Historique

Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), a global programme of UNDP, was launched in 2012, in response to the identified need by the CBD, to have better and adequate information to assess current expenditures and financing needs for countries to implement their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and need to have a comprehensive methodology to develop resource mobilization strategies and Biodiversity Finance Plans to implement NBSAPs. BIOFIN provides an innovative methodology for countries to measure their current biodiversity expenditures, assess their financial needs for biodiversity conservation in the medium term and identify most suitable finance solutions to reduce their national biodiversity finance gaps.

BIOFIN was launched in India in May 2015. It is being led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), hosted by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and managed by UNDP. The BIOFIN process presents a coherent and comprehensive national approach to biodiversity finance that encompasses a full suite of finance solutions, well beyond the mobilization of new and additional resources, engaging the public sector, private sector, and civil society. The aim is to produce a nationally validated Biodiversity Finance Plan that proposes steps to implement a mix of finance solutions in order to expand and improve the country’s biodiversity finance and achieve the NBTs.

BIOFIN has demonstrated implementation of select 3 finance solutions out of 12 potential finance solutions enlisted in the Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) - working document. This includes Corporate Social Responsibility, Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Public sector (Agriculture Sector) and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS).

With the growing demand of sustainability, the demand for quicker and hassle-free financial services is rising too, especially for start-ups and MSMEs which are the drivers of sustainable development. This growing demand has led to the evolution of a new generation financial system that combines finance with technology termed as “Fintech”. Fintech lending is gaining popularity in the world of business as it has disrupted age-old financial systems to offer new transactional models that are not only environment friendly, but also offer tools to i) monitor the environmental impact of traditional finance, and ii) offer new mechanisms to mobilize conservation finance.

As part of the extended phase II BIOFIN (2021-25), the project aims to leverage the potential of Fintech as an emerging financial solution to ‘green’ key economic sectors and enhance resource mobilization for biodiversity conservation activities.

With this background, UNDP seeks to engage an individual consultant to develop a strategy for mainstreaming Fintech solutions for biodiversity conservation. 

Devoirs et responsabilités

The individual consultant will work under the guidance of Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority and Head, Natural Resource Management & Biodiversity, UNDP India to develop a detailed implementation strategy and plan for ‘Piloting Fintech Solutions under the BIOFIN programme, with the following key tasks:

Tasks

• Undertake a detailed analysis of green fintech initiatives globally and identify opportunities/ initiatives that can be replicated or adapted in the Indian context.
• Provide technical guidance  in organizing two consultations with the following indicative stakeholders to identify fintech solutions that can be implemented within the project period:
  • Banks
  • NBFCs
  • Venture Capital (VC)/ Pension Funds
  • Fintech companies
  • Educational institutions in banking, finance and IT
  • Insurance companies
  • Stock exchanges
  • Conservation organizations with a focus on conservation-tech companies
• Prepare a detailed report on the Indian fintech ecosystem and identify entry points for biodiversity mainstreaming activities.
• Highlight areas where Fintech solutions can help in streamlining Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) process and identify potential solutions and partners to implement the same.
• Develop a 3-year implementation roadmap for shortlisted solutions 
• Provide content to communications team for development of knowledge collaterals

Duration of Assignment: 6 months

Terms of Payment: 

Project Location:  The position will be home based with pre-approved travel to attend meetings & workshops, if required.

Reporting requirements:    

Consultant will be reporting to the Chairman National Biodiversity Authority and Head, Natural Resource Management & Biodiversity (UNDP India)

Compétences

Core skills:

• Sound knowledge of partnership management tools and instruments and utilises these regularly in work and assignments
• Strong evidence of resource mobilization experience in the development sector

Functional Competencies:

Building and managing strategic partnerships

• Identifies common interests and goals and carries out join initiatives with partners
• Establishes, builds, and sustains effective relationship, partnerships and alliances with private sector, foundations, and other agencies
• Makes effective use of resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships

Qualifications et expériences requises

Recruitment Qualifications:

• At least a master’s degree in finance, social science, development studies, business management or a relevant field.

Required Experiences, Competencies and Skills

Applicants shall demonstrate sufficient capacities to carryout activities to a high standard. The successful applicants will have:

• At least 8 years of work experience in conservation, with exposure to conservation finance  
• Experience in engaging with corporates;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, networking and managerial capacity;
• Ability to multitask and monitor several projects on a daily basis;
• Ability to take initiative to develop new strategies;
• Excellent inter-personal and technical communication (oral, written, and visual) skills with high level English language writing skills are essential.

Advocacy

• Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work

Client Orientation

• Demonstrates an understanding of client / partner / donor perspective and strives for high quality client-oriented services
• Establishes smooth relationship and enabling environment between clients and service providers

Leadership and Management

• Is results driven and solution oriented, is able to work under pressure
• Ability to identify problems, propose solutions and take immediate corrective measures
• Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
• Generates new ideas and approaches, research best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches
• Results based management
• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals
• Demonstrates ability to generate innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations
• Ability to work independently and with minimum supervision

Language Requirements:  

Good command of English both written and spoken

Evaluation Criteria

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as responsive to the requirement. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined 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 the total evaluation)

• Experience of working in the area of conservation finance (30%)
• Experience of engaging with financial sector on issues related to environment and biodiversity (20%)
• Educational qualifications (20%)

Financial Criteria: (30% of the total evaluation) based on the total all-inclusive lump sum amount for the professional fee for tasks specified in this announcement

Financial Proposal:

Technically qualified consultants will be requested to submit their daily fee rate i.e. consultants who score more than 70% i.e. 49 marks with respect to the above-mentioned evaluation criteria. Consultant should not specify their consultancy fee on their CV or with the submission. The CV will not be evaluated further in case the consultant submits the same.

Note:

1. Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone, relocation charges etc. would not be reimbursed.
2. Travel, lodging and boarding as per UNDP rules subject to prior approval
3. Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual