Consultant – Smart Green ASEAN Cities Programme

Consultant

Contract

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Background

The UN Capital Development Fund makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs). UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. It focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia and the Middle East, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis. Within its economic development mandate UNCDF specializes in public and private financing mechanisms that catalyze economic growth and make it more inclusive and sustainable.

UNCDF’s Local Development Finance Practice (LDFP) is a centre of excellence and innovative fund for local government finance and local economic development finance in the world’s 46 LDCs. To promote and support transformative investments through local governments and domestic banks in LDCs, LDFP designs, pilots and tests out financing mechanisms and business models in both public and private sectors that support locally designed public investments and revenue generating capital investment projects.

UNCDF and EU have designed the Smart Green ASEAN Cities programme that will support the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States on a city, national, and regional level, to deal with?urban environmental and climate change and related governance issues, focusing on smart solutions enabled by digitalization and the use of technologies. The support will also target facilitating policies and access to public and private funds and facilitating cooperation between cities within the ASEAN, as well as among ASEAN and European cities, and the sharing of European experiences. The overall objective of this proposed action is to promote a more sustainable urbanization in the ASEAN cities, while reducing their environmental footprint and improving the quality of life for citizens. The specific objective is that green and smart city solutions are adopted in the ASEAN region.

The expected outputs are: (1) enhanced design, planning and implementation of green and smart city solutions in selected cities; (2) strengthened national capacity for green and smart city development (through EU-ASEAN experience sharing); and (3) increased exchange of good smart and environmental city management practices from the EU and within the ASEAN.

In the next 15 years, urban areas in ASEAN Member States are expected to accommodate another 100 million people, leading to a substantial pressure on the region’s natural, social and economic resources. This would add up to fast growing problems such as increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; waste, air and water pollution; traffic congestion; and natural resources and urban ecosystem degradation. Dealing with climate change and environmental issues related to the fast urbanization in Southeast Asia is a priority for the ASEAN, which is committed to ensure that urban areas become environmentally sustainable and people friendly.

The programme will contribute directly to the reduction of the environmental and carbon footprints of selected ASEAN cities through smart solutions, while promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, more resource-efficient and low-carbon transport systems, reducing air pollution, and contributing to the development of a circular economy. It will follow a bottom-up approach from the city level to support the adoption of smart city solutions on a city level, feeding into national and regional dimensions of sustainable urbanization in the ASEAN.

UNCDF will be the primary implementing agency responsible for leading programme activities and managing quality assurance for activities that will be delivered by other implementing agencies. UNCDF will leverage its decades of experience in supporting local governments in developing countries to create effective financing vehicles, strong institutional capacity and robust policy environment. Furthermore, UNCDF will leverage the methodology of its Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) in the pilot actions, which is a 14-country standard mechanism to promote resilient communities and local economies by channeling climate finance to local government authorities in the least developed countries and other developing countries.

UNCDF will collaborate with the Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV) on specific areas of pilot actions. FMDV will be a secondary implementing agency of the programme, providing additional technical assistance needed for the pilot activities, such as its extensive network of partners in Europe. Building on the well-established relations, UNCDF and FMDV will create synergies and complement each other on delivering the programme results and bring added value to the achievement of ASEAN urban agendas.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Services

The scope of work will include:

1. Support UNCDF Smart Green ASEAN Cities Programme Manager to set up project office and the team, including office and equipment set up, recruitment of the project team and getting the office to the operational level.
2. Support UNCDF Smart Green ASEAN Cities Programme Manager to start the operations of the project, including liaison with EU Delegation in Jakarta, ASEAN Secretariat and establishing the relationship with the selected pilot cities

Under the guidance of Smart Green ASEAN Cities Programme Manager and in close collaboration with UNCDF Municipal Investment Finance Programme team, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

Support UNCDF Smart Green ASEAN Cities Programme Manager to set up project office and project team (50%)

• Together with UNCDF team, support the project office team set up including office set up and recruitment of the project team.
• Support the development of the implementation arrangements with the ASEAN secretariat.
• Support the implementation arrangement with the UNDP and RC offices in Jakarta.
• Support the implementation arrangement with all the cities chosen to be part of the programme.
• Support the set-up of pilot projects and establish relationships with respective central government, local governments and other stakeholders including UN Agencies.

Support UNCDF Smart Green ASEAN Cities Programme Manager to start the operations of the project (50%)

• Technical inputs to various stakeholder groupings, including but not limited to, the programme kickoff event, technical meetings and the process of selection of the cities to participate in the programme.
• Support the UNCDF process of selection of firms to run city climate risk profiles and assessments.
• Support the operationalization of the climate risk assessment work, training and deliver together with the UNCDF team at least two technical workshops in a year.
• Support UNCDF staff engagement in project deliberations with government authorities in the ASEAN member states.
• Support the preparation of other programme activities as needed.

