Procurement Notices

​Project Description 

In June 2019, the project concept entitled “Implementing the National Framework on Access and Benefit Sharing of Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge in the Philippines” with a budget proposal of USD4,384,000.00 was cleared by GEF CEO.  The project aims for the Nagoya Protocol implemented effectively in the Philippines by strengthening the national Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework, building national and local capacities and developing critical experience in ABS agreements. Specifically, the project is envisioned to address the following barriers:

Barrier 1: Inadequate and weak enforcement of policies, institutional and regulatory frameworks on ABS implementation. The granting of access is delegated to three government agencies: DENR, DA, and PCSD which implement differently the existing procedures and approval process and there is a weak coordinating mechanism among these agencies including possible streamlining and harmonization of their processes and procedures;

Barrier 2: Lack of awareness and weak capacity of key stakeholders on ABS implementation at the national and local level : The academic community, local government units, and industry have limited awareness on the basic rules and rationale of existing ABS policies resulting in poor compliance and indifference. As a result, very few have actually applied for access to genetic resources, negotiated bioprospecting agreements, and developed ABS products.  Similarly,  there is low awareness on  patent information by researchers and scientists which contributed to the low patent applications from local researchers in the country.;

Barrier 3: Absence of good practices on ABS implementation from the initial stage of bioprospecting to research and development, product  innovation and commercialization : Since the passage of relevant ABS laws and issuance of policies to facilitate bioprospecting as early as 1995,  there  has not been a single case to cite as best practice in the whole continuum of ABS process from securing FPIC to conducting of R&D up until the commercialization of research products and to the sharing of benefits down to local communities.

To detail out the project concept into a full-blown project proposal, the GEF has provided a project preparation grant. This PPG aims to prepare and develop the following documents for final submission and approval by the GEF:

• UNDP-GEF Project Document (ProDoc), using the 2017 standard template.
• Mandatory annexes to the ProDoc, including gender analysis and action plan, and stakeholder engagement plan, Indigenous Plan, SESP, among others, and project specific annexes (e.g. landscape profile, institutional and legal analysis, feasibility studies etc).
• GEF CEO Endorsement Request.
• 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 a consultant on Stakeholder Engagement and Safeguards to lead the assessment/analysis of stakeholder participation dimensions especially the Indigenous Peoples in the ABS of genetic resources especially those with associated traditional knowledge.  S/he will also make an analysis on the livelihood aspect and value chain of the access and benefit sharing system.  S/he will also conduct risk assessment of the Project using the UNDP Social and Environmental Principles and Standards. It will determine the potential impacts of the project to social groups, and if relevant, on the Indigenous Peoples in the project areas and make recommendations for addressing these risks.

The consultant is also expected to do a preliminary socio-economic/livelihoods assessment by identifying the main underlying causes of risks to livelihoods across a range of settings to identify responses that will preserve and reinforce the livelihoods of vulnerable populations. Household assets, sources of income and livelihoods, diversification of income and livelihoods, expenditure and expenditure ratios provide information about livelihoods. The consultant will contribute to the analysis of information and data to inform the interventions under Outcomes 2 and 3.

UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards

UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) underpin the organization’s commitment to support countries to mainstream social and environmental sustainability in Programmes and Projects for sustainable development. The objectives of the standards are to:

• Strengthen the social and environmental outcomes of Programmes and Projects
• Avoid adverse impacts to people and the environment
• Minimize, mitigate, and manage adverse impacts where avoidance is not possible
• Strengthen UNDP and partner capacities for managing social and environmental risks
• Ensure full and effective stakeholder engagement, including through a mechanism to respond to complaints from project-affected people

A key mechanism to ensure these standards are applied is through UNDP’s project-level Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) which is a requirement for all proposed projects. The objectives of the SESP are to: (a) Integrate the SES Overarching Principles (human rights, gender equality and environmental sustainability); (b) Identify potential social and environmental risks and their significance; (c) Determine the Project's risk category (Low, Moderate, High); and (d) Determine the level of social and environmental assessment and management required to address potential risks and impacts.

UNDP’s SES and SESP came into effect January 1, 2015. All guidance on UNDPs Social and Environmental Safeguards can be found in the SES Toolkit.

Institutional Arrangement

For the duration of the contract, the consultant will be part of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) Team that shall report to and coordinate with UNDP and key focal agencies such as DENR-BMB. All activities supported by this engagement should be cleared by UNDP.

