International PPG team leader, senior GEF project developer and BD expert

Contract

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

Background

Please provide Offeror’s Letter and proposal together with your CV and cover letter (if applicable) in one single file while submitting application. And please note that the system will not accept the uploading of more than one document so please merge or scan all your documents into one prior to uploading. Below is the download link of Offeror's Letter.

Offeror's letter download link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GYP7hMPX3qJAbiy7KZppiWqR4JdKFYv4/view?usp=sharing

The objective of the GEF PPG is to support the development of the Project Implementation Form (PIF) into a full project design, including a ProDoc with all supporting Annexes and CEO Endorsement for the UNDP-led project: “Transformational wildlife conservation management in China”. As described in the PIF, this project aims to safeguard key threatened and iconic wildlife in China through cross-sectoral engagement, community participation and innovative management technologies across landscapes.

Project Preparation Grants (PPGs) have been secured by UNDP to formulate the full-size project through situation analyses, identification and documentation of relevant baseline conditions, stakeholder consultations, identification of implementing partners and arrangements, consolidation of cofinancing opportunities, development of results frameworks having an integrated set of SMART indicators and targets that monitor outcomes and key outputs, realistic assessments of risks and their mitigation, gender mainstreaming and social inclusiveness, identification and selection of target sites and pilot demonstration initiatives, and coordination with other initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Project Development Specialist will be the overall GEF PPG Team Leader and will ultimately be accountable for quality assurance and timely preparation of all reports and documentation, including the finalized UNDP Project Document (ProDoc) and GEF CEO Endorsement Request, with all mandatory and project specific Annexes and supporting documentation. S/he will be responsible for managing all consultants on the GEF PPG Team and coordinating the Team’s work.

Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic it is likely that the bulk of the work might have to be conducted remotely, but costs of a visit to China during the PPG have been included in the budget, if travel restrictions are eased.

Competencies

The following lists the overall responsibilities and deliverables that will be expected from the international consultant. The UNDP PPG Implementation Plan (IP) provides further guidance regarding the tasks and responsibilities of the PPG team and must be followed accordingly.

1. Management of the GEF PPG Team and Project Management
   • Define and submit a detailed methodology, work breakdown structure and work plan for the PPG phase in consultation with the other consultants with clear delegation of responsibilities for the International Consultant (IC) and National Consultants (NCs);
   • Ensure that project development is participatory, gender-responsive and based on extensive stakeholder engagements;
   • Verify and ensure that all project components are technically sound and cost effective; and
   • Report on PPG progress to the PPG Working and Oversight Group (WOG).
2. Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): With inputs from the national consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs:
   • Collate and present information on the baseline/situational analysis for the full-size project (FSP). This will include a precise definition of the baseline project(s), activities, budgets, goals and co-financing links to GEF outcomes in order to make the incremental argument for GEF investment; definition of GEF incremental value per outcome and output; and presentation of results of the incremental cost-analysis in matrices as appropriate;
   • Lead and oversee the stakeholder analysis and consultations, with support and input from the NCs, and ensure that the analyses are complete and comprehensive, including consultations with Ethic and Minority Groups, the private sector, sectoral enterprises / industry, NGOs and Community Based Organizations;
   • Lead and oversee to the Gender, stakeholder engagement and SES Specialist and where appropriate to other NCs, towards the preparation of the gender analysis and ensure its findings are meaningfully integrated into the project’s strategy, theory of change and results framework;
   • Guide the work of the Gender, stakeholder engagement and SES Specialist to ensure action points, including risk assessments, from the UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) at the PIF stage (“pre-screening”) are fully implemented during the PPG, and update that screening in an iterative process throughout the PPG, using the updated December 2021 SESP guide and template, as appropriate;
   • Oversee the identification of the project sites, with documentation of selection criteria and make sure that geo-referenced data and maps are clearly presented both for targeted protected areas and broader landscapes, as applicable;
   • Oversee and coordinate the design of appropriate project knowledge management plan, ensuring appropriate linkages to existing mechanisms and knowledge sharing in project landscapes, at the regional and global levels (i.e. coordination and knowledge exchange with GEF’s GWP), including special consideration for south-south engagement;
   • Lead and oversee the identification of opportunities for private sector engagement and co-financing;
   • Feed the results of partner capacity assessments and discussions on management arrangements provided by UNDP CO into the Project design;
   • Oversee the consultations with partners regarding financial planning; and
   • Ensure completion of any additional studies that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs
3. Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B): With inputs from the national consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs, and based on international best practice:
   • Develop, present and articulate the project’s theory of change;
   • Develop the Results Framework in line with UNDP-GEF policy (i.e. SMART Outcome level indicators);
   • Develop Logframe of Outputs and Activities, and include Output Indicators (can be shown in Multi-Year Work Plan);
   • Develop a detailed Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and Budget;
   • Oversee and ensure the preparation of a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan;
   • Oversee and ensure the preparation of a Gender Action Plan and Budget;
   • Oversee and ensure the updating of the SESP4 based on assessments undertaken during Component A, and ensure the development of required environmental and/or social management plan(s) as required and make sure the results are incorporated into project design, implementation and risk management arrangements, with adequate budget provision;
   • Oversee the preparation of the required GEF tracking tools (i.e. METT) and GEF Core Indicators and ensure these are supported by robust and validated data;
   • Oversee the preparation of the climate change risk assessment (refer to STAP guidance on climate risk screening) and GHG emission reduction estimates;
   • Prepare a COVID-19 analysis and action framework for the project;
   • Support UNDP CO in China in securing all co-financing letters, as needed;
   • Prepare the Total Budget and Work Plan (TBWP) and indicative procurement plan (with support from UNDP CO in China);
   • Support UNDP CO in China in securing project execution and management arrangements and ensuring that the project aligns to UNDP-GEF guidance on UNDP execution support;
   • Support UNDP CO in China in preparing private sector due diligence screenings;
   • Support UNDP CO in China in ensuring the completion of the required official endorsement letters;
   • Participate in consultations, workshops, meetings etc., provide inputs to management arrangements; and ensure stakeholder needs are integrated into the project’s theory of change the project’s results framework;
   • Synthesize all analyses, studies, etc. that are prepared under Components A and B to produce the UNDP-GEF ProDoc, GEF CEO Endorsement, and all mandatory and project specific Annexes, using official templates.
4. Initial Coordination of the National Consultants together with the National Lead Consultant

• Organization of a Kick-off meeting during the Inception and Planning Phase;
• Drafting an overall Work Plan;
• Guide the work of the other Specialists; and

• Submit documentation to the WOG two weeks in advance of any planned meetings.

  5. Validation Workshop (Component C):

• Lead the validation workshop to present, discuss and validate the final draft ProDoc (including the mandatory and project-specific annexes);

• Oversee all necessary revisions that arise during the workshop; and

• Ensure completion of Validation Workshop Report.

  6.Final Deliverables:

• Consolidation of all technical and consultation inputs and comments including from national stakeholders, UNDP, GEF Secretariat, STAP and GEF Council, into a well written and concise UNDP ProDoc with all required sections and Annexes, in line with the standard UNDP-NCE ProDoc template and annotated guidance;

• Completion of the GEF CEO Endorsement Request;
• Timely submission of the finalized SESP & ESMF (and any stand-alone management plans as required) ensuring that these are submitted for the internal safeguards review and clearance at least two months before the internal PTA technical clearance of the rest of the documents;
• All documentation from GEF PPG (including technical reports, meeting minutes, etc.); and
• Validation Workshop Report.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master's Degree or higher in a relevant field, such as biodiversity and/or nature conservation, sustainable land management, environmental policy, and management;
• Minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in the technical area of biodiversity conservation, integrated natural resources management and/or nature conservation and in preparing high quality project documents, particularly for UNDP and GEF projects;
• Demonstrable experience in leading PPG team and preparing high quality UNDP and GEF project documents;
• Demonstrated leadership, facilitation, and coordination skills, with ability to manage technical teams, engage with stakeholders, design participatory processes, and form strategic partnerships and alliances;
• Experience working in the China or in Asia-Pacific on related projects highly desired;
• Demonstrated understanding of the GEF rationale and procedures, and demonstrated experience in formulation of GEF-funded project proposals, using the logical framework and the results-based management approaches;
• Knowledge of and experience in biodiversity conservation, protected areas, with environmental management policies and practices in China;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English is required;
• Ability to deliver results, while remaining flexible and adaptive in light of challenging circumstances due to the evolving COVID-19 situation.

Evaluation Criteria

• The award of the contract will be made to the Individual Consultant who has obtained the highest Combined Score and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions. Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated. The offers will be evaluated using the “Combined Scoring method” where:
• Technical evaluation - 70%; (includes 20% of Job-Related Technical Expertise; 25% of Relevant working experience; 25% of Methodology & Approach to Assignment)
• Financial Evaluation - 30%.

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that will take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.

Please provide Offeror’s Letter and proposal together with your CV and cover letter (if applicable) in one single file while submitting application. And please note that the system will not accept the uploading of more than one document so please merge or scan all your documents into one prior to uploading. Below is the download link of Offeror's Letter.

Offeror's letter download link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GYP7hMPX3qJAbiy7KZppiWqR4JdKFYv4/view?usp=sharing