Antecedentes

Important notice to the Applicants!

Only those applications would be considered that have been submitted to the following e-mail address: procurement.kz@undp.org with the indication of Ref.2019-011 in the subject line. The deadline is May 2, 2019, 17.00 Nur-Sultan (Astana) time.

For detailed information on the position, required documents to be sent and evaluation procedure please refer to the Terms of Reference. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: meruyert.sarsembayeva@undp.org copying meruyert.bolyssayeva@undp.org

Project description

1. Project content, basic information and objectives

 “The Biodiversity Finance Initiative - BIOFIN” Phase II is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme with financial support from the Government of Germany and the Government of Switzerland. BIOFIN provides countries with a methodology that shows innovative steps to measure current biodiversity expenditures, assess financial needs, identify the most appropriate finance solutions and advise on how to implement these mechanisms to achieve national biodiversity goals.

The work in the second phase will be aimed at testing six finance solutions - (1) subsidizing game breeding, (2) creating tax incentives for the development of ecotourism, (3) increasing the potential of protected areas to improve funding, (4) biodiversity offsets, (5) carbon offsetting through the national greenhouse gas emission trading system (ETS) and (6) attracting foreign investment to implement projects on the absorption of greenhouse gases by forest ecosystems.

The introduction of new finance solutions will be based on changing existing and preparing new legal norms, testing and studying the experience of other countries, building the capacity of industry experts, providing extensive information on the issues and opportunities for financing biodiversity. Financial mechanisms include the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women as a result of implementation, as far as is relevant and possible within the project.

2. Context of required services

Foreign investors express a great interest in financing sustainable forest management projects to offset their carbon footprint. Foreign investment is attractive for the Kazakhstani forest sector due to limited funding and a small national carbon emissions trading market. The forests of Kazakhstan are state-owned, financed from the state budget with a deficit of more than 35%.

The mechanism “Creating an enabling environment for attracting carbon offsets from the international market, multinational enterprises operating in the country” suggests that forest carbon projects will be developed in accordance with international standards and implemented by foreign investors, and also that the investors' financial resources will be straightly directed towards the conservation of forest biodiversity, increase of the area of forests and improvement of forest management. Therefore, the sustainability of this work can be achieved by: 1) improving the legal framework as part of of the new edition of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan that is currently being developed and 2) creating a practical basis on the example of a pilot forest carbon project.

During the BIOFIN Phase I, experts have already identified several areas for the implementation of forest carbon projects in Kazakhstan, as well as developed drafts of a methodology for assessing greenhouse gas absorption in forest carbon projects, guidelines for the development and implementation of forest projects in Kazakhstan (according to the Kyoto requirements), requirements for companies carrying out validation and verification of forest carbon projects in Kazakhstan. These documents are under consideration by the authorized state bodies.

3. Relevance and purpose of the necessary work in the context of the project

At this stage, high interest of foreign investors is attracted by the projects that do not pursue the goal of selling deposited carbon from the forests created. However, when the need arises to sell forest carbon units, there should be a legal basis and examples for replication. This explains the relevance of the work, i.e., it is necessary to increase the potential of the legislation and its consolidation by international standards; expert capacity building through the demonstration of pilot projects for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions through forest carbon projects. The purpose of this work is to create a legal and practical basis for the implementation of forest carbon projects with the participation of foreign investors.

4. Stakeholders and beneficiaries:

• Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan,  http://fhc.kz
• Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, http://kz.energo.gov.kz
• Zhasyl Damu JSC, http://zhasyldamu.kz
• Akimats,
• Biodiversity Conservation Fund of Kazakhstan, http://www.fsbk.kz

Deberes y responsabilidades

The introduction of the financial mechanism “Creating an enabling environment for attracting carbon offsets from the international market, multinational enterprises operating in the country” will be carried out by the national and international level experts. The international expert will act as the team leader and coordinate the work of the team.

Based on the goal, the scope of work will be aimed at improving the legislative framework and testing the financial mechanism using the example of a pilot project.

1.Selection of a pilot project and testing of a financial mechanism on the example of the pilot project:

• Identification and determination of at least 10 forest carbon projects, including regions, planting, care and monitoring technologies;
• Collection, processing and consolidation of data, preparation of quantitative, qualitative parameters, time frame for creating an umbrella project. In the course of the work, visits to Nur-Sultan, as well as to the East Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Karaganda, Almaty, Turkestan, Kyzylorda and Atyrau regions of Kazakhstan are intended for target meetings with representatives of forestry institutions, natural resources and environmental management departments, akimats and independent forest experts.
• Determination of the amount of funding for each project and the expected effect on the absorption of emissions;
• Preparation of Project Identification Forms (PIF);
• Development of a project design document (PDD), logical framework and monitoring plan, the estimated amount of absorption for projects;
• Expert support of project launch.

2 Integration of international standards into national legislation and preparation of relevant regulatory documents:

• Study of new trends, standards and preparation of methodological guidelines for the development and implementation of forest carbon projects in the Republic of Kazakhstan with possible use within the national emissions trading system;
• Preparation of norms (articles) for the new Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan regarding the integration of forest specificity into the functioning of the national emission trading system.

Competencias

• Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things, documents innovative strategies and new approaches;
• Strong skills in writing submissions and reports;
• Excellent oral and communication skills;
• Demonstrable analytical skill

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

• Higher economic and / or environmental and / or technical education;
• Not less than 5 years of international experience on the issues of forestry, biodiversity and climate change;
• Expertise in development and implementation of forest carbon projects, not less than 2 projects, in other countries, including  CIS countries;
• Work experience in state and international organizations, research institutes, social organizations, public / private companies in the profile of economic research, forecasting, environmental and economic modeling for at least 15 years;
• Knowledge of the norms of international climate agreements;
• Expertise in formulating low carbon development concept papers;
• Expertise in the preparation of analytical reports;
• Publications, articles according to the ToR  thematic in Russian and English.

Price offer and payment schedule: 

• This contract is concluded for a fixed amount, including the cost of consultation services and travel;
• Payment is made by tranches upon satisfactory completion of the full scope of work for the ToR and authorization of the results by the UNDP biodiversity conservation project manager.

Recommended proposal presentation:

The following documents to be attached to the Offer (max size 9 Mb)* should be sent to procurement.kz@undp.org indicating Ref.2019-011 in the e-mail subject not later than 2 May 2019, 17:00 of local time (Nur-Sultan):

1. A duly drafted Offeror’s letter confirming interest and readiness for the assignment in accordance with the UNDP template;
2. Detailed personal CV, where previous work experience in similar projects should be included, as well as contact details (email and phone number) of the Offeror;
3. Financial proposal, including the fixed total contract value, with a breakdown of costs according to the above listed tranches’ schedule.

There should be max 3 e-mail transmissions. Please indicate Ref-2019-011 in the e-mail subject and the e-mail order.

ONLY fully submitted applications would be considered!!!