Stakeholder Engagement and Safeguards Specialist is expected to work and closely coordinate with the Lead Project Development Specialist and other national consultants (ABS Policy & Institutional Specialist, ABS and Enterprise Development Specialist & Gender Specialist) in the conduct of key project preparation activities and to deliver the necessary inputs and data for the drafting and finalization of the required UNDP Project Document including its mandatory annexes and the GEF CEO Endorsement

All outputs should be endorsed by the DENR-BMB as the Project’s proponent before UNDP issues the certificate of acceptance for the processing of payments.

Duration of Work

The Consultant shall be engaged for 73 days spread over 11 months

Duty Station

Home-based with missions to the proposed project sites as required. The Consultant is not expected to report on a daily basis to UNDP-ISD Philippines office based in Mandaluyong City but shall be available on an on-call basis.

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. professional fees, transportation/travel to and from residence-Manila, reproduction, communications including internet). Travel related costs will be shouldered by the Project based on UNDP Policy.

• First Tranche - 10% Upon submission and approval of Inception Work Plan and Inception Documentation Report

• Second Tranche - 25% Upon submission and approval of the 1st draft of the UNDP-GEF Project Document including:
  • Stakeholder analysis report
  • Mapping of the FPIC process with corresponding budget for the Project and documentary requirements
  • Stakeholder engagement plan

• Third Tranche - 30% Upon submission and approval of the 2nd draft of the UNDP-GEF Project Document with the mandatory annexes and 1st draft of the CEO Endorsement Document including:
  • An Indigenous Peoples Plan, including the pre-requisite and processes for the FPIC, its corresponding budget and progress indicators as described by UNDP’s Guidance Note on SES Standard 6: Indigenous Peoples
  • Co-financing letters from stakeholders which will amount to the indicative co-financing figure in the PIF
  • Accomplished SESP including risk management approaches/actions/plan for the project

• Fourth Tranche - 35% Upon submission and approval 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)

Description of Responsibilities :

Under the guidance of the PPG Lead and the direct supervision of the ISD Programme Manager through the ISD Programme Analyst, the National Expert on Stakeholder Engagement and Safeguards shall:

• Review the pre-screening (SESP) of the PIF; agree to a project-specific safeguards approach, workplan and mission schedule (as needed) with the UNDP Country Office, UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor (RTA) and the PPG Team Leader; Familiarize other PPG team members with UNDP’s SES and specific requirements, as appropriate.
• Based on stakeholder consultations, with support from the national consultant and in coordination with the PPG leader; assess all Moderate and High risks identified in the SESP pre-screening (mission required); update the SESP and develop an ESMF or a stand-alone SES management plan for the project; and, assist and/or advise the PPG Team in applying  FPIC where required;
• Map out the required Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process for the project, to be rolled out during the project implementation;
• Provide inputs, advice and/or feedback on relevant sections of the ProDoc to ensure alignment with and consideration of safeguards, including but not limited to relevant project Outcomes and/or Outputs; Terms of Reference for the project management unit, etc.
• Lead and advise on the stakeholder analysis and consultations and ensure that they are complete and comprehensive;
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations of the project, both at the national and site level
• Prepare a stakeholder engagement plan and an Indigenous Peoples’ Plan;
• Processing of the appropriate planning prerequisites in engaging IPs/IP communities like Field Based Investigation (FBI) and/or Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) that may lead to the issuance of the Certificate Precondition (CP) to achieve meaningful IP participation in project;
• Meet with key agencies on possible related knowledge, activities, initiatives, strategies, identification of key stakeholders and other related matters on FPIC
• Generate support, commitment and co-financing from relevant stakeholders on the Project; and
• Ensure relevant culturally-sensitive indicators are integrated in the results framework

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 favoritism;
• Expertise in data collection and analysis
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Strong analytical and research skills; and
• Excellent organizational, and communication skills;

Qualifications :

Offers will be evaluated based on combined scoring method – where the Technical Proposal will be evaluated based on qualifications in the CV and brief description of previous work. The Technical evaluation is weighted a max. of 70%.

The Financial Proposal that will be evaluated through submission of the Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Insterest and Availability for the IC including Financial Proposal Template and combined with the price offer will be weighted a max of 30%;

For the evaluation of the Technical Proposal, the selection of the successful consultant must be based in the following qualifications (with the appropriate obtainable points):

Applicants who will only receive 70 points  from the assessment of the CV and Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment will be qualified for the assessment of the Financial Proposal.

Recommended Presentation of Offer

Offerors must upload in one (1) file the documents below at https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=85560

You may download the editable version of the Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Insterest and Availability for the IC by clicking on this link: http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU

1. Duly accomplished Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Insterest and Availability for the IC 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. Financial Proposal (Annex 2 of Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Insterest and Availability)
3. 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;
4. Sample of previous papers or proposals (at least two) where he/she was the principal author;

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