Procurement Notices

In October 2017,  the project concept entitled “ Integrated Approach in the Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines” with a budget proposal of USD12M was cleared by GEF CEO.  The project aims to establish and operationalize a comprehensive planning and management framework  to manage biological corridors in an integrated manner which will generate multiple benefits including effective conservation of globally significant biodiversity, reduced deforestation and degradation and enhanced livelihoods. Specifically,  the project is envisioned to address the following barriers:

Barrier 1:  Policies, regulations, and approaches that breed disjointed goverance, planning, management, and financing of activities within the landscape/corridor. Currently relevant agencies in PA management and those that have remit over lands identified as biodiversity corridors are guided by their respective mandates and deliver on stated outcomes.  The interplay of various policies and programs in the same landscape oftentimes result in unintended results due to the absence of a commonly agreed planning and management framework for all sectors to follow;

Barrier 2: Fragmented implementation of key programs that fails to effectively address threats to BD corridor connectivity and natural resources decline: The absence of an integrated planning framework within the landscape that considers connectivity within the corridor is manifested by programs being implemented with no focus on addressing threats to habitat loss, maintaining ecosystem flows, fragmentation, conversion of high conservation value forests to agriculture. Thus, existing corridors remain a mosaic of disjointed land management units with incompatible objectives;

Barrier 3: Weak community level mechanisms to incentivize conservation of biodiversity, promote sustainable natural resource utilization, and monitor compliance: The BD corridors consist of areas that are managed under various tenure regimes including communally and privately-owned lands. A system of incentives is essential to encourage private or land tenure holders in critical spaces within the landscape to contribute to providing stepping stones, or expand the pathways of target species while ensuring improvement in ecosystem services and resilience.

To detail out the project concept into a full blown project proposal,  the GEF has also granted an amount of USD273,000 as project preparation grant. This PPG aims to prepare and develop the following documents for final submission and approval by the GEF:

1.            UNDP-GEF Project Document (ProDoc), using the 2017 standard template.

2.            Mandatory annexes to the ProDoc, including gender analysis and action plan, and stakeholder engagement plan, among others, and project specific annexes (e.g. landscape profile, institutional and legal analysis, feasibility studies etc).

3.            GEF CEO Endorsement Request.

4.            Validation Workshop report (as appropriate for projects with a moderate and high SESP risk rating).

The project preparation grant (PPG) has an allocation for the hiring of project development team to be led by a Biodiversity Conservation & Project Development Specialist who will primarily ensure the development and completion of the required above-cited documents. 

ROLE

The Biodiversity Conservation / Project Development Specialist will be the GEF PPG Team Leader and will be responsible for quality assurance and timely preparation of all reports and documentation, including the finalized UNDP Project Document (ProDoc) and CEO Endorsement Request, with all mandatory and project specific Annexes and supporting documentation. S/he will be responsible for managing all consultants on the GEF PPG Team, and coordinating the Team’s work.

SCOPE OF WORK

1. Management of the GEF PPG Team

1. Define and submit a detailed methodology and work plan in consultation with the other consultants with clear delegation of responsibilities for the International Consultants (ICs) and National Consultants (NCs);
2. Ensure that project development is participatory, gender-responsive and based on extensive stakeholder engagements; and
3. Verify and ensure that all project components are technically sound and cost effective.

2. Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): With inputs from the other national and international consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs:

1. Compile baseline/situational analysis for the full-size project (FSP). This will include a precise definition of baseline projects, activities, budgets, goals and co-financial links to GEF outcomes; definition of GEF incremental value per outcome and output; and presentation of results of the incremental cost-analysis in matrices as appropriate;
2. Oversee the stakeholder analysis and consultations and ensure that they are complete and comprehensive;
3. Ensure the preparation of the gender analysis and ensure its findings are meaningfully integrated into the project’s strategy, theory of change and results framework;
4. Ensure action points, including risk assessments, from the UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) at the PIF stage (“pre-screening”) are fully implemented during the PPG, and update that screening in an iterative fashion throughout the PPG, as appropriate;
5. Conduct/oversee the identification of the project sites, with documentation of selection criteria;
6. Oversee the consultations with partners regarding financial planning; and
7. Ensure completion of any additional studies that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs.

3. Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B): With inputs from the other national and international consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs, and based on international best practice:

1. Develop, present and articulate the project’s theory of change;
2. Develop the Results Framework in line with UNDP-GEF policy;
3. Develop a detailed Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and Budget;
4. Oversee and ensure the preparation of a Stakeholder Engagement Plan;
5. Oversee and ensure the preparation of a Gender Action Plan and Budget;
6. Update the SESP based on assessments undertaken during Component A, and ensure the development of environmental and/or social management plan(s) for all risks identified as Moderate or High in the SESP;
7. Prepare the required GEF tracking tool(s);
8. Secure and present agreements on project management arrangements;
9. Ensure the completion of the required official endorsement letters; and
10. Synthesize all analyses, studies, etc. that are prepared under Components A and B to produce the draft UNDP-GEF ProDoc, GEF CEO Endorsement, and all mandatory and project specific Annexes, using the required templates

4. Validation Workshop (Component C):

1. Lead the validation workshop to present, discuss and validate the final draft ProDoc and mandatory and project specific annexes, with a special focus on the SESP and any management plans; and
2. Oversee all necessary revisions that arise during the workshop.
3. Ensure completion of Validation Workshop Report.

5. Consolidation of all technical and consultation inputs including from national stakeholders, UNDP, GEF Secretariat, STAP and GEF Council, into a well written and concise UNDP ProDoc with all required sections and Annexes, in line with the standard UNDP-GEF ProDoc template and annotated guidance;

6. Completion of the GEF CEO Endorsement Request;

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. professional fees, transportation/travel to and from residence-Manila, reproduction, communications including internet).  Domestic airfare, food and accommodation of the team outside Manila will be shouldered by UNDP separately and only 20% of the DSA following the NIM rates will be provided. 

• First Tranche       10%     - Upon submission and acceptance of the Inception Work Plan and Inception Documentation Report;
• Second Tranche   20%    - Upon submission and acceptance of the 1st draft of the UNDP-GEF Project Document;
• Third Tranche       30%    - Upon submission and acceptance of the 2nd draft of the UNDP-GEF Project Document with the mandatory annexes and 1st draft of the CEO Endorsement Document;
• Forth Tranche      40%    - Upon submission and acceptance of the final draft of the UNDP-GEF Project Document with the mandatory annexes and the CEO Endorsement Document (addressing the comments from the UNDP Regional Technical Adviser and GEF Secretary)

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

For the duration of the contract, the consultant will report to and coordinate with UNDP and key focal agencies such as DENR-BMB, DENR-FMB and DA-BSWM.  All activities supported by this engagement should be cleared by UNDP.

All outputs should be endorsed by the key focal agencies before UNDP issues the certificate of acceptance for the processing of payments.

Those who will be involved in PPG are barred from participating in the implementation.

DURATION OF WORK

The contract will cover a period of 12 weeks spread over February to December 2018. 

EXPECTED OUTPUTS:

1. UNDP-GEF Project Document (ProDoc), using the 2017 standard template.

2. Mandatory annexes to the ProDoc, including gender analysis and action plan, and stakeholder engagement plan, among others, and project specific annexes (e.g. landscape profile, institutional and legal analysis, feasibility studies etc).

3.  GEF CEO Endorsement Request. 

4. Validation Workshop report (as appropriate for projects with a moderate and high SESP risk rating).

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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. 

Functional and Technical Competencies

• Ability to work in a diverse and multi-cultural environment;
• Self-motivated and ability to work under pressure and to meet strict and competing deadlines;
• Displays analytical judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Demonstrates self-management, including conflict management/negotiation skills on interpersonal issues;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, Filipino, and the language(s) in ARMM;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work effectively in teams, delivering through and within others;
• Computer literate; good knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field, such as relevant natural sciences, social sciences or political sciences.  A doctorate degree is considered an advantage. 

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in preparing high quality UNDP and GEF biodiversity conservation projects;

Skills

• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrable experince in Protected Area Management and PA-related projects.

Language

• Fluency in spoken and written English, Filipino and languages used in ARMM is required

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

A Combined Scoring method will be used in evaluating the offers received. The qualifications and methodology will be weighted 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted 30%.

Recommended Presentation of Offer and Application Process

Applicants are required to submit the following documents to procurement.ph@undp.org.

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; 

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