Background

The GEF funded “Moldovan Environmental Fiscal Reform Project” was launched in 2011 and sets out to build capacities for implementing environmental fiscal reforms (EFR) that will produce increased national and global environmental benefits through the adoption of selected subsidies, fees, fines, taxes and other appropriate fiscal instruments.
One of the objectives of the project is the improved management and performance of the National Ecological Fund (NEF) including project cycle management, which is the main financing source in the environment sector. 

The NEF was created in 1998, is a financing instrument managed by the Government of Moldova according to the Fund Regulation, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment that allows accumulation of financial resources which are subsequently used for the implementation of relevant environmental priorities. Resources are distributed on a competitive basis, providing grants to local authorities, businesses and the civil society. 250 projects were approved and financed during 2011. Although during the past years several modifications were made to the current regulatory framework of the Fund, further review of its management practices are required in order to increase transparency and participation in the decision making process and ensure a better collaboration with other state institutions, as well as to improve the operational procedures and project management cycle in order to ensure targeted and efficient use of the available financial resources.

Duties and Responsibilities

The main objective of this assignment is to provide support to the Ministry of Environment to evaluate and revise the legal and institutional framework as well as management practices of the National Ecological Fund and to provide recommendations for improved Project Cycle Management.
Deliverables
  • Assessment of gaps and areas of improvement related to NEF governance structure and project cycle management based on the desk review of all relevant documents and consultations with key stakeholders
  • Draft institutional structure of NEF, including improved existing structure or a new one, that should be accepted by key stakeholders;
  • Priority spending areas identified; 

    • Draft NEF Regulations with:

    • improved governance and decision making structure;
    • improved transparency;
    • improved NEF internal documents circulation;

    Draft NEF Operational Manual that would include (but not limited to) the following:

    • governance and decision making procedures;
    • conditions for eligibility;
    • terms and conditions governing NEF grants;
    • operations cycle of NEF activities;
    • explanation of each step in the operation cycle;
    • complaints processing and resolution;
    • reporting;
    • disclosure and visibility, etc.

    Draft detailed scheme and procedures for PCM including (but not limited to):

    • list of required application documents;
    • proposals’ appraisal (list of evaluation criteria, evaluation of expected impacts, etc.);
    • disbursement;
    • monitoring;
    • evaluation; etc.
    • Proposed new financing instruments, including (but not limited to):
    • loans;
    • bank loan guarantee; etc.
    • Recommendations on legal and institutional framework improvements with formulated amendments and explanatory notes;
    • Participation at round table discussions on the findings and recommendations (1 day);
    • Final NEF Regulation, Final NEF Operational Manual incorporating the findings of the consultation processes;

    Detailed procedures for PCM for 2-3 priority spending areas, including (but not limited to):

    • specific criteria for applications selection and appraisal;
    • specific monitoring methods;
    • evaluation of project results; etc.
    • Next steps for implementation of proposed recommendations and formulated amendments to legal framework.

Competencies

Technical work 
  • Thorough understanding of environmental financing instruments;
  • Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in governance and operational management of Environmental Funds.
  • In depth knowledge and experience on project cycle management.
  • Experience in drafting strategic documents and legal framework proposals.
Partnerships
  • Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high-ranking members of international, regional and national institutions.
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
  • Good oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors.
  • Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of analytical documents.
Results
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Advanced university degree in environmental management, public finance, economics, or a closely related field.
Experience:
  • A minimum of 10 years relevant work experience in improved regulation and management of Environmental Funds or similar projects;
  • Demonstrated solid knowledge of environmental financing and project cycle management;
  • Good knowledge of Rio Conventions requirements;
  • Demonstrated experience in environmental financing analysis and investment projects implementation;
  • Experience in improved project cycle management of Environmental Funds;
  • Experience in the policy development process associated with environment, climate change and sustainable development would be an asset;
  • Experience in working and collaborating with governments would be an asset;
  • Experience of work in Central and Eastern European countries would be an asset.
Language
  • Excellent English writing skills are essential. Knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian would be an asset.
Documents to be included when submitting the proposals
  1. Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
  2. Proposal explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
  3. Financial proposal;
  4. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references or the dully filled Personal History Form (P11).
Financial proposal
 
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 installments 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 travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).  
 
Travel
 
IC will have two missions to Moldova tentatively on week no. 39 and 44. The number of days spent in Moldova for each mission is 5 days.
 
All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. 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.
In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.
 
Evaluation
 
Initially, individual consultants will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:
  • Advanced university degree in environmental management, public finance, economics, or a closely related field;
  • At least 10 years of relevant work experience in improved regulation and management of Environmental Funds or similar projects;
  • Good knowledge of Rio Conventions requirements.
The short-listed individual consultants will be further evaluated based on the following methodology:
 
Cumulative analysis
The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
  1. responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
  2. having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
 Technical Criteria – 70% of total evaluation – max. 350 points:
  • Advanced university degree in environmental management, public finance, economics, or a closely related field– 50 points max
  • 10 years of relevant work experience – 40 points max
  • Demonstrated solid knowledge of environmental financing and project cycle management – 40 points max
  • Good knowledge of Rio Conventions requirements – 30 points max
  • Demonstrated experience in environmental financing analysis and investment projects implementation - 30 points max
  • Experience in the policy development process associated with environment, climate change and sustainable development - 30 points max
  • Experience in working and collaborating with governments - 30 points max
  • Experience of work in Central and Eastern European countries - 30 points max
  • Professional command of written and spoken English, knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian - 30 points max
  • Interview - 40 points max
Financial Criteria – 30% of total evaluation – maximum 150 points.
 
The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring + financial scoring).