Deliverables

The Consultant shall deliver the following during the assignment:

• Inception Report: The Consultant shall present to UNCDF an Inception Report presenting an initial plan for implementing the tasks in this assignment.
• Detailed Work Plans (with strategies, per municipality): The consultant will produce a detailed workplan and strategies needed to achieve them (e.g. stakeholder analysis and project management plan) and one for each of the selected municipality as needed.
• Submission of Interim Reports showing updates on outputs and workplans, and conduct of presentation: On a monthly basis, the consultant shall produce reports which show the resultant outputs of the workplans. The consultant will also present the project status (“Presentation”) with all parties, if requested, within two weeks after distribution of the Report.
• Final Report: The consultant will produce a final report of the programme activities and achievements upon completion of the consultancy.

Working Modalities:

The consultant is expected to work in the project office based in the ASEAN Secretariat. If under the COVID-19 restrictions, the consultant will be home-based and possess necessary communication facilities at their own premises. The consultant is expected be fully connected via Internet, email and telephone. The consultant will be expected to provide updates to Smart Green ASEAN Cities Programme Manager periodically during the assignment or as needed.

Payment Terms:

Payments are made to the Individual Consultant based on receipt of the Certificate for Payment (CoP) and acceptance of the agreed deliverables by Smart Green ASEAN Cities Programme Manager. The payment is scheduled as follows:

Deliverable 1: An Inception Report which includes an initial plan for implementing the tasks in this assignment, by 31 May 2021 (10% of total payment)

Deliverable 2: A detailed workplan and strategies needed to achieve them (e.g. stakeholder analysis and project management plan) and one for each of the selected municipality as needed, by 30 June 2021 (20% of total payment)

Deliverable 3: Monthly Interim Reports which show the resultant outputs of the workplans (and a presentation to all parties if requested), from July 2021 to March 2022 (60% of total payment)

Deliverable 4: A final report of the programme activities and achievements upon completion of the consultancy, by 30 April 2022 (10% of the total payment)

Travel

UNCDF will pay separately travel expenses (economy airfare, terminal expenses and per diems which include hotel and food expenses) according to UN rules and regulations, based on evidence of approved and actual travel.

Competencies

Competencies include the following:

• Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of UNCDF;
• Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time
• Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems and how they relate to each other;
• Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills;
• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience working in international development, climate finance and / or project finance.
• Development and execution of viable development projects funded by EU.

• Demonstrate experience in hiring a diverse team of project management.

• Demonstrated track record in managing multi country development projects under multilateral agencies is preferable. (Experience working with the UN system/UN agencies is an advantage).

• Demonstrated track record of senior managerial previous roles of the stakeholder’s engagements.
• Demonstrated ability to start projects from a green field level to operationalization.
• Demonstrated the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
• Track record of providing capacity building and technical support to project teams or their advisors on largescale projects – development, structuring, risk mitigation and financing.
• Proficiency in English.
• Working experience within the ASEAN region.
• Knowledge of at least one ASEAN member state language is an advantage.

Education

• A Master’s Degree or equivalent in international development, finance, business administration, Law or equivalent.Availability

Availability: Immediately

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia with light traveling requirement within the ASEAN countries

Application Procedures

Interested consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Proposers who shall not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation. (Note: the system does not allow multiple uploads of documents. Applicants must make sure to upload all documents in one PDF file).

• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability;
• Personal CV or UN P11 form, - indicating all past experience, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate AND names of at least three (3) professional references (e-mail addresses, telephone numbers);
• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, outlining track record and direct relevance for the present assignment; Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
• Signed Financial proposal, for the assignment outlining: All-inclusive daily fee in USD (including professional fees and other professional expenses, such as insurance, etc.) Available at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916)

Evaluation of applicants

Longlisting

CVs will be evaluated based on:

• At least 10 years of experience working in international development, project finance, and helping large scale infrastructure projects reach finance close in developing countries.

******Shortlisting by Desk Review (100 points X 70%)******

UNCDF will conduct a desk review process to shortlist and technically evaluate candidates as per the following criteria

1. Demonstrated experience of the management of development projects funded by EU (20 points)

2. Demonstrated experience in hiring a diverse team in project management (20 points)

3. Demonstrated track record in managing multi country development projects under the multilateral agencies is a bonus (experience working with UNCDF is an advantage) (20 points)

4. Demonstrated track record at a senior managerial role of the stakeholder’s engagements (20 points)

5. Experience and track record within ASEAN region (10 points)

6. Fluency in English and at least one other ASEAN language (10 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Step II: Desk Review, will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.

Financial Evaluation (30%)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

Lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated x 30%.

The financial proposal must be submitted as an inclusive daily fee in USD.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on combined evaluation taking into consideration both technical and financial evaluation.

Award Criteria

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose profile has been evaluated and determined as:

a) Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and

b) Having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%) and financial criteria (30%).

Both individual consultants and individual employed by a company or institution are welcome to apply.

Any individual employed by a company or institution who would like to submit an offer in response to a Procurement Notice for IC must do so in their individual capacity (providing a CV so that their qualifications may be judged accordingly).

Women candidates or women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.

UNCDF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org