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 the most vulnerable areas in water management and identify adaptation activities necessary to increase resilience among vulnerable population in the area of Sava River Basin in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 

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:

  • Analyse specific gaps and needs within the water sector at all government levels, to be able to respond to climate related disasters;
  • Map, review and conduct detailed gap analysis of the existing hydrometric network (including network managed by HPP), assess adequacy for flood monitoring and strategic flood risk management and detail data/information sharing (including costing and maintenance requirements);
  • Collect and analyse existing flood hazard and risk models/reports/maps for the Sava river basins in FBiH;
  • Work together with socio-economic expert to undertake an outline risk assessment of socio-economic damages and losses from flood hazards for the major river basins based on the model and methodology developed for Vrbas basin, under existing and climate change conditions. This will form the basis of identifying and justifying project interventions;
  • Review of methodology and models being adopted for the national flood hazard modelling and mapping.  identify the datasets that will be needed to undertake enhanced flood hazard and risk modelling and identify data requirements for inclusion of groundwater flood risk modelling and mapping, inclusion of HPP operations in flood hazard models.  Review the data availability for 1) Hydrological modelling for all major river basins 2) Modelling of groundwater flood hazard and risk mapping;
  • Contribute to the development of the FFEWS system (centralized and Community-based). Based on the indicative hazard and risk assessment available during project development, identify the number of communities for which CBEWS will be supported based on the following considerations: relatively high risk, short lead time of the extreme events, potential technical constraints for the central system to effectively service the community (e.g. due to remote location or connection problems);
  • Identify a capacity development plan for embedding flood hazard and risk modelling approaches and FFEWS into appropriate institutions in BiH. Identify a training programme to be implemented under the project (based on the short-term plan);
  • Define approaches and tools to be introduced for torrential flood/flashflood, ground water and HPP modelling of existing and climate-induced risk modelling and mapping;
  • Undertake review of critical infrastructure and flood defences in BiH, including Standard of Protection and existing situation with respect to infrastructure asset management (O&M) in BiH;
  • Based on risk assessment to be conducted during project formulation, identify the critical locations for new flood defences and anti-erosion measures required based on a climate proofing design (long-listing, shortlisting and initial appraisal including consultation and site visits of shortlisted locations);
  • Review existing flood defences which will need to be upgraded and rehabilitated with climate proofing;
  • Review current practice, methodologies, standards for design, construction, material, use and maintenance of critical infrastructure in BiH and identify gaps/deficiencies with regard to CC considerations.  Review international best practises and identify approach to developing appropriate standards, methods,  guidelines, protocols etc. for climate resilient critical infrastructure (in particular EUFD standards).  Identify technologies, tools to be acquired/developed to implement new CC critical infrastructure design, construction and O&M approaches in BiH;
  •  Review and identify of sector-specific FFEWS products to be developed (based on market research and WTP surveys).  Review existing access to, and use of climate and flood risk information in specific sectors (agriculture, hydropower/energy);
  • Undertake outline costing of shortlisted new infrastructure and infrastructure for rehabilitation;
  • Identify specific gaps and needs within the water sector at all government levels, to be able to respond to climate related disasters;
  • Identify specific gaps and needs in order to improve cooperation between water and other related sectors (agriculture, hydro-energy, forestry, spatial planning, environment protection and finance) to be able to respond to climate related disasters;
  • Identify capacity building needs and contribute to development of the capacity development plan to address institutional, technical, functional and human capacity gaps identified.  Identify training needs of the relevant national and sub-national practitioners;
  • Analyse existing budgetary and extra-budgetary expenses, sources of funding and other financing mechanisms used to address water management issues related to climate consequences;
  • Recommend procedures for coordination of adaptation activities within the water sector and between water and other related sectors (agriculture, hydro-energy, spatial planning, forestry, environment protection and finance). These procedures should cover coordination, data/information exchange and implementation of adaptation activities, as well as monitoring and evaluation framework.

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

  • Analysis of hydro-metric network completed; Analysis of existing flood hazard and risk  models/reports/maps for the relevant river basins; Identified datasets needed to undertake enhanced flood hazard and risk modelling and to include groundwater flood risk modelling and mapping, and HPP operations in flood hazard models, 01 Dec 2018; 13.3%;
  • Gaps and needs for fully functioning FFEWS system (centralized and Community-based) identified, 01 Dec 2018, 10%;
  • Approaches and tools to be introduced for torrential flood/flashflood, ground water and HPP modelling of existing and climate-induced risk modelling and mapping identified,  05 Dec 2018; 13.3%;
  • Critical infrastructure and flood defences reviewed, critical locations for new flood defences and anti-erosion measures identified existing flood defences which will need to be upgraded and rehabilitated with climate proofing identified;  25 Dec 2018; 20%;
  • Gaps/deficiencies with regard to CC considerations within current practice identified. Approach to developing appropriate standards, methods,  guidelines, protocols etc. for climate resilient critical infrastructure (in particular EUFD standards) identified.  25 Dec 2018, 13.3%;
  • Identified sector-specific FFEWS products to be developed  (agriculture, hydropower/energy), 25 Dec 2018, 13.4%;
  • Draft procedures for coordination of adaptation activities within the water sector and between water and other related sectors (agriculture, hydro-energy, spatial planning, forestry, environment protection and finance),  31 Mar 2019, 16.7%.

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 humoured 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

  • BA in civil engineering

Experience

  • Knowledge of the environmental issues in B&H;
  • Minimum of 10-year experience in water management;
  • Proven experience in flood risk management;
  • Knowledge of B&H institutional set-up;
  • Good understanding of climate change and sustainable development issues,

Languages Requirements

  • Knowledge of English is an asset

 

Technical Criteria   

  • Knowledge of the environmental issues in B&H and flood risk management 30% 30; 
  • Methodology (document which contains brief explanation on approach to conduct the work) 40% 40;
  • Proven knowledge and understanding of climate change and sustainable development issues as well as BiH institutional set up 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.

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

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