UNDP,GEF Midterm Review National Protected Area Specialist (Home-Based)Jobs in Malaysia

Closing date: Friday,
13 May 2016
UNDP
– GEF Midterm Review National Protected Area Specialist (Home-Based)
Location
:

Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Application
Deadline :

13-May-16 (Midnight New York, USA)
Type
of Contract :

Individual Contract
Post
Level :

National Consultant
Languages
Required :

English

Starting
Date :

(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 30-May-2016
Duration
of Initial Contract :

6 months
Expected
Duration of Assignment :
50 working days
Background
Project
Title
Enhancing
Effectiveness and Financial Sustainability of Protected Areas in Malaysia
Project
Description
This
is the Terms of Reference for the UNDP-GEF Midterm Review (MTR) of the
full-sized project titled Enhancing Effectiveness and Financial
Sustainability of Protected Areas in Malaysia
(PIMS#3967) (also knowns as
PA Financing project) implemented by the Department of Wildlife and National
Parks in Malaysia, which is to be undertaken in June 2016. The project started
on the 5 June 2012 and is in its fifth year of implementation. The project is
scheduled to end on 30 June 2019. In line with the UNDP-GEF Guidance on MTRs,
this MTR process was initiated before the submission of the fourth Project
Implementation Report (PIR). The MTR process must follow the guidance outlined
in the document Guidance for Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported,
GEF-Financed Projects
(see
http://web.undp.org/evaluation/documents/guidance/GEF/mid-term/Guidance_Midterm%20Review%20_EN_2014.pdf).
The
PA Financing project was designed to address the sub-optimal management and
inadequate resources invested in the protected area system in Malaysia with
primary focus on the three protected area networks covering a total area of
2.98 million hectares, managed by the Federal Department of Wildlife and
National Parks, Johor National Parks Corporation and Perak State Parks
Corporation.
The
objective of the project is to establish a performance-based financing
structure to support effective protected area system management in Malaysia.
Interventions to achieve this objective are structured into three outcome
components, designed to address barriers at the national, sub-national network
and site PA levels respectively
Outcome
1:

Systemic and institutional capacities to manage and financially support a
national PA system by addressing barriers at the national systems level to
improve management effectiveness and financial sustainability of protected
areas.
Outcome
2:

Technical and institutional capacities to manage sub-national PA networks,
including capacities for effective financial management by strengthening the
sub-PA network capacity to be able to meet the management standards set under
Outcome 1 so as to decrease funding gap of the PA network.
Outcome
3:

Effective site-level PA management by improving basic PA management capacities
where required, and will also enhance the management and business planning skills
of PA managers, to enable the PA system to maximize revenue generation and to
streamline costs.
See
the signed project document at
http://www.my.undp.org/content/malaysia/en/home/operations/projects/environment_and_energy/enhancing-effectiveness-and-financial-sustainability-of-protecte.html.
Duties
and Responsibilities
Scope
of Work and Key Tasks
The
MTR will assess progress towards the achievement of the project objectives and
outcomes as specified in the Project Document and programme outcomes as stipulated
in the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) 2016 – 2020 between UNDP and the
Government of Malaysia, and assess early signs of project success or failure
with the purpose of identifying the necessary changes to be made in order to
set the project on-track to achieve its intended results. The MTR will also
review the project’s strategy and its risks to sustainability. The MTR must
provide evidence based information that is credible, reliable and useful.
The
MTR National Protected Area Specialist reports to the MTR Lead Consultant.
He/She will perform the key tasks as follows
  • Conduct
    a document review of project documents i.e. Country Programme Action Plan
    (CPAP) 2016 – 2020 between UNDP and Government of Malaysia, Project
    Identification Form (PIF), UNDP Initiation Plan, Project Document,
    Environmental and Social Safeguard Policy (ESSP), Project Inception
    Report, Project Implementation Reviews, Finalized GEF focal area Tracking
    Tools, Project Appraisal Committee meeting minutes, Financial and Administration
    guidelines used by Project Team, project operational guidelines, manuals
    and systems, etc.; provided by UNDP Malaysia Country Office and Project
    Team.
  • Plan
    and facilitate in a MTR inception workshop to clarify their understanding
    of the objectives and methods of the MTR, producing the MTR inception
    report thereafter by providing relevant expertise and knowledge on the
    protected area management in Malaysia.
  • Conduct
    field missions that consist of interviews with stakeholders who have
    project responsibilities and site visits to Kuala Lumpur, Taman Negara
    National Park, Kuantan, Ipoh, Royal Belum State Park, Johor Bahru and
    Endau-Rompin National Park.
  • Assess
    the following four categories of project progress based on the Guidance
    for Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects

