Background

Human survival and well-being depend upon biodiversity and healthy ecosystems and the goods and services they provide. India is one of the megadiverse countries in the world with over 1,00,690 species of fauna and over 47,800 species of flora. India’s economy and livelihoods of millions of people depend on preventing biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. The rich biological diversity is facing new challenges such as multiple-use landscapes, climate change, lack in technical and financial capacities to deal with emerging challenges of biodiversity conservation, its sustainable use, access and benefit sharing and biodiversity governance at local levels.

To address the global biodiversity loss, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognizes the importance and need for new and additional financial resources. At the Eleventh meeting of Conference of Parties (CoP11) of CBD held in Hyderabad during India’s Presidency of the CoP, the High Level Panel set up by the CBD on Global Assessment of Resources, found that the global investment required to implement CBD’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 would cost between US$ 150 to US $ 440 billion annually.

Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), a global programme of UNDP, was launched in 2012, in response to the identified need by the CBD, to have better and adequate information to assess current expenditures and financing needs for countries to implement their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and need to have a comprehensive methodology to develop resource mobilization strategies and Biodiversity Finance Plans to implement NBSAPs.

BIOFIN provides an innovative methodology for countries to measure their current biodiversity expenditures, assess their financial needs for biodiversity conservation in the medium term and identify most suitable finance solutions to reduce their national biodiversity finance gaps.

BIOFIN was launched in India in May 2015. It is being led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), hosted by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and managed by UNDP India under the thematic pillar of Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity.

BIOFIN provides a systematic and flexible approach to identify and mobilize the financial resources needed for implementing the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) and for achieving the National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs). BIOFIN, is expected to further enhance awareness and sensitization about significance of mainstreaming biodiversity in development sectors, thereby, inter alia leveraging existing resources to contribute more towards biodiversity, and reducing the financial gap in achieving the NBTs. BIOFIN in India is a seven step process.  Key steps includes, appraisal of public programmes and schemes to understand their impact and dependency on biodiversity; Assessment of biodiversity attributable public expenditures at the central and state level; Assessment of biodiversity attributable expenditure/investments by businesses, donors, civil society organizations and through externally aided projects, Financial Needs Assessment for implementing  the National Biodiversity Action Plan and development of a Biodiversity Finance Plan based on assessment of finance gap for implementing the NBAP..

The Biodiversity Finance Plan, the fourth and ultimate step of phase I of the BIOFIN process,  presents a coherent and comprehensive national approach to biodiversity finance that encompasses a full suite of finance solutions, well beyond the mobilization of new and additional resources, engaging the public sector, private sector, and civil society. The aim is to produce a nationally validated Biodiversity Finance Plan that proposes steps to implement a mix of finance solutions in order to expand and improve the country’s biodiversity finance and achieve the NBTs.

The ongoing phase II of BIOFIN aims to demonstrate implementation of select 3 finance solutions out of 12 potential finance solutions enlisted in the National Biodiversity Finance Plan-working document. This include Corporate Social Responsibility, Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Public sector (agriculture sector) and Access and Benefit Sharing.

BIOFIN assessment underscores the critical need to engage businesses in biodiversity conservation and finance through innovative financial solutions including CSR. While on one hand there is a need to mainstream biodiversity in business operations and greening the supply chain,  on the other CSR provides an immediate opportunity for companies to work together with the Government for achieving objectives of national priorities for biodiversity conservation.

However, there are various challenges faced in this regard. Even today there is limited understanding of businesses on linkages of biodiversity with long terms business sustainability. There is low level of involvement of business houses in the formulation of biodiversity conservation strategies at the policy level needs. Communications with corporate groups on regulations, compliance requirements, and benefits of biodiversity conservation for businesses is limited. There is a need to develop viable projects on biodiversity and effective business case to integrate values of biodiversity in planning and decision making of the corporate sector.

 To address these concerns, the first step will be to dig deeper to identify capacity needs of the corporate sector in understanding the role of biodiversity in sustainability of business and economy and develop strategies for capacity development and partnerships with corporates to develop and implement viable biodiversity conservation projects based on national priorities..

