Consultancy – Environmental Expert

Background

 

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY ON THIS SITE, PLEASE ONLY APPLY USING THIS LINK: https://etendering.partneragencies.org 

and sign in using your username and password, and search for event using reference UNDP1- CPUC19-16

 

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. Within this context, UNDP invests in a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. 

The Global Policy Network (GPN) is the engine for thought leadership, UNDP’s programmatic work and a vital delivery mechanism of our integration function. The GPN also draws on expertise globally to provide more effective responses to the complex development challenges countries face in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and responding to crisis in an integrated and coherent manner. The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan, which is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within the GPN, BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response.

The SDG Integration Team sits at the center of the GPN with the aim to advance and connect UNDP’s integrated services across sectors and countries. The SDG Integration Team builds a coherent and consolidated menu of services emphasizing direct short- to medium-term engagements to support national implementation and monitoring of the SDGs (building on the MAPS engagements), qualitative and evidence-driven analysis for accelerated progress, and knowledge sharing of integrated policy solutions to respond rapidly to requests from country offices.

The SDG Integration Team will support a set of ‘first movers’ countries where multi-sectoral teams will be brought together to address a complex development challenge and design integrated solutions. One of these countries has been identified as Uzbekistan where the team has been requested to support the work around the Aral Sea region looking into the environmental, human, social and economic challenges that have emerged and persisted due to the gradual disappearance of the Aral Sea.

The Government of Uzbekistan has recently concluded a high-level international conference on 24-25 October 2019 focused on bringing in innovative financing and technologies for the Aral Sea region. As a follow-up to the deliberations of this conference, the Government has requested support form UNDP to help operationalize the concept to make ‘The Aral Sea - A zone of Ecological and Innovation Technologies’. This entails long-term engagement and dedicated support for the region of Karakalpakstan.  An expert with the relevant profile will be required to be the anchor for this long-term engagement as well as to provide relevant technical input to the development of concepts, operational and/or action plans, funding proposals, and other document.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Expert will support the Uzbekistan Integration Mission Team to design the offer of support around the Aral Sea region. The expert will undertake the following initial tasks. Please note that since the work is in its very initial stage it will be further adapted to the needs of the Government and revised as deemed necessary by the CO/SDG integration team.

• Under the supervision of the team lead, and in collaboration with the UNDP team, develop a package of support for the Government of Uzbekistan, that will help translate the vision of the concept note into concrete, time-bound actionable items. This could entail establishing an integrated platform, helping design portfolio approaches, bring in specific projects, tapping into strategic financing opportunities, key partnerships with relevant entities, and beyond. (20 days)

• Finalize the concept note (based on the discussions at the conference) and support the Government to prepare a detailed Operational Plan.(10 days)

• Support implementation of strategic activities under the operational plan. (20 days)

• Be the anchor/focal point for all activities related to the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan where UNDP is supporting the Government.(20 days)

• Map out main financiers who invest in the Aral region, identify gaps and opportunities, and help mobilize resources into identified development priorities. (20 days)

• Help move the financing around vertical funds including Global Environmental Financing, Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, etc. for Uzbekistan to support adaptation and mitigation in connection to the Aral Sea disaster. (20 days)

• Undertake missions to gather information; consult with the Government, UNDP and other stakeholders; attend relevant meetings/conferences; and provide close support to the Government to undertake specific tasks related to the operationalization and implementation of this work. (30 days)

• Undertake any other tasks and assignments as deemed necessary by the team in the course of designing the work. (10 days)

Deliverables:

The international consultant will be engaged for 150 days over a period of 1 year (with possibility for extension as required).               

Deliverables	Target Due Date	Expected Number of days
UNDP’s package of offer to the Government of Uzbekistan on the Aral Sea region	28 February 2019	20 days
Finalization of Concept; and development of Operational Plan	28 February 2019	10 days
Coordination of support from team members, government counterparts, and partners	Over the course of the contract, and as required	20 days
Support implementation of specific activities sunder the operational plan	Closely coordinating with Government timelines	20 days
Develop proposals for vertical funds	Based on relevant deadlines of these funds	20 days
Support UNDP CO to mobilize additional resources for the Aral Sea region	In close liaison with CO timelines	20 days
Missions to Tashkent/Nukus; consultations; and participation in key meetings and events	Over the course of the contract, and as required	30 days
Other tasks	Over the course of the contract, and as required	10 days

Competencies

Corporate:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism.

