The EU4Climate Project helps governments in the six EU Eastern Partner countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine - to take action against climate change. It supports countries in implementing the Paris Climate Agreement and improving climate policies and legislation. Its ambition is to limit climate change impact on citizens lives and make them more resilient to it. EU4Climate is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The objective of the project is to support the development and implementation of climate-related policies by the Eastern Partnership countries that contribute to their low emission and climate resilient development and their commitments to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. It identifies key actions and results in line with the Paris Agreement, the “20 Deliverables for 2020”, and the key global policy goals set by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The project will also translate into action priorities outlined in the Eastern Partnership Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Climate Change of October 2016.

To realize this project goal, the following results should be achieved:

Result 1.Finalized or up-dated nationally determined contributions communicated to the UNFCCC;

Result 2.Improved inter-institutional awareness and coordination at political and technical level of the Paris Agreement and the corresponding national commitments;  

Result 3.Established or strengthened MRV systems, with countries getting on track with Paris Agreement transparency requirements;

Result 4.Advanced alignment with EU climate acquis as provided by bilateral agreements with EU and in the context of Energy Community Treaty on climate matters that are not covered by the EU4Energy programme;

Result 5.Establishment of concrete sectoral guidelines for the implementation of the Paris Agreement in each of the Eastern Partners;

Result 6.Increased mobilization of climate finance;

Result 7.Enhanced adaptation planning. 

2. GOAL

The project goal is to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation and the development towards a low-emission and climate-resilient economy in line with the Paris Agreement. The overall goal of the assignment is to assist UNDP Ukraine and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ukraine (MEPNR) in developing a Financial Strategy and Investment Plan for the updated NDC 2020 – 2030;

To achieve the goal of the assignment UNDP (hereinafter referred as the Client) will contract a qualified Consultant which has the relevant expertise and complies with the requirements listed in Section 9.   

3. OBJECTIVES

At the UN climate change conference in Paris in December 2015, countries adopted the Paris Agreement that sets out a global action plan for limiting global warming to “well below 2 degrees C” starting from 2020. The Agreement, which entered into force on 4 November 2016, built upon the foundation of climate pledges from 187 countries, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). In solidarity with the international community, the Ukrainian Government submitted its INDC on 19 September 2016. Since the submission of its INDC, the Government of Ukraine has been working on increasing the ambition of its first NDC by updating and submitting a revised version by 2020. Recently the Government of Ukraine has finalized updated of NDC, which sets more ambitious unconditional and conditional targets as compared to INDC 2015.

By 30 June 2021 the Government of Ukraine expected to approve and adopt the updated NDC 2030 and officially submit it to the UNFCCC Secretariat. Nevertheless, an important challenge is the transformation of the updated NDC into tangible actions that lead to long term low emission and climate-resilient development. Ukraine will need sustained financial, capacity building and technical support to regularly prepare, implement, and report on national actions under the Paris Agreement and more specifically against NDC targets for reducing GHGs. Ukraine, not being an Annex 1 country, faces a particular challenge in this regard. The UNDP supports Governments to achieve transformational change by using NDC implementation as a mechanism to scale up investment in climate change and deliver sustainable development.

Due to the expectations set by the Paris Agreement, many countries are considering the development of a country climate investment plan. This plan sets out the programme of investments required to implement long-term goals and targets embedded in their NDC and include a country specific strategy for meeting those financing needs. To access finance, countries need clear project concepts as a minimum, and financing propositions need to be developed.

The main objective of hiring the services of a Consultant to develop the Institutional Reform Section of the NDC Financing Strategy and Investment Plan for Ukraine.

The bidders are expected to present its vision and methodology regarding the below described tasks and sub-activities and scope of work in the proposal and offer any alterations or additions if relevant for the main purpose of the given assignment.

4. SCOPE OF WORK

NDC Financing Strategy and Investment Plan

The contractor is expected to undertake the following tasks:

Phase 1: Development

The consultant will elaborate the institutional reform section of the Financing Strategy and Investment Plan to 2030 for Ukraine’s NDC to a point where it can be submitted to the government for endorsement, with the following objectives:

1. Enabling the government and other stakeholders to operationalise priority actions identified in the NDC;
2. Providing an implementable overview of the required institutional reforms to deliver the NDC; and
3. The consultant will ensure that the NDC Financial Strategy and Investment Plan is gender-sensitive/responsive and aligned with the national SDGs of Ukraine. For this objective, the consultant will be supported by UNDP gender expert.
4. The consultant will throughout cooperate closely with the consultant developing the climate strategy to ensure full alignment of the two documents.

