Background

This project is designed to strengthen capacity for environmental monitoring and information management in Albania by establishing an operational environmental information management and monitoring system (EIMMS) with a focus on the MEAs of biodiversity, climate change and land degradation. The project will address the need for an environmental monitoring system that is integrated throughout relevant government institutions and that uses international monitoring standards for indicator development, data collection, analysis, and policy-making. It will also build on existing technical and institutional capacity in Albania to align its management and monitoring efforts with global monitoring and reporting priorities. Increased capacity in this area will improve reporting to the Rio Conventions and lay the groundwork for sustainable development through better-informed environmental policy.

Description of the current situation:

Albania is progressively transposing its environmental legislation in line with the Acquis. Table 1 below gives an indication of the EU Acquis and the related Albanian acts (newly approved or drafted and waiting to be approved) that have set monitoring requirements for Air Quality. The legislation mentioned below is by far more detailed than this summary and should be considered in all its details when preparing the National Monitoring Program.

Table 1: Current Progress of Albanian Legislation in Air Quality

Thematic analysis

Air quality monitoring and assessment

Law No. 162/2014 “On ambient[1] air quality protection sets the framework for:

1. Defining and establishing limit, threshold and target values for certain pollutants[2] in the air;
2. Defining and establishing objectives for ambient air quality designed to avoid, prevent or reduce harmful effects on human health and the environment ;
3. Assessing[3] the ambient air quality based on European methods and criteria;
4. Obtaining information on ambient air quality to help reduce air pollution and nuisance and to monitor long-term trends and improvements resulting from national and international measures.
5. Ensuring that such information on ambient air quality is made available to the public;
6. Maintaining air quality where it is good and improving it in other cases through emission reduction from both mobile and fix sources;
7. Promoting increased cooperation with other countries in reducing air pollution.

It also opened the legal base for the approval of the DCM No. 352, dated 29.4.2015 “On ambient air quality assessment and requirements for certain related pollutants”. The new rules and requirements for air quality monitoring and assessment will impose a huge jump in the quality of work that has been done so far in regarding air quality monitoring. These are rules applied by all the EU member states which ensure comparison between the assessments done in different countries. They provide a sound bases for the preparation of EU level air quality assessment report.

Beginning of implementation of this legislation in Albanian implies that the necessary human and measurement/monitoring capacities and infrastructure is in place by mid-2018. In other words, it implies that the staffs of both Ministry of Environment and NEA at that date are very well informed and trained to do the old job following completely new rules. Implementation of this law and the related Decision pose a real challenge to the both the Ministry and NEA.

The law applies to following air pollutants:

The Law No. 162/2014 “On ambient air quality protection” has defined the Competent authorities as below:

Ministry of Environment is the competent authority for:

1. The approval of measurement systems (methods, equipment, networks and laboratories);
2. Inter-institutional coordination on different issues regarding air quality;
3. International cooperation on different issues regarding air quality.

NEA is the competent authority for:

1. The monitoring and assessment of ambient air quality;
2. For ensuring the accuracy of measurements;
3. Analysis of assessment methods;

NEA is responsible for the division of the territory of the country into zones and agglomerations. Then this division shall be approved by the Minister of Environment. All zones and agglomerations shall be subject to air quality assessment, per the DCM No. 352, dated 29.4.2015 “On ambient air quality assessment and requirements for certain related pollutants” and air quality management plans.

The Ministry of Environment shall make air quality information routinely available to the public and to appropriate interested organisations. Such information shall include:

1. Ambient air quality related to all pollutants covered under this law in accordance with the requirements of the DCM No. 352, dated 29.4.2015 “On ambient air quality assessment and requirements for certain related pollutants”;
2. Information on any postponement on any deadline for conformity with limit values, in accordance with the requirements of the DCM No. 352, dated 29.4.2015 “On ambient air quality assessment and requirements for certain related pollutants”;
3. Information about any exemptions on any deadline for conformity with limit values, in accordance with the requirements of the DCM No. 352, dated 29.4.2015 “On ambient air quality assessment and requirements for certain related pollutants”;
4. Air quality plans;
5. Short term action plans (including, as appropriate, their feasibility, content and implementation of these plans);
6. Measures taken for not exceedance of the target values defined in the DCM No. 352, dated 29.4.2015 “On ambient air quality assessment and requirements for certain related pollutants”;
7. Any exceedance of the target values during the year, the reasons for and the area of such exceedance;
8. A brief assessment of the target values and their effects on health and environment.

