Project Title

Technical Assistance for the Development of a Philippine National Policy and Action Plan on Marine Litter

Overview

The Philippines is an archipelago situated in the apex of the Coral Triangle, which is a global epicenter of marine biodiversity, with diverse coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangrove and beach forests, fisheries, invertebrates, seaweeds, and marine mammals. It is considered as one of the seventeen mega-diverse countries in the world and its waters have been identified as the “center of centers” of marine shore fish biodiversity because there is a higher concentration of species per unit area in the country than anywhere in the regions of the world.

Marine litter is one of the most pressing threats to the coastal and marine environment in the Philippines and globally, in addition to climate change and unsustainable fishing. The Philippines has been ranked as the third largest source of plastic that ends up in the ocean, according to the 2015 study done by Jenna Jambeck of the University of Georgia and cited as a reference for the report by the Ocean Conservancy charity and the McKinsey Centre for Business and Environment. Estimates show that the country generates 2.7 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, where 20 per cent leaks into the oceans. This poses serious impacts on the coral reefs, marine life, and millions of Filipinos relying on its seas and coasts for produce and livelihood.

The Philippines passed relevant laws such as Clean Water Act of 2004, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act No. 9003 of 2002, Clean Air Act of 1999 and the Presidential Decree: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System of 1978, and other enabling policies. However, stronger enforcement and harmonization of these existing laws is needed.

Given its impact on marine and coastal environmental quality, human-being, economic activity, and its transboundary nature, marine litter has become a global issue and has been the focus of international discourse. The Philippines has been part of the global and regional discussions on marine litter, including United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), ASEAN, among others.

Considering the urgency of the issue, the Philippines, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is spearheading the development of a National Policy and Action Plan on Marine Plastic Litter to contribute in addressing marine pollution and further strengthen its efforts at national level, in alignment with international frameworks.

The DENR has requested UNDP for technical assistance to formulate the National Policy and Action (NPOA) Plan on Marine Litter. UNDP is also developing its country strategy on Circular Economy to support the implementation of the NPOA on Marine Litter and accelerate efforts towards a circular economy.

UNDP is engaging a National Consultant to conduct the stocktaking of initiatives of various stakeholders, including the Government and private sector, that contribute to addressing the waste issue, including plastics, and pursuing a circular economy.

The stocktaking initiative will serve as an input to the formulation of the NPOA on Marine Litter, inform UNDP’s strategy and will form part of UNDP’s online platform that would enable sharing of initiatives and linking of stakeholders.

Institutional Arrangement

The Climate Action Outcome Lead and Marine Litter Coordinator shall directly supervise the Consultant. The Consultant is expected to work closely with the UNDP Marine Litter Team and DENR and engage with various stakeholders. As needed, UNDP shall provide logistical assistance to the Consultant in order for her/him to accomplish enumerated outputs.

Duration of Work

The expected duration of work is estimated to be 48 working daysspread over four (4) months.

Duty Station

The Consultant is not expected to report on a daily basis to UNDP Philippines office based in Mandaluyong City but shall be available on an on-call basis.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Climate Action Outcome Lead and Coordinator for Marine Litter, the Consultant shall:

Develop a work plan and methodology for the stocktaking exercise and analysis of initiatives of the Government and Private Sector, to include:

• Enabling policies and programmes
• Initiatives of Government and private sector on waste management and circular economy, including:
  • Studies/assessments conducted
  • Past, ongoing and planned initiatives (to be categorized according to circular economy elements), including:
    • description of initiative
    • timeframe, status, results, lessons learned
    • partners and geographical areas
  • Challenges, bottlenecks, opportunities in implementing CE strategies
  • Analysis and recommendations
• Conduct desk review, including review of relevant policies, programmes, initiatives, and case studies on private sector and Government efforts in addressing the waste issue
• Develop a survey questionnaire to be disseminated to the private sector, including MSMEs
• Conduct of survey with businesses, including MSMEs, and focus group discussions/interviews
• Assist in the development of template for the database that will be used for the online platform and basis for spatial maps that will be generated, in collaboration with the UNDP team
• Process data gathered and present during a validation workshop
• Develop a stocktaking report that provides analysis of the initiatives and recommendations
• Present final output at the Private Sector Forum
• Provide technical advice to UNDP in the formulation of the NPOA on Marine Litter and the Circular Economy Strategy as needed

Competencies

Corporate 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.

Functional and technical competencies

• Ability to work in a diverse and multi-cultural environment;
• Self-motivated and ability to work under pressure and to meet strict and competing deadlines;
• Displays analytical judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;

Required Skills and Experience

Offers will be evaluated based on combined scoring method :

• Technical qualifications = 70%
• Financial Proposal =    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

Applicants must upload in one (1) file the documents listed below at https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=87983

All applications should be deposited at the given link.

Editable forms listed below are attached on this advertisement:

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. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.

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