Antecedentes

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.  BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.  BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response.  BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

Addressing climate change is one the key global challenges and priorities for UNDP. Working in over 170 countries and territories, UNDP is uniquely placed to work with all sectors of society to help mobilize the institutions and resources required to support countries implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the context of the Paris Agreement. The NDC Support Programme is a UNDP flagship programme delivered by and embedded within the Global Policy network.  The Programme, launched in November 2017 and funded by the European Union and the Governments of Germany and Spain, provides technical and financial assistance to 36 countries to implement NDCs and design more ambitious climate targets that are aligned with national development priorities. The Programme is a key initiative under UNDP’s strategy to support NDC implementation and enhancement at the global level, which also builds on UNDP’s larger portfolio of support to countries on climate change.

Under the Paris Agreement, all countries are expected to submit increasingly ambitious NDCs (or national climate targets) every five years. The first opportunity to do so is in 2020. Launched in 2019, the Climate Promise is UNDP’s commitment to support at least 100 countries to enhance their NDCs by 2020, by working with countries to make their NDCs more technically robust and include new ways that governments can step up their climate actions, as well as finance these bold goals. Through the Climate Promise, UNDP will support countries in integrating gender equality considerations within the next generation of NDCs. Based on a UNDP study, whereas 40% of countries made at least one reference to gender equality or women’s empowerment in their I/NDCs as of 2016, now more than 50% of countries surveyed said they intend to incorporate gender equality in their revised plans, showcasing an increase in interest.

Addressing gender equality and women’s empowerment is a key aspect of UNDP’s approach to achieving its core strategic vision. Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment are seen as goals in their own right and are also central to the achievement of UNDP’s development mandate. UNDP is guided in its work by its Gender Equality Strategy (2018-2021) which details how UNDP works towards gender equality in each of the goals set out in the UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021.

In this regard, building on its previous support to better integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment into national climate targets, the NDC Support Programme is currently assisting 17 countries in mainstreaming gender equality into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) planning and implementation process. UNDP is applying a 3 pronged approach, which involves supporting countries to ensure gender equality/women’s empowerment and climate change are factored in as a combination within the governance, planning and policy processes of NDCs since these areas are mutually reinforcing. For instance, UNDP is supporting countries in

1) Strengthening coordination mechanisms between and among gender, climate/environment and line ministries, developing institutional capacities at the horizontal and vertical levels on climate change and gender, and engaging non-state actors;

2) integrating gender within planning for implementation (long-term strategies, NDC implementation and investment plans);

3) climate change policies (transparency frameworks, mitigation actions, National Adaptation Plans, etc.)

UNDP would like to engage a consultant to support the Gender-Responsive Component of the NDC Support Programme, and, through this, the Climate Promise, as described within this TOR.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Scope of Work

The consultant will support UNDP in integrating gender equality considerations within the NDC revision, planning and implementation processes by developing and facilitating the following:

• Taking advantage of the 2020 NDC revision cycle, contribute to UNDP’s strategic planning around gender and NDCs by conducting a mapping of the extent to which countries are integrating gender equality in their revised NDCs and analyzes the differences with the I/NDC.
• At the country level, support in providing feedback to various documents, ranging from gender integration in climate policies/ plans, revised NDCs and gender analyses. Also, liaise with Climate Promise countries to integrate gender within the revised NDCs.
• Develop knowledge products which document good practices, challenges and lessons learned on gender and NDCs within the countries to not only make visible UNDP’s efforts, but also to provide information which will be applicable to other countries integrating gender within their NDC processes.
• Support communications and advocacy efforts, including drafting of talking points, key messages, PowerPoint presentations, among others, to make visible the NDC and gender work for a variety of audiences and platforms.
• Facilitate peer-to-peer exchange among countries, by supporting the organization of various events in national, regional or international fora (ex. CSW64, Beijing+25, COP26, etc.),strategizing how gender will be incorporated in key events planned for 2021 (ex. NDC Regional Dialogues) and supporting the development of content for a webinar series on gender mainstreaming in the NDC process.

The successful delivery of these services requires knowledge on gender equality and climate change/environment as well as strong research and writing skills.

