Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is providing assistance to the Ministry of Environment of Albania in the preparation of the GEF Medium Size Project (MSP) “Establishing Albania’s Environmental Information Management and Monitoring System aligned with the global environmental reporting.”
 
In accordance with UNDP/GEF procedures, UNDP is hiring a team of consultants (international and national) to develop the MSP proposal for submission to the GEF Secretariat fully compliant with the enforced GEF rules and standards as part of the GEF Project Preparation Grant (PPG). The consultants will report to the Programme Officer for Environment Unit at UNDP Albania and work closely with UNDP Regional Technical Advisor.
 
The purpose of the PPG is to fully design the activities, outputs, and outcomes of the ‘Establishing Albania’s Environmental Information Management and Monitoring System aligned with the global environmental reporting’ medium size project and to fully develop a full set of project documentation for submission to the GEF Secretariat and approval. Normal rules for development of medium-sized GEF projects apply. Copies of the GEF templates and guidelines can be found at: http://www.thegef.org/gef/guidelines_templates
 
Project Description
 
Albania has become a Party to three Rio- Conventions after 1990-s which corresponds to the country’s change of regime and participation in international agreements on environmental protection. The national development agenda of Albania fully takes into consideration the fact that its development will only proceed by adequately taking into account, global processes and trends. The principles of the conventions, as well as of the European Union environmental policy, have been established as priority areas in the National Strategy for Development and Integration (NSDI) 2007-2013, which is under review for the period up to 2020. The Environmental Cross-cutting Strategy integral part of the NSDI is the basic document that represents the national policy on environmental protection. This document addresses all environmental components and sets general guidance on problems arising from sectors having an impact upon environment.
Reporting obligations under the existing environmental regulations have been restricted to compliance with environmental quality standards without including any information about policies’ effects and effectiveness. The lack of policy-oriented monitoring and information support tools hinders intersectoral collaboration throughout the entire policy process
In 2006 Albania, with UNDP support has conducted a self-assessment process aming at assessment of capacity needs (NCSA) and priorities with respect to the global environment and within the context of sustainable development so that Albania can meet the requirements of the Global Environmental Conventions in a coordinated and strategic manner
The NCSA highlighted that due to many problems existing in information collection and management systems, the government has limited capacity to meet its obligations, which results in uninformed constituency, poor knowledge of existing problems and their extent by the decision makers which in turn results in poor planning practices. The immediate need for sound and integrated information was articulated in NCSA as:
  • Providing basis for the development of specific and yet future looking policies, strategies, plans, undertaking specific measures;
  • Enabling the Civil Society organizations (CSO) and the general public in getting more aware and mobilized around solving particular issues and pressuring the government to adhere to its obligations;
  • Reporting to the all three Rio Conventions to which Albania is the signatory and has commitments.
Reporting obligations under the existing environmental regulations have been restricted to compliance with environmental quality standards without including any information about policies’ effects and effectiveness. The lack of policy-oriented monitoring and information support tools hinders intersectoral collaboration throughout the entire policy process The key challenges and its causal linkages identified in the NCSA with regards to information management and reporting is summarized in figure 1 annexed herewith.

The existing Protected Areas (Biodiversity) Information System (PA-IS) is thought as the single, unique and more comprehensive national entry point for data and information on biodiversity in Albania. However, at its current scale and scope the PA-IS is limited to the protected areas network and cannot serve as a tool for informed decision making and reporting for broader natural resources management and conservation at national level and global level.
In addition, various projects carried out by many international and national agencies in the environment and natural resources management areas have generated a vast amount of data and information which are important for conservation and sustainable management of these resources within the country as well as within the region. These data and information are stored in various government and non-government agencies with no proper system established to interlink and retrieve for utilization.

Creating national wide environmental information system will therefore enable Albania monitoring and coordinating sectoral policies strategically to fulfill national obligations under global environmental agreements so that Albania can meet the requirements of the Global Environmental Conventions in a coordinated and strategic manner.
As an integral part (or the pre-requisite) of the national environmental information system establishment, the country needs to review various environmental and social economic indicators in order to create a well integrated and manageable monitoring systems that would form the foundation of national environmental information system.

The project is a response to the need for an environmental monitoring system that is integrated throughout the related government institutions, that is well coordinated and cooperates, using international monitoring standards for the selection of monitoring indicators, the data collection processes, the processing and reporting of this information covering all three Rio Conventions. The GEF contribution will develop national capacities in Albania to align its national environmental information management and monitoring system with global environmental monitoring and reporting priorities; including the compliance with the Multilateral Environment Agreements reporting obligations.
In particular the project will aim at:
  • Development of the EIMS to enable integration of global environment commitments into planing and monitoring processes;
  • Development and application of uniform indicators encompassing UNFCCC, CBD and CCD concerns and global environmental threats;
  • Stakeholder’s capacity for information management (collection processing) of key global environment data and utilization (interpretation and reporting) is enhanced at national and local level.

Duties and Responsibilities

The principal responsibility of the international consultant is to deliver a MSP project document fully compliant with the enforced GEF rules and standards as lead expert on capacity development and project design, closely collaborating with UNDP national consultants and other stakeholders on institutional, organizational and public awareness capacities and on setting PPG implementation strategy.  
 
