TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

 Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support Consultancy  Assignment

 Kingdom of Bahrain

1.            GENERAL INFORMATION

2.            PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support (GBF-EAS) Project is government-led with joint implementation support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The GBF-EAS project provides financial and technical support to 138 developing, small island, and middle-income nations, including Bahrain, to support their work on aligning the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). This process follows an inclusive, whole-of-government and society approach that strives to account for gender equity, and the full and effective participation of local communities, women and youth.

GBF-EAS project encompasses the following four components to achieve the project’s objectives:

a.       Component 1: Rapid review of the NBSAP for alignment with the post-2020 GBF;

b.      Component 2: Assessment of monitoring systems;

c.       Component 3: Policy and institutional alignment and review of policies for coherence with the GBF and;

d.      Component 4: Biodiversity finance (BIOFIN)

These components, among others that may emerge, are aimed at ensuring that CBD Parties have the technical and financial support they require to work towards a robust, fully resourced, NBSAP, including a strong monitoring system, that is fully aligned with the GBF.

3.            OVERVIEW OF THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN EAS-GBF AND BIOFIN PROJECTS

The GBF-EAS project of the Kingdom of Bahrain is implemented by UNDP Bahrain Country Office in cooperation with the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) and other pertinent stakeholders to support the alignment of national priorities on biodiversity with the post-2020 GBF.

The national GBF-EAS inception workshop was held on the 2^nd of November 2023 under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina Minister of Oil and Environment, Special Envoy for Climate Affairs and brought together stakeholders from across the public and private sectors in addition to academia, civil society and youth.

In addition, multiple national stakeholders’ consultation sessions have been undertaken throughout November -December 2023 and January 2024 as part of the project implementation of component one of the GBF-EAS which was reviewed, updated and aligned with the national biodiversity targets and indicators in addition to a rapid review of the NBSAP which has now been completed.

The BIOFIN project was globally finalised in December 2023 and is being launched in Bahrain during the first quarter of 2024. OBJECTIVE

The GBF-EAS Project is now entering the stage of implementing the remaining components namely: the assessment of monitoring and reporting systems; institutional alignment; and review of policies for coherence with the GBF and biodiversity finance.

Given the above, the objective of this assignment is to source a qualified Consultancy service provider to support UNDP’s GBF-EAS project in the implementation of the following GBF-EAS Components 2 and 3. in the Kingdom of Bahrain:

a.       Component 2: Assessment of the national monitoring systems and development of monitoring action plans

b.      Component 3: Review the national policy and institutional frameworks in the Kingdom of Bahrain and identify actions for policy alignment and coherence on nature-related sectors

4.            ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA & EXPERIENCE