Background

This project is designed to strengthen capacities 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.

The project specifically targets environmental indicator monitoring, data collection and processing and its alignment with the SDGs.

IUCN Red list of threatened species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species.

The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Far more than a list of species and their status, it is a powerful tool to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation and policy change, and as a critical mean to protect the natural resources. It provides information about range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and/or trade, threats, and conservation actions that will help inform necessary conservation decisions.

This purpose includes “the traditional role” of Red list in identifying the special threatened species. The IUCN Red List role is crucial not only for helping to identify priority species needing targeted recovery efforts, but also for focusing the conservation agenda by identifying the key sites and habitats that need to be protected.

The national red list of Albania aims at:

  • Laying the foundation of monitoring the change in species status;
  • Provision of a global context to define protection priorities at local level;
  • Continuous monitoring of the status of listed species (as biodiversity indicator),  by including all country main ecosystems.

Duties and Responsibilities

The international consultant will work closely with a national wild fauna expert in the following tasks:

  1. General assessment of the present status of the Red List of Fauna for Albania
  2. Evaluation and submission of fauna species to be added in the Albania Red List mainly focused on gastropods and mollusks.
  3. Update of the National Red List of Fauna for Albania

The whole process of assessment, its development, revision and eventual publication of the Red List will be guided from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and UNDP, however in all cases, the starting point is raw data.

Data and information may be held in published papers, articles, books and reports, unpublished documents and reports, unpublished data, databases (including the IUCN Red List itself), GIS data, satellite imagery, etc.

Prior to the assessment phase, raw data are gathered from across the entire ranges for the taxa being assessed. Data must be recorded in a format compatible with the standards of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria and with appropriate supporting information.

This will support in:

(a) to identify new information to update assessments for threatened and near threatened species; (b) to identify new information or data suggesting that a Least Concern or Data Deficient species may warrant reclassification.

Before they are submitted, all assessments must be checked to ensure:

  1. All of the required supporting information is attached and in the appropriate format.
  2. Distribution maps have been prepared, where possible, for assessed taxa and the mapping standards have been followed for these.
  3. The IUCN Red List Criteria have been followed.

Deliverables:

10 September 2019 - 30 % - Initial report with the general assessment of the present status of Red List Fauna related to gastropods and mollusks.

30 November 2019 - 50% - Submissions of fauna species related to gastropods and mollusks to be added in the Albania Red List

30 March 2020 - 20% - Final submission and mission to Tirana, Albania

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;
  • Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily.
  • Good technical, organizational, interpersonal and teambuilding skills essential;

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualification

  • Advanced University Degree in natural sciences, environmental sciences, wild fauna conservation or other relevant areas;

Work Experience 

  • At least 7 years of professional experience with special relevance to the main scope of the assignment
  • Working experience related to species monitoring, at national or regional level, that have had similar tasks while demonstration good knowledge in nature protection;
  • Good command of speaking and writing of English language;
  • Organizational skills in organizing consultation and awareness meetings, client orientation and government advisory tasks.

Languages required:

  • Good knowledge of English

 

Evaluation of Applicants

Applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies specified above.

Technical Criteria – 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points

  • Education in a relevant field – 20 points;
  • Working experience related to species monitoring, at national or regional level, that have had similar tasks while demonstration good knowledge in nature protection – max. 30 points;
  • At least 7 years of professional experience with special relevance to the main scope of the assignment – max. 20 points;

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

UNDP applies the ‘Best value for money’ approach - the final selection will be based on the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

 

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... www.un.org.al/sites/default/files/IC_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx
  • Latest personal CV, including past experience from similar projects or completed and signed UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SC) and Individual Contracts (IC) – Blank form Download here.
  • Financial Proposal - specifying a total lump sum amount in USD for completion of the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal should indicate an all-inclusive fixed total contract price and all other travel related costs (such as flight ticket, per diem, etc), supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template attached to the Letter of Confirmation of Interest template.  If an applicant is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the applicant must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. http://www.un.org.al/doc/Financial%20Offer%20template.doc 
  • Copy of Diplomas and copy of Passport.

How to Submit the Application:

To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

  • Merge your CV or P11, 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 a 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.