Antecedentes

The objective of the project “Catalyzing Environmental Finance for Low-carbon Urban Development” is to leverage investment for transformational shift towards low-carbon urban development in Bosnia and Herzegovina thereby promoting safer, cleaner, and healthier cities and reducing urban GHG emissions. To enable this transformational shift, the project will facilitate implementation of technically and economically feasible low-carbon solutions in key urban sectors and promote their wider uptake by municipalities and private sector via dedicated financial mechanism established within the national environmental finance framework. The project will also accelerate the implementation of a policy and regulatory framework supportive of low-carbon investment in cities.
One of the project’s outputs includes establishment of the Financial mechanism for Low Carbon Urban Development projects through ESCO Funding window, established at BiH’s Environmental funds (EF’s) and capitalized with EF’s own finance including defining the process and criteria for the financial mechanism for LCUD (ESCO funding window within EFs).
The key barrier that prevents both EFs from significantly expanding their funding base and therefore scaling-up support to low-carbon urban projects is related to the deficiency in the implementation of the “polluters pays principle (PPP)”. Implementation of PPP requires legal agreements between polluters and the government enabling functional application of the principle for the polluters’ fees to be set-up, paid and collected by EFs. PPP also currently does not use market-based and property rights instruments to ensure its enforcement. Main issues in this respect are lack of polluters’ register (main polluters and amounts and types of polluting substances), as well as specific rules and regulations to clarify and improve the application of the paying principles (e.g. determination of the amounts/fees polluter needs to pay; way of calculating fees; damage versus environment, damage versus people; evaluation of damage and impact, etc.).

Deberes y responsabilidades

The first objective of the consultancy is to develop necessary regulations for instituting polluters pay principle (PPP) aiming to improve the system for collecting PPP fees since is the primary source of EFs’ revenues. The PPP principle is one of the most commonly used tools for environment protection. It is based on principle that those who produce pollution should bear the costs of managing it to prevent damage to human health or environment. The consultant will support the EFs to prepare and adopt the necessary regulations to enable collection of fees based on various sources of environmental impacts related to energy efficiency and environment sector thus enabling both EFs to significantly scale-up their funding base for subsequent investment in LCUD.

The second objective of the consultancy is to develop a detailed financial mechanism for the low-carbon urban development projects which represent an Energy Service Company (ESCO) funding window within Environmental Funds of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republic of Srpska.
The output should address all the aspects related to development of ESCO business model processes (performance-based), eligibility criteria for grants, monitoring and verification procedures for proving savings achieved, and procurement methods with criteria for awarding grants and revolving loans. The result of the consultancy should include a clear formula and algorithm for awarding projects with grant/loans from EFs (including appropriate legal and institutional arrangements.
The mechanism should support energy efficiency (EE) retrofit of public facilities, EE public lightning and water saving measures according to NEEAP priorities and in line with municipalities’ SEAPs. Recognizing complex administrative and political structure in BiH, the consultancy will support both EFs separately at first to come up with design of the financial support mechanism for LCUD, which is appropriate for each BiH entity. To ensure that approaches are harmonized among entities, the project will also work with MOFTER and facilitate inter-entity dialogue and exchange of relevant experiences and approaches.
The tasks encompassed will include the development of the ESCO business model processes (performance-based), eligibility criteria for grants, monitoring and verification procedures for proving savings achieved, and procurement methods with criteria for awarding grants and revolving loans. Capitalization of the ESCO funding window will be done from the EFs’ own resources
The preparation of the outputs of the consultancy will be organized in cooperation and provision of support and guidance by the Project team.
The task will be based on: (i) a desk-review of available literature, (ii) consultations with relevant stakeholders (i.e. representatives of Environmental Funds of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republic of Srpska), and (iii) the considerations and insights of the service provider’s team. The service provider will document consultations with stakeholders and support interaction with those stakeholders as partners to the financial instrument.

Scope of work

The consultant will support the EFs to prepare and adopt the necessary regulations to enable collection of fees based on various sources of environmental impacts related to energy efficiency and environment sector thus enabling both EFs to significantly scale-up their funding base for subsequent investment in LCUD.

The report on financial instruments should have the following sections: (1) executive summary, (2) justification and elaboration of financial instrument selection, (3) detail description of procedures related to criteria for selection of eligible projects as well as monitoring and verification procedures and procurement methods with criteria for awarding grants and revolving loans; preferably presented in form of roadmap, (4) recommendations for next steps.

