Background

Climate Policy Expert (1 Position)

Legal Expert (1 Position)

210 working days in total of framework agreement for the climate policy expert

120 working days in total of framework agreement for the legal expert

The Government of Albania launched its national adaptation plan (NAP) process in February 2015, with the support of GIZ and UNDP, through consultations with national stakeholders and a stocktaking exercise. The NAP process is framed within the National Adaptation Framework Document and a multi-sectorial coordinating mechanism (the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Climate Change, or IMWGCC) headed by high-level authorities.

The analytical exercises carried out so far highlighted the existing weaknesses and demonstrated the prevailing barriers to climate change adaptation (CCA) planning in Albania. The results confirmed that to adequately address climate change vulnerabilities, Albania must overcome information gaps, vulnerability assessments and climate adaptation planning capacity weaknesses, and a lack of awareness of CCA – both at the national and subnational levels. In addition, climate change is not integrated into existing environmental and development policies, or their associated budget priorities, and financing appropriations for funding CCA are absent.

This project is designed to help the Government of Albania to build and strengthen capacities for mainstreaming CCA, produce actionable climate risks and vulnerability assessments, and implement effective methods, tools, and information systems to better inform decision-making on climate risks and catalyse and direct climate investments. It will also support the formulation of financing strategies and mechanisms for scaling up adaptation in the mid- to long-term.

This project will build efforts underway to digitize and improve collection and sharing of climate risk data. This work is coordinated both by the National Environmental Agency (NEA), under the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, and the Albania Institute of Geosciences, Energy, Water and Environment (IGEWE) as the central agency responsible for climate related data collection (i.e. hydromet data).

Also under this project, training to enhance the technical capacity and knowledge base for climate risk management and long-term adaptation planning within the national institutions responsible for hydrometeorological data and planning will be completed.

The overall goal will be to reduce climate change related risks throughout Albania, through the strengthened institutional and technical capacities that will support integrated CCA planning in the long-term. Activities will be achieved through 3 outcomes and related sub-outcomes, as follows:

• The strengthening of a national mandate, strategy and steering mechanism that focuses on assessing and addressing capacity gaps (particularly in the priority sectors of tourism, urban development, agriculture, transport, and energy) – Outcome 1.
• The development of a NAP Strategy action plan document and its implementation plan – Outcome 2.
• The development of financing, monitoring and evaluation strategies to ensure that capacities and funding options are institutionalized for the long-term sustainability of adaptation planning beyond the life of the project – Outcome 3.

Reducing Albania’s vulnerabilities to climate change requires greater investments in data management and capacity building, and greater integration of CCA and disaster risk reduction (DRR) into on-going development programs, and therefore this project will result in a variety of deliverables including an improved hydrometeorological database, a NAP Strategy document, and curricula and tools to improve capacity for climate adaptation planning, budgeting, and gender mainstreaming within the CCA.

To address these issues, the Government of Albania took strides to start to coordinate climate adaptation efforts at the national level by establishing in 2014 an Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Climate Change with the mandate to draft policies related to climate change, promote institutional coordination across ministries, and contribute to UNFCCC processes on behalf of Albania.

The IMWGCC, which is chaired by the Deputy Minister of Environment and includes representations from 12 ministries, needs to be restructured to fit within the structure of the new government under territorial reform.

UNDP is seeking for a National Climate Change Policy Expert to provide technical assistance and guidance under the project National Adaptation Planning for the Republic of Albania to strengthen technical capacities, institutional and legal framework for Climate Change Adaptation (CCA).

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Climate Policy expert

The Consultant will work in close cooperation with the UNDP International Climate Policy Expert and the UNDP International Climate Scientist to support analysis of climate information (via additional review of stocktaking information and drafting of revised stocktaking report).

 
The Consultant will have regular contact with national counterparts. This will be undertaken in full compliance with UNDP’s Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures under the direct supervision of NAP Project Coordinator and in close coordination with UNDP Programme Officer for Environment and Climate Change.

