Background

UNDP in Malaysia provides policy and technical advisory support to the Government of Malaysia in accordance to the Country Programme Action Plan 2016 – 2020 approved by Cabinet in March 2018. The Country Programme Action Plan is aligned to the development priorities of the 11th Malaysia Plan with sustainable human development agenda at the forefront, underpinned by two priority areas: (a) inclusive development and growth; and (b) sustainable and resilient development.

Currently, UNDP Malaysia is supporting the implementation of a portfolio of biodiversity and ecosystems projects in Malaysia focusing on environmental governance, protected area and sustainable landscape management. One of the signature projects is Improving Connectivity in the Central Forest Spine Landscape (IC-CFS).

The Central Forest Spine (CFS) of Peninsular Malaysia is recognised for its population of the endangered Malayan tiger as well as being extraordinarily rich in biodiversity in general; it also provides the country with considerable ecosystem goods and services and encompasses the origins of the headwaters that supply water for most of the population in Peninsular Malaysia.

The project will conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services in three critical landscapes of the Central Forest Spine, by supporting the country’s CFS Master Plan to restore connectivity between forest complexes. It will strengthen the national and local institutional frameworks for CFS management and law-enforcement and support sustainable forest landscape management. It will achieve sustainability of funding for conservation through the diversification of funding sources and the mainstreaming of ecosystem service values into land-use planning.

The project objective is to increase federal and state level capacity to execute the CFS Master Plan through the implementation of sustainable forest landscape management plans in three pilot sites, financed sustainably through the diversification and increased allocation of funds for conservation. It is designed to remove the barriers to the establishment of a landscape approach to biodiversity management. The project comprises of three components:

Component 1. Planning, compliance monitoring and enforcement framework for integrated forest landscape management;

Component 2. Sustainable forest landscape management of three priority forest landscapes within the CFS; and

Component 3. Diversification of financing sources for conservation.

The project contributes to the implementation of the new Country Programme Action Plan 2016 – 2020, particularly Outcome 2 which focuses at the national and sub-national level to recognize and integrate the value of biodiversity and ecosystems, and the principle of sustainability into development planning, policy and decision-making processes. The IC-CFS project outputs also feed directly into the implementation of 11th Malaysia Plan Strategic Thrust 4 Pursuing Green Growth for Sustainability and Resilience, National Policy on Biological Diversity 2016 – 2025, National Physical Plan 2005, Central Forest Spine Master Plan 2008 and National Tiger Action Plan 2008.

More information about IC-CFS project can be found at http://www.my.undp.org/content/malaysia/en/home/operations/projects/environment_and_energy/improving-connectivity-in-the-central-forest-spine--cfs--landsca.html. In this regard, UNDP Malaysia is looking for a Project Manager, Biodiversity and Ecosystems who is responsible for the overall implementation of IC-CFS and/or relevant biodiversity and ecosystems projects by providing strong leadership on project management and implementation, operational and technical matters.

Duties and Responsibilities

Role:

The Project Manager will lead the IC-CFS project team. He/She works primarily with UNDP Malaysia Country Office, government implementing partners and agencies, relevant stakeholders and experts/contractors.

Responsibilities and Key Results Expected:

Summary of key functions:

1. Project Management (40%): Day-to-day management and implementation to ensure achievement of project results and delivery of outputs & activities;
2. Partnership and Stakeholder Management (30%): Management of stakeholders and partners, and development of new partnerships.  
3. Technical Support (20%): Provision of technical support services in the development of outputs/knowledge products and design of project activities including monitoring and evaluation;
4. Knowledge Management (10%): Supervision and guidance to knowledge building, sharing and documentation of project results, best practices, case studies, lessons learned, etc.

Details of Key Functions:

Project Management (40%): Day-to-day management and implementation to ensure achievement of project objectives and outputs & activities.

