Individual Consultant –National Local Governance and Rural Development Specialist (National Lead Consultant) (For Indian Nationals only)

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

UNDP has been supporting the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in meeting its national and international environmental priorities and commitments. These include close to 40 projects in the area of biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, climate change and chemical management. UNDP’s support focusses on technical and policy advisory, institutional strengthening and building capacities of various stakeholders to utilize natural resources in a sustainable way, while increasing resilience to climate variability and associated risks and impacts. UNDP also supports India’s engagement with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and works with Central Ministries and state governments to implement GEF financed projects.

UNDP India is developing a GEF-supported project entitled, “Strengthening institutional capacities for securing biodiversity conservation commitments”. The project would be led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in partnership with National Biodiversity Authority and UNDP. The project aims to mainstream biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use and management into local level self-governance institutional planning and budgeting systems in two high biodiversity landscapes in India.

UNDP seeks to engage a National Local Governance and Rural Development who will be responsible for the development of the project document for the project. The consultant will work closely with the GEF Project Development Specialist and other PPG Team members to provide substantive inputs for the justification and design of project interventions for mainstreaming biodiversity considerations into local governance planning at the village and district levels. The Consultant will be an expert in governance and rural development.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): Prepare inputs and support the required analyses/studies, as agreed with the GEF Project Development Specialist, including:

• Review and assess the existing governance structures and mechanisms at state and local level for planning, budgeting and development in the two landscapes/states.
• Review and assess the existing programmes, schemes and plans of the socio-economic and environmental sectors at national, sub-national and local for identification of sector priorities and mainstreaming biodiversity concerns.
• Identify tools and mechanisms to facilitate biodiversity mainstreaming and sustainable natural resource management into local, block and district level rural development planning and budgeting systems.
• Work closely with Livelihoods & Community Engagement Specialist for identification, mapping and capacity assessments of all relevant stakeholder groups/beneficiaries under the project.
• Assess the institutional and technical capacities of relevant stakeholders at national, sub-national and local level and develop the baselines and targets for UNDP Capacity Development Score Card.
• On the basis of this information and stakeholder consultations, identify beneficiaries, site-specific priorities and define appropriate project interventions to facilitate planning and convergence for mainstreaming biodiversity in two multiple use landscapes
• Provide inputs for the development of practical and achievable project targets for the Results Framework, including Core Indicator values and identification of clear baselines;
• Support the stakeholder analysis and consultations and ensure that they are complete and comprehensive, including through taking part in national and field site consultations, especially with government staff and relevant communities; and
• Support the completion of any additional studies that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs as guided by the GEF Project Development Specialist.

2. Contributions to the Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B):

• Prepare inputs and support the development of final PPG deliverables, as agreed with the GEF Project Development Specialist.

3. National, state and local level consultations and validation workshops (Component C):

• Participate in and contribute to the national, state and local level consultations and validation workshops.
• Support necessary revisions that arise during the workshop, as appropriate.

4. Final Deliverables:

• A report summarizing the baseline analysis on local governance, natural resource management and rural development as described above and detailing site-specific priority project interventions for related outputs with beneficiaries, budget, ToR and timelines for implementation;
• List of resource persons, training institutions, academia for potential partnerships during implementation phase
• Input to the comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan;
• Capacity development scorecards of key stakeholders; and
• Appropriate inputs provided to the Project Document and Annexes, as agreed with GEF Project Development Specialist.

Payment Scheduled: Payments will be deliverable linked per the following schedule of payments:

Outputs and Deliverables

Duration from Signing of Contract

Payment Milestones

• Report on assessment of existing governance structures and mechanisms at state and local level for planning, budgeting and development
• Report on assessment of existing programmes, schemes and plans of the socio-economic and environmental sectors at national, sub-national and local level

March 30, 2022

20%

• Report with baseline assessment on institutional and technical capacities of relevant stakeholders at national, sub-national and local level for UNDP Capacity Development Score Card.
• Report highlighting and mechanisms to facilitate biodiversity mainstreaming and sustainable natural resource management into local, block and district level rural development planning and budgeting systems.

April 30, 2022

30%

• Report detailing site-specific priority project interventions for related outputs, with budget, ToR and timelines for implementation

May 30, 2022

40%

• ProDoc and all other final outputs as guided by the GEF Project Development Specialist.

June 30, 2022

10%

Competencies

• Analytical skills: Able to synthesize large sets of inputs and data to form coherent outputs
• Ability to effectively and efficiently interact with senior members and stakeholders
• Must be detail-oriented
• Communication skills: Able to communicate clear ideas across a variety of mediums
• Writing and presentation skills: Able to produce high quality reports and presentations
• Team skills: Able to work independently as well as in teams
• Great organizational and time-management skills

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualification:

• Advanced University Degree in Social Sciences, Governance, Public policy, Law or related field.

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated relevant professional experience in governance, with specific experience of working with government agencies and departments and communities on planning and budgeting process.
• Experience working with UN agencies on GEF/other projects is an advantage.

Language Requirement: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Evaluation Criteria

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as Responsive to the requirement. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation;

• Technical Criteria weight - 70%;

• Financial Criteria weight – 30 %

Technical Criteria (70% of the total evaluation)

Criteria 1: Prior Experience (25%)

Minimum 7 years of experience in governance, law and socio-economic analysis.

Criteria 2: Experience of working on development projects with agencies of national and international repute (25%)

Experience working with Government and international agencies on governance/ development projects

Criteria 3: Demonstrated technical competency to undertaking the task (20%)

The methodology/approach for undertaking the assignment

Financial Proposal

Technically qualified consultants will be requested to submit their lump sum rate i.e. consultants who score more than 70% i.e. 49 marks with respect to the above-mentioned evaluation criteria. Consultant should not specify their consultancy fee on their CV or with the submission. The CV will not be evaluated further in case the consultant submits the same.

Documents to be uploaded:

• Updated CV should be submitted with a technical proposal (2 pages max) with the methodology/approach to be adopted to deliver on the assignment. (Upload as 1 document)

Notes:

The shortlisted applicants may be invited to present on their technical competency as per the requirement of the position.

• Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone, relocation charges etc. would not be reimbursement.
• Travel, lodging and boarding as per UNDP rules subject to prior approval.
• Individuals working with Institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of Institution for the specific services of the Individual.

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

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination.

All sections is on merit.