Antecedentes

The project entitled “Enhancing Effectiveness and Financial Sustainability of Protected Areas in Malaysia” (PA Financing) has been implemented by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant financing since 5 June 2012.  There are three project outcomes as follows:

Outcome 1: Systemic and Institutional Capacities to manage and financially support a national PA system

Outcome 2: Technical and institutional capacities to manage sub-national PA networks including capacities for effective financial management

Outcome 3: Effective site-level PA management

Under Project Component 1, the project supports the undertaking of necessary process to establish and operationalise a Conservation Trust Fund to achieve Output 1.4 “Budgetary framework created to increase financial support for PAs allocated on the basis of performance”. In 2013, during the presentation of the 2014 budget speech in Parliament, the Prime Minister announced the establishment of the National Conservation Trust Fund (NCTF) with an allocation of RM 10 million as seed money for the Fund. The management of the Fund was put under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE). The NCTF was established based on Section 10 of the Financial Procedure Act 1957 with the trust deed effective from 7 January 2015. The PA Financing Project supported the development of the “Operating Guidelines” for the operationalization of NCTF, which was adopted by the NCTF Committee in April 2015, and eventually the NCTF came into full operation towards the end of 2015. The NCTF is positioned to complement the Government of Malaysia’s public funds for the conservation and management of biodiversity and to support the implementation of the National Policy on Biological Diversity 2016 – 2025.

The impending issue in relation to the NCTF is to ensure the efficient management and long-term sustainability of the Fund. In this regard, the PA Financing Project, in collaboration with NRE, will undertake the development of Strategic Plan and Resource Mobilization Strategy for NCTF by engaging a conservation finance expert to provide relevant technical expertise. 

Deberes y responsabilidades

The Expert will report to Project Manager, Biodiversity and Protected Area Finance in close liaison with UNDP and NRE to provide specific technical advice on the best practices for enhancing the existing NCTF into an efficiently and independently managed conservation trust fund in Malaysia. He/She will also work closely with UNDP Malaysia Programme Manager and Environmental Legal Specialist on matters related to policy, legal and governance framework that may apply to NCTF.

He/she will undertake the following tasks:

1. Develop NCTF Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan provides a framework that sets directions and guides all NCTF plans and activities, where its resources are effectively and efficiently used in consistent with NCTF’s vision and mission.

• Analyse the existing Operating Guidelines/Manual to ensure efficiency of the Fund’s operations in line with the governing legal framework; identify gaps and areas for improvement; elaborate best practices for an effectively and efficiently managed fund.
• Review specifically the Focal Areas – set priorities taking into consideration the institutional capacity, administrative structure and financial flow;
• Develop scenarios for operational phases in short, medium and long-term.  Scenarios should include: (i) if the Fund continued to be governed by Malaysia’s Treasury Regulations (Financial Procedure Act 1958 Section 10); (ii) and/or possibilities for new legal framework/governance options as an independently managed Fund;
• Develop the institutional capacity needs including qualification and skill set of personnel needed to implement the NCTF Strategic Plan under current governance structure or under the scenario where the NCTF will be transformed into an independently managed Fund.

2. Develop NCTF’s Financial Sustainability Strategy

The purpose of the Financial Sustainability Strategy is to develop strategies or actions to diversify and multiply financial sources to reduce reliance on single source or single funding mechanism with the aim of strengthening NCTF’s financial sustainability.  The strategy should be based on financial planning that calculates the amount of annual and long-term funding of which NCTF will need in order to carry-out its actions (as elaborated in the Strategic Plan) under basic needs scenario and optimal scenario.

The strategy should elaborate:

1. The methodical approach that could be adopted by the Fund administration/governing body to resource mobilization;
2. Identify standard best practices applied in effective resource mobilization for conservation such as:

• To ensure credibility of funding sources and to research potential donor’s requirements;
• To utilise professional services for fund raising with targets; and timelines set;
• To raise fund for specific focal areas in line with the priority areas set for implementation in the Strategic Plan;
• To promote NCTF as an attractive mechanism for implementing a particular donor’s own strategic priorities and programmes;
• To identify various ways of finding, utilise and create additional new sources of funding within the political, legal and economic systems in Malaysia.

3. Prepare an action plan for the implementation of NCTF Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Plan.

The action plan will include actions, timeline and lead agencies to facilitate the implementation of NCTF Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Plan.

4. Provide technical inputs and prepare write-up on the NCTF Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Strategy for inclusion in the BIOFIN Malaysia process.

The write up will include lessons learned, success factor and best practices in the development of the NCTF Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Strategy. The write up will be in both written and PowerPoint format.

Methodology:

The expert will employ several investigative, analytical and consultative methods and tools to complete his/her tasks:

• Desktop research;
• Interviews with key stakeholders (ministries/departments/agencies, owners and beneficiaries of initiatives/programmes; private sector and corporations; international agencies);
• Stakeholder consultations through dialogues/meetings/discussions,
• Facilitate workshop or write shop for focus group or TWG to prepare NCTF Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Strategy.

