Background

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Albania invites qualified experts (national ones) to express their interests in possible consultancies under the Expert Roaster who can deliver professional services within the Solar Water Heating Project in the following expertise areas:

National experts:

• Legal expert on energy/building/construction and management related legislation;
• Solar thermal market analysis/policy/feasibility studies;
• Solar thermal training expert;
• Renewable energy and energy efficiency financing expert;
• HVAC engineers with the experience on the design and supervision of the installation of solar thermal systems;
• Communication expert

Project background:

Solar Water Heating (SWH) is one of the most promising technologies to reduce electricity and fuel wood consumption in Albania with a significant contribution towards greenhouse gas emission reduction.

According to the National Energy Strategy and Albania’s First National Communication and Technology Needs Assessment, over 70% of domestic hot water needs of the household and service sector in Albania is supplied by electric boilers, while the energy demand for hot water in Albania was projected to grow from 600 GWh in 2000 to 875 GWh in 2015, in the residential sector alone.

The overall development goal of the project is to facilitate the installation of 75,000 m2 of new installed collector area over the duration of the project and to reach an annual sale of 20,000 m2 by the end of the project and with expected continuing growth to reach the set target of 520,000 m2 of total installed SWH capacity by 2020.

The project intends to achieve the following outcomes:

• An enabling legal and regulatory framework to promote sustainable SWH market (policy);
• Enhanced awareness and capacity of the targeted end-users and building professionals to consider and integrate SWH systems into different types of buildings (information);
• Increased demand for SWH systems by the availability of attractive end-user financing mechanisms or other delivery models, such as utility driven models (finance);
• A certification and quality control scheme applicable for Albanian conditions and enhanced capacity of the supply chain to offer products and services promoting sustainable SWH market (technology and business skills);
• The provided support institutionalised and the results, experiences and lesson learnt documented and disseminated.

Duties and Responsibilities

National expert on the design and supervision of solar thermal installations into different types of buildings

• Evaluate the technical, economic and financial feasibility of different types of solar thermal systems in the buildings under consideration (such as standard flat plate, evacuated tube, different building integrated solutions) – supported, as needed, by other project experts, and finalise the preliminary design of the selected solar thermal system together with other energy efficiency measures promoted;
• In the case of a decision to install a solar thermal system, support and supervise the final design of the HVAC systems of those buildings that include a solar thermal component, including required equipment to facilitate the monitoring of its performance;
• Prepare the technical specifications for the tender documents and supervise the procurement and the installation of the solar thermal systems together with the other HVAC appliance(s) connected to it;
• Monitor the performance of the solar thermal system according to the agreed scheme;
• Supervising the installation and the commissioning of the systems installed.

SWH training expert

• Review the existing curricula of the SWH training courses of the educational institutes and academia related institutions, taking into account as well the activities already implemented in Albania on SWH;
• Prepare and submit the new/improved curricula for the needs of the specific courses on SWH in the identified educational institutions;
• Preparing and deliver training presentations targeting the local architects and HVAC engineers with an objective to raise their awareness on the main design principles, state-of-the-art technical solutions (including architectural design) and the economic feasibility for integrating solar thermal systems into different type of buildings;
• Prepare and deliver training materials/courses related to SWH as per the needs of the identified target groups of the professional education system in Albania.

Legal Expert on Energy/Building/Construction and Management Legislation

• Assist the MEI in reviewing and finalizing the Renewable Energy (RES) law;
• Review and prepare an overview of the experiences and lessons learnt in other countries from implementing similar promotional measures with the aim of taking these into account when preparing the secondary legislation to serve the implementation of the provisions of the RES law and other related primary legislation such as the new Energy Efficiency-EE Law;
• Assist the MEI in finalizing the secondary legislation for the RES and EE laws as relates to solar water heating;
• Assist the municipalities with the analysis and recommendations for new municipal level regulations and/or administrative orders to promote solar thermal applications in both private and public buildings as well as in both new and existing buildings;
• Draft the recommended new regulations and/or administrative municipal orders and preparing the related justification documents with support from project’s technical experts concerning any technical details or cost-efficiency of the proposed amendments; and
• Providing legal advice for and participating in the project implementation otherwise as it concerns the development of an enabling policy framework for the promotion of solar thermal investments, including drafting of the required secondary legislation.
• Providing legal advice for quality management and certification of SWH systems/components, installers and designers.

Expert on Market Analysis/Policies/Feasibility Studies

• Assist the responsible institutions (National Agency for Natural Resources or other identified ones) to implement a proposed SWH market monitoring scheme (including related quality control) year by year;
• Collect required information for and finalize annual market analysis reports during the implementation of the project, including the estimated total amounts and annual sale of installed solar thermal systems for different market segments;
• Conduct an extended research of the available information on the monitored annual yield of solar thermal systems in countries with climatic conditions, type of solar thermal systems and hot water consumption patterns similar to Albania;
• As agreed with the Project Manager, prepare or participate in the preparation of training materials and provide training for different policy stakeholders in the area of solar water heating;
• As required formulate pieces of policy papers and feasibility studies on the benefit of SWH installations per different target groups; and
• Support the feasibility of the quality management and certification of the interested SWH supply chain.

National Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Financing expert

• Overview of all the lines of credits and existing incentive programmes provided by the banks or any relevant institutions;
• Recommendations regarding the most relevant approaches to promote SWH technologies like a RES/EE Fund and the implementation of the recommended mechanism/s in partnership with the consulted stakeholders.

