National Environmental Economist

Background

Available evidence and the decisions adopted by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) indicate that a significant gap remains in finance for biodiversity management, for countries to drastically scale up their efforts and achieve the 20 Aichi Targets defined in the CBD’s Strategic Plan for 2011-2020. A preliminary assessment recently conducted under the auspices of the High-level Panel on Global Assessment of Resources for Implementing the CBD Strategic Plan estimated that the global investment required ranges between US$130 and 440 billion annually. While useful, this and similar other global estimates are based on extrapolations sensitive to the underlying assumptions. To define biodiversity finance needs and gaps with greater precision and determine related challenges and opportunities for resource mobilisation, detailed national-level (bottom-up) assessments are therefore required.

In this context, UNDP in October 2012 launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN, as a new global partnership seeking to address the biodiversity finance challenge in a comprehensive manner – building a sound business case for increased investment in the management of ecosystems and biodiversity, with a particular focus on the needs and transformational opportunities at the national level.

BIOFIN is managed by UNDP, in partnership with the European Commission and the Governments of Germany, Switzerland, Norway and Flanders. As of July 2015, the joint contributions of BIOFIN’s five partners stand at USD 29 million, and the total number of core countries involved at 30. The 30 countries participate in BIOFIN including: Botswana, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Seychelles, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda and Zambia.

Guided by a steering committee representing the partners, BIOFIN works along two main axes:

I) Globally-led development of a new methodological framework. An entirely new methodological framework is being developed and piloted for undertaking national-level “bottom-up” analyses of the finance-relevant enabling context; for determining the current / baseline investment in biodiversity; for quantifying the full cost of meeting national biodiversity conservation targets and the resulting finance gap; and for assessing the suitability of financial mechanisms and developing national resource mobilisation strategies that are fully appropriated by national governments and other key in-country stakeholders. The methodologies applied in the project will be refined through regional and global learning, and made available more widely.

II) Adaptation and implementation of this new methodological framework at national level. To help countries increase the importance attributed to biodiversity and in consequence bridge the financing gap, the work at national level will be led by Ministries of Finance, Economics or Planning and the Ministry of Environment. It is articulated through the following components:

1. Analyze the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in sectoral and development policy, planning and budgeting. Participating countries will analyse the current policy and institutional frameworks affecting biodiversity and ecosystem services both positively and negatively, and quantify related investments through comprehensive reviews of past and current (baseline) public and private expenditures. Analyses of impact, effectiveness and coherence will provide key opportunities for mainstreaming, aimed at reducing the cost of biodiversity management, such as through the removal of perverse incentives.

2. Assess future financing flows, needs and gaps for managing and conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. Participating countries will project anticipated future investment in biodiversity, and determine the financing needed to meet agreed national priorities reflecting the CBD Aichi Targets, building on and interacting with the NBSAP process, and taking into account cost-effectiveness and the effects of an improved enabling environment. The difference between the projected future investment and the required investment will enable the quantification of the finance gap.

3. Develop comprehensive national Resource Mobilization Strategies to meet the biodiversity finance gap. Following an assessment of the full range of potential financing mechanisms (traditional and innovative, national and international), each participating country will develop a strategy to address the finance gap, combining suitable and nationally-adapted mechanisms. The strategy will analyse opportunities, risks and barriers related to the implementation of these mechanisms and provide solutions and recommendations, including on the enabling environment and safeguards.

4. Initiate implementation of the Resource Mobilization Strategy at national level. Countries will begin implementing recommendations pertaining to a priority subset of the identified financing mechanisms – regarding aspects such as institutional requirements, laws and regulations, taxes and fees, identification of legal thresholds, removal of biodiversity-harmful incentives, further feasibility studies and implementation plans, certification processes, public-private-partnerships, voluntary agreements, etc.

For Thailand, the initiative has become operational in June 2014. The BIOFIN in Thailand is designed to support the country in translating the 12th National Economics and Social Development Plan, which highlights the importance of sustainable utilization of natural resources as a foundation to green growth and inclusive development, into implementation with financial strategies, especially with regards to the Integrated National Biodiversity Strategic and Action Plan (NBSAP). The work of UNDP’s BIOFIN is supported by the Office of National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) under the Office of the Prime Minister, the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other key government agencies in Thailand.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective

The National Environmental Economist will be responsible for conducting a synthesis report for BIOFIN Thailand, acting as resources person in training the trainers for BIOFIN Working Group and providing technical support to the BIOFIN Technical Advisory Team and the National BIOFIN Steering Committee in Thailand.

