Climate Change Consultancy

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s Global Development Network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in over 170 countries, employing participatory approaches to developing local solutions to national and global development challenges. UNDP’s core vision is to help countries achieve simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We do this through three main areas of work which are: (1) sustainable development, (2) inclusive and effective democratic governance, and (3) climate and disaster resilience. UNDP’s Low Emission Capacity Building (LECB) Programme has been supporting countries to define their low-emission development vision since 2011, including the preparation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to assist national government design and implement their climate change plans under the Paris Agreement.

Moving forward, UNDP launched a new global initiative, the NDC Support Programme, to provide direct financial and technical support to countries on NDC implementation in the context of national development priorities. The program seeks to enhance the capacities of public- and private-sector actors to deliver on NDC targets through strengthened climate governance; implementation of mitigation actions and mid-century, low-emission development strategies; engagement of the private sector; and improved investment environments. It will initially support 25 countries in a variety of NDC-related work areas that include the development of NDC implementation plans, strengthening of monitoring systems, and mainstreaming of gender-responsive approaches. The program will also collect and disseminate best practices and lessons learned to advance global progress on NDC implementation. This support will build on the results of the LECB Programme at the country and global levels.

SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK

UNDP seeks to recruit a consultant who will provide technical and programmatic support on climate change as part of the NDC Support Programme Global Support Unit, with a focus on NDCs and related technical areas in the context of sustainable development. He/she will provide technical assistance to developing countries in the context of NDC implementation, coordinate the organization of regional dialogues on NDCs, and contribute to knowledge products. Reporting to the NDC Support Programme Manager, the consultant will undertake the following scope of activities:

Objective: To support the NDC Support Programme team in assisting developing countries with NDC implementation.

• Scope 1: Technical support provided to NDC Support Programme countries on NDC implementation
  • Deliverable 1:Programme backstopping support provided to three (3) countries to develop national work plans under the NDC Support Programme.
    • Timeframe of activities:
      • August-October 2018: Technical support provided to countries to develop national work plans, including country missions as needed.
      • November 2018: National work plan delivered for Country A.
      • December 2018: National work plan delivered for Country B.
      • January 2019: National work plan delivered for Country C.
  • Deliverable 2:Targeted technical assistance on climate change mitigation and related topics provided to three (3) countries in context of NDC implementation plans.
    • Timeframe of activities:
      • On-going: Climate change technical assistance provided to countries to develop and carry out NDC implementation plans.
      • Monthly: Technical support calls carried out with country teams.
  • Deliverable 3:Engagement and coordination efforts carried out with external partners in context of NDC implementation support.
    • Timeframe of activities:
      • Bi-monthly: Coordination calls carried out with NDC Support Cluster on political and institutional frameworks and in-country support.
• Scope 2: Regional dialogues on NDCs supported to strengthen participant countries’ NDC implementation capacity
  • Deliverable 1:One (1) NDC regional dialogue organized for government officials from Asia and Arab States.
    • Timeframe of activities:
      • August 2018: Agenda developed and logistics arranged.
      • September 2018: Technical materials developed and speakers confirmed.
      • October 2018: Dialogue successfully carried out and dialogue stakeholders updated on outcomes.
  • Deliverable 2:One (1) NDC regional dialogue organized for government officials from the Caribbean.
    • Timeframe of activities:
      • August 2018: Agenda developed and logistics arranged.
      • September 2018: Technical materials developed and speakers confirmed.
      • October 2018: Dialogue successfully carried out and dialogue stakeholders updated on outcomes.
• Scope 3: Knowledge product and article on NDC implementation developed
  • Deliverable 1:One (1) knowledge product (e.g., guidance or tool) developed to support countries on effective NDC implementation.
    • Timeframe of activities:
      • November 2018: Knowledge product concept proposed.
      • January 2019: Knowledge product developed.
  • Deliverable 2:One (1) article related to NDC implementation developed to disseminate NDC regional dialogue or NDC Support Programme lessons learned.
    • Timeframe of activities:
      • October 2018: Article concept proposed.
      • November 2018: Article developed.

Functional Competencies:

• Technical expertise in NDCs and related concepts (nationally appropriate mitigation actions, low-emission development strategies, climate finance).
• Demonstrated knowledge of UN climate negotiations (UNFCCC) and NDC process under the UNFCCC. 
• Demonstrated ability to implement the scope of activities envisioned for the consultancy.
• Demonstrated understanding of the links between climate change/environment and development.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP's values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN/UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Academic qualifications:

• Master’s degree in environment, climate change, international development, or international affairs is required.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of work experience in relevant technical areas (NDCs, NAMAs, UN climate negotiations) is required.
• At least 5 years of work experience providing programming and technical support to developing countries on NDCs, NAMAs, and related climate change topics is required.
• Significant experience leading international workshops (e.g., organizing, agenda-setting, facilitating, presenting) to build country capacity and exchange national experiences on NDCs, NAMAs, and related climate change topics, required.
• Demonstrated experience developing guidance and knowledge products related to NDCs, NAMAs, and related topics, as well as articles and other communication materials on climate change, required.
• Experience working with UNDP and/or other multilateral, bilateral and civil society development partners is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Spanish and/or French proficiency is highly desired

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• Online application with brief description of why the Offeror considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.

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

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7-hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).
• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
• Any unforeseeable travel agreed between UNDP and Individual Consultant, will be supported by the project travel fund and will be arranged according to UNDP entitlements and travel policy.  Costs for airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in financial proposal.
• If the 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 a 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.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria is weighted 70% and financial criteria/proposal is weighted 30%.

Technical evaluation (desk review and interview) - Total 70% (700 points):

• Criteria 1. Demonstrated technical expertise in nationally determined contributions (NDCs), nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs), the UN climate negotiations (UNFCCC), and related topics. Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 100;
• Criteria 2. Demonstrated experience providing programming and technical support to developing countries on NDCs, NAMAs, and related climate change topics. Weight = 15%; Maximum Points: 150;
• Criteria 3. Demonstrated experience leading international workshops (e.g., organizing, agenda-setting, facilitating, presenting) to build country capacity and exchange national experiences on NDCs, NAMAs, and related climate change topics. Weight = 15%; Maximum Points: 150;
• Criteria 4. Demonstrated experience developing knowledge products (e.g., guidance or tools) on NDCs, NAMAs, and related climate change topics. Weight = 15%; Maximum Points: 50
• Criteria 5. Demonstrated experience developing articles and other communication materials on NDCs, NAMAs, and related climate change topics. Weight = 5%; Maximum Points: 50;
• Interview. Weight = 20 %; Maximum Points: 200.

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three (3) candidates for interview. Candidate should score at least 350 points in the desk review to be considered for interview.

Only shortlisted candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (490 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (700 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (300 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

The candidate obtaining the highest combined scores of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into a contract with UNDP.

Institutional Arrangements

• The consultant will be New York-based;
• The consultant will be supervised by and report directly to the NDC Support Programme Manager;
• Payments will be made upon submission of a detailed time sheet and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Supervisor on days worked and outputs delivered;
• The consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The consultant will be responsible for providing her/his laptop;
• Any necessary missions must be approved in advance and in writing by the NDC Support Programme Manager; 
• Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/;  
• The Advanced and Basic Security in the Field II courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
• The selected candidate is responsible for ensuring that s/he has the necessary vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
• The selected candidate is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
• All related travel expenses will be supported by the project travel fund and will be arranged according to UNDP entitlements and travel policy. 

Payment modality

• Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked and deliverables accepted, and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.
• The workweek will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7-hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.