    for requirements on ratings. No overall rating is required.
  • Produce
    relevant chapters of a draft and final MTR report as assigned by MTR Lead
    Consultant.
  • Plan
    with Lead Consultant and present the final MTR report in the MTR
    Concluding Stakeholder Workshop.
Project
Strategy
Project
Design
  • Review
    the problem addressed by the project and the underlying assumptions.
    Review the effect of any incorrect assumptions or changes to the context
    to achieving the project results as outlined in the Project Document;
  • Review
    the relevance of the project strategy and assess whether it provides the
    most effective route towards expected/intended results stipulated in the
    project document/inception report and the CPAP 2016 – 2020;
  • Review
    how the project addresses country priorities. Review country ownership.
    Was the project concept in line with the national and sector development
    priorities and plans in Malaysia?
  • Review
    decision-making processes: were perspectives of those who would be
    affected by project decisions, those who could affect the outcomes, and
    those who could contribute information or other resources to the process,
    taken into account during project design processes?
  • Review
    the extent to which relevant gender issues were raised in the project
    design. See Guidance for Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported,
    GEF-Financed Projects
    for further guidelines;
  • If
    there are major areas of concern, recommend areas for improvement.
Results
Framework/Logframe
  • Undertake
    a critical analysis of the project’s log frame indicators and targets,
    assess how ‘SMART’ the midterm and end-of-project targets are (Specific,
    Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound), and suggest specific
    amendments/revisions to the targets and indicators as necessary;
  • Examine
    if progress so far has led to, or could in the future catalyse beneficial
    development effects (i.e. income generation, gender equality and women’s
    empowerment, improved governance etc.) that should be included in the
    project results framework and monitored on an annual basis.
Progress
Towards Results
  • Review
    the log frame indicators against progress made towards the end-of-project
    targets; populate the Progress Towards Results Matrix, as described in the
    Guidance for Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed
    Projects
    ; colour code progress in a ‘traffic light system’ based on
    the level of progress achieved; assign a rating on progress for the
    project objective and each outcome; make recommendations from the areas
    marked as ‘not on target to be achieved’ (red);
  • Compare
    and analyse the GEF Tracking Tool at the Baseline with the one completed
    right before the Midterm Review;
  • Identify
    remaining barriers to achieving the project objective;
  • Review
    the aspects of the project that have already been successful and identify
    ways in which the project can further expand these benefits.
Project
Implementation and Adaptive Management
Using
the Guidance for Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed
Projects; assess the following categories of project progress
  • Management
    Arrangements;
  • Work
    Planning;
  • Finance
    and co-finance;
  • Project-level
    monitoring and evaluation systems;
  • Stakeholder
    Engagement;
  • Reporting;
  • Communications.
Sustainability
Assess
overall risks to sustainability factors of the project in terms of the
following four categories
  • Financial
    risks to sustainability;
  • Socio-economic
    risks to sustainability;
  • Institutional
    framework and governance risks to sustainability;
  • Environmental
    risks to sustainability.
The
MTR National Protected Area Specialist will include a section in the MTR report
setting out the MTR’s evidence-based conclusions, in light of the findings.
Additionally,
the MTR National Protected Area Specialist is expected to make recommendations
related to protected area management to the Implementing Partners and Project
Team. Recommendations should be succinct suggestions for critical intervention
that are specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant. A recommendation table
should be put in the report’s executive summary. The MTR team should make no
more than 15 recommendations in total.
Expected
Outputs and Deliverables
The
MTR National Protected Area Specialist shall prepare and submit: MTR Inception
Report: MTR team clarifies objectives and methods of the Midterm Review no