National Communication expert

• Develop and implement innovative communication actions to promote nationally and internationally the findings under the Climate Change Programme and increase the awareness of the targeting identified groups related to both climate change mitigation and adaptation;
• Identify potential media stories, and pitch them to media contacts as well as promote the Programme through social media networks UNDP uses.
• Collect case-studies and testimonies from UNDP Climate Change Programme’s partners and beneficiaries for use in communication for results.
• Update regularly the information under Climate Change Programme as part of the UNDP and national counterparts’ webpage.
• Arrange media interviews and press trips to the project areas.
• Prepare projects reports in coordination with the other experts of the Programme.
• Implement other duties as required.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards.
• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Display cultural, gender, nationality, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional competencies:

• Strategic vision, strong technical and analytical capabilities;
• Strong reporting and writing abilities;
• Ability to work in a team, develop synergies and establish effective working relations with government counterparts, donors, NGOs and other development partners;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment, tact, and negotiating skills, and the ability to cope with situations which may pose conflict;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to accommodate additional demands on short notice;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Ability to manage heavy workload and solve complex problems with minimum supervision.

Required Skills and Experience

National expert on the design and supervision of solar thermal installations into different types of buildings:

• Advanced University degree or equivalent in HVAC, construction or architecture engineering
• A minimum of ten years of working experience in the design of solar thermal systems;
• Demonstrated analytical and communication skills and competence in handling relations with the key project partners;
• Ability to work in a team and to motivate other team members and counterparts;
• Good working knowledge to communicate and write reports in English.

SWH training expert

• Advanced University Degree or equivalent in Energy/Architecture/Construction/Environmental Engineering, Natural Sciences, or related field
• A minimum of seven years of working experience in the energy sector;

• Demonstrated experience and success in conducting similar assessments;
• Demonstrated analytical and communication skills and competence in handling relations with the key stakeholders of the SWH market at all levels;
• Ability to work in a team and to motivate other team members and counterparts;
• Good working knowledge to communicate and write reports in English.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Financing expert

• Advanced University Degree or equivalent in economics or energy engineering and demonstrated professional experience in the specific technical areas the project is dealing with
• A minimum of ten years of working experience in the financing sector;
• Demonstrated analytical skills and effective communication and competence in handling relations with the key stakeholders of the financing institutions in Albania;
• Ability to work in a team and to motivate other team members and counterparts;
• Good working knowledge to communicate and write reports in English.

Legal Expert on Energy/Building/Construction and Management Legislation

• Advanced University Degree or equivalent in Law, specialised in energy, environment, building construction and building management  area
• A minimum of ten years of working experience in the energy/building/construction sector;
• Good knowledge of the current energy-related legal and regulatory framework in Albania and the required changes to address Albania’s EU accession requirements;
• Excellent knowledge of National Administrative and Constitutional Law;
• Good analytical skills and effective communication and training skills and competence in handling external relations at all levels;
• Ability to work in a team and to motivate other team members and counterparts;
• Good working knowledge to communicate and write reports in English.

Expert on Market Analysis/Policies/Feasibility Studies

• Advanced University Degree or equivalent in Energy/other Engineering, Natural Sciences, or related field
• A minimum of ten years of working experience in the energy sector;
• Demonstrated experience and success in conducting similar assessments, including economic and financial analysis;
• Demonstrated capacity to obtain and analyse the market data required for the assessment;
• Demonstrated analytical and communication skills and competence in handling relations with the key stakeholders of the SWH market at all levels;
• Ability to work in a team and to motivate other team members and counterparts;

Good working knowledge to communicate and write reports in English in addition to fluency in Albanian

National Communication expert

• University degree in communication/journalism, social sciences or related field;
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience with communications, preferably in the environment related area;
• An understanding of advocacy and the role of communications in advocacy work;
• Excellent knowledge of English language. Excellent writing skills;
• Knowledge on climate change issues is an added value;
• Ability to work under pressure, to manage and prioritize competing demands, and to meet deadlines.

Evaluation of applicants:

Applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies specified above for each thematic area. The inclusion into the Vetted Roster of Experts will be offered to those individual consultants whose offers have been evaluated and determined as (a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and (b) having received high scores specific to the solicitation.

Technical Criteria – 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Relevance of education to the selected thematic area (hereafter ‘area’) – 10 points;
• Relevance of specific professional experience to the area – max. 15 point;
• Familiarity with the UNFCCC National Communication Process – max. 20 points;
• Proven drafting and formulation skills (based on the record of existing publications) – max. 10 points;
• Familiarity with UNDP mandate and/or approach relevant to the area; experience working with other international organizations or in public sector; experience with public policy or capacity development – max. 10 points;
• Fluency in English– max. 5 points;
• Interview – 30 points (Only highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job based on the CV desk review will be invited for an interview).

Financial Criteria – 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

UNDP applies the ‘Best value for money’ approach - the final selection will be based on the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

Contracting Arrangements:

The successful candidates will be included in UNDP’s technical expert roster for the period of 3 years. Entry into the expert roster system does not necessarily mean that contract with UNDP is guaranteed. This will depend on forthcoming needs.

Where a request for services arises, the UNDP Climate Change Programme shall directly contract the consultant from the roster without the need for further selection process. A specific Term of Reference (ToR) outlining the outputs for each assignment shall be provided and an Individual Contract (IC)/Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be issued to the consultant, detailing the time frame directly by the contracting unit/office. Conditions of a particular assignment may be negotiable.

Payments:

Payments will be made as specified in the actual contract upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter, including applicant's qualifications for the advertised position. The letter should be pasted into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
• A clear identification of ONE primary thematic area of interest and expertise (number and title of the specific thematic areas above) for which the applicant is applying.
• If applicable, it is possible to select secondary thematic area(s).
• Filled P11 form for SC and ICs; (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.al.undp.org/content/albania/en/home/operations/jobs/  ; please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
• Financial Proposal – daily fee in ALL (merge as explained above)

Applications without financial proposal will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all other requested materials.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their financial proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores. UNDP retains the right to contact references directly.  Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.