Procurement Notices

Suplementatry Notice # 1. 

This advert for Consultancy for National Gender Specialist  - Establishing systems for sustainable integrated land-use planning across New-Britain Island in Papua New Guinea is now extended to due date 13th December 2022. 

Location: Port Moresby , Papua New Guinea with travel to West New Britain Province

Working days: 60 working days by 30 November 2023

1. Project Background

The project, Establishing Systems for Sustainable Integrated Land-use Planning across New-Britain Island in Papua New Guinea, funded by GEF-FOLUR, in the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (PNG) will focus activities on the landscape of New Britain Island. At 3,330,890 ha, the island ranges from dense lowland plains to a central mountainous spine with peaks of over 2,000 m. With high levels of forest cover the island represents an area of high value biodiversity but is also at threat from rapid forest loss due to agricultural conversion with over 450,000 ha under permits for forest clearance. This pressure is driven by PNG’s socio-economic status, which includes a desire for economic development and income, rapid population growth and the high importance of agriculture in PNG’s economy, particularly palm oil and cocoa. These impacts are exacerbated within the agricultural sector due to knowledge gaps in sustainable production, prevalence of unsustainable practices, unresponsive supply chains and limited access to finance. 

In addressing these barriers, the project will help to deliver: 50,000 ha of land restored, 2,712,364 ha of landscapes under improved practices (excluding protected areas), 32.3 million metric tons CO2e of direct post-project. The project will also deliver direct economic and/or non-economic benefits to 66,647 individuals (28,838 females and 37,809 males). These results will be achieved through the following four interrelated components:

• Component 1: Development of integrated landscape management systems
• Component 2: Promotion of sustainable food production practices and responsible value chains to reduce land stress and avert degradation and deforestation
• Component 3: Conservation and restoration of natural habitats
• Component 4: Knowledge management and impact monitoring

Development of an ESIA, ESMP and IPP

To ensure compliance with PNG legislation, as well as with the UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) Policy in the context of the GEF-FOLUR Project, the Project has contracted an International ESIA/ESMP/IPP Development Specialist to assess the risks and impacts associated with the project’s physical footprint (“downstream” activities) by conducting an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) which will feed into the overall Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and Indigenous People’s Plan (IPP). As Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment is a key Principle for UNDP’s SES Policy, it will be necessary to have a National Gender Specialist support and facilitate stakeholder consultation in East and West New Britain with the International ESIA/ESMP/IPP Development Specialist to ensure gender considerations are fully considered within these critical documents.

Gender Analysis and Action Plan

During the development and preparation of the GEF-FOLUR Project Document, a “Gender Analysis and Action Plan” had been prepared, however given this document had been prepared in 2019, the GEF-FOLUR Project would like to use the ESAI/ESMP/IPP stakeholder consultation process as an opportunity to review, update (as required) and validate this document. Once this is complete, it will be necessary to present and promote this document through two workshops in West and East New Britain to ensure stakeholders are fully aware of the gender considerations and actions required for the GEF-FOLUR Project. Finally, as means to understand the implementation status of the Gender Action Plan, conduct a M&E mission with the Project Knowledge Management / M&E Expert.

2. Objective

The objective of the consultancy is to:

1. Support and facilitate stakeholder consultation in East and West New Britain with the International ESIA/ESMP/IPP Development Specialist to ensure gender considerations are fully considered within these critical documents.
2. Review, update (as required) and validate the GEF-FOLUR Project Gender Analysis and Action Plan with data collected from the stakeholder analysis.
   1. As part of the Gender Action Plan, this must include annual outputs to facilitate implementation and monitoring of activities that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment within the project.
3. Conduct two training workshops in East and West New Britain on the importance of  Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, as well as the Gender Action Plan detailing the project actions, targets and indicators.
4. Conduct a M&E mission in Q4 2023 to determine and evaluate the progress of the Gender Action Plan.

3. Scope of Consultancy

The Gender Specialist will be required to perform the following outputs and tasks:                                                                                                                                       

Output 1: Submission of a methodology and workplan. The methodology and workplan will be approved by the Project CTA & Project Director for 60 days over 12 months only and include:

1. Inception Meeting with CEPA & UNDP before finalization and submission of methodology and workplan  to include;

• Details of activities to be completed over the 60 days until 30 November 2023.
• Methodology on ensure gender considerations are fully considered with the preparation of the ESIA, ESMP and IPP, as well as collection of gender data during stakeholder consultations.
• Details of travel to project site in collaboration with the International ESIA/ESMP/IPP Development Specialist.
• Methodology on reviewing, updating and validating the Project Gender Analysis and Action Plan.
• Overview of M&E Mission to be conducted during Q4 2023 with the Project Knowledge Management / M&E Expert.

Output 2: Submission of Field Mission Report. Support and facilitate stakeholder engagement and site visits with International ESIA-ESMP Development Specialist, including;

(i) Meet and coordinate with the International ESIA/ESMP/IPP Development Specialist (this can be done through internet telecommunications / Zoom), as well as the Project Management Team to prepare/plan for stakeholder engagement at the national level and within East and West New Britain Provinces for the ESIA, ESMP and Indigenous Peoples Plan.

• As part of stakeholder engagement, the Gender Specialist will also ensure gender analysis is incorporated into these consultations.

(ii) As required, conduct a desktop review and data collection on gender issues to be addressed by the project at the proposed project sites.

