Announcements

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR TECHNICAL ADVISER FOR THE UNDP/GEF FUNDED PROJECT “SUSTAINABLE AND INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT OF THE WESTERN AREA PENINSULA PROJECT”

Procurement Number: MOECC/UNDP-GEF/WAPP/RFP/2024/01

Job Title: Technical Adviser (ITA) for UNDP/GEF funded Project
Reports to: Project Manager

Date issue: Monday 10th June, 2024

Application Deadline:8th July, 2024
Type of Contract: Individual International Consultancy Contract
Duty Station: Freetown with field visits to project locations
Language required: English
Contract Duration: The expected level of involvement will be up to 6 months with possibility of extension

TERMS OF REFERENCE

A. BACKGROUND
The Ministry of The Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) received funding through UNDP to implement a 6-years GEF funded “Sustainable and Integrated Landscape Management of the Western Area Peninsula Project”. Located in the extreme west of Sierra Leone, the Western Area Peninsula (WAP) multiple-use landscape (69,820 ha) is dominated by moist closed forest occupying a narrow chain of hills (highest point 900m) surrounded by a thin coastal strip that lines the peninsula to the north, west and south. Forming part of the Upper Guinean Forests of West Africa Biodiversity Hotspot, the landscape includes two Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). The first is the Western Area Peninsula Forest National Park (WAPNP). The rest of the area is occupied by mangrove forest which is largely located at the northeast of the peninsula but also in isolated patches along the western coastal stretch of about 200km, the Banana Islands, and Bureh Town forests of the peninsula. The mangroves at the northeast of the peninsula are part of the Sierra Leone River Estuary (SLRE), which is an internationally recognized KBA and Ramsar site. The WAPNP hosts 80-90% of Sierra Leone’s terrestrial biodiversity, and the forested surface of the WAP acts as the main water tower for the country’s capital Freetown. The SLRE is the site of the world’s third largest natural harbor, and its wetlands comprise 19% of the country’s mangrove forests.

The ecosystem services offered by the landscape and its biodiversity are increasingly threatened by unplanned and environmentally unsustainable land-use practices, manifested by encroachment into forests by agriculture, increased unplanned urban expansion, industrial and artisanal mining (mainly stone quarrying and sand extraction), as well as overexploitation of natural resources (especially forest products). Effective adoption of an integrated management approach for the WAP is hindered by insufficient systemic and institutional capacity for participatory management of the multiple-use landscape, lack of adequate information and coordination mechanisms, and insufficient financing to support biodiversity conservation and environmentally sustainable land management over the longer.
The project will address these barriers by means of four interrelated impact pathways: 1. Enhancement of systemic and institutional capacity for integrated landscape management; 2. Demonstration of sustainable land management interventions; 3. Facilitation of increased financial flows to support integrated land management and protected area management; 4. Mainstreaming of monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management and gender issues to support lessons learning, sustainability and upscaling processes.
In this regard, the project would like to hire the services of an International Technical Adviser to provide technical support to the implementation of the project.

B. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE
The objective of this assignment is to provide strategic technical guidance and backstopping to the project, providing capacity enhancement services, as well as supporting knowledge management and quality assurance processes. Under coordination from the assigned UNDP task manager, he/she will be an integrated part of the Project Management Unit (PMU) rendering support to the Project Manager (PM), Project Board (PB) and other counterparts as necessary ensuring timely achievement of desired results. The CTA shall carryout this assignment in accordance with the functions outlined below.

C. Duties and Responsibilities
Project Inception Phase
• Support the PM in reviewing the project logical framework, ensuring that targets and indicators remain relevant and achievable; facilitate collection of baseline data (including gender-related indicators) to complete the results framework and tracking tools; put in place a system to ensure regular feedback of data into project M&E processes.
• Provide technical support to the project manager to ensuring that the UNDP Social and Environmental Safeguards Policy is adequately applied throughout project implementation; review the project SESP report; support the development, implementation and monitoring of safeguard plans.
• Establish an easy-to-use system for the PMU to track co-financing from project partners.
• Provide advice for the preparation of detailed Annual Work Plans (AWP) in line with the Project Document and approved budget.
• Support the PM in effective start-up of initial project activities as prioritized in the AWP.

