International Consultant for the UN-REDD Benefit Sharing Study

The Cancun Agreements issued at the Conference of Parties (COP) 16 held in Mexico in 2010 provides strong support for policy approaches that deliver positive incentives for countries and their actors to engage in REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries).

Thus far, a number of decisions related to REDD+ have been made on subjects including implementation, principles and safeguards, assessment of results, and reference levels. However, decisions are yet to be made regarding how to deliver positive incentives for countries and their actors to reduce emissions from the forest sector through REDD+. As of now, it is up to each country to decide upon how REDD+ should be implemented within the framework agreed, including  issues related to how to distribute benefits at the national, regional and local levels, considering their national circumstances but also following the inter alia the safeguards listed in the Cancun Agreement.

Forests support the livelihoods of millions of rural indigenous peoples and communities who depend on forest resources for subsistence and income. Given the importance of forests for rural livelihoods, participating countries are required to apply safeguards in order to ensure “full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, in particular indigenous peoples and local communities” in REDD+ (as stated in the Cancun agreement).  The application of such safeguards is not only an important means of avoiding and mitigating possible negative impacts of REDD+ on these people but it can also serve to promote their active participation in forest and land conservation, as well as to reduce rural poverty which may contribute to achieving long term sustainable management of forests and carbon sequestration. On the contrary, the failure to involve local people and institutions in REDD+ and benefit sharing may risk lowering their incentives to engage in sustainable forest and land management, and thus may undermine the ultimate purpose of REDD+. Hence, it is imperative that indigenous peoples and local communities are also included in benefit sharing and that benefits are distributed in a manner that are equitable, transparent and cost-effective equitable.

The international consultant is expected to deliver the two key deliverables:

• An assessment of national as well as international experiences with benefit sharing mechanisms described in a synthesis report not exceeding 30 pages plus annexes and references in English that consolidates existing knowledge and experiences on benefit sharing and includes recommendations for next steps to be taken to develop a national level benefit sharing mechanism for REDD+ in Cambodia;
• A proposal of up to four preferred options for benefits sharing for REDD+ in Cambodia presented in a synthesis report not exceeding 40 pages plus annexes and references in English building on the results of the analysis of existing experiences and national consultations on benefit sharing.

In order to deliver these outputs, the International Consultant will be required to perform the following tasks:

Activity 2.3b proposed under the UN-REDD programme workplan

Analyze existing benefits sharing mechanisms relevant for REDD+ by:

• Preparing a list of existing literature on benefit sharing mechanisms used within the forest sector (e.g. Payments for environmental services, REDD+ pilot projects) and REDD+ related project activities (e.g. OddarMancheay and Seima projects) to be reviewed (subject to a review of the REDD+ Taskforce Secretariat);
• Analysing the selected existing benefit sharing mechanisms based on a literature review and interviews with relevant stakeholders; and
• Preparing an initial assessments report to present pros and cons of  using different benefit distribution models in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and equity. These models can include both ex-ante and ex-post payments. The assessment should also highlight possible trade offs between effectiveness, efficiency and equity and provide recommendations for how to develop national level benefit sharing systems drawing on experiences from Cambodia and other parts of the world.

Support the development of a national workshop on possible options for benefit sharing systems for REDD+ in Cambodia

In collaboration with the REDD+ Taskforce Secretariat, the consultant team should design and organize a workshop to be held in Phnom Penh. For the workshop organization, the team will be responsible for 1) preparing the workshop agenda, 2) identifying key initial national stakeholders in Cambodia REDD, 3) identifying relevant speakers from Cambodia (and abroad) and 4) preparing presentations to facilitate discussions. For the presentations, the team should share a consolidated view on pros and cons of using different benefit sharing mechanisms. The team should also present a number of alternative options for developing a national benefit sharing mechanism for REDD+ in Cambodia.

Produce a synthesis report that consolidates existing knowledge and experiences on benefit sharing

Prepare a report not exceeding 30 pages plus annexes and references in English shall be produced as a result of 1) literature reviews and 2) interviews with relevant stakeholders (e.g. government officials, NGOs, local communities, and indigenous peoples) and 3) a national level workshop.  This report should not be limited but contain 1) an overview of pros and cons for using different benefits sharing mechanisms relevant for REDD+, 2) recommendations for next steps to be taken to develop a national level benefit sharing mechanism for REDD+ in Cambodia and 3) proposal for a presentation to be used for the national consultation on the report.

Activity 2.3d proposed under the UN-REDD programme workplan

Develop suggestions for preferred options for benefit sharing mechanisms for REDD+ in Cambodia building on the work conducted under activity 2.3b and the consultations undertaken under activity 2.3c by:

Conducting an extensive analysis for each of the preferred options which should not be limited but should include the result of the following considerations and activities (Number of options – up to four – should be decided in consultation with the Technical Team on Safeguards and the REDD+ Taskforce Secretariat):

• How incentives can be linked to actions or results at the local level within a national accounting and the extent of monitoring necessary to implement the different options;
• What are possible impacts of using each option on men and women in terms of their participation in benefit sharing mechanism and their actual ability to access to benefits;
• Costs implications of different options;
• How the options will work for the different management regimes in Cambodia;
• The possible implications for projects and sub-national implementation within a national benefit sharing mechanism;
• Whether the options for a national benefit sharing mechanism can also work for sub-national implementation.
• Present the options and the result of the above mentioned considerations and collect feedback from key ministries, REDD+ Taskforce, Consultation Group and other stakeholders as appropriate.

Support to the development of a national workshop on the preferred options for benefit sharing mechanisms for REDD+ in Cambodia

In collaboration with the REDD+ Taskforce Secretariat, the consultant team should design and organize a workshop to be held in Phnom Penh in second quarter of 2014.  For the workshop organization, the team will be responsible for 1) preparing the workshop agenda, 2) identifying key national stakeholders in Cambodia REDD, 3) identifying relevant speakers from Cambodia (and abroad) and 4) preparing presentations to facilitate discussions. For the presentations, the team should share a consolidated view on pros and cons of the suggested preferred options and the reason why they have been preferred.

Prepare a synthesis report that consolidates the outcome of 1 and 2 above.

A report not exceeding 40 pages plus annexes and references shall be produced as a result of 1) the analysis and consultations conducted for identifying the preferred options and 2) a national level workshop.  This report should not be limited but contain an overview of pros and cons for the suggested preferred options for benefits sharing mechanisms relevant for REDD+ in Cambodia.

Functional competencies:

• Good writing and presentation skill;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with various partners including the government, civil society, UN and other development donors and high quality liaison and representation at local and national levels;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work with people from different backgrounds to deliver quality products within short timeframe;
• Be flexible and responsive to changes and demands;
• Be client oriented and open to feedback.

Core Competencies:

• Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills in English, including the ability to articulate ideas in a clear and concise manner;
• Good interpersonal skills with ability to work well in a team whilst also having the capacity to work independently; previous exposure to diverse cultural environments is an advantage.

Education:

• A minimum of a Master’s or equivalent degree in natural resource management, environmental economics and policy or a related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience related to the fields of natural resource management and policy, and inclusion of local communities in benefit sharing;
• Sound knowledge of disciplines relevant to international development work and climate change, with special consideration given to those with experience in REDD+ policy-related;
• Prior working experience in Cambodia is a significant asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English

Important note:

Interested offeror is strongly advised to read the Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice, wich can be viewed at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=12458 for more detail about term of references, instructions to offeror, and documents to be included when submitting offer.

Documents to be included when submitting the application:

Interested offeror/individual must submit via UNDP Online Recruitment System the following documents/information:

• Cover letter: Explaining why the candidate the most suitable for the work;
• Offeror’s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment and Final all-inclusive price proposal with breakdown of costs as per UNDP template, which can be downloaded athttp://www.un.org.kh/undp/media/files/procurement/IC/Form%20and%20Template/Annex%202_Template%20for%20Confirmation%20of%20Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal.docx;
• UNDP Personal History Form (P11), which can be downloaded athttp://www.un.org.kh/undp/media/files/procurement/IC/Form%20and%20Template/Annex%203_P11%20modified%20for%20SCs%20and%20ICs.doc; 
  Please note that UNDP Online Recruitment System allow only one uploading, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file.

Any request for clarification/additional information on this procurement notice shall be communicated in writing to UNDP office or send to email dalis.heng@undp.org or procurement.kh@undp.org. While the Procurement Unit would endeavor to provide information expeditiously, only requests receiving at least 5 working days prior to the submission deadline will be entertained. Any delay in providing such information will not be considered as a reason for extending the submission deadline.