Background

Purpose

National consultant for research, data collection and calculation methodologies on agricultural biomass in Republika Srpska will provide local support and expertise in accordance to the agreed methodology by established working group for Biomass mapping in B&H, developed by international experts and adopted for B&H context. Consultant will conduct research through visit of all relevant institutions which can provide information on agricultural biomass potentials in Republika Srpska (ministries responsible for agriculture and energy at state and entity levels, agency for statistics of B&H and Republika Srpska, Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska etc.) and collect available data and assess the data collection and calculation methodologies used by those institutions. Final list of relevant institutions will be made after the selection of national consultant. The data collection should be done according to the previously developed questionnaire / template that will be translated and submitted to the Consultant.

Objective

The activity would result in collection of all available data on agricultural biomass from relevant institutions (ministries responsible for agriculture and energy at state and entity levels, agency for statistics of B&H and Republika Srpska, Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska etc.) as well as the methodologies which have been used so far to obtain and calculate the existing data. The data collection should be done according to the previously developed questionnaire / template that will be translated and submitted to the Consultant. The main topics of developed questionnaire are the following:

  • Institution:
    • Name, address, contact person;
    • Current involvement in data collection and provision.
  • Biomass potential data - biomass covered (e.g. forest harvest residues, straw), specifying:
    • Biomass specification (e.g. underbark, water content, preconditioning);
    • Biomass potentials, specifying units (e.g. tonnes per year), location (for GIS), restrictions (e.g. protected or not accessible areas);
    • Metadata: data collection method (e.g. report duties from companies, surveys, extrapolation, estimation, source of primary data), update frequency (time period covered, latest update, time of data collection), validity (e.g. scale of 5 from rough estimation to precise data);
    • Publication and accessibility of data (copyrights, costs, public domain; publisher and/or owner)
    • Data format (IT view, e.g. Excel or database) and data transmission to the consultant;
  • Biomass usage data for above mentioned potentials:
    • Material use;
    • Energetic use;
    • Metadata: data collection method (e.g. report duties from companies, surveys, extrapolation, estimation, source of primary data), update frequency (time period covered, latest update, time of data collection), validity (e.g. scale of 5 from rough estimation to precise data);
    • Publication and accessibility of data (copyrights, costs, public domain; publisher and/or owner);
    • Data format (IT view, e.g. Excel or database) and data transmission to the consultant.
  • Data provision;
    • Has the institution the resources (people, money) to provide the data a) once and b) on a regular basis (monitoring)?
    • Has the institution the rights to provide the data?
    • Which data would the institution like to have from others for their own purposes?
    • Which IT structure for data collection, processing and reporting would the institution prefer?

Background Information

By signing the contract on joining the Energy Community, B&H is obliged to use 40% of its gross final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. Amongst the increasing share of other renewable energy technologies, this goal shall be fulfilled by higher bioenergy shares in the energy matrixes for electricity, heating, and cooling. For this reason, the general strategic goal for the implementation of the politics regulating renewable energy sources, i.e. biomass in B&H, is ensuring the basis for reaching defined goals and creating a sustainable biomass market.
The bioenergy sector is considered as one of the most complex yet insufficiently developed sectors in B&H. For the purpose of identifying key areas for improvement of the bioenergy sector in B&H, UNDP (Biomass Energy for Employment and Energy Security - follow up project, supported by the Czech Development Agency), GIZ (Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources in B&H project) and USAID (Energy Investment Activity project) offices in B&H, with support of Ministry of foreign trade and economic relations of B&H, have agreed on joint initiative in this field. Such approach implies implementation of joint activities under the aegis of the Bioenergy Joint Program, in order to secure compatibility of activities and results of three projects and jointly contribute to the improvement of situation within bioenergy sector.
In order to define the current situation in the bioenergy sector of B&H, GIZ Project “Promotion of Renewable Energy in B&H” has developed background paper “GAP analysis of the relevant legal framework and existing/missing documents in the bioenergy sector of B&H” with a general overview and analysis of relevant legal and institutional frameworks at level of B&H and its entities, as well as developed, developing and planned projects in the field of bioenergy.
However, there is generally a lack of reliable data on biomass potentials in the country, which detains strategic decision making on the policy level and the private investments into innovative bioenergy technologies. In this context, a Biomass/Bioenergy Potential Study/Map represents a key point in establishing a database for sound decision making. Therefore, UNDP and GIZ jointly decided to support the development of this study under the Bioenergy Joint Program.
The objective of the Biomass/Bioenergy Potential Study/Map is to identify and collect relevant data and establish databases and maps related to the assessment of the potentials of wood and agricultural biomass in B&H. The results of the assessment should be publicly available and help decision makers in strategic planning in order to contribute to a further market development and wide-spread sustainable use of biomass as energy source. The final outcomes are the following:

  • study;
  • a database with the relevant data, and
  • an online platform and a map on biomass potentials.