Strategic Advice and Technical Support
• Provide strategic support to the PM, PB, and project partners to guide impactful and timely delivery of outputs and activities, ensuring that stakeholders are adequately engaged, safeguards are implemented, and gender mainstreaming is integrated in project implementation (see Gender Action Plan and Stakeholder Engagement Plan, available as separate Annexes to the Project Document).
• Provide on-the-job guidance and mentoring to the PMU team and Government partners to strengthen capacity for effective implementation of technical aspects of the project.
• Coordinate and provide technical support, particularly in areas related to integrated land management, forest restoration, alternative income generating activities and financing for biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management.
• Support the PM in ensuring timely production of adequate and sufficiently comprehensive Terms of Reference for consultancies, and tenders for procurement of inputs and services; and evaluate and provide recommendations on bids.
• Support the PM and PB in coordination between other projects and programs relevant to achieving the intended outcomes of the GEF-funded project.
• Support the PM to ensure adequate implementation of the project M&E plan through updates of project indicators and Tracking Tools, inputs to the Inception Report, GEF Project Implementation Report (PIR), technical reports, quarterly reports, and reports as may be required by UNDP, GEF and other oversight agencies
• Provide support in negotiating synergies between the project and any parties beyond the scope of the project; facilitate strategic partnerships for resource mobilization.

Knowledge Management
• Monitor project risk and update were necessary
• Participate in visits to project sites and activities in order to monitor progress, flag risks to the timely/successful delivery of project activities, and provide advice for improvement.
• Identify opportunities and facilitate exchange of knowledge and skills between stakeholders of this GEF-funded project and other successful interventions (implemented in Sierra Leone or elsewhere).
• Support knowledge management processes, identifying lessons learned and good practices from project implementation that can be replicated/upscale, and ensuring that these are documented and disseminated in appropriate format to targeted audiences (also see Stakeholder Engagement Plan, available as Annex 8 to the Project Document).

D. Expected Outputs/Deliverables:
1. Inception report summarizing the methodology, tools to be used, expected work plan, and deliverables produced and submitted.
2. Report produced on strategic Advice and Technical Support including report on the inception phase submitted
3. Report produced on knowledge management support to the project submitted
4. Staff capacity assessment conducted and reported
5. Lessons learnt on the project documented and assessable
6. Final report submitted and documented

E. THE CONSULTANT PROFILE
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
• Demonstrates commitment to Ministry s mission, vision and values.
• Exerts strict adherence to Government regulations and procedures.
• Ensures that the project is consistent with GoSL/UNDP values.
• Treats peers fairly by maintaining consistent values inspiring trust and confidence through personal credibility
• Accepts responsibility and accountability for the quality of the outcome of his/her decisions
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly and without favoritism.
Functional Competencies
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of Environment and Climate Change.
• Strong understanding of Environmental issues and Climate Change.
• A passion for Environment and Climate.
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.
Knowledge Management and Learning
• Focuses on tasks/activities which have a strategic impact on project and capacity development activities
• Promotes a supportive environment to enhance partnerships, leverages resources and build support for Ministry’s strategic initiatives
• Collaborates with partners and team to create and apply knowledge and concepts that will help partners achieve Environmental sustainability and development objectives within the country and regional context
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Management
• Effective communication skills and ability to establish good working relationships with national and local authorities, and donor partners.
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
• Proven negotiation, analytical, networking and organizational skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness
• Ability to engage with various partners and stakeholders at different levels, to establish and maintain contacts with senior-level officials of the host government and represent the Ministry in Capacity to implement the strategic vision and project goals as laid down in the Project Document;
• Proven performance in organizing and coordinating major initiatives, events or challenging inter-organizational activities.
• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, government and non-government.

