Project Title: BIODIVERSITY FINANCE INITIATIVE

Project Description 

Since 2014, The United Nations Development Program through its Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Project, has been supporting the Philippine Government in articulating the financial resources it needs to maintain a healthy biodiversity portfolio in-country. In particular, BIOFIN in collaboration with Department of Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau has conducted the following assessments:  1) Policy and Institutional Review (PIR); 2) Public and Private Biodiversity Expenditure Review (PPBER); 3) Assessment of financial needs (cost and gap analysis of implementing Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP)).  These assessments significantly contributed to the development of a Biodiversity Finance Plan.

Based on insights gained from the results of the three BIOFIN assessments, this Plan acknowledges the importance of tapping additional financing to support the biodiversity agenda of the Philippines, mainly through its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP), referred to henceforth in this Plan as the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP). This Plan is cognizant of the parallel challenges that could not be addressed by generating financing alone: thus, the Plan transcends the focus on generating additional resources and also identifies a range of “finance solutions” that leverage finance, fiscal and economic tools and strategies to improve the outcome of biodiversity objectives in the country. Financing solutions include a range of transformative actions: generating more financing to fund the PBSAP or associated planning documents; appropriate attribution of biodiversity expenditures in the budget; attaining cost effective budget execution by eradicating overlaps in biodiversity functions; eradicating expenditures that continue to or aggravate dissipation of biodiversity resources; and paving the groundwork for a responsive policy environment through greater awareness on biodiversity and biodiversity financing and enhancing institutional support towards monitoring of PBSAP.

Resource mobilization strategies targeting the private sector and the citizenry are also highlighted given that these sectors can muster significant amount of resources for biodiversity conservation.  Initiatives on corporate social responsibility (CSR), crowdfunding and diaspora have been started and need to be continued.  At the same time, new initiatives with the banking sector on sustainability practices will be explored.  Development of the mobile game application on biodiversity is underway while a campaign on the “Year of Protected Areas” will also be launched and the private sector is seen to be a major participant.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables 

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Manager shall directly supervise the Partnerships Specialist and approve his/her output.

The Partnerships Specialist is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with the national and global (as necessary) BIOFIN project team, DENR BMB and UNDP.  As needed, the project staff shall provide administrative assistance to her/him in order for her/him to accomplish all requirements.

Based on the table above, outputs will be submitted to UNDP and BMB through the Project Manager in the dates indicated. 

Duration of the Work

The expected duration of work is 64 working days spread over 7 months.  The target date for the start of work is August 15, 2020.

 Duty Station

The Partnerships Specialist is not expected to report on a daily basis to the Project Management Office based in BMB in Quezon 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. Medical Insurance, Communication Cost, etc).  Breakdown of costs should be reflected on page 4 of the template provided by UNDP. Travel expenses to project-related meetings and workshops outside of Metro Manila shall be paid by UNDP Project.

Medical/health insurance must be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense, and upon award of contract, the Consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during the contract duration.

The Payment terms are as follows:

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Project Manager and the Senior Technical Advisor, the Partnerships Specialist is expected to assist in the implementation of resource mobilization strategies targeting the private sector and the general public towards the achievement of expected project outcomes. S/he is expected to initiate implementation of selected finance mechanisms, prepare periodic work plans, budgets and progress reports as well as ensure monitoring of project’s progress and networking with various local and national stakeholders.

Specific functions:

• Assess the contribution of the mobile game application to BIOFIN and PBSAP targets, develop and implement promotion strategy; 
• Provide inputs to the Sustainable Financing Specialist  in the assessment of biodiversity financing landscape in the Philippines, including current private sector strategies and gaps and, recommendations on enhancing biodiversity financing in the Philippines and BIOFIN’s interventions, as necessary;
• Sustain current partnership with GCash,
• Develop an exit strategy and sustainability plan for mobile game application and GCASH-related initiatives;
• Contribute to the IEC component of the project and continue partnership work with key private sector partners;
• Attend relevant project meetings and workshops/exercises; and
• Submit report/s as may be required by UNDP and BMB

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN mission, vision, values and ethical standards
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Other Competencies

• Demonstrates strong analytical skills and mature judgment well-planned and organized;
• Ability to work in close collaboration with a group of national and international experts, to meet strict deadlines and plan the work according to priorities;
• Demonstrates capacity to plan, organize and execute effectively;
• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multi-cultural team environment;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team and with stakeholders;
• Excellent written communication and presentation/public speaking skills

Required Skills and Experience

Offers will be evaluated based on the 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 on the following qualifications (with the appropriate obtainable points): 

Applicants who will only receive 70 points from the assessment of the CV 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 this given link https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=92970

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

1. Duly accomplished Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest 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 Interest and Availability). The financial proposal shall specify an all-inclusive lump sum fee. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal must additionally include a breakdown of this daily fee (including all foreseeable expenses to carry out the assignment).
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;

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