UNDP Jobs - 58035- International Consultant on PCBs/ Project Design

International Consultant on PCBs/ Project Design

Location :

Home Based and Podgorica,, MONTENEGRO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2015

Application Deadline :

05-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

10 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

September 2015 - June 2016

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Montenegro legislation on PCBs (Rulebook on handling equipment and waste containing PCBs (OGM 48/12)) establishes that PCB containing equipment has to be identified and phased-out by 2020. Further, it is worthwhile noting that Montenegro has implemented certain preparatory activities on aligning its national legislative framework to that of PCB/PCT Directive 96/59/EC (on polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls) and the current versions of the Waste Management Law (OGM,64/11) and the Rulebook on Processing Equipment and Waste Containing PCB (OGM, 48/12) were updated with key regulatory pieces from the EU reference directives on PCB management.

The deadlines for the elimination of PCB / PCT are defined in the Waste Management Law (2020). Montenegro is a party to the Stockholm Convention since 2010 and the National Action Plan for the implementation of the Convention was adopted in 2013.

Holders of PCB/PCT-containing equipment and waste are obliged to keep records and submit reports to the EPA every year. They must also prepare management plans for the equipment and waste containing PCB/PCT with the measures for their removal or decontamination. The competent authorities are in place. EPA is in charge of compiling reports delivered by the holders of PCB/PCT waste/equipment. The Inspection Directorate will monitor the disposal, decontamination and storage facilities.

The Government of Montenegro identified the following main aspects lacking from enforcing proper implementation of PCB regulations:

Comprehensive inventories of the existing PCB equipment as national so at the holders’ sites;
Data on storage and removal of the obsolete equipment and waste oils containing PCB by PCB equipment owners;
Uniform instructions for identification, decontamination, use, transport, storage and disposal of PCB equipment or products.

Although the project expects to solve all the remaining PCBs issues in the country, it shall ensure that enough capacity for the sound management of PCB would have been built for the management of any further PCBs identified after project’s closure. The project will consist of the following four (4) components:

Component 1. Capacity strengthening on PCB management - The project will deliver practical training on the issues related to all the stages of PCB management, including: sampling and analysis of PCBs; storage and maintenance of PCB contaminated equipment; disposal technologies from the technical and economic standpoint.

Component 2. PCB Inventory, planning and establishment of public-private partnership - PCB inventory will be updated and completed with sampling and analysis of phased out and in-use equipment. PCB national management plan will be drafted and approved, and an innovative public-private partnership for the management of PCB contaminated equipment and waste will be established.

Component 3. Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of PCBs - This component will be undertaken building on the experience and activities already carried out by the country, and further ensuring that the activities of PCB disposal will be carried out in compliance with BAT/BEP and at the best cost/effectiveness ration. Selected storage facilities will be upgraded for the safe storage of PCB equipment pending disposal or decontamination. Environmentally sound technologies or services for PCBs disposal will be identified, assessed and procured. Environmentally sound management of PCBs will be ensured with the disposal or decontamination of at least 700 t of PCBs contaminated equipment and waste and 200 t of contaminated soil.

Component 4. Monitoring, Learning, Adaptive Feedback and Evaluation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectivities of assignment: The principle overall output of the PPG will be the final full-sized project proposal in two formats: GEF CEO Endorsement Document and UNDP project document format with detailed definition of the project scope in terms of technical details, cost estimates (both GEF eligible and co-financed), co-financing commitments, and implementation arrangements as set out in the Project Document, including: i) endorsement of project design with the government and other counterparts, ii) barrier analyses, based on consultant reports and a multi-stakeholder workshop; iii) a logical framework, based on a multi-stakeholder workshop and the recommendations of consultancy studies, including indicators and quantified targets, combined with baseline values; iv) a project budget and work plan in standard UNDP and GEF format inclusive of co-financing commitments; v) a monitoring and evaluation strategy; vi) a learning and replication strategy and ix) text and supportive technical analyses detailing the justification and strategies of the project.