Scope of work:

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Assist the Chief Technical Advisor in conducting a Consolidation Workshop to finalize the screening and selection of financing instruments;
• Complete a short write up of the above Consolidation Workshop to be included in Thailand’s BIOFIN Synthesis report.
• Complete a synthesis report which consolidates the main contents of four main ecosystems: terrestrial ecosystem, marine and coastal ecosystem, wetland ecosystem and urban biodiversity from the following components:
  • Policy and Institutional Review (PIR)
  • Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER)
  • Financial Needs Assessment (FNA)
  • Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP)
• Conduct Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) of  technologies for solid waste disposal system and wastewater management in the Koh Tao Island which is the pilot project site of BIOFIN Thailand’s Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES);
• Act as a resources person in training sessions on BIOFIN process and provide technical support to the Chief Technical Advisor in the design of a workshop on “Economic Valuation on Biodiversity Resources: An Introduction”
• Conduct lectures at universities on the topic of the BIOFIN process, if needed.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the followings:

1st deliverable: A synthesis report of BIOFIN Thailand based on four main components: PIR, BER, FNA and BFP by 31 December 2017;

2nd deliverable: A training course on economic valuation on biodiversity resources for BIOFIN working group by 31 March 2018;

3rd deliverable: A complete Cost-Effectiveness Analysis for selected biodiversity finance solutions in pilot projects by 30 April 2018.

Institutional Arrangement

A National Environmental Economist will work closely with the Chief Technical Advisor of BIOFIN Thailand and then coordinate with the National BIOFIN Coordinatorthrough the Project Management Unit of BIOFIN in UNDP Thailand.

Duration of the Assignment

1 December 2017 to 31 December 2018 with maximum of 20 working days

Duty Station

Home based with travel required to pilot project site(s).

Competencies

 Competencies:

• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills.
• Ability to prepare publications, reports and presentations.
• Ability to work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
• Strong motivation and ability to work and deliver under short deadlines.
• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback.
• Able to work independently with little or no supervision.
• Familiarity with government strongly desired.
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Thai national only with Master’s degree in economics, politics, environments or a closely related field or Bachelor’s degree with five years of related experience in economics, politics, environments or a closely related field, or equivalent relevant work experience.

Years of experience:

• At least five years of experience, preferably in research analysis regarding environmental policy, institutional and expenditure setting issues.
• Experience in working with the process and methodology of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative
• Experience in dealing with international and national experts and academic institutions.
• Exposure to environmental issues, biodiversity in particular.
• Experiences and familiarity with UN system and culture is an advantage

Languages:

• Good command of English and Thai languages both spoken and written.

Financial Proposal

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.

Payment will be made to the consultant upon the satisfactory delivery of above mentioned deliverables approved by the BIOFIN Technical Team Leader and the Senior Technical Advisor of Global BIOFIN. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

Payment Term	Output/Deliverable	Content	ApproximateDate of Output
1st Payment 50%	1	Completion of a synthesis report for BIOFIN Thailand	31 December 2017
2nd Payment 20%	2	Training the trainers/workshop on economic valuation on biodiversity resources for BIOFIN working group	31 March 2018
3rd Payment 30%	3	The Final study on cost-effectiveness analysis of elected technologies	30 April 2018

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

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 costs shall be reimbursed at actual but not exceeding the quotation from UNDP approved travel agent.  The provided living allowance will not be exceeding UNDP DSA rates. Repatriation travel cost from home to duty station in Bangkok and return shall not be covered by UNDP.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Criteria	Max. Point
Technical	70
Education	30
Experiences with BIOFIN methodology	30
Experience working with UN agency	5
Strong communication and writing skills	5
Financial	30
Total	100

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the total technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Documents to Be Included When Submitting the Proposals

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and financial proposal using the template provided in Annex III. Note: National consultants must quote prices in Thai Baht.
• 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.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered. The short listed candidates may be contacted and the successful candidate will be notified.

ANNEXES

Annex I - TOR_ Business and Human Rights Specialist

1. Annex I – I  - BIOFIN Workbook 2016

The BIOFIN Global team has developed a methodology to assist countries in the application of the Workbook. Please view the BIOFIN workbook at http://www.biodiversityfinance.net/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/undp-biofin-web.pdf

 Annex II- General Condition of Contract

Annex III - Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for IC and Financial Proposal

All documents can be downloaded at : http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=42357