Emplois au PNUD - 112922- National Terminal Evaluation Consultant for C-PAR2

National Terminal Evaluation Consultant for C-PAR2 and C-PAR3

Lieu :

home-based with possibility of field missions in China, CHINE

Type de contrat :

Individual Contract

Date de commencement :

04-Aug-2023

Date limite de candidature :

29-Jul-23 (Minuit New York, États-Unis)

Niveau du poste :

National Consultant

Durée du contrat initial

4 Aug 2023 – 31 Dec 2023

Langues requises :

Anglais Chinois

Durée prévue de la mission :

4 Aug 2023 – 31 Dec 2023

Le PNUD s’engage à recruter un personnel divers en termes de genre, de nationalité et de culture. Nous encourageons de même les personnes issues des minorités ethniques, des communautés autochtones ou handicapées à postuler. Toutes les candidatures seront traitées dans la plus stricte confidentialité. Le PNUD ne tolère pas l’exploitation et / ou les atteintes sexuelles, ni aucune forme de harcèlement, y compris le harcèlement sexuel, et / ou toutes formes de discrimination. Tous/tes les candidats/tes selectectionnes /ées devront ainsi se soumettre à de rigoureuses vérifications relatives aux références fournies ainsi qu’à leurs antécédents.

Historique

Please Submit your application directly on the UNDP online supplier portal as decribed below:

Link: http://supplier.quantum.partneragencies.org, Click-View Active Negotiations, Search with Negotiation Number: UNDP-CHN-00057, then Create response.

!!!!!!Please note that only the application submitted in UNDP online supplier portal is accepted!!!!!!

Incomplete applications will be excluded from further consideration.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently requires the Interpreter services of Two individuals to perform the work described in this document.

In consideration of your qualifications, we are hereby inviting you to submit an offer for this particular assignment.

Should you be interested and decide to submit an offer for this assignment, kindly submit directly in the online supplier portal no later than the deadline indicated in the system.

Offers must be submitted directly in the system following this link: http://supplier.quantum.partneragencies.org using the profile you may have in the portal. In case you have never registered before, you can register a profile using the registration link https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/fscmUI/faces/PrcPosRegisterSupplier?prcBuId=300000280598021 and following the instructions in guides available in UNDP website: https://www.undp.org/procurement/business/resources-for-bidders. Do not create a new profile if you already have one. Use the forgotten password feature in case you do not remember the password or the username from previous registration. If you are new registered for IC, the company name should be the name of individual.

If any discrepancy between deadline in the system and in deadline indicated elsewhere, deadline in the system prevails.

We look forward to your favourable response and thank you in advance for your interest in working with UNDP.

Sincerely,

A. INTRODUCTION

In accordance with UNDP and GEF M&E policies and procedures, all full- and medium-sized UNDP-supported GEF-financed projects are required to undergo a Terminal Evaluation (TE) at the end of the project. This Terms of Reference (ToR) sets out the expectations for the TE of the two full-sized projects below:

Project 1: Enhancing Conservation of Globally Significant Biodiversity Through Protected Area System Strengthening in Gansu Project (China-Protected Areas System Reform (C-PAR) Program Child Project #2) (PIMS 5689)

This project is implemented through the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Gansu Province. The project started on January 31st, 2019, and is in its fifth year of implementation.

Project 2: Strengthening the Protected Area System in the Qilian Mountains-Qinghai Lake Landscape Project (China-Protected Areas System Reform (C-PAR) Program Child Project #3) (PIMS 5690#)

This project is implemented through the Qinghai Forestry and Grassland Bureau. The project started on January 31st, 2019, and is in its fifth year of implementation.

The TE process must follow the guidance outlined in the document ‘Guidance For Conducting Terminal Evaluations of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects’ (http://web.undp.org/evaluation/guideline/documents/GEF/TE_GuidanceforUNDP-supportedGEF-financedProjects.pdf ).

B. PROJECT BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

This is the Terms of Reference for the UNDP-GEF Terminal Evaluation (TE) of Gansu Project and Qinghai Project:

Project 1: Gansu Project (C-PAR2) (PIMS #5689).

