term of reference (tor) for the recruitment of …

United Nations Development Programme

TERM OF REFERENCE (ToR) FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT (IC)

GENERAL INFORMAION Services/Work Description: Conduct of Social and Environmental Safeguard study

Project/Program Title: Reducing the Economic and Social Vulnerability project (RFF)

Post Title: National Consultant Consultant Level: Level B (Specialist)

Duty Station: UNDP Gambia Country Office Expected Places of Travel: in-country travel

Duration: 20 working days

Expected Start Date: October 1, 2021/ Immediately after Concluding Contract Agreement

I. BACKGROUND / PROJECT DESCRIPTION

To mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people living around Protected Forest Areas

(PAs); whose livelihoods depended mostly on tourism related activities in the PAs, UNDP

formulated this project to reduce economic and social vulnerability of the poor and marginalized

populations affected by COVID-19 through green and eco-friendly community livelihood

interventions, and through use of digital solutions to promote financial and socio-economic

inclusion. It will provide alternative livelihoods; prioritizing green economic pathways to mitigate

environmental degradation, including socio-economic empowerment of youth, women and other

vulnerable populations to build beneficiaries’ resilience to cope with and mitigate the socio-

economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the population.

Leveraging the opportunities offered by digitization as a tool with special focus on green

development pathways and the youth, the project will promote nature based sustainable tourism as

a means of economic empowerment to improve and sustained livelihoods and resilience for rural

communities particularly women and youths. Hopefully, the foundational enablers built by the

project outputs will contribute to the deployment of a national social protection scheme in the

country that will address the needs of rural dwellers and in particular informal sector workers. The

project has three components which are briefly described below.

Social Protection

The project will implement a community based social protection initiative for communities living

around Four Protected Forest Areas (PAs) which are Kiang West National Park, Jokadu Forest Park,

Baobolong Forest reserve and Kunkilling Forest Park, and eco-tourism destinations; Juffureh,

Albreda and Tumani Tenda, as a way to compensate for lost incomes due to decrease in tourism.

The scheme will provide productive assets to members of small groups; women (especially female

headed household heads and widows), youths, people living with disabilities; to make investments

in agriculture (seed and cereal banking), horticulture, small ruminant rearing, back yard poultry,

oyster culture and harvesting, beekeeping, forest fruits and nuts harvesting etc. Communities will

also be able to install solar technologies to ensure food security and environmental protection.

Sustainable/ Green livelihoods

In order to build the resilience of these vulnerable communities that depend on the surrounding

natural resources for their livelihoods, the project will provide alternative greener sustainable

livelihood options so that the diverse natural habitats, species and ecosystems which make The

DocuSign Envelope ID: F9219C52-9237-4D8F-80FF-EFB33D0CCC4D

Gambia a popular ornithological tourist destination, are sustained. Interventions will include

redefining the ecotourism offer, modernizing PA infrastructure and promoting sustainable practices

such as beekeeping, tree nurseries, grafting, composting. The project will also support and upscale

other livelihood interventions to reduce dependence of PA communities on eco-tourism as their

main source of livelihood.

Digitization

To support the revival of the Eco-Tourism industry, interventions will include studies on the digital

economy and financing schemes, training, and building capabilities focusing on women-led

households and decentralized systems through on technologies to help reduce the carbon footprint

of both individuals and businesses. Climate change adaptation and climate-related interventions

will promote rebuilding of social relations while developing/designing more climate-resilient

communities and restoring their vital services, ultimately resulting in more resilient livelihoods.