• Supervision of the overall day-to-day management and implementation of project outputs and activities as outlined in the project document, inception report, Programme Management Unit decisions and National/Project Steering Committee decisions where applicable;
• Strategic guidance and management oversight to ensure project implementation is on track;
• Management of project finances achievement of annual delivery target (at least 95%), with accountability to National/Project Steering Committee/Project Board, UNDP and Implementing Partners;
• For services which falls under UNDP’s transaction, he/she is to ensure that UNDP-specific policies, rules and processes (annual work plan, budgeting, finance, procurement, audit, monitoring and evaluation, reporting etc.) are fully complied according to deadlines. These include:
  • Preparation and submission of annual work plan with annual outputs and activities, result-based indicators and targets with budget breakdown to UNDP, MEA and Implementing Partners.
  • Preparation of overall and annual project procurement plan;
  • Development of terms of reference for technical services, consultants/experts and specification of equipment/materials as required by the project, in consultation with UNDP Programme Manager and Implementing Partners.
  • Preparation and submission of Quarterly Progress Report, Mid-year Progress Report, Annual Project Report, Project Implementation Review and Final Project Report to UNDP and MEA.
  • Supervision to all project documentation and records keeping for procurement, Midterm Review, Terminal Evaluation, audit, project assurance activities and knowledge management.
  • Assist project in ensuring project is in line with SDG goals and reporting;
  • Ensure management and administrative requirements (technical, financial, communications, audits, evaluations, etc.) of the different partners/donors (notably Global Environment Facility) are met;
• Management of risks and issues, and execution of adaptive management in consultation with UNDP Programme Manager and PMU if required;
• Management of project team to ensure the team operates in a productive manner, through a clear division of labour, setting of specific annual goals and targets for all team members including annual performance planning at the start of each year and performance evaluation at mid-year and at the end of each calendar year; 
• Identification and sourcing of necessary technical expertise and support from UNDP Country Office, local and international, and oversee the recruitment of experts and service providers;
• Management of experts and service providers through planning, implementing, managing and monitoring the delivery of outputs, reports and knowledge products;
• Supervision of the planning and organisation of events and capacity building activities such as conference, workshop, training, consultations, meetings of the National/Project Steering Committee, Technical Working Committee and Core Groups, and technical missions;
• Ensure that the project draw from other UNDP-supported projects, avoiding duplication and maximizing synergy.
• Completion of other relevant duties and tasks assigned by PMU and UNDP Programme Manager, where applicable.

Partnership and Stakeholder Management (30%): Management of stakeholders and partners, development of new partnerships.

• Identification of stakeholders and implementation partners for the undertaking of various outputs and activities;
• Preparation and implementation of a stakeholder mapping and stakeholder engagement/partnership strategy including civil society/non-government organisations and indigenous & local communities with activities, targets and expected results;
• Liaison with other relevant government and relevant partners/stakeholders, UNDP Country Office, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, UNDP-supported project colleagues, regarding the project, including to share information about trends, issues and results in the thematic area, to coordinate and utilize resources effectively and efficiently.
• Development of new partnership with civil society and/or non-governmental based organizations; local communities and private sector to deliver the project outputs and activities, if need;

Technical Support (20%): Provision of technical support services in the development of outputs/knowledge products, design of project activities including monitoring and evaluation.

• Review and contribute to all outputs and deliverables produced under the project;
• Analysis and aggregation of project results/outputs, and reporting of project progress at the objective and outcome level;
• Review and ensure technical soundness and cost effectiveness of project activities;
• Development and implementation of capacity building activities aimed at government counterparts, civil society groups, media and relevant stakeholders to implement CFS Master Plan, CFS landscape management plans, CFS sustainable finance strategy and other relevant government policies/strategies/action plans;
• Provide technical support to the implementation of IC-CFS landscape management plan and sustainable finance strategy.
• Contribution of written inputs to UNDP flagship products/newsletter/policy brief (e.g. Human Development Report), knowledge networks and communities of thematic practice based on project results, data and information, lessons learned and best practices.
• To formulate a framework for data sharing among stakeholders.

Knowledge Management (10%): Supervision and guidance to knowledge building, sharing and documentation of project results, best practices, case studies, lessons learned, etc.  

• Preparation and update of project information page, project stories for UNDP websites, government and relevant websites, media, etc. on a quarterly basis;
• Development of knowledge products with UNDP, implementing partners and consultants/experts;
• Supervision and contribution to the design and publication of communication materials and knowledge products and knowledge-sharing platforms; tools and mechanisms;
• Supervision to the synthesis and documentation of project results, lessons learned, best practices and case studies draw from the project;
• Sharing of knowledge and information between UNDP, project management and government counterparts in the process of project implementation;
• Ensure that no statements are made or announced, and no data or information released regarding the projects without prior consent from UNDP and implementing partners.

Impacts of Results:

The key results are aimed at achieving the project development objective, which is to increase federal and state level capacity to execute the CFS Master Plan through the implementation of sustainable forest landscape management plans in three pilot sites, financed sustainably through the diversification and increased allocation of funds for conservation at the end of the project.

The key results also contribute to the outcome achievement of the UNDP Country Programme Action Plan 2016 – 2020, in particular the Outcome 2 of Sustainable and Resilient Development.

Handling of Data, Information and Documents:

All data, information and documents obtained under this assignment is the property of the United Nations Development Programme and Government of Malaysia and be treated as strictly confidential. No such information shall be used by the expert for any other purpose other than the preparation of deliverables.

All soft and hard copies of the data, information and documents must be returned to UNDP and Government of Malaysia upon completion of this assignment.   

Institutional Arrangement:

The National Consultant will report to and seek approval and/or acceptance of deliverables from the National Project Director and Head of Sustainable and Resilient Development of UNDP Country Office in Malaysia or from his/her representative as reflected in Diagram. (please download the diagram);

The National Consultant is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources as the lead implementing government agency and other agencies including Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM) and state implementing agencies etc.

Duration of the work:

The duration of service required is 6-months renewable until 2021 subject to performance and budget availability.

Duty Station:

• Based in implementing agency with occasional trips to Putrajaya and/or project sites;
• Consultant has to complete the new mandatory security awareness training prior to commencement of travel: BSAFE;
• Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations/insurance when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director.
• Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/.
• Consultants will be responsible for providing her/his own work station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection;
• Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the consultant is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones;

Schedule of payment:

Payment to be made based on completed deliverables against the TOR, which will be assessed and verified by the UNDP Malaysia and UNDP-Global Environmental Finance Regional Technical Adviser.

Contracts based on daily fee:

The fee will be paid on a monthly based on time sheet completed with description of tasks, certified by Programme Manager. UNDP makes payments based on the actual number of days worked.

The estimated maximum number of workdays for the duration of the consultancy is as follows:

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Promoting ethics and integrity;
• Building support and political acumen;
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Building and promoting effective teams;
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Functional Competencies:

Project Management

Level 4: Results-based project management

• Effectively manage and implement project outputs and activities to achieve outcomes;
• Implement UNDP monitoring and evaluation requirements by ensuring 100% compliance;
• Perform adaptive management to address project implementation issues.
   

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

Level 4: Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

• Creates effective advocacy strategies;
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Level 4: Developing new approaches

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Level 4: Developing tools and mechanisms

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;

• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Level 4: In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Client Orientation

Level 4: Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

• Anticipates client needs;
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree or higher in Conservation Biology, Ecology, Environmental/Natural Resource Economics, Environmental Studies, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or other closely related discipline. 

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, of which at least 3 years working in biodiversity or forest landscape policy and planning.

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum of 12 years of professional experience in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, of which at least 5 years working in biodiversity or forest landscape policy and planning.

Language:

• English and Bahasa Malaysia

Other requirements:

• Experience in results-based project implementation and management;
• Experience in managing teams and promoting their capacity development;
• Experience in overseeing and guiding the development of communications and knowledge management strategies and products
• Strong knowledge of biodiversity & ecosystem and sustainable landscape management in Malaysia;
• Proven track record of drafting relevant materials (publications, reports and related documentation) in the field of biodiversity & ecosystem and sustainable landscape management;
• Excellent communication (written and oral) skills;
• Working experience with private sector or international organization would be an advantage.

Documents to be included when submitting proposals:

Interested individual applicants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability (Annex 1) provided by UNDP;
2. Technical Proposal on how your qualifications, experience and list of track records can lead to successful deliverables of this assignment within the required timeframe, and provide a methodology and approach on how you will approach and conduct the assignments;
3. Financial Proposal (Annex 2) should specify unit price (daily professional fee in USD), travel and relevant costs using the financial proposal template in Annex 2.
4. Personal CV including areas of expertise and past experiences in similar projects and at least three (3) references.

How to Apply:

• Kindly download the Letter of Confirmation of interest and availability, Financial Proposal Template and General Terms & Conditions mentioned below;
• Read and agree to the General Terms & Conditions;
• Click the ‘apply’ icon and complete what is required;
• Scan all documents into 1 pdf folder and then upload;
• For clarification question, please email to procurement.my@undp.org. The clarification question deadline is three (3) days before the closing. When emailing for clarification questions, please put "MyIC/2019/056" as the subject matter.

Forms and General terms & conditions to be downloaded:

• The UN Personal History Form (P11) is available at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/P11%20for%20SC%20&%20IC.doc?download
• The diagram and Financial Proposal are availalbe at http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/MyIC_2019_056%20Annex%202%20%26%203.docx
• The Letter of Confirmation of Interest at: http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Letter%20of%20Interest%20_Annex%201.docx?download
• The General Terms & Conditions for Individual contract is available at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/General%20Conditions%20of%20Contract%20for%20IC.pdf?download
• The General Terms & Conditions for Reimbursement Loan Agreement is available at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Reimbursable%20Loan%20Agreement%20_%20Terms%20&%20Conditions.pdf?download 

Criteria for selection of the best offer:

The award of the contract will be made to the Individual Expert who has obtained the highest Combined Score and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions. Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated. The offers will be evaluated using the “Combined Scoring method” where:

1. The technical proposal including educational background and experience on similar assignments will be weighted a max. of 70%. Provide brief information on the experience gained with concrete experience - a maximum 500 words-long.  Evidence of key deliverables and results could be attached to the document.

• The financial proposal will weigh as 30% of the total scoring. Indicate the all-inclusive daily fee.

Please Note:

The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. professional fee, and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services). The fee should be quoted in US dollar only.

Payment Modality: Monthly upon satisfactory submission of monthly progress reports, time sheets, Certificate of Payment (COP) and other required reports.

Travel: Successful consultants must be able to travel to facilitate consultations in countries based on demand if required. When such a request comes, the organization shall bear the cost of travel including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses based on extant policies and rules. Should the Individual Consultant (IC) wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.