound Management of Chemicals”.

The project will also contribute to the implementation of some of the national priorities and strategies in chemical waste management identified through the updated NIP of the Philippines. The project intends to address the intentional use or secondary contamination of POPs (PBDEs, PFOS, PFOA, HBCD, SCCP) in paint, chrome plating, non-ferrous metal, plastic recycling and other related sectors, with the general objective to protect human health and the environment. This will be ensured through technical and financial support to enterprises, and improvement and enforcement of environmental regulations.

The first aspect to be undertaken by the project is the revision of the Philippines regulation concerning the use of POPs and PTSs, to make it compliant with the amended list of POPs under the Stockholm convention and to introduce principle of Green Chemistry and Circular economy. The revision will obviously envisage the complete banning of use, manufacturing and import of these chemicals as required by the Convention, giving industries a deadline to comply, and implementing a strict enforcement and a support mechanism for industries who will ensure compliance through the project lifetime by the adoption of a Green chemistry compliant project.

Especially because of the current economic crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the capacity of industry to invest in environmental protection technologies is currently limited. For this reason, the core of the project will be the establishment of a Green Financing Fund (FREEME – Financing the Roadmap for the Environmental Enhancement of Manufacturing Enterprises) which will support firms with loan granted at a very low or null interest rate, provided that the loan is used to implement technologies or activities compliant with Green Chemistry principles or preventing the use and release of POPs. 

Objectives and Scope of Work

1. UNDP, in collaboration with the Government of the Philippines, seeks to engage a qualified national Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist to finalize the SESP and to prepare an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for the project.

UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) underpin our commitment to mainstream social and environmental sustainability in our Programmes and Projects to support sustainable development. The objectives of the standards are to:

• Strengthen the social and environmental outcomes of Programmes and Projects

• Avoid adverse impacts on people and the environment

• Minimize, mitigate, and manage adverse impacts where avoidance is not possible

• Strengthen UNDP and partner capacities for managing social and environmental risks

• Ensure full and effective stakeholder engagement, including through a mechanism to respond to complaints from project-affected people

   

  A key mechanism to ensure these standards are applied is through UNDP’s project-level Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) which is a requirement for all proposed projects. The objectives of the SESP are to (a) Integrate the SES Overarching Principles (human rights, gender equality, and environmental sustainability); (b) Identify potential social and environmental risks and their significance; (c) Determine the Project's risk category (Low, Moderate, High); and (d) Determine the level of social and environmental assessment and management required to address potential risks and impacts. The ESFM or a stand-alone management plan for the project shall be developed with the support from the international consultants and national consultants, in line with UNDP’s Guidance Note on Assessment and Management. UNDP’s SES and SESP came into effect on January 1, 2015. All guidance on UNDP's Social and Environmental Safeguards can be found in the SES Toolkit.

   

  2) Validation Workshop (Component C):

            a. Contribute to the validation workshop; and

            b. Support all necessary revisions that arise during the workshop, as appropriate.

   

  3)  Final Deliverables:

• Final and complete Social and Environmental Screening (SESP) (Component A), including management measures to mitigate risks and recommendations for design of project interventions, to be incorporated into the Project Document;

• Final and complete ESMF (i.e. with IPP and Livelihood Action Plan, as appropriate);

• Mid-term and end-of-project targets and indicators for environmental and social safeguards;

• Direct inputs to the Project Risk Log; and

• Appropriate inputs to the final UNDP-GEF project document based on guidance from the PPG Team Leader

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Institutional Arrangement

• For the duration of the contract, the Consultant shall work under the supervision of the Climate Action Team, headed by the Team Leader, ably assisted by the Programme Associate, and will provide technical inputs and approve the outputs of the consultant.

• The consultant will work closely with the PPG team, reporting directly to the PPG team leader.

• The UNDP Montreal Protocol Unit in Bangkok Regional Hub shall be a resource throughout the PPG process. They will provide technical inputs, guidance and quality assurance as required.

• A Project Coordinator shall be hired to work with the PPG team and liaise with government for the duration of the PPG phase.

Duration of Work

• To undertake the tasks and deliver the expected outputs, the consultant shall be engaged for a period of 30 working days spread over 4 months (March – July 2021)

• Effectivity of the engagement will be upon signing of the contract and will be valid until all outputs have been delivered and accepted.

• A period of one (1) week will be the estimated lead time for UNDP or Project Implementing Partners to review outputs, give comments, certify approval / acceptance of outputs, etc. 

Duty Station

• The duty station is in Manila, Philippines.

• If local travel is not permitted due to travel restrictions, the consultant is required to do the work online, including spearheading consultations and meeting and the validation workshop.

• In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and declaration of State of Public Health Emergency in the Philippines, all work and travel of the Individual consultant shall be done within the guidelines and protocols set by the local and national government

• The Consultant will not be required to report to office regularly but status report on the outputs shall be expected from time to time.

Qualifications of the Consultant

For the evaluation of the CV, the selection of the successful consultant will be based on the following qualifications. Only those who will obtain a minimum of 70 out of 100 obtianable points will be shortlisted and qualified for the financial evaluation.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The proposed contract price is based on a lump sum amount paid all-inclusive for the actual professional services (indicate daily fee X number of working days), communications, supplies, etc. Payment will be made in installments based on UNDP’s acceptance of the  following milestones/outputs

Medical/health insurance must be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense, and upon award of contract, the consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during contract duration.

 Recommended Presentation of Offer

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;

    

2. Curriculum Vitae, or P11 Personal History Form, indicating all past experiences from similar projects, to prove criteria cited in technical qualification. The applicant must indicate specifically his/her role in the aforementioned experiences, e.g, Team leader, team member, Lead researcher, etc. below is a proposed format to be provided, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references;

    

     3. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.

K.            Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

To select the best offer for this post, the combined scoring method will be used where the qualifications will be weighted 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted 30%.  

Offerors must upload in one (1) file the aforementioned documents.

Templates for a) P11 Personal History Form and b)  Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal (Annex 2) are available through the link below. UNDP General Terms and Conditions for Individual Contractors  are also available:

http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU

Incomplete submission of required documents may result in disqualification.

Please see deadline of submissions above.

In view of the volume of applications UNDP receives, only successful candidates will be notified.