Antecedentes

The Republic of Liberia’s economy, population, and environment are highly vulnerable to climate variability and change. A range of studies, including the Republic of Liberia’s Initial National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) notes that the impacts of climate change are expected to intensify as changes in temperature and precipitation affect economic activity.

In order to respond to the risks posed by climate change, there is a need for a coordinated and concerted effort on the part of the Government of Liberia.
The two year project "To advance the National Adaptation Plans (NAP) process for medium-term investment planning in climate-sensitive sectors (i.e. agriculture, energy, waste management, forestry and health) and coastal areas in Liberia" funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and partners including the Environmental Protection Agency, is responding to this need.

The project seeks to ensure that Liberia has a system and capacities in place for medium- to long term adaptation planning and budgeting with the overall aim to reduce vulnerability of the population and key sectors to the impacts of climate change. The mainproject objective is to support Liberia to put in place its National Adaptation Planning process contributing to and building upon existing development planning strategies and processes andto implement priority adaptation actions.

The activities in this project focus on four components:

• Strengthening institutional frameworks and coordination for  implementation of the NAPs process;
• Expansion of the knowledge base for scaling up adaptation;
• Building capacity for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into planning, and budgeting processes and systems;
• Formulation of financing mechanisms for scaling up adaptation.

The direct beneficiaries of the project are the Environment Planning Authority and the National Climate Change Secretariat. Key government partners are Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, National Disaster Management Agency, National Port Authority of Liberia, Liberia Maritime Authority, Bureau of National Fisheries, Liberia National Department of Meteorology, Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services and University of Liberia.
Overall, the project will contribute Fund level impact towards output A.5 --“Strengthened institutional and regulatory systems for climate responsive planning and development
The expected outputs are derived from the government of Liberia’s NAP formulation and implementation note issued in 2016, following national stakeholder consultations held during the launch of the NAP process in April 2015. A stock-taking exercise was prepared by UNDP in 2015 upon request of the government. The stock-taking exercise identified six climate sensitive sectors for Liberia’s NAP intervention-agriculture, forestry, energy, waste management, fisheries and transportation.
During the development of Liberia NAP road map, it was noted that there is limited or no integration of climate change in the development planning and implementation processes. Hence, mainstreaming climate change adaptation into policy and budgeting processing (at the sectoral, national and subnational) is one of the key outcomes of the NAPs (Outcome 3:  Strengthened capacity for mainstreaming CCA into planning, and budgeting processes and systems). This implies identifying and evaluating all current and on-going climate change adaptation options and developing guidelines for the personnel of key Ministries to include climate change into all planning and budgeting processes.
UNDP Liberia is seeking for a competent local individual consultant (qualify female candidates are encouraged to apply) to develop guidelines and criteria for mainstreaming climate changeadaptation (CCA) in Government budgeting and planning.
It is expected that the work will be done through intensive consultations with MFDP and EPA. In-depth review of the planning and budgeting process, as well as multi-stakeholder consultations on various aspects of CCA mainstreaming (identified entry points, modalities to modify budget plans to integrate CCA measures and mainstreaming format, updated planning and budgeting plan, etc.) will be undertaken. CCA mainstreaming into planning and budgeting process will involve a number of relevant departments at the MFDP, policy makers, economists, finance specialists, scientists, civil society, thus contributing to sectors’ and country’s capacity development, which is a priority need for Liberia.

The Consultant will be assisted by the Climate Change Enabling Department of the EPA and will work under guidance of the Project Manager and the UNDP country office. He/she will also work closely with the MFDP.

Objective of the Assessment:
To support the government in developing technical guidelines for the personnel of the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning and other relevant Ministries, to mainstream climate change into budgeting and planning processes incorporating gender disaggregated data.These measures will ensure climate-proofing planning and budgeting processes, including reporting.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Specific Activities 

• Develop technical guidelines;
• In-depth review of planning and budget process with the aim of identifying mainstreaming needsand opportunities of the sector;
• Assist MFDP to develop criteria for screening public investment programmes in adaptation, for prioritizing budget allocations;
• Assist key ministries to develop appraisal guidelines to prioritize public and private investments with adaptation benefits;
• Build capacity for undertaking appraisal among budget, planning, project formulation and monitoring departments in sector ministries;
• Review the national planning and budget guidelines and include CCA into the budgeting and planning process;
• Define main indicators for incorporated CCA measures for the Monitoring and Evaluation framework;
• Develop and provide comprehensive training to policy-makers, selected legislators, staff of MFDP and relevant sectors involved with budgeting and planning processes;
• Prepare report.

More specifically, the following are the deliverables which are linked to the payments as per below:

• Design, methodology and detailed work plan-Inception meeting: 5 days; 20% of contract sum;
• Report on in-depth review of budget and planning process with the aim of identifying mainstreaming needs; Consultations with MFDP, EPA and sectors representatives on identified entry points, modalities to modify planning and budgeting processes to integrate CCA measures and mainstreaming format;   Appropriate guides (toolkits) for integrating CCA into planning and budgeting processes developed, which will be disseminated through round tables meetings:  20 days;40% of contract sum;  
• Training to MFDP staff, sectoral technical planners of all priority sectors and selected legislators on the use of the tools and approaches to advance medium- to long-term adaptation planning and budgeting and implementation (2-3 trainings x 2 days) provided. Final Report on performed assignment, including main indicators for incorporated CCA measures for Monitoring and Evaluation framework : 10 days;  40% of contract sum.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards; 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Excellent analytical and organisational skills.

Functional Competencies

• Promotes a knowledge-sharing and learning culture;
• In-depth knowledge of development issues;
• Ability to provide and advocate for policy advice;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and successfully applies newly acquired skills.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:  

• MBA, MSc in planning, policy development, finance or other relevant field;

Experience:  

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in planning and budgeting process;
• Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to NAP process, including gender issues;
• Professional experience in the budgeting and planning process in Liberian asset;
• Excellent proven analytical skills in analysis, leadership and overall diplomatic skills;
• Proven experience on preparation of written reports in an accurate and concise manner, and public presentation skills;
• Good organizational, time management and facilitation skills;
• Knowledge of the economic system in Liberia would be an asset;
• Knowledge/understanding  of the work of the EPA in Liberia and the various climate change initiatives Liberia and ability to work closely with the Climate Change Enabling Unit during the assignment would be an asset.

Language: 

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Application procedure:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Technical proposal:
• Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
•Providing brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work;
•Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references (please use the UNDP P11 form provided in Annex 2 @ the following links) http://www.lr.undp.org/content/liberia/en/home/operations/procurement/? ;http://procurement-notices.undp.org/).

Financial proposal
The financial proposal shall specify a lumpsum  rate. Payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based on specific and measurable deliverables as specified in the TOR upon completion of the deliverables.
In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (communications, transportation etc). Please use the Financial Proposal Form provided in Annex 3 for the submission of your financial proposal @ the following links) http://www.lr.undp.org/content/liberia/en/home/operations/procurement/? ;http://procurement-notices.undp.org/).

Travel
All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This is a national consultancy (For Liberian nationals or legal residents of Liberia),all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel will be at the expense of the consultant.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight: 70%;
* Financial Criteria weight: 30%;

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the maximum points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Criteria Weight  Max. Point

Technical

• Relevance of Academic Qualifications 10.5% 15;
• Professional Experience in similar projects 24.5% 35;
• Appropriateness of proposed methodology for the requirements 21% 30;
• Adequacy of competencies and skills 14% 20;
• Financial 30 points x price of the lowest price proposed / price of proposal 30%.

Proposals should be submitted to bids.lr@undp.org.