F. Qualification
• Postgraduate degree (Masters or PhD) in Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management or similarly relevant field.
• Additional educational experience/certificates relevant to the TORs of this post would be an advantage.
Experience
• At least 10 years of professional experience in areas relevant to sustainable land management, natural resource management, integrated landscape management planning, biodiversity conservation, or similar. Experience relevant to protected area financing would be an asset.
• Demonstrable experience in successful programme/project management.
• Experience working with major donor funded projects (e.g. GEF, EU, WB) would be an advantage.
• Familiar with knowledge management principles, including M&E processes and adaptive management feedback.
• Experience successfully engaging and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, from Government to community level.
• Experience in capacity enhancement in a developing country context, preferably in Africa.
• Experience working for UNDP/UN/or large development agencies would be an advantage.

Skills & Competencies
• Ability to tactfully negotiate, lead, manage and motivate diverse groups of project partners, stakeholders and beneficiaries to achieve results.
• Demonstrable strong analytical skills. ability to quickly familiarize with complex issues. ability to transform data into information for targeted audiences.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to produce convincing, logical and concise written outputs; strong presentation skills. NB: evidence of writing skills will be required during the application and selection process.
• IT literate; including standard office software as well as use of social media.
• Language: Fluency in both written and spoken English

G. . Timeframe:
The envisaged time frame of the consultancy is a total of about six (6) months of which should be primarily working with the project team on the Western area Peninsula Land Scape.

H. A Evaluation Criteria
The applications will be evaluated using the cumulative analysis method with a split 80% technical and 20% financial scoring. The applications with the highest cumulative scoring will be awarded the contract. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for a brief interview

Applications will be evaluated technically and points are attributed based on how well the applications meets the requirements of the Terms of Reference using the guidelines detailed in the table below:
Technical Criteria weighting; 80%
Financial Criteria weighting; 20%

A. Technical Proposal – 80 Scores
1. Specific Duties – 20%
2. Corporate Competencies: 10%
3. Functional Competencies – 10%
4. Knowledge Management and Learning – 10%
5. Management – 10%
6. Development and Operational effectiveness – 10%
7. qualification and experience 30%

B. Financial Proposal – 20 Scores
H. Financial Proposal
All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee: NLe (_______________________________________) Amount in words: (NLe)._______________________________________________________________) excluding local movement.
Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon satisfactory delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the MoECC

Proposed Payment Schedule for Services:
The Technical Assistant consultant will be paid according to the schedule below:
• 30% Upon submission and approval of the Inception Report (Including Work plan) One month after signing of contract.
• 30% Upon completion of draft report 4months after signing of contract
• 40% Upon submission and approval of final Report 6months after signing of contract

Apply: The application should contain:
• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position.
• An indication of your availability, i.e. are there periods that you already know of when you would be unavailable to work.
• Updated CV to include qualifications/competencies and relevant experience in similar projects and name/contact details of 2 professional referees who can validate and recommend your professionalism, competencies and suitability to undertake this assignment.
• Samples of related work (email link or electronic copy)
• Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a combination of factors including cover letter and the credentials on offer, possibly an interview, and the offer which gives the best value for money for the GoSL.

Please duly fill the below financial proposal and attach to the last page of the CV along with all other required documentation above.

Apply please to:
Procurement Specialist,
Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change,
55 Wilkinson Road, Freetown

Deadline of applications:

Interested Individual International Consultants are requested to submit their CVs and a cover letter indicating how they fulfil the requirements of the consultancy to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and copy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. not later 8th July, 2024 at 12:30 pm. Interested applicants must indicate clearly on the envelope which consultancy they are applying for.
Please send hard copies of your EOI to the following Address:
The Procurement Officer
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
55 Wilkinson Road
Freetown.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.