Background

UNDP Programme priorities are drawn from the United Nations Programme of Cooperation for Sustainable Development 2017–2021, which in turn supports select objectives of the NSDI for 2015-2020. Programme priorities reflect the comparative advantages of UNDP in supporting national reforms, upholding values of rights and equity and promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. UNDP will leverage its past achievements and seek to reinforce the positive impacts of the administrative territorial reform for increasing service delivery capacities of institutions, ultimately building trust and creating social and economic dividends for the men and women who stand most to benefit from increased transparency, accountability and citizen orientation of services.

Environment and climate change is the fourth priority, deriving from the UNDP Country Programme Document, ‘Government and non-government actors adopt and implement innovative, gender-sensitive national and local actions for environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and disaster risk reduction’. This mirrors UNDP Strategic Plan outcome 1 and responds to the NSDI objective of sustainable growth and provides the framework for UNDP to support national realization of a broad range of Sustainable Development Goals.

Under this area, UNDP initiatives will deliver results at two levels: at central level, for financing mechanisms; and at the local government unit level, for gradually consolidating the responsibility to act for the present protection and the future resilience of the environment. UNDP will support broader ownership of the climate agenda and work with the Ministries of Environment and of Energy and others and build inter-institutional partnerships. This will provide the governance basis for the establishment of innovative funding mechanisms that can incentivize and help to pay for improved energy efficiency and renewable solutions (Sustainable Development Goals13 and 7).

 It will also help Albania to access global climate financing. Synergies and partnerships with international and regional financial institutions will underpin such financing mechanisms and help to build market uptake for solutions.

UNDP will continue its partnership with the Ministry of Environment and promote innovative financing and co-management mechanisms for protection of natural resources, combined with internationally comparable performance measurements. UNDP will institutionalize Albania’s partnerships with homologue institutions of the riparian countries of the Drin River (South-South cooperation) and develop implementing procedures for management of this transboundary basin.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior National Financial Expert will provide Technical Assistance services for Environment and Climate Change Funds that the country may be eligible to apply for. All activities would be carried in close collaboration with the UNDP Country Office (CO) in Albania.

More specifically, the national consultant will be entrusted with the following tasks:

  • Participate in all stages of the Technical Assistance dedicated to Financial instruments related to global environment and climate vertical funds as well as operationalization of potential funds at national and/or local level;
  • Provide support to UNDP and the line ministries developing a road map on a suite of financial mechanisms to access international environment and climate finance by the national entities at central and local level;
  • Provide advisory and position statements to operationalization of financial instruments for Environment (Nature protection and Protected areas) and Climate Change (Energy Efficiency and Renewables);
  • Review existing legal framework related to environment nature protection/protected areas  and climate funds (investment funds included) in the Western Balkans and new EU member states and related EU processes and requirements;
  • Provide assistance to Environment/Protected areas financial instruments throughout the process of the proposal for establishment of the financial mechanisms with potential partner financial institutions;
  • Assist relevant stakeholders in identifying and proposing the appropriate institutional structure that will support collaboration between the UNDP, Government and the GCF, and facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement;
  • Provide consolidated Report and continuous response to deliverables status on GCF related matters, including information on the Fund, its operational modalities, financial instruments, proposal preparations, etc., through regular consultations, workshops, knowledge products, etc.; 

Expected Deliverables and Payment Schedules:

  • 20 %- An Inception Report four weeks after the start of the contract. It will include a detailed review of existing relevant information and development of the initial work plan.

  • 20% each - Quarterly Progress Reports describing activities and progress, identifying any constraints, and indicating progress in the various activities.

    Any other report that may be required within the general framework of the UNDP programme.

    The senior consultant will also report to the UNDP Program Analyst of Environment and Energy while providing strategic advice to the Ministry.

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 the finance sector;
  • Familiarity with Environmental Funds and GCF in particularly;
  • Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily;
  • Knowledge of legal and policy documents developed in the country regarding GEF, GCF, the Energy Fund, etc.
  • Experience in financial procedures and analysis;
  • Experience in working with Environmental Funds and GCF in particularly;
  • Strong background in banking and general business sectors in Albania;

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

  • B.Sc. Degree in Business Administration or Business Finance.

Experience: 

  • At least 10 years of professional experience in finance sector in the private sector and government institutions;
  • Working experience in the field of environment;

Language Requirements: 

Excellent knowledge of English language

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: - B.Sc. Degree in Business Administration or Business with Finance Experience in financial procedures and analysis;

30 % or 30 points: - At least 10 years of professional experience in finance sector in the private sector and government institutions;

10% or 10 points: - Knowledge of legal and policy documents developed in the country regarding GEF, GCF, the Energy Fund, etc.

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.