later than 2 weeks before the MTR mission. To be sent to UNDP Malaysia Country
Office and project management. Approximate due date: 8 June 2016
  • Presentation:
    Initial Findings presented to project management and UNDP Malaysia at the
    end of the MTR mission. Approximate due date: 24 June 2016;
  • Draft
    Final Report: Full report with annexes within 3 weeks of the MTR mission.
    Approximate due date: 15 July 2016;
  • Final
    Report*: Revised report with annexed audit trail detailing how all
    received comments have (and have not) been addressed in the final MTR
    report. To be sent to the UNDP Malaysia within 2 weeks of receiving UNDP
    and stakeholders’ comments on draft. Approximate due date: 15 August 2016.
  • The
    final MTR report must be in English. If applicable, UNDP Malaysia may
    choose to arrange for a translation of the report into Malay language –
    the official language more widely shared by national stakeholders.
Institutional
Arrangement
The
Commissioning Unit for this project’s MTR is UNDP Malaysia Country Office. UNDP
Malaysia will contract the MTR National Protected Area Specialist and ensure
the timely provision of per diems and travel arrangements within the country
for the MTR team. The Project Team will be responsible for liaising with the
MTR team to provide all relevant documents, set up stakeholder interviews, and
arrange field visits.
Duration
of the Work
The
total duration of the MTR will be 50 working days starting 30 May 2016, and
shall not exceed six months from when the National Protected Area Specialist is
hired.
The
tentative MTR timeframe is as follows
  • 13
    May 2016: Application closes;
  • 16
    May 2016: Selection of MTR National Protected Area Specialist and team
    members;
  • 23
    – 27 May 2016: Prep the MTR Team (handover of project documents);
  • 30
    May – 3 June 2016 (5 days): Document review and preparing MTR Inception
    Report;
  • 6
    – 10 June 2016 (5 days): Finalization and Validation of MTR Inception
    Report- latest start of MTR mission;
  • 12
    – 26 June 2016 (15 days): MTR mission: stakeholder meetings, interviews,
    field visits;
  • 24
    June 2016: Mission wrap-up meeting & presentation of initial findings-
    earliest end of MTR mission;
  • 27
    June – 11 July 2016 (15 days): Preparing draft report;
  • 18
    – 29 July 2017 (5 days): Incorporating audit trail on draft
    report/Finalization of MTR report;
  • 1
    – 5 August 2016 (2 days): Preparation & Issue of Management Response;
  • 11
    August 2016 (3 days): Planning the Concluding Stakeholder Workshop (only
    MTR National Protected Area Specialist and Social Scientist participate);
  • 31
    August 2016: Expected date of full MTR completion.
The
start date of contract is 30 May 2016.
Duty
Station
All
travels within Malaysia will be arranged by UNDP Malaysia and Project Team except
domestic travel from home base to Kuala Lumpur/Putrajaya. All related travel
expenses will be covered and will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and
regulations upon submission of an F-10 claim form and supporting documents.
Travel
  • The
    Basic Security in the Field II and Advanced Security in the Field 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.
  • Consultants
    are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under
    https://dss.un.org/dssweb/.
Competencies
  • Competence
    in adaptive management, as applied to biodiversity focal area;
  • Excellent
    communication skills;
  • Demonstrated
    analytical skills;
  • Project
    evaluation/review experiences within United Nations system or
    international organizations will be considered an asset.
Required
Skills and Experience
Education
  • A
    Master’s degree or higher in biodiversity conservation, ecology,
    environmental or natural resource management, park/protected area
    management, wildlife conservation/management, or other closely related
    field.
Experiences
The
selection of National Protected Area Specialist will be aimed at maximising the
overall ‘team’ qualities in the following areas
  • Experience
    applying logical framework analysis and SMART targets in project design
    and management;
  • Experience
    with result-based management evaluation methodologies for at least 3
    years;
  • Experience
    working in protected area conservation or management for at least 10
    years;
  • Experience
    working with project evaluation/review for at least 3 years;
  • Experience
    working in Malaysia and South-East Asian region;
Consultant
Independence:

