Specialist: Environmental Governance of the Mining Sector

Jan 27, 2018 | UNDP
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For many developing countries, mineral extraction continues to be an important driver for economic growth with the potential to improve human development outcomes, in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). When managed appropriately, mining can create jobs, spur innovation and bring investment and infrastructure at a game-changing scale over the long term. Yet, if managed poorly, mining can also lead to environmental degradation, displaced populations, increased inequality and social conflict.

The UNDP-SEPA joint global programme “Environmental governance for sustainable natural resource management “draws on the combined governance, environmental and extractive sector management expertise of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), UNDP and partners to address environmental challenges and strengthen human rights and the rule of law in governance of mining, for a net positive contribution to development.

The project provides technical support, strengthens integration of human rights and the rule of law in policy making and implementation and supports coordination and cooperation with and between national counterparts, supporting national ownership and nationally-driven sustainable processes. The programme provides capacity development support to Colombia, Mongolia, Mozambique, and Kenya, as well as a broader set of global activities that strengthen South-South and triangular knowledge sharing and communities of practice.

Through this country and global level work, the programme contributes to two main outcomes

  • Strengthened institutional capacities in the four targeted countries to manage environmental impacts of the mining sector in line with human rights, gender, and rule-of-law principles;
  • Strengthened skills, knowledge, and networks on human rights-based environmental public administration of the mining sector in a broader set of developing countries.

The Programme is managed by and being hosted within the Governance and Peace-building Cluster and the Sustainable Development Clusters BPPS, together with Swedish EPA.

Duties and Responsibilities

The selected consultant will report to the EGP Project Manager. There will be an initial briefing for the consultant by the programme team.?

Deliverables and indicative working days?are expected from the contracted party as follows

  • Revise communication strategy and action plan and develop a strategic outreach plan for future partners? 3 days (01March 2018)
  • Lead timely implementation of action plan?? 47 working?days? ( December 2018)
  • Prepare a communication kit that includes at a minimum a graphic profile, promotion material/flyers, a website, and a promo-film about the project. 20 working?days
  • Ensure that relevant content is capture and shared in a timely manner on appropriate internal / external platforms and channels to enhance the visibility of the EGP work. 10 working?days
  • Coordinate the editing, design and publication of 2 knowledge and advocacy products 10 working?days
  • Support distribution and dissemination of relevant knowledge products; plan, develop and launch campaigns and roll-out strategies. 20 working days
  • Support to editing and proofing of written material and substantive inputs to annual report. 5 working days
  • Draft four quarterly news updates, press releases and inputs for internal and external newsletters on a needs basis. 5 working days
  • Update and maintain emailing lists/list serve and/or database of contacts to support the EGP outreach and partnership-building efforts 5 working days

Competencies

Corporate:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Technical:

  • Expertise and knowledge on Knowledge of international sustainable development policy issues, governance, public administration and human rights
  • Knowledge of mining industry, regulatory and institutional standards, indigenous peoples’ issues and/or transparency and accountability issues, a strong plus.
  • Expertise on leading communication and knowledge management and campaigns in a development/international setting.

Communication:

  • Excellent written communications skills, including an ability to produce high quality written materials.
  • Experience with communication works from UNDP/knowledge of KM procedures strongly preferred
  • A background of working with relevant stakeholders; government agencies international. organizations, non-governmental organizations, civil society and multi-national companies.
  • Understanding of institutions, capacity development or institutional strengthening.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Integrity and professional discretion.

Professionalism:

  • Demonstrated ability in analytical thinking;
  • Strong organizational, reporting and writing abilities;
  • Capacity to work independently, plan, prioritize and deliver

Teamwork:

  • Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
  • Ability to work under pressure;
  • Ability to work well in teams.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in development studies, comparative politics, communications, journalism, international relations or other relevant field. (Required)

Years of experience:

  • At least 5 years of relevant work experience in an international/development context.(Required)

Language:

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
  • Other languages, Spanish and Swedish is a plus.

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

  • Online application with brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and
  • Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.
  • Please attach or provide links to at least 2 samples of previous work/publications in your application preferably related to this assignment showing experience in conducting research in and formulating knowledge products and proven ability to write well and concisely, and to synthesize large amounts of supporting material.

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

  • The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around the specific and measurable deliverables of the TOR. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR, and deliverables accepted and certified by the technical manager.?
  • The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
  • In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.
  • If the 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 a 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.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.? Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.? When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
  • Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (700 points)

  • Number of years of proven and relevant work experience, including working with communities of practice, facilitation of online communities and knowledge management as well as experience of issues related to extractive industries and relevant sustainable development issues, maximum 150 points;
  • Excellent writing and editorial skills. Experience in social media outreach, preparation of newsletter or e-mail digests, editing/blogging/drafting of articles, and website management.? Provide 2 writing samples of previous relevant work, maximum 150 points;
  • Familiarity with UNDP, the UN system, and/or other international organizations, multi-lateral and other academic and international institutions, maximum 100 points;
  • Experience of working in a user support function and designing and delivering training maximum 50 points;
  • Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages and website management, maximum 50 points.
  • Interview, Maximum 200 points

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three/four shortlisted candidates for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (490 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (700 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (300 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the EGP Project Manager, based in New York and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

  • The consultant will have a work-station at UNDP New York
  • The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment
  • The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Payment modality

  • Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified above and deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.?

The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org?

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.