Background

The project Strengthening Local Climate Action (SLCA) supports Kosovo municipalities in their transition towards zero-emission development pathways by building on the results of the successful project “Urban NAMAs” in Prizren and extending it to sustainable rural development and the Municipality of Suharekë/Suva Reka.

EU Green Agenda for the Western Balkans demonstrates the rising focus on systems of waste, packaging, transport, and consumption, particularly at the local level and the rural-urban nexus.  The Green Agenda and the Green Deal – a plan to make the EU climate neutral by 2050 – is a blueprint for possible measures to be adopted jointly by the EU and each of the Western Balkan partners.   The Farm to Fork Strategy is part of the European Green Deal and aims to make food systems fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly. It is also moving into the area of local sustainable food systems and the deficiency in compliance with the EU animal and plant health, food safety, and animal welfare standards in Western Balkans. 

In Kosovo, the sector of agriculture contributes 11.9% to GDP, and agriculture accounts for around 26.7% of total employment. The agricultural sector also accounts for 16% of total export value and remains an important economic sector. On the other side, Kosovo still depends a lot on imported agricultural products, which accounted for 24.4% of overall imports. Due to the high demand for agricultural products, i.e. food, agriculture even though small and still undeveloped, remains to be a sector with a potentially high impact on global climate change. Kosovo’s agricultural development is supported by investments in physical assets of agricultural economies, product processing and trade, and farm diversification and business development. Also, the farmers are supported with agricultural inputs, agricultural loans and loan guarantees, agricultural sector insurance, and capacity building. Kosovo Institutions has also been stimulating youth engagement in agricultural and other non-agricultural activities by setting age limits for farm owners when applying for investment subventions and grants, training and access to different information. Thus, women and young people are more likely to work in agriculture (especially at collection points for organic agriculture). Most (88%) of the agricultural land ownership in Kosovo is private and 12% is public. Around 93% of agricultural households own farms smaller than 5 ha, with most of them ranging between 2 and 5 ha. This land fragmentation remains a challenge to feasible food production, collection, and transportation processes.

The global debate over food security became a challenging issue in particular after food price in 2022 saw a rapid increase and shortages of food supplies around the world. The compounding crises in different parts of the world were caused by compounding geopolitical, economic, and natural causes, such as extreme heat, flooding, and drought caused by climate change. Kosovo is undergoing the complex economic, political, and structural adjustments of the transition process. It is a net importer of food commodities displaying a chronic trade deficit. Therefore, the implications of global food price volatility are crucial in maintaining fragile food security. At the same time, Kosovo is considered to be self-insufficient in meeting domestic demand for the key food staples. Thus, increasing the consumption of local foods is key to stimulating local production and food self-sufficiency, which in turn reduces dependency on food imports and associated costs.

The agricultural sector in Kosovo contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at a rate of 11.9%, and can contribute to economic development and employment opportunities, especially in rural areas, which is why agriculture is included among the priorities of the Kosovo institutions.

The Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector account for about 13% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. AFOLU) sector consists of three different subsectors; the subsector of Livestock generates about 600 thousand tons of CO2 eq. per year; the subsector of Land use generates about 2,750 thousand tons of CO2 eq. per year and fertilizer management and the subsector crop fertilization, which in total emits about 800 thousand tons of CO2 eq.

In the Municipality of Prizren, the second-largest city in Kosovo, 53% of inhabitants live in the urban area. The local economic activity is mainly based on agriculture, trade, tourism, construction, and food processing, and the municipality is one of the leading municipalities from the perspective of economic activity. In Suharekë/Suva Reka, only 17% of the inhabitants live in the urban area and the economy is predominantly based on rural agriculture, the processing of rubber and garment, production of beverages and other types of manufacturing.

The city of Prizren has developed the first Greenhouse Gas (GHGs) emissions for 2014, with the estimation of emissions from energy, agriculture, and waste management sectors. The net GHG emission in 2014 was 1,370,821 tCO2eq.  The stationary energy sector/energy use emitted 26.50 %, the agriculture sector emitted 70.17%, waste sector emitted 46,139 tCO2eq. of the total GHG emissions.   Suharekë/Suva Reka municipality has not yet developed GHG inventory. The first GHG emission inventory will be developed with project support in 2022.