More specifically the Consultant will:

• Provides high quality technical and policy, support, as well as knowledge and capacity development services to:

• IMWGCC on the review of its mandate and set up of Technical Working Group for Adaptation.
• IGEWE on strengthening its role and mandate related to climate change.

• Conducts a high-level gaps analysis of IGEWE, reviewing necessary resources (personnel, capacity, funding, equipment, etc.) to accomplish additional mandate responsibilities.
• Compile a framework plan for reporting regularly to MoTE on implementation of UNFCCC agreements and progress on the NAP priority sectors (agriculture, tourism, urban development, transport, energy); adopted by both MoTE and IMWGCC.
• Support MoTE, IMWGCC and the project team to sensitize other ministry employees, parliamentarians, parliamentary working groups and parliamentary caucuses on climate change and its implications in Albania (including socio-economic issues), as well as its linkages to the NAP process and wider frameworks, such as EU Integration Process, Agenda 2030/SDGs and the Sendai Framework.
• Support analysis of climate information (via additional review of stocktaking information and drafting of revised stocktaking report).
• Compile and synthesize available climate adaptation plans and climate-related risk data and vulnerability assessments at sectorial, national and regional level, starting with the results of the GIZ SNAP assessment.
• Review existing stocktaking for opportunities for deeper assessment to inform CCA prioritization. This review of stocktaking would be focused on assessing climate impacts on priority sectors (agriculture, energy, transport, tourism and urban).
• Compile and synthesize available socio-economic information at sectorial, national and sub-national levels (for all regions, gender-disaggregated as available) for at least one priority sector (to be determined during the project initiation).
• Assess gaps with regards to information availability and existing processes in order to improve the ability to integrate climate and socio-economic modelling and more clearly identify the socio-economic risks of climate change. This analysis of climate change on socio-economic indicators will be completed for one priority sector, to be determined during the implementation phase. As this analysis is completed, lessons-learned and the methodology for analysis will be captured in a report that can facilitate scaling up of this effort to other sectors in the future.
• Prepare an inventory of sectorial, territorial, and international/regional adaptation projects, and of NGO driven adaptation activities to analyze lessons learned and successful implementation of adaptation

Other tasks will include:

• Get familiar with the project document including objectives, outcomes, outputs and activities including project work plan and monitoring and evaluation plan;
• Peer review, comment on, and seek to improve, the technical quality of programmes/projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications, and the like.
• Respond to queries on: (a) opportunities for scaling up private sector engagement on adaptation and (b) mainstreaming climate change into planning and budgeting, climate impacts and lessons.
• Provide key technical support on programme implementation for climate change adaptation.
• Support smooth implementation of project activities, including support to drafting terms of reference and work specifications.
• Coordinate and facilitate a process of technical quality management for the outsourced expertise.
• Provide professional advice based upon his/her specific area of expertise that is relevant to the project activities’ goals and objectives.
• Coordinate the organization of project related activities, ensure timely and appropriate delivery of services.

1. Legal expert

The Consultant will work in close cooperation with the UNDP International Climate Policy Expert.

The Consultant will be primarily responsible for providing high quality legal support:

• IMWGCC on the review of its mandate and set up of Technical Working Group for Adaptation.
• IGEWE on strengthening its role and mandate related to climate change.

The Consultant will contribute to strengthen the institutional role of the IMWGCC to enable it to better serve as the coordination mechanism for climate change. This will include refining the mission and mandate of this group and clarifying roles and responsibilities for the IMWGCC and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment as lead institutions in climate adaptation policy, planning, and implementation.

In addition, the Consultant will contribute to strengthening the role and mandate of IGEWE by building the IGEWE’s mandate to assess gender-disaggregated climate change vulnerabilities in different economic sectors/ systems and to support climate modeling and integrated evaluation of adaptation options.

