Antecedentes

The climate change poses serious, wide-ranging risks to economies, societies and ecosystems. Reducing these risks requires action to sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation), combined with measures to increase resilience to the impacts that occur (adaptation). Through the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) opportunities are created to ensure a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous future for all.

In many countries, Montenegro included, UNDP has an important role in working towards this future.
Working in partnership with the Government of Montenegro and with support from the Green Climate Fund, Montenegro is now in a position to start the implementation of the project entitled “Enhancing Montenegro’s capacity to integrate climate change risks into planning”.

Relying on cooperation with national stakeholders and in close cooperation with the Government of Montenegro, a stocktaking exercise to inform the development of an adaptation process concluded that water, agriculture, tourism and health sectors were the initial priority sectors for intervention.

Despite the actions taken and progress made so far in prioritizing adaptation planning within policy and institutional frameworks the prioritisation and development processes identified several gaps and barriers limiting functioning and effective adaptation planning process. These barriers are: (i) the coordination framework for adaptation planning and action are partially established and underperforming with a need for improvement and more effective organizational design, clear roles and responsibilities, improved capacity (technical and functional) and institutional arrangements designated for mainstreaming climate change into work-programmed at the sector level (ii) limited institutional and technical capacity at the national and sectoral level to address climate change through adaptation with need to improve the technical capacity to collect, generate, use and disseminate climate information and services (iii) adequate information required for conducting informed and effective adaptation planning and investments is unavailable. It is difficult to accurately gauge and cost adaptation options at national and sectoral levels without relevant information on climate impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptive capacity in a medium to long-term perspective (iv) national and alternative sources of finance to fund adaptation investments are not optimized as the full costs of adaptation are not yet known.

Responding to these challenges, the proposal was developed for funding under The Green Climate Fund Readiness Programme. The financing of the project was approved by GCF with the overarching objective to improve Montenegro’s institutional capacity for long term adaptation planning. To achieve this, the proposal is focused on (i) improving the institutional coordination framework and increasing institutional capabilities, (ii) increasing climate information and identifying potential adaptation responses/measures, and (iii) identifying financial requirements and resources to fund adaptation investments.

The design and sequence of the project activities have been made in a manner to create efficiencies and be effective. By building enabling institutional, planning and programming environments for adaption at the national and sectoral level, Montenegro will be able to identify climate-induced risks, and vulnerabilities, and use that information to inform adaptation planning process and to explore appropriate adaptation responses.

 Within the context of the project “Enhancing Montenegro’s capacity to integrate climate change risks into planning” implemented by UNDP Montenegro and financed by the Green Climate Fund, is inviting eligible candidates to act as Team leader, with relevant experience in implementing capacity gap assessments, training program design and execution for stakeholders involved in the NAP process to determine individual and institutional capacity gaps that are key for integrating climate risks and adaptation into planning to submit applications taking in mind requirements listed below.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Objective of the assignment:

Lead the process of the capacity assessment of key stakeholders involved in the NAP process to determine individual and institutional capacity gaps that are key for integrating climate risks and adaptation into planning (e.g. climate information and risks, tools for integration, appraisal and prioritization of adaptation project options, project development, implementation, gender mainstreaming, etc.).
Women and men are affected differently by climate change and are differently prepared to adapt to climate change. This is due to underlying inequality in socio-economic status, influenced by three factors: 1) The degree of equality of rights of women and men in national legislation; 2) The degree of law enforcement; 3) The tradition and customs that define the role of men and women in society (so-called “gender roles”) . The capacity assessment and program design should be designed in a manner to building the institutional capacities of institutions, private sector and civil society organizations to create and implement gender-sensitive programmes and projects at all levels. Training and knowledge products should be planned in a gender sensitive manner, like, for example, inclusion of specific content that is considering specific information and education needs of women, or planning of trainings in the part of the day, length, venue, etc. that is suitable for women to participate.
Package the Training and knowledge products in a manner that can be registered as certified course. The type of registration would be selected in cooperation with the project team and national counterparts out of possible models prescribed by legal framework, for example, life-long learning, vocational training etc. 

Job content:

The Consultant will be engaged under an Individual Contract agreement and will work under the supervision of the Project Manager. The process will be supported by two national experts.

The consultant is expected to implement the assignment in 3 phases:

Expected tasks in the first phase:

• Engage and liaise with the Project Team to confirm the review of scope and priorities, identify and request key documents required and arrange for discussions with national experts;
• Collect and review all the initial information regarding sector capacities and assessments on current strengths, weaknesses, capacity and resources needed to integrate CCA into current and in future processes of development planning of central and sectoral planning authorities;
• Provide guidance to the Project Team and national experts on development of capacity assessments to: (i) understand gaps in institutional, policy and legal framework for climate change; (ii) capacity for the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation for climate; (iii) capacity for climate change knowledge management; and (iv) capacity for community engagement;
• Conduct an institutional mapping and baseline capacity and gap assessment in close cooperation with, and through consolidation of, the sectoral capacity assessment reports;
• Prepare and submit a draft consolidated gap assessment to the Project Team for review that clearly outlines where and what are the gaps for climate related capacities;
• Select and apply methodology that will result in broad and comprehensive evaluation and will include the developing of an understanding of individual and institutional capability to comprehend and use climate information to integrate risks and adaptation measures into planning,
• Select and apply methodology that will identify capabilities for conducting appraisals and prioritization exercises of risks and adaptation options, as well as project development, implementation, gender mainstreaming, stakeholder engagement and communications, amongst other things,
• Select and apply a methodology that will result in broad and comprehensive evaluation of capacities of the private and civil society sectors to improve their understanding of climate risks and vulnerabilities faced by their stakeholders.
• Develop the Capacity Development Plan (mid-term up to 5 years, and long term) with detailed recommendations geared towards addressing the identified gaps. It is expected that the action plan will provide detailed recommendations on how to address each gap with specific timelines, assignment of responsibility, outputs and support resources;

