Description

To enable you to prepare a proposal for this assignment, please find attached the Terms of
Reference (ToR) (Attachment A) and the UNESCO’s contract for Individual Consultants, the
contracting modality used for these assignments (Attachment B). Your written offer should
comprise:

(1) A Technical Proposal consisting of:

• an up to date curriculum vitae including the contact details of three professional
references, and
• an approach and methodology for the assignment, a workplan and comments on the
Terms of Reference if any (max. 2 pages).

(2) The total amount to be charged for the assignment, which should be quoted in US dollars
or in euros only and should indicate the consultant’s monthly rate.

Your proposal and any supporting documents must be in either English or French. Documents
should be consolidated into a single document and all file names should include the family name
of the applicant.

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as
described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the
assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those
proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall
select the proposal that offers the Organisation best value for money.

Your proposal should be submitted by e-mail to konstantina@iwlearn.org no later than end of
the day (23:59 CET) 18 April 2024. E-mail proposals should not exceed 5MB.

It is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that his/her proposal is received by the deadline.
Thank you for your interest in this UNESCO assignment; and we look forward to receiving your
proposal.

Attachment A

Terms of Reference
Technical Coordinator of the 10th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference (IWC10)

1.  BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT AND ASSIGNMENT

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the largest public funder of projects to improve the
global environment. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants
for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the
ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. The GEF International Waters (IW) focal area
targets transboundary water systems, such as river basins with water flowing from one country
to another, groundwater resources shared by several countries, or marine ecosystems bounded
by more than one nation. The GEF currently unites 183 member countries—in partnership with
international institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector—to address global
environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Since the
inception of the GEF in 1991, the IW portfolio (more than 470 projects with about US$2.8 billion
of GEF grants and US$18.6 billion in co-finance invested in more than 170 GEF recipient
countries) has delivered substantive results and replicable experiences to be scaled up and
mainstreamed globally.

GEF IW:LEARN is one of these projects, and its mandate is to promote experience sharing and
learning among the GEF IW projects and the country officials, agencies, and partners working on
them. IW:LEARN operates as a central hub of information and knowledge sharing and delivers a
host of programmatic initiatives for the benefit of the GEF IW portfolio of projects. In pursuit of
its global and regional objectives, IW:LEARN seeks to strengthen global portfolio experience
sharing and learning, dialogue facilitation, targeted knowledge sharing and replication in order
to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of GEF IW projects to deliver tangible results in
partnership with other IW initiatives. IW:LEARN is currently in its fifth phase (IW:LEARN5, 2022-
2026). More information about GEF IW:LEARN is available at www.iwlearn.net/abt_iwlearn .
One of the main activities of IW:LEARN5 is the organization of the 10th GEF International Waters
Conference (IWC10) - the signature learning event of the GEF IW portfolio. The IWC objectives
are to facilitate cross sectoral and portfolio-wide learning and experience sharing. Participants
strive to solicit advice from the existing GEF IW portfolio on burning issues and to assist in
building participant capacity in key management and technical areas. The 300-350 participants
(from more than 100 GEF IW projects and 80 countries, and including government
representatives, project managers, staff of international and non-governmental organizations,
and the private sector) sum up progress achieved and look to the future of programming within
and beyond the GEF IW focal area. The IWC10 will take place on 23-26 September 2024 in
Uruguay, with a preconference on 21-22 September 2024 in Montevideo.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY
This ToR is designed to recruit a consultant to act as IWC10 Technical Coordinator, to co-lead
the content design and implementation of the conference, ensuring that the session content is
consistent with objectives and expected outputs/outcomes set by the IWC10 committeesand
the overall strategic objectives of the GEF IW focal area, and the organisation of the
Conference is seamless.

3. SPECIFIC TASKS
The Technical Coordinator will provide key technical and content-related inputs to the execution
of the IWC10, communicating and coordinating closely with the IWC10 Organizing, Steering and
Local Host Committees, the IW: LEARN Project Coordination Unit (PCU) and associated
consultants on Communications and Knowledge Management, the GEF IW agencies and project
partners.

A. Task One: IWC10 Preparation
• Establish a detailed workplan with clear tasks, deliverables, and timelines.
• Monitor and report on progress against agreed milestones/roadmap.
• Elaborate on the findings of the IW portfolio survey of February 2024 and the inputs to
the Expression of Interest issued in April 2024, to consolidate the detailed conference
agenda and inputs.
• Co-lead the regular meetings with the IWC10 Organizing and Steering Committees, by
preparing the meeting agenda in consultation with the IW:LEARN Project Coordination
Unit (PCU) and draft the minutes of the meeting’s decisions and actions.
• Together with the IWC10 Committees and IW: LEARN PCU, lead the preparation of the
conference agenda and conference inputs, including the pre-conference targeted
workshops for project managers and other key portfolio partners. This includes liaising
with agencies and handling communications with key partners.
• Liaise with and guide the lead session coordinators from each part of the conference,
setting out objectives and expected outcomes of sessions, as well as clarifying a
reporting plan.
• Ensure the quality of IWC10 conference sessions (both design and implementation), by
ensuring that the session content is consistent with objectives and expected
outputs/outcomes set by the IWC10 Steering Committee, as well as the overall strategic
objectives of the overall GEF IW focal area.
• In collaboration with the various Committees and the IWC10 Service Provider, help
prepare the content of the technical site visits.
• In collaboration with the various Committees and the IWC10 Service Provider, prepare
the VIP programme (including identification of what and when we want them to
intervene in the conference regular program).