The Consultant will have regular contact with national counterparts. This will be undertaken in full compliance with UNDP’s Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures under the direct supervision of NAP Project Coordinator and in close coordination with UNDP Programme Officer for Environment and Climate Change.

More specifically the Consultant, by building upon the work undertaken, will advise on matter of law, and provide legal and regulatory advisory services necessary to:

• Complete draft of secondary legislation, or legislative amendments, necessary to refine IMWGCC mission and mandate on adaptation related activities and articulate the governing processes and institutional arrangements for oversight and coordination to fit within the structure of the new government under territorial reform. Order of the Prime Minister (No. 155 from 2014), revised and restructured to fit within the new government structure presented in the IMWGCC meeting;
• Complete a gap analyses on existing legislation on climate change related the IMWGCC, by establishing a comparative analysis of international and local legislation by Table of Concordance;
• Compile operations manual for IMWGCC with clear roles and responsibilities of membership, as related to adaptation, adopted.
• Clarify the roles and responsibilities of sectorial representatives and other stakeholders listed in mandate outlined under a (representatives from 12 different ministries).
• Articulate the governing processes to allow for oversight and coordination of adaptation related issues.
• Establish a reporting framework by which all priority sectors (agriculture, tourism, urban development, transport, energy) will need to report regularly to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (to be then shared with the IMWGCC) on implementation of UNFCCC agreements and progress on the NAP with a formalized reporting format and protocol. This will be in in line with the EU Regulation on Monitoring Mechanism to ensure synergy between MRV and M&E.
• Advice on establishment of a formal NAP updating and reporting cycle within IMWGCC.
• Support the process for conducting a IMWGCC workshop on revised mandates and the roles of the Technical Working Group for Adaptation.
• Review legislation and legal framework to strengthen the role and mandate of IGEWE by expanding its mandate to include climate vulnerability assessment, climate modeling, and integrated evaluation of adaptation options.
• Complete drafts/amendments of any new primary or secondary legislation, or legislative amendments, necessary to strengthen the role and mandate of IGEWE.

Other tasks will include:

• Get familiar with the project document including objectives, outcomes, outputs and activities including project work plan and monitoring and evaluation plan;
• Provide legal support on: (a) programme implementation for climate change adaptation (b) mainstreaming climate change into planning and budgeting (c) guidelines for climate change adaptation
• Organize stakeholder meetings in consistence with plans, objectives, rules, regulations and allocations.
• Support field work/missions and interaction at local level with consultants

Competencies

Corporate competencies and values:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism

Functional Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills, both oral and written;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Skills in facilitation and coordination, entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work commitment to working across disciplines.

Required Skills and Experience

Required Skills and Experience for Climate Policy expert

Education

• Master’s degree or higher in Climate change and development, Development Economics, Environmental management, Environmental Economics, Environment resources management, or a closely related field.
• Comprehensiveness knowledge of climate change.
• Good knowledge of international best practices in the project related fields, state of the art approaches in the specific areas the project.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience preferably in the area of climate resilient, climate adaptation at national and local levels.
• Experience in the policy development processes associated with environment and sustainable development issues in the context of climate change risk and environment resources management.
• Experience in Policy and Institutional assessments.
• Experience in working with wide range of stakeholders (private, governmental, etc.).
• Proven expert working experience with the UNFCCC, and Paris Agreement.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Albanian.

Required Skills and Experience for Legal expert

Education

• Master’s degree or higher in Law or related areas
• Good knowledge of international environmental and climate legislation
• Comprehensive knowledge of country’s legal and regulatory framework, particularly concerning environmental and climate standards.
• Owning of a precise legal style of writing.

Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in areas related to environmental law, drafting legislation and public policies, preferably in the area of climate and natural resources planning.
• Experience in drafting of the legal acts associated with environment and sustainable development issues in the context of climate change risk and environment resources management.
• Experience in regulatory assessments.
• Experience in working with wide range of stakeholders (private, governmental, etc.).

