Background

This project is designed to strengthen capacity for environmental monitoring and information management in Albania by establishing an operational environmental information management and monitoring system with a focus on environmental MEAs.

The project will address the need for an environmental monitoring system that is integrated throughout relevant government institutions and that uses international monitoring standards for indicator development, data collection, analysis, and policy-making.

It will also build on existing technical and institutional capacity in Albania to align its management and monitoring efforts with global monitoring and reporting priorities. Increased capacity in this area will improve reporting to the Rio Conventions and lay the groundwork for sustainable development through better-informed environmental policy.

Assignment background:

The Agency for parks and Recreation was established by VKB nr.41 dated 23.09.2015 with the following main duties and responsibilities with nature protection and management focus:

-Protecting green crowns and inspecting green areas in the territory of the Municipality of Tirana.

-Protection and development of forests and pastures.

-Organization and implementation of operational forest management plans.

-Organization of the forest service and inspection of forests and pastures.

-Protecting the forest and pasture fund from various biotic and abiotic factors and taking measures to improve the situation.

-Breeding of forest and pasture stock within the administrative territory through the development, updating and monitoring of the breeding and pasture plan.

-Draft operational plans for annual activities in forests and pastures, based on data from the forest and pasture plan.

-Preparation of the annual budget plan to meet the financial needs of the operations and technical measures planned for the area and the owned forest / pasture fund for the next budgetary year.

-Drafting of technical and economic implementation projects for the implementation of recommended or planned measures from breeding plans, for the treatment of forests and pastures, as well as for other works and construction of the necessary infrastructure.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will develop based on the legal framework of the Agency of Parks and Recreation a strategic document for the mid-term development of APR and recommendations for the long-term development.

Task 1: Conduct a SWOT Analysis

Task 2: Develop a strategic document that shall include the following topics:

Introduction:

-Context

-Planning Process

-Moving Toward the Vision

-Document Organization

Existing Park and Recreation System:

-Parks and Recreation Activities

-Nature protection and Forest Management Activities

-Tirana Park System including the Green Crown of Tirana

-Parks, Recreation and Forestry Services

Future Park and Recreation System:

-System Concept

-Site- specific Recommendations

- Recreation Program Recommendations

-Forestry Management and Services Recommendations

Plan of Action

-Prioritizing

-Decision Making Criteria

-Project costs

-Operations Costs

-Funding Strategies

-Conclusions

The consultant will provide a summary of the stakeholder’s meetings and inputs.  

Lists of deliverables and timeline

50% - 30 June 2019- Swot Analysis report and first draft of the Strategic Document

50%- 10 September 2019- Final Strategic document for APR development 

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 favoritism.

Core Competencies:

• Communication - Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
• Planning & Organizing – Develops clear goals in line with agreed strategies, identifies priorities, foresees risks and makes allowances accordingly.
• Organizational Awareness - Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Teamwork - Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and delivers outputs in accordance with agreed time, cost and quality standards.

Functional Competencies

• Thorough understanding of disability issues, human rights, social inclusion and social services
• Excellent inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking attitude;
• Capacity to deliver as per deadlines;
• Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily;
• Very good communication as well as reporting and writing skills in English and Albanian.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree in natural sciences, environmental sciences, environmental economy, forestry financial studies, forestry, or other related fields.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least 7 years of experience in natural resources area system, with special attention to institutional management;
• Demonstrable experience in training and capacity building of national stakeholders and institutions related to management and planning;
• Experience in conducting forestry/ or nature resources management effectiveness assessments;
• Familiarity relevant EU policies would be an asset;
• Experience with Result Based Management;
• Demonstrated leadership ability and technical ability to communicate complex ideas verbally and in writing;
• Demonstrable analytical skills;
• Excellent, proven management, communication and team-building skills

Languages required:

• English and Albanian.

Evaluation Procedure

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their financial proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate whose offer:

• Is deemed technically responsive / compliant / acceptable (only technically responsive applications / candidates will be considered for the financial evaluation)
• And has obtained the highest combined technical and financial scores. Only candidates who have scored a minimum of 49 points (70%) of technical criteria will be asked for financial proposal.

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

• 20%- Advanced University Degree in natural sciences, environmental sciences, environmental economy, forestry financial studies, forestry, or other related fields.
• 30%- At least 7 years of experience in natural resources area system, with special attention to institutional management;
• 20%- Experience in conducting forestry/ or nature resources management effectiveness assessments;

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

Application Procedure

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. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 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-please fill in the attached form...http://www.un.org.al/editor-files/file/PSU_%20ICLA.doc.
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees, please upload the P11 instead of your CV. Download here.
• Financial Proposal in ALL* - specifying a total lump sum in Albanian Lek  for the tasks specified in this announcement.  The attached template may be used - http://www.un.org.al/editor-files/file/Financial%20Offer%20template.doc. Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account 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.

*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);
• 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 are able to 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