• This review and data collection may likely require conducting meetings with CEPA and relevant PNG government departments (including DLPP, DAL, Department for Community Development, CCDA; NGOs; CSOs and research institutes) to determine gender considerations (rules, regulations, legislation and policies) with land use planning, agriculture, environmental protection, biodiversity, as well as socio-economic development and rights of rural communities.

(iii) Once the International ESIA/ESMP/IPP Development Specialist in PNG, support and facilitate meetings in East and West New Britain to prepare the Project ESIA, ESMP and Indigenous Peoples Plan.

• These meetings must be conducted in close collaboration with the appropriate Officials engaged with the Project, including representatives from Agriculture, Environment, Lands, as well as the Councils for Women from each of the respective Provincial Administrations.

(iv) Undertake stakeholder engagement at the project sites in Gazelle and Pomio Districts in East New Britain Province, and Talasea, Nakanai and Kandrian-Gloucester Districts in West New Britain Provinces (specific site still to be determined by the Project Team). This will involve:

• Conduct meetings with District and LLG officials (particularly Community Development Officers), NGOs, etc., and most importantly, to collect primary data among communities through meetings with local leaders and Focus Group Discussions with women, men and young people, both together and separately.
• These meetings are meant to learn not only about their differentiated socio-economic and gender power positions, environmental issues, concerns and changes observed, their development opportunities, but also about their dreams, desires, and their interest to actively engage in land use planning, agricultural activities around cocoa and palm oil and furthering environmental protection.

Output 3: Review, Revision and Validation of Gender Analysis and Action Plan. Submission of the revised Gender Analysis and Action Plan to be approved by the Project CTA, and UNDP PNG Gender Focal Point and include;

1. Based on the stakeholder engagement in Output 2, review, revise and validate the Gender Analysis and Action Plan for the project with concrete outputs and indicators to facilitate implementation of activities that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
2. This document should be consistent with community consultations, respective GOPNGs Gender strategy, UNDP Gender Strategies and input from the respective divisions responsible for community development in East and West New Britain Provinces.
3. This deliverable will be fully integrated into the project document and used to inform the process of using a gender-responsive results reporting and monitoring and evaluation system.

Output 4: Submission of Gender Workshop Training Workshop results. Conduct two training workshops in East and West New Britain on the importance of  Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, as well as the Gender Action Plan

1. Based on the approved Output 3, prepare and facilitate two workshops to be held in East and West New Britain.
2. The purpose of these workshops will be to present/validate field findings for the Gender Action Plan.
3. These workshops will present the importance of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment within the GEF-FOLUR Project, as well as lay out the indicators and M&E strategy for monitoring the progress of the Gender Action Plan.
4. As part of these training workshops, ensure pre and post testing is implemented to determine if participants have gained an understanding of the workshop content material.
5. Prepare and submit a report detailing the results of these Gender Workshops, including the results of the pre and post testing.

Output 5: Submission of Monitoring and Evaluation Report. Conduct M&E Field Mission at Project Sites to determine the progress of the Gender Action Plan within the first year.

(i) Develop monitoring/ reporting templates for the gender action plan in relation to Output 4.

(ii) Prepare and implement a field M&E mission with the Project Knowledge Management / M&E Expert.

• An outcome of this mission will be to ensure the Project Knowledge Management / M&E Expert understands the monitoring procedures and is able to implement M&E in subsequent years of Project Implementation.

(iii) Submission and approval of the first monitoring report, to be submitted prior to 30 November 2023.

4. Key Deliverables and Schedule of Payments

5. Working Arrangement

The consultant will closely work with the GEF FOLUR team and under the Direction of the Chief Technical Advisor while taking responsibility for deadlines and deliverables as outlined in the Terms of Reference and associated Contract. It is also expected that the National Gender Specialist will also be working closely with the International ESIA/ESMP/IPP Development Specialist for Output 2.

6. Required Experiences and Skills  

Education and experience:

• Master’s degree or higher in gender studies, social sciences, community relations, environment management, land use planning or related fields of expertise.
• Minimum 7 years’ experience working in PNG on one or more of the following: community engagement, gender, land use planning, agriculture; biodiversity conservation or related fields;
• Demonstratable experience in the conducting UNDP gender analyses and preparing gender action plans, or similar exercises with other donor-funded projects;
• Experience working within GEF financed project teams and working in challenging environments is desirable.

Competencies:

• Ability to work independently and to deliver high quality programs with minimal supervision
• Excellent oral and writing communication skills.

7. 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

The following documents may be requested:

1. Duly executed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. P11 form using template provided by UNDP which indicates all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) with at least three (3) professional references;
3. Technical proposal outlining the proposed methodology and approach for completing all the tasks outlined in the TOR.
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total 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 stipulate that arrangement at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP .

8. Lump-sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump-sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump-sum amount (including travel, living expenses, and number of anticipated working days). 

9. Travel

Travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging, DSA and terminal expenses within PNG for the purpose of achieving the project deliverables will be covered by the Project.

10. Submission Instructions

Completed proposals should be submitted to procurement.png@undp.org , no later than 06th December 2022.  For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to procurement.pg@undp.org 

Please be guided by the instructions provided in this document above while preparing your submission.

Incomplete proposals and failure to comply with proposal submission instruction may not be considered or may result in disqualification of proposal.

UNDP looks forward to receiving your Proposal and thank you in advance for your interest in UNDP procurement opportunities.