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 recently 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 (MoEFCC) is responsible for implementation and monitoring of SDG targets related to environment. . A cell has been established in MoEFCC to support the SDG implementation. UN in India is partnering with MoEFCC 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
Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director General (Stats.), MoEFCC, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks:
- 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 each target
- Support Compilation of data for the baseline report and annual reporting /assessment of progress for each target
- Compilation of metadata on the national indicators
- Support in developing a comprehensive evaluation plan of the target with additional indicators and qualitative assessment along with the National Indicators
- Integrate SDGs in the Ministry’s various schemes and programmes
- Support the development of a knowledge management system on Environmental SDGs for the Ministry.
- Regular monitoring of relevant developments, policy trends and news articles related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in the subregion
- Coordinate and collaborate with the all the divisions with the Ministry of Environment and Forests to ensure a synergetic support to achieving results.
- Coordination with State/UT Governments for SDG implementation and monitoring.
- Development of data in respect of global SDG indicators.
- Provide coordination support to the development of the Voluntary National Review on SDGs through drafting of inputs
- Draft policy briefs, speeches, presentations and other documents.
- Support the organization of workshops and other events related to the Agenda 2030, including preparation of inputs.
- Provide analytical deliverables, including policy briefs, to national and intergovernmental discussions on environmental SDGs.
- Report writing
- Support in developing communications and outreach materials for different audiences
- Attend conferences, seminars, meetings and other events and provide written highlights and briefing notes
- Other activities as decided by DDG (Stats.)
Competencies
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
Education:
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 – 25%
- Engagement with academic/ government institutions – 15%
Financial Criteria:
- (30% of the total evaluation) based on the total all-inclusive lump sum amount for professional fee for tasks specified in this announcement. This include all expenditure including travel and accommodation for delivering the results to UNDP.
For any clarifications, please write to ic.india@undp.org