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National Consultant to undertake a feasibility study on Environmental trust funds (for BIOFIN)
Procurement Process :IC - Individual contractor
Office :UNDP Country Office - PHILIPPINES
Deadline :18-Mar-19
Posted on :25-Feb-19
Development Area :CONSULTANTS  CONSULTANTS
Reference Number :53593
Link to Atlas Project :
00106358 - Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Phase II
Documents :
Financial Proposal Template
General Terms & Conditions
P11 Form
Overview :

Philippines has rich endowment of biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. The large variety of ecosystems and species, along with the services they provide, underpin many of the country’s economic sectors and contribute substantially to job creation. Although the financial benefits may not immediately appear as substantial as those from mining, the country’s biodiversity provides significant and often unaccounted for benefits, without which economic growth and development would not be possible.

 

Since 2014, the United Nations Development Program through its Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Project, has been supporting the Philippine Government in articulating the financial resources it needs to maintain a healthy biodiversity portfolio in-country. In particular, BIOFIN in collaboration with Department of Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau has conducted the following assessments:  1) Policy and Institutional Review (PIR); 2) Public and Private Biodiversity Expenditure Review (PPBER); and 3) Finance needs assessment (cost and gap analysis of implementing Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP)); and has prepared a finance plan.

 

Based on insights gained from the results of the three BIOFIN assessments, the finance plan acknowledges the importance of tapping additional financing to support the biodiversity agenda of the Philippines, mainly through its Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP). This Plan is cognizant of the parallel challenges that could not be addressed by generating financing alone: thus, the Plan transcends the focus on generating additional resources and also identifies a range of “finance solutions” that leverage finance, fiscal and economic tools and strategies to improve the outcome of biodiversity objectives in the country. Financing solutions include a range of transformative actions: generating more financing to fund the PBSAP or associated planning documents; appropriate attribution of biodiversity expenditures in the budget; attaining cost effective budget execution by eradicating overlaps in biodiversity functions; eradicating expenditures that continue to or aggravate dissipation of biodiversity resources; and paving the groundwork for a responsive policy environment through greater awareness on biodiversity and biodiversity financing and enhancing institutional support towards monitoring of PBSAP.

 

One of the finance solutions identified in the finance plan is the establishment of a conservation trust fund or a sub-fund that may be attached to an existing organization or trust fund.  This fund/sub-fund will among others, be the repository of funds raised by BIOFIN through crowdfunding, diaspora, and revenues generated from mobile gaming applications.  There are two major trust funds in the Philippines which are the Foundation for the Philippine Environment and the Forest Foundation Philippines. These 2 organizations provide grants to NGOs and POs for their biodiversity conservation projects.  In addition, the study shall assess the feasibility of using existing facilities within UNDP to house and manage the fund. 

 

Scope of Work

The main responsibilities of the consultant are as follows:

 

·        Undertake a feasibility study to evaluate the use of existing conservation trust funds vis-à-vis the creation of a new fund. The existing conservation funds shall include but not be limited to the FPE, Forest Foundation, and UNDP modalities.  The study should ascertain the following:  a) legal framework; b) perception among main decision makers; c) funding potential; d) functionality (i.e. sinking, endowment, revolving fund); e) potential challenges and remedies. 

·        The study should also look into the following:  a) consistency between PBSAP priorities and current priority actions/sites of existing funds; b) governance structure including grant-making mechanisms and rules on accepting new sources of revenues (crowdfunding, diaspora, revenues from mobile gaming applications, etc.); c) potential partnership with government, private sector and other civil society organizations; and d) similar initiatives currently being undertaken, as available.

·        Validate study results with key stakeholders;

·        Develop a costed action plan with milestones;

·        Present results to decision makers; and

·        Attend project-related meetings.

 

Duration of the Work

The expected duration of work is estimated at 4 months.  The target date for the start of work is March - July 2019.

 

 

Duty Station

The Project Manager shall directly supervise the Consultant and approve his/her output with the endorsement of the Biodiversity Management Bureau.

The Consultant is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with the national 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.

Based on the table above, outputs will be submitted to UNDP and BMB through the Project Manager in the dates indicated. 

The project staff including other project consultants, as well as, relevant technical staff shall provide comment on the outputs of the consultant.

NO Travel outside Manila is required.

 

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The all-inclusive and fixed lump sum amount for this service. Payment terms are as follows:

  • First Tranche 15% - Upon submission and acceptance of inception report ;
  • Second Tranche 30% - Upon submission and acceptance of the Draft feasibility study;
  • Third Tranche 20% - Upon submission and acceptance of the Revised/final version of feasibility study; 

  • Fourth Tranche 15% - Upon submission and acceptance of report on Validation workshop results ​;

  • Fifth Tranche 10% - Upon submission and acceptance of report on Costed action plan with milestones;

  • Sixth Tranche 10% - Upon submission and acceptance of Final report on presentation to decision makers

CORPORATE COMPETENCIES

  • Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision, values and ethical standards
  • Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age differences
  • Treat all stakeholders fairly and without prejudice
  • Maintains objectivity and impartiality in handling evaluation processes

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

  • Experience in project development, implementation and evaluation--particularly in directly managing results-based monitoring and evaluation methodologies
  • Demonstrated experience in conducting evaluation of multi-year and multi-component programmes and projects
  • Familiarity with the norms and issues in early recovery and rehabilitation work in disaster-affected areas
  • Ability to process large amounts and diverse set of data and documents related to infrastructure development, livelihood, resettlement, disaster risk reduction and management, and governance

  • Demonstrated strong coordination and facilitation skills

  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to initiate discussions with national/local governmental officials, peoples organizations and communities

  • Demonstrated ability to function in a team environment and to deal with complex multi-stakeholder environment

  • Demonstrated ability to prepare and present comprehensive reports

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education - 20%

  • At least MS/MA degree in Economics, Business, Management, Banking and Finance, or similar fields;

Experience : 

  • Minimum of 5 years professional experience in the establishment and management of trust funds, preferably in the biodiversity / environment sector - 50% 
  • Minimum of 5 years experience in project development related to protected areas, fisheries, tourism, and related sectors - 15%;
  • Minimum of 5 years working with government, private sector and civil society on biodiversity relevant issues - 15%

Skills :

  • With excellent written and verbal communication skills in English language.

 

Criteria for selection process:

The offer will evaluated based on the Combined Scoring method:

  • 70% Qualifications
  • 30% Financial Proposal

Application requirements to be submitted at the same time:

  • Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability (Financial Proposal Template) using the template provided by UNDP;
  • Personal Curriculum Vitae or P11 form, indicating all past experiences from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references;

Application requirements should be emailed to procurement.ph@undp.org or registry.ph@undp.org on or before  18 March 2019.

 

Attachments that can be downloaded in this link are the following:

- Financial Proposal Template;

- P11 Form;

- General Terms and Conditions for Consultants

 

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