The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is seeking applications for its program entitled “Implementation of Finance Solution in the Negros Island”.
The United Nations Development Program through its Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Project, has been supporting the Philippine Government in articulating the financial resources it needs to maintain a healthy biodiversity portfolio in-country. In particular, BIOFIN in collaboration with Department of Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau has conducted the following assessments: 1) Policy and Institutional Review (PIR); 2) Public and Private Biodiversity Expenditure Review (PPBER); 3) Assessment of financial needs (cost and gap analysis of implementing Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP)). These assessments significantly contributed to the development of a Biodiversity Finance Plan.
Based on insights gained from the results of the three BIOFIN assessments, this Plan acknowledges the importance of tapping additional financing to support the biodiversity agenda of the Philippines, mainly through its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP), referred to henceforth in this Plan as the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP).
This Plan is cognizant of the parallel challenges that could not be addressed by generating financing alone: thus, the Plan transcends the focus on generating additional resources and also identifies a range of “finance solutions” that leverage finance, fiscal and economic tools and strategies to improve the outcome of biodiversity objectives in the country. Financing solutions include a range of transformative actions: generating more financing to fund the PBSAP or associated planning documents; appropriate attribution of biodiversity expenditures in the budget; attaining cost effective budget execution by eradicating overlaps in biodiversity functions; eradicating expenditures that continue to or aggravate dissipation of biodiversity resources; and paving the groundwork for a responsive policy environment through greater awareness on biodiversity and biodiversity financing and enhancing institutional support towards monitoring of PBSAP.
Scope of Work and Methodology
UNDP through a Responsible Party Agreement with an NGO/CSO, will assist the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental in the implementation of selected finance solutions. Apart from this, the Responsible Party (RP) shall also foster a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among the DENR, UNDP and the provincial LGU for each of the Negros provinces.
The NGO/CSO is required to assign at least 2 full-time technical staff who will be deployed to Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental to assist the relevant provincial offices in implementing the tasks described.
UNDP BIOFIN Orientation
NGO/CSO technical staff shall arrange orientation meetings with relevant officials and staff of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental to prepare for the collaboration. PMU shall provide necessary materials and participate in said orientation meetings, whenever possible.
Project Cooperation MOA with the 2 provinces
Prior to the assistance that the RP will be providing to the 2 provinces, a project cooperation MOA shall be each signed among the DENR, UNDP and the respective provincial governors. BIOFIN shall prepare a draft MOA that will be vetted with the DENR, UNDP and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. The RP shall be responsible for:
Initiating meetings with concerned provincial offices to discuss the MOA;
Coordinate closely with BIOFIN PMU regarding any comments and/or concerns of the provincial governments about the MOA; and
Organize MOA signing activity with the 2 provinces.
The MOA shall include at least the provisions.
Cooperation of the Provincial Government (PLGU) in implementing the Finance Plan.
PLGU shall designate a focal person who will coordinate all matters related to the implementation of the activities.
Detailed responsibilities of each party
Other activities that may be decided on during the implementation phase
A more defined MOA shall be provided once the BIOFIN Policy Specialist is onboard.
Funding Information
The total budget for this project is Php 3,512,000.00 (Three Million Five Hundred Twelve Thousand Pesos Only) total agreement price inclusive of management cost.
Duration of Work
Length of engagement: 20 months
Indicative Period covered: December 2022 to July 2024.
Components
The following components should be included in the financial proposal to be submitted to UNDP as seen:
Approximate amount for the expenditure of the NGO for the scope of work/methodology in Philippine Peso (PHP)
Professional fees of key personnel inclusive of travel, living allowances and corresponding level of effort and for the period of twenty-four months
Separate costs related to additional personnel other than the 3 key personnel;
Cost of the conduct the activities including workshops, gocused group discussions, etc based on Deliverables/Scope of Work;
Management and operational costs – should be 10% of the total cost.
Facilitation of payments under the Scope of Work (breakdown per activity)
Cost for Communications, Materials, reproduction, transportation/travel, office supplies and others as may be relevant to the scope of work
All the staff working under this project must have appropriate Medical/health insurance cover.
Eligibility Criteria
The NGO/CSO must have:
Functional expertise in any of the following:
Communication and advocacy
Biodiversity/Conservation
Design and implementation of biodiversity related projects/programs
Organization management including planning, M&E and financial management.
NGO must have thematic expertise in the following:
Project management
Biodiversity conservation
The NGO/CSO must be based in the Negros Oriental or Negros Occidental, Philippines
The NGO/CSO should submit its Latest Audited Financial Statement – income statement and balance sheet to indicate Its financial stability, liquidity, credit standing, and market reputation (last 2 years)
