International Environment Senior Consultant for the programme on support to respond to forthcoming EU accession related environment requirements

Albania is situated in the South-East of Europe. It has a population of 3.2 million and its surface area is 28,748 km². 48.7% of the population live in urban areas, while 51.3% live in rural areas. The country is divided into 12 regions and has 65 municipalities and 309 communes.

 

Presently, Albania is a potential candidate country for the European Union. In June 2006 it signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and in April 2009 the country applied formally for membership. A number of commitments have been made by the Government within this context and all the efforts the country is currently undertaking are geared toward achieving the goal of EU accession.

 

The environmental administration was set up in the early ‘90s and now consists of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration (MoEFWA), the Regional Environmental Agencies, the Agency for Environment and Forestry, which are environmental bodies under the main central and local authorities, as well as inter-ministerial organisms, approved by the Council of Ministers to address important environmental issues.

 

In order to improve Albania’s capacity to ensure sustainable development and to register clear progress towards EU membership the capacity of the relevant institutions must be strengthened, especially for implementation and enforcement capacity.

 

 

Within the One UN umbrella a programme has been designed to support the environmental administration in its efforts to comply with the EU acquis. It plans to provide assistance in the field of horizontal legislation (i.e. environmental impact assessment and public access to environmental information and awareness), in the field of financial and economic instruments for environment, and in the waste management field. Moreover it proposes to foster the integration of environment into sectorial policies. The programme has five components as described below:

 

The programme proposes to review the current legislation related to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and to make recommendations in order to fill in the identified gaps. Special attention will be given to public participation, by supporting local authorities to facilitate and incorporate public comments on environmental management issues and to the impact on habitats/species while conducting the environmental assessment procedure.

 

The project proposes to organise targeted capacity building events aiming at raising the awareness level of various groups which can, afterwards, contribute significantly to introducing the necessary changes. Workshops and information dissemination on specific policies, such as waste management, biodiversity, climate change for selected target groups will be held with the intention of increasing the level of technical and/or general knowledge where appropriate.

 

The activities under this component propose to support the development of the mechanisms for co-financing environmental investments in Albania, to investigate more alternatives and to support the development and adoption of economic instruments to promote prevention and reduction of pollution, energy efficiency and investments in cleaner production technologies and to prepare a mechanism for fiscal incentives including collection and recovery of fines.

 

The main objective of the small-scale waste management scheme is to provide both technical and financial assistance to local public authorities responsible for waste management. The programme aims to enhance waste management systems in small localities and providing an alternative to the limited public investment in this sector.

 

There is a need for enhanced inter-ministerial and inter-institutional cooperation in the achievement of two key objectives in the environmental field, i.e. sustainable development and accession to the European Union. This coordination and cooperation needs to take place at both the working level and at the most senior level. At present, inter-institutional cooperation is organized through ad-hoc working groups (with representatives of different institutions) for the preparation of draft laws or strategies, steering committees of projects and inter-ministerial committees.

 

The international senior consultant will be hired to assist and to

1.      Support the Government in the implementation of the fifth component of the programme, i.e. creation of the Environment Inter-Ministerial Council (to be referred to from now on as IMC).

2.      Provide general advice on the approach and implementation of the other four components of the programme.

3.      Represent the EU accession advisor to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration.

4.      Provide overall policy advice to UNDP.

 

This international senior consultant is required to perform the following:

 

 

 

The Environment Inter-Ministerial Council will be established by statute and will have its own set of procedural rules set down in secondary legislation. The Council will be the driving force behind the implementation of the environment strategy and of approximation of EU law (all the actions related to transposition, implementation and enforcement of the environmental acquis). It will be established as a proactive forum for high-level co-ordination of Albanian environmental policy.

 

 

Activities:

1.      Analyze the existing legal framework for the establishment of the IMC (relevant existing laws and regulations);

2.      Prepare a comparative analysis about inter-ministerial cooperation in other states (other member states, new and old, candidate countries);

3.      Draft legal instrument(s) for establishment of the IMC, specific piece of legislation or amendment of existing legislation, as appropriate and according to the findings of the analysis described at points 1 and 2 above;

4.      Draft rules and regulations for organization and functioning of the IMC;

5.      Present, justify and discuss the set-up of IMC at the stakeholder meetings;

 

Deliverables

1.      Report on analysis of legal context prepared;

2.      Comparative analysis on inter-ministerial cooperation finalised;

3.      Drafts of legal instrument(s) prepared;

4.      Draft of rules and regulations for organization and functioning of the IMC prepared;

5.      Stakeholder meeting to discuss the set-up of IMC organised and facilitated;

 

 

Activities

1.      Provide guidance to technical Working Groups (WGs) under the IMC;

2.      Advise on the development on WGs plans and calendars;

 

Deliverables

1.      Guidance documents for technical WGs prepared (including plans, calendar, mechanism of information exchange, reporting mechanism);

 

In case additional funds will be mobilised, the contract will be amended accordingly and the following additional tasks will be performed:

 

·         Advise the IMC and the Ministry after establishment of the IMC by preparing the first meetings, including meeting results (proceedings) and a calendar of activities and working programme;

·         Leading the preparation of the IMC first year report.

