Historique

The GEF Small Grants Program has been a fundamental part of the GEF’s support to the production of global environmental benefits and the implementation of the UNFCCC, UNCBD, UNCCD and other multilateral environmental agreements in India since 1992 when the India SGP Country Program was first established. UNDP/GEF recently secured PPG financing for the Seventh Operational Phase of the GEF Small Grants Programme in India. The project aims to enable community organizations in India to take collective action for adaptive landscape management for socio-ecological resilience - through design, implementation and evaluation of grant projects for global environmental benefits and sustainable development. The project will be financed by the GEF Trust Fund.

This Initiation Plan (IP) project will provide support towards preparation of the project described in the recently approved PIF for the Seventh Operational Phase of the GEF SGP in India. The IP is financed through a Project Preparation Grant which will cover the costs of preparation activities: stakeholder consultations, baseline assessments, and development of a project log frame with defined baseline and indicators, a detailed work plan, and the definition of the management arrangements for the FSP. Consultations and these other activities will be supported by desk review of support documentation, as appropriate.? The final output of the initiation plan will be a UNDP-GEF project document and GEF CEO Endorsement Request ready for submission to UNDP and GEF.? The documents will be compliant with the specific requirements of the GEF and conform to UNDP Operational Policies and Guidelines.

The preparatory phase for the detailed design of this initiative will take place between June 2019- April 2020, following a detailed Project Preparation Grant (PPG) Initiation Plan (IP), attached as Annex I. During this time, various activities will be undertaken to finalise the design of project documents that will govern the activities of the proposed GEF financed project. These due-diligence related activities will build on those undertaken during the development of the concept (Project Identification Form- PIF, attached here as Annex II). A Project Document and a GEF CEO Endorsement Request will be produced in accordance with the various requirements of UNDP and GEF, based on the above information. Comprehensive stakeholder discussions and input will be relied on throughout the design phase.

In the context of the above, UNDP is seeking the services of an experienced individual to lead a series of activities required for the preparation of the project document to the standard required by UNDP-GEF.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The consultant is tasked with the production and delivery of the UNDP Project Document and GEF CEO Endorsement Request. This will require that he/she coordinate the input from all relevant stakeholders to produce the Project Document (PPG team, including Local Consultant, Government counterparts, others). The assignment will involve extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders including, UNDP staff, as well as government officials and NGO representatives, both in person and remotely. Travel to conduct stakeholder consultations will be required to the landscapes identified in the PIF to meet and consult with communities and local organizations, and potential partners of this project. Overall oversight of the consultant and his/her work will be provided by the UNDP/GEF Upgrading Country Program Global Coordinator along with the national government.

Devoirs et responsabilités

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks and ensuring the timely delivery and quality of the following outputs:

• Preparation of a comprehensive Project Document consistent with UNDP quality standards and criteria. The Project Document should reflect the outputs produced as a result of implementation of the Initiation Plan financed through the GEF Project Preparation Grant. The preparation of the Project Document will include quality control and final formulation of the following indicative sections of a UNDP/GEF-compliant document (in line with Component A, B, and C of this Initiation Plan):?
  • Situation Analysis (global environmental problems, proximate and root causal logic, long-term solution and barriers to achieving the solution)
  • Project Strategy (country ownership, project rationale and policy conformity, design principles and strategic considerations, community-based approach taking into account the SGP modus operandi, project objective, outcomes, and outputs/activities, key indicators, risks, assumptions, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, replicability, stakeholder involvement plan, and environmental and social safeguards, including gender analysis and action plan)
  • Project Results Framework
  • Total Budget and Work Plan
  • Management Arrangements
  • Monitoring Framework and Evaluation
  • Legal Context
  • Annexes
    • Risk Analysis
    • Agreements
    • References
    • Key assessment reports
    • Capacity assessments
    • Terms of Reference for Project staff and main consultants and sub-contracts
    • Stakeholder involvement Plan
    • Letters of co-financing
    • Gender Action Plan
    • PCAT and Hact Micro-Assessment

The above sections are indicative; as templates may be subject to change, the consultant will be required to obtain guidance from the UCP-GC on applicable formats and templates to ensure that his/her work is compliant with UNDP/GEF standards and criteria. The development of this Project Document will include all inputs from the PPG team, consolidated by the consultant.

• Preparation and submission of a detailed work plan with clear milestones and results for the assignment for approval by the UNDP/GEF UCP-GC
• Preparation of the new Partner Capacity Assessment Tool, available in the Programme and Project Management Chapter of the POPP, under?Select Implementing Partner?(procedure 2.0) and?Select Responsible Party and Grantee?(procedure 3.0).
• Preparation of the CEO Endorsement Request, to the standard required by UNDP
• Preparation of a report on the PPG phase, including financial information
• Provision of further project information or revisions in response to GEF project reviews

Deliverables

1. Management of the GEF PPG Team

a. Define and submit a detailed methodology and work plan in consultation with the other consultants with clear delegation of responsibilities for the International Consultants (ICs) and National Consultants (NCs);

b. Ensure that project development is participatory, gender-responsive and based on extensive stakeholder engagements; and

c. Verify and ensure that all project components are technically sound and cost effective.

2. Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): With inputs from the other national and international consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs:

a. Compile baseline/situational analysis for the full-size project (FSP). This will include a precise definition of baseline projects, activities, budgets, goals and co-financial links to GEF outcomes; definition of GEF incremental value per outcome and output; and presentation of results of the incremental cost-analysis in matrices as appropriate;

b. Oversee the stakeholder analysis and consultations and ensure that they are complete and comprehensive;

c. Ensure the preparation of the gender analysis and ensure its findings are meaningfully integrated into the project’s strategy, theory of change and results framework;

d. Ensure action points, including risk assessments, from the UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) at the PIF stage (“pre-screening”) are fully implemented during the PPG, and update that screening in an iterative fashion throughout the PPG, as appropriate;?

e. Conduct/oversee the identification of the project sites, with documentation of selection criteria;

f. Oversee the consultations with partners regarding financial planning; and

g. Ensure completion of any additional studies that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs.

3. Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B): With inputs from the other national and international consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs, and based on international best practice:

a. Develop, present and articulate the project’s theory of change;

b. Develop the Results Framework in line with UNDP-GEF policy;

c. Develop a detailed Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and Budget;?

d. Oversee and ensure the preparation of a Stakeholder Engagement Plan;

e. Oversee and ensure the preparation of a Gender Action Plan and Budget;

f. Update the SESP based on assessments undertaken during Component A, and ensure the development of required environmental and/or social management plan(s);?

g. Prepare the required GEF Core Indicators;

h. Secure and present agreements on project management arrangements;?

i. Ensure the completion of the required official endorsement letters; and

j. Synthesize all analyses, studies, etc. that are prepared under Components A and B to produce the draft UNDP-GEF ProDoc, GEF CEO Endorsement, and all mandatory and project specific Annexes, using the required templates.?

4) Validation Workshop (Component C):?

a. Lead the validation workshop to present, discuss and validate the final draft ProDoc and mandatory and project specific annexes, with a special focus on the SESP and any management plans; and

b. Oversee all necessary revisions that arise during the workshop.

c. Ensure completion of Validation Workshop Report.

5) Final Deliverables:

a. Consolidation of all technical and consultation inputs including from national stakeholders, UNDP, GEF Secretariat, STAP and GEF Council, into a well written and concise UNDP ProDoc with all required sections and Annexes, in line with the standard UNDP-GEF ProDoc template and annotated guidance;

b. Completion of the GEF CEO Endorsement Request;?

c. All documentation from GEF PPG (including technical reports, etc.); and

d. Validation Workshop Report.

Compétences

1. Advanced University degree in the fields of participatory rural development, community-based environmental or ecosystem management, rural sociology and economics, or relevant related fields.
2. At least five years of working experience in the area of environment and gender.
3. Experience carrying out participatory gender analysis; experience collecting and formulating gender responsive indicators and sex-disaggregated data and preparing gender responsive project analysis; developing gender action plans.
4. Demonstrated experience working on policy and programmatic issues with national and local governments and civil society organizations including community organizations.
5. Experience with project development and results-based management methodologies is highly desired.
6. Experience in drafting project concepts and proposals.
7. Experience in arranging and conduction meetings with stakeholders and beneficiaries.
8. Familiarity with GEF policies, templates and requirements for FSP preferred.
9. Familiarity with the UN Conventions on Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change and Land Degradation and Desertification.
10. Understanding of community-based approaches to sustainable development and land use planning and management.
11. Understanding and knowledge of the GEF focal areas/Project Cycle or relevant areas.
12. Ability to understand and apply new terminology and concepts easily.
13. Computer skills (MS Office, Internet Explorer, etc.);
14. Excellent command of English.

Qualifications et expériences requises

• Excellent English written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports.
• Master’s degree in environment, development economics, rural development, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of climate change adaptation, resilience and sustainable development.
• Demonstrated experience in project development, implementation and management.
• Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily and to turn information from various sources into a coherent project document.
• Knowledge of GEF systems, processes and terminology.
• Previous successful experience in formulation of GEF projects.
• Experience in working and collaborating with governments will be an asset.
• Experience in working in developing countries will be an asset

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (CV/P11) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical: 70 marks?
Financial: 30 marks?

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Criteria for Technical Evaluation would be as under:

Educational Qualification: 20 marks
Relevent Experience: 35 marks
Suitability for the assignment: 15 marks

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.

PROVISION OF MONITORING AND PROGRESS CONTROLS

The consultant will lead and coordinate all members of the PPG team, including specifically, the Local Consultant, as well as the community and gender specialist and climate change mitigation specialist. The consultant will be supervised by the UNDP country office.

Payment will be approved by UNDP/GEF UCP-GC, and follows below outlined payment schedule.

Submission of Proposal:

CV with 03 reference.

Financial Proposal

Notes:

As system allows uploading only one file, please merge above-mentioned documents to be submitted as part of application into one (1) single PDF document and upload.

Application may not be accepted, if all the above listed documents are not submitted.

The following documents can be accessed, clicking the link:

General Conditions for Individual Contract: http://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/procurement/UNDP%20General%20Conditions%20for%20Individual%20Contracts.pdf 

Offerors Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment, including Financial Proposal template

http://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/careers/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors-Letter-UNDP.pdf

For queries, please email to: ic.india@undp.org