• Conduct meetings with session coordinators prior to the conference online and in-
person meeting prior to the conference start on location.

• Travel to conference location (Punta del Este, Uruguay) prior to the conference to
ensure all necessary arrangements on the ground, if deemed necessary.
• Support the Communications and Knowledge Management officers to provide content
and draft messages for all key IW:LEARN outreach material to be developed for IWC10.

B. Task Two: Conference execution
• Support the PCU and other Consultants during the pre-conference events and
conference. The Technical Coordinator should be available each day through the
conclusion of events and be available to support the GEF IW: LEARN PCU with general
assistance on all types of arrangements as needed.
• Ensure that flow of the conference agenda and sessions runs according to plan
• Managing presenters and provide support to the master of ceremonies, including
ensuring the collection of presentations and other conference content.

• Gather any session outputs, including presentations and other content.

C. Task Three: Conference Follow up
• Prepare the final conference report (in the context of the key conference sessions and
themes). The report should focus on key analysis and recommendations for the GEF IW
project portfolio, rather than a summary of events
• Draft the key messages for the post-conference communication.
• Contribute to the post-conference evaluation report.

4. Duration of the Consultancy
The consultancy will be last for 6 months (mid-April 2024 to mid-Oct 2024) on a 60-100 %
basis.
 

5. Deliverables
The key deliverables are:
• detailed workplan with clear tasks, deliverables and timelines
• Analysis of Expression of Interest submissions
• conference agenda-at-a-glance, conference agenda and conference inputs
• pre-conference agenda and pre-conference inputs
• technical site visit programme
• VIP programme agenda
• final conference report
• post-conference evaluation report
Throughout the duration of this contract, the Technical Coordinator will provide regular brief
progress reports (status of tasks and/or deliverables submitted) to the IW: LEARN Project
Coordinator. This schedule of deliverables and payments will be agreed with the IW: LEARN PCU
or Project Supervisor and the IWC10 organizing Committee, as appropriate.

6. Qualifications and Experience
• At least five years project management or related experience with UN organizations and
UN-implemented projects, and preferred, familiarity with regulations and procedures of
the UN System and in particular experience in UNDP/GEF, IOC/UNESCO procedures.
• Advanced university degree required, preferably in the field of international
relations/political science, economics, development studies or other related fields,
and/or technical fields like environmental management.
• Demonstrated experience in planning and organizing conferences and events. Ability to
organize, plan, and implement work assignments, able to work under pressure of
frequent and tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and reliably contribute to a
geographically distributed work environment (via phone and email), including
accountability to remotely located manager(s).
• Excellent ability to work in English.
• Very good organizational, interpersonal and oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent teamwork skills, including communication, collaboration, and responsibility.

• Strong inter-personnel skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships
and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for
diversity.
• Experience with researching and writing on international environment and/or
international development issues.
Desired qualifications:
• Familiarity with transboundary waters regions and associated issues.
• Familiarity with or, ideally, work experience in GEF International Waters recipient
countries and/or with donors or related NGOs.
• Proficiency in at least one other UN language, preferably in Spanish
 

7. Supervisory arrangements
The IW:LEARN Project Coordinator has the overall supervision of the PCU and relevant
consultants. At no point should the Consultant make representations or act on behalf of
IOC/UNESCO, any of the project partners, or IW:LEARN beyond the assigned tasks.
 

8. Facilities to be provided by UNESCO
UNESCO will provide the Consultant with all required access to working files, UNESCO network,
knowledge-management systems (including institutional email and Microsoft TEAMS accounts),
and temporary office space if needed on occasional presence at UNESCO Headquarters.
 

9. Taxes
UNESCO will not reimburse any taxes, duties or other contributions for which individuals may
be liable in respect of any payments made to them under the terms of their contract.

10. Insurance
Individuals issued with a contract for individual consultants or other specialists are covered by
UNESCO’s insurance policy for work-related illness, injury, accidents or death whilst
performing their official duties or travelling on behalf of the Organization. The insurance
premium for the coverage, as determined by Pension and Insurance Section (HRM/SPI), must
be included in the financial commitment for the contract.

11. Social Benefits
Individual consultants and other specialists shall be responsible for arranging, at their own
expense, any medical insurance that they consider necessary during the contract period.
Unless they are affiliated by virtue of their status as former staff members, they cannot be
enrolled in the UNESCO’s Medical Benefit Fund or United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.
Individual consultants and other specialists are not entitled to paid annual or sick leave.

More information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IHp17HZCSvSb_t6DtRbAn86la-hOeKAy/view