Procurement Notices

The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation located in the Western Pacific Ocean. Spread over an archipelago of over 80 islands stretching 1,300 kilometers from North to South. Vanuatu’s terrain is mostly mountainous, with narrow coastal plains larger islands are characterized by rugged volcanic peaks and tropical rainforests. Vanuatu is located in a seismically and volcanically active region and has high exposure to geologic hazards, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides. Vanuatu’s total land area is about 12,336km2 with more than 36.1% (440,000 hectares) covered by tropical forest. In 2009, the population of Vanuatu was 234,023 (51% Male and 49% Female); which represents an average annual growth rate of 2.3% per year since the last Census in 1999( Second National Communications 2014)

Vanuatu conducted a National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) during the period of 2004-2007. The result of this self-assessment was the formulation of a National Capacity Building Action Plan for Environmental Management (NCAP) that was to address confirmed priority environment management capacity needs in Vanuatu. It included 6 objectives including the need for an environmental information management system to store and protect knowledge, inform and educate, and provide a basis for a better environmental decision-making process.

The Vanuatu CB2 project aims to strengthen information resource centres focusing on the collection of data and resources, storage and management of relevant information from line departments from respective ministries Refer to Annex 1 –Terms of Reference for details.

Scope of work/Expected Output

The project was designed to strengthen Vanuatu’s capacities to meet national and global environmental commitments through improved management of environmental data and information.  In response to the GEF-funded National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) project conducted in Vanuatu during the period of 2006-2007, which identified environmental information as a constraint for good environmental decision-making. The reported emphasized on the need for more comprehensive datasets to be made available to stakeholders including decision-makers and a greater capacity of stakeholders for analysing and using this information in related policy and programme making. In doing so the objectives will be achieved through three components: 

1. Improved management information system for the global environment: This component focuses on improving existing management information systems to measure achievements towards global environmental objectives. It will concentrate on assessing and strengthening those sets of measurement methodologies, negotiating agreements towards harmonizing these and institutionalizing them within the relevant agencies and sharing protocols in a cost-effective manner.
2. Strengthened technical capacities for monitoring and evaluating the state of the environment: This component will strengthen technical capacities to monitor and evaluate the state of the environment in Vanuatu. While the first component focuses on strengthening the institutional and organizational capacities for improving data and information collection, management and sharing, this component focuses on the strengthening of human capacities to use improved data and information for strategic decision-making in the interest of meeting global environmental obligations.
3. Improved and institutionalized decision-making mechanisms for the global environment: The third component will also focus on enhancing the institutional sustainability of capacities developed under the project through the assessment and targeted strengthening of monitoring and evaluation processes. As such, this component will be strategically implemented alongside component/outcome 1 that will strengthen the institutional linkages of data and information systems across agencies and stakeholder organizations. Lessons learned and best practices will be shared in the region.

A Terminal Evaluation will be conducted according to the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects. 

The objectives of the evaluation are to assess the achievement of project results, and to draw lessons that can both improve the sustainability of benefits from this project, and aid in the overall enhancement of UNDP programming.   

. Refer to Annex 1 –Terms of Reference for details..

Qualifications:

•       A Master’s Degree in environmental science/environmental affairs or related discipline that directly pertains to the three conventions of the UNFCCC, the UNCBD and the UNCCD

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience
• Knowledge of UNDP and GEF evaluation process and has lead evaluation process for at least 2-3 of UNDP/GEF funded projects
• Previous experience with results‐based monitoring and evaluation methodologies;
• Technical knowledge in the targeted focal area(s) especially on Multi-focal areas - capacity building projects, 3 Rio Conventions and other MEAs
• Has worked in the Pacific and is familiar with some of the PI’s country CCCD issues
• Knowledge on key environmental challenges in the Pacific
• Experience environmental policy development process

Competencies:

• Competence in adaptive management, as applied to climate change adaptation projects and ecosystems management;
• Project evaluation/review experiences within United Nations system will be considered an asset;

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential

Evaluation

Cumulative analysis

The proposals will be evaluated using the cumulative analysis method with a split 70% technical and 30% financial scoring. The proposal with the highest cumulative scoring will be awarded the contract. Applications will be evaluated technically, and points are attributed based on how well the proposal meets the requirements of the Terms of Reference using the guidelines detailed in the table below:

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract may be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weighting; 70%

* Financial Criteria weighting; 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Interviews may be conducted as part of technical assessment for shortlisted proposals.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING CONSULTANCY PROPOSALS

Offerors must apply through UNDP Job shop and upload the following mandatory documents.

i) Signed CV including names /email contacts of at least 3 professional referees.

ii) Cover letter setting out: A statement of how the applicant meets the qualifications and experience requirements.

iii) Completed template for confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal

Applicants must send a financial proposal based on a 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 Individual Consultant´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the Individual Consultant in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs.

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

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

Template for confirmation of interest and Submission of Financial Proposal is available under the procurement section of UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji

website (https://www.pacific.undp.org/content/pacific/en/home/procurement.html)

Women candidates are encouraged to apply

Interested Candidates must accept UNDP General Terms and Conditions for Individual Consultants 

Successful candidate will be required to complete the BSAFE course prior to undertaking any travel related to this consultancy ( online security awareness training). https://training.dss.un.org/course/category/6