NDC Financial Strategy and Investment Plan Consultant

Background

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

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 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 Financing Strategy and Investment Plan to 2030 for Ukraine’s NDCto a point where it can be submitted to the government for endorsement, with the following objectives:

A. Enabling the government and other stakeholders to operationalise priority actions identified in the NDC;

B. Identify funding for the NDC priority actions by source:

Public;
International (development partners); and
Private (national and international) sources.

C. 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.

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:

Basic Document Review
The updated NDC and the 2NDC Analytical Paper
Ukraine’s National reports to the UNFCCC; and
Other climate related policy documents and sectoral strategies, including but not limited to:
Government programmes and strategies;
Action plans at the national and sub-national levels and
Documents prepared under parallel workstreams:
Experience from Ukraine and best practice from other countries related to gender policies, multilateral financial mechanisms (GEF, CIFs etc.) and other relevant climate finance strategies and mechanisms;
Government Processes Review
Review of budget programmes with a view to identify climate change (CC) related budget programmes by mapping the NDC structure against the budget programmes structure that will require prioritized action during the NDC implementation;
Budgetary 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 Ministry of Finance of Ukraine during financial and budgetary planning.
Data Review – Review the climate finance landscape in the country and assess funding gaps that require international support and private sector investments to enable Ukraine to be on track to reach the targets under the NDC by analyzing the following:
Where available, review the current status of climate finance strategies, which should include:
Existing climate investment plans or policies that may be in place, whether at the national, subnational or sectoral level;
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:

Climate Finance Strategy including the following elements:
Country-level NDC climate financing and investment strategy taking into account public, private, bilateral and multilateral financing options, including:
Costing (Gross investments as overnight capital requirements) of the priority actions for the NDC (based on unconditional and conditional targets) priority actions to 2030 which should specify funding available through government planned expenditure and Sector Plans and Sub-national development Plans to allow the identification of funding gaps;
Financing options for international climate financing to close these gaps through:
International funds;
Private sector financing; and
Paris Agreement mechanisms as follows:
Cooperative approaches under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement
Carbon markets as defined in Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement and.
Identification of potential investment opportunities for private sector implementation of the NDC priority actions to 2030, considering barriers for private sector investment; and
Guidelines for resource mobilization
Recommendations to the Ministries of Environment and Finance on increasing prioritization and mainstreaming of climate change relevant budget programmes during budget formulation (e.g. via integration of CCF into the budgetary process and decision-making etc.).
Implementation roadmap for the financing strategy. This should include:
Policy recommendations for an improved sectoral financial architecture which could consider, among others, tax reforms, market mechanisms, etc;
Identification of capacity gaps and the development of a related capacity building plan for public and private sector entities. This could include recommendations for raising awareness and providing trainings on business plans and innovative financing for climate priority actions with the goal to strengthen public private partnerships to mobilize and deliver on the climate change goals.
Measures to increase private sector engagement and overcome barriers to incentivize climate action-related investments for mobilization of climate finance
Recommendation on institutional arrangements for the oversight and coordination of climate finance activities in the country;
Stakeholder mapping to identify stakeholders implementing the actions, their responsibilities;
Realistic timelines to achieve the priority actions identified in the NDC; and
Recommendations that would allow for the continuous improvement of the Financial Strategy and Investment Plan.

Phase 2: Finalization of NDC Financing Strategy and elaboration of Investment Plan to 2030

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:

Strategy
Specific recommendations and strategy for accessing climate finance for the above-mentioned components of the assessment.
Reforms needed to integrate country climate policy and budget planning process and how process wise climate issues can be integrated in national budget negotiation/planning process
Investment
Programme of investments required to implement each priority action in the NDC, as well as a concrete strategy for meeting those financing needs.
Plan and schedule for accessing the various identified financial options for NDC implementation channels of funding.
Financing instruments for the eligible NDC sectors, sub-sectors and technologies and include public sector funding/de-risking instruments and private sector financing where appropriate and feasible and prepare detailed implementation steps. This should include a stakeholder mapping to identify the stakeholders implementing the actions, responsibilities of the different stakeholders and realistic timelines to achieve the priority actions identified in the over the short, medium and long-term.
Resource mobilization plan including
Matrix of potential development partners or donors, private sector, and financing institutions at both national and international levels; and
Investment guide and project pipeline with thematic areas for investment from the public, private, donors and other specific sectors and sub-sectors

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

No.

Deliverable

Timing

(after signing the contract)

Amount

Payment

1

Work plan for the assignment

1 week

30%

2

Draft Inception Report

1 month

2.1

Final Inception Report

1.5 months

3

Review Report integrating:

A. Basic Document Review;

B. Government Processes Review

C. Data Review

D. Review of Current Status of Climate Finance Strategies

3 months

20%

5

Draft NDC Financial Strategy and Investment Plan

4 months

20%

5.1

Final NDC Financial Strategy and Investment Plan

6 Months

30%

6

Final report covering the whole assignment

6 months

7. RESPONSIBILITIES

The Consultant shall:

Report to the EU4Climate Project National Coordinator and the Senior Expert on NDS Financing 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 Environmental Protection and Natural Resources 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.

Competencies

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.

Required Skills and Experience

9. EXPERIENCE OF Consultant

At least Master’s degree in Sustainable Policy, environmental sciences, energy, engineering, climate science, environmental studies, economics, or closely related fields
At least 7 years of professional experience in climate finance field (Minimum Requirement)
Experience in conducting financial assessments and/or costing for climate policy papers and/or climate measures/actions (Minimum Requirement)
Experience in developing climate related strategic and policy papers such as NDC, climate action plan, low emission development strategy or similar climate related documents including NCs and BURs in Ukraine (Minimum Requirement)
Proven in-depth knowledge (evidenced by track record) of Ukrainian national financial and budgetary system (An asset)
Fliuency in Ukrainian and English.