National Consultant (Forest Governance Specialist)

Background

UNDP Bangladesh is supporting the Government to find innovative solutions to its development challenges based on the Country Programme Document was approved by the Government and UNDP in 2006 and signed United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Bangladesh 2012 – 2016. Pillar Five of UNDAF: Climate Change, Environment, Disaster Risk Reduction and Response. Outcome One: By 2016, populations vulnerable to climate change and natural disaster have become more resilient to adapt with the risk. Outcome Two: By 2016, vulnerable populations benefit from natural resource management (NRM); environmental governance and low- emission green development.

The UN-REDD Programme is the United Nations Collaborative Initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) in developing countries. The Programme was launched in 2008 to assist developing countries prepare and implement national REDD+ strategies, and builds on the convening power and expertise of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

As part of the country’s long-term strategy to reduce GHG emissions, the Government of Bangladesh has taken initial steps to prepare for the implementation of REDD+ activities. It has prepared the REDD+ Readiness Roadmap, officially endorsed in December 2012. As a partner country of the UN-REDD Programme, the Government of Bangladesh has signed the UN-REDD National Programme Document in July 2014 to assist with the implementing of Bangladesh’s REDD+ Readiness Roadmap.

The overall goal of the Bangladesh UN-REDD National Programme (NP) is to support the Government of Bangladesh in initiating the implementation of its REDD+ Readiness Roadmap by establishing necessary REDD+ management processes, identifying strategic readiness options for completing its National REDD+ strategy, and developing the capacities required to begin implementation of REDD+.

The UN-REDD Programme Management Unit (PMU) at the Forest Department is in need of a Forest Governance Specialist (FGS) to ensure smooth implementation and coordination on a daily basis of activities under Component 1 and 2.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Works:

Under the guidance and supervision of the PM and in coordination with UNDP advisors, the FGS will take responsibility for the delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of the following NP Outcomes and Outputs:

Outcome One Improved stakeholder awareness and effective stakeholder engagementOutput 1.1 Public Awareness Raised

Output 1.2 Consultation and Participation Plan

Outcome Two National REDD+ Strategy prepared

Output 2.1 Strengthen legal, policy and legislative framework for REDD+

Output 2.2 Drivers of deforestation and forest degradation identified

Output 2.3 Detailed understanding on the priority drivers of deforestation and forest degradationOutput 2.4 REDD+ strategies to address drivers of deforestation and forest degradation

The FGS will coordinate with state and non-state actors from relevant institutions and interest groups to achieve the tasks detailed under the Responsibilities section of the Terms of Reference. In addition to the above, the FGS will liaise with coordinators and advisors of FAO-led activities to support the PM in coordinating quarterly and annual work planning and monitoring and evaluation tasks.

Specific responsibilities are as follows:

Planning, Implementation and Oversight of Outcomes One & Two

• Prepare quarterly and annual work plans and budgets including procurement plans for the delivery of Outcomes;
• Develop and finalise, in coordination with relevant UNDP advisors, Terms of Reference (TOR) for national and international contractual services required for the delivery of Outcomes;
• Conduct necessary monitoring and evaluation of activities to ensure smooth and effective delivery and adaptive management of Outcomes;
• Ensure effective and meaningful participation of state and non-state actors throughout the implementation of Outcomes;
• Undertake monitoring and evaluation of substantive progress semi-annually and annually to document, analyse and reflect on achievements, lessons, risks and issues in order to improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the work.

Coordination and Administrative Tasks

• Assist the PM in coordinating quarterly and annual work planning processes;
• Assist the PM in conducting progress monitoring and evaluation, including periodic updating and revision of M&E milestones, targets and indicators as necessary;
• Support the PM in preparing semi-annual and annual reports on the NP’s progress;
• Prepare and ensure prompt submission of required technical and financial reports related to the delivery of Outcomes 1 and 2 to the PM and UNDP; and
• Develop and implement a framework for financial, administrative, and operational risk monitoring for Outcomes 1 and 2.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The assignment will be achieved through the following submissions throughout the contract period:

• 1st Bi-monthly Report: Bi-monthly (Nov-Dec) report on status of acitivites under acitivity 1 and 2-  Second month from commencement of the contract- Review and Approvals Required - PM will review the report and will give the final acceptance of the report.
• 2nd Bi-monthly Report: Bi-monthly (Jan-Feb) report on status of acitivites under acitivity 1 and 2- Fourth month from commencement of the contract; Review and Approvals Required - PM will review the report and will give the final acceptance of the report.
• Final Bi-monthly Report: Bi-monthly (Mar-Apr) report on status of acitivites under acitivity 1 and 2-Sixth month from commencement of the contract Review and Approvals Required - PM will review the report and will give the final acceptance of the report.

Institutional Arrangement

The FGS will report directly to the Project Manager, UN-REDD Bangladesh National Programme and under overall guidance from National Project Director, UN-REDD Bangaldesh National Programme.

The consultant is expected to undertake the activities (scope of work) mentioned in the TOR in order to achieve the stated objectives above and complete the study. The deliverables will be submitted in electronic and hard form on time by the consultant to UNDP Bangladesh.

Duration of the Work

The total duration isfrom 1 Nov 2017 to 30 April 2018. 126 Working days over a period of 06 months

Duty Station

The duty station will be UN-REDD Bangaldesh National Programme Office at Forest Department, Agargaon.

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 should 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. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Deliverables are linked with the payment schedule:

1st Milestone- 20 % of the contract value shalle be paid upon submission of 1st Bi-monthly (Nov-Dec) report on status of acitivites under acitivity 1 and 2- 15 December 2017

2nd Milestone- 40 % of the contract value shalle be paid upon submission of 2nd Bi-monthly Report: Bi-monthly (Jan-Feb) report on status of acitivites under acitivity 1 and 2- 28th February 2018

Final Milestone 40 % of the contract value shalle be paid upon submission of Final Bi-monthly Report: Bi-monthly (Mar-Apr) report on status of acitivites under acitivity 1 and 2- 30th April 2018

Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Comprehensiveness knowledge of UN-REDD programme, global development concerns and climate change discourse;
• Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualifications:

• Minimum Master’s degree in Forestry, Environmental Sciences, Development Studies or Natural Resource Management. Candidate with PhD degree will be preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 12 years experience in the area of forestry, environment, natural resources management sector
• Minimum 7 years experience working with large scale project in NRM
• Proven and/or demonsntrated examples of work experience in forest governance and processes is an advantage
• Demonstrated ability to examine laws, policies, and programmes related to forestry sector and social development activities
• Proven track record of working with government, NGOs, and other key stakeholders in Bangladesh
• Excellent understanding of the key UNFCCC decisions on REDD+;
• Experience in working with United Nations or other international organizations or donor funded project is a plus.

Language requirements

• Fluency of English and Bangla language is required;

 Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages-

In general, UNDP shall 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.

Lodging, meals and transport cost for field visit related to this assignment will be paid by the project as per UN standard.

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Travel and DSA:

No DSA will be paid at the duty station. If unforeseen travel outside the duty station not required by the Terms of Reference is requested by UNDP, and upon prior agreement/approval, such travel shall be UNDP’s expenses and the individual contractor shall receive a per-diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate in such other location(s).

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

Cumulative analysis-

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant up on Cumulative Analysis/evaluation and determined as:

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

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% mark in technical evaluation will be considered eligible for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

• Criteria 1 Relevance of Education – Max 5 Points
• Criteria 2 Years of experience of work in the relevant sectors (forest, Environment, development)– Max 20 points
• Criteria 3 Proven experience (minimum 7 years) in large scale NRM project– Max 20 points
• Criteria 4 Demonstrated (at least 5 nos) example of similar assignments done  – Max 10 Points
• Criteria 5 Experience & working with Govt.  & United Nations or other international organizations or donor funded project – Max 15 Points

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks)

All technical qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below.

The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula:

p = y (µ/

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.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Proposers who shall not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation.

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references; P11 can be downloaded from the link below: http://www.bd.undp.org/content/bangladesh/en/home/operations/jobs/
• Technical proposal, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; b) a brief methodology, on how you will approach and complete the assignment, including a tentative table of contents for the final report; and c) a list of similar assignment with topic/name of the assignment, duration, role of consultant and organization/project
• Financial Proposal: Financial Proposal has to be submitted through a standard interest and availability template which can be downloaded from the link below:

http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.