Individual Consultant - National Water Resource Management Specialist (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 focuses 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 along with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is developing a GEF-supported project on sustainable management and restoration of degraded landscapes for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). The project aims to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) through ecosystem-based management and restoration of productive landscapes across degraded agricultural, forest, pastoral lands and surface water bodies.

UNDP seeks to engage a National Water Resource Management Specialist to support the development of UNDP Project Document. The consultant will be a specialist in integrated water resource management/watershed management in India. The consultant will assess water use and management practices in the project landscape and help define cross-cutting project interventions around sustainable management of water resources for multiple land uses to support the achievement of LDN.

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews:

Prepare inputs and support the required analyses/studies, as agreed with the GEF Project Development Specialist and Sustainable Land Management Specialist, including:

1. Review and assess the project baseline for the full-size project covering current policies, programmes and plans related to water resource management and governance; water use, water use efficiency and water management practices in the demonstration landscape, including challenges to sustainable water use and detrimental activities in agricultural practices, pastureland management and livestock management; and identification of stakeholders (along with their roles, impacts on the landscape) and their capacity gaps, interests and needs including government departments, local authorities and resource users;
2. On the basis of this information and stakeholder consultations, identify priorities to improve water resources management and define appropriate project interventions to support the integration of water resources management into the enabling policy framework for LDN and site-specific water use efficiency and management practices (e.g. to improve watershed management, rainwater harvesting and groundwater/aquifer recharge, innovative irrigation systems) including deployment of innovative techniques and technologies
3. Identify opportunities for private sector participation in site-based interventions and partnerships with businesses operating in project landscapes
4. Provide inputs for the development of practical and achievable project targets for the Results Framework, and identification of clear baselines;
5. 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;
6. 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:

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

3) Validation Workshop:

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

4. Expected Deliverable/ Outcome

• Report summarizing the baseline analysis for water resources management as described above and detailing priority project interventions for water resources management, with budget, ToR and timelines for implementation;
• Specific inputs to the landscape profile and core indicator baseline values and targets on water use and water use efficiency;
• Specific inputs, related to water resource management, to capacity development scorecards for related agencies;
• Input to the comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan;
• Appropriate inputs provided to the Final 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

(Deliverable 1)

• Baseline assessment for policies, programmes related to water resource management; challenges to sustainable water use; detrimental activities in agriculture, livestock management etc.

February 28, 2022

20%

(Deliverable 2)

• Report on identification of stakeholder groups, capacity gaps, interest etc.
• Report on stakeholder consultations to identify priorities to improve water resource management

April 30, 2022

30%

(Deliverable 3)

• Report on project interventions for site-specific water use efficiency and management practices; deployment of innovative techniques and technologies and opportunities for private sector participation

May 30, 2022

30%

Deliverable 4)

• Final Project Document and Annexes, as agreed with GEF Project Development Specialist.

July 10, 2022

20%

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 a relevant field, such as integrated watershed management, water resource management, agriculture, natural resource management, environmental management, or similar.

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated relevant professional experience in integrated water resource management/ watershed management with specific experience of working with government agencies and line departments and communities.
• Experience working on GEF projects 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)

1. Criteria 1: Prior Experience (30%)

1. 10 years of demonstrated relevant professional experience in integrated water resource management/ watershed management with specific experience of working with government agencies and line departments and communities.

2. Criteria 2: Demonstrated Knowledge on Water Resource Management (30%)

1. Worked on developing project document or detailed project reports for water resources/ watershed management.

3. Criteria 3: Multi-stakeholder coordination (10%)

1. Consultant should have demonstrated experience in coordinating and working with multi-stakeholder groups.

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 submitted:

Detailed Updated CV with relevant experience

Notes: 1. Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed; 2. Tickets will be issued considering the most direct and economical option and Consultants are not eligible for DSA; 3. Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;

The application receiving the Highest Combined Score will be awarded the contract.

UNDP strives to have a workforce which reflects diversity and gender balance, and applies an equal opportunities approach. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. All selections are on merit.