Background

As a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) has undertaken important steps towards understanding and addressing climate change issues. It is increasingly recognized not only by the Government and scientific community, but also by its citizens that climate change is an issue of key strategic importance. B&H has put great emphasis on climate change as one of the most significant development challenges facing the country. The importance of adaptation was clearly reflected in its Second National Communications and Climate Change Adaptation and Low Emission Development Strategy (CCA LEDs), adopted in 2013. In 2015, B&H submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), as part of the negotiations leading to the historic Paris Agreement, which it signed in April 2016.

Authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and key domestic stakeholders realize the increasing threat posed to them and the development of the country by climate change and the need of adapting to it in order to avoid or minimise negative consequences.  The government is motivated to support and implement the national adaptation planning (NAP) process as adaptation issues are becoming very important for the country’s further development.

The overall project’s objective is to support the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance the national adaptation planning process. Green Climate Fund (GCF) resources will be used to enable the government to integrate climate change related risks, coping strategies and opportunities into ongoing development planning and budgeting processes. The project will advance adaptation planning in B&H with a focus on most vulnerable sectors such as water management, agriculture, forestry etc., upgrading the knowledge base for adaptation, prioritizing adaptation interventions for the medium term, building institutional capacities for integrating climate change adaptation and demonstrating innovative ways of financing adaptation at the sub-national/local government level.

The overall objective of this assignment is to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in implementation of its Environmental Approximation Strategy (EAS), which was adopted in May 2017. The main objective of the BiH EAS is to ensure strategic planning of the EU environmental acquis approximation with ultimate goal to improve state of environment and ensure sustainable development. The environmental approximation process in fact consists of the transposition of environmental legislation of European Union (EU) into the legislation in BiH and implementation of such environmental legislation in BiH. Implementation of EAS requires development of sub-strategies and plans that identify what activities need to be implemented, what the estimated resources are needed and how they can be mobilised. Based on this, realistic timeframe for implementation has to be determined. Such sub-strategies and plans are crucial for determination of the negotiation position of BiH during accession process to EU.

Adoption of EAS is followed by development and adoption of Directive Specific Implementation Plans (DSIP) for BiH and Action Plans for Implementation of the Directives (APIDs) for FBiH, RS and BD of BiH for each piece of EU legislation but particularly for four so called “heavy investment directives" relating to urban waste water treatment, drinking water, flood risk management and waste land filling.

One of the most demanding and climate sensitive parts of EAS is flood management. Transposition and implementation of Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks (Flood Directive) requires urgent development of DSIP and APIDs with the aim to identify activities and funds necessary to increase climate resilience to floods which keep increasing in frequency and severity and thus to enable long term planning.

Development of the initial draft of DSIP and APIDs for   flood risk management was financed through IPA 2008, but these documents were never adopted. In the meantime, major projects and activities related to flood risk management took place in BiH, thus DSIP and respective APIDs need to be updated before their formal adoption. In parallel with this, institutional capacities (ministries and water agencies primarily) need to be upgraded to ensure their ability to update DSIP and APIDs in future without any additional external assistance.

Update of Directive Specific Implementation Plan (DSIP) for Flood Directive and Action Plans for Implementation of the Directive (APID) for FBiH, RS and BD of BiH will be done in constant cooperation with MoFTER, entity ministries in charge for water management, finance and other relevant institutions and requires a joint and coordinated approach of technical and financial experts.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant should work in close consultation with and under the guidance and supervision of the UNDP project manager (PM). Specifically, his\her responsibilities, which are to be done jointly with a technical expert (civil engineer), are but not limited to the following:

  • Review Environmental Approximation Strategy of Bosnia and Herzegovina (EAS – BIH) with a special focus to water management sector.
  • Review other relevant documentation, including those prepared for developing Directive Specific Implementation Plan (DSIP) for Flood Directive and Action Plans for Implementation of the Directive (APID) for FBiH, RS and BD of BiH
  • Review ongoing activities in B&H related to flood management (infrastructural, legal, financial)
  • Update/develop inventory of the existing physical flood protection infrastructure in BiH;
  • Assess institutional capacities and availability of the tools and equipment for information management, flood forecasting, inter-institutional cooperation, reporting etc.;
  • Set service targets for approximation on the basis of a well-documented current situation;
  • Define the best available techniques to be employed;
  • Prioritize investments in the country;
  • Develop flexible multi-criteria modelling tool for costs estimation for investments, operation and maintenance,    
  • Provide costs estimation for investments, operation and maintenance
  • Determine the macro-affordability constraints for all administrative levels;
  • Provide clear justification, from the financial and economic point of view, of the transition periods required for full compliance;
  • Develop guidelines document for further updates of DSIP and APIDs.
  • Archiving and documenting all activities;
  • Ensuring the timely and effective management of the activities as scheduled.

All project results will be delivered to the project beneficiaries.

Deliverables/ outputs

The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

  • Inventory of the physical flood protection infrastructure updated/developed - by 30 June 2019, 35%;
  • Multi-criteria modelling tool developed - by 30 June 2019, 15%;
  • DSIP and APIDs updated and agreed upon by relevant institutions - by 30 Sept 2019, 45%;
  • Guidelines for future updates are developed - 30 Oct 2019, 5%.

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:

  • BSc Degree in economics;

Experience:

  • Minimum 10 years of experience;
  • Proven experience in environmental sector
  • Experience in working with government stakeholders.

Other requirements:

  • Knowledge of the water management issues in B&H;
  • Knowledge of B&H institutional set-up;
  • Good understanding of climate change and sustainable development issues;
  • Knowledge and understanding of the most vulnerable sectors in B&H.

Languages Requirements:

  • Knowledge of English;

Technical   criteria:

  • Methodology (document which contains brief explanation on approach to conduct the work) - Weight: 40%, Maximum points: 40;
  • Knowledge of B&H institutional set-up; Knowledge and understanding of the most vulnerable sectors in B&H - Weight: 50%, Maximum points: 50; 
  • Knowledge of English - Weight: 10%, Maximum points:10 – knowledge of English will be evaluated based on methodology;

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%

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

1. Proposal:

  • Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
  • Provide a methodology/paper on the similar subject created;

2. Completed and signed the Offeror’s template Confirming Interest and Availability (please follow the link: https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx&action=default);

3. Latest personal CV, including past experience from similar projects, and email, telephone and any other contact details for references;

4. Financial proposal which will separately specify professional fee, indicating number of anticipated working days, travel costs (air-ticket or use of private vehicle), living allowance, and all other applicable costs.

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.