 

·         Provide training to WGs;

·         Propose mechanism for information exchange;

·         Propose reporting mechanism to IMC.

 

 

Activities

1.      Prepare recommendations to the IMC and the Ministry on increasing role in environmental and environmentally relevant policies;

2.      Facilitate at least one Working Group meeting, with particular attention to facilitating negotiation and consultation among participants;

3.      Recommend key policy objectives and actions for the immediate future.

 

 

Activities

1.      Advise on procedure for revision of The National Action Plan for Environment;

2.      Comment on existing National Action Plan for Environment;

3.      Propose revisions;

4.      Attend stakeholder meeting.

 

 

As previously mentioned the other four components relate to horizontal legislation (EIA/SEA and public awareness), creation of economic instruments for environment and implementing small scale projects in rural areas for waste management. In order to start up these components a precondition is to have in place the right team of experts. The International Senior Expert, in close cooperation with the International Programme Manager/CTS, will facilitate the start up of the other programme components and will provide overall guidance throughout their implementation.

 

Activities

1.      Provide overall policy guidance on selected EU Directives;

2.      Provide inputs for the Terms of Reference for the international and national experts to be hired under each component;

3.      Provide overall advice on steps to be followed for a successful public awareness exercise;

4.      Contribute to the preparation of manuals and methodologies for the evaluation of the environmental impact assessment;

5.      Provide overall advice on introducing economic instruments and fiscal incentives for environment;

6.      Provide overall advice on implementing the strategy for solid waste management;

7.      Cross check the reports submitted by other consultants;

8.      Provide inputs for annual workplans and annual budgets for the programme components.

 

Deliverables

1.      Summary papers of selected EU Directives presenting their main requirements, institutional set up and recommendations for their proper implementation drafted;

2.      Technical inputs for specific tasks to be incorporated in the Terms of Reference for international and national experts as per the programme needs provided;

3.      Road map for the public awareness exercise prepared;

4.      Inputs for the manuals and methodologies for the evaluation of the environmental impact assessment provided;

5.      Recommendations for the most suitable economic instruments for environment in Albania provided; recommendations for the related institutional structures provided;

6.      Review the guide for applicants for grant schemes for waste management and cross check its compliance with the national strategy for solid waste;

7.      Comments and recommendations on the reports submitted by other consultants;

8.      Annual workplans and budgets for each year of programme implementation prepared.

 

The activities will be developed in close cooperation with the International Programme Manager/CTS and the technical experts who will be hired for the specific components of the programme.

 

In case additional funds will be mobilised, the contract will be amended accordingly to perform similar activities under this task.

 

 

Environment sector is one of the most sensitive in the EU accession process, and also one of the largest. The overall goal of the EU environment policy is to protect, preserve and improve the environment for present and future generations. There is limited high level and technical expertise on environment within the public administration. In this overall context, the Minister of Environment needs a senior expert to provide guidance and advice in the day-to-day activity of the Ministry.

 

Activities

1.      Provide overall advice to the Minister and his team on a variety of areas related to EU integration, both at policy and enforcement level;

2.      Advise on preparations for EU accession (EU legislation and general environmental practices);

3.      Advise and assist with the drafting of the necessary measures to implement the environment section of the National Plan for the Implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement;

4.      Contribute to identify concrete measures to reduce pressure on environment from different activities and propose alternatives for mitigation;

5.      Advise on the sustainable use of natural resources, including the social and economic analysis on their exploitation;

6.      Advise on new project proposals and resource mobilisation;

7.      Advise on donors coordination matters;

8.      Advise in the preparation of the strategies and action plans for specific environment components;

9.      Advise on best ways for implementation of environmental policies;

10. Advice on the implementation of the main environmental Conventions, especially on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and its Kyoto Protocol.

 

Deliverables

1.      Recommendations relevant for the screening exercise, questionnaires, association committees and sub-committees, position papers, etc., relevant for the EU accession process provided;

2.      Recommendations and suggestions for various reports required in the context of EU accession provided;

3.      Recommendations for measures to be introduced in order to ensure sustainable use of natural resources especially in the context of the multilateral environmental agreements Albania signed provided;

4.      Inputs for project proposals to be financed by various donors, including EU and GEF prepared;

5.      Recommendations for the topics of the agendas of various donors meetings organised in the framework of the Environment Sector Working Group provided;

6.      Recommendations for various implementation plans required to support the application of various sector strategies and to support the preparation of environmental policies for Albania provided.