The activities of national consultant are designed in order to support drafting of the study on biomass potentials in B&H by data collection on agricultural biomass in Republika Srpska from all relevant institutions (ministries responsible for agriculture and energy at state and entity levels, agency for statistics of B&H and Republika Srpska, Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska etc.) and calculation methodologies for available data.

These activities are contributing to the following outcomes of mapping biomass potentials in B&H:

  • Analyses of the questionnaire for data collection prepared by the international experts;
  • Participation in training for process advice and clarifications on data collection;
  • Preliminary data collection trough field work and analysis of relevant data sources;
  • Data and methodology cleansing;
  • Filling out the questionnaires;
  • Submitting the questionnaire and final Report.

Duties and Responsibilities

Consultant for research and data collection on agricultural biomass in Republika Srpska will work under direct supervision of the GEF project manager while technical backstopping will be provided by Coordinator for bioenergy potential mapping on behalf of GIZ to complete all activities specified in this terms of reference.

Consultant will develop a Report, focusing on the following issues:

  • Key functions:
    • Participation in online training for process advice and clarifications on data collection by international experts which have developed questionnaire for data collection and calculation methodologies for agricultural biomass in B&H;
    • Visits of all relevant institutions which can provide information on agricultural biomass potentials in Republika Srpska (ministries responsible for agriculture and energy at state and entity levels, agency for statistics of B&H and Republika Srpska, Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska etc.) and collection of all available data and methodologies which have been used so far to obtain and calculate the existing data. Final list of relevant institutions will be made after the selection of national consultant;
    • Filling out the questionnaires according to the previously developed questionnaire / template;
    • Coordinating all activities under this assignment with Coordinator for bioenergy potential mapping on behalf of GIZ.

Deliverables and timelines

The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

  • Comments and questions on developed questionnaire / template for collection of all available data from relevant institutions as well as the methodologies submitted to the GEF Project Manager; September 15, 2017;
  • Plan for conducting field research/visits to relevant institutions, approved by the GEF Project Manager  September 22, 2017
  • Progress report submitted to the GEF Project Manager; October 6, 2017;
  • Filled out the questionnaires with all available data submitted to the GEF Project Manager; October 16, 2017;
  • Draft version of the Report submitted to the GEF Project Manager; October 23, 2017;
  • Final version of the Report and filled questionnaires are prepared, validated, and submitted to the GEF Project Manager; October 27, 2017;

Competencies

Core Values:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UNs values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, disabilities, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;

Core Competencies:

  • Knowledge of the data gathering process, organization and conducting data research on agricultural biomass potentials;
  • Proven record of delivery of services demonstrating excellent data collection and analytical skills is required;
  • Proof of experience in presenting results in form of summaries, policy briefs or similar would be an asset;
  • Good analytical and communication skills, excellent writing and communication skills in Local language and English;
  • Excellent computer skills and presentation techniques and excellent organizational and time management skills;

Building trust:

  • Deals openly, honestly, and transparently with issues, resources, and people.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

  • Masters’ degree in agriculture;
  • PhD degree in agriculture would be considered as an advantage.

Experience: 

  • At least 7 years of experience in conducting research and providing consultancy services related to data collection and calculation methodologies in agriculture sector (experience in conducting analyses of calculation and data collection relevant for agricultural biomass would be an asset);
  • Experience related to agriculture biomass data calculation and assessment methodology (experience from B&H preferred);
  • Experience in data collection and analysis for at least 2 different projects in field of agricultural biomass (experience from B&H preferred).

Language Requirements: 

  • Fluency in both written and spoken English and local languages.

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%

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 62 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.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points for technical criteria assessment would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical criteria:

  • Masters’ degree in agriculture; PhD degree in agriculture would be considered as an advantage; Weight:10%, Maximum points: 10;
  • Knowledge of the data gathering process, organization and conducting data research on agricultural biomass; At least 7 years of experience in conducting research and providing consultancy services related to data collection and calculation methodologies in agriculture sector (experience in conducting analyses of calculation and data collection relevant for agricultural biomass would be an asset); Experience related to agriculture biomass data calculation and assessment methodology (experience from B&H preferred); Weight: 30%, Maximum points: 30;
  • Proven record of delivery of services demonstrating excellent data collection and analytical skills is required; Experience in data collection and analysis for at least 2 different projects in field of agriculture biomass (experience from B&H preferred); Proof of experience in presenting results in form of summaries, policy briefs or similar would be an asset; Good analytical and communication skills, excellent writing and communication skills in Local language and English; Weight: 25%, Maximum points: 25;
  • Excellent computer skills and presentation techniques and excellent organizational and time management skills; Weight:5%, Maximum points: 5;

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