UNDP Jobs - 87985- Recruitment of an Iternational Consultant

Recruitment of an Iternational Consultant - To Carry Out an In-Depth Analysis of Environmental Accounting Indicators

Location :

Bissau, GUINEA-BISSAU

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

29-Oct-2019

Application Deadline :

15-Oct-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 days

Languages Required :

English French Portuguese

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Guinea-Bissau houses a wealth of natural resources that is of local, national, regional and global significance. However, despite its enormous potential, the country embodies some of the world’s toughest development challenges, combining acute and rising poverty with persistent fragility.

Being a coastal country, Guinea-Bissau’s challenges are magnified as a Least Developed Country and Small Island Developing State, due to its environmental and socio-economic vulnerabilities, geographical situation and climate conditions.

The Government of Guinea-Bissau has elaborated various plans and reports to safeguard the environment and promote sustainable development, including the National Adaptation Plan of Action (2006) and Second National Communication on Climate Change (2011). The “Strengthening natural resource valuation capacities for improved planning and decision-making to conserve the global environment” project, a Rio Convention capacity development project, proposes as that sets out to address challenges identified in Guinea-Bissau’s 2011, National Capacity of Self-Valorization (NCSA) and is fully aligned with these plans. Thus, this project and its strategy are consistent with the findings of the NCSA, as well as with Guinea-Bissau’s national plans, priorities and policies. It also takes into account Guinea-Bissau’s PAN/LCD and National Strategy and Action Plan on Biological Diversity and the National Action strategies.

Indeed, the project will contribute with the establishment of a reliable environmental accounting tool and monitoring system which allows presentation of the state of the environment in understandable terms to policy decision-makers, both national and international, and regularly update the status of Guinea-Bissau capacity to plan its future for sustainable development.

So far, the country has not implemented specific activities regarding environmental accountability, with the exception of the Guide for the economic evaluation of impact assessment, elaborated under the Environmental Assessment framework.

The consultancy will undertake an in-depth assessment of environmental accounting indicators in Guinea-Bissau. It will be an up-to-date identification of which indicators are currently being used that can form a set of best practices for environmental accounting in Guinea-Bissau, as well as to highlight which indicators remain deficient. This assessment will be an extensive and exhaustive exercise to describe and unpack each indicator that aligns with best practice environmental accounting and natural resource valuation in the scope of:

Output 2.1- Full assessment of environmental accounting indicators and related information systems to improve monitoring and decision-making on the global environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

The international consultant, under the supervision of the project coordinator, UNDP GEF and UNDP Country Office in Guinea Bissau, will work closely with the government specialists, and take into account the Project Document, the international best practices and standards for environmental accounting and valuation of ecosystem services (with specific references to the following sectors: Faculty of law, General Directorate of Environment, Directorate General for Sustainable Development, Competent Environmental Assessment Authority, general tax and contributions directorate, general directorate of budget and tax affairs, agriculture, energy, fisheries, land and ecosystems, biodiversity institute and protected areas, and water resources,), and all the needed references, on environmental accounting in Guinea-Bissau, including:

Carry out an in-depth analysis of environmental accounting indicators.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

Undertake an in-depth assessment of environmental accounting indicators.This exercise will build on the work undertaken in activities 1.1.2 and 1.1.3.This exercise will also serve as an important baseline assessment to be undertaken early during project implementation.It will be an up-to-date identification of which indicators are currently being used that can form a set of best practices for environmental accounting in Guinea-Bissau, as well as to highlight which indicators remain deficient.This assessment will be an extensive and exhaustive exercise to describe and unpack each indicator that aligns with best practice environmental accounting and natural resource valuation.However, this assessment is not intended to commit the project to develop capacities to improve the methodologies and skillsets needed to adopt and use all the indicators.Rather, this assessment will categorize and rank the indicators according to an agreed upon set of criteria for priority capacity development, piloting, and early testing, as appropriate.That is, only a sub-set of key indicators (general national accounting indicators, environmental accounting indicators, and natural resource valuation indicators) will be addressed by the project through the learning-by-doing workshops and pilot project activities;
Undertake a SWOT and gap analysis of existing environmental information management systems.Taking into account the results of 2.1.1, this activity will consist of a series of meetings and focus group discussions to have a very clear understanding on how existing databases and information systems currently manage data and information relevant to the calculation and use of environmental accounting and natural resource valuation.The gap analysis will emphasize opportunities and barriers for adding new indicators to existing databases and information systems;
Visit Bissau, to consult the relevant players, attend meetings of the finance and economic expert working group, as needed, and discuss the main findings with Project Management Unit (PMU) and UNDP;

Elaborate and present the drafts of a report that carry out an in-depth analysis of environmental accounting indicators to a specific validation workshop and incorporate all the comments received.

Approved methodology and workplan for assignment / 5 days from the contract signature / 5 working days and approved by UNDP and Secretary of State for Environment and Biodiversity / 20% of contract amount

Approved first draft of the full assessment of environmental accounting indicators and related information systems to improve monitoring and decision-making on the global environment / Within 15 days from the completion of the first field mission / 15 working days and approved by UNDP and Secretary of State for Environment and Biodiversity / 30% of contract amount

Approved second draft of the full assessment of environmental accounting indicators and related information systems to improve monitoring and decision-making on the global environment (for the validation workshop) / Within 5 days from the submission of the comments to the first draft / 5 working days and approved by UNDP and Secretary of State for Environment and Biodiversity / 30% of contract amount

Approved final version of the full assessment of environmental accounting indicators and related information systems to improve monitoring and decision-making on the global environment (after validation workshop) / Within 5 days from the validation workshop / 5 working days and approved by UNDP and Secretary of State for Environment and Biodiversity / 20% of contract amount

Institutional Arrangement

The International consultant will work under the supervision of the National Project Coordinator, UNDP GEF and UNDP Country Office in Guinea Bissau. The Head of the Sustainable Development Cluster in Guinea-Bissau is in charge of approving/accepting outputs and deliverables from the consultancy; decisions will also be based on the positive evaluation of the consultant’s performance by the National Project Coordinator.

The international consultant will interview the required institutions, including, at least: Faculty of law, General Directorate of Environment, Directorate General for Sustainable Development, Competent Environmental Assessment Authority, general tax and contributions directorate, general directorate of budget and tax affairs, agriculture, energy, fisheries, land and ecosystems, biodiversity institute and protected areas, and water resources.

Duration of the Work and Duty Station

The consultancy is expected to start in 29/10/2019, and to be completed in 29/12/2019. It requires 30 working days to be carried out within a two-month contract period. The duty station will be Bissau and home-based.

Proposed period Location N° of working days

2019 Home-based 5
2019 Home-based 15
2019 Bissau 5
2019 Home-based 5
2019 TOTAL 30

Reporting:

The international consultant will work under the supervision of the Project Coordinator. The Head of the Sustainable Development Cluster is in charge of approving/accepting outputs and deliverables from the consultancy; decisions will also be based on the positive evaluation of the consultant’s performance by the National Project Coordinator.

The international consultant will consult the required institutions, including, at least: Faculty of law, General Directorate of Environment, Directorate General for Sustainable Development, Competent Environmental Assessment Authority, general tax and contributions directorate, general directorate of budget and tax affairs, agriculture, energy, fisheries, land and ecosystems, biodiversity institute and protected areas, and water resources

Competencies

Required Competencies and Expertise

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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.

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning;
Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on environmental issues;
In-depth practical knowledge of interdisciplinary development issues.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in order to communicate complex, technical information to technical and general audiences;
Good negotiation skills for difficult situations;
Ability to achieve results by persuading, influencing and working with others;
Meeting facilitation and conflict resolution skills.

Management and Leadership

Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Holds a Master with expertise in the area of environmental economics, environmental or forestry engineering, environmental or natural science or related fields assessed as suitable to carry out the appointment.

Experience:

At least 10 years of proven experience in natural resources management and ecosystems environmental law and biodiversity management;
At least 10 years of proven experience in financial-economic jobs related to natural resources management, protected areas, environmental law and biodiversity conservation;
Previous professional experience in environmental accounting, ecosystem services accounting, natural capital accounting;
Knowledge of the context and previous working experience in natural resources management of Guinea-Bissau is an asset.

Language:

Language requirement: Portuguese; English and/or French.

Evaluation:

Applicants will be screened against qualifications and competencies specified below through a desk review or an interview process. Applicants will be evaluated based on: Cumulative analysis based on a combination of the Technical and Financial Scores

Technical Evaluation Criteria: 70%

Financial Evaluation Criteria: 30%

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method, where the technical criteria will be weighted a max. of 70% (70 points, out of total 100 points), and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max. of 30% (30 points out of total 100 points).

Applicants obtaining 49 points (70% of available points) or more of the total technical evaluation points will be considered for financial evaluation.

The financial evaluation score (max. 30 points) shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal of those technically qualified.

Applicants receiving the Highest Combined Score who have accepted the UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.

Technical evaluation 70% 70 points

Education Background 10 points

Experience as Defined in the ToR 10 points

Competences as Defined in the ToR 10 points

Understanding of the ToR 10 points

Methodology and Overall Approach 20 points

Overall Quality of the Tor 10 points

Financial Proposal 30% 30 points

Application Process

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

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by the UNDP;
Personal CV and P11 form, duly signed and contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
Brief description of why the candidate considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
Technical Proposal, proposing a methodology to carry out the assignment in accordance with this ToR;
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price. The term “all-inclusive” means that it has to include international travels, fees, insurance, living allowance, in-town transportation, and other related costs. The Financial Proposal has to be supported by a breakdown of costs, as per the template provided. Preferred Currency of Offer: United States Dollars (US$). If an 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 the Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate such point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

Incomplete applications will be excluded from further consideration.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to procurement.gw@undp.org. A response in writing or by standard electronic mail will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.