 

The activities will be performed in close cooperation with the Ministry’s staff and the International Programme Manager/CTS.

 

In case additional funds will be mobilised, the contract will be amended accordingly to perform similar activities under this task.

 

 

UNDP is a reliable partner of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration. Over the past years the UNDP environment portfolio increased considerably in both number and complexity of the projects. UNDP interventions are performed within the One UN framework. The current programme cycle will end at the end of 2011 and currently there are intense preparations for the new programming cycle 2012 – 2016.

 

Activities

1.      Provide overall policy support to UNDP on its programme, strategic direction and new directions;

2.      Advise on activities related to the international conventions, such as UNFCCC, its Kyoto Protocol and other future instruments, Convention on Biodiversity Protection, Convention to Combat Desertification, Persistent Organic Pollutants;

 

Deliverables

1.      Recommendations and suggestions for the content and strategic direction of the new programming cycle provided;

2.      Recommendation on new opportunities for resource mobilisation depending on the evolution of negotiations under the mentioned international conventions provided;

3.      Sustainable links based on technical cooperation between UNDP staff and Government personnel in the field of environment established.

 

The activities will be performed in close cooperation with UNDP Resident Representative and Country Director and the International Programme Manager/CTS.

 

In case additional funds will be mobilised, the contract will be amended accordingly to perform similar activities under this task.

 

-       Masters Degree in law, social, administrative or environment science;

-       Knowledge of environmental law, including EU environmental law and policy, international law and comparative law;

-       Knowledge in environmental institution-building;

-       In-depth knowledge in EU enlargement processes in Eastern Europe;

-       Fluency in English, both written and spoken;

-       Good analytical and drafting skills;

-       Good negotiating skills;

-       Ability to work in a team;

-       Excellent communication skills;

-       Computer proficiency;

-       Proven personal maturity.

-       Minimum 15 years of professional experience, preferably in environmental law;

-       Minimum 5 years of experience in projects of approximation and implementation of EU environmental policies and law in Eastern Europe;

-       General experience in environmental institution-building projects;

-       General experience as high-level advisor;

-       General experience in providing training in environmental law, policy and institution-building.

 

-       Practical experience in analysis of environmental institutional issues in various countries including Eastern European countries;

-       Practical experience in drafting laws, rules and regulations concerning institutional responsibilities and cooperation between institutions;

-       Practical experience in advising newly established environmental institutions including preparation of institutional development plans;

-       Practical experience with training and capacity-building of newly established environmental institutions.

 

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative Analysis metodology (weighted scoring method), where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a)      Resposive / 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.

·         Technical Criteria weight; (70%)

·         Financial Criteria weight; (30%)

The following criteria and allocated points will be used in the Technical Evaluation:

· Demonstrated thorough knowledge of environmental law, including EU environmental law and policy, international law and comparative law (25 points);

· Hands on experience in analysis of environmental institutional issues in various countries including Eastern European countries, in drafting laws, rules and regulations concerning institutional responsibilities and cooperation between institutions, in advising newly established environmental institutions including preparation of institutional development plans; general experience as high-level advisor; general experience in environmental institution-building and strengthening projects and in providing training in environmental law, policy and institution-building; practical experience with training and capacity-building of newly established environmental institutions (40 points);

· Demonstrated experience and in-depth knowledge in EU enlargement processes in Central and Eastern Europe (10 points);

· Fluency in English (spoken and written), proven record in concise writing of technical documents in English language, good analytical and drafting skills, good negotiating skills, ability to work in a team, excellent communication skills, familiarity with computers and word processing, proven personal maturity (25 points).

 

Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 70% of the obtainable points of 100 points in technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation. The total number of points allocated for the price component is 100. The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened and compared among those technically qualified candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the Technical Evaluation. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse porportion to the lowest price.

UNDP is applying fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their price proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores.

UNDP retains the right to contact references directly.

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.

 

This is a non staff contract under Individual Contract (IC) modality of hiring of the UNDP. Individuals engaged under an IC serve in their individual capacity and not as representative of a government institutions, corportate body or other authority external to UNDP. The incumbent shall not be considered as staff of UNDP, the UN common system or the government and are therefore not entitled to any diplomatic privileges or any other special status or conditions. 

 

·         Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

·         Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

• Cover letter stating your interest in and qualifications for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
• Filled P11 form (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.undp.org.al/index.php?page=bus_center/vacancies); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
• Financial Proposal – daily fee in USD
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials