An integrated approach to strengthening climate action, improving the urban environment, and providing for more resilient settlements for the urban poor

Deadline

17 March 2022

The purpose of the Call for Expression of Interest is to solicit interest from existing or prospective Implementing Partners that wish to participate in UN-Habitat operation and contribute complementary resources (human resources, knowledge, funds, in-kind contributions, supplies and/or equipment) to achieving common objectives as outlined below and subsequently agreed in an Agreement of Cooperation

Size of grant: $40,000

Purpose of CFP: Pilot nature-based Solutions and urban biodiversity actions in the context of informal settlements upgrading and climate resilience building in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Project Key Information

UN-Habitat Project title: Integration of nature-based solutions (NBS) in country level operations of projects of the Resilient Settlements of the Urban Poor (RISE UP) programme
Locations
- Town/City: Honiara
- Country: Solomon Islands
Anticipated start date: 21 March 2022
Estimated duration of project in calendar months: 3
Maximum proposed value in US$: 40,000 (forty thousand)
Lead Organization Unit: Subprogramme 3

Brief Background of the Project

NBS solutions are integrated in selected RISE UP projects and knowledge and information on the projects is widely shared. Three locations in three LDC were selected to pilot NBS and urban biodiversity actions in the context of informal settlements upgrading and climate resilience building. The other locations are in Lilongwe, Malawi and Morondava, Madagascar respectively.

Authorities in Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, struggle to address rapid urbanization and the growth of informal settlements, while climate change will further amplify many of the resulting stresses into the future. In response, UN-Habitat’s ‘Climate Resilient Honiara’ (CRH) project, funded by the Adaptation Fund, has been set up to address many of these critical issues. As part of this programme, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have been identified as a cost-effective and inclusive way of enhancing the climate resilience of urban informal residents while working closely with the natural environment and improving liveability. In response, promoting NbS in and around human settlements will not only support livelihoods and improve liveability, it can also offer residents’ greater protection from multiple climate hazards such as coastal and riverine flooding, erosion, landslides, urban heat islands, etc. Many households in Honiara rely on marine and land-based ecosystem services to provide or supplement their livelihoods, thus, NbS and actions for enhanced climate resilience need to adopt an integrated approach that draw on traditional ecological knowledge and cultural management practices and strengthen connections with “a Pacific Way” to sustainably enhance community-level climate resilience.

The supplementary SIDA contribution will target one specific informal community in Honiara (Koa Hill community along Mataniko River, Vavaea Ward) to design and implement community open spaces/ public space and flood mitigation measures (an area worst impacted by the 2014 floods). These would include flood mitigation measures along the riverbank and the design of a community space that allows for urban gardens, sports, recreation and other community activities. Promoting community ownership will also help to deter new housing construction in this area of high flood risk.

These interventions will be implemented with the guidance of UN-Habitat’s technical partner in the CRH project, landscape architects, urban designers, and environmental engineers from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), and in close collaboration with Honiara City Council and a local implementing partner Kastom Garden Association (KGA), as well as local community members. KGA is a local NGO working on customary (traditional) food production combined with modern approaches to create an environmentally sustainable approach to small scale food production for villagers. Transferring the knowledge of rural interventions and combining them with scientific approaches to Ecosystem-based adaptation (as well as having community members involved with the co-design of the flood resilient community space) is expected to generate a proof of concept and approach for similar urban poor communities in Solomon Islands, the Pacific region, and other countries in the Global South.

Main activities and outputs

The Implementing Partner will be undertaking main activities as follows (but not limited to):

Output: NBS solutions are developed and tested and inform the RISE UP programme and knowledge and information on the projects widely shared.

Requirements:

Prepare a technical proposal on NBS/EbA solutions which contribute to climate resilience of the communities in Koa Hill informal settlements in Honiara, addressing local priorities and the co-design of actions tailored by local community groups, including for Output 1: (1) riverbank protection, (2) public use of floodplain (e.g. urban garden) and (3) inland (either landslide mitigation or water quality). For Output 2: Knowledge Management Strategy.
Prepare a financial proposal with detailed budget
Finalize the technical proposal with UN Habitat team

Output 1. Nature-based solutions developed and implemented in Koa Hill in Honiara, Solomon Islands

Develop in a participatory manner with the community and other stakeholders, nature-based solutions / ecosystems-based adaption which can include:
- riverbank protection,
- public use of floodplain (e.g. urban garden), and
- inland interventions (either landslide mitigation or water quality).
Design and implement construction / landscaping works as appropriate.
Coordinate and supervise the construction/implementation of NBS with the local communities and authorities.

Output 2. Nature-based solutions knowledge and information widely shared in Honiara, Solomon Islands

Prepare and hold outreach community sessions on nature-based solutions as climate solutions in Honiara
Disseminate widely the knowledge, information, and achievements of the project in Honiara and Solomon Islands

Deliverables expected:

Technical (knowledge management) reports on outputs 1 and 2
Continued engagement with UN-Habitat team and monthly updates on project progress through brief stories and photos/videos capturing a record of the project progress
Final technical and financial report with photos and recommendations to local authorities and communities that captures lessons learned and best practices that will facilitate the replication of the project in other locations nationally and internationally.

Risk Analysis

The following potential risks may occur, so the suggested mitigation factors need to be considered. Constant monitoring is also essential.

Risk Assessment	Mitigating Factors
Delays in the signature of the contract with the Implementing Partner.	UN-Habitat will prepare in advance all the technical and financial information relating to the contract and will thus accelerate the finalization of the contract with the Implementing Partner.
The Covid-19 pandemic could flare up in Solomon Islands or worldwide, limiting movements of project partners and possibly shifting development priorities.	Disseminate COVID-related information including on prevention as part of the project’s awareness-raising intervention at community level.
Inadequate commitment by local government and traditional authorities, and key partners	Sensitization process and dialogues with local government, traditional authorities and key champions within the line Ministries and other key partners
Reluctance of communities to join the project.	Working with local civil society organizations who are rooted within communities, helps to increase trust. In addition, the project includes continuous awareness raising and capacity development interventions at community level.
Discriminatory social norms against women and youth limiting their participation in the project.	The project will make special efforts to include women and youth in the planning and execution of the activities. In addition, the project, with partners, will engage cultural leaders to influence the change of cultural norms and practices that discriminate against women, youth and vulnerable groups.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria	Submission Details/ Documents Required
Legal Status	Certificate of registration/incorporation i.e., Proof of registration in Country of Origin. Proof of registration of Country of operation Proof of country operational presence
Organization profile and details	Clear organization profile and structure of the organization indicating: Organization’s vision, mission and objectives Management structure Members of the Governing Board and their Designations duly certified by the Corporate Secretary, or its equivalent document Proof of membership to professional associations if any.
Financial Capacity	Audited company financial statements (balance sheet and income statement) and auditors report for the last two years
Exclusive bank account	Is the organization willing and able to have a separate bank account for the funds provided by UN-Habitat?
Integrity and Governance	The organization should complete and submit a signed Partner Declaration Form Provide the profiles of the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Head of the Organization and Chief of Finance

Selection Criteria

Criteria	Submission Details/ Documents Required	Weighting
1. Technical capacity		25%
1.1 Does the organization have the relevant experience and proven track record in implementing activities in the areas of the project? Has it managed in the past projects of similar technical complexities and financial size? Is the project linked with the core business of the IP?	List of projects executed in the last 2 years (value, location, donors, nature of projects, execution stage – completed or ongoing). Demonstrate how the experiences in past projects are relevant in the execution of the current proposal References from past donors
1.2 Does the organization have qualified technical staff with the experience and the technical skills required by the project? What is the staff size, type, qualification and education background?	CVs of key management staff, technical and non-technical staff that will be involved on the project How many technical staff do you have in the concerned Country for implementing the project? Is there reasonable assurance that such technical staff required by the project will continue to be available as needed in the Project?
1.3 Does the organization have a clear and strong link with an identifiable constituency relevant to the targeted population of the project? Does it have the ability to impact on the targeted population and on the issues? Does it have strong presence in the field and for how long? Does it have adequate capacity to work in key areas/regions where the proposed field activities will be implemented?	Demonstrate, describe and provide proof of local operational presence, including link and ability to impact the targeted population.
1.4 Does the organization possess adequate physical facilities, office equipment, transport, etc. to implement the activities?	Provide location and list of office facilities, vehicles and office equipment locally available to implement the project.
1.5 Does the organization have formal procedures to monitor project execution (e.g. milestones, outputs, expenditures…)	Provide formal project monitoring policies and procedures
2. Financial and administrative capacity		15%
2.1 Has the organization been in operation over a period of at least 2 years to demonstrate its financial sustainability and relevance?	State the years of operation Financial statements for the last 2 years
2.2 Does the organization have qualified staff in Finance? Is the current accounting system computerized and does have the capacity to collect and provide separate financial reports on the activities executed under the Agreement of Cooperation? Does it have systems and practices to monitor and report whether the project deliverables and expenditures are within agreed time and budget? Does it have minimum segregation of duties in place (separation between project management, finance/accounting and executive office)	CVs of key finance and accounting staff Description and key features and controls of the accounting system used Organization structure/ Organogram
2.3 Does the organization have the capacity to procure goods and services on a transparent and competitive basis? (if applicable) check for procurement unit with experienced staff	Copies of procurement policies and procedures. The procedures should show how you procure locally and internationally.
2.4 Does the organization have formal procedures and controls to mitigate fraud such as multiple signature signatories on bank accounts, reporting and prosecution of incidences of fraud?	Describe anti-fraud controls and provide formal procedures
2.5 Does the organization have capacity to provide in-kind, financial, personnel contribution as UN-Habitat Implementing Partner in this present project? Please give details of contribution nature and size.	Describe nature and value of contribution (in-kind or cash)
3. Financial Proposal		30%
3.1 Is the budget for each component of the activity to be performed by the Implementing Partner (i) cost-effective (i.e. the cost should be economical and prudently estimated to avoid any under/over estimation) (ii) justifiable/well supported and (iii) accurate and complete	Budget Proposal <provide link> BOQ (if applicable) Other supporting documents
4. Technical Proposal		30%
4.1 The technical proposal is sound and responds adequately to the specifications and requirements?	Technical Proposal document <provide link>
Cumulative score for ratios		100%

Submission Instructions:

Technical proposals must be submitted in electronic format no later than 17 March 2022 to Bernhard Barth at the following email address: bernhard.barth@un.org copying Cerin Kizhakkethottam at cerin.kizhakkethottam@un.org and Diana Carrillo Silva at diana.carrillosilva@un.org. All related questions or clarifications must also be coursed through these email addresses.

Notes:

Interested Organizations must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochure, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc).
The CFP and accompanying documents must be received in accordance with instructions provided. CFP submitted to a different email address other than the specified one will not be considered.
CFP from applicants failing to provide the complete information to fulfill the basic eligibility criteria will be considered non-responsive.
CFP received after the above deadline will not be considered
Organizations will be selected in accordance with the procedure set out in the UN-Habitat IP Management policy and Standard Operating Procedures.
CFP from applicants failing to provide the requested information will be disregarded.
This CFP does not entail any commitment on the part of UN-Habitat, either financial or otherwise. UN-Habitat reserves the right to accept or reject any or all Proposals without incurring any obligation to inform the affected applicant(s) of the grounds.
All prices must be in USD