Note 1: Institutions to be included in the capacity assessments include the NAP team (UNDP and Government),  ministries responsible for sustainable development and tourism, economy, agriculture and rural development, the Working Group on Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change, the Agency for the Protection of Nature and the Environment, the Institute of Hydrometeorology and Seismology of Montenegro, and the National Council for Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Integrated Coastal Zone Management and the priority sectors.

Note 2: The project brings together national and sectoral level officials and bodies as well as representatives from civil society and the private sector in an effort to achieve its specific goals while at the same time building the long-term capability of the stakeholders to mainstream adaptation considerations into planning and decision-making processes across these different groups. Consequently, the projects will focus private and civil society sectors as well.

Expected tasks in the second phase:

• Based on the results of the first phase, develop a training programs to increase the capacity of government officials within the relevant government entities involved in the NAP, to understand climate risks and vulnerabilities to understand climate risks, the vulnerabilities, and how to integrate adaptation into existing policies and planning. The training will target a total of 75 individuals from the same stakeholder groups listed within Note 1. with 50 percent of the participants being women.
• Based on the results of the first phase, develop a training programs to increase the capacity of private and civil society sectors and as well as to provide them with a rich pool of knowledge on how integrate adaptation into business planning and operations. The training will target at least 75 individuals from the same stakeholder groups listed in Note 2, above, with 50 percent of the participants being women. Workshop and be conducted quarterly via a 1-day workshop in years 2022 and 2023.

The third phase will focus on training programme delivery resulting in:

• Comprehensive and tailor made programme delivered to the mentioned stakeholder group over the minimum 8 two-day workshops and target a total of 75 individuals with 50 percent of the participants being women (same stakeholder groups listed within Note 1), delivered quarterly starting in the fourth quarter of the 2021 year.  Study materials will be distributed and a finding report from the organizing team will be shared with relevant stakeholders.
• Workshops conducted quarterly via a 1-day workshop in years 2022 and 2023. The training will target at least 400 individuals from the same stakeholder groups listed within Note 2. with 50 percent of the participants being women.

Through the implementation the team will explore opportunities for institutionalisation of the training courses. The type of registration would be selected in cooperation with the project team and national counterparts out of possible models prescribed by legal framework, for example, life-long learning, vocational training etc. if this deemed as beneficial, the expert team will implement the process of course certification.

Expected results/ Deliverables:

The first phase result: a capacity gap report that serves as the basis for capacity building efforts. The Report will inform training programmes and will be circulated and utilized with relevant stakeholders for a long-term capacity building beyond the NAP. The report should be finalised no later than July 2021.

The second phase result:

• Comprehensive and tailor-made program designed targeting 75 individuals with 50 percent of the participants being women (same stakeholder groups listed within Note 1),
• Comprehensive and tailor-made programme designed, targeting at least 400 individuals from the same stakeholder groups listed in Note 2, above. with 50 percent of the participants being women.

The third phase result:

• Increase the capacity of government officials within the relevant government entities involved in the NAP
• Increase the capacity of private and civil society sectors and s well as to provide them with a rich pool of knowledge on how integrate adaptation into business planning and operations

Time duration: The Consultant will be engaged during the period from 10 May 2021 until 31 August 2023 (for 140 consultancy days) and payment to the individual contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.
Reporting language: Outputs will be delivered in English and ability to deliver in local language would be considered as an asset.

Competencias

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.
   

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• University degree in environmental sciences, sustainable development, environmental law, environmental economics, public administration or another relevant field;

Experince:

• Advanced degree would be considered as an asset;
• Minimum 8 years of working experience in the fields listed above; 
• Experience in review and elaboration of strategic policy documents in the climate change adaptation field in Europe and/or Eastern Europe;
• Knowledge of EU climate related political frameworks;
• Knowledge of the specific climate change adaptation measures in Eastern Europe;
• Knowledge of the country-specific processes will be an asset;
• Working experience in Montenegro, in/for public sector would be considered as an asset;

Language:

• Fluency in English language; 
• Montenegrin knowledge would be an asset.

Other:

• Excellent social, communication skills and writing skills;

Criteria for selection:

Combined Scoring method will be used. 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: (i) responsive, compliant, acceptable, and (ii) 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% (Background and education 10%; Relevant previous experience 20%; Substantial knowledge/Required competencies 30%; Required language 10%);
• Financial criteria weight - 30%.

Only offerors obtaining a minimum 490 points for technical criteria will be considered for the financial evaluation. For more information on procurement methodology for Individual Contractors, please refer to Procurement Notice.

Application procedure:

Interested applicants are requested to submit their applications by April 20, 2021 by using the Apply now button. The application should contain CV or P11 that can be downloaded at https://www.me.undp.org/content/montenegro/en/home/jobs.html. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file.

Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in EUR) requested for the work envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".