II. SCOPE OF THE WORK

The consultant will work in close collaboration with UNDP Programme and Project team in carrying out the screening and will utilize UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure. As required the consultant will also consult with national partners; mainly the Department of Parks and Wild Life, Department of Forestry, Department of Community Development, Governors Offices of LRR, CRR and NBR, NGO implementing partners such as Tresor Women Warriors and ADWAC, ITC and other stakeholders. The consultant will complete the screening for activities within the 3 components of the project and provide individual recommendations for follow-up action. The overall goal of the consultancy is to strengthen the environmental and social outcomes of the programmes and project activities. Specifically; the consultant(s) will

a) undertake the environmental screening of 3 components of the project ; these include a. Social protection b. Sustainable/Green Livelihoods c. Digitization

b) make recommendations on actionable interventions to ensure adequate integration of environmental and social outcomes

c) make specific recommendation on strengthening gender social outcomes where possible

III. EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

No. Deliverables / Outputs Estimated Duration

to Complete Review and Approvals

Required

1 Review UNDP SES Policy; Guidance and procedures

_5___ Working days UNDP Programme officer

2 Assess the social and environmental compliance of activities within the 3 components of the projects

__5__ Working days UNDP Programme officer

3 Collect additional materials and interview with stakeholders and beneficiaries as needed and Assess and analyze information generated

__5 Working days UNDP Programme officer


United Nations Development Programme

4 Complete the SES screening and make recommendations for follow-up actions

__3 Working days UNDP Programme officer

5 Share with Project steering committees for review, validation and endorsement and Finalize submission with Duly completed SES template for each project component

__2 Working days

IV. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT / REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

a. UNDP, through its Programme Unit and the Implementing Partner officers, will manage and oversee

the evaluation process. Consultant will submit weekly reporting to UNDP.

b. UNDP will provide guidance and assess the quality of the project document

V. LOGISTICS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO PROSPECT IC

a. UNDP provide to the prospect IC: Office Space; Local transport service; Arrangement of

workshop(s).

b. RFF project Management/Coordination Unit will be in-charge for offering both

administrative and logistics supports

VI. DURATION OF THE WORK

a. The duration of the consultancy is 20 working days.

VII. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR (IC)

a. Academic Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Social science; Natural Resource Management, Development planning, Social

Protection and or Risk management; or any relevant field

b. Years of experience:

Extensive work experience and proven record in environmental and social assessment and Experience in and or familiarity with social protection programmes

c. Competencies:

Demonstrated experience of having undertaken similar assignments

Good analytical and documentation/report writing skills

Good communication skills. d. Language and other skills:

Excellent knowledge of English, including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations

and group interactions;

Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (civil society, government authorities,

local communities, project staff); and

Computer skills: full command of Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint) and common

internet applications will be required.

e. Compliance of the UN Core Values:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards

Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Important Note:

The Consultant is required to have the following professional and technical qualifications. Only the applicants who hold these qualifications will be shortlisted and contacted.

VIII. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING THE BEST OFFER


Upon the advertisement of the Procurement Notice, qualified Individual Consultant is expected to submit both the Technical and Financial Proposals. Accordingly; Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on

Cumulative Analysis as per the following scenario:

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. In this regard, the respective weight of the proposals are:

a. Technical Criteria weight is 70%

b. Financial Criteria weight is 30%

Criteria Weight Max. Point

Technical Competence (based on CV, Proposal and interview (if required))

70% 100

Understanding the Scope of Work (SoW); comprehensiveness of

the methodology/approach; and organization & completeness of

the proposal

50*

Criteria b. Technical competence 25__**

Criteria c. Relevant Experience 25__**

Financial (Lower Offer/Offer*100) 30% 30

Total Score Technical Score * 70% + Financial Score * 30%

IX. PAYMENT MILESTONES AND AUTHORITY

The qualified consultant shall receive his/her service fees upon certification of the completed tasks satisfactorily, as per the following payment schedule:

Installment of Payment/ Period

Deliverables or Documents to be Delivered

Approval should be obtained

Percentage of Payment

1st Installment Mobilization: Upon submission of Inception

report

RR 10%

2nd Installment Submission of draft report “ 60%

3rd Installment Submission and approval of final report “ 30%

XI. CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY INTERESTS

The Individual Consultant shall not either during the term or after termination of the assignment,

disclose any proprietary or confidential information related to the consultancy service without prior

written consent. Proprietary interests on all materials and documents prepared by the consultants

under the assignment shall become and remain properties of UNDP.

XII. ANNEXES TO THE TOR

RFF Project document

This TOR is approved by:

Signature: Abdou Touray

Name and Designation: Programme Specialist

Date of Signing: 30th August, 2021
