Procurement Notices

Background

The GEF Small Grants Program has been a fundamental part of the GEF’s support to the production of global environmental benefits and the implementation of the UNFCCC, UNCBD, UNCCD and other multilateral environmental agreements in Philippines since 1992 when the Philippines SGP Country Program was first established. UNDP/GEF recently secured PPG financing for the Seventh Operational Phase of the GEF Small Grants Programme in Philippines. The project aims to enable community organizations in Philippines to take collective action for adaptive landscape management for socio-ecological resilience - through design, implementation and evaluation of grant projects for global environmental benefits and sustainable development. The project will be financed by the GEF Trust Fund.

This Initiation Plan (IP) project will provide support towards preparation of the project described in the recently approved PIF for the Seventh Operational Phase of the GEF SGP in Philippines. The IP is financed through a Project Preparation Grant which will cover the costs of preparation activities: stakeholder consultations, baseline assessments, and development of a project log frame with defined baseline and indicators, a detailed work plan, and the definition of the management arrangements for the FSP. Consultations and these other activities will be supported by desk review of support documentation, as appropriate.  The final output of the initiation plan will be a UNDP-GEF project document and GEF CEO Endorsement Request ready for submission to UNDP and GEF.  The documents will be compliant with the specific requirements of the GEF and conform to UNDP Operational Policies and Guidelines.

The preparatory phase for the detailed design of this initiative will take place between 10 June 2019 until 20 April 2020, following a detailed Project Preparation Grant (PPG) Initiation Plan (IP), attached as Annex I. During this time, various activities will be undertaken to finalise the design of project documents that will govern the activities of the proposed GEF financed project. These due-diligence related activities will build on those undertaken during the development of the concept (Project Identification Form- PIF, attached here as Annex II). A Project Document and a GEF CEO Endorsement Request will be produced in accordance with the various requirements of UNDP and GEF, based on the above information. Comprehensive stakeholder discussions and input will be relied on throughout the design phase.

In the context of the above, UNDP is seeking the services of an experienced individual to lead a series of activities required for the preparation of the project document to the standard required by UNDP-GEF.

Scope of Work

The 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 the other consultants on the GEF PPG Team, and coordinating the Team’s work. The consultant will provide an overall orientation to the PPG team in relation to GEF requirements for project planning and monitoring; provide methodological guidance for data collection related to project planning and monitoring with particular attention given to the description and quantification of the baseline investments; based on the inputs from the national experts and in close cooperation with the key national stakeholders (Department of Environmental Affairs), compiles final baseline/situational analysis for the full-size project (FSP).

• Management of the GEF PPG Team
  • Define and submit a detailed methodology and work plan in consultation with the other consultants with clear delegation of responsibilities for the National Consultants.
  • Ensure that project development is participatory, gender-responsive and based on extensive stakeholder engagements; and
  • Verify and ensure that all project components are technically sound and cost effective.

• Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): With inputs from the national consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs:
  • 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;
  • Coordinate with the Lead National Consultant in ensuring that the stakeholder analysis and consultations are complete and comprehensive;
  • Coordinate with the Gender Specialist on the conduct of the gender analysis and ensure its findings are meaningfully integrated into the project’s strategy, theory of change and results framework;
  • 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;
  • Coordinate with the national consultants in the identification of the project sites, with documentation of selection criteria;
  • Ensure the conduct of financial planning and budgeting; and
  • Ensure completion of any additional studies that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs.

• Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B): With inputs from the other consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs, and based on international best practice:
  • Develop, present and articulate the project’s theory of change;
  • Develop the Results Framework in line with UNDP-GEF policy;
  • Develop a detailed Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and Budget;
  • Ensure the preparation of a Stakeholder Engagement Plan and an Indigenous Peoples’ Plan;
  • Ensure the preparation of a Gender Action Plan and Budget;
  • 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;
  • Accomplish the relevant GEF core indicators and repare the required GEF tracking tool(s);
  • Secure and present agreements on project management arrangements;
  • Ensure the completion of the required official endorsement letters; and
  • 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.

• Validation Workshop (Component C):
  • Lead, in cooperation with the national consultants, 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;
  • Oversee all necessary revisions that arise during the workshop; and
  • Ensure completion of Validation Workshop Report.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Institutional Arrangement

The UCP Global Coordinator/Technical Adviser together with ISD Programme Manager shall directly supervise the Project Development Specialist. At different points during the contract, the Project Development Specialist is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with the project stakeholders, both at the national and local levels.  The UNDP CO, with assistance from SGP PMU, shall provide administrative and logistical assistance to the Consultant in order for her/him to accomplish enumerated outputs.

The Project Development Specialist is expected to work and closely coordinate with national consultants (NRM and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, Agriculture and Livelihood Specialist and 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.

Duration of the Work

The expected duration of work is estimated to be 43 working days spread over 10 months.

Duty Station

The Project Development Specialist is not expected to report daily to UNDP office but can be provided a space should s/he need a work area.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on lump sum amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

• Deliverable 1 Upon submission and acceptance of the draft Inception Report and detailed Workplan: 20% of total contract amount
• Deliverable 2 Upon submission and acceptance of the first draft of UNDP ProDoc: 30% of total contract amount
• Deliverable 3 Upon submission and acceptance of the second draft of UNDP ProDoc with all required sections and Annexes and first draft EO Endorsement Request: 20% of total contract amount
• Deliverable 4 Upon submission and acceptance of the final draft UNDP ProDoc with all required sections and Annexes and final darft EO Endorsement Request (addressing the comments of UNDP CO and global): 30% of total contract amount

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong technical writing skills in English;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills;
• Excellent coordination and leadership skills;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Qualifications of the Successful Individual Contractor

Educational

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field, such as natural sciences, social sciences or political or environmental sciences

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in the technical area of biodiversity conservation and integrated natural resources management and in preparing high-quality GEF and other donor-funded projects;
• Work experience in the Philippines or Southeast Asia preferred;
• Previous experiences working with international organization.

Language

• Fluency of English language is required.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Offers will be evaluated based on combined scoring method – where the Technical Proposal will be evaluated based on qualifications in the CV. 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):

Technical Criteria for Evaluation

• Criteria 1 Relevance of Education – Max 15 points
• Criteria 2  Number of years and relevance of experience in technical area of biodiversity conservation and integrated natural resources management and in preparing high-quality GEF and other donor-funded projects - Max 30 Points
• Criteria 3 Work experience in the Philippines or Southeast Asia– Max 20 points
• Criteria 4 Relevance of experience in key areas (e.g. technical writing skills in English) – Max 15 points
• Criteria 5 Relevance of experience in working with international organizations – Max 10 Points
• Criteria 6 Excellent coordination and leadership skills – Max 10 Points

Applicants who will only receive a minimum score of 70 points and above from the assessment of the CV will be qualified for the assessment of the Financial Proposal.

Recommended Presentation of Offer and Documentation

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document at https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=85828

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II.
• 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.
• Technical proposal, including a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
• Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II. Note: National consultants must quote prices in Philippine Peso.

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

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