Background

The project will support the government of Albania through the Ministry of Environment to undertake an initial mercury assessment to identify the national mercury challenges and the extent to which legal, policy and regulatory framework will enable Albania to implement future obligations under the Minamata Convention.

Project Description and objective

Albania became a signatory to the Minamata Convention on 9 October 2014 and it has been also actively participating in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Mercury.

During the past 10 years the Ministry of Environment (MoE) has been engaged in policy dialogues involving potential donors in prioritizing interventions to address the problematics of inherited industrial pollution. Currently, the Government of Albania is in the process of transposing European Union legislation related to the management of chemicals, (such as REACH, CLP, POP Regulation, Import-export regulation) into its national legislative framework.

The project’s objective is to undertake a Mercury Initial Assessment to enable the Government of Albania to determine the national requirements and needs for ratification of the Minamata Convention and establish a sound foundation to undertake future work towards the implementation of the Convention. It will do so by implementing four components as specified in the GEF guidelines (GEF/C.45/Inf.05 paragraph 19), as well as a fifth component on mainstreaming. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultants will work under the guidance of the International Expert and will be responsible for data collection, data compilation and analysis, and computation of mercury emissions.

Note: For preparing the National Mercury Profile UNEP’s Level 1 and Level 2 "Toolkit for identification and quantification of mercury releases", will be used.  The toolkit is intended to assist countries to develop a national mercury releases inventory. It provides a standardized methodology and accompanying database enabling the development of consistent national and regional mercury inventories.

The main duties of the Consultants are as follows:

1. Participate fully in the national capacity training to be led by the International Expert, supported by key staff of relevant Government institutions.  Training will be designed specifically for the Consultant (including staff who will actually be collecting and analysing data) and key personnel of Government institutions who will be engaged in subsequent monitoring.

2. In consultation with the International Expert elaborate a methodology and work programme for the Mercury inventory.

3. Under the overall guidance of the International Expert, carry out the tasks of data collection, analysis and preparation of the Mercury inventory.  The sources of Mercury to be covered would include consumption of fossil fuels, disposal of (scrapped) mercury containing products, use of mercury in medical sector, and any other source found to be important. 

Task 1: In respect to waste as a source of mercury, the Consultant will be required to carry out an inventory of mercury-containing wastes in Albania in accordance with the UNEP Inventory Level 1 and Level 2 methodology.  The Consultant is expected to conduct desk studies, thorough quantitative and qualitative surveys and field audits of the activities generating mercury-containing wastes (e.g. lighting, thermometers, batteries, blood pressure measuring equipment etc.), in number and nature, to:

• Identify and assess the amounts of emission sources of mercury and release sources of Mercury. This will include the identification of activities generating mercury-containing wastes in Albania. Identification of main target areas (sites) and sources for collection of data in accordance with the rapid assessment: i) coal-fired power plants; ii) cement production; iii) mining and other metallurgical activities including abandoned mining sites; iv) mercury mining; v) small-scale gold and silver mining; vi) chloral-alkali production; vii) fluorescent lamps, manometers, thermometers; viii) manufacturing of products containing mercury; and ix) waste (including medical waste) incineration;
• Selection of methodology for the collection and analysis of data under each mercury source identified;
• Collect, compile data and prepare an inventory of the sources, types, quantities and physical states of mercury-containing wastes generated, stored and recycled, treated or disposed of in Albania.  This will include the identification of old, historical sources of Mercury contamination.
• Assess current levels of and actors involved in handling, storage and management practices for mercury-containing wastes.
• Identify key sectors, local authorities, communities and other stakeholders affected by or involved with important Mercury sources and/or emissions.
• Identify opportunities and propose measures for the minimisation, recycling, pre-treatment and disposal of mercury containing wastes.
• Review of the rapid assessment of sources and validation (or expansion) of the list (Task 1a) in accordance with collected data.
• Explore the potential contribution of other possible sources of emissions of Mercury including mercury-added products such as electrical switches and relays, dental mercury-amalgam fillings, use of medicines containing mercury, skin care products and other cosmetics containing mercury, insecticides / pesticides / herbicides containing mercury, production of building blocks, crematoria and cemeteries, etc.  This will be done primarily through discussions with knowledgeable people within the relevant industries such as customs, and retail outlets; as well as through surveying dental clinics

4. Under the guidance of the International Expert, contribute to the preparation of a National Mercury Profile and Mercury Initial Assessment Report developed based on the Mercury inventory and contribute to the presentation and validation of the National Mercury Profile and Mercury Initial Assessment Report developed at a validation workshop.

5. Other duties as required by the Project Management team in line with the objective of this assignment.

6. Written contributions to project quarterly and annual reports as requested by the Project Manager

The consultants will be supported by a junior expert in the questionnaire and data gathering process, therefore the consultants must adapt the questionnaires to the local background.

Deliverables are as follows:

The following deliverables are requested:

1. 30%-      A methodology and work programme for the Mercury inventory and National Mercury Profile and Mercury Initial Assessment Report, to be compiled in close consultation with the International Expert and Project Management team.
2. 40%-     Data compilation, analysis and summary in the form needed to contribute to the Mercury inventory and National Mercury Profile.
3. 30%-      Under the guidance of the International Expert, contribute to the preparation of a National Mercury Profile and Mercury Initial Assessment Report developed based on the Mercury inventory and contribute to the presentation and validation of the National Mercury Profile and Mercury Initial Assessment Report developed at a validation workshop

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 favoritism.

Core Competencies:

• Communication - Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication;
• Planning & Organizing – Develops clear goals in line with agreed strategies, identifies priorities, foresees risks and makes allowances accordingly;
• Organizational Awareness - Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Teamwork - Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and delivers outputs in accordance with agreed time, cost and quality standards.

Functional Competencies

• Thorough understanding of disability issues, human rights, social inclusion and social services;
• Excellent inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking attitude;
• Capacity to deliver as per deadlines;
• Strong expertise in environmental conventions related issues in Albania;
• Familiarity with the International Conventions and EU Regulations related to chemicals;
• Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily.

Required Skills and Experience

Required skills and experience include the following:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in natural sciences i.e. chemistry, environmental sciences or a related field.

Experience:

• 7 years of experience in issues of chemicals in the environment and waste management, with a demonstrable background in scientific studies and research;
• Experience in the preparation of national level assessment reports that have generated data.
• Practical experience in data collection and surveys related to the chemical sector issues.
• Proven experience in implementing similar tasks preferably in Albania or the Region with expertise on waste and chemical related issues.

Languages:

• English, both written and oral.

EVALUATION OF APPLICANTS

• Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated;
• Individual consultants will be evaluated based on Combined Scoring method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal;
• Combined weighted scoring: Technical (70%); Financial (30%).

30% or 30 points: - 7 years of experience in issues of chemicals in the environment and waste management, with a demonstrable background in scientific studies and research;

20 % or 20 points: - Experience in the preparation of national level assessment reports that have generated data.

20% or 20 points: - Proven experience in implementing similar tasks preferably in Albania or the Region with expertise on waste and chemical related issues.

Application Procedure

The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.

• Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability-please fill in the attached form...http://www.un.org.al/editor-files/file/PSU_%20ICLA.doc.
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees, please upload the P11 instead of your CV. Download here.
• Financial Proposal in ALL* - specifying a total lump sum in Albanian Lek  for the tasks specified in this announcement.  The attached template may be used - http://www.un.org.al/editor-files/file/Financial%20Offer%20template.doc. Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant during the contract period (e.g. fee and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services)

*Kindly note that Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal are two separate documents and should be both part of your application.

How to Submit the Application:

To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

• Download and complete the UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs);
• Merge your UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs), Financial Proposal Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and cover letter into a single file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded;
• Click on the Job Title (job vacancy announcement);
• Click “Apply Now” button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and then click “Submit Application;”
• Upload your application/single file as indicated above with the merged documents (underlined above);
• You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.

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. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.