Scope of the work: Under the guidance of UNDP Project Manager, guidance of UNDP Regional Technical Adviser from Istanbul regional Hub, the Consultant will act as an overall advisor and technical resource person during the development of the Project with respect to its detailed design and documentation in the Full sized GEF CEO Endorsement document for further submission to the GEF for final approval.

This will involve provision of technical support for the various tasks defined in the PPG including:

Overall coordinating function for the formulation of the FSP with elements of peer review and mediation of various interests;
Assistance to and peer review of the various outputs of local consultants;
Provision of international references, specifications, documentation and standards for the PCB stockpile management and site remediation activities planned;
Development of UNDP project component and sub-component design and cost estimates;
Finalization of full-sized project proposal and related GEF submission materials;
Liaison with the implementing agencies and parallel bilateral initiatives as requested;
Advice on acquisition of formal detailed co-financing commitments for UNDP components, and the project in general; and
Advice to the government on implementation of the project in future.

Consistent with the above general scope, the Consultant will undertake the following activities in support of the overall development of the project proposal:

To draft and finalize GEF Full-Sized Project CEO endorsement proposal and UNDP project document in the required format and related documentation for further submission to the GEF;
To address comments from the GEFSEC, STAP reviewers and GEF Council Members on the proposal during submission and final approval processes (including the case if approval period will exceed contracting period);
To support project team in liaising with donor agencies, international organizations, similar initiatives to identify, confirm and obtain formal commitments for co-financing;
To provide input into capacity building scope;
To develop detailed project work plan, TORs for the expert group and consultancy services, as well as implementation guidance in general;
To conduct site visits when needed for purposes of the project’s formulation and to prepare project stakeholders for essential elements of future project implementation;
To advise on international best practices, to identify existing technologies for high and low concentration treatment and disposal of PCBs and PCB contaminated equipment, and site clean-up operations;
To provide support in developing technical specifications and technology option recommendations for high concentration PCB disposal and low concentration PCB contaminated equipment treatment, and contaminated soils;
To provide general advice and assistance as requested in the development by local consultants of the scope for various technical capacity strengthening activities contemplated for the Project To contribute and participate in the project interim workshop, disseminate related materials and to deliver presentations as necessary.

Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University degree (MSc, MA or PhD) in environmental protection and management, chemical and industrial engineering, and other relevant fields;
A relevant university degree in combination with qualifying experience in the project design, monitoring and management may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

At least 5 years of proven experience in GEF project design, preparation and implementation under UNDP and other Implementing Agencies; handling of GEF review processes;
Knowledge of and experience with implementation of the multilateral environmental agreements (Stockholm, Basel and other related conventions and agreements) and their detailed requirements in terms of GEF strategic priorities;
Long-term specialization in POPs and hazardous waste management is a strong advantage;
Understanding of and practical exposure to the institutional framework governing chemical and waste management in developing countries and countries with economies in transition;
Proven practical experience in information gathering and research methodology; experience in coaching/mentoring/assisting team of consultants;

Language:

Fluency in English both written and spoken.

Criteria for selection:
Combined Scoring method will be used. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the inidividual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

(i) Responsive, compliant, acceptable; and
(ii) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical criteria weigth - 70% (Background and education 10%; Relevant previous experience 20%; Substantial knowledge/Required competencies 30%; Required language 10%).

Financial criteria weight - 30%.

Only offerors obtaining a minimum 490 points for technical criteria will be considered for the financial evaluation.
For more information on procurement methodology for Individual Contractors, please refer to Procurement Notice.

Application procedure

Interested applicants are requested to submit their applications by July 20th, 2015 by using the Apply now button. The application should contain a duly completed Personal History Form (P11) that can be downloaded from http://www.me.undp.org/content/montenegro/en/home/operations/jobs.html.

Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in EUR) requested for the work envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".