Within the framework of this ToR, Project Design Expert is expected to perform the following tasks and duties:
  • Work together with the local consultants (LC), UNDP and national counterparts on setting PPG implementation strategy;
  • Finalize PPG work plan, TOR for LCs, and design consultation and validation workshops.
  • Oversee completion of background studies, ensuring they are appropriate in scope and provide required analyses;
  • Facilitate and guide consultations to determine project strategy, priorities, key partners, and key barriers to success;
  • Provide technical and professional support to the LC and national stakeholders.
  • Develop the project strategy; detailed budget, work plan and logical framework, develop a replication strategy.
  • Assume main responsibility for finalizing the project document, with significant input from all local consultants.
Another key role of the project development expert should be to look for other key partners that the project might partner with and seek co-financing from, working closely with the UNDP Country Office and UNDP Regional Centre.
 
Besides a desk review of the relevant documents the consultant will undertake two missions to the country, in full collaboration with the UNDP Country Office and team of consultants. The missions will include:
  • Consultations with key partners in National Government, responsible for environmental management as well as relevant sectoral ministries;
  • Facilitation of project validation workshop.
The responsibility of the international Project Design Expert is to prepare a Medium Size Project document, the CEO endorsement document, and ESSP, as well as the necessary annexes and co-financing letters for submission to the GEF Secretariat.
 
Expected Deliverables:
 
The key products to be delivered are as follows:
  • Detailed Assignment Workplan (within 1 weeks of start of the assignment);
  • Detailed PPG work plan and design of consultation and validation workshops (within 2 weeks of start of the assignment);
  • Draft UNDP Project Document, Project Results Framework, and Request for CEO Endorsement (15th of October 2014);
  • Final UNDP Project Document, Project Results Framework, capacity Development Scorecard, ESSP and Request for CEO Endorsement fully compliant with the enforced GEF rules and standards (15 December 2014).
In addition, the incumbent will:
  • Oversee completion of background studies, ensuring they are appropriate in scope and overall quality;
  • Provide required analyses;
  • Facilitate and guide consultations to determine project strategy, priorities, key partners, and key barriers to success.
Payment Schedule:
 
The international Capacity Development and Project Design Specialist shall receive payment in four installments from UNDP as follows:
  • 25%      upon preparation and acceptance of the assignment work plan, PPG work plan, design of consultation and validation workshops;
  • 25%      upon completion of consultation and validation workshop in Tirana (following the 2nd mission);
  • 35%      upon preparation and acceptance of the draft UNDP Project Document, Project Results Framework, Capacity development scorecard for CEO Endorsement;
  • 15%      upon clearance by Regional Technical Advisor of the project documentation fully compliant with the enforced GEF rules and standards and its submission to GEF Secretariat which includes assistance to UNDP Co Environment Unit with response to any GEF Sec comments.
Responsibility for Expenses and their Reimbursement:
 
This is a lump sum assignment. The Consultant will be responsible for all personal administrative and travel expenses associated with undertaking this assignment including office accommodation, printing, stationary, telephone and electronic communications, and report copies incurred in this assignment.

Competencies

Technical work
  • Strong expertise in Environmental Management;
  • Experience in developing institutional arrangements for multi-national projects;
  • Familiarity with the International Conventions addressing Biodiversity Conservation, Desertification and Climate Change.
  • Experience in drafting GEF Cross-Cutting Capacity Development (CCCD) project proposals;
  • Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily;
  • Familiarity with GEF policies, templates and requirements for MSP.
Partnerships
  • Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior members of national institutions;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Excellent English written and communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of quality analysis for the project proposal;
  • Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with colleagues – especially for this case the national level consultants.  
Results
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Build strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback.
  • Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced University degree in the fields of environmental management, public administration or relevant related fields.
Work Experience:
  • At least 7 years of relevant professional experience;
  • Proven experience in developing/implementing similar projects, preferably in the region/ experience in Albania would be an advantage;
  • Previous successful experience in development and approval of the GEF project documents;
  • Proven expert knowledge in the GEF CCCD projects;
  • Previous experience with UNDP is a great advantage.

Language Requirements:

  • Excellent English writing skills are essential.
Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultant will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
  • Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
  • Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation - max points: 70.
  • Strong expertise in Environmental Management - max points 15;
  • Familiarity with the International Conventions addressing Biodiversity Conservation, Desertification and Climate Change - max points 25;
  • Experience in drafting GEF Cross-Cutting Capacity Development (CCCD) project proposals - max points 30;
Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation - max points: 30.
 
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://europeandcis.undp.org/home/jobs
 
Application procedures

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:
  • Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
  • Filled P11 form for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs) - blank form Download here (please upload the P11 instead of your CV); (please upload the P11 instead of your CV);
  • Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount in USD for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days, travel, per diems and any other possible costs);
  • Please, merge your completed Personal History form, financial proposal and cover letter, if applicable, into a single file and upload when you click ‘Submit Application’.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.
  
*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. 
 
Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.
 
Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

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.