Background

The EU4Climate Project helps governments in the six EU Eastern Partner countries to take action against climate change. It supports countries in implementing the Paris Climate Agreement and improving climate policies and legislation. Its ambition is to limit climate change impact on citizens lives and make them more resilient to it. EU4Climate is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The objective of the project is to support the development and implementation of climate-related policies by the Eastern Partnership countries that contribute to their low emission and climate resilient development and their commitments to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. It identifies key actions and results in line with the Paris Agreement, the "20 Deliverables for 2020”, and the key global policy goals set by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The following results will be achieved: Finalized/up-dated nationally determined contributions and national mid-century strategies and communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),  (ii) Improved inter-institutional awareness and coordination at political and technical level of the Paris Agreement and the corresponding national commitments, (iii) Established or strengthened measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, with countries getting on track with Paris Agreement transparency requirements, (iv) Establishment of concrete sectoral guidelines for the implementation of the Paris Agreement in each of the Eastern Partners, especially in the field of energy (v) Advanced alignment with EU acquis as provided by bilateral agreements with EU and in the context of the Energy Community Treaty, (vi) Increased mobilization of climate finance, and (vii) Enhanced adaptation planning. As of July 2019, the project has conducted consultations with the governments of the Partner Countries and has identified priority areas of work and key deliverables for each of the countries.

The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia applied to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), expecting its support in conducting feasibility study on carbon pricing possibilities in Armenia. The target stakeholders for this study include the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, regional cooperation organizations, key private sector representatives, Academia, and civil society.

Objective:

The International Consultant is expected to assess the possibilities to perform the carbon pricing in Armenia, including identification of applicable non-market based and/or market-based policies (including Emissions Trading System), indication of appropriate solutions to address carbon leakage, taking into account country’s status as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and commitments under the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with EU, as well as World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations.

The study will play an important role in assessing the potential, readiness and needs of Armenia with regard to the possible use of carbon pricing. In addition, the study will concretely identify, assess and propose amenable options for putting in place carbon pricing in the light of the domestic context as well as potentially the regional and international context.

The study will inform the Armenian government on opportunities and options for introducing carbon pricing as system of disincentivizing GHG emissions and favoring low-carbon development in the specific context of Armenia. Therefore, presenting key options for carbon pricing will only constitute a minor part of the intend work. A study failing to explore the concrete potential application of carbon pricing will therefore be assessed as not meeting the goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of UNDP CO Climate Change Programme Coordinator and direct guidance of the EU4Climate Project task leader, in consultation with relevant national stakeholders the Consultant will responsible for the following activities:

• overview of existing carbon pricing instruments, analyze such or related instruments already in place in Armenia, EU and EAEU countries, assess in a succinct manner success and failure cases or concrete carbon pricing efforts and lessons learned for Armenia;
• Analyze the context of Armenia to identify key issues that would affect the operation of carbon pricing and its political feasibility, technical viability, and potential economic implications:
  • GHG emissions trends
  • social and economic factors, overall development priorities, including development in the energy sector
  • current and planned policies (fiscal and non-fiscal) affecting GHG emissions and/or energy consumption
  • elements of the domestic legal and policy framework of relevance to carbon pricing, including those of applied in the country as WTO and EAEU member, or envisaged from the CEPA commitments
  • status-quo of MRV structure for enabling carbon pricing instruments;
• Evaluate how a carbon pricing approaches/instrument could achieve the following:
  • support involvement in cooperative climate action such as foreseen under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement;
  • contribute to the achievement of national climate policy objectives and deliver associated co-benefits;
• Based on the points above set out the key considerations for Armenia by assessing the carbon pricing options and propose viable carbon pricing options and discuss advantages and limitations of each option.

The Consultant will rely on a local expert assistance to be hired by the Project in achieving existing national regulations, ensuring stocktaking and consultations with the national partners, identifying major private sector emitters, communicating with them when needed, handling other country specific issues by his guidance.

Deliverables

Paymnt

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner, as following milestones:

• Deliverable -40%
• Deliverable-60%

Reporting 

The International Consultant will work under the direct supervision of UNDP CO Climate Change Programme Coordinator to ensure successful achievement of the main Project outcomes.The International Consultant is expected to work in close cooperation with the Project’s national consultant.  The International Consultant will no later than 10 working days after signing the Contract, present the approach of work and list of required documents to be provided by the national consultant and Project team for undertaking the task.

Travel

Travel is desirable but not mandatory to conduct a field mission to Armenia due to pandemic-related restrictions. In case of travel  UNDP Armenia will arrange the Consultant’s travel according to UNDP’s procedures.

Competencies

• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work independently and in teams;
• Knowledge of policy issues associated with the Paris Agreement and its implementation, specifically in the area of climate finance;
• Ability to provide quality assurance and attention to detail;
• Excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

 Education:

• Advanced Degree (Master’s) in any of the following fields: economics, environmental economics, climate change, natural resource management, energy studies, public finance, and/or other relevant fields.

 Experience:

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible in providing advice to governments on carbon pricing related issues;
• Minimum of three years of research or/and applied experience working on carbon pricing, carbon tax; climate finance;
• At least three years’ experience in dealing with the technical underpinnings of carbon pricing particularly the implications of interactions with other policies – in particular, in the fiscal targets, economic fallouts of carbon taxation and impact on sectors particularly energy, transport and infrastructure;
• Strong understanding of the government systems and private sector. Work experience in international development/business, development finance, or inter-governmental or global or regional organizations is desirable.

 Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of Russian or Armenian language will be considered as an asset.

CANDIDATES WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON THE FOLLOWING METHODOLOGY:

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants' technical qualifications, experience and financial proposal.The contract will be awarded to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as technically responsive/compliant/acceptable to the requirements of the ToR and received the highest cumulative (technical and financial) score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation - max. 70 points

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

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION.

• Financial Proposal and Availability form: OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP (A total lump sum  option is applicable for this assignment)
• CV shall include Education/Qualification, Processional Certification, Employment Records /Experience

General Conditions of Contract is available here: GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT

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