Consultant, Review of SGP Engagement with Indigenous Peoples’ networks (Retainer)

With regards to the review of SGP’s engagement of indigenous peoples, including its approaches over the past decades, project portfolio analysis, and draw lessons from these experiences.  It is also expected that this analysis would lead to feasible forward-looking suggestions and plans, building on opportunities and challenges of the GEF and other partners.  

The review is expected to build upon, extend and deepen, a preliminary analysis of GEF programming with IPs conducted by the GEF IEO in 2017 as part of the 5th Overall Performance Assessment (finalized in the fourth quarter of 2017). The primary target for the review of SGP engagement will be indigenous peoples partner networks themselves (i.e. what has worked, and what could be improved upon), as well as donors (i.e. GEF Council and Secretariat, as well as bilateral governments).

It is expected that the review of the SGP engagement with indigenous peoples’ networks will also be relevant to assist with resource mobilization and outreach efforts being conducted by the UNDP in relation to multilateral funding available as part of the follow-up commitments arising from the UNFCCC COP22 in Marrakech (Nov 2016). Expected impacts of the review include: (i) the development of an enhanced portfolio of SGP projects with indigenous and marginalized communities in line with the strategic priorities of the GEF and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and (ii) sharing of lessons learned from IP-initiated and led projects supported by the SGP.

The consultant will be expected to reach out to and interview stakeholders at the global and national levels to conduct this review.  At the national level, this will include selected: (i) SGP country teams (National Coordinators and Programme Assistants); (ii) National Steering Committee (NSC) members, with attention to the role of the NSC focal point for indigenous peoples; as well as (iii) indigenous peoples’ partners and stakeholders (i.e. national IP organisations and federations). At the regional and global levels, the consultant will review and analyse SGP efforts and initiatives to engage with key policy and international advocacy platforms (i.e. UNPFII, UNFCCC, CBD, Green Climate Fund, regional indigenous fora etc.), and interview key partners for necessary inputs.

• Provide advice, support and inputs on strategic directions to the SGP Global Manager (based at UNDP HQ in New York) and SGP Central Programme Management Team focal point on indigenous peoples (based in the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub) to review SGP’s engagement working with indigenous peoples;
• Building on the 2017 GEF IEO assessment of GEF programming with IPs, provide an overview on the related project portfolio and activities, and their results and impacts. Prepare and carry out a follow-up survey looking in more detail at SGP’s engagement with IPs over multiple Operational Phases and global partnerships, dating back to the 1990s, as/where relevant on both projects and policies at the country level;
• Consult by e-mail, telephone and other web-based options (i.e. group-based webinars) with target SGP country teams to assess needs and capacity-building needs and training materials to engage IPs at national, regional and global levels;
• Support the CPMT and coordinate inputs from other consultants where necessary to conduct a desk review of guidance on engagement of IPs from relevant donors[1].
• Work with the CPMT, SGP country teams, and National Steering Committees (NSC) to identify possible new strategic approaches, opportunities and partnerships for the SGP 7th Operational Phase (OP7);
• Assist UNDP in joint resource mobilization efforts, where appropriate, to build high-level strategic partnerships with international institutions (i.e. GEF, Green Climate Fund, IFAD) relevant to the expansion of the SGP IPs programme at global, regional and local levels.

[1] These may include inter alia the UNDP Equator Initiative/WIN, International Funders of Indigenous Peoples (IFIP), Conservation International (CI), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Tribal Link, The Christensen Fund (TCF), International Society of Ethnobiology (ICE), Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Assessment, International Network of Mountain Indigenous Peoples (INMIP), Ford Foundation, Oak Foundation, IFAD, FAO, WIPO, Swedbio, and/or other bilateral donors and programmes.

• A Master degree in a field related to Environment, Anthropology, Human Rights, or Resource Management.
• A Bachelors degree and additional 2 years relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of a Master Degree. 

• A minimum of 7 or more years of professional experience in sustainable development, and/or management of natural resources for a Master degree. A minimum of 9 or more years of professional experience is required for a Bachelor degree.
• Strong knowledge of participatory methodologies, interview techniques, survey methods, and statistical analysis of data results.
• Additional international professional experience in a grant-making foundation and/or trust fund, NGO, featuring work in collaboration indigenous peoples is preferred.

The candidates must have demonstrated an ability to work to deadlines and to undertake independent problem solving. The ideal candidate will show initiative and enthusiasm for the consultancy, be willing to learn new skills and is knowledgeable of UN system ideas and objectives.

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Duration and form of payment: The contract is outputs-based and will be remunerated upon certification by the GEF SGP Central Programme Management Team (CPMT) upon submission of the finalized outputs, including relevant supporting documentation conducted over a six-month period (refer below for payment schedule).

If required, any payment for related travel requirements will be handled outside of the current contract terms. Travel request needs to submitted prior to the travel date.

Payment schedule

Payment 1        Inception report with proposed outline + methodology    20%

Payment 2        Preliminary set of data/results + draft report                  50%

Payment 3        Final report                                                                   30%

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

 ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

Small Grants Cluster

The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by UNDP on behalf of the GEF partnership of agencies, supports innovative approaches in addressing global environmental priorities with sustainable development needs. Since its launch in 1992, SGP has done this by providing small grants to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs) and indigenous peoples (IPs) for projects they design themselves following a human rights-based approach.

By encouraging community and country ownership of grassroots projects, several evaluations of the SGP carried out jointly by the GEF and UNDP Independent Evaluation Offices (IEOs) have noted that the SGP has been the major mechanism of the GEF in engaging Indigenous Peoples, and the programme has helped cultivate, and contribute to, the development of national-level civil society movements and indigenous peoples’ networks.

Over the course of its 25 years of implementation, the SGP has also invested in a ‘Grant-makers+’ role in support of indigenous peoples at national, regional and global levels. In doing so, the SGP has pioneered and tested various innovations in local grant-making techniques including: (i) use of local and vernacular languages, and other alternative proposal formats (i.e. almanario, and photo-voice methodologies); (ii) increased uptake of new technologies (i.e. GIS and P3DM mapping, video proposals); as well as (iii) strengthening the linkages between SGP and relevant regional and/or international indigenous networks, foundations and NGOs (i.e. OP6 Indigenous Peoples Fellowship).

At the global level, the SGP is an active member and advocate for indigenous peoples’ interests as part of the GEF Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group (IPAG); the UN Inter-Agency Support Group (IASG) on indigenous issues; and has supported various UN-level initiatives in support of indigenous peoples including the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP) held during the UN General Assembly (Sept 2014) resulting in the System-Wide Action Programme (SWAP) to support the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).