Consultancy – Climate Change Transparency Analysis consultant, NPPS/Climate/UNDP

Background

Working in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries/territories achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Climate Promise is UNDP’s response to the climate challenge. Tackling the climate crisis requires all countries to make bold pledges under the Paris Agreement (PA). Therefore, the National Determined Contributions (NDCs) are the instrument that aim to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming and strengthen adaptation to its impacts. Thus, the Climate Promise is the commitment to ensure that any country wishing to increase the ambition of their national climate pledge can do so.

UNDP through the Climate Promise is now scaling up its support for countries to turn their NDC targets into concrete action – while continuing to push for greater ambition. Leveraging the NDCs as an umbrella, UNDP is bringing together its extensive infrastructure, networks and breadth of substantive offers to provide comprehensive support on NDC preparation and implementation.

One of the work areas under Climate Promise is climate transparency. Transparency is central to the Paris Agreement (PA). Article 13 of the PA provides the outline for an Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) for countries through which they can report on the actions they take related to climate change and the support that they provide and receive.  

The Climate Promise initiative has been supporting climate transparency with a wide range of Climate Change Enabling Activity (CC EAs) projects and transparency initiatives in more than 147 countries. These include the NC, BUR portfolio of Enabling Activities and the Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) projects [1] funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). Additional support has also been provided by other teams and programs under Climate Promise (I and II), such as the Forest and Climate team for MRV in REDD+, NDC Support Programme and the support given by the Belgium Government on enhancing transparency for francophone and lusophone countries, among other efforts.

UNDP’s NDC Support Programme has the aim to strengthen countries in scaling up actions and ambitions on climate change, the Programme has reached out to 41 countries across the globe and provided support on eliminating barriers to the ambitious transition, by formulating a systemic, integrated approach through governance and policy frameworks, inclusive leadership, transparency systems, blended climate finance and implementation of NDC objectives.[2]

Additionally, the Enhancing Climate Transparency (ECT) initiative with a focus on supporting French speaking and Portuguese speaking countries funded by the Belgium Government, aims to provide countries capacity building support on data and transparency to foster an enabling environment for the acceleration and scale-up of NDC implementation and reporting on progress.[3]

Finally, under the second phase of the Climate Promise: from Pledge to Impact[4], launched at COP26, UNDP aims to support at least 100 countries to turn their NDCs into concrete actions and strategies. UNDP will bring together the above-mentioned supports and experience to ensure all elements are in place for countries to fulfil their climate transparency obligations to the Convention and requirements in the PA. Therefore, it is key to evaluate the progress and impact of what has been done over the years on climate transparency, to better understand and continue supporting countries based on their current needs in their transition to the ETF.

[1] The NCs provide information on greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, measures to mitigate and to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change, and any other information that the Party considers relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention. The BURs provide an update of the information presented in NCs, on national GHG inventories, mitigation actions, constraints and gaps, including support needed and received. CBIT projects support developing country Parties, upon request, in meeting enhanced transparency requirements as defined in Article 13 of the Agreement in a timely manner.

[2] https://www.ndcs.undp.org/content/ndc-support-programme/en/home/our-work.html

[3] For more information see: Transparency under the Paris Agreement - UNDP offer March 2022.docx

[4]https://climatepromise.undp.org/sites/default/files/research_report_document/Climate%20Promise%20Global%20Progress%20Report%202022.pdf

Duties and Responsibilities

The recruited consultant is tasked to extract, analyse, and document the lessons learned, challenges and best practices of UNDP’s support on climate transparency. The analysis will evaluate the status of establishing and strengthening national climate transparency frameworks and the overall progress made to-date under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Article 13 requirements of the Paris Agreement (PA)[1].

This analysis aims to answer the following questions:

1. What has been the evolution and progress of the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) provisions and its key elements for developing countries supported by UNDP under the Convention?
2. What are the lessons learned, challenges and success factors to put in place a national MRV system and/or its key elements and how does this help or will help to a sustainable transition of implementing the Enhanced Transparency Framework under the Paris Agreement?
3. How the support provided by UNDP through its different initiatives on climate transparency has been able to leverage greater action and drive the implementation of the NDCs and the requirements of the Paris Agreement?

To respond these questions the analysis will be done through the MRV provisions and its key elements, understanding that the regular collection, analysis, and use of reliable information on climate action and support to reduce GHG emissions and increase resilience, and data on GHG emission trends, both historical and projected, is essential for evidence-based decision-making and information-sharing, which in turn build trust and understanding and promote stakeholder engagement. This data collection and reporting activity through institutional arrangements among participants countries, forms the key elements of what is commonly known as 'MRV' under the Convention and has recently been encapsulated by the term 'transparency' under the Paris Agreement[1].

The challenges and success factors extracted from this analysis will provide and overall picture of the enabling environment necessary to put in place a national MRV and/or its key elements.  Under UNFCCC the enabling environment or institutional arrangements[2] are organizational mandates, expertise, data flows, IT systems and tools and stakeholder engagement.

Therefore, the analysis will focus on the following UNDP’s initiatives:

1. Climate Change Enabling Activities National Communications (NC) and Biennial Update Reports (BUR)[3], and the Capacity Building Initiatives for Transparency (CBIT) projects funded by the GEF.  NC processes probably provide more information in mitigation and adaptation efforts regarding good practices, lessons learned, success factors and challenges mostly from the Key elements of MRV systems, while the processes behind BUR and CBIT projects will provide information about MRV systems/frameworks per se.
2. Climate Promise (1 and 2)
   1. NDC Support Programme. The selected examples of this initiative will possibly provide mixed information on the MRV systems per se and their key elements.
   2. Climate Promise 2. Francophone and Lusophone countries receiving support from the “Enhancing Climate Transparency” project funded by the Belgium Government.  While this initiative has just started, countries may be building on work under the Climate Promise or from previous GEF-funded projects, that this analysis will take into account. In additional the initiative is delivering workshops about these topics and the results can be an important part of this analysis.   
   3. Specific thematic support such as MRV for REDD plus, adaptation under the Climate Promise’s team.

