Consultant - Institutional Arrangements for National REDD+ Implementation (NATIONAL)

THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO THE NATIONALS OF MALAYSIA ONLY

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) has assumed global significance in the climate change debate, as it is considered to be a cost-effective mitigation option.  By adding the ‘+’ to REDD, the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks is emphasized, being identified as essential to achieve the goal of reduced emissions.

The REDD+ mechanism is a mechanism to create incentives to protect, better manage and wisely use forest resources, in line with the global fight against climate change. However, reducing emissions from the forest sector comes with a cost, especially in countries with good forest management history such as Malaysia. This project aims at developing a national framework that includes the policy, legal and institutional components for REDD+, exploring and providing recommendations on sustainable funding mechanism for REDD+ implementation, as well as improving capacity and stakeholder participation in REDD+ management. These outputs will be essential in the formulation of the National REDD+ Strategy, which will aim at enhancing conservation of natural forest and reduce forest degradation.  The framework will build upon on-going best practices being undertaken in managing the forest, and will enable decision makers to make informed decisions related to REDD+ based on national and international circumstances, taking various costs and benefits into consideration. Activities carried out through this project must ‘do no harm’, and contribute to improving livelihoods.  The rationale behind introducing a REDD+ mechanism is to make protection of forest and carbon stocks a viable option.

Component one of this initiative will result in a Draft National Institutional Framework for REDD+, to be endorsed by the National Committee on REDD+.

The Institutional Framework for REDD+ will include a proposed approach to overcome challenges and utilize capacities available. The findings as well as drafting exercises, expert- and stakeholder consultations will map out on-going activities and actors related to REDD+ in Malaysia and build on lessons learned. To encourage consensus on the Institutional Framework for REDD+ and the policies that are to be proposed, high level consultation at federal level (inter-ministerial), federal-state level and state level (Sabah, Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia) is essential. This will solicit support for the Institutional Framework for REDD+ in Malaysia, and also create awareness of benefits and costs of REDD+ implementation, as well as respond to existing concerns. A series of stakeholder consultation workshops will be arranged to solicit inputs. The Draft Institutional Framework for REDD+ will include proposed roles and functions for each ministry, department and agency, and build consensus for the REDD+ direction. The agreed Draft Institutional Framework for REDD+ in Malaysia will feed into the National REDD+ Strategy, which will be endorsed by the relevant national councils. Component one is also strongly linked to component two and three of the project, looking at the legal framework and financing mechanisms.

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE). Component 1 of this initiative will result in a Draft National Institutional Framework for REDD+, to be endorsed by the already established National Committee on REDD+. A consultant for component 1 is needed to implement the scope of works, activities and provide the deliverables in its entirety, as outlined in this document.

Applicants for this assignment as consultant are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the TOR for the Component 1, so that the whole and individual scope of work for Component 1 is understood.

The role of the consultant is to execute and manage the particular project component and finally produce the below deliverables.

The consultant will work closely with the project team, consisting of the REDD+ Unit within the Ministry, the project manager and consultants for the other two project components. A separate group of technical advisors from relevant government agencies is established to assist the consultant to cover specialist input regarding the institutional framework for REDD+ implementation in Malaysia.

The Consultant will also be required to coordinate and validate the technical issues related to the tasks involved for the project component in conjunction with the project manager as well as the other consultants and parties engaged.  The person will need to prepare reports, presentations, and lessons learned, as needed, and present relevant documentation for capacity building of other project partners and stakeholders. The person will have to coordinate the work of the sub-committee under the Technical Committee on REDD+ implementation which is set up to advice on the development of the national framework for REDD+ implementation.

He/She will be based at NRE.

The responsibilities and deliverables of the selected candidate will be as per the following:

• Submission of baseline report which consists the below:  Stock taking  and summary on regional lessons learned on institutional frameworks for REDD+ implementation.  Identify and review ongoing REDD+ readiness activities in Malaysia; 
• Deliver a comprehensive study (report) on existing and planned roles and function of the relevant Ministries, government authorities, agencies and departments relevant to REDD+ implementation in Malaysia, including identification of gaps;
• Submission of stakeholders’ consultation report which consists of the following:   Conduct stakeholders consultations and solicit inputs through extensive correspondences, meetings and 4 workshops;  Coordinate inputs from the technical committee set up to advice on national framework for REDD+ implementation; Identify resource and capacity needs for REDD+ implementation in Malaysia;   Maintain networks and manage relationships with Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment representatives, partners, implementers, universities and other stakeholders involved in REDD+ readiness activities in Malaysia;  Generate buy-in and consensus among partners for the national institutional framework for REDD+ implementation being developed; 
• Submission of the Final report on the Proposal for an institutional framework for REDD+ implementation in Malaysia, where clear roles and functions of the respective Ministries, agencies and departments are identified.

Terms of Payment:

• Extensive knowledge in the field of environmental management, especially related to sustainable forrest management;
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Bahasa Malayu;
• Outstanding time-management, organizational and inter-personal skills.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Excellent computer literacy.

The Consultant shall have at least:

• An Advanced Degree Environmental Management, Social Science or any other relevant science-based background; Bachelor degree with more than 5 years can be considered as well.
• A professional qualification or be a member of an acknowledged professional organization or society is preferred.

Experience:
The Consultantrequires knowledge and experience of:

• At least 10 years of extensive working experience of policy development and coordination in the field of forestry or environmental management, preferably in different regions or countries;
• Experience with coordinating stakeholder inputs;
• Extensive knowledge of successfully implemented  environmental policies at federal level that  can be replicated locally;
• Experience in project financing and funding management;
• Experience in REDD+ or forest related initiatives;
• Knowledge of the Malaysian government structure and roles of federal and state authorities related to land use;
• Experience in or ability to perform programme monitoring and evaluation for policy making support; 
• Ability to compile and consolidate technical training materials and develop training courses for information dissemination and capacity development for the local industry players;
• Excellent command of the English and Bahasa Malaysia in writing, reading and speaking.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Proposal – Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work. The methodology must address all aspects of the TOR, implementation schedule, quality assurance measures if applicable.
2. Financial proposal – Based on the deliverable and terms of payment, please provide a financial proposal. 
3. Personal CV and UN P11 (https://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx) including past experience in similar projects and at least 2 references.

Incomplete applications will NOT be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.