The project is seeking to hire an international expert to support Prizren and Suharekë/Suva Reka municipalities to accelerate the transition toward more sustainable food systems, mapping the current food system, production, behavior, etc., and mobilize women-led initiatives and private and informal businesses dealing with recycling and repurposing and facilitating networking between the different actors involved in the intercepting value chains.

Objectives of Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to create a road map on how to increase local sustainable food systems while minimizing negative effects on the environment and reducing the contribution to climate change and GHG emissions; design pilot initiatives to reuse food waste in the private sector and define an awareness campaign on sustainable food production and consumption for Prizren and Suharekë/Suva Reka municipalities. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Expert works closely with Municipal Green Growth Centre in Prizren and Suharekë/Suva Reka, the project, and the Local Expert and shall be responsible to:

1. Create a roadmap on sustainable food systems

• Mapp of food assets, production, locations, behaviours, distribution, consumption patterns, and food waste estimations, including a social and gender analysis. 
• Depending on the outcome of the above-mentioned mapping process define which sectors have the biggest need for transformation. 
• Based on the identified priority sectors, conduct needs assessment for smart technological solutions (including equipment, energy, transport, etc) for sustainable food systems in rural (often agricultural and women-led at a small scale) Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to unfold potential targeted actions and create a plan for potential implementation. 
• Conduct a presentation workshop with stakeholders for the presentation of the developed road map on how to increase local sustainable food systems.

2. Draft pilot initiatives to reuse food waste in the private sector

• Based on the mapping of the food systems, drafting the pilot initiatives and interventions with the goal of decreasing GHG emissions, supporting private businesses, furthering gender equality, and increasing sustainability. 
• Propose a coordination and cooperation mechanism among local institutions and especially the private sector in the area for the creation of opportunities to sell surplus food or give it away to non-profit organizations and/or local food banks and recirculate food waste to become inputs in different production processes.

3. Define an awareness campaign on sustainable food production and consumption for Prizren and Suharekë/Suva Reka municipalities

• The awareness campaign may include training, promotion, and education on e.g., small-scale purchasing, processing of food that is starting to get old, and optimal storage for consumers; Food banks, e.g., which take care of leftover food and give it to vulnerable parts of the population.

Any other activities may be required in line with the objectives of the assignment.

Remuneration - Lump Sum Amount

The Contract is based on lump sum remuneration and shall be processed subject to deliverables as per the schedule listed below: 

• 50% upon completion and validation of deliverable 1
• 50 % upon completion and validation of deliverables 2 and 3

Required Presentation of Offer: 

The following documents are requested:

• Personal CV and P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Offeror and at least three (3) professional references. 
• Technical proposal, a max. 2-page document briefly outlining the methodology envisaged for the assignment for delivering the expected results within the indicated timeframe.
• Financial Proposal that indicates lump sum payment based on completion of deliverables.  
• Copy of Diplomas and copy of Passport.

 
Criteria for selection of the Best Offer

Offers will be evaluated utilizing a combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and technical proposal will be weighted a max. of 70% and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30.

Technical score: 70% weight allocated as follows:

A/ The evaluation of the technical offer will be as follows:  

Financial score: financial offer (30% weight)

B/ Evaluation of the financial offers: Only the financial proposals of the applications selected following the technical evaluation with a minimum of 70/100 points will be considered for the financial evaluation.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies 

• 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;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies

• Ability to synthesize research and draw conclusions on the related subjects;
• Good analytical and report writing skills;
• Good communication skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment;
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors; 
• Responds positively to critical feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:  

• Master degree in Agriculture, Sustainable food systems, Environment, Nutrition, or related field. 

Experience: 

• At least 5 years of experience in technical research, policy analyses, and formulation of technical materials in the fields of Agriculture, Sustainable food systems, Environment, and Nutrition. 
• Prior research work related specifically to Nutrition-Environment inter-linkages is an asset. 
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of technical research in Agriculture, Sustainable food systems, Environment, Nutrition, and policies and governance issues.
• Preferable previous experience with region/Kosovo 
• Prior research work related specifically to Nutrition-Environment inter-linkages is an asset.

Language requirements:

• Excellent writing and editing skills in English are a must.  

Application Instructions:

• Click on the "Apply now" button.
• Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation; You can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box.
• Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume.
• System will only allow one attachment. All docs (CV; P11; financial offer; list of similar profiles should be included as one attachment).
• Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete.