Background

UNDP is the development arm of the United Nations system, with offices in 180 countries. Globally, the organization employs 17,000 people and manages a budget of USD 5 billion each year.

The UNDP office in Skopje employs a team of 65 and currently manages a portfolio of projects in environmental protection, good governance and social inclusion worth USD 15 million per year.

UNDP is seeking national GIS expert to provide technical support in establishment of Geospatial (GIS) data management system and decision-making associated GIS-based tools and methods for Flood Risk Management (FRM).   

The Drin River Basin (DRB) is a transboundary river basin, which extends across Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece.  Flood risk in riparian countries of the Drin Basin has been an important disaster factor since 2010 with the frequency of floods been observed to be increasing over time. The socio-economic vulnerability is high due to the high (9-21%) poverty rate of the riparian countries. Vulnerability factors also include poor urban planning, unsustainable water management and agricultural practices, deforestation, industrial pollution and poor waste management in areas highly exposed to flooding.

Climate change and climate variability have been increasing the frequency, intensity and impact of flooding in the basin. According to future projections, climate change will have serious negative impacts in DRB including increased frequency and intensity of floods and droughts, increased water scarcity, intensified erosion and sedimentation, increased intensity of snow melt, sea level rise, and damage to water quality and ecosystems.

The ambitious goal of the regional Drin FRM project which is funded by the GEF Adaptation Fund is to assist the riparian countries and improve resilience of 1.6 million people living in the basin by implementation of an integrated climate-resilient flood risk management approach to improve their capacity to manage flood risk and to enhance resilience of vulnerable communities.

To achieve this, the project foresees a set of activities including: 1) improved climate and risk informed decision-making; 2) improved institutional arrangements, legislative and policy framework for climate resilient FRM; and 3) strengthen community resilience through improved flood management, through implementation of structural and non-structural measures.

Particular role in the strategic management of climate-induced flood risk apart of having appropriate density and frequency of monitoring of important hydrometeorological variables plays the improved knowledge for the complex hydrological cycle and hydraulic processes affected by the interaction of hydrological variables coupled with meteorological parameters. Flood hazard and risk modeling including preparation of appropriate flood hazard and risk maps requires application of most appropriate hydrological/hydraulic modeling tools-models which will comprehensively measure and simulate the interaction of the key flooding associated factors such as: morphology and structure of the terrain, type and intensity of precipitation, vegetation cover, geology, drainage capacity, river basin morphology extending to the present channels and floodplan, their interaction and roughness. This is the key approach in flood risk management of the EU flood Directive principles 2007/60/EU (EUFD). Based on this core knowledge about the processes in the river basin, measures (non-structural and structural) are being developed as part of the flood risk management plan.  

The national expert will work under the direct supervision of National Project Manager and cooperate closely with the engaged experts: National Hydraulic Expert, Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), International Lead Hydrologist and International Lead Hydraulic Modeler, as well as with relevant national institutions such as HydroMet Service and the Ministry

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is structured to provide technical support for development of hydrological and hydraulic coupled model for the Macedonian part of the Drin River Basin.

Scope of Work

Task 1: Data collection and technical analysis This task should incorporate baseline data provided in the key available relevant documents associated with hydrological modelling such as the Drin-Buna/Bojana Basin Flow and Flood Forecasting System by Deutsche Gesellschaft fu¨r Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and additional data necessary to be collected for extending the system.

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Collect, review and analyze all available datasets relevant to hydrological modeling for the DRB region;
• Identify and assess all past efforts for development of hydrological modeling of the area in various projects/initiatives including the relevance and applicability of the produced data/hydrological models;
• Provide advice and support in establishment of Spatial Data Initiative and data management system for the project together with the national hydraulic expert engaged by separate contract;
• Based on the assessment of the available data provide advice of necessary available topographic maps, aerial photos, high resolution digital elevation models, etc. which are necessary for development of high resolution hydrological and hydraulic model. Provide distinction what are the available datasets and what if any datasets are necessary additionally be obtained. NOTE: commission of high-resolution topographic data for the floodplain areas in the DRB are to be obtained with LiDAR terrain survey to be conducted by the project;

Task 2 Development of hydrological and hydraulic model: The aim of the task is to develop comprehensive hydrological and hydraulic model for the Drin River Basin. The model for the Macedonian part of the basin is expected to be developed with support of the national hydraulic expert and with high resolution details based on utilization of all available datasets the including the data from the national hydrological and climatological timeseries. This national level model should fit in the transboundary basin level model which will be compiled under leading role of the international hydrologist and hydraulic modeler.  