Scope of Analysis

For this analysis, 25 countries/case studies will be selected and prioritized among all the initiatives mentioned in the previous section (Climate Promise I and II and GEF funded activities). These countries will be selected from each region where UNDP works, such as: Africa; Asia and the Pacific; Arab states; Eastern Europe and CIS; and Latin America and the Caribbean (Five countries/case studies in each region, 25 in total).

Methods of analysis will include conducting qualitative interviews, desk review and analysis of relevant project documents. The climate transparency team will provide facilitation in accessing the documents for desk review and arranging the interviews, including selection of the interviewees, coordination, and participation in the interviews.

The research tools and information sources will include but not limited to:

1. Annual Survey results: They are available only for the Climate Change Enabling Activity projects: National Communications (NC) and Biennial Update Reports (BUR).
2. Desk review of relevant project documents for the selected countries.
3. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with respective project managers/coordinators, and/or government officials, and/or relevant partners and stakeholders for the projects selected.
4. Literature review of similar works and knowledge products of other UN and external initiatives and projects with similar objectives, for example from Global Support Programme (GSP), PATPA Partnership.

Expected outputs and deliverables.

1. #	Key Deliverables	Timeline	%
   Output 1	Methodology and workplan: The consultant is expected to provide a detailed proposal, indicating the methodologies that will be used for documenting the good practices, challenges and lessons learned.  The consultant should come-up with methods proposed for collecting qualitative data, including sampling techniques, data collection tools and procedures, the method for compiling, analysis, and systematizing presentation of the data on lessons learned into knowledge reports for internal and external dissemination.	After 5 days of signing the contract September 2022	15%
   Output 2	Two – pager with key messages and highlights with the first results of the interviews and literature review. UNDP will provide guidance for this brief (before COP 27 will take place).  Data collection sheet with the main findings of the interviews. Semi structured interviews: preparation of the questionnaire for the interviews and conducting interviews. UNDP will provide assistance for both the questionnaire and interviews.	15th December 2022	25%
   Output 3	Report with lesson learned and good practices. UNDP will provide guidance on the content of this document.	1st March 2023	40%
   Output 4	Deliver a webinar on the case studies and main findings.  Report on the delivery tasks.	1st May 2023	20%

    

1. [1] https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Hand%20book_EN.pdf

   [2] Ibidem 3

   [3] BUR support for Parties to the Paris Agreement was phased out on January 1, 2022. Please see the information note:  https://www.thegef.org/sites/default/files/council-meeting-documents/EN_GEF_C.59_Inf.19_Information%20Note%20on%20the%20Financing%20of%20the%20Biennial%20Transparency%20Reports%20for%20Developing%20Country%20Parties%20to%20the%20Paris%20Agreement.pdf

[1] https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/parisagreement_publication.pdf

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
• Demonstrates professional competences and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Display cultural, gender, nationality, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment;
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team and to work under pressure;
• Excellent relationship management;
• Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation and reporting skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage deadlines with a sense of urgency.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

• Minimum Master’s degree in environmental economics, climate change, sustainable development, political science, anthropology - sociology or related subjects. Required.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience working on climate change issues, environmental policies and/or sustainable development projects; (required).
• Minmum 2 years of experience working on Climate Change Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Climate Transparency and Reporting, MRV systems, Capacity-building, and/or other closely related field (required).
• Minimum 2 years of proven experience in research, analytical work, and/or direct participation in UNFCCC processes and negotiations, particularly in the area of Transparency and Article 13 of the Paris Agreement (required).
• Excellent knowledge of the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNDFCCC). Chapter of reporting obligations and arrangementrs.
• .Desirable
• Proven professional experience on research design and qualitative analysis. Desirable
• Experience in impact evaluation will be an added advantage. Desirable
• Experiences in writing and editing documents in English..Desirable

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset

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 shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around the specific and measurable deliverables of the TOR. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR, and deliverables accepted and certified by the technical manager. 
• 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.
• This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel. 
• 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. Relevance of the  professional experience working on climate change issues, environmental policies and/or sustainable development projects Weight = 20%; Maximum Points: 20;
• Criteria 2. Relevance of the experience working on Climate Change Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Climate Transparency and Reporting, MRV systems, Capacity-building, and/or other closely related field. Weight = 20 %; Maximum Points: 20;
• Criteria 3. Relevance of the experience in research, analytical work, and/or direct participation in UNFCCC processes and negotiations, particularly in the area of Transparency and Article 13 of the Paris Agreement Weight = 20 %; Maximum Points: 20;
• Criteria 4. Proven professional experience on research design and qualitative analysis. Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 10; and

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 overall leadership of the Climate Change Integrated Strategies Specialist in the Climate Policy and Strategies Team and day-to-day supervision of the Regional Technical Advisor and the Project Manager for Belgium’s project from the Climate Promise.

The climate transparency team will ensure the timely provision of relevant documents, set up stakeholder interviews, and meetings.

Payment modality

• Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified above and deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager. 

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

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.

 

Click here for important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders).