International consultant - Coastal Zone Management Expert, EU/UNDP Black Sea Environment Protection Project

A new project is being developed by UNDP within Procurement notice of EuropeAid in the context of the ENPI East Regional Programme (Strategy Paper 2007-2013), which identifies water management as one of its priorities.

This project is considered as Component B of the larger “Protection of freshwater and marine environments in the wider Black Sea region” programme (CRIS N° ENPI/2009/021-924). Component A of this initiative is represented by the separate “Environmental protection of International River Basins” project. The two components will be implemented in parallel. Given that most of the trans-boundary rivers of the region discharge into the Black Sea, component A indirectly targets component B. Therefore close coordination between the two components is foreseen.

The present project will contribute to improving regional cooperation and agreements for the protection of the Black Sea, in particular the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (the Bucharest Convention). The project will strengthen national capacities of the respective national authorities for biological and chemical monitoring of water quality in the Black Sea, help develop protected areas and improve sustainable development of coastal zones.

Relevant results and experiences of previous and ongoing projects will be duly taken into account. Activities will be carried out in Georgia, Russian Federation, and Ukraine. If thematically justified, other countries of the wider Black Sea region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Belarus) could be involved in the project activities.

The project should contribute to the sustainable development of the Black Sea basin by preventing and reducing the input into the sea of pollutants through river or direct discharges and by promoting the sustainable management and/or protection of natural resources, including water resources and biodiversity.

The project will focus on the alignment of partner countries' policies and strategies. Furthermore, activities relating to the specific objective 1 (Monitoring) will take into account convergence with EU water related legislation, in particular the Water Framework Directive (EUWFD) and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (EU MSFD). Activities relating to specific objectives 2 and 3 (Protected Areas and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)) will seek to correlate to specific initiatives from the Black Sea Commission (BSC) annual work plans, and support them through pilot projects and other measures.

It is required that significant effort will be put into training and capacity building and that  local training institutions are involved. In order to promote ownership, engagement of local experts and organisations is encouraged.

Component 1. Improvement of availability and quality of data on the chemical and biological status of the Black Sea

• Review of the national monitoring systems and tools for assessing data obtained from monitoring activities
• Support to implementation of countries obligations under the Bucharest and other related Conventions and Agreements
• Development of cost-effective and harmonised biological and chemical monitoring programmes in accordance with reporting obligations under multilateral environmental agreements, the WFD and the MSFD
• An assessment of needs regarding laboratory infrastructure, equipment, and training
• Elaboration and implementation of the comprehensive training programme on monitoring methods and quality assurance aiming at adhering to ISO 17025 standard
• Organisation of Joint Black Sea Surveys
• Development of the web-based Black Sea Water Quality Database

Component 2: Increase number and size of protected areas in the Black Sea as well as increase their degree of protection

• Review of the existing protected areas in the Black Sea with a special focus on possible deficiencies regarding law enforcement and implementation of management plans
• Development of a work programme aimed at identifying, designating, and improving effective management of protected areas (coastal and/or marine)
• Establishment of bilateral protected areas which currently do not exist
• Activities to raise awareness 

Component 3: Improvements in sustainable use of coastal zones

• A review of the existing laws and management plans regarding coastal zone management
• Development of ICZM training programme
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management  pilot projects
• Regional events on ICZM issues and awareness raising

The consultant will be a key expert in the implementation of the project, dealing primarily with the project activities related to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and designation of the Black Sea protected areas. Under the supervision of the International Waters Regional Technical Advisor and the Project Team Leader the Consultant will be responsible for the following activities:

• Detailed analysis and review of the drafts for the national ICZM strategy of Georgia and the ICZM law for the Ukraine, facilitating their adoption and enforcement;
• Development of an Action Plan for  ICZM Strategy for Georgia;
• Detailed  analysis of ICZM legislation in the beneficiary countries and proposals on its improvement focusing on possible deficiencies regarding law enforcement and implementation of action and management plans other than those proposed in the framework of this project;
• Organization of pilot projects as part of a long term strategy for improved coastal zone management and as tools for promoting and locally implementing the ICZM principles and practices in accordance with the Black Sea Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Protocol and the draft regional ICZM Strategy;
• Organization of national and regional events on ICZM issues and awareness raising activities promoting the ICZM principles for the general public, target groups, and stakeholders and pursuing the involvement of local stakeholders and NGOs, including Black Sea NGO network;
• Carry out various activities arising during the project implementation.

The assignment will require travel in the region, upon request by UNDP (to be covered separately). The consultant is expected to work closely with UNDP BRC and project partners involved in the project implementation.

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:

• Stock-taking Report - a review of existing law and plans regarding the coastal zone management, including stakeholder analysis;
• Action Plan for the Georgian ICZM Strategy;
• Design of ICZM pilot projects and plan for their implementation as part of a long term strategy for improved coastal zone management;
• Program for training courses and  workshops related to ICZM and management of protected areas;
• Inputs into all technical reports to be prepared.

Deliverables, timeframe for deliveries and lump sum remuneration (based on the estimated number of working days) will be agreed in writing prior to commencement of the work. Travel costs (such as DSA and tickets, as applicable and upon prior explicit approval by the supervisor) will be paid separately in accordance to UNDP rules and regulations. Output payment will be released upon satisfactory completion and delivery of results.

• Excellent communication and management skills and demonstrable capacity to work with government institutions;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• University master degree in environmental/natural sciences, environmental engineering, development planning, (hydro)geology, geography or equivalent.

General professional experience:

• Experience in international projects related to Coastal Zone Management;
• General experience demonstrating an understanding of transposition, implementation and/or enforcement of the EU environmental acquis, particularly the Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), and of capacity building challenges faced by water authorities in the beneficiary countries or EU Member States.

Specific Experience:

• At least 8 years of specialisation in coastal zone management;
• Experience in developing national ICZM Strategies, Policy and Plans;
• Experience in Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) procedures implementation;
• Experience in design and management of protected areas;
• Experience in development of training and capacity building tools to ICZM and Fisheries Programs is an asset;
• Experience in working in the project countries of the project is an asset.

Language skills:

• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English;
• Knowledge of Russian language is a must.

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:
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.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

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

• Criteria A – academic qualification / education  – max points: 10
• Criteria B – general professional experience in EU environmental Acquis (Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive)  - max points: 15
• Criteria C – specific experience in developing national Integrated Coastal Zone Management  Strategies, Policy & Plans and management of protected areas  – max points: 15
• Criteria D – Experience in Strategic Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments  procedures implementation max points: 10
• Criteria E - Experience in development of training and capacity building tools to Integrated Coastal Zone Management  and Fisheries Programs – max points: 10
• Criteria F – language, writing and communication skills - max points: 10

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

Application procedures:

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 and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees
  (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
• Financial Proposal* - specifying a daily fee. Travel costs will be paid separately according to the UN rules and regulations.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is related to daily fee and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). Travel costs are not part of the daily fee and will be paid separately according to the UN rules and regulations.

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.

Individual Consultants serve in their independent, individual capacity and not as representatives of UNDP. They are neither “staff members” nor “officials” under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. Individual Consultants are not given any form of representational, supervisory approving or signing authority for committing UNDP into any legal and/or financial obligations  

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://europeandcis.undp.org/home/jobs

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.