UNDP Jobs - 76764- International Technical Expert for preparing the d

International Technical Expert for preparing the draft Strategy for Chemicals Management for period 2019-2022

Location :

Home based and Podgorica, MONTENEGRO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

26-Feb-2018

Application Deadline :

31-Jan-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

end-February 2018 - August 2018

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 working days

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 Government of Montenegro adopted the Chemicals Management Strategy 2015-2018. (hereinafter: Strategy) in January 2015. The main objective of this Strategy was to identify the appropriate measures to be taken in the period 2015-2018. taking into account identified problems, available funds, existing legal and institutional framework, as well as administrative capacities.

The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, annually reported to the Government of Montenegro on the implementation of the measures from the Action Plan. The Strategy has proposed 37 measures for implementation in the period 2015-2018 and by the end of 2018, a number of measures were implemented. Almost all the measures listed in the Action Plan of the Strategy have a continuous implementation period over the period 2015-2018, which is one of the reasons for the partial implementation.

Adoption of the Strategy is foreseen by Article 63 of the Law on Chemicals ("Official Gazette of Montenegro", No. 51/17), which defines the required and its content.

The national strategy contains:

assessment of the situation and problems in the field of chemicals management;
priority activities and measures for the preservation of human health and the environment;
mid-term and long-term national strategic objectives;
priority tasks in all areas of chemical safety.

Action plans for implementation of the National Strategy with priorities and sources of financing.

Main objective of this activity is creation of Strategy which will contain, in addition to an introductory section and an executive summary, 13 distinct chapters and a series of annexes, as appropriate (find below). The current Strategy already contains all of above mentioned Chapters and now is necessary to update them.

It should be recognised that certain parts of the National Profile can be regularly updated, including some of the national background information (e.g. concerning trade and production statistics), whereas other parts will only require updating after some triggering event such as the adoption of new legislation or regulations.

Objective of the assignment

The International Technical Expert (further in the text – ITE) will provide an overall technical backstopping support to the national institutions recognized as main stakeholders and beneficiaries. Strategy on chemicals management should be prepared in coordination with the representatives from Ministry of Labour and Social Wealthfare (MLSW), Environmental and Nature Protection Agency (NEPA), Administration for Inspection (AI), Ministry of Economy (ME), Institute for Public Health (IPH), Custom Administration (CA), Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs (AFSVPA). Also, ITE shall be responsible for data collection, oversee data collection and data analysis.

When creating a Strategy, it is necessary to bear in mind all legal acts, direct or indirect connected with chemicals management, and also all relevant document connected with conventions in area of chemicals management.

Duties and Responsibilities

To prepare updated Strategy, a guide was prepared by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) under the auspices of the Inter-Organization Program for Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) and adopted by the International Forum for Chemical Safety (IFCS) - "Preparing a National Profile to Assess Infrastructure and Capacity Needs for Chemicals Management", Second Edition 2012, Guidance Document. This document has been developed to assist countries in the preparation or updating of Strategies to assess the infrastructure and capacities required for quality chemical management through a process involving all stakeholders at the state level. Bearing in mind the small volume of chemical production and the insufficiently developed chemical market in Montenegro, and on the other hand, fully respecting the requirements assumed by international agreements and conventions, and in particular the obligations of the EU integration process, the development of the Strategy in accordance with UNITAR Guidelines is adapted to national circumstances.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of UNDP Montenegro and the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, ITE will provide around 15 days of home-based support, and around 15 days of support within Montenegro spread over three missions, all of which aim to bring international technical assistance. The main duty of the ITE will be to update Chemicals Management Strategy in order to ensure that the full range of concerned parties participate in the preparation or updating of the National Strategy, and to facilitate access to necessary information. Expert will have the full support of the key ministries and agencies of government involved in the various aspects of chemicals management. Also, holding a planning meeting early on would allow government and stakeholder groups to agree on the process and determine how input will be coordinated towards preparing or updating the National Profile.

ITE is obliged, before the beginning of updating the strategy, to deliver methodology with time frame for implementation of work, individually for all chapters, in accordance with the above mentioned guide.

The following table of contents represents the structure of the National Profile:
Chapter 1: National Background Information
Chapter 2: Chemical Production, Import, Export, Storage, Transport, Use, and Disposal
Chapter 3: Legal Instruments and Non-Regulatory Mechanisms for Managing Chemicals
Chapter 4: Ministries, Agencies, and Other Governmental Institutions Managing Chemicals
Chapter 5: Relevant Activities of Industry, Public Interest Groups, Professional
Bodies, and the Research Sector
Chapter 6: Inter-ministerial Commissions and Coordinating Mechanisms
Chapter 7: Information Management, Access, and Use
Chapter 8: Technical Infrastructure
Chapter 9: Chemical Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Follow-up
Chapter 10: Awareness/Understanding of Workers and the Public; and Training and Education of Target Groups and Professionals
Chapter 11: International Linkages
Chapter 12: Conclusions and Recommendations
Chapter 13: Action plan with the concrete measures, time frame and Resources Needed for Chemicals Management.

Also, ITE is obliged, in cooperation and MSDT, to establish a network of contact points and gather information; hold regular working group meetings, develop draft of Strategy for Chemicals management, disseminate firs full draft of Strategy for Chemicals management to relevant stakeholders.

Strategy for chemicals management 2019-2022 should be written on Montenegrin and English.

Time duration and travel:

The consultant is expected to start with activities at the end of February 2018, and the assignment will last until September 2018. Three missions to Montenegro with the maximum of 15 working days of duration are expected.

Competencies

Solid knowledge of United Nations, Global Environmental Facility, the Stockholm, Basel, Rotterdam and Minamata Convention and other international or bilateral organizations and their policy, programme and operations;
Proven ability to work in a complex environment with a lot of different stakeholders within a specific political context;
Ability to interact and relate with people at any level;
Ability to critically analyze issues, find root-causes and suggest optimum solutions;
Demonstrated leadership ability and technical ability to communicate complex ideas verbally and in writing.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in chemicals, hazardous waste management, environmental science and management, or related fields; Advanced degree is desirable.

Experience:

Minimum of 10 years of experience in preparation of national assessments related to chemicals in the environment, POPs, etc.
Experience in development of long term plans for chemicals management;
Experience in Policy/Regulatory and Institutional assessments;
Practical experience in similar projects is preferred;
Prior UNDP/GEF project experience and knowledge of UNDP and GEF procedures and guidelines is an advantage.

Languages:

Fluency in English with exceptional writing, presentation and communication skills;
Knowledge of Montenegrin language would be considered as an advantage.

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 weight - 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 January 31, 2018 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. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file.

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 and travel envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".