Technical:

• Knowledge of climate change adaptation concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

• Knowledge of disaster recovery issues and solutions and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

• Knowledge of climate-friendly technologies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

• Knowledge of sustainable development concepts, principles and issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, covering the economic, social and environmental dimensions

• Knowledge of Economic Planning concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

• Knowledge of conservation, sustainable use and access and benefit sharing of biodiversity, land, forests and oceans and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Functional:

Communications

• Able to communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

• Ability to plan and deliver communication initiatives that make an impact, persuades intended audiences, shapes perceptions of the UNDP and creates positive demand for UNDP's value propositions

Professionalism

• Capable of working in a high- pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;

• Excellent analytical and organizational skills;

• Exercises the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Teamwork

• Works well in a team;

• Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;

• Focuses on results for the client;

• Welcomes constructive feedback.

 

Information on Working Arrangements

• Estimated level of effort including travel: approximately 150 working days over 12 months;

• The consultant will report to, and be directly supervised by Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Executive Coordinator, Environmental Finance

• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;

• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop, and mobile phone and service plan.UNDP-GEF will provide a working station, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.;

• The consultant shall submit to the Supervisor a monthly progress report on the status of the implementation of tasks;

• Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the consultant is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones;

• Payments will be made monthly upon submission of a detailed time sheet (including deliverables and their timely execution) and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the supervisor on days worked (with “a day” calculated as 8 hours of work) and outputs delivered.

 

Travel

• International travel will be required. An estimated four missions during the first year (destinations to be identified) with expected total travel duration of approximately 30 days per mission. Expected mission travel would be discussed upon commencement of assignment and updated quarterly;

• Any necessary mission travel must be approved in writing and advance by the supervisor and the UNDP CO head;

• BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;

• Consultants are responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;

• Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;

• Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives ;

• The consultant will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;

• All related travel expenses will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations upon submission of an F-10 claim form and supporting documents. Costs for mission travel (including air tickets, living allowances) should not be included in the financial proposal.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

• A minimum of a Master’s level university degree in international economics, environmental science, social science or related field is required (PhD will be an asset).

Experience:

• A minimum of 15 years of work experience in international development including in leading teams, managing programs/portfolios, overseeing funds/ projects, policy formulation in sustainable development, environment, etc is required.

• Hands-on experience of working in countries in the implementation of development projects, particularly in the areas of environmental management, climate change mitigation/adaptation, social safeguards, economic development, smart agriculture, value chain enhancement, water resource/supply management, among others, is required.    

• Experience in working with international organizations, including UNDP, will be preferred.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment;

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references;

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7-hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).
• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; (excluding mission travel); living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. 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.

If the 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 a

• Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being 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 where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (70 points):

• Criteria 1. Demonstrated work experience in international development in leading teams, managing programs/portfolios, overseeing funds/ projects, policy formulation in sustainable development and environment; Maximum Points: 25;
• Criteria 2. Hands-on experience in countries in the implementation of development projects, particularly in the areas of environmental management, climate change mitigation/adaptation, social safeguards, economic development, smart agriculture, value chain enhancement, water resource/supply management; Maximum Points: 25; and
• Criteria 3. Experience in working with international organizations; Maximum Points: 20

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (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 technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Executive Coordinator, Environmental Finance, BPPS; and Matilda Dimovska, Resident Representative, UNDP Uzbekistan and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Travel

• Travel to Uzbekistan (Tashkent, Nukus) is required.

• Travel costs will be covered separately by UNDP.

Payment modality

• Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.
• The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.
• The consultant will be employed for 150 days. 
• Payments will be made in 3 bi-monthly installments based on the deliverables submitted. 

 

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY ON THIS SITE, PLEASE ONLY APPLY USING THIS LINK: https://etendering.partneragencies.org 

and sign in using your username and password, and search for event using reference UNDP1- CPUC19-16

 

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template

Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4 – RLA Template