Background

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a middle income country which is still recovering from the 1992-1995 war which had a devastating impact on its human, social and economic resources, leading to enormous challenges of the post-war reconstruction and economic and social recovery. This challenge has been further compounded by the transition towards market economy requiring structural reforms and improved governance. The slow rate of the post-war economic recovery of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been compounded by the negative impacts of climate change on key sectors such as agriculture, energy (hydropower), the environment and, in particular, the frequency and magnitude of flood disasters, which have tripled in frequency in the last decade.  In May 2014, Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced its worst flooding in 150 years which resulted in 23 deaths and $2.7 Billion USD worth of damages which is 15% of GDP, and is expected to result in a 1.1 percent contraction in the economy this year, compared to the growth of 2.2 percent that had been predicted before the flood.
BiH is significantly exposed to the threats of climate change, but has very limited capacity to address and adapt to its negative impacts, in particular the frequency and magnitude of floods from its major rivers.   The Vrbas River basin is characterized by a large rural population comprised of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in BiH, including war returnees and displaced people, with high exposure to flooding and its devastating impacts. 
The purpose of this project is to transfer technologies for climate resilient flood management in Vrbas River Basin, UNDP, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) to enable the communities of the Vrbas basin to adapt to flood risk through the transfer of adaptation technologies for climate resilient flood management,   upgrade and rehabilitation of the hydrometric monitoring network, development of a flood forecasting system and early warning system, development of emergency response plans, and provision of training in flood-specific civil protection.   Importantly, the project will provide targeted training on climate-induced FRM to over 100 practitioners and decisions makers, and will develop an institutional capacity development plan for the long-term development of capability and capacity in Flood Risk Management (FRM).  The project will work closely with affected communities to introduce climate resilient community-based non-structural measures and provide training to local communities in climate resilient FRM. This will include the introduction of agro-forestry, community-based early warning systems, reforestation and introduction of financial instruments such as index-based flood insurance and credit deference schemes as a means of compensating for flood damages for agriculture. 
The overall objective of this assignment is to identify needs to optimize hydro-meteorological network to be able to respond and protect the most vulnerable areas in water management and identify adaptation activities necessary to increase resilience among vulnerable population.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant should work in close consultation with and under the guidance and supervision of the UNDP project manager. Specifically, his\her responsibilities are but not limited to the following:

  • Map, review and conduct detailed gap analysis of the existing hydrometric network and assessment of adequacy for flood monitoring and strategic FRM. This analysis should also include hydrometric network from hydro-power plants and detail all formal and informal data sharing;
  • Detail all planned rehabilitation of the hydrometric network under ongoing and planned investment and identify any gaps not covered by planned projects;
  • Assess and review adequacy of the existing hydrometric network for torrents flood modelling.  Identification of hydrometric gauging needs for torrent catchments;
  • Assess and review adequacy of the existing hydrometric network for underground waters modelling.  Identification of hydrometric gauging needs for underground catchments;
  • Review current weather forecast data sources for Republic of Srpska and identify any improvements for predictions at local scale;
  • Identify remote sensing data sources to address currently limited satellite sources for early warning system - EWS (e.g. satellite precipitation estimates GPM & MPE), data acquisition, processing, validation and calibration;
  • Conduct detailed review and characterisation of O&M procedures, resources, budgets etc.  Estimation of the required O&M budget, resources, personnel etc. for the proposed fully optimised hydrometric network with costed list of hydrometric equipment.

Ensures the timely and effective conduction of the activities as scheduled;

Deliverables/ outputs
The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

Deliverable / outputs # of days per task Due date Percentage

  • Upon completion of all assignment; 15; 10 Dec; 100%

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 favouritism;
  • Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional competencies:

  • Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
  • Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
  • Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
  • Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
  • Excellent public speaking and presentation skills;
  • Excellent communication skills;
  • Extensive knowledge of computer applications;
  • Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
  • Ability to work independently as well as part of a fairly big team;
  • Ability to operate under strict time limits.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education

  • M.Sc degree in civil engineering or B.Sc plus 3 years of relevant work experience in lieu of M.Sc.

Experience

  • Knowledge of the environmental issues in B&H;
  • Minimum 5 year experience in water management;
  • Proven experience in hydro-meteorological monitoring;
  • Knowledge of B&H institutional set-up;
  • Good understanding of climate change and sustainable development issues.

Languages Requirements

  • Knowledge of English is an asset

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

  • Proposal:

-Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;

-Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work.

Technical criteria:   

  • Good understanding of climate change and sustainable development issues 30% 30; 
  • Methodology (document which contains brief explanation on approach to conduct the work) 40% 40;
  • Proven knowledge in hydro-meteorological monitoring 30% 30. 

Financial criteria: Weight: 30%, Maximum points: 30.

EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

  • * Technical Criteria weight-70%
  • * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 50 point would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.


Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

  • For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
  • Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.