The consultants cannot have participated in the project preparation,
formulation, and/or implementation (including the writing of the Project
Document) and should not have a conflict of interest with project’s related
activities.
Application
Process:

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments
Financial
Proposal
  • Financial
    proposal must be ‘all inclusive’ and expressed in a lump-sum for the total
    duration of the contract. The term ‘all-inclusive’ implies all cost
    (professional fees, domestic travel costs, living allowances etc.);
  • For
    duty travels, the UN’s Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rates should
    provide indication of the cost of living in a duty station/destination.
  • The
    lump sum is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components.
Schedule
of Payments
  • 20%
    of payment upon approval of the MTR Inception Report
  • 30%
    upon submission of the draft MTR Report
  • 50%
    upon finalization of the MTR Report
Or,
as otherwise agreed between UNDP Malaysia and MTR National Protected Area
Specialist.
How
to Apply
  • Kindly
    download the Letter of Confirmation of interest and availability,
    Financial Proposal Template, P11 form and General Terms & Conditions
    mentioned below;
  • Completed
    Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability (Annex 1);
  • Personal
    CV or a P11 Personal History Form,
    , 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;
  • Read
    and agree to the General Terms & Conditions;
  • Click
    the ‘apply’ icon and complete what is required;
  • Brief
    description of approach to work/technical proposal

    of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the
    assignment, and a proposed methodology on how they will approach and
    complete the assignment; (max 1 page)
  • Financial
    Proposal

    (Annex 2) that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price,
    supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an
    applicant 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
    applicant must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are
    duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.
  • Scan
    all documents into 1 pdf folder and then upload;
  • For
    clarification question, please email to procurement.my@undp.org. The
    clarification question deadline is three (3) days before the closing. When
    emailing for clarification questions, please put ‘MyIC/2016/012′ as
    the subject matter.
Incomplete
applications will be excluded from further consideration.
Forms
and General terms & conditions to be downloaded
  • The
    UN Personal History Form (P11) is available at:
    http://www.undp.org.my/uploads/p11%20personal%20history%20form.doc.
  • Letter
    of Confirmation of Interest and Availability (Annex I) at
    https://www-author.undp.org/content/malaysia/en/home/operations/procurement.html%23?download
  • The
    Financial Proposal Template at
    http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Financial%20Proposal%20Template.doc?download
  • The
    General Terms & Conditions for Individual contract is available
    at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/General%20Conditions%20of%20Contract%20for%20IC.pdf?download
  • The
    General Terms & Conditions for Reimbursement Loan Agreement is
    available
    at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Reimbursable%20Loan%20Agreement%20_%20Terms%20&%20Conditions.pdf?download
Important
Note
  • This
    Consultancy position is only accepted online. Email submission is not
    valid;
  • Applicant
    must READ and ACCEPT the General Terms and Conditions;
  • The
    system DOES NOT accept multiple document upload. Please scan all the
    documents and save into one (1) PDF file and upload;
Criteria
for Selection of the Best Offer
The
award of the contract will be made to the Individual Consultant who has
obtained the highest Combined Score and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and
Conditions. Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be
evaluated. The offers will be evaluated using the ‘Combined Scoring method’
where:
  • The
    educational background and experience on similar assignments will be
    weighted a max. of 70%;
  • The
    price proposal will weigh as 30% of the total scoring.

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