International Individual Consultant - Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services Network (BES-Net) Trialogues Facilitator

Background

The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) is a capacity sharing “network of networks” that promotes dialogue between science, policy and practice for more effective management of biodiversity and ecosystems, contributing to long-term human well-being and sustainable development. BES-Net complements and contributes to the capacity building work of the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) by aligning its activities with the IPBES global assessment themes and applying the related IPBES guidance documents.

The Trialogue is a face-to-face triangular communication and capacity building methodology promoted by BES-Net. BES-Net Trialogues bring together academic scientists, policymakers and practitioners with indigenous and local knowledge, who all have common BES interests, into a welcoming and constructive space for dialogue on specific policy questions at the national and regional levels. Three-way interactions help the participants to foster mutual learning, improve inter-cultural understanding and jointly explore the areas of inter-institutional coordination.

At the regional level, Trialogues aim at strengthening the interface between science/traditional knowledge, policy and practice, and enhance national capacity to integrate findings and recommendations of the IPBES thematic assessments into policy, planning and on-the-ground programmes and projects. Regional Trialogues were held with a geographic focus on Eastern Europe in 2017 and the Caribbean in 2018 thus far and contribute to promoting the uptake of the key messages of the IPBES thematic assessment of pollinators, pollination and food production within the participating countries.

At the national level, the Trialogue approach is used to create a three-way dialogue between scientists, policymakers and practitioners (e.g. local and indigenous communities, farmers, businesses, civil society and NGOs, etc.) in support of the ongoing national ecosystem assessments (NEAs) process in Cameroon, Colombia, Ethiopia and Vietnam. Trialogues help strengthen the participation of key stakeholders into the assessment process, build their awareness and capacity, and increase policy uptake of the assessment report recommendations.

Application Procedures

The application should contain:

• CV using Personal History Form (P11), indicating all relevant past experiences and the contact details of at least three (3) professional referees (Blank P11 form can be downloaded from http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc); 
• Financial Proposal that indicates the daily rate/fee of the candidate in US dollars

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of this assignment is to facilitate the implementation of a series of Regional and National Trialogues by undertaking the following steps and continually reviewing/refining the Trialogue methodology:

 Pre-Trialogue Period (Home-based and on-site with preparatory scoping missions to the Trialogue host country);

• Tailored adjustment of the Trialogue methodology and framing of the Trialogue scope in line with the key IPBES assessment/NEA themes and regional/national contexts;
• Supporting of background research of the target regions/countries using existing Information and data;
•  Organization of preparatory scoping missions to the Trialogue host countries in close collaboration with the respective UNDP country offices;
• Identification of key stakeholders representing policy, science and practice communities to be invited as background research interviewees and peer-reviewers and/or Trialogue participants/speakers;
• Purpose-led Trialogue programme design and agenda-setting;
• Supporting of the recruitment of local Trialogue facilitator;
• Guidance to the logistical Trialogue preparation (for example room setting, handouts, etc.).

Trialogue Period (On-site);

• Induction of local Trialogue facilitator and training on BES-Net methodology;
• Supporting of in-person visits to the key Trialogue partners in the host countries;
• State-of-the-art facilitation of three-day Trialogue events together with local Trialogue facilitator, to create a trusting and hospitable space for dialogue, joint problem-solving and action-mapping, by adopting innovative and creative session formats and utilizing creative visual stimuli and materials, together with local co-facilitator;
• The facilitation techniques used for the Trialogues will be based on a global review of the methods and techniques used to foster efficient multi-stakeholder discussions.

Post-Trialogue Period (Home-based with possible missions); 

• Production of the concrete action points (and an outline of knowledge and capacity gaps) that are to be taken for implementation/follow-up by the Trialogue participants;
• Review and refining of generic BES-Net methodological framework for forthcoming Trialogue planning;
• Periodic monitoring of progress in the implementation of post-Trialogue actions through face-to-face and online channels and compilation of stories of changes;
•  Provision of Trialogue related inputs as required by the BES-Net project.

A total of six Trialogues are scheduled to be held during the course of 2019-2020. They include three Regional Trialogues, tentatively targeting Anglophone Africa, Francophone Africa and Central Asia respectively; and three National Trialogues targeting Colombia, Ethiopia and Vietnam.

The first Regional Trialogue for the Anglophone Africa region is scheduled to be held in the second quarter of 2019 in Kenya on a pilot basis and the contractor will embark on the assignment building on the Pre-Trialogue activities which are advanced by the onset of the contract. The contractor is expected to lead the whole pre-Trialogue/Trialogue/Post-Trialogue period tasks fully for the rest of the Trialogue events. The timing of the Regional and National Trialogues will be determined as the contract progresses.

Expected Deliverables

• Satisfactory completion of Trialogue and post-Trialogue activities for Anglophone Africa Regional Trialogue;
• Satisfactory completion of pre-Trialogue, Trialogue and post-Trialogue activities for: 1) Central Asia Regional Trialogue and 2) Francophone Africa Regional Trialogue;
• Satisfactory completion of pre-Trialogue, Trialogue and post-Trialogue activities for three National Trialogues in: 1) Colombia, 2) Ethiopia and 3) Vietnam;
• Compilation of stories of changes observed and other agreed inputs as necessary in the past Trialogue countries and regions.

Implementation Modalities of the Assignment;

The Contractor will work under the supervision of the BES-Net Project Manager in regular communication and consultation with the BES-Net Project Coordinator, Project Officer and other team members.

This assignment is home-based with expected missions to Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Vietnam and two additional countries in Central Asia and Francophone Africa (to be announced, once the location is selected). Travel and daily allowance costs to the above destinations and any additional travels requested by UNDP will be covered separately as per UNDP rules and guidelines.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN values and ethical standards;
• Respects the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
•  Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; and
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

• Planning and Organizing: Allocates the appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Uses time efficiently; Monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary;
• Client orientation: Identifies clients’ needs and match them with appropriate solutions; Keeps a client informed on progress and setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of product or service to the client;
• Creativity: Offers new and different solutions to solve problems or meet clients’ needs; Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas, thinks outside the box; Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things;
• Communication: Ability to write clear reports; Ability to engage with diplomacy with various stakeholders; Proven networking and outreach skills in multi-stakeholder environments.

Evaluation

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicant's qualifications and financial proposal. The contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as;

• 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.

Only those candidates who obtained at least 70% of points, or a minimum of 49 points, in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Evaluation (70% of total evaluation; maximum 70 points);

• Minimum educational requirement (Mandatory);
• Demonstrated practical work experience in relevant fields (Max. 20);
• Proven knowledge and expertise in biodiversity and other BES-Net thematic fields (Max 10);
•  Work experience in policy development and implementation (Max. 10);
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing scientific/research and other sources of information (Max. 10);
• Previous UN experience/familiarity with UNDP’s programmatic work (Max. 10);
• Excellent verbal communication and writing skills in both English and French (Max. 10).

Financial Evaluation (30% of total evaluation; maximum 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 scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered qualified and will be offered the contract with UNDP.Firms are not eligible for this consultancy assignment (open only for international individual consultants).

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  An advanced degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in environment, development or other relevant fields.

Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant practical experience in conceptualization, organization and facilitation of multi-stakeholder dialogue events in various regions of the world;
• Proven knowledge and expertise in biodiversity and other BES-Net thematic fields;
• Work experience in policy development and implementation;
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing scientific/research and other sources of information;
• Demonstrated experience in writing concise and relevant reports;
• Previous work experience with the UN System and familiarity with UNDP’s general programming work are desirable.

Language skills:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an advantage. Working knowledge of French is an asset.