Every year, starting from the date the DCM No. 352, dated 29.4.2015 “On ambient air quality assessment and requirements for certain related pollutants” takes effect, i.e. on 1 July 2018, the NEA shall prepare an annual report on ambient air quality assessment. Such report shall follow the questionnaires approved by the Minister for this purpose. The deadline for this report shall be not later than 30 June of the following year. The first report shall be prepared by 30 June 2019. It shall be made available to the public.

The annual air quality report shall include data on pollutants covered by the law, per the requirements of the DCM No. 352, dated 29.4.2015 “On ambient air quality assessment and requirements for certain related pollutants”. Such data shall include:

1. Details of all cases where levels of pollutants have exceeded limit values, and where appropriate, the limit values plus the margin of tolerance;
2. Details of all cases where levels of pollutants have exceeded target values or the critical levels;
3. Details of all cases where levels of pollutants have exceeded long term objectives;
4. Details of all cases where levels of pollutants have exceeded information thresholds;
5. Details of all cases where levels of pollutants have exceeded alert thresholds;
6. A summary assessment of the effects of the cases referred to in bullets (a) to (e) above.
7. Information requested in bullets (a) to (e) includes also:
8. The list of zones and agglomerations (in the first report) or the changes made to them (from the second report and on)
9. The list of zones and agglomerations where there has been one or more exceedance. 
10. The area of exceedance;
11. Concentration values of pollutants in these areas;
12. Reasons for exceedance and the contributing sources;
13. Population exposed to such exceedance;
14. Measures taken for not exceedance of the target values defined in the DCM No. 352, dated 29.4.2015 “On ambient air quality assessment and requirements for certain related pollutants”.

The annual report may also include, where appropriate,

1. An assessment on contributions from natural sources and from re-suspension of particulates following winter-sanding or -salting of roads to the levels assessed,
2. Further information and assessments on forest protection. 

DCM No. 352, dated 29.4.2015 “On ambient air quality assessment and requirements for certain related pollutants” was meant to establish limit, threshold and target values for certain pollutants in the air, as well as objectives for sound ambient air quality; define methods and criteria for ambient air quality measurement and assessment and promote increased cooperation between different stakeholders within the country as well as with other countries.

One chapter of the Decision is dedicated to the sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter, lead, benzene and carbon monoxide. It has set the rules and requirements for assessment of ambient air quality in relation to these pollutants. It has also adopted the assessment thresholds, assessment criteria and helps to define the location and numbers of sampling points needed for air quality monitoring in relation to them, together with the reference measurement methods.

Another chapter is dedicated to the assessment of ambient air quality in relation to ozone. This chapter has set the assessment criteria specific for ozone, the rules and requirements how to define the sampling points for ozone and which reference measurement methods to use for ozone.

Another chapter is dedicated to the assessment of ambient air quality in relation to arsenic, cadmium, nickel, mercury, benzo(a)pyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This chapter has defined the assessment thresholds, the assessment criteria, the data quality objectives for such pollutants as well as the rules and requirements on how to define the location and number of sampling points together with the reference methods for sampling. This chapter also set the rules for monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and how to perform background monitoring.

This decision has a specific chapter on the obligations in relation to limit values, target values, thresholds and levels. It sets the limit values and alert thresholds for the protection of human health; target values for arsenic, cadmium, nickel, mercury, benzo(a)pyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It also sets the critical levels for the protection of vegetation, long term objectives for ozone. It also sets the rules on how to consider and measure the contributions from natural sources and the exceedances attributable to winter-sanding or winter-salting of roads.

This chapter sets the thresholds that should be considered for the purpose of information of the population but also for making it alert when air quality has deteriorated.

This Decision has also introduced new concepts in the Albanian legislation such as the one on national exposure reduction for PM2,5 for the protection of human health. It sets the average exposure indicator for PM2, 5together with the PM2,5 national exposure reduction target.

A new concept is also that on Data Quality Objectives for ambient air quality assessment for Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide Benzene Particulate matter (PM10/PM2,5) and lead Ozone and related NO and NO2, and for each of them the acceptable percentage of uncertainty, of minimum data capture, Minimum time coverage for both urban background, traffic and industrial sites, etc.

On the bases of the data gathered from the monitoring of each of the air pollutants in the ambient air, an air quality assessment report shall be prepared. The following information shall be compiled for zones and agglomerations within which sources other than measurement are employed to supplement information from measurement or as the sole means of air quality assessment:

1. A description of assessment activities carried out,
2. The specific methods used, with references to descriptions of the method,
3. The sources of data and information,
4. A description of results, including uncertainties and the extent of any area or, if relevant, the length of road within the zones and agglomerations over which concentrations exceed any limit value, target value or long-term objective plus margin of tolerance, if applicable, and of any area within which concentrations exceed the upper assessment threshold or the lower assessment threshold,
5. The population potentially exposed to levels more than any limit value for protection of human health.

This Decision requests a quality assurance / data validation to be carried for the ambient air quality.

The air quality assessment report shall be accompanied by the documentation and review of site selection. The site-selection procedures shall be fully documented at the classification stage by such means as compass-point photographs of the surrounding area and a detailed map. Sites shall be reviewed at regular intervals with repeated documentation to ensure that selection criteria remain valid over time.

The annexes of the Decision give details on the work to be done on proper and correct monitoring of air pollutants such as:

• Determination of requirements for assessment of concentrations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter (PM10 AND PM2,5), Lead, benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air within a zone or agglomeration including the upper and lower assessment thresholds for each of them and the determination of exceedances of upper and lower assessment thresholds
• Criteria for determining minimum numbers of sampling points for fixed measurement of concentrations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter (PM10, PM2,5), lead, benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air including  Macroscale and microscale siting of sampling points. Documentation and review of site selection is always requested. These criteria are given specifically to assess compliance with:
  • limit values for the protection of human health and alert thresholds in zones and agglomerations where fixed measurement is the sole source of information, for both diffuse sources and point sources
  • the PM2,5 exposure reduction target for the protection of human health
  • critical levels for the protection of vegetation in zones other than agglomerations
• Measurements at rural background locations irrespective of concentration, including objectives, substances, sitting.
• National exposure reduction target, target value and limit value for PM2,5, including average exposure indicator, national exposure reduction target, exposure concentration obligation, target value, limit value
• Information and alert thresholds for all the pollutants
• Critical levels for the protection of vegetation from SO2 and NOx during specific periods of the year.
• Reference methods for assessment of concentrations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter (PM10and PM2,5), lead, benzene, carbon monoxide, and ozone
• Ozone target values and long-term objectives
• Criteria for classifying and locating sampling points for assessments of ozone concentrations, including macroscale siting (urban, sub-urban, rural, rural background) and microscale siting
• Criteria for determining the minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurement of concentrations of ozone
• Measurements of ozone precursor substances. These shall include at least nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2), and appropriate volatile organic compounds (VOC). A list of volatile organic compounds recommended for measurement is also given in the annex.
• Limit values for the protection of human health
• Target values for arsenic, cadmium, nickel and benzo(a)pyrene
• Determination of requirements for assessment of concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, nickel and benzo(a)pyrene in ambient air within a zone or agglomeration, setting both upper and lower assessment thresholds and determination of exceedances to them
• Criteria for determining numbers of sampling points for fixed measurement of concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, nickel and benzo(a)pyrene in ambient air
• Location and minimum number of sampling points for the measurement of concentrations in ambient air and deposition rates
• Data quality objectives and requirements for air quality models
• Requirements for air quality models
• Requirements for objective estimation techniques
• Standardisation
• Reference methods for assessment of concentrations in ambient air and deposition rates including: reference method for the sampling and analysis of arsenic, cadmium and nickel, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, mercury in ambient air and reference method for the sampling and analysis of the deposition of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, together with the reference air quality modelling techniques

Law No. 10448, dated 14.7.2011, “On environmental permitting”

The law sets the rules for the setting of Emission Limit Values for SO2, NOX and dust from the burning of any kind of fuel (solid, liquid and gaseous). It also provides the method for setting emission limit values for plants with a multi-firing unit as well as methods of measurement of emissions from Large Combustion Plants.

