The Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) (www.thegef.org) unites 183 member governments—in partnership with international institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector—to address global environment issues. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer and persistent organic pollutants. Since 1991, the GEF has provided US$12.5 billion in grants and leveraged US$58 billion in co-financing for 3,690 projects in 165 developing countries. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP) the GEF has made more than 20,000 grants totaling about US$1 billion to civil society and community-based organizations.

The GEF International Waters (IW) focal area targets transboundary water systems, such as shared river basins, lakes, groundwater and large marine ecosystems. The IW portfolio comprises 242 projects to date and some US$1.4 billion of GEF grants invested in 149 different countries. This investment has leveraged about US$8.4 billion in co-financing. 

UNDP GEF Kura Project “Advancing Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM)  across the Kura river basin through implementation of the transboundary agreed actions and national plans” will be implementing the Strategic Action Program for the Kura River Basin in partnership with the Governments of Georgia and Azerbaijan. The SAP is framed around four agreed Ecosystem Quality Objectives (EQO) which are:

• To achieve sustainable utilization of water resources to ensure access to water and preserve ecosystem services;
• To achieve water quality such that it would ensure access to clean water for present and future generations and sustain ecosystem functions in the Kura river basin;
• To achieve and maintain ecosystem status whereby they provide essential environmental and socio-economic services in a sustainable manner in the Kura River Basin; and,
• To achieve mitigation of adverse impacts of flooding and climate change on infrastructures, riparian ecosystems and communities.

The GEF will support priority activities towards these objectives. The GEF funded SAP implementation Project has the objective “to integrate water resources management in the Kura river basin to address water-energy-food-ecosystem security nexus through the implementation of agreed actions in the SAP”.
There will be five components to support the countries to achieve this objective. These are:

• Project Component 1: Establishment of effective cross sectoral IWRM governance protocols at the local, national and transboundary levels in the Kura Basin;
• Project Component 2: Strengthening national capacities to implement multi-sectoral IWRM in the Kura basin;
• Project Component 3: Stress reduction in critical areas and pre-feasibility studies to identify investment opportunities for improving river system health;
• Project Component 4: Targeted education and involvement projects to empower stakeholders in implementing local / national / regional actions in support of SAP implementation;
• Project Component 5: Enhancing science for governance by strengthening monitoring, information management and data analysis systems for IWRM.

The widespread decline in river ecosystems across the Kura river basin has resulted from river engineering activities and the alteration of the river and its floodplain. These activities have been in response to changing landscape activities as a result of industrialization, urbanization and intensification of agriculture. By restoring natural conditions, river restoration improves the resilience of the river systems and provides the framework for the river sustainable multifunctional use. River restoration is an integral part of sustainable water management and is in direct support of the aims of the EU Water Framework Directive, and national and regional water management policies.

The Strategic Action Program (SAP) and the UNDP-GEF Kura II Project Document expressed the importance of introducing the concept of river ecological restoration and support the two countries in applying this concept in a pilot areas.

The Project Document also includes specific outputs in component 5 (output 5.3) for a transboundary river system ecological assessment. This task will support the two countries in developing a 2-year plan for the assessment of the ecological status of the Kura river basin, review and update the river ecological classification status.

The services of a qualified and highly competent consultant will be required to assist the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) in developing the above-mentioned river ecological assessment and classification structure update and the river restoration plans. The consultant will provide technical guidance to the representatives from the two countries in the development and implementation of the river ecological assessment and restoration plans.

Scope of Work
The River Ecologist and River Restoration Expert will work closely with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection in Georgia to assess the availability of Kura River ecological data in the two countries, review the current river ecological classification structure and provide recommendations for updating this classification structure to be in line with the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), and develop a 2-year plan for the assessment of the river ecological status using that new classification structure. 

The expert also will train representatives from the two countries on the concepts and application of River ecological assessment and restoration, support the two countries in developing a river ecological restoration plans, and start the implementation of such plan in a selected pilot area in each country. 

The consultant, in collaboration and close coordination with the Project Coordination Unit and the National Focal Points, shall carry out the following activities:

• Visit the two countries to meet with concerned stakeholders on the current river basin ecological status in the Kura river basin, and to visit to the potential sites for implementing the river restoration plan in each country
• Review and comment on the current River basin ecological classification structure in both Azerbaijan and Georgia;
• Develop an update version of the River Basin classification structure in line with the EU WFD;
• Discuss the updated version  of the River Basin classification structure with all concerned ministries and stakeholders in the two countries and collect all comments through  skype calls with each country.
• Develop the final version of the updated River Basin classification structure taking into accounts the stakeholders discussions and comments
• Develop a 2-year plan for Kura River basin ecological assessment
• Develop technical specification and guideline for the ecological assessment plan 
• Draft a report on the most suitable site for river ecological restoration in each country 
• Discuss the draft report with the main stakeholders and collect comments
• Finalize the report on the most suitable site for river ecological restoration in each country
• Develop detailed river ecological restoration plans for specific sites 
• Organize skype workshop in each country with all stakeholders to discuss the draft restoration plan in each country
• Develop operational guideline on how to implement the river restoration plan