Language requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Albanian.

Evaluation of Applicants

Applicants will be assessed on relevant expertise and competencies, as reflected in the CVs, and explored during an interview.

Applicants will be evaluated based on a Combined Scoring system taking into consideration different criteria, which will total to 70 points. Applicants scoring 49 points or more of the technical points will be considered for financial evaluation.  

Applications will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of their qualifications and financial proposal. A two-stage procedure is utilized in evaluating the applications, with evaluation of the CVs being completed prior to any financial proposal being compared. The award is made to the individuals whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable
• Having received the highest score out of the pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specified to the vacancy announcement

Technical Evaluation Criteria for Climate Policy Expert

• Relevant experience in participating to projects, programmes, policies, or strategies development (to ensure these CCA aspects) (15 points);
• Sound experience in the area of climate resilient integrated natural resources planning, policy/Regulatory and institutional assessments (25 points);
• Previous experience in policy development processes associated with environment and sustainable development issues in the context of climate change risk and  environment resources management (10 points);
• Previous experience with the required analytical work experience in developing stocktaking report, climate related data and vulnerability assessments (15 points);
• Experience with in supporting similar projects. Familiarity with UNDP projects is an advantage (5 points).

Technical Evaluation Criteria for Legal Expert

• Experience in the development of climate sector legal and regulatory frameworks, including experience in the development of environmental legislation and in the development of legislation, frameworks, and guidelines (25 points).
• Knowledge of (and preferably direct experience with) the principles applicable to the drafting of legal and regulatory instruments in Albania (25 points).
• Record of published articles, reports or other documents relating to climate legislation development (10 points).
• Participation in similar projects/assignments  (5 points).
• Proven experience in undertaking global/regional/national legal framework and policy research (5 points). 

Financial/Price Proposal evaluation:

Only the financial proposal of candidates who have attained a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation will be further considered and evaluated.

The total number of points allocated for the financial/price component is 30.

Application Procedure 

Please clearly express which position you are applying for:

• Climate Policy Expert
• Legal Expert

Interested applicants are advised to carefully study all sections of this ToRs and ensure that they meet the general requirements as well as specific qualifications described. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. 

The application should contain: 

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application. 
• Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability & Detailed Financial Proposal - please fill in the attached form. Download Here (kindly use Firefox browser)
• Example: (kindly refer to the example below when filling out the Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability

[CORRECT] A Daily Fee of [state amount in words and in numbers indicating currency]

[INCORRECT] (Select Here and elaborate) [X] A total lump sum of [state amount in words and in numbers, indicating exact currency], payable in the manner described in the Terms of Reference.

• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees, please upload the P11 instead of your CV. Download Here (kindly use Firefox browser)

• Financial Proposal in ALL (Albanian Lek)*- Specify an All-Inclusive Daily Fee in Albanian Lek for the tasks specified in this announcement. The attached template may be used - Download Here (kindly use Firefox browser) Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall consider various expenses incurred by the consultant during the contract period (e.g. fee and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services). 

• Copy of Diplomas and copy of Passport. 

• Beneficiary contact details (next of kin)
  • Beneficiary's Contact Person's Name:
  • Title (Mr/Mrs/Ms):
  • Address:
  • Telephone:
  • Email:

*Kindly note that Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal are two separate documents and should be both part of your application. 

How to Submit the Application: 

To submit your application online, please follow the steps below: 

• Download and complete the UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs). 
• In the P11 Form make sure to include Email Addresses of the Persons who are willing to provide References on your experience in working with them.
• Merge your UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs), Financial Proposal Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and cover letter into a single file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded. 
• Click on the Job Title (job vacancy announcement). 
• Click “Apply Now” button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and then click “Submit Application;” 
• Upload your application/single file as indicated above with the merged documents (underlined above). 

• You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system. 

Due to large number of applications, we receive, we can inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process. 

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.