UNDP Jobs - 81067- International Consultant: Environmental Laboratory

International Consultant: Environmental Laboratory Quality Management Expert

Location :

Home-based with missions

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

29-Sep-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Estimated 1 October 2018 – 31 January 2020

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Approximately 60 days

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) (www.thegef.org) unites 183 member governments—in partnership with international institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector—to address global environment issues. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer and persistent organic pollutants. Since 1991, the GEF has provided US$12.5 billion in grants and leveraged US$58 billion in co-financing for 3,690 projects in 165 developing countries. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP) the GEF has made more than 20,000 grants totaling about US$1 billion to civil society and community-based organizations.

The GEF International Waters (IW) focal area targets transboundary water systems, such as shared river basins, lakes, groundwater and large marine ecosystems. The IW portfolio comprises 242 projects to date and some US$1.4 billion of GEF grants invested in 149 different countries. This investment has leveraged about US$8.4 billion in co-financing.

UNDP GEF Kura Project “Advancing Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) across the Kura river basin through implementation of the transboundary agreed actions and national plans” will be implementing the Strategic Action Program for the Kura River Basin in partnership with the Governments of Georgia and Azerbaijan. The SAP is framed around four agreed Ecosystem Quality Objectives (EQO) which are:

To achieve sustainable utilization of water resources to ensure access to water and preserve ecosystem services;
To achieve water quality such that it would ensure access to clean water for present and future generations and sustain ecosystem functions in the Kura river basin;
To achieve and maintain ecosystem status whereby they provide essential environmental and socio-economic services in a sustainable manner in the Kura River Basin; and,
To achieve mitigation of adverse impacts of flooding and climate change on infrastructures, riparian ecosystems and communities.

The GEF will support priority activities towards these objectives. The GEF funded SAP implementation Project has the objective “to integrate water resources management in the Kura river basin to address water-energy-food-ecosystem security nexus through the implementation of agreed actions in the SAP”.
There will be five components to support the countries to achieve this objective. These are:

Project Component 1: Establishment of effective cross sectoral IWRM governance protocols at the local, national and transboundary levels in the Kura Basin;
Project Component 2: Strengthening national capacities to implement multi-sectoral IWRM in the Kura basin;
Project Component 3: Stress reduction in critical areas and pre-feasibility studies to identify investment opportunities for improving river system health;
Project Component 4: Targeted education and involvement projects to empower stakeholders in implementing local / national / regional actions in support of SAP implementation;
Project Component 5: Enhancing science for governance by strengthening monitoring, information management and data analysis systems for IWRM.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Hydromet Department in Azerbaijan and National Environment Agency (NEA) in Georgia are mainly responsible for monitoring water quantities and qualities along the Kura river basin. Although the two agencies produce high volume of data on water quantity and quality, sometimes it is hard to compare their data for the same parameters because of the incompatibility in the laboratory analysis between the two agencies. The use of different laboratory analytical methods and the lack of Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) in the two laboratories led in most cases to unreliable and inaccurate laboratory results.

The UNDP-GEF Kura II project developed and executed during year 2017 a capacity building plan for the two laboratories in the laboratory quality management in line with the ISO 17025.The project also developed the Standard Operation procedure documentation report and translated it into national languages.
The two countries agreed to share the data on 6 water quality indicators. These indicators are Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, BOD5, Heavy metals, and Phenol. Sharing these indicators between the two countries will need harmonization of the sampling and laboratory analysis of these indicators.

Building the capacity of the environmental laboratories in the two countries on applying the ISO 17025 standards on the sampling and analysis of these indicators will ensure validity of their output results and its accuracy. These tasks were included in the project document under outcome 5.4. This outcome will provide the two countries technical support on the implementation of the SOPs in sampling and laboratory analysis according to ISO 17025 Accreditation.

The services of a qualified and highly competent consultant will be required to assist the Project Management unit in developing the above-mentioned technical support to the two laboratories in the two countries.

Scope of Work
The Environmental Laboratory Quality Management expert will work closely with Both Hydromet laboratory in Azerbaijan and National Environment Agency in Georgia to assess the current methods for sampling and analysis of the 6 shared water quality parameters. The consultant will develop a report on the requirements for harmonization these methods between the two countries. He/She will also develop a complete training program for the staff in the two laboratories in these harmonized methods.
The consultant, in collaboration and close coordination with the Project Management Unit and the management of Hydromet and NEA, shall carry out the following activities:

Review the current methods used for sampling and analysis of the shared water indicators
Develop technical report on the changes needed for harmonization of the methods used in the two countries to be in line with ISO 17025
Develop a training program for Lab. Staff in each country on the use of the harmonized methods
Implement the training program on harmonization of laboratory methods of the 6 parameters for both Hydromet and NEA staff

Key Deliverables of the consultancy:

Technical report on the changes needed for harmonization of the methods used in the two countries to be in line with ISO 17025 for the shared 6 water quality parameters.
Develop a training program for Lab. Staff in each country on the use of the harmonized methods
Implementation of the training program on harmonization of laboratory methods of the 6 parameters for both Hydromet and NEA staff
Support both laboratories to develop Quality Assurance/ Quality Control (QA/QC) proficiency tests mechanism with a third party laboratory

