UNDP Jobs - 60871- International Consultant for the Writing of Albani

International Consultant for the Writing of Albania’s “Third National Communication of Albania to the UNFCCC”

Location :

Home-based With One Travel Mission to Tirana, ALBANIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

29-Oct-2015

Application Deadline :

25-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

16 working days in the period 29 October 2015 – 29 February 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

After finalizing the Initial and the Second National Communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Albania has started the process for the preparation of the Third National Communication to UNFCCC. The major objectives are to update the annual Albanian Inventory of Anthropogenic GHGs to the period 2000-2005, focusing on the sectors/gases that have a significant share of GHG emissions such as the transport sector; downscaled global models will be developed to regionalize climate projections and apply in Vulnerability and Adaptation assessments that are focused on the entire coastal region; state-of-the-art GHG mitigation modeling frameworks will be used to developed a national low carbon development strategy. Albania’s description of national circumstances will be updated, as well as the steps to be taken or envisaged to implement the Convention. Finally, the project will continue to build institutional capacity for implementing the Convention in Albania including undertaking activities related to climate change education and awareness.

The project team has already drafted the technical chapters of the Albania’s TNC, respectively: (i) National Circumstances, (ii) GHG inventory; (iii) GHG mitigation; (iv) Vulnerability and adaptation; and (v) Other issues. And yet, two NAMAs are provided and the document of INDC for Albania is endorsed, while a set of 10 PIF on adaptation implementation are drafted and a National Adaptation Plan is already under the formulation process.

Duties and Responsibilities

An international consultant needs to be hired to assist the project team to put together, all the different draft chapters in one document, namely Albania’ Third National Communication to the UNFCCC which would be ready for printing and publishing. The product should be written in an easy to understand and attractive style in communicating its messages.

The consultant will be provided with the e-versions of the draft chapters as well as full versions of each study developed in the course of the project implementation.

The consultant will work under the overall supervision and guidance from the Climate Change Program Manager and the V&A Technical Coordinator, with the below tasks and responsibilities:

Get familiar with the project document: “Enabling Albania to prepare its Third National Communication to the CoP of the UNFCCC”; including objectives, outcomes, outputs and activities;
Get familiar with the relevant decision of the Conference of the Parties and latest guidance of the UNFCCC on the National Communications from Non-Annex 1 Parties: http://www.unfccc.int;
Review and get familiar with the already submitted Third National Communications from Non-Annex 1 Parties from Europe and Central Asia such as Georgia, Macedonia, etc.;
Based on the UNFCCC guidance on the required content of the Albania’s TNC and the outline of the chapters, discuss with the team and the project manager the final outline for the Albania’s Third National Communication;
Get familiar with the draft chapters of the TNC, already prepared by the national team;
Get familiar with the NAMAs, INDC and NAP provided for Albania;
Write-up the whole report in English language on the basis of the draft chapters provided in a clear and comprehensive language as per the outline agreed above;
Edit the report, taking into particular consideration that the report must be presented with an excellent written English, easy to understand and innovative in communicating its messages;
Design the graphic layout of the report and, after consulting with the project manager and getting her approval, deliver the final version of the report;
Circulate the report with the project team for comments;
Compile the executive summary of the report and attach it to the whole document;
Submit the report in an electronic version, ready for the printing process.

Competencies

Corporate 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, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

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.
Very good computer skills, especially in layout design;
Very good computer skills, especially in layout design;
Good facilitation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education/Academic Qualification:

Advanced university degree in engineering, natural sciences, or related fields.

Work experience:

At least 7 (seven) years of extensive working experience on climate change issues;
Previous experience with performance reviews of the national communications and the national communication preparation process;
Previous expertise in writing up similar reports, preferably national communications and other climate change related publications.

Language requirement:

Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English.

Evaluation of applicants:

Applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies specified above. The inclusion into the International Expert 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. 10 points;
Proven drafting and formulation skills (based on the record of existing publications) – max. 20 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;

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 total duration of assignment will be up to 16 working days for the period: 29 October, 2015 – 29 February, 2016. The assignment may also involve at least one mission to Albania, including but not limited to any consultation with the project team after the preparation of the first draft of the report. Throughout the assignment the rest of the work will be performed at home basis as per the above mentioned tasks. The consultant will report on his work to the Climate Change Program Manager.

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 procedure:

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.
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 USD

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.