Background

Ukraine has a long list of environmental reform priorities. However, the speed of the reforms in sustainable energy and environment (SEE) is slowed down by the difficulties in adopting the needed legislation related to the capacity of the parliament and many low-quality legal initiatives. To speed up the SEE related reforms, UNDP seeks to improve the capacity of the parliament of Ukraine and enhance environmental advocacy among politicians, mass media and the public.

The Project “Support to the Parliament of Ukraine in Sustainable Energy and Environment Area” aims to support the Members of Parliament and the relevant parliamentary committees (specifically, VRU Committee on Environmental Policy and Environmental Management and VRU Committee on Energy, Housing and Utilities Services) with quality analytical, communications and advocacy support. The analytical support that is provided by the Project covers a wide range of issues in the SEE area, including climate change mitigation and adaption; energy efficiency and security; waste management; GHG monitoring reporting and verification; green auctions; sustainable transportation; green finance and more. The overall work of the Secretariat is based on the sustainable development principles, and where possible and necessary, links with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Besides, the Project aims at increasing visibility of SEE issues through communications and advocacy activities.

To ensure the implementation of the Project and day-to-day advisory support to the Parliament on SEE policy UNDP is seeking to hire a Legal expert to provide legal advisory support to the Parliament, Members of Parliament, relevant Committees, and staff on the issues of energy, environment and sustainable development in the context of Ukraine’s international commitments.

Duties and Responsibilities

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The overall objective of the assignment is to ensure provision of high-quality analytical support to the Parliament of Ukraine on the issues of energy, environment and sustainable development in the context of Ukraine’s international commitments.

Scope for services

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Consultant will carry out the following activities:

1. Provide analytical support to the Members of Parliament, relevant parliamentary committees and their secretariats in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development;
2. Analyse state policy in SEE area, prepare relevant policy papers, policy briefs and other analytical documents with specific focus on implementation of Association Agreement and Ukraine’s international commitments. The analytical support will include but is not limited to: Draft Laws 5723 (on national social program “Drinking water in Ukraine”), 6004-2 (on Integrated Prevention and Control of Industrial Pollution); 6077 on production and regulation of single-use plastic products. The list may be updated upon consultations with / additional requests from the project beneficiaries. Changes, if any, will be reflected in short and medium-term plans agreed between UNDP and the Consultant;
3. Facilitate communication with the relevant line ministries and agencies regarding the policy and initiatives related to implementation of Ukraine’s international commitments in the field of energy, environment and sustainable development;
4. Provide analytical support to the meetings of the MPs working on SEE issues by preparing relevant policy briefs;
5. Participate and contribute to professional events involving Members of Parliament, Government representatives, think-tanks, CSOs, private sector representatives (discussions, roundtables, meetings, public hearings);
6. Provide inputs to monthly reports on the work and deliverables.

To ensure the delivery of the above tasks, the Consultant will:

• Liaise and ensure constant communication/coordination with UNDP project team regarding all aspects of the assignment;
• Coordinate the work with the Project Manager/Chair of the Parliamentary Committee as well as other experts supporting the Parliament;
• Submit all the deliverables for review, comments and approval to UNDP project team as requested;
• Hold consultations with UNDP project team as requested.

Measurable outputs of the work assignment/deliverables

Management arrangements

As an Expert, this position will report to the Project Manager, Support to the Parliament of Ukraine in Sustainable Energy and Environment Area. The Expert will provide written monthly reports on the progress of activities and the key challenges and opportunities, and deliverables reports as required.

Monitoring requirements / Terms of payment

The Expert will work under the overall supervision of the Project Manager, Support to the Parliament of Ukraine in Sustainable Energy and Environment Area. The Expert will interact with UNDP to receive any clarifications and guidance that may be needed. The Expert will duly inform UNDP of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

UNDP will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. The satisfactory completion of each of the deliverables shall be subject to the endorsement of the Project Manager, Support to the Parliament of Ukraine in Sustainable Energy and Environment Area. Each deliverable will be delivered in a draft for comments and feedback before finalization. No reports or documents should be published or distributed to third parties without the approval of UNDP.

All reports and results are to be submitted to the UNDP in electronic form (*.docx, *.xlsx, *.pptx, and *.pdf or other formats accepted by UNDP). The language of the materials and reports is English.

UNDP will provide payment upon provision of each deliverable duly certified by UNDP in accordance with the schedule below:

Deliverable 1 – 40%;

Deliverable 2 – 30%; and

Deliverable 3 – 30%.

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.
• Strong technical and analytical capabilities.
• Strong reporting and writing abilities.
• Ability to lead and work in a team, develop synergies and establish effective working relations with Parliament, government counterparts, donors, NGOs and other development partners.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment, tact, and negotiating skills, and the ability to cope with situations which may pose conflict.
• Integrity, modelled by the UN's values and ethical standards.
• Sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age.
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.
• Ability to accommodate additional demands on short notice.
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations.
• Ability to manage heavy workload and solve complex problems with minimum supervision.

Required Skills and Experience

General Qualifications and Experience

Education

At least Master’s / Specialist’s degree in Law, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management, Political Science, International Relations or other relevant studies;

Work Experience

1. At least 4 years of working experience in analytical or scientific field, public service, international relations and/or closely related fields;
2. At least 2 years of experience in analytical support and/or providing expertise of draft legal acts in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development (at least 2 sample of documents like analytical reports, legal analysis of the draft laws or other relevant materials);
3. Proven experience of the EU-Ukraine commitments in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development would be an asset (at least 2 sample of documents like analytical reports, memos, legal analysis of the draft laws or other relevant materials);
4. Prior experience of legal or advisory services to the Parliament is an asset;
5. Previous experience with UNDP, other UN Agency, international organizations or donors is highly desirable.

Language (s)

Fluency in Ukrainian and working knowledge of English is required.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposal

Note: UNDP documents templates are available at the following link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gl77bauo27ed0l9/AACGhkF0QmlC5dhm5HZutu2Fa?dl=0

Financial Proposal

 Lump sum contract

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (please, refer to Section 4 Measurable outputs of the work assignment/deliverables). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of Cost by Components.

Evaluation criteria

Criteria A: Education – 15 points max

At least Specialist/Master’s degree in Law, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management, Political Science, International Relations or other relevant area – 15 points max

{????15 pts – PhD degree in the relevant field or higher; 12 pts – Specialist/Master’s degree in the relevant field}???????.

Criteria B: Work Experience – 45 points max

• At least 4 years of working experience in analytical or scientific field, public service, international relations and/or closely related fields – 25 points max {???????up to 25 pts – 9 years and more; 20 pts – 7-8 years; 18 pts – 5-6 years; 16 pts – 4 years);
• At least 2 years of experience in analytical support and/or providing expertise of draft legal acts in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development (at least 2 sample of documents like analytical reports, legal analysis of the draft laws or other relevant materials) – 13 points max {??????up to 13 pts – 5 years and more; 12 pts – 3-4 years; 11 pts – 2 years}???????;
• Proven experience of the EU-Ukraine commitments in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development (at least 2 sample of documents like analytical reports, memos, legal analysis of the draft laws or other relevant materials) – 5 points max (up to 5 pts – proven experience of 3 analysis/ amendments to the current legislation drafted; 3 pts – proven experience of 1 analysis/ amendment to the current legislation drafted);
• Prior experience of legal or advisory services to the Parliament or UNDP, other UN Agency, international organizations or donors - 2 points max (up to 2 pts – 3 years and more; 1 pts – 1-2 years).

Criteria C: Language Skills – 10 points max {???????10 – fluency in Ukrainian + working knowledge of English}

Maximum available technical score – 70 points.  

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual contractor 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%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.