Deliverables/outputs

# Deliverables / outputs Due date Percentage

  • Development of detailed plan for accomplishment of tasks of this ToR and collaboration with national experts February 28, 2019 5%;
  • Deliver report on conducted research (based on a desk-review of available literature; meetings and consultations with representatives of EFs and UNDP Project Team) for analysis of all parafiscal charges in BiH (Entity, Canton and Local self-government units level) including environmental allocations and analysis of the functioning of the Polluter Pays Principle and analysis of possibilities for establishing Financial mechanism (ESCO funding window within EFs), March 29, 2019 5%;
  • In cooperation with national consultant develop necessary regulations for instituting polluters pay principle (PPP) and improving the system for collecting PPP fees;Presentation of draft version and the considerations and insights of the consultant including adjustment of the draft output based on inputs and comments received from relevant stakeholders; Final version delivered and approved by EFs,  June 15, 2019 20%;
  • In cooperation with national consultant define the process and criteria for the financial mechanism for LCUD (ESCO funding window within EFs).Presentation of draft version and the considerations and insights of the consultant including adjustment of the draft output based on inputs and comments received from relevant stakeholders, September 16, 2019 20%;
  • In cooperation with national consultant develop monitoring and verification procedures and systems to clearly establish costs savings resulting from the implementation of low-carbon projects in selected municipalities; draft version communicated with EFs; Final version delivered and approved by EFs, February, 2020 10%;
  • In cooperation with national consultant to provide training to EFs’ staff to implement ESCO-support mechanism. This activity will involve tailored seminars and on-the-job training, along with organization of information workshops for municipalities and SMEs about the mechanism and on the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved. Provide of on-the-job training and advisory services for at least 10 staff of the EFs and relevant ministries, April, 2020, 20%;
  • In cooperation with national consultant develop contracts, and internal and external regulatory documents related to repayment of EFs for works and services, draft version communicated with  EFs; Final version delivered and approved by EFs, June 2020, 20%.

Competencias

Corporate competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Functional competencies:

  • Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
  • Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
  • Self-development, initiative-taking;
  • Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
  • Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
  • Creating synergies through self-control;
  • Managing conflict;
  • Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
  • Informed and transparent decision-making

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Academic Qualifications/Education

  • Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in finance, economics, environment, or another related field. Master’s or equivalent degrees will be an advantage.

Experience

  • At least 10 years of professional experience focused on finance;
  • Experience with preparation and implementation of public financial instruments to promote private sector investment in low-carbon energy. Specific experience with UNDP and GEF projects will be an advantage;
  • Proven experience with financial modelling;
  • Experience working in developing country contexts preferred, particularly those related to the Western Balkan region;
  • Experience working with multilateral organizations and the UN system preferred.

Languages Requirements

  • Fluency in English required and will be evaluated based on submitted one-page English segment of any relevant study/publication/written document compiled in order to assess language skills;
  • Excellent drafting skills required

Other Requirements

  • Knowledge of MS Word, Excel and email communication software
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Strong organizational skills, ability to track and juggle multiple tasks
  • Good consultation and collaboration skills

Documents to Be Included When Submitting the Proposals

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

 

                 -Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;

                 -Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work; or sample of previous document/strategy/paper  done by the consultant

  • Financial proposal in USD which will separately specify professional fee, indicating number of anticipated working days, travel costs (air-ticket or use of private vehicle), living allowance, and all other applicable costs.

 

Financial Proposal


The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  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 (including travel, per diem, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel
All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP does 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.

Evaluation
When using this weighted scoring method, 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 and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

  • * Technical Criteria weight-70%
  • * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Criteria Weight  Max. Point

  • Ratings based on Shortlisting Criteria 30% 30;
  • Methodology 25% 25;
  • Phone Interview/Interview by Skype  45% 45.

Long/Shortlisting Criteria
Criteria Points
Relevant Education:

  • Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in finance, economics, environment, or other related field. Master’s or equivalent degrees will be at an advantage max 20 points (10 points allocated for Bachelor’s degree; + up to 10 points for MSc/MA).

Relevant professional experience:

  • At least 10 years of professional experience focused on finance;
  • Experience with preparation and implementation of public financial instruments to promote private sector investment in low-carbon energy. Specific experience with UNDP and GEF projects will be an advantage;
  • Proven experience with financial modelling;
  • Experience working in developing country contexts preferred, particularly those related to the Western Balkan region  Max 65 points;

Prior work experience with UNDP/UN Agencies Max 15 points

Knowledge of English max 5 points - will be assessed as 5 points for fluency and the points decrease as per the level mentioned in the CV: good - 4 points; fair/upper intermediate – 3 points; intermediate - 2 points; beginner - 1 point. If not specified in CV, will be assessed based on language proficiency used in delivered methodology and listed publications


Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

  • For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
  • Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.