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Provide list of relevant hydrological modeling tools with analyses of the applicability for the Drin River Basin model development along with the pros and cons including the available hydrological and climatological parameters` datasets and future operationalization of the national and basin wide monitoring network;
• Select the most appropriate model and develop the hydrological model for the Macedonian part of the DRB based on the final decision made with input from the international experts and the national hydraulic expert. It is expected the model to be built upon all available maps, layers, etc. including the DEM produced by the LiDAR conducted terrain survey;
• Produce high-resolution flood risk maps in line with the EUFD requirements upon the hydrological and hydraulic model developed. The maps are expected to be produced for a number of a different return periods and for a range of a climate change scenarios. NOTE: Details and the scope of the produced maps will be agreed together with input of the international modelers, however minimum required set is expected to be developed.
• Take responsible role in model calibration, sensitivity analysis and other important issues necessary for validation of the model and securing its future applicability by the flood risk management practitioners and appropriate institutions;
• Provide technical input and support in the identification of appraisal-led designs and prioritization of set of measures and activities towards long-term flood risk sustainable community resilience including structural and nonstructural measures to be implemented on basin and national level and development of the basin FRM strategy;
• Provide technical advice in various stages in conceptualization of technical solutions for future structural, adaptation and awareness measures;

Task 3 Capacity development support. Parallel to the process of model development the expert is expected to provide training and capacity building in use and application of the model to the practitioners and representatives from relevant institutions.

More specifically, this support would comprise:

• Present during the anticipated national or regional workshops for the Drin Core Working Group, personnel from official institutions and other stakeholders issues related to flood risk management and similar;
• Identify long-term training needs in hydrology and hydrological modelling for FRM, contribute to overall capacity development and training plan, and provide training in hydrological modelling to practitioners in Riparian countries;
• Deliver training on model application in coordination with the rest of the riparian countries models to be fit in the basin wide model application;

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES:

The consultancy is expected to deliver the following outputs:

Institutional arrangment and payment

The consultant will work under direct supervision by the Project Manager. He/she will be in regular communication with the supervisor through e-mail and will provide regular progress reports. The written reports should be prepared as per the schedule indicated above. All the reports shall be prepared in English. Short technical summaries/reports will be prepared on Macedonian upon prior consultation and coordination with the key beneficiaries. The consultant will report to UNDP through the Project Manager. The payment will be upon completion of deliverables. If the deliverables are not produced and delivered by the consultant to the satisfaction of UNDP as approved by the responsible Portfolio Manager, no payment will be made even if the consultant has invested man/days to produce and deliver such deliverables.

Duration of the Work

The consultant shall be hired by UNDP under the IC (Individual Contract) modality for a period of maximum 24 months upon signing of the contract and shall be completed not later than end of 2022.  The startup of the work is expected in end of October 2020. The overall duration of the tasks covered by this ToR has been estimated to not exceed 110 working days. It is expected max 10 days to be dedicated working in the field (Macedonian part of Drin River Basin). Travel fees should be included in the financial offer. It is expected the consultant to prepare working plan within the first week after signing the contract which will be reviewed and approved by the Project Manager.

Duty station and travel

The assignment will be home based (Skopje) with travel to Drin River Basin (Macedonian Part).

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work independently and in teams;
• Ability to provide quality assurance and attention to detail;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds.

Corporate competencies

• 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;
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.

Required Skills and Experience

The selected candidates shall possess:

Qualification and experience

1. Academic Qualifications: minimum MSc in civil/hydraulic engineering, hydrology, flood risk management,
2. Professional Experience: Minimum 7 years of relevant experience from hydrological and hydraulic modelling, flood risk management planning projects, preparation of hydrological/water balance studies, assessments, water monitoring (meteorology and hydrology),
3. Relevant experience from at least 3 projects/assignments that involve floods/hydrologic/hydraulic modelling, water balance studies,
4. Previous working experience in the Drin River Basin is considered as an asset
5. Language Requirements:  Language proficiency in both written and oral, English and Macedonian.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF BEST OFFER

The award of the contract shall be made to the offeror whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) Being responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score based on the following weight of technical and financial criteria for solicitation as per the schedule below:

* Technical criteria weight: 70%

* Financial criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70%) in the technical evaluation shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

For the considered offers in the financial evaluation only, the lowest price offer will receive 30 points. The other offers will receive points in relation to the lowest offer, based on the following formula: (Pn / Pl) * 30 where Pn is the financial offer being evaluated and Pl is the lowest financial offer received.

Technical Criteria:

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED

Interested offerors are invited submit the following documents/information to be considered:

1. Offeror’s letter, as per the following form LINK
2. Most updated CV with focus on required qualification as well as the contact details of at least three (3) professional references;
3. Methodology and approach describing how the consultant understand the assignment,
4. Financial Proposal The financial proposal must be expressed in the form of a lumpsum all-inclusive cost, supported by breakdown of costs as per template provided in MKD for this consultancy.

The financial proposal must take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required (the prevailing price for an economy class ticket on the most direct routes shall apply; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract such as the cost of mission travels, as applicable.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Step 1

1. Click on the "Apply now" button

2. Input your information in the appropriate sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume, and motivation (cover letter). You can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box.                                                                                                        

3. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload other required documents listed in the step 2.

Step 2

Interested individual consultants must submit the documents/information listed in the “Documents to submit section” above.

The system will allow only one attachment. Therefore, please upload all required documents as one file.

Failing to submit any of these documents may result in disqualification of the application.

Please note that shortlisted candidates might be interviewed.