Procurement Notices

Background

As a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), parties are committed to prepare and implement their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAP).  This is a significant contribution to the Philippines’ efforts towards implementing the CBD Strategic Plan 2011-2020 at the national level and integrating biodiversity conservation into national and local plans. The Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) is the country’s roadmap to conserve its biodiversity and achieve its vision - “By 2028, biodiversity is restored and rehabilitated, valued, effectively managed and secured, maintaining ecosystem services to sustain healthy, resilient Filipino communities and delivering benefits to all.”

To mobilize resources for the implementation of the PBSAP, the Biodiversity Financing Initiative (BIOFIN) will contribute to closing the financing gap for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity by identifying, accessing, combining and sequencing sources of biodiversity funding to meet national needs.  Funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), it aims to develop, adopt and begin implementation of the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) 2015-2028 in a manner that is in line with the global and national guidance contained in the Convention on Biological Diversity or CBD’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the Philippine Development Plan (2017-2022) and relevant sectoral plans. At the same time, expense evaluations, subsidizing sources and financing components for the full implementation of the updated PBSAP are being developed through the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN). BIOFIN is managed by the UNDP Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme, in partnership with the European Union and the Governments of Germany, Flanders and Switzerland, who support the initiative. with a total of USD 15 million (as of March 2014 – further support is being sought)

At present, the BIOFIN Project is testing finance mechanisms such as budget realignment (biodiversity expenditure tagging), private sector engagement (public-private partnerships for protected areas, corporate social responsibility) and accessing earmarked funds (Peoples Survival Fund, ER 1-94, Malampaya Fund).  At the same time, the Project is closely working with the Department of Finance in determining the feasibility of a number of finance mechanisms such as debt swaps, ecological fiscal transfers, and green/blue bonds.  A PBSAP localization effort will also be done to test finance mechanisms at the local government level and to mainstream biodiversity conservation.

The localization of the PBSAP in Mindoro Island will mainstream biodiversity conservation in local plans, enhance current programs, apply the BIOFIN methodology (policy and institutional review, expenditure review, finance needs assessment and finance solutions plan), and implement and test a number of proposed finance solutions at the local level.  

Responsibilities

Among the strategies identified towards localization of PBSAP and BIOFIN methodology, the Lead Consultant under the supervision of the Program Manager and Senior Technical Advisor will:

1. Lead the application of BIOFIN Methodology – Policy and Institutional Review; Finance Needs Analysis; and Development of finance solutions – and design process that may be applicable to the pilot provinces;
2. Conduct Biodiversity Expenditure Tagging exercise with the regional office of DENR, specifically MIMAROPA;
3. Work with the Local Government Specialist in developing localized PBSAP programs and ensure alignment to the PDPFP of 2 provinces, Philippine Development Plan and DENR’s SIAD Framework;
4. Provide technical assistance to the pilot provinces in mainstreaming finance solutions in the local government;
5. Work with Policy Specialist and BIOFIN Secretariat to ensure PBSAP programs and Finance solutions are institutionalized at the local level;
6. Provide technical guidance to the PBSAP Secretariat on the BIOFIN Methodology;
7. Contribute to the IEC component of the project and continue partnership work with key government agencies (i.e. DENR, NEDA, DBM, CCC, HOR, DOF);
8. Attend relevant project meetings and workshops/exercises; and
9. Submit report/s as may be required by UNDP and BMB 

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

• Inception Report
• Policy and Institutional Review Report of Mindoro Islands
• Finance Needs Analysis
• Finance Solutions Report
• Draft Localized BIOFIN Methodology

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Manager shall directly supervise the Lead Consultant and approve his/her output.

 The Lead Consultant is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with the national and global (as necessary) BIOFIN project team, DENR BMB and UNDP.  As needed, the project staff shall provide administrative assistance to her/him in order for her/him to accomplish all requirements.

 Duration of the Work

 The expected duration of work is estimated at 140 person days spread over 12 months.   

Duty Station

The Lead Consultant is not expected to report on a daily basis to the Project Management Office based in BMB in Quezon City but shall be available on an on-call basis.  

Competencies

Corporate competencies

• Preferably with sufficient knowledge of UNDP and BMB and some level of familiarity with its operations

Functional and technical competencies

• Leading and supervising
• Formulating strategies and concepts
• Relating and networking
• Persuading and influencing
• Applying technical expertise

Qualifications of the Successful Individual Contractor

Education: 

• Degree in business management, finance, economics or a closely related field or equivalent relevant experience.

Experience: 

• At least 7 years’ experience in business planning, environmental economics;
• Familiar and up-to-date with national and local programs, projects and initiatives on biodiversity conservation and related areas
• Experience in dealing with international and national experts and institutions

Skills:  

• Good communications and interpersonal skills;
• Good analytical and organizational skills

 Language requirements:

• Very good command of oral and written English

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

 The financial proposals from possible candidates should be expressed in lump sum amount inclusive of all financial costs related to this engagement (i.e. transportation/travel to and from residence-Manila and/or within Metro Manila, transportation/travel to outside of Metro Manila, supplies & materials, reproduction, communications including internet). 

 Recommended Presentation of Offer

Applicants are requested to submit/upload in one file the following documents:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability that indicates the all-inclusive lumpsum 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;
2. 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; 

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

The offers that will be received shall be evaluated based on the Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a max of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.

Application requirements should be emailed to procurement.ph@undp.org on or before 09 March 2017, Midnight New York, USA.

In view of the volume of applications UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified.