| Overview : To obtain more details about this consultancy, the requirements and the way to apply;please download the TORs attached. BIODIVERSITY AND FINANCE INITIATIVE (BIOFIN, Phase II) Terms of Reference Project Management Officer Location: Costa Rica, Offices of the Ministry of Finance or Home Based (To be confirmed) Starting Date: July , 2018 Supervisor: Project Lead and Senior Public Finance Expert, UNDP Country Office Environmental Officer and the BIOFIN Central Technical Unit. Duration of contract: 1 year (renewable during the duration of the project) Context and Objectives of BIOFIN National governments have demonstrated clear commitment to fulfilling their mandates for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in ways that are compatible with national development goals, and to finding a diverse range of funding sources for biodiversity management. UNDP believes that a transformation is needed in the way that biodiversity finance is planned and managed, in order to unlock resources to meet the Aichi Targets defined in the CBD’s Strategic Plan 2011-2020 in a manner that promotes sustainable development and the eradication of poverty. The global Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) is managed by UNDP, in partnership with the European Commission and the Governments of Germany and Switzerland. The $8.5 million initiative was launched in October 2012 and will run for three years, with further support being sought to extend it. An additional $3.1 million in finance is provided through several GEF-financed UNDP-managed projects working in pilot countries to support governments to revise National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, to ensure sustainable financing of Protected Areas, and to establish Payments for Ecosystem Services mechanisms. BIOFIN has gone into a Phase II. Costa Rica was chosen to deliver its local Phase II, particularly oriented to implement the financial project solutions identified during phase I that were prioritized by the Steering Committee. With new authorities taking into Government new requests may arise that will need to be addressed. Guided by a global steering committee representing the partners, BIOFIN aims to develop a methodology for quantifying the biodiversity finance gap at national level, for improving cost-effectiveness through mainstreaming of biodiversity into national development and sectoral planning, and for developing comprehensive national resource mobilising strategies. BIOFIN has provided a framework for undertaking “bottom-up” analyses and resource mobilisation strategies, embedded in a transformative process led by national stakeholders, aimed at allowing countries to implement their NBSAPs and achieve national biodiversity targets. BIOFIN Costa Rica has been involved into the development of NBSAP, and has provided a Portfolio of Projects to implement the NBSAP. Working with a global technical unit managed by UNDP, an initial Biofin Phase I started out with 12 countries and involved in developing and piloting the new methodology, which was later refined through regional and global learning, and made available more widely. The first countries involved in BIOFIN I were , Botswana, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Peru, Philippines, Seychelles, South Africa and Uganda. Today more than 35 countries form part of this global initiative. The project will be managed by UNDP’s Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme and the Phase II will run through 2018. BIOFIN Phase II will centre on the Implementation of the resource mobilization strategy at national level/implementing finance solutions: These could range from laws and regulations, taxes and fees, identification of legal thresholds, removal of perverse incentives, detailed feasibility study and implementation plan for a new financial mechanism, certification processes, public-private-partnerships, voluntary agreements, awareness raising campaigns, behaviour change through education and training measures etc. Based on the type and amount of expenditures identified as necessary and the national context, relevant elements will be identified and developed for the particular national circumstances in terms of existing policies and regulations.] Biofin phase II is mainly oriented to implement the financial solutions identified during phase I. BIOFIN countries must complete each finance solution that is being proposed as part of the BIOFIN programme. In the case of Costa Rica, this refers to the projects included in the portfolio of projects built by Biofin. In particular to those projects that were considered as priorities by the Steering Committee. During the process new needs may appear at the request of the Steering Committee. Responsibilities: The Project Management Officer will be responsible for substantially supporting the national BIOFIN leader in the successful completion of the national project throughout its duration. He/she will provide back-office management support to the Project Lead and Senior Public Finance Expert, including the planning and implementation of work streams and budgets; managing the meeting of project timelines and milestones; facilitation and organisation of outreach activities, press releases, project/UNDP/Government briefing notes, translations etc.; liaising with UNDP country office and global BIOFIN team to facilitate donor reporting and compliance, and UNDP procurement compliance; as well as support on administrative matters. He/she will give support to follow up on the financial solutions identified; will suggest improvements to these solutions, will accompany the negotiations with the financial and business / institutional actors involved, He / she will also support efforts to institutionalize Biofin activities in government tasks. Therefore, it should help to establish dialogues among the different institutional actors involved. Key duties and responsibilities will include: Management support - Ensuring 100% financial delivery of the project budget per year, as defined by Annual Work PLans
- Providing support on the general administrative requirements of the project, including those related to project management and funding.
- Assist in ensuring that project is executed in a timely and appropriate manner.
- Facilitate, guide and monitor the work of the national BIOFIN team; manage payment schedules.
- Assist in project related activities, where required. These may include planning for meetings, local and national consultations, trips and other project related activities.
- Maintain linkages with national and international organizations and persons.
- Maintain records of meetings, decisions, actions, etc.
- Any other duties assigned by the National BIOFIN Leader that have direct relevance to the project.
Financial Oversight - Manage the project budget, oversee overall resource allocation, together with the UNDP Country Office and BIOFIN Central Technical Unit.
- Ensure financial resources are disbursed on time to implementing partners.
- Maintain records of expenditures and collaborate in financial reporting.
<>· The Project Management Officer will report to the Project Lead and Senior Public Finance Expert. Key deliverables (products and processes): - 100% financial delivery of the project budget per year according to Annual Work PLan
- Quarterly advance reports
- End of Year Technical Report
- Annual Work Plan in UNDP Format
- Summary feedback on methodological framework, lessons learned captured and disseminated.
- National Steering/Advisory Committee formed and operational.
- All consultants and team members recruited and deliver to schedule.
- Detailed BIOFIN Work Plan agreed by all major partners.
- Lines of communication and working methods agreed and functional.
- BIOFIN assessment workbook 3 (Strategy for Mobilizing Public and Private Resources) nationally completed with government, using BIOFIN methodology, and standalone reports written up accordingly.
- Reporting and updates provided to UNDP, government, etc.
- National Steering/Advisory Committee meetings and stakeholder workshops organized.
- Technical support provided to national BIOFIN team.
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