Consultant: International Senior Technical Advisor / CB2 project

CONSULTANT: INTERNATIONAL SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVISOR / CB2 PROJECT Location : Bucharest, ROMANIA Application Deadline : 03-Mar-09 Type of Contract : SSA Post Level : SSA Languages Required : English Expected Duration of Assignment : March 2009 - June 2011 Background The CB-2 project aims to expand Romania’s capacity to generate global environmental benefits through mainstreaming the Rio Conventions into national, regional and local decision-making. It will do this, firstly, by enhancing the enabling environment for convention implementation, including modifying institutional, legislative, policy and reporting frameworks to reflect convention commitments and, secondly, by improving institutional and individual capacity within the lead agencies for convention implementation (MESD and MARD) . The latter component will strengthen mechanisms, tools and training to support the use of Integrated Resource Management to mainstream conventions themes into sectoral plans and programmes. The project also addresses the objectives of the three GEF focal areas and three of the four interim programming priorities under GEF Strategic Priority CB-2, Cross-cutting Capacity Development: (1) Improve national convention institutional structures and mechanisms; (2) Strengthen policy, legislative and regulative framework; and (3) Mainstream global environmental priorities into national policies and programmes The project is consistent with a key UNDP programme objective for Romania: to enhance environmental governance at national and local levels for better compliance with EU standards and international conventions, through policy development and integration of environment into other sectors. Situation analysis Romania has ratified over 20 Multinational Environmental Agreements since 1992, including the “Rio Conventions” on biodiversity, climate change and land degradation (CBD, FCCC, CCD) and prepared related Action Plans. Romania’s accession to the EU in January 2007 has triggered improvements to the institutional, legal and policy framework for environmental management, and led to the preparation of numerous environmental and sectoral plans, strategies and programmes. However, Rio conventions management has continued to be fragmented and uncoordinated, and conventions implementation has been weak, due, in part, to poor integration of convention themes into EU-related reforms in policy-making, environmental and natural resource management, public administration, decentralization and regional and local planning. Analysis of the baseline situation indicated that there are many positive initiatives to improve environmental and natural resource management, yet there are also missed opportunities to integrate convention themes into these initiatives. Institutions: There is a well-developed institutional framework for environmental and natural resources management, with Convention Units in MESD (FCCC and CBD) and MARD (CCD). However, convention responsibilities are unclear and convention units and activities are poorly integrated into MESD and MARD programmes at national, regional or local levels. There are no or weak collaborative mechanisms to involve other ministries or stakeholders in achieving convention goals. There have been only limited efforts to bring convention issues into sectoral plans and strategies, and there has been no involvement by regional and local environmental authorities. Project set-backs: The project was approved by GEF Secretariat late June 2008 and will end in June 2011. The local elections in Romania (November-December 2008) have delayed the project implementation activities to a certain extent. The inception workshop has been postponed to March 2009, in order to be able to invite the new government representatives and secure national ownership of the project outcomes. Goal and objectives The strategy of the current project is three-fold, as follows : Enhance the enabling environment (institutional, legal and policy frameworks). This involves strengthening the institutional and legal arrangements for convention implementation, including delineation of accountability, roles and responsibilities, and reporting and collaborative mechanisms. It also involves amendments to current laws, strategies and plans to enable integration of convention themes into relevant policies, plans and programmes. Strengthen capacity to integrate the conventions with sectorial and regional planning, programmes and projects. The MARD has the mandate for the agriculture, forestry and rural development sectors. Thus, strengthening its institutions, laws and norms, enhancing the capacity of its personnel and promoting collaboration with MEWM creates rich possibilities for meeting multiple convention objectives through Integrated Resource Management. Alignment and close coordination with EU-supported institutional and sectorial capacity building provides a strategic entry point for the GEF to address cross-cutting convention issues that now are not being addressed. Improve institutional and individual capacity of MEWM and MARD. This strategy involves strengthening the technical capacity of MEWM and MARD through awareness-building, technical assistance and applied training, so that they can better implement convention themes into Ministry activities at national, regional and local levels. Duties and Responsibilities Purpose of the consultancy Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Head of Energy and Environment and as informed by guidance from UNDP/GEF Regional Coordinator Unit, the Senior International Technical Advisor is expected to work together with the National Project Executing Agency in supporting project implementation by providing Technical Advisory services. The work of the senior technical advisor will be to provide support and advise the project management unit within the executing agency on the project implementation strategy including risk management and potential flexible adjustments of the project implementation plan. The main components of the consultancy work are as follows: Review and comments on work plan and other materials provided before the Inception Workshop (planned late March 2009) and launching of the stocktaking phase; Technical assistance to TOR and guidelines development for stocktaking and consultation processes; Advise on the adoption of the appropriate methodological approaches to capacity development in line with GEF priorities Define detailed indicator framework for global environmental mainstreaming into sectoral policies. Within the framework of this TOR, the consultant is expected to perform the following duties: Review and comment on initial materials obtained from the UNDP country office and Project Manager; Provide technical assistance to stocktaking and consultation processes; Undertake functional analysis and detailed capacity gap analysis of the stocktaking phase related to the reflection of the national contextual situation; Identify and introduce key methodological approaches to capacity development, including the detailed indicator framework for global environmental mainstreaming, with reference to the latest GEF requirements and priorities; Design the most appropriate approach in setting a collaborative platform for all the relevant national stakeholders (i.e. line ministries, agencies, universities etc) implementing the Rio Convention. Provide guidance and inputs to the work of national experts in order to: develop partnerships with other development partners active in the country participate in policy dialogue and consultations with key stakeholders propose legal and institutional measures to reach the objectives of the project develop international relationships and exchange ideas on these topics Other duties: review and provide input to the development of the final reports of the consultants and relevant documents and advise the project management unit as case may be. Consultancy implementation arrangements The principal responsibility for managing this consultancy lies with the Project Management Unit and UNDP Romania. UNDP Romania will contract the consultant and ensure timely provision of the necessary feedback on deliverables. The project management unit within the University of Bucharest will have the responsibility of liaising with the team of consultants and assisting with logistical support, as case may be, in setting up stakeholder’s interviews and coordinate with the Government. Deliverables Three (3) full reports on the activities carried out: mission reports report and one final report. The reports will include analysis of the project results, assessment of the risk management and suggestions for management approach changes if the case. The work will include assistance to the project unit in the formulation of annual work plans during the in-country missions. TORs for national experts and guidelines related to their tasks Input on the review and comments on the final reports and relevant materials. Work Schedule The current consultancy work is foreseen for a period of 35 actual working days, including three in-country missions, spread over the project duration time i.e. until July 2011. The consultancy should start immediately after contract signature. The Inception workshop is planned for late March and the consultant is expected to be able to participate and give his/her input to the relevant documents subject to revision and participate in the workshop. First mission (8 days): Purpose: Participation into the inception workshop and revision of the project document and suggested work plan; work on the development of the best implementation approach: 2(two) days home based preparation of the mission 4 (four) in-country mission and participation in the workshop16-20 March 2(two) days home based mission follow up work Second in country mission (8 days): Purpose: Revision of the 2009 results, development of the 2009 project implementation report, and formulation of 2010 work plan and correspondent budget. Tentative time: 15-20 January 2010 2(two) days home based preparation of the mission 4 (four) in-country mission and work with the project team 2(two) days home based mission follow up work Third in-country mission (8 days): Purpose: Revision of the 2010 results, development of the 2011 work plan, adjustments to the implementation approach is case may be and preparation for project closure. Tentative time: 15-20 January 2011 2(two) days home based preparation of the mission 4 (four) in-country mission and work with the project team 2(two) days home based mission follow up work Home based assistance to project unit: (March 2009-July 2011: 11 working days) Purpose: Review and comment on the experts final reports and stocktaking phase, assessment of gaps and suggestions for improvements Advise on the project implementation process and approaches. Provide feedback on TOR for consultants Provide feedback on the GEF reporting process (PIR, CB indicators etc) as case may be; Competencies Strong knowledge and working experience in governance and public administration with particular focus on environmental governance and environmental mainstreaming; Familiarity with the public administration systems in the region of Eastern Europe and CIS, particularly in relation to environment; Familiarity with methodologies of functional reviews and policy mainstreaming; Working experience with relevant international organizations such as UNDP, GEF, UNEP, World Bank; Familiarity with GEF capacity building strategies and cross cutting issues such as: institutional strengthening, assistance for enacting legislation/regulations, capacity building for awareness and education and development of training materials. Good knowledge of the objectives of the Rio Conventions and latest developments in their synergetic national implementation Strong interpersonal and communication skills; Required Skills and Experience High level educational background in Public Administration, Environmental Policy, Environmental Law, or other related subject; Excellent knowledge of English Language.