Gansu Province is notable for its topographical, climatic and biological diversity, including the West Qinling - Minshan Mountains landscape which features large tracts of forest that are critical watersheds and part of the south-central China ‘biodiversity hotspot’. Gansu Province has more than 60 nature reserves (NRs) that are important for endemic and globally threatened species such as giant panda, golden snub-nosed monkey, etc. However, the connectivity of forested landscapes and viability of key species populations are threatened by infrastructure development and unsustainable land management, exacerbated by climate change. The project is designed to remove the barriers for the long-term solution to strengthen the conservation of endemic and globally threatened species in Gansu Province through reducing threats and strengthening and mainstreaming the protected area (PA) system into government and sectoral planning through three components: 1) Improved legal and institutional framework for protected areas, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and globally threatened species, and mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation in provincial planning; 2) Strengthened West Qinling Mountains-Minshan Mountains PA network and reduction of threats; and 3) Knowledge Management, Monitoring and Evaluation and Gender Mainstreaming.

The project objective is to strengthen the conservation of globally significant biodiversity in Gansu Province through improving the legal and institutional framework, reforming and mainstreaming the protected area system, enhancing habitat connectivity and reducing key threats. The project comprises of three components:

Outcome 1: Improved legal and institutional framework for Protected Areas (PAs), Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and globally threatened species, and mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation in provincial planning
Outcome 2: Strengthened West Qinling Mountains-Minshan Mountains PA network and reduction of threats
Outcome 3: Improved data and knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation supports biodiversity conservation

Activities under component 1 has been focused on provincial level to update related legislation and the biodiversity conservation strategy and action plan, develop the PA and ecological corridor network plan, improve the institutional capacity for PA system and species conservation, and strengthen financial sustainability of the PA system. Activities under component 2 has been focused on the West Qinling - Minshan Mountains landscape with four target NRs (A’xia, Duo’er, Chagangliang and Yuhe), two Ecological Corridors in Liangdang and Hezheng County, and Endanger Animal Protection Center (EAPC) in Wuwei City. Results of the second component include a strengthened PA and ecological corridor network in the West Qinling-Minshan Mountains landscape expanded by more than 25,000 ha; improved management effectiveness and reduced threats at four target NRs covering c.355,530 ha, with strengthened engagement of communities and support for livelihoods. Under the third component, the project has been sharing knowledge with stakeholders and other projects through the C-PAR Program, and awareness of biodiversity conservation raised among key stakeholders.

Implemented by the Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Gansu (GFGB), Gansu Provincial Forest Fire Warning and Monitoring Information Center (Gansu Provincial Foreign-Funded Forestry Project Management Office) of GFGB has hosted the project management office (PMO). The Project Coordination Office is established in the Provincial Department of Finance. The project duration is 5 years, from January 31st, 2019, to January 31st, 2024. The total budget is $20,697,293.58, including $2,652,293.58 of GEF contribution and $18,045,000 co-financing jointly provided by the provincial government of Gansu and UNDP.

The project launched on May 13th, 2019. The Project Steering Committee (PSC) was established on April 23rd, 2019, and the first PSC meeting was also held on May 13th, 2019. Representatives from GFGB, UNDP and 11 provincial departments attended the first PSC meeting.

Project 2: Qinghai Project (C-PAR3) (PIMS #5690)

Consolidation of the protected area system in the Qilian Mountains-Qinghai Lake landscape to conserve globally significant biodiversity and development of landscape level management will promote resilience and a functional natural environment across these critical ecosystems. The project aims to strengthen the enabling conditions both at the institutional and site level, to enhance the participation of local communities in natural resource management towards achieving mutually beneficial conservation and socioeconomic outcomes. Although the current protected areas in the Qilian Mountains-Qinghai Lake landscape, namely the Qinghai Lake national nature reserve (NNR) and the Qilian Mountains nature reserve (NR), are managed under sustainable use arrangements, e.g., access for local Tibetan herders to grassland ecosystems, there remain threats to globally significant biodiversity that are not being effectively managed. The project is designed to increase participation through collaborative management and innovative conservation financing arrangements, including but not limited to: (1) expansion of the PA system and management under collaborative community arrangements; (2) community and/or herder group agreements to remove or adjust fencing to reduce threats to Przewalski’s gazelle and increase habitat connectivity; (3) development of community jobs in support of PA management; (4) support for sustainable alternative livelihoods linked to conservation incentives, e.g., biodiversity friendly eco-tourism; (5) collaborative implementation of grassland restoration, utilizing local herders to patrol and manage the process; (6) collaborative livestock management in high mountain grasslands, reducing seasonal fragmentation of habitat for key species, including the snow leopard; and (7) pilot implementation of innovative conservation financing, e.g., through conservation easement arrangements, including transfer of tenure and/or land use rights, to support restoration and improve habitat management.

The Project Objective is “to strengthen the effectiveness of the protected area system in the Qilian Mountains-Qinghai Lake landscape to conserve globally significant biodiversity, including snow leopard and Przewalski’s gazelle”. The project strategy, as the GEF project alternative aimed at removing the barriers outlined above, is broken down into the following three components:

Component 1: Protected Area System Consolidation and Institutional Strengthening
Component 2: Emplacement of Effective PA Management and Incentivising Participatory Conservation
Component 3: Knowledge Management, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Gender and Social Inclusion.

Implementing Partner is the Qinghai Forestry and Grassland Bureau (QFGB), the Project Management Office (PMO) is established under the Qinghai Forestry and Grassland Project Service Center (QFGPSC) of QFGB. The Project Coordination Office is in the Qinghai Department of Finance. The project duration is 5 years, from January 31st, 2019, to January 31st, 2024. The total budget is $20,697,293.58, including $2,652,293.58 of GEF grant and $18,045,000 co-financing jointly provided by the provincial government of Qinghai and UNDP.

The project inception workshop was officially conducted on June 19th, 2019. The Project Steering Committee (PSC) was established on April 1st, 2019, and the first PSC meeting was also held on June 19th, 2019. Representatives from QFGB, UNDP and nine provincial PSC member departments attended the first PSC meeting.

Devoirs et responsabilités

. TE PURPOSE

The TE report will assess the achievement of Gansu Project and Qinghai projects results against what was expected to be achieved, and draw lessons that can both improve the sustainability of benefits from this project, and aid in the overall enhancement of UNDP programming. The TE report promotes accountability and transparency, and assesses the extent of project accomplishments.

The TE will also establish the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, performance and success of the project, including the sustainability of results and the long-term sustainability strategy. The TE will draw and analyze lessons learned through the project and best practices pertaining to the strategies employed, and implementation arrangements, which may be utilized to inform future programs.

. DETAILED SCOPE OF THE TE

The TE will assess project performance against expectations set out in the projects’ Logical Framework/Results Framework (see ToR Annex A). The TE will assess results according to the criteria outlined in the Guidance for TEs of UNDP-supported GEF-financed Projects. The Findings section of the TE report will cover the topics listed below.

Considering that the TE team will conduct evaluation for 2 independent child projects under one programme, despite shared overall programmatic level background, stand-alone evaluation reports and relevant documents are required for each one of the projects.

A full outline of the TE report’s content is provided in the ToR Annex C.

The asterisk “(*)” indicates criteria for which a rating is required.

Findings

1.Project Design/Formulation

National priorities and country driven-ness
Theory of Change
Gender equality and women’s empowerment
Social and Environmental Safeguards
Analysis of Results Framework: project logic and strategy, indicators
Assumptions and Risks
Lessons from other relevant projects (e.g. same focal area) incorporated into project design
Planned stakeholder participation
Linkages between project and other interventions within the sector
Management arrangements

2.Project Implementation

Adaptive management (changes to the project design and project outputs during implementation)
Actual stakeholder participation and partnership arrangements
Project Finance and Co-finance
Monitoring & Evaluation: design at entry (*), implementation (*), and overall assessment of M&E (*)
Implementing Agency (UNDP) (*) and Executing Agency (*), overall project oversight/implementation and execution (*)
Risk Management, including Social and Environmental Standards

3.Project Results

Assess the achievement of outcomes against indicators by reporting on the level of progress for each objective and outcome indicator at the time of the TE and noting final achievements
Relevance (*), Effectiveness (*), Efficiency (*) and overall project outcome (*)
Sustainability: financial (*) , socio-political (*), institutional framework and governance (*), environmental (*), overall likelihood of sustainability (*)
Country ownership
Gender equality and women’s empowerment
Cross-cutting issues (poverty alleviation, improved governance, climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster prevention and recovery, human rights, capacity development, South-South cooperation, knowledge management, volunteerism, etc., as relevant)
GEF Additionality
Catalytic Role / Replication Effect
Progress to impact

Main Findings, Conclusions, Recommendations and Lessons Learned

The TE team will include a summary of the main findings of the TE report. Findings should be presented as statements of fact that are based on analysis of the data.
The section on conclusions will be written in light of the findings. Conclusions should be comprehensive and balanced statements that are well substantiated by evidence and logically connected to the TE findings. They should highlight the strengths, weaknesses and results of the project, respond to key evaluation questions and provide insights into the identification of and/or solutions to important problems or issues pertinent to project beneficiaries, UNDP and the GEF, including issues in relation to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Recommendations should provide concrete, practical, feasible and targeted recommendations directed to the intended users of the evaluation about what actions to take and decisions to make. The recommendations should be specifically supported by the evidence and linked to the findings and conclusions around key questions addressed by the evaluation.
The TE report should also include lessons that can be taken from the evaluation, including best and worst practices in addressing issues relating to relevance, performance and success that can provide knowledge gained from the particular circumstance (programmatic and evaluation methods used, partnerships, financial leveraging, etc.) that are applicable to other GEF and UNDP interventions. When possible, the TE team should include examples of good practices in project design and implementation.
It is important for the conclusions, recommendations and lessons learned of the TE report to include results related to gender equality and empowerment of women.

Compétences

A team of Two consultants (One international consultant as the team leader, and One national evaluator) will conduct the TE. The team leader with experience and exposure to projects and evaluations in other regions will be responsible for the overall design, providing guidance to the national consultant and writing of the TE report. The national consultant will work with the Project Team in developing the TE itinerary and do the field visit to the sites, be responsible for collecting the necessary information to provide to the evaluation team.

The evaluator(s) cannot have participated in the project preparation, formulation and/or implementation (including the writing of the project document), must not have conducted this project’s Mid-Term Review and should not have a conflict of interest with the project’s related activities.

The selection of evaluators will be aimed at maximizing the overall “team” qualities in the following areas:

Qualifications for the National Consultant

1. Education

At least a Master’s degree in Biodiversity/Environmental Science/Environmental or other closely related field(10%);

2. Experience

Work experience in Biodiversity related management for at least 8 years; Experience in protected area, wildlife conservation, or related areas for at least 3 years; (20%)
Relevant experience with results-based management evaluation methodologies; (10%)
At least 5 years’ experience working with Chinese government departments, ministries, communities and NGOs (15%)
Experience applying SMART indicators and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios; (10%)
Project evaluation/review experience within United Nations system; project evaluation/review; experience with UNDP-GEF projects would be highly preferable; (15%)
Competence in adaptive management, as applied to CBD; (5%)
Excellent communication skills; (5%)
Demonstrable analytical skills;(5%)

3. Language

Fluency in written and spoken Chinese (native speaker) and English (5%)

Qualifications et expériences requises

Recommended Presentation of Proposal:

Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template[1] provided by UNDP;
CV and a Personal History Form (P11 form[2]);
Brief description of approach to work/technical proposal of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a proposed methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment; (max 1 page)
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price and all other travel related costs (such as flight ticket, per diem, etc.), supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template attached to the Letter of Confirmation of Interest template. If an applicant is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the applicant must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

Applicants are requested to apply online (UNDP Procurement Website) by (June 30, 2023). Incomplete applications will be excluded from further consideration.

Criteria for Evaluation of Proposal: Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated. Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the educational background and experience on similar assignments will be weighted at 70% and the price proposal will weigh as 30% of the total scoring. The applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score that has also accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.

[1]https://intranet.undp.org/unit/bom/pso/Support%20documents%20on%20IC%20Guidelines/Template%20for%20Confirmation%20of%20Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal.docx

[2] http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc