Consultancy – Sustainability/Greening

Climate change has emerged as an important concern in UNDP as well as the broader UN system. More than a core environmental issue, climate change is seriously undermining efforts to achieve the MDGs/SDGs. Its adverse impacts are already in evidence and are likely to disproportionately affect the developing countries where UNDP operates, particularly LDCs, and the more marginalized members of society.

Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stated that “The UN’s ability to walk the talk on climate change is defining our credibility and, thereby, our ability to deliver our mandates” and pledged on World Environment Day 2007 that the United Nations system would become climate neutral. UNDP Administrator (2009-2017) Helen Clark emphasized UNDP’s commitment as a leading agency in this fight against climate change and stated on World Environment Day 2014: “UNDP is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of its operations and to achieving overall climate neutrality.  By demonstrating that we run our operations in a resource efficient, sustainable, and accountable way, UNDP strengthens its global position as a strong and reliable partner”. In 2015 the UNDP Executive Group adopted the ‘Sustainability and Climate Neutrality Plan for global UNDP operations” committing UNDP to a 10% reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions associated with global operations and climate neutrality as of 2016. The plan also includes a corporate commitment to initiate public sustainability reporting and implementing mechanisms for managing and minimizing environmental impacts strategically in the long run. An inter-bureau ‘Green Operations Steering Committee’ chaired by BMS and BPPS oversees the implementation of the plan and provides strategic advice and championship.

To facilitate and coordinate ‘greening’ in UNDP, an environmental management infrastructure including a range of services and tools has been built up over recent years. Building on its GHG reporting mechanism which tracks UNDP’s global carbon footprint since 2008, UNDP is launching an Environmental Management Tool (EMT) in 2018 with the intention of increasing reporting rigor and expanding the assessment to include other environmental indicators.

1. Environmental Management Tool [EMT]: The EMT is being launched in Q1/Q2 2018 with the intention to improve environmental data collection to support corporate targets set under the IRRF framework and other commitments and to inform corporate strategic operational planning.

• Support the launch of the EMT including in particular launch communications

• Act as project manager for the software development and finalize the IT process for the project

• Support UNDP offices in using the EMT and provide training, webinars etc where requested

• Monitor lessons learnt and summarize recommendations for tool improvements and expansions

• Coordinate data processing and calculation approaches with the Sustainable UN Facility under the Greening the Blue campaign. In particular, coordinate with UNEP and other key UN organizations to efficiently consolidate reporting efforts and systems among agencies in shared locations such as One UN houses.

Report annual UNDP GHG emission results to UNEP for inclusion in ‘Greening the Blue’ annual report

2. Public reporting and communications: In coordination with BMS and BPPS staff working on sustainable procurement and environmental and social safeguarding of UNDP projects and programs.

• Finalize the proposal for a regular UNDP public sustainability report drawing on analysis provided by the Environmental Reporting Software and complying with reporting standards and best practices including in particular the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) principles.

Manage the drafting and publishing process of UNDP’s first sustainability report. Support internal communications by drafting staff messages, contribute to internal reporting, assist Green Team Leader in preparing briefs to senior management etc.

3. Sustainability technical support for UNDP offices: Provide technical support to Country Offices and Regional Service Centers in monitoring, reducing and offsetting (if any) GHG emissions. In particular:

• Support UNDP offices in participating in Environmental Management Group (EMG) coordinated Peer Reviews and other joint ‘greening’ projects.

• Support UNDP offices in analyzing and strategizing the use of new technologies including in particular renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions, waste management and water management solutions

• Develop and provide guidance and training as requested

• Provide technical guidance on ad-hoc basis

4. Sustainability technical support for implementation of the “Sustainability and Climate Neutrality Plan for global UNDP operations”: Support BMS and BPPS colleagues in maintaining  greening commitments and further improving environmental performance:

• Support in procurement of Certified Emission Reductions to maintain UNDP climate neutrality as committed by UNDP EG in 2015. Support BMS/GO in implementing cost sharing for offset funding.

• Provide technical support for LEED renovations, drinking water quality verification, green procurement etc.

• Contribute environmental considerations during restructuring of HQ facilities arrangements

• Collect data for annual reporting of GHG emissions associated with HQ operations

• Provide secretariat functions to the UNDP Greening Committee including focal points from all HQ bureaus and Regional Centers overseeing the implementation of the “Sustainability and Climate Neutrality Plan for global UNDP operations”

• Support Regional Bureaux in tailoring regional ‘greening’ strategies including Green Funds

5. Develop proposal for a UNDP Environmental Management System: Building on the adopted “Sustainability and Climate Neutrality Plan for Global UNDP Operations” and complying with HLCM and CEB decisions and guidelines, draft a proposal for a UNDP Environmental Management System (EMS) for senior management consideration and adoption. In particular:

• Consult with relevant colleagues throughout UNDP to identify appropriate scopes, mechanisms and commitments

• Consult with colleagues from other UN agencies via the Issue Management Group on Environmental Management to identify opportunities for cooperation and adoption of established EMS components

Develop EMS framework and supporting documentation for senior management consideration

6. Support centralized waste collection: UNDP HQ will conduct a pilot centralized waste collection system with the intention of expanding the approach to all HQ:

• Manage the pilot implementation and coordinate closely with other NYC-based UN agencies including in particular UNHQ, UNICEF, UNEP and UNFPA. Monitor pilot success and take action to adjust approach where necessary.

• Following the pilot, summarize results and provide concluding recommendation for roll-out to all HQ offices.

• Based on pilot performance, provide recommendations for adoption in other UNDP offices

In coordination with BMS/GO develop proposal for a waste management policy

7. Support UNDP representation in UN Greening the Blue: To facilitate coordination of UNDP’s ‘greening’ initiative with UN-wide efforts under the Greening the Blue campaign:

• Support UNDP representation in bi-annual meetings of the Issues Management Group (IMG) on Sustainability Management

• Support UNDP participation in UN working groups to establish UN-wide guidelines and standards for aspects critical to UNDP operations, e.g. on offsetting/climate neutrality claims, waste management and environmental reporting software

• Advise and support greening efforts in shared premises, in particular One UN houses.

• Support development of ‘UNDP green success’ case studies and ensure communication via www.greeningtheblue.org, social media, UN-wide publications etc.

  Expected outputs and deliverables:

  Deliverable 1a:  Progress Report and Recommendations for further EMT improvements – by 30 October 2018

  Deliverable 1b: Annual UNDP GHG emission results submitted to UNEP – by 30 September 2018
  Deliverable 2a: Draft UNDP Sustainability report – 30 January 2019

  Deliverable 2b: Internal greening/sustainability communication messages – continuous

  Deliverable 3a:  Sustainability technical support to UNDP Regional and Country Offices – continuous

  Deliverable 4a: 2017 UNDP HQ GHG inventory – by 30 June 2018

  Deliverable 4b: Sustainability technical support to UNDP HQ – continuous

  Deliverable 4c:  Agreement between UNFCCC for UNDP to buy carbon offsets from Adaptation Fund for 2018 – 30 September 2018

  Deliverable 4d: Support communications surrounding global offsetting process – continuous

  Deliverable 5a: Proposal for a UNDP Environmental Management System for internal and external consultation for consideration by the Green Operations Steering Committee– 30 April 2019

  Deliverable 6a: Pilot waste collection project progress report and conclusion – 31 July 2018

  Deliverable 6b: Recommendation for waste management roll-out to all HQ and beyond - 30 November 2018

  Deliverable 7: Effective UNDP representation in UN Greening the Blue – continuous

   

Corporate Competencies

• Strategic vision, sound judgment, strong technical skills and analytical capacities.
• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies

Task Management Skills

• Demonstrated ability to produce quality outputs in a timely manner.
• Proven ability to analyze problems carefully and logically, leading to fact-based and practical recommendations.
• Demonstrates ability to develop creative solutions to particularly challenging issues.

Partnering and Networking

• Proven ability to advocate effectively, engaging others to take action in desired directions.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across different constituencies.
• Commitment to team work and to working across disciplines;
• Demonstrated interest in new learning and keeping abreast of new developments in the relevant technical fields and to develop own skills.

Communications

• Strong analytical, writing, communication and advocacy skills;
• Ability to explain complex issues to UNDP staff and external partners

Leadership and Self-Management

• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback 
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling ethical standards;
• Excellent inter-personal skills

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Shares knowledge and experience

Academic qualifications:

• Master’s degree in environmental sciences or a related field required;

Additional specialized training/certification in GHG accounting, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and/or ISO 14064 standards is desirable.

Years of experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience working in organizational greening initiatives or similar is required.
• Experience working within the UN system and UNDP knowledge preferred. In particular, experience working with UNDP Country Offices is desired.

• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and manage organizational greening efforts ideally in the UN or governmental context is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of relevant international standards and protocols on greenhouse gas accounting, public environmental reporting and recognized standards for organizational environmental performance, in particular ISO 14064 is required.  
• Demonstrated competence in quantitative and qualitative monitoring systems, analysis and reporting and communications is required.
• Proven ability in computer skills and managing databases is required.

Sound knowledge of the UN and UNDP organizational structure and operational processes is desired.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;

Application Procedure

The application package containing the followings :

• Online application with brief description why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.

• A two-page methodology on how the Offeror will conduct the work including a Work Plan and approach in delivering the required outputs within the assignment period.

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7-hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 15 days per month).

• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.

• This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel.  

• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

• If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and

• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (700 points):

• Criteria 1. At last 10 years of experience working in organizational greening initiatives or similar Maximum Points: 10;

• Criteria 2. Experience working within the UN system and UNDP knowledge (including experience at UNDP Country Offices) Maximum Points: 10;

• Criteria 3. Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and manage organizational greening efforts ideally in the UN or governmental context Maximum Points: 20;

• Criteria 4. Demonstrated knowledge of relevant international standards and protocols on greenhouse gas accounting, public environmental reporting and recognized standards for organizational environmental performance, in particular ISO 14064 Maximum Points: 15;

• Criteria 5. Demonstrated competence in quantitative and qualitative monitoring systems, analysis and reporting and communications Maximum Points: 15.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (490 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (700 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (300 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Water and Ocean Governance Programme of UNDP BPPS and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment.
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own work station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection.

Travel:

• Limited travel required as may be delegated by supervisors.
• Missions must be approved in advance and in writing by the supervisor.
• The UNDP Advanced and Basic Security in the Field II courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel.
• Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director.

The consultant shall be solely responsible for taking out and for maintaining adequate insurance required to meet any of its obligations under the Individual Contract, as well as for arranging, at the consultant’s sole expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance as the consultant may consider to be appropriate to cover the period during which the   consultant

• provides services under the Individual Contract.  Consultant is  also welcome to utilize Insurance coverage available to IC holders such as through Van Breda.
• Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives.  

Payment modality

• Payments will be made upon satisfactory achieved deliverables and submission of time sheet in accordance with number of days worked and certification of payment. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the direct supervisor. The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost of components.

• Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.

The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7-hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template

Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4 – RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.