‘Emission limit value’ means the permissible quantity of a substance contained in the waste gases from the combustion plant, which may be emitted into the air during a given period; it shall be calculated in terms of mass per volume of the waste gases expressed in mg/Nm3, assuming an oxygen content by volume in the waste gas of 3 % in the case of liquid and gaseous fuels, 6 % in the case of solid fuels and 15 % in the case of gas turbines.

Annex 2 of the law gives and indicative list of the main polluting substances, which must be taken into account if they are relevant for fixing emission limit values. They are given below.

Air:

All operators that have been issued an environmental permit under this law, have the obligation to self-monitor their own air emissions and water discharge and provide all the resulting information to NEA/REA. Again, NEA is the competent authority in charge of the collection and verification of all the measurements of air emissions into the atmosphere

[1]“Ambient air’ shall mean outdoor air in the troposphere, excluding workplaces, meaning the place intended to house workstations on the premises of the undertaking and/or establishment and any other place within the area of the undertaking and/or establishment to which the worker has access in the course of his/her employment, where provisions concerning health and safety at work apply and to which members of the public do not have regular access.

[2] “Pollutant” shall mean any substance present in ambient air and likely to have harmful effects on human health and/or the environment as a whole.

[3]“Assessment” shall mean any method used to measure, calculate, predict or estimate levels.

Duties and Responsibilities

These Terms of Reference serve to define the responsibilities, tasks and qualifications required for a Natural Science Expert to provide on-going technical guidance and inputs to the project team and consultants regarding environmental legislation revision that enable the environment for indicator monitoring and establishment of norms and standards to the environmental monitoring legislation for air quality by-laws, with an emphasis on environmental issues that are common to the three Rio Conventions.

Task 1: In line with the projects second component on developing norms and standards on environmental indicators the consultant will develop the following by-laws:

1-In line with article 17 of the law No. 162/2014 “On ambient air quality protection”, develop the rules on preparation, approval, reassessment and implementation of the national programmes on reducing the emmissions in the air. 

2- In line with article 11, develop a framework/format that will be used from NEA in the annual report on air quality assessment.

3-In line with article 19/5, develop a format and the information that should contain the report of the implementation of  law 162/2014.

• Prepare the table of concordance for each of the by-laws when transposing EU legislation.;
• Prepare the technical relations per the relevant template;

The reports must be in English and Albanian.

Useful links:

www.mjedisi.gov.al/files/userfiles/Ajer/Ligj_162-2014_04.12.2014.doc

Task 2: Lead the public consultations for the three by-laws above and document the process through minutes of meetings.

Task 3: Identify the air quality environmental indicators in line with the new legal acts.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULES:

30 % - In line with article 17 of the law No. 162/2014 “On ambient air quality protection”, develop the rules on preparation, approval, reassessment and implementation of the national programmes on reducing the emmissions in the air. 

60 % - In line with article 11, develop a framework/format that will be used from NEA in the annual report on air quality assessment; In line with article 19/5, develop a format and the information that should contain the report of the implementation of law 162/2014.

10 % - Lead the public consultations for the three by-laws above and document the process through minutes of meetings. Identify the air quality environmental indicators in line with the new legal acts.

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 Legislation and familiarity with air quality related issues in Albania;
• Proven expertise on preparation of environmental legislation in compliance with EU regulations is advantage;
• Familiarity with the International Conventions and EU Regulations addressing Environment and Air Quality.
• Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• University degree in the fields of natural sciences, environmental studies or relevant related fields;
• Proven expert knowledge in the drafting environmental legal acts and policy paper.

Work Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience;
• Proven experience in implementing similar tasks preferably in Albania or the Region;
• Good knowledges on policies undertaken from the Ministry of Environment and Albanian Government in the environmental areas in the last 5 years;

Language

• Good knowledge of both written and spoken English

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: Proven expert knowledge in the drafting environmental legal acts.

30% or 30 points: University degree in the fields of natural sciences, environmental studies or relevant related fields with at least 10 years of relevant professional experience.

10% or 10 points: Good knowledges on policies undertaken from the Ministry of Environment and Albanian Government in the environmental areas in the last 5 years.

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.