International Expert on Carbon Stock Assessment and Monitoring in Mountain Ecosystems

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Programme Policy Adviser on Environmental Governance and direct supervision of the Project Technical Task Leader the incumbent will provide overall advice to the project team and national counterparts regarding the carbon stock assessment and monitoring in mountain forest and rangeland ecosystems of Armenia. 
The incumbent will perform the following tasks:

• To undertake the initial research and accurate analysis of existing international best available practices, including methodological approaches, related to carbon stock assessment and monitoring in mountain ecosystem (rangeland and forest) in order to ensure proper advice for the project implementation with specific focus on the project’s third component;
• To conduct desk review of the national framework and data list used for the LULUCF GHG inventory in Armenia and well as the project expert reports on piloting carbon stock assessment in the pilot areas; to proceed with comparative analysis of locally applied methodologies and tools and internationally recognized best practices in carbon assessment in the land use and forestry sectors;
• Provide recommendations on tools/techniques and monitoring methodology applicable for assessing and measuring carbon sequestration and stock potential, GHG emissions/removals for land use, land use change and forestry activities in Armenia;
• Develop practical recommendations for replication of the project experience in carbon stock assessment and monitoring in similar project’s activities in the country;
• In cooperation with national experts to identify major regulatory and institutional gaps and barriers for introduction of proper measurement and monitoring system in Armenia;
• Provide recommendations on appropriate national regulatory and institutional framework for GHG emissions measurement and reporting for LULUCF sector activities with relevance to international best practices and IPCC criteria;
• Provide assistance in formulation of tasks for project national experts to support overall task implementation if deemed necessary;
• To conduct in-country visit(s), consult with the national stakeholders and counterparts, participate in the project meetings/workshops, make presentations etc.;
• Develop reports related to the tasks defined by this TOR, communicate the outputs with the project team, make adjustments whenever required.

• Good knowledge of international and national climate change agenda, UNFCCC process and provisions, GHG inventory processes; good knowledge in landscape management, rehabilitation and certification, standard development (such as FSC, CDM, VCS);
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of different social and cultural backgrounds;
• High sense of responsibility; proven ability to work under time pressure and handle multiple activities and tasks concurrently;
• Excellent writing and communication skills, ability to express ideas clearly in both verbally and in writing;
• Ability to work independently and to participate effectively in a team based information sharing.
   

Academic Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in natural sciences, environmental sciences, environmental and natural resource management or other relevant discipline. A relevant university degree in combination with qualifying experience in the subject area may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Years of experience:

• At least 10 ten years of proven experience in policy advice and consultancy related to climate change mitigation/adaptation in land use and forestry sectors;
• At least 5 years of experience in carbon stock assessment/monitoring including in mountain regions and REDD funded activities;
• At least 5 years of experience in research methodