Finance Specialist/ Economic Incentive Expert (Open for both national and international candidates)

Background

The GEF Council has recently approved the Project Identification Form (PIF) for the full sized project titled “Eliminating POPs through Sound Management of Chemicals” (PIMS 5918) implemented through the UNDP.  UNDP is now commencing a detailed project preparation phase expected to last 40 days.  The PIF was approved by the GEF Secretariat on 2nd May 2017. At the end of the preparation phase, UNDP will finalize a project document for approval/endorsement by the GEF CEO.

The project aims to reduce the risks of POPs on human health and the environment through strengthening institutional capacity and the policy and regulatory framework for the sound management and disposal of chemicals, POPs and wastes, and developing sustainable systems for the sound collection, labelling, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals and waste.

According to the National Implementation Plan (NIP) developed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs, the two highest ranking national priorities are:

1.) The implementation of measures to strengthen the institutional and regulatory framework (including: Developing legislation for chemicals management; Strengthening institutional capacity; Improving data collection and management systems and Conducting research on the effects of POPs); and

2.) Developing an action plan to eliminate PCB-containing equipment and its wastes by 2025 (including Identifying, labeling and mapping where PCBs and equipment containing PCBs are located in the country; Put in place labelling mechanism for all PCB containing equipment; Establishing adequate storage facilities for replaced equipment containing PCBs; Formulating guidelines for disposal of equipment containing PCBs; and Disposing safely of equipment containing PCBs).

Since the ratification of the Stockholm Convention in 2006, there has been no specific action towards the environmentally sound management of POPs of hazardous wastes at national level. The Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Law no. 4/93) of the Maldives has particular provisions for the sound management of hazardous waste. However, limited data, capacity, resources and a general lack of understanding related to the management of POPs and hazardous wastes have hampered the substantive realization and implementation of these specific provisions, or POPs related interventions. Now that the NIP process has been concluded and the country’s national priorities related to POPs have become more defined, the Government is committed to start addressing the most pressing POPs priorities.

In order to reduce the risks of POPs on human health and the environment and address the challenges that the Government of the Maldives faces in achieving the sound management and disposal of POPs, POPs containing wastes and reducing releases of POPs to the environment, the project proposes the following interventions:

Component 1. Strengthening the regulatory and policy framework and institutional and technical capacity for the sound management and disposal of POPs, chemicals and wastes

Component 2. Establish systems for the sound collection, labeling, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals and wastes

Component 3. Monitoring and learning, adaptive feedback, outreach and evaluation

The consultant is expected to support the design and preparation of a UNDP/GEF project document for the GEF full sized project titled “Eliminating POPs through Sound Management of Chemicals” and support the preparation of additional supporting documents required for approval by the GEF.

In close coordination with relevant parties, the consultant is requested to coordinate and provide guidance throughout the process of project design, ensure the preparation and finalization of the UNDP/GEF Project Document (ProDoc) focusing on financial as well as economic instrumental aspects required for the approval by the GEF-OFP, the Government of Maldives and UNDP.

In this regard UNDP Maldives is seeking to recruit a Finance Specialist/ Economic Incentive Expert with experience in Project Design to assist in the development of GEF funded Full-Sized Project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of UNDP Assistant Resident Representative (Resilience and Climate Change), UNDP Regional Technical Adviser from Bangkok Regional Hub and in close coordination with other Project Development Team members and under guidance of the Team leader, the consultant needs to propose a (or multiple) finance mechanism/incentives to formulate the project.  This will involve provision of technical support for the various tasks defined in the PPG including:

1. Prepare list/Contact and involve financial institutions to participate in the project
2. Identify potential co-financing partners and prepare the Co-financing related documents
3. Prepare an analysis on the financial needs of sound management of Chemicals and wastes in the country, and, working closely with the Institutional/Policy, POPs/PCB and Waste Management Experts, put forward nationally appropriate, potential financing modalities that might feed into and support the chemicals management and import control legislative/regulatory models that will be put forward for consideration during the project.
4. Based on current gaps and needs identified, and, working closely with the Institutional/Policy, POPs/PCB and Waste Management Experts, put forward nationally appropriate, potential economic instruments, incentives and financing modalities that might support the enforcement and compliance with chemicals management and import control legislative/regulatory models that will be put forward for consideration during the project.
5. In consultation with the Institutional & Policy and Waste Management Experts, draft economic and fiscal elements that might be included to develop a regulatory framework to share accountability and responsibility for waste management across private and public stakeholders, with an eye to completing such a framework in the course of the project itself
6. In collaboration with the Waste Management expert, generate a draft plan, with co-financing agreements, to establish and integrate collection, segregation and transporting system for hazardous waste management into each of the four (4) regional waste management systems;
7. Participate in the Inception and Validation Workshops.
8. Working closely with the Gender Expert, suggest socio-economic indicators for inclusion in the PRF.

