TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A PROJECT DOCUMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM-BASED ADAPTATION PROJECT UNDP LESOTHO Type of Contract : National Consultants Languages Required : English Commencement Date : February End Date : 30 th November Duration of the work : February November Location/duty station : Maseru and other locations in Lesotho 1. Background UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It works with individual countries on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. UNDP Lesotho supports Lesotho s development priorities laid out in the National Strategic Development Plan and through that, the achievement of the MDGs. The main focus areas of the UNDP Country Programme are Democratic Governance; Environment and Energy; Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth, with Gender Mainstreaming and HIV/AIDS as crosscutting areas. The Government of Lesotho (GOL) in collaboration with UNDP prepared and submitted a Project Identification Form (PIF)/project concept note to Global Environmental Facility (GEF). The proposed project titled Reducing Vulnerability from Climate Change in the Foothills, Lowlands and the Lower Senqu River Basin is aimed at addressing Lesotho`s National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) priority number 2 Promoting Sustainable Crop Based Livelihood Systems in Foothills, Lowlands and Senqu River Valley through engagement of youth in land rehabilitation activities. The proposed project got approval from GEF and a full scale project document has to be developed and submitted to GEF in order to release the secured funding worth about $8 million for project implementation. The period for preparing the full Project Document is expected to take about 12 months during the Project preparatory phase or PPG, and is due on 30 th November.
2. Scope of Work Under the leadership and guidance of the international consultant, a team of national consultants will carry out stakeholder consultations and generation of baselines. The team of national consultants will have expertise in biophysical and socio-economics assessments, institutional capacity assessments and policy analysis and information management systems. Under the guidance of the international consultant, the team will collectively develop criteria and apply it to select areas for specific interventions to reflect an ecosystems/landscape approach to adaptation interventions. Specific tasks will include the following: Identify specific sites for project intervention and collect baseline information (biophysical and socio-economic) situation in the target communities; Identify the project baseline in terms of current policies, projects and stakeholders that are relevant to the; Coordinate consultations with government and non-government agencies, project stakeholders and potential project partners (with special focus on stakeholders engaged in government and other baseline projects; Organize and facilitate technical and consultative meetings with local government and community stakeholders to assist project definition; Undertake institutional capacity assessment for institutions to be involved in the project implementation, and draft a capacity building strategy (including training) to ensure successful project implementation; Undertake an information management needs assessment, with particular emphasis on the agro-geo based information management system and GIS, and draft a strategy for improving knowledge based decision making in the land rehabilitation program; Propose, based on stakeholder consultations, a capacity development strategy for the project; Assist in the analysis and design of priority adaptation measures for demonstration and replication (avoiding duplication and ensuring complementarities with relevant baseline and projects); Develop a communication strategy with communities and facilitate their participation; Define project roles and responsibilities and propose suitable project management, implementation and reporting arrangements; Assist in the design of the project s Knowledge Management strategy; Develop sustainability and exit strategy for the project (i.e. a way forward once LDCF funding is exhausted); Help build financing partnerships and mobilize co-financing resources; Contribute to the preparation of the response matrix to the GEFSec, Council and STAP comments;
3. Expected Outputs and Deliverables The purpose of this assignment is to prepare a full UNDP-LDCF project document, based on the approved PIF, and the accompanying full submission package comprised of: The UNDP Project Document as per outline provided; The GEF CEO Endorsement Request; Filled AMAT Tracking Tools; Letters of Co-Finance; Revised Letter of Endorsement (obtained with the assistance of the UNDP Country Office); Filled UNDP Environmental and Social Safeguards; Responses matrix to GEFSec, Council and STAP comments. Schedule of Preparatory Activities for Development of a Project Document Deliverables/ Outputs Inception report and workshop Estimated Duration to Complete February Target Due Dates 28 th February Review and Approvals Required MGYSR, MFLR) Technical assessments including: Project sites identification Workshop to present Preliminary findings Project document formulation Institutional arrangements and financial planning Validation workshop and submission of package February May April July February July July 31 st May 31 st July 31 st July 31 st July Ministries` Focalpoints (MEMWA, MGYSR, MFLR) MGYSR, MFLR) and UNDP CO MGYSR, MFLR) MGYSR, MFLR) and UNDP CO Feedback, finalization and submission to GEF July November 30 th November MGYSR, MFLR) and UNDP CO
4. Institutional Arrangements The principal responsibility for managing this assignment lies with UNDP Lesotho. UNDP Lesotho will contract the consultants and ensure the timely provision of reimbursable costs and remuneration. UNDP Lesotho will support the consultants liaising with stakeholders, arrange field visits, and coordinate with the Government etc. Under the direct overall supervision of UNDP and the overall supervision of a Committee of focal points composed of senior officers from the Implementing Partners namely the Ministries of Forestry and Land Reclamation; Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation; Energy, Meteorology and Water Affairs and UNDP, the team of national consultants will be led by the international consultant and will be in charge of ensuring the quality of consultations with stakeholders, collection and analysis of data and generation of baselines and log frame to inform the development implementation and monitoring of the full GEF project document. The team of national consultants will compose of experts in at least one of the thematic areas listed below: Biophysical and socio-economics assessments; Institutional capacity assessments and policy analysis and; Information management systems.
5. Qualifications and experience Education: Master s Degree or equivalent in Natural sciences, Social sciences or related field. Experience: At least five years of experience in analytical and practical work in at least one of the expertise areas such as (a) biophysical and socio-economics assessments (b) institutional capacity assessments and policy analysis and (c) information management systems. Experience with climate change and/or environmental (including land management) projects/programmes in Lesotho. Demonstrated ability to assess complex situations succinctly distills critical issues, and draw forward-looking conclusions and recommendations; Ability and experience to work with multidisciplinary teams, and deliver quality reports within the given time; Excellent business development, negotiation, analytical, research, presentation and communication skills; Extensive experience in developing and implementing strategies, policies, projects and programs; Writing and communication will be in English, and must have excellent communication skills in English. The consultant must bring his/her own computing equipment. Language Requirements: Excellent written and spoken English 6. Scope of price proposal Interested consultants should submit their technical and financial (price offers) as separate components of one application by 13 th February by 1:00 p.m. (Lesotho Time) as follows: 6.1 Comprehensive CV 6.2 Technical proposal 6.3 Financial proposal
The offer should be all inclusive (Lump Sum Amount), with all costs (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Consultant should already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal (in-country travel in Lesotho requested by UNDP for the assignment will be determined later and should not be estimated); As an indication, the UN s Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rates prevailing at the time of sourcing in Lesotho is $140 to aid determination of the appropriate fees to be incorporated in the financial proposal amount; The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components. Applications must be clearly marked Application: DEVELOPMENT OF A PROJECT DOCUMENT FOR ECOSYTEM-BASED ADAPTATION PROJECT Applications are to be sent by email to: registry.ls@undp.org 7. Additional documents required The following documents may be requested (optional): Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability; Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references; Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs. If an 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 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. 8. Criteria for Selection A Combined Scoring method will be applied, where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.