Timeframe for Deliverables and financial arrangements

Instalment 1
Submit detailed work plan for implementation of activities

Start date: 1 October 2018
End date: 15 October 2018

Payment due: 10% of the total lump sum on delivery and approval by the CTA

Instalment 2
Field visit to the region to review the current methods used for sampling and analysis of the shared water indicators

Start date: 16 October 2018
End Date: 31 October2018

Develop technical report on the changes needed for harmonization of the methods used in the two countries to be in line with ISO 17025

Start date: 1 November 2018
End date: 31 December 2018

Payment due: 30% of the total lump sum on delivery and approval by the CTA

Instalment 3
Develop a training program for Lab. Staff in each country on the use of the harmonized methods

Start date: 1 December 2018
End date: 15 February 2019

Payment due: 20% of the total lump sum on delivery and approval by the CTA

Instalment 4
Conduct 4 training modules (2 days per training per country) on the implementation of the new methods for the laboratory staff.

Start date: 16 February 2019
End date: 31 May 2019

Payment due: 30% of the total lump sum on delivery and approval by the CTA

Instalment 5
Support both laboratories to develop Quality Assurance/ Quality Control (QA/QC) proficiency tests mechanism with a third party laboratory

Start date: 1 June 2019
End date: 15 December 2019

Develop a final report summarizing the main results obtained from implementing the Capacity Building plan and the recommendations for the future work to be done in both laboratories.

Start date: 15 December 2019
End date: 31 January 2020

Payment due: 10% of the total lump sum on delivery and approval by the CTA

Information on Working Arrangements:

The international Environmental Laboratory Quality Management Expert will report to the Project Chief Technical Advisor / Regional Project Coordinator (CTA/RPC). Deliverables will be reviewed and approved by the CTA/RPC.

Time Frame

The expected time frame for the Consultant to complete these activities is 16 months starting from October 1, 2018. The expected level of effort during this period is approximately 60 days (35 days home based plus 5 field missions to the region countries with 5 working days per each mission (each mission will include 3 days in Azerbaijan and 2 days in Georgia).

Financial Arrangements

Payments as percentage of lump sum will be made monthly on the following based on approval and timely completion of above all deliverables described above.
Any delay of deliverable must be approved by the CTA in writing.

Competencies

Functional competencies

Strong communication and management skills and demonstrable capacity to work with a multi-national team and to work with government institutions;
Demonstrated ability to work in chemistry laboratories and conducting chemical analysis;
Demonstrated ability in developing and implementing SOPs and ISO 17025;
Ability to conduct needs assessment studies and develop capacity needs plans;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

Corporate competencies

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;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Masters degree in analytical science, environmental management, or related fields required; Masters degree focusing on laboratory quality management and accreditation systems. Ph.D. in chemistry or monitoring an additional asset (Criteria A)

Experience

At least 5 years of demonstrated experience as a quality manager in an environmental monitoring laboratory. (Criteria B)
Should be a trained lead auditor with a minimum of two years of experience in auditing - ISO 17025 systems. (Criteria C)
Should have knowledge and experience in documentation as required by ISO 17025 (Criteria D )
Proven experience in auditing and developing the SOPs for sampling and analysis of water quality samples in line with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation (Criteria E)
Experience in working with UNDP and GEF through multiple sectors/ministries or work experience in GEF International Waters, experience in former Soviet States, and with preforming water quality monitoring in line with EU WFD methodologies is an asset (Criteria F);

Language:

English is the working language for this assignment, therefore excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required.
Ability to communicate in Russian or national languages of Azerbaijan and Georgia is an advantage

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: responsive/compliant/acceptable, and having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical P11 desk reviews and interviews and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates who will get min. 70% of points in desk review (criteria A-F) will be invited for an interview. Only candidates who will get min. 70% of points in technical evaluation (criteria A-G) will be considered for financial evaluation.

Evaluation Criteria
Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

Criteria A – Academic qualification / education – max points 10;
Criteria B – Experience – max points 10;
Criteria C – Experience– max points 10;
Criteria D – Experience– max points 10;
Criteria E – Experience – max points 15;
Criteria F – Experience – max points 5;
Criteria G – Interview (communication skills) – max points 10

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points

Application procedure:
Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. 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.
Filled P11 form or CV including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from
Offeror’s Letter (blank template can be downloaded from https://bit.ly/2KO1okS).
A proposal for the work plan indicating the working methodology (max. 2 500 words) to achieve the task, main points to be discussed with the countries and to also be addressed in your report, plan for visiting countries, the structure of your final report
Financial Proposal in USD* - specifying a) total lump sum amount for professional fee for the tasks specified in this announcement and b) breakdown of missions related costs, including (i) travel costs and ii) per diem for five field missions to the region with 5 days per mission (3 days in Azerbaijan, 2 days in Georgia)
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, national taxes, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.