Procurement Notices

Background

The Government of Papua New Guinea - represented by the Conservation and Environmental Protection Agency (CEPA) - and the UNDP Papua New Guinea Country Office (CO) have developed a project concept for a Full-Sized Project (FSP) which seeks to support the development of more sustainable, long term revenue streams to fund the establishment and management of the system of protected areas in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

This FSP, titled ‘Sustainable financing of Papua New Guinea’s protected area network’, forms part of a modular approach to strengthening biodiversity conservation in PNG. This modular approach comprises three discrete but complementary GEF-funded projects, two of which are already under implementation. The first is the GEF-4 project, Community-based Forest and Coastal Conservation and Resource Management in Papua New Guinea project (2012-2018) which aims to develop and demonstrate community-based resource management and conservation models for communal landowners located in the Owen Stanley Range and New Britain island. The second is the GEF-5 project, Strengthening the Management Effectiveness of the National System of Protected Areas in Papua New Guinea (2015-2019) which is focused on supporting the establishment of the CEPA; facilitating the implementation of the PAP; and improving the planning and management of two demonstration conservation areas - YUS and Torricelli.

The Project Identification Form (PIF) for the FSP has been endorsed by the GEF Secretariat, and a Project Preparation Grant (PPG) approved. This PPG will support all the preparatory work required to draft and finalize all the documentation required by the GEF for CEO Endorsement. The preparatory work to be undertaken during the PPG phase will include: the collection and collation of key information; technical reviews and feasibility assessments; establishing the baseline and GEF incremental benefits for the project; the detailed design and costing of project outputs and activities; identifying the optimal management arrangements for the implementation of the project and project activities; clarifying stakeholder inputs and roles and responsibilities; and defining project performance indicators and targets. The PPG phase will be underpinned by a participatory approach, with regular consultation and working meetings with all key PPG stakeholders throughout the PPG phase. Specific attention will be given to gender issues by undertaking a gender analysis to ensure optimal involvement of women in, and beneficiation from project interventions.

The project PIF can be accessed at: https://www.thegef.org/project/sustainable-financing-papua-new-guinea%E2%80%99s-protected-area-network

Objectives:

The Protected Areas Policy (2014) provides for the establishment of a ‘Biodiversity Trust Fund’ which will provide an ‘accountable and transparent mechanism’ to administer diverse sources of funding[1] for the protected area network. The objective of this consultancy is to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of the Trust Fund, as well as to develop a package of documentation on legal establishment of the trust fund; governance structures; staffing plans; fund-raising strategy; monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements, etc.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Consultant on Gender Mainstreaming and Social Development will, under supervision of the Team Leader and in close consultation and coordination with CEPA and UNDP, work to deliver a package of services to support the project proposal development. The International Consultant on Gender Mainstreaming and Social Development is expected to ensure women’s equal participation and benefits in relation to the project, and address how the project can contribute to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. The International Consultant will specifically perform the following tasks:

• Using the UNDP-GEF Gender Mainstreaming Guide (September 2016), to conduct a gender assessment for the design of the project, and formulate a gender strategy and mainstreaming plan for the project;
• Review Results and Resources Framework of the project to ensure that it incorporates indicators referring to gender mainstreaming, including gender disaggregated baseline data;
• Review all feasibility study reports and examine to what extent a gender-based and social inclusiveness approach has been undertaken in the various assessments, and summarize relevant information for inclusion in the project document.
• Stakeholder consultations to confirm and validate the selection of six protected areas identified in the PIF;
• An analysis of the key project stakeholders, including a description of their roles and responsibilities (specifically as it applies to protected areas);
• Detailed profile of the surrounding communities of the six PAs (maps, villages, population by age and gender, social structures, land use, socio-economic indicators, development needs, etc.) - being targeted for project support;
• Assessment of the roles and responsibilities of customary social structures, local and district government institutions and other partnering organizations in the planning and management of the six individual protected areas;
• Assessment of the level of interest of customary landowners in the project;
• Evaluation of the socio-economic benefits of the project;
• Updated UNDP ‘Social and Environmental Screening Procedure’ for the project; and
• Customary landowner involvement plan for the project.

All these assessments and tasks mentioned above must be based on gender analysis, and make use of sex-disaggregated data and gender-specific information.  

The International Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

Education and experience

• Master’s degree or higher in social sciences, social assessment, gender studies, community development, environmental management, or related field;
• Minimum of eight years of relevant progressive work experience in gender studies, community development, etc.
• Sound knowledge of gender and environmental mainstreaming concepts and safeguards approaches;
• Previous experience of working with UN/UNDP and development partners in the design and implementation of GEF-funded projects;
• Good facilitation skills at the community level;
• Knowledge of, and adherence to GEF’s principles and guidelines for engagement with indigenous peoples.

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; and
• Treats all people fairly without fear or favour.

Functional Competencies

• Excellent speaking and writing skills in English are necessary;
• High level planning, organizational and time management skills, including flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure to meet challenging deadlines;
• Analytical and problem solving skills of a high order, including the ability to formulate recommendations and advice senior management on tackling difficult scenarios;
• Leadership qualities, including the ability to make sound judgment, meet challenges constructively and creatively;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to establish strong cooperative relationships with senior government officials, civil society and donors.
• Ability to quickly adapt to change, and to remain calm under pressure; and
• Proven cross-cultural communication and the ability to function effectively in an international, multicultural environment.

Evaluation

Cumulative analysis

The proposals will be evaluated using the cumulative analysis method with a split 70% technical and 30% financial scoring. The proposal with the highest cumulative scoring will be awarded the contract. Applications will be evaluated technically and points are attributed based on how well the proposal meets the requirements of the Terms of Reference using the guidelines detailed in the table below:

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract may 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 a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weighting; 70%

* Financial Criteria weighting; 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Interviews may be conducted as part of technical assessment for shortlisted proposals.

Documents to be included when submitting Consultancy Proposals

The following documents may be requested;

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. Signed 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;
3. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment. A methodology is recommended for intellectual services, but may be omitted for support services [Note: this is optional for support services]; 
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.  If an 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 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 must be submitted separately from other documents. If an 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 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 P11 form and Template for confirming availability and interest is available under the procurement section of UNDP PNG website (www.pg.undp.org ).

Lump sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, living expenses, and number of anticipated working days). 

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  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.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed based on provision of supporting documentation.

[1] From diverse source including inter alia: PES schemes; donors; ODA; ‘green’ taxes, levies and surcharges; carbon offsets; fiscal offsets; Government Public Investment Program grants; fines; and user fees.