Historique
The Implementing an integrated “Ridge to Reef” approach to enhance ecosystem services, to conserve globally important biodiversity and to sustain local livelihoods in the FSM is a five-year (2015-2020) Project, funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by UNDP and executed nationally by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECCEM), in the Federated States of Micronesia. The GEF grant is of USD 4,689,815.
The Project’s objective is: to strengthen local, State and National capacities and actions to implement integrated ecosystem-based management through “ridge to reef” approach on the High Islands of the four States of the FSM. This will be achieved through two components that are designed to address the barriers of (i) not having an overarching framework for promoting sustainable development in FSM’s High Islands and (ii) inadequate representation and ineffective management of biodiversity in protected areas:
Component 1: Integrated Ecosystems Management and Rehabilitation on the High Islands of the FSM to enhance Ridge to Reef Connectivity, (Outcome 1), which is essentially about sustainable land management; and
Component 2: Management Effectiveness enhanced within new and existing PAs on the High Islands of FSM as part of R2R approach, both marine and terrestrial (Outcome 2), which is essentially about protected areas
Marine and terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem services underpin social well-being and the economy of the Federated States of Micronesia and are vital to food security. These resources and services, however, are currently being undermined by unsustainable natural resource use and practices; spread of invasive alien species; the impacts of climate change; and, the limitations of government to effectively implement its programs and policies.
The development of a Strategy Environment Assessment (SEA) is a key activity currently being implemented. This is potentially the largest component of the R2R as it will inform decision making concerning land management and biodiversity conservation in the four states of FSM.
This project is designed to engineer a paradigm shift in the approach to and management of natural resources from an ad-hoc species/site/problem centric approach to a holistic ecosystem-based management “ridge to reef” approach guided by planning and management process that are informed by actual data. The shift to an ecosystem-based approach within National and State governments will ensure that whole island systems are managed to enhance ecosystem goods and services, to conserve globally important biodiversity and to sustain local livelihoods.
The project will promote an integrated approach towards fostering sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation by seeking greater awareness, knowledge and participation of all stakeholders in achieving a greater balance between environmental management and development needs. In doing so it will reduce conflicting land-uses and land-use practices and improve the sustainability of terrestrial and marine management so as to maintain the flow of vital ecosystem services and sustain the livelihoods of local communities. Further, the project will demonstrate sustainable land management practices testing new management measures, as needed, to reduce existing environmental stressors and institutional limitations.
The project will also enhance the FSMs capacities to effectively manage its protected area estate as well as increase the coverage of the terrestrial and marine protected area network on the High Islands.
Devoirs et responsabilités
The MTR must provide evidence-based information that is credible, reliable and useful. The MTR consultant will review all relevant sources of information including documents prepared during the preparation phase (i.e. PIF, UNDP Initiation Plan, UNDP Environmental & Social Safeguard Policy, the Project Document, project reports including Annual Project Review/PIRs, project budget revisions, lesson learned reports, national strategic and legal documents, and any other materials that the team considers useful for this evidence-based review). The MTR consultant will review the baseline GEF focal area Tracking Tool submitted to the GEF at CEO endorsement, and the midterm GEF focal area Tracking Tool that must be completed before the MTR field mission begins.
The MTR consultant is expected to follow a collaborative and participatory approach[1] ensuring close engagement with the Project Team, government counterparts (the GEF Operational Focal Point), the UNDP Country Office(s), UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisers, and other key stakeholders.
Engagement of stakeholders is vital to a successful MTR.[2] Stakeholder involvement should include interviews with stakeholders who have project responsibilities, including but not limited to national government departments, state governments, state-based NGO’s/ Civil Society Organizations, resource owning communities, component leaders, key experts and consultants in the subject area, Project Steering Committee, other project stakeholders, academia, etc. Additionally, the MTR team is expected to conduct field missions to all four states including Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk and Yap.
The final MTR report should describe the full MTR approach taken and the rationale for the approach making explicit the underlying assumptions, challenges, strengths and weaknesses about the methods and approach of the review.
.
Compétences
A independent consultant will conduct the MTR - one team leader (with experience and exposure to projects and evaluations in other regions globally). The consultant cannot have participated in the project preparation, formulation, and/or implementation (including the writing of the Project Document) and should not have a conflict of interest with project’s related activities.
The selection of consultant will be aimed at maximizing the overall qualities in the following areas
Recent experience with result-based management evaluation methodologies;
Experience applying SMART indicators and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios;
Competence in adaptive management, as applied to GEF Focal Areas of land degradation, international waters and biodiversity);
Previous experience facilitating evaluations of GEF/UNDP and other development agency supported projects/initiatives;
Experience working in the Pacific region and/or small island state is advantageous;
Work experience in relevant technical areas for at least 10 years;
Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender and biodiversity, land degradation and international waters; experience in gender sensitive evaluation and analysis.
Excellent communication skills;
Demonstrable analytical skills;
Qualifications et expériences requises
A Master’s degree in Environmental Conservation, Sustainable Development, Development studies
Consultancy Proposal should be sent via email to etenderbox.pacific@undp.org no later than 17th January, 2019 (Fiji Time) clearly stating the title of consultancy applied for. Any proposals received after this date/time will not be accepted. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to procurement.fj@undp.org. UNDP will respond in writing or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants. Incomplete, late and joint proposals will not be considered and only offers for which there is further interest will be contacted. Failure to submit your application as stated as per the application submission guide (Procurement Notice) on the above link will be considered incomplete and therefore application will not be considered.
Proposal Submission Documents
Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal ( UNDP Template)
Detailed CV
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 (excluding in country costs of travel), 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.
The Consultant must send a financial proposal based on a Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs.
In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.
The complete Terms of Reference and Template for confirmation of interest and Submission of Financial Proposal is available under the procurement section of UNDP Fiji website (http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=52485)