National Specialist: Technical Advisor – Reference No. IC/GEF/2021/67 - for Sri Lankans only

Contract

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

Background

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP Sri Lanka has been working as the key development partner of choice since 1967, to achieve sustainable human development on economic, social and environmental fronts. UNDP Sri Lanka has a portfolio of projects that focus on environmental sustainability and climate resilience. These projects support the government to implement climate smart solutions in critical sectors, mainstream biodiversity into landscape management approaches and production sectors and produce quality and time sensitive reports to global environmental treaties/ conventions.

In this backdrop, the Global Environment Facility supported Small Grants Programme of UNDP is aimed at supporting the achievement of global environmental benefits and the protection of the global environment through community and local solutions that work in harmony with local, national and global action. To that end, the objective of this project is to enable community organizations to take collective action for adaptive landscape management for socio-ecological resilience through design, implementation, and evaluation of grant projects for global environmental benefits and sustainable development in three ecologically sensitive landscapes: a) the Knuckles Conservation Forest and its buffer zone; b) the coastal region from Mannar Island to Jaffna; and, c) the Colombo Wetlands. This will be carried out through participatory, multi-stakeholder, landscape management using the COMDEKS approach. The proposed interventions are aimed at enhancing social and ecological resilience through community-based, community-driven projects to conserve biodiversity, optimize ecosystem services, manage land (particularly agro-ecosystems) and water sustainably, and mitigate climate change. The pilots will build on experience and lessons learned from previous SGP operational phases, and lessons learned from the COMDEKS Programme, to assist community organizations in carrying out and coordinating projects in pursuit of outcomes they have identified in landscape plans and strategies. Coordinated community projects in the landscape will generate ecological, economic and social synergies that will produce greater and potentially longer-lasting global environmental benefits, as well as increased social capital and local sustainable development benefits. Multi-stakeholder groups will also take experience, lessons learned, and best practices from prior initiatives and implement a number of potential scaling up efforts during this project’s lifetime.

In this context, the Technical Expert will provide advisory services to the SGP Project Coordinator and National Steering Committee on various technical aspects of the project, especially on inception phase of the OP 7 cycle, on a part-time basis. The Technical Expert will report to the National Project Coordinator of the Small Grants Programme and will ensure that the implementation of the technical aspects of the project is on a right track.

Scope & Objective

The primary scope of the consultancy is to provide necessary technical advisory services on the implementation of key project activities and complete In particular the organization of the multi-sectoral working groups, advise on preparation of the landscape baseline assessments and strategies, the selection of the small grant eligibility criteria, , advise on the formulation of the landscape-level project implementation strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide overall technical advice on the strategic implementation of project activities and quality of project deliverables for the Phasing out of the Operational Phase 6 and implementation of Operational Phase 7.
2. Support the organization of technical committee meetings and stakeholder workshops (reviewing and commenting on the agenda, list of participants, meeting reports/minutes, etc.).
3. Provide technical inputs on indicator selection and grantee selection process
4. Provide technical inputs to the National Steering Committee;
5. Provide inputs on the adaptive management of the project, as appropriate;
6. Provide technical backstopping to the preparation of project progress/monitoring/review reports as well as information releases in accordance with UNDP/GEF rules and procedures.

The above deliverables attached to the aforementioned responsibilities are subject to adjustments depending upon partner needs and emerging priorities. Any changes will be discussed and agreed to, with the consultant. Consultant’s duty station during the contract will be home based with travel to outstations (Knuckles, Mannar & Colombo) as required.

Expected Outputs/Deliverables

The following results are expected from the work of the consultant:

1. Report on the technical inputs given to the approaches adopted for the three Strategic Projects in the three landscapes – 05 days/ 31st December 2021
2. Documentation of the technical inputs given to the NSC on the feasibility of attaining indicator targets and the checks and balances that should be adapted in the selection of projects in each landscape – 05 days/ 28th February 2022
3. Report on the technical inputs given in the selection of the Phase 7 grant projects in the biodiversity, enhancing productivity and sustainability in smallholder agroecosystems and innovative livelihood options and market access) – 14 days/ 28th February 2022
4. Technical inputs given on the Phasing out of the Operational Phase 6 programme– 14 days/ 31st March 2022
5. Progress report of multi stakeholder and implementation of co-financing partnerships in the three landscapes of Knuckles Conservation Area, Urban Wetlands of Colombo and Mannar to Jaffna Coastal Area – 05days/14th April 2022

Timeframe

A 6-month period is estimated for the above-described deliverables/tasks. The envisaged time frame of the consultancy is October 2021 – April 2022.

Competencies

Consultant Profile

The prospective consultant should, as a minimum, have the following competencies and qualifications;

Technical

• High degree of expertise in the areas of land management, soil conservation, on biodiversity, Climate Change and M & E in these fields.
• Good knowledge on indicator analysis.
• Capacity to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines.
• Good analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of case studies and progress reports.
• Ability to seek and apply knowledge, information and best practices from multiple sectors.

Partnerships

• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior members of national and private sector institutions,
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of quality analysis for the development of the report.
• Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with personnel with different subject expertise.
• Excellent communication (both oral and written) and partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners.

Results

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
• Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree or or equivalent in the areas of development, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management or related fields.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in the development sector;
• Proven background on development and implementation of biodiversity monitoring, M&E and project management;
• Experience working with civil society organizations and multi stakeholders using the landscape conservation approach; and

Languages/ Other

Excellent command of English and Sinhala both written and spoken.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org.

The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work.
• Updated CV to include qualifications/competencies and relevant experience in similar projects and contact details of 3 professional referees who can certify your competencies, professionalism, quality of writing, presentation and overall suitability to this TOR
• Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a combination of factors including cover letter, the credentials on offer and brief interview (optional) and the offer which gives the best value for money for the UNDP.
• Please send the Financial Proposal of all-inclusive Lump Sum Fee separately to the following e-mail address: consultants.lk@undp.org stating the vacancy number/position in the subject line.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee: LKR

Amount in words: (Rs._______________________________________________________________)

Please refer the below link to access the template

• Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC, including Financial Proposal Template

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including his/her consultancy and professional fee, travel (economy class flights is required to and from the Duty Station) honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily per diem and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is 65 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided. Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts.

PAYMENT FOR SERVICES

Payments will be based on the completion of deliverables and submission of written reports specifying the achievement of the deliverables outlined above. The payments will be verified by National Project Coordinator of the Small Grants Programme.

1. 31st December 2021 – 25% of total payment on submitting Deliverable 1
2. 28th February 2022 – 25% of total payment on submitting Deliverables 2 & 3
3. 31st March 2022 – 25% of total payment on submitting Deliverable 4
4. 14th April 2022 – 25% of total payment on submitting Deliverable 5

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workplace, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.