Consultancy – Gender and Climate Change in the NDC Process, BPPS/CC&DRR

UNDP is the largest implementing partner on climate action in the UN System, currently supporting over 140 countries with a portfolio of over US$3 billion in programming. UNDP works directly with countries on developing and implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the pledge made by parties to the Paris Agreement of limiting global average temperature increase below 2oC and pursuing efforts to below 1.5oC. Given the urgency needed for scalable and transformational climate action, UNDP is working jointly with other UN agencies and key partners to support countries to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement through a new Joint UN Approach on NDC Support: Specifically, this approach has three core objectives:

• Accelerating implementation of current NDCs through addressing key barriers and turning their targets into tangible and achievable actions.

• Enhancing climate targets for more ambitious next generation NDCs, through targets high-level engagement, underpinned by evidence-based technical support and advocacy

• Mobilizing society to both contribute to and call for climate action to meet NDC targets

Addressing gender equality and women’s empowerment is a key aspect of UNDP’s approach to achieving its core vision. Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment are seen as goals in their own right and are also central to the achievement of UNDP’s development mandate. UNDP is guided in its work by its Gender Equality Strategy (2018-2021) which details how UNDP works towards gender equality in each of the goals set out in the UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021.

In this regard, building on its previous support to better integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment into national climate change actions, UNDP is currently assisting countries in mainstreaming gender equality into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) planning and implementation process. The NDC Support Programme is a global initiative providing direct financial and technical support to countries on NDC implementation in the context of national development priorities. The program’s goal is to support governments to achieve transformational change by scaling up public and private investments in climate change actions to deliver long-term sustainable development and championing the benefits of zero-carbon, climate-resilient development.

The Gender-Responsive Component of the NDC Support Programme is conducting a pilot in 10 countries to demonstrate that coordinating and connecting the interlinked processes of climate change and gender equality and women’s empowerment at the national level through the implementation of NDCs will promote inclusive and successful outcomes, both for gender equality goals as well as for national sustainable development and climate change objectives.

The programme is mainstreaming gender in 10 countries within 3 workstreams: governance (institutional frameworks and coordination mechanisms), planning for implementation (sectoral/ national), and enhanced climate policy instruments (NAMAs, NAPs, LEDs, MRVs, etc.). This project will leverage analysis, strengthen institutional mechanisms, ensure gender-responsive climate change actions and disseminate best practices to enhance national-level technical and institutional capacities to incorporate gender into the NDC planning and implementation process.

UNDP would like to engage a consultant to develop several products under the Gender Responsive Component of the NDC Support Programme as described within this TOR.

Corporate

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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;

Technical

• Knowledge of gender mainstreaming and climate change;
• Data management and quality assurance;
• Excellent overall computer skills, including social media, Twitter

Professionalism

• Works toward creative solutions by analyzing problems carefully and logically – inspires and fosters innovation;
• Has a dynamic, positive and adaptive attitude towards work-related challenges, bringing innovative and effective solutions to them;
• Facilitates meetings effectively and efficiently;
• Resolves conflicts as they arise;
• Sets priorities, produces quality outputs, meets deadlines and manages time efficiently;
• Highly organized, detailed oriented.

Communication

• Writes and presents clearly and convincingly.

Client Orientation

• Maintains strong relationships with partners and clients.

Academic qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in sustainable development, environmental management, social/political sciences, international relations, gender or development policy or other related expertise areas is required.

Qualifications and years of experience:

• One year of experience through a combination of employment, internships and/or apprenticeships with gender mainstreaming in NDC/ climate change (required)
• Two years of experience through a combination of employment, internships and/or apprenticeships with content development, conducting research, write ups for dissemination, summarizing material related to development areas, some of that experience preferably on gender equality and NDCs; (required)
• One year of experience on working with communications and social media platforms in relation to development topics (required)
• Experience with the UN system through a combination of employment, internships and/or apprenticeships or a related organization; (an asset)

Language:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language required
• Ability to speak one or more languages desirable

Application Procedure

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

• Online application with brief description of why the Offer 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.

Applicants must submit a writing sample (i.e. brief article or blog. No longer than 2 pages/1,200 words). Provide link to the sample or scanned copy. (required)

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 shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around the specific and measurable deliverables of the TOR. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR, and deliverables accepted and certified by the technical manager.
• 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. In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.
• UNDP may request examples of past publications from applicants as part of the evaluation process.
• 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 weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

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

Criteria for technical evaluation – (70 points maximum):

• Criteria 1. At least 1 year of relevant experience with gender mainstreaming in NDC/climate change, through a combination of employment, internships and/or apprenticeships required- 23 points;
• Criteria 2. At least 2 years of relevant experience with content development, conducting research, summarizing material related to development areas required, preferably on NDC- 23 points;
• Criteria 3. Experience at least 1 year on working with communications and social media platforms in relation to development topics required- 7 points;
• Criteria 4. At least 1 year of previous work experience with the UN system - 7 points;

• Criteria 5: Interview- 10 points;

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three shortlisted candidates, with a minimum of at least 42 points out of 60 points (of the desk review) for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial Evaluation - Total 30% (30 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

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Payment modality

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

Institutional Arrangement, Duration of Work, Duty Station

• The Consultant will be supervised by and report to Gender Responsive NDC Support Programme team and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.
• 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 own laptop Computer
• 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 deliverables achieved
• Any necessary missions must be approved in advance and in writing by the Gender Responsive NDC Support Programme team;
• 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;
• Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under ;
• UNDP will arrange for mission travel if needed in line with UNDP travel policies, perhaps one mission travel will be organized budget permitting;

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

• Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs
• Annex 2 - IC Contract Template
• Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions
• Annex 4 – RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org