Expected outputs and deliverables

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, Climate Change and Gender Equality and Inclusion, working under the NDC Support Programme, the consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

Institutional arrangements, Duration of Work, Duty Station

• The Consultant will be supervised by and report to the Programme Specialist, Climate Change and Gender Equality and Inclusion, and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.
• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment.
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop Computer.
• Payments will be made upon submission of a detailed time sheet and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Supervisor on days worked and outputs delivered.  
• Any necessary travel missions undertaken to deliver these outputs must be at the request of the Programme Specialist, Climate Change and Gender Equality and Inclusion, and approved in advance and in writing by the NDC Support Programme Manager.
• The BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of UNDP official travel.
• The selected candidate is responsible for ensuring that s/he has the necessary vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director.
• The selected candidate is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP.
• Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/.

Competencias

Corporate:

• 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;

Technical:

• Knowledge of gender mainstreaming and climate change;
• Data management and quality assurance;
• Excellent overall computer skills, including social media, Twitter

Professionalism:

• Works toward creative solutions by analyzing problems carefully and logically – inspires and fosters innovation;
• Has a dynamic, positive and adaptive attitude towards work-related challenges, bringing innovative and effective solutions to them;
• Facilitates meetings effectively and efficiently;
• Resolves conflicts as they arise;
• Sets priorities, produces quality outputs, meets deadlines and manages time efficiently;
• Highly organized, detailed oriented.

Communication:

• Writes and presents clearly and convincingly.

Client Orientation:

• Maintains strong relationships with partners and clients.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• At least Master’s degree in sustainable development, environmental management, social/political sciences, international relations, gender or development policy or other related expertise areas required.

Experience:

• At least two years of experience in gender mainstreaming in climate change/environment required;
• At least two years of experience in content development (ex. knowledge products), conducting research, write ups for dissemination, summarizing material related to development areas (such as on gender equality and climate change/environment) required;
• Applicants must submit a writing sample (i.e. brief article or blog. No longer than 2 pages/1,200 words). Provide link to the sample or scanned copy required.

Language:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language required

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• Online application with brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.
• Applicants must submit a writing sample (i.e. brief article or blog. No longer than 2 pages/1,200 words). Provide link to the sample or scanned copy.

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7-hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).

• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.

• Any unforeseeable travel agreed between UNDP and Individual Consultant, will be supported by the project travel fund and will be arranged according to UNDP entitlements and travel policy. Costs for airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in financial proposal.

• UNDP may request examples of past publications from applicants as part of the evaluation process.

If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below (which will include a short interview). Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being 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 where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Criteria for technical evaluation – (70 points maximum):

• Criteria 1. Relevant experience with gender mainstreaming in climate change/environment (minimum 2 years; 2-3 years: 10 points; 4-5 years: 15 points; more than 5 years: 20 points) – Maximum 20 points;
• Criteria 2. Relevant experience with content development (ex. knowledge products), conducting research, summarizing material related to development areas (such as on gender equality and climate change/ environment) (minimum 2 years; 2-3 years: 10 points; 4-5 years: 15 points; more than 5 years: 20 points) - Maximum 20 points;
• Criteria 3. Relevance of previous work experience in development organizations (UN system) (up to 1-year experience: 5 points; more than 1 year: 10 points)– Maximum 10 points;
• Criteria 4. Quality and suitability for this specific assignment of the submitted writing sample (good writing sample: 5 points; excellent writing sample 10 points)– Maximum 10 points.
• Criteria 5: Interview- Maximum 10 points.

Only those candidates that meet the minimum level of education and relevant years of experience requirements will be considered for the technical evaluation. The technical evaluation will include a desk review to select the shortlisted candidates.

Only the top three candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (42 points, criteria 1-4) of the maximum obtainable points for education, experience and language (60 points) shall be considered for the interview.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points, criteria 1-5) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (education, experience, language, interview = 70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined score in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Payment modality

• Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.

• Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified above and deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager. 

The work week will be based on 28 hours, i.e. on a 7-hour working day, 4 days a week, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template

Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4 – RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.