In this background, UNDP seeks to engage an individual consultant to develop a communication, capacity building and partnership strategy to engage corporates in biodiversity conservation and finance. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The individual consultant will work as per the directions and guidance given by the Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority and the Head Natural Resource Management & Biodiversity - UNDP-India. The consultant will work on following key tasks under the assignment:

Tasks:

• Identify capacity gaps and training needs  for engaging corporate sector in implementation of biodiversity conservation priorities
• Design and conduct a scoping study and based on the same develop a corporate communication and partnership strategy and implementation plan for enhancing engagement of corporates in biodiversity conservation and finance
• Provide guidance in designing a corporate investor meet on business & biodiversity and develop a concept note, including, among others, ideas on 6-10 business/CSR models based on biodiversity conservation priorities in India.
• Moderation of the national investor meet on business & biodiversity tentatively scheduled for February 2021
• Publish a joint paper with NBA and UNDP India on’ Business & Biodiversity in India- challenges and way forward’ in leading Journal, economic times or any other relevant platform, so that to ensure broader outreach and communication.
• Suggest the improvisation of categories and subcategories of India Biodiversity Awards for recognizing the best practices of corporate sector in biodiversity conservation
• Develop a guidance note and a presentation for NBA and UNDP India team on programme development for engagement and partnership with corporate groups in thematic area of natural resource management and biodiversity.

Key Deliverables

1. Submission of a publication on corporate ‘communication, partnership strategy and implementation plan’ for enhancing engagement of corporates in biodiversity conservation and finance
2. Submission of a concept note for participation of businesses in the national investors meet on ‘business and biodiversity’ along with ideas on 6-10 potential investment models (business/CSR) based on biodiversity conservation priorities in India.
3. Submission of a published joint paper along with NBA and UNDP India, on’ Business & Biodiversity in India- challenges and way forward’ in leading journal, economic times or any other relevant platform, so that to ensure broader outreach and communication.
4. A standard presentation, incorporating inter-alia, the theory of change and steps for developing programmes for engagement and partnership with corporate groups in thematic area of natural resource management and biodiversity.

Competencies

Building and managing strategic partnerships

• Identifies common interests and goals and carries out join initiatives with partners
• Establishes, builds, and sustains effective relationship, partnerships and alliances with private sector, foundations, and other agencies
• Makes effective use of resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships

Advocacy

• Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work

Client Orientation

• Demonstrates an understanding of client / partner / donor perspective and strives for high quality client-oriented services
• Establishes smooth relationship and enabling environment between clients and service providers

Leadership and Management

• Is results driven and solution oriented, is able to work under pressure
• Ability to identify problems, propose solutions and take immediate corrective measures
• Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches
• Results based management
• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals
• Demonstrates ability to generate innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations
• Ability to work independently and with minimum supervision

Required Skills and Experience

Required Experiences, Competencies and Skills

Applicants shall demonstrate sufficient capacities to carryout activities to a high standard. The successful applicants will have:

• At least a master’s degree in social science, development studies, business management or a relevant field.
• At least 8 years of work experience in private sector companies, with exposure to CSR
• Strong private sector contacts, across different sectors, and business type (SMEs, MNCs etc.);
• Experience in engaging with senior management at private corporates;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, networking and managerial capacity;
• Ability to multitask and monitor several projects on a daily basis;
• Ability to take initiative to develop new strategies;
• Excellent inter-personal and technical communication (oral, written, and visual) skills with high level English language writing skills are essential.

Core skills:

• Sound knowledge of partnership management tools and instruments and utilises these regularly in work and assignments
• Strong evidence of resource mobilization experience in the development sector

Language Requirements:  

Good command of English both written and spoken

Duration of Assignment 30 days spread over 4 months

Terms of Payment:  Payment will be based on submission of deliverables mentioned above and as per the timelines given in the table below:

Project Location:  The position will be home based with pre-approved travel to attend meetings & workshops, if required.

Reporting requirements:    

Consultant will be reporting to the Chairman National Biodiversity Authority and Head, Natural Resource Management & Biodiversity (UNDP India)

Evaluation Criteria

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as responsive to the requirement. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined 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 the total evaluation) based on the following parameters:

• No. of years of work experience – 25%
• Educational qualifications – 20%
• No. of partnerships mobilized with the private sector – 25%

Financial Criteria: (30% of the total evaluation) based on the total all-inclusive lump sum amount for the professional fee for tasks specified in this announcement

Financial Proposal:

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

1. Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual Contractor Assignment
2. Updated and signed P-11 form for ICs
3. No Financials (Daily Fee) to be submitted at this stage

Note:

1. Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone, relocation charges etc. would not be reimbursed.
2. Travel, lodging and boarding as per UNDP rules subject to prior approval
3. Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual