Project Title: Accelerating Green and Climate Finance in the Philippines

Project Description

The country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement calls for accelerating climate actions – with a focus on mitigation, but cognizant of adaptation co benefits. The Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) submitted by the Philippine government calls for 70% reduction of emissions compared to its 2012 baseline; while ramping up adaptation actions. While not a significant contributor to global emissions, the country is on the receiving end of damages and losses from disasters brought about by both slow onset and extreme climate events, as well as the aggravating effects of geological induced disasters.

As a low middle-income country and one of the most at risk country in the world, the costs of dealing with disasters and climate change pose significant constraints in achieving sustainable development goals.  For the period 1995-2015, it has been reported that in the Philippines, some 130 M people have been affected by weather related disasters; next to China and Bangladesh. Aside from the cost on human lives, disasters exact a heavy toll on the economy. Over the period 2005-2014, the country lost an average of $1.6 billion every year (International Disaster Database 2016). Typhoon Yolanda alone caused an additional 2.3 million people to fall back behind the poverty line; exacting an estimated USD 12.9 Billion in damages and losses; and hampering economic growth by 0.9% in 2013 and 0.3% in 2014.  The World Economic Forum indicated vulnerability to natural disasters as among the leading obstacles to doing business and investing in the country. The UNISDR estimates that average annualized long-term loss (AAL) from multi hazards in the Philippines represent 69% of social expenditures and 14% of annual capital investments. Given that spending on social protection, public health and public education investments is critical to SDGs, this situation highlights that achieving these goals will come at exceedingly high cost, unless drastic measures are implemented to reduce overall vulnerability.

The country has prioritized climate resilience as a cross cutting strategy in its Philippine Development Plan and has carried out a number of programmes to realize this. The magnitude of the problem however, requires a concerted effort by all sectors and opening up investments to achieve the desired targets and achieve sustainable development goals.

One of the untapped potential is the resources and financing and other solutions  that the private sector could  mobilize for its portfolio to support climate and nature based investments at the same time, deliver on SDGs. After all, there is a clear business case for private sector investment in climate and nature based solutions –  from  financial and risk management as well as business opportunity perspectives. All throughout the world, companies are recognizing the need to ensure their operations are resilient against disruptions brought about by the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.  On the one hand, there is increasing evidence of the tremendous business opportunity for low carbon mitigation projects, and adaptation measures.

The objective of this assignment is to prepare a UNDP Project Document to be submitted to the Canadian Embassy and other appropriate development partners on “Accelerating Green and Climate Finance in the Philippines.” The Project aims to increase private sector investments in green and climate resilient technologies, innovations, practices and approaches in support of a just transition to resilient and low emission development, that protects the rights of all affected and at risk through the identification and prototyping  of innovative solutions coupled with policy and stakeholder engagement.

This will be realized through the following Outputs:

Output 1: Existing platforms for evidence-based policy dialogue between government, development partners and private sector strengthened to enhance enabling policy, improve coherence, and support development of innovative financing mechanisms for climate and green investments.

Output 2: Climate Finance Lab (The Lab) established and business, services and partnership model for sustaining operations in the Philippines identified, to effectively curate innovative financing mechanisms, attract capital from private sector, philanthropies and other sources, and potentially partner on the implementation of green and climate investments where appropriate.

Output 3: Improved capacities of finance (commercial, micro finance, national) institutions to   better incorporate green and climate related policies in their financing programmes and products.

Output 4: Independent impact measurement  management system in place to report on SDG and adaptation/mitigation impacts of green and climate investments by private sector and financing institutions. 

Institutional Arrangements

Technical supervision shall be provided by the Climate Action Team Leader, UNDP. Specialists from the Country Office, Bangkok Regional Hub and Headquarters shall provide technical inputs as appropriate.  A Technical Working Group composed of government representatives shall be established to participate in the design process, and provide inputs.

Duration of Work

It is estimated that the work shall involve a total of 25 person-days of effort; over a period of 8 weeks, commencing April 2021 and ending June 2021.

Duty Station

It is preferable that the Consultant be based in Manila, but not necessary.

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. transportation/travel to and from residence-Manila and/or within Metro Manila, supplies & materials, reproduction, communications including internet). Travel expenses to project-related meetings and workshops outside of Metro Manila shall be paid for by the Project based on the UNDP DIM Rates.

The Payment terms are as follows:

Objectives and Scope of Work

The National Climate Finance/Stakeholder Engagement Specialist will be responsible for providing support to the International Project Development/Climate Finance Specialist and in ensuring engagement of key stakeholders – Climate Change Commission (CCC), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Finance (DOF), Central Bank (CB), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) – and other appropriate stakeholders in the development of the Project Document and in defining their roles and responsibilities during implementation.

He/She shall have the following responsibilities:

• Prepare inputs and support the required analysis/studies, as agreed with the International Project Development/Climate Finance Specialist, including:

1. Assessment of baseline conditions (relevant work of development partners, existing government policies and initiatives, private sector initiatives, gaps and barriers) to validate relevance and soundness of project design
2. Formulation of Theory of Change
3. Preparation of Results Framework
4. Preparation of budget and work plan

• Conduct a stakeholder mapping of project relevant agencies, organizations, review the engagement of potential partners in the project, their roles, and which formal agreements may be required;
• Identify private sector entities and other organisations with an interest in the Project who can contribute to long-term financing and clarify their potential contributions to the project;
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations of the project and ensure that these are adequately and comprehensively documented;
• Prepare a Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
• Perform any additional tasks that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

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

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

Interested applicants must submit at https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=97947 the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload of a maximum of one document. 

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. UNDP Personal History Form (P11) or Curriculum Vitae (following the template attached) indicating all past experiences from similar projects or requirements, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
3. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided, and clearly stating the payment percentage as indicated in this TOR. 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. 

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Interested applicants to note that personal Medical/health insurance (to be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense) is mandatory for the issuance of contracts. Upon award of the contract, the consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during the contract duration.

The following templates / Annexes and IC General Terms & Conditions can be downloaded from http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU:

• General Terms and Conditions for Individual Contract
• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability
• P-11 form

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