Handling of Data, Information and Documents:

All data, information and documents obtained under this assignment is the property of the Government of Malaysia and UNDP and should be treated as strictly confidential.

No information shall be used by the expert for any other purpose other than the preparation of PA Financing Project deliverables.

All soft and hard copies of the data, information and documents must be returned to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP); Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE); and UNDP upon completion of this assignment.   

Duration:

The assignment will require 80 days – 100 days starting from 1 January to 31 December 2018. The expert is required to specify the number of days required in his/her technical and financial proposal.

Travel:

• The Consultant will work mainly with NRE, EPU, Ministry of Finance; NGOs, private sector and UNDP based in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur. Based on the needs to consult key stakeholders, he/she is expected to undertake domestic travel on own arrangement to Sabah and Sarawak;
• The Basic Security in the Field II and Advanced Security in the Field courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
• Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations 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/.

Deliverables and Timeline:

Please indicate number of days and alternative timeline needed to complete each key deliverable:

1. Submission and acceptance of detailed work plan by National Project Director, DWNP and UNDP: due date by 8 January 2018;
2. Submission and acceptance of first draft of NCTF Strategic Plan & Financial Sustainability Strategy and detailed report(s) on the stakeholders’ consultations and/or workshops by National Project Director, DWNP and UNDP: due date by 15 April 2018;
3. Submission and acceptance of final draft of NCTF Strategic Plan & Financial Sustainability Strategy and detailed report on stakeholders’ inputs from consultations and/or workshops by National Project Director, DWNP and UNDP: due date by 15 July 2018;
4. Submission and acceptance of a write-up on the NCTF Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Strategy for inclusion in the BIOFIN Malaysia process by UNDP: due date by 31 July 2018;
5. Submission and acceptance of first draft of action plan for the implementation of NCTF Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Strategy by National Project Director, DWNP and UNDP: due date by 31 August 2018;
6. Submission and acceptance of final draft of action plan for the implementation of NCTF Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Strategy by National Project Director, DWNP and UNDP: due date by 30 September 2018.

Terms of Payment:

The payments will be performance-based and regularly assessed by PA Financing Project Team in consultation with UNDP Malaysia Country Office.

• 10% upon submission and acceptance of detailed work plan
• 30% upon submission and acceptance of first draft of NCTF Strategic Plan & Financial Sustainability Strategy and detailed report(s) on the stakeholders’ consultations and/or workshops
• 20% upon submission and acceptance of final draft of NCTF Strategic Plan & Financial Sustainability Strategy and detailed report on stakeholders’ inputs from consultations and/or workshops
• 10% upon submission and acceptance of write-up on the NCTF Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Strategy for inclusion in the BIOFIN Malaysia process
• 20% upon submission and acceptance of first draft of action plan for the implementation of NCTF Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Strategy
• 10% upon submission and acceptance of first draft of action plan for the implementation of NCTF Strategic Plan and Financial Sustainability Strategy

Liquidated damages will be applied for late submission of deliverables. 

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates high moral integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional competencies:

• Excellent organizational skills.
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills.
• Excellent financial and budgetary skills.
• Ability to prepare publications, reports and presentations.
• Ability to manage and work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
• Strong motivation and ability to work and deliver under short deadlines.
• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback.
• Able to work independently with little or no supervision.
• Familiarity with government strongly desired.

Skills and Experience Required:

This assignment is open to Malaysian nationals, residents and non-Malaysian nationals. 

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

• Masters or higher degree in economics or related discipline.
• First degree in finance, economics or related disciplines with minimum 15 years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.  

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in conservation finance for biodiversity and ecosystems.
• At least 5 years of experience in setting up a trust fund for environmental protection or conservation.
• Strong knowledge and understanding about methodologies and approaches for establishing conservation finance mechanisms – locally, regionally and globally.
• Knowledge of policy, legislation and institutions relevant to conservation finance in Malaysia.
• At least 5 years of experience in the engagement with government agencies and international organizations.

Language Requirement:

• English and Malay.

Criteria for selection of the best Offer:

The award of the contract will be made to the Individual Consultant 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%. The evaluation criteria are:

• At least 10 years of experience in conservation finance for biodiversity and ecosystems.
• At least 5 years of experience in setting up a trust fund for environmental protection or conservation.
• At least 5 years of experience in the engagement with government agencies and international organizations.
• Strong knowledge and understanding about methodologies and approaches for establishing conservation finance mechanisms – locally, regionally and globally.
• Knowledge of policy, legislation and institutions relevant to conservation finance in Malaysia.

2. The financial proposal will weigh as 30% of the total scoring.

How to Apply:

• Kindly download the Letter of Confirmation of interest and availability, Financial Proposal Template, P11 form 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/2017/046" 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 Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Financial Proposal Template at: http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/MyIC_2017_046%20Annex%20I%20&%20II.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