Timeframe for deliverables and financial arrangements
Submit detailed work plan for implementation of activities
Start date: 1st Aug. 2017
End date: 15 Aug. 2017
Payment due: 10% of the total lumpsum on delivery and approval by the CTA

Visit the two countries to meet with concerned stakeholders, and to visit to the potential sites for implementing the river restoration plan in each country
Start date: 15 Aug. 2017
End date: 31 Aug. 2017

Develop an Updated version of the River Basin classification structure in line with the EU WFD
Start date: 1st Sep. 2017
End date: 30 Sep. 2017
Payment due: 25% of the total lumpsum on delivery and approval by the CTA

Develop a 2-year plan for Kura River basin ecological assessment
Start date: 1st Oct. 2017
End date: 31 Oct. 2017

Technical specification and Guideline for the ecological assessment plan
Start date: 1st Nov. 2017
End date: 15 Nov. 2017
Payment due: 30% of the total lumpsum on delivery and approval by the CTA

Develop the Final Report on the most suitable site for river ecological restoration in each country
Start date: 15 Nov. 2017
End date: 30 Nov. 2017

Detailed river ecological restoration plans for specific site in each country
Start date: 1st Dec. 2017
End date: 15 Jan. 2018
Payment due: 25% of the total lumpsum on delivery and approval by the CTA

Operational Guideline on how to implement the river restoration plan
Start date: 1st Jan. 2018
End date: 15 Jan. 2018
Payment due: 10% of the total lumpsum on delivery and approval by the CTA

Information on Working Arrangements: 

The international River basin ecological restoration Expert will report to the Project Chief Technical Advisor / Regional Project Coordinator (CTA/RPC). Deliverables will be reviewed and approved by the CTA/RPC.

Time Frame: 

The expected time frame for the Consultant to complete these activities is 6 months starting from August 1, 2017 with approximately 35 working days during this period (25 days home based and two field missions to the region with 5 days per mission (each mission will have 3 days in Azerbaijan + 2 days in Georgia)).  

Financial Arrangements:

Payments as percentage of lump sum will be made monthly on the following based on approval and timely completion of above all deliverables described above.
Any delay of deliverable must be approved by the CTA in writing.

Functional competencies:

• Strong communication and management skills and demonstrable capacity to work with a multi-national team and to work with government institutions;
• Demonstrated ability  to work on the field to monitor and assess river ecology and river restoration;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

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

Education

• M.Sc in ecology, biology or other relevant degree required, PhD in Ecology with a focus on fresh water ecosystems a strong asset. 

Experience:

• At least 6 years proven experience in critically assessing degraded ecosystems at different temporal and spatial scales and locations (local to international) and identifying primary causal factors contributing to the declining conditions of target ecosystems; 
• Demonstrated experience in river basin ecological classifications according to internationally accepted standards required,  experience with EU WFD a strong asset;
• Experience in designing river basin restoration plans by integrating ecological principles and physical processes with applied restoration techniques;
• Experience in training for non-ecologists on general ecology; specialization in training on river ecology, freshwater ecosystems functions, and/or IWRM as strong asset;
• Proven experience in aquatic biological monitoring programs and the design and implementation of such monitoring programs in line with EUWFD. 

Language: 

• English is the working language for this assignment, therefore excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required.
• Ability to communicate in Russian is an advantage

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants 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 P11 desk reviews and interviews and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 

Only candidates who will get min. 70% of points in desk review will be invited for an interview.

Evaluation Criteria:
Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Criteria A – Academic qualification / education – max points 10;
• Criteria B – Experience in critically assessing degraded ecosystems at different temporal and spatial scales and locations (local to international) and identifying primary causal factors contributing to the declining conditions of target ecosystems– max points 10;
• Criteria C – Experience in river basin ecological classifications according to internationally accepted standards, experience with EU WFD– max points 10;
• Criteria D – Experience designing river basin restoration plans by integrating ecological principles and physical processes with applied restoration techniques – max points 10;
• Criteria E – Experience in training for non-ecologists on general ecology; specialization in training on river ecology, freshwater ecosystems functions, and/or IWRM– max points 10;
• Criteria F – Experience  in aquatic biological monitoring programs and the design and implementation of such monitoring programs in line with EUWFD – max points 5;
• Criteria G – Interview (language, communication and technical skills) – max points 15

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

Application procedure:

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. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application. 
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV. 
•  A summary proposal indicating the work to be done for achieving the task, main points to be discussed with the countries and to also be addressed in your report, plan for visiting countries, the structure of your final report. 
• Financial Proposal* in USD - specifying a) total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement and b) costs (i) travel costs and ii) per diem) for two (2) missions to the region with 5 working days (3 days in Azerbaijan and 2 days in Georgia).

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, personal security needs 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. 

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs. 

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.