Specific Tasks:

I. REVIEW: The financing strategy should be based on an analysis of basic documents, government processes and data, as set out below, but not limited to:

1. Basic Document Review
   1. The updated NDC and the 2NDC Analytical Paper
   2. Ukraine’s National reports to the UNFCCC;
   3. Based on outputs from parallel work:
      1. Experience from Ukraine and best practice from other countries related to gender policies, multilateral financial mechanisms (i.e. GEF, CIFs etc.) and other relevant climate finance strategies and mechanisms;
   4. Other climate related policy documents and sectoral strategies, including but not limited to:
      1. Government programmes and strategies;
      2. Action plans at the national and sub-national levels.
2. Government Institutions Review
   1. Review of government institutions and programmes with a view to identify climate change (CC) related activities and responsibilities by mapping the NDC structure against the institutional and programme structure that will be required to deliver the NDC implementation;
   2. Decision-making process of Ukraine, aiming to elaborate recommendations for the alignment of the NDC Finance Strategy and Investment Plan with procedures, mechanisms and instruments conveyed by the Ministries of Finance and Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine during financial and budgetary planning.
3. Where available, review the current status of climate strategies, which should include:
   1. Existing climate investment plans or policies that may be in place, whether at the national, subnational or sectoral level;
   2. An assessment of the policy coherence and conflicts and mainstreaming efforts at national and sub-national levels, as well as existing work programmes established with bilateral or multilateral funders;

II. OUTPUTS: The following outputs are to be delivered:

Finalization of NDC Reform Strategy

Based on the outputs of Phase 1, and per consultation with stakeholders, produce an accessible summary document for policy-makers and stakeholders that covers the following elements at high level:

1. Strategy
   • Specific recommendations and strategy for reforming the institutional setup on climate finance for the above-mentioned components of the assessment.
   • Reforms needed to integrate country climate policy and decision-making process and how process wise climate issues can be integrated in national budget negotiation/planning process
2. Institutional Reform
   • Outlining roles and responsibilities of the identified institutions involved in implementing the proposed Financial Strategy and Investment Plan, based on the assessment of their resources and capacities to meet the requirements of the identified financial options for NDC implementation.
   • Recommendations for the enabling environment to facilitate the investments. These recommendations should also speak to the barriers and opportunities previously identified.

5. PROJECT DURATION

It is expected that the assignment will start in September 2021 and will take a maximum of 6 months, starting from the date of signing a contract with UNDP.

6. DELIVERABLES, SUBMISSION AND PAYMENTS

7. RESPONSIBILITIES

The Consultant shall:

• Report to the EU4Climate Project National Coordinator and the International Expert on NDC Finance Strategies
• Ensure timely and quality execution of the Terms of Reference;
• Ensure unconditional carrying out of requirements of the Contract;
• Follow the visibility and branding guidelines of EU, UNDP and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine
• Abide by the copyright rules of EU, UNDP and the Ministry of Environment of Ukraine

8. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Electronic versions of the reports and deliverables should be delivered in Ukrainian and English, if needed, to the EU4Climate Project National Coordinator following the indicated deadlines.

NDC Financial Strategy and LEDS Investment Plan deliverables will be presented to and discussed with the stakeholders. The results of these discussions, including comments received from the stakeholders, will be incorporated in the final versions of respective deliverables.

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical  standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, ethnic, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

9. EXPERIENCE OF Consultant

Service providers are kindly advised to submit CVs of proposed experts in the format that will facilitate evaluation of expert’s experience against below minimum requirements and assets:

• Legal and Policy Expert (National)

• At least Master’s degree in Sustainable Policy, environmental sciences, energy, engineering, climate science, environmental studies, economics, or closely related fields (Minimum Requirement)
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience working on applied policy-oriented financial/economic analysis for topics related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, green investments, energy policy or related field (Minimum Requirement)
• Proven experience (evidenced by track record) of working on national level financial strategy and/or investment plans in Ukraine (Minimum Requirement)
• At least three years of experience in carrying out legislative, policy, organizational, functional, needs analysis, or similar consultancy for the government organizations (Minimum Requirement)
• Work experience with the environmental, climate change or related legislation would be an asset

10. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Lump sum contract

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including professional fees, travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

11. EVALUATION CRITERIA

• At least Master’s degree in Sustainable Policy, environmental sciences, energy, engineering, climate science, environmental studies, economics, or closely related fields {8 pts, – Master;  10 pts, – PhD};
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience working on applied policy-oriented financial/economic analysis for topics related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, green investments, energy policy or related field {15 pts. – 7 years; 20 pts. – 8 and more years};
• Proven experience (evidenced by track record) of working on national level financial strategy and/or investment plans in Ukraine {14 pts. – 1-2 strategies/plans; 17 pts. – more than 3 plans/strategies};

• At least 3 years of experience in carrying out legislative, policy, organizational, functional, needs analysis, or similar consultancy for the government organizations {7 pts – 3 years, 10 pts – 4-7 years, 15 pts – 8 years and more};
• Work experience with the environmental, climate change or related legislation {0 pts – no experience, 3 pts – proven experience by track record};
• Proficiency in Ukrainian and English {5 pts. – fluent Ukrainian and English}.

Maximum available technical score - 70 points.

Evaluation method

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual contractor whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical Criteria weight; 70%

Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates that meet a passing score of 70% (49 points) for the technical evaluation will be considered and invited for an interview.

UNDP documents templates are available at the following link

NB: Please note that online system does not recognise Russian or Ukrainian language, information you provide in on-line application should be in English. You may combine your CV, financial proposal and other necessary information in one PDF file and upload the document.

https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=100975