The Complete CEO endorsement documentation package shall include the following documents and the consultant will support to ensure all the documents are prepared and submitted for UNDP internal review no later than 30th May 2018:

• Finalized UNDP Project Document
• Finalized GEF Request for CEO Endorsement
• Finalized SESP /ESMP
• GEF Chemical and Waste Tracking Tools (such as GEF 6 Chemical and Waste Tracking Tool, GEF POPs tracking Tool)
• All Co-financing Letters

Expected Outputs/ Deliverables

The consultant will work closely with the International PPG Coordinator, National Coordinator and rest of PPG team to achieve the deliverables. S/he will be responsible for the timely submission of the following;                                                                                                                            

Expected Deliverable	Expected Time	Expected Deadline
Detailed PPG work plan approved by the UNDP CO, Ministry of Environment and Energy and BRH RTA	3 days (10%)	November 16, 2017
Inception Workshop, Field Visit and Back to Office Reports	5 days (10%)	December 5, 2017
Partnership report: including map of financial institutions to participate in the project; including full contact information. Map of potential co-financing partners; and related Co-financing documents	5 days (20%)	February 20, 2017
Analytical report to: Explore the financial needs to support a national Environmentally Sound management system for Chemicals and wastes, Propose nationally appropriate, potential economic instruments, incentives and financing modalities that might support the overall sound management system, as well as compliance mechanisms such import control legislative/regulatory models that will be put forward for consideration during the project; Draft economic and fiscal elements that might be included to develop a regulatory framework to share accountability and responsibility for waste management across private and public stakeholders, with an eye to completing such a framework in the course of the project itself	5 days (20%)	March 20, 2017
A draft plan, including co-financing agreements, to establish and integrate collection, segregation and transportation for hazardous waste management into each of the four (4) regional waste management systems;	10 days (20%)	April 25, 2018
A report on Socio-economic indicators for inclusion in the PRF.	7 days (20%)	May 1, 2018

To achieve the deliverables, the consultant must liaise closely with the rest of the PPG team. All documents, report must be approved by the International PPG Coordinator and UNDP. The Final UNDP/GEF project Document must be ready for UNDP internal review by latest 30th May 2018.

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will be home based with travel to the Maldives, twice; one for inception workshop and one for the validation workshop. Field Visit to the Project Sites will be included during the initial mission for the inception workshop. S/He will be supervised by the Assistant Resident Representative (ARR) of Resilient and Climate Change UNDP Country Office and will work closely with the National Coordinator for PPG, Designated Official from Ministry of Environment and Energy, and Regional Technical Advisor in Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH). In order for the smooth implementation of the deliverables the consultant must liaise with other consultants recruited for PPG. Regular updates between the consultant and the National Coordinator must take place.  The frequency and medium of updates/feedback between the PPG team will be mutually agreed upon contract signature. He/she should carry out his/her tasks in accordance with the rules and procedures of UNDP and those of the Government of Maldives. Any other task that are not included above but during the assignment period later deemed important to ensure the quality of the deliverables could be proposed by the incumbent and shall be agreed jointly.

Duration of the Work

The Consultant will perform his/her assignment with the following timeline:

• S/he will work  40 working days within 08 months to complete the assignment
• The expected effective working date is 12 November 2017
• Delay in submitting report will impact on the completion of work and release of payment.
• The Final UNDP/GEF project Document must be ready for UNDP internal review by latest 30th May 2018.

Duty Station

The consultant will be home-based with travel to Maldives as indicated in the travel plan.

Travel Plan

The assignment foresees two missions to Maldives;   one for inception workshop (tentatively set for late Nov 2017) and later for the validation workshop (tentatively set for April 2018) All travel expenses associated with the trips (tickets, accommodation DSA) will be included in the financial offer (which needs to include (i) consultancy fees and (ii) estimated travel cost) as per UNDP rules and regulations.

Below is an indicative travel plan for the duration of the assignment. There may be also unforeseen travel that will come up during the execution of the contract which will be agreed on ad-hoc basis.

No	Destination	Frequency	Duration/days
1	Mission to Maldives for inception workshop	1	1
2	Old sites (identified in the PIF)	1	3 days
3	Possible New sites (if required)	1	3 days
4	Mission to Maldives for Validation workshop	1	1

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
• Experience in successfully preparing project documents in any international organization;
• Computer literacy (word processing, spread-sheets, PowerPoint) is expected with statistical and or spatial analysis skills a plus
• proven experience in the financial sector with development agencies and related projects
• Work experience in related project development is essential;
• Work experience in any other South East Asia country preferred;
• Proficient in English language, both spoken and written
• Ability to write project reports particularly for international funded project, make presentation.
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master’s Degree in Finance/Accounting, Business, or Public Administration, or a professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy;
• Professionally qualified accountants from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy will have a distinct advantage;

Experience

• A minimum of 5 (five) years experiences in preparing and analyzing budget for Chemical and Waste related projects.
• Experience in budget preparation/development for project concept in Eliminating Persistent Organic Pollutants  
• Wide working experience in the financial field of Chemical and Waste 
• Substantive experience in developing proposal and/or project document for major donors’ funded project;
• Understanding of and practical exposure to the institutional framework governing chemical and waste management in middle income countries, countries with economies in transition and Small Island Developing States would be an advantage;
• Good knowledge on capacity needs assessment methodology;
• Experience in team-based, multidisciplinary, international research, and project management is a must;
• Proven track record of experience in community development investment study and stakeholders consultation process.

Language Requirement

• Excellent Communication Skills in English

Application Documents

• The application must include a letter of interest to undertake this task, the CV, Personal History Form (P11), and a financial proposal (indicating the daily fee (in USD/MVR) for the assignment).
• The applicant must also submit the reference letters from past supervisors/clients. To download P11, kindly please visit the link: http://www.mv.undp.org/content/maldives/en/home/operations/jobs
• Please combine all the documents into one single file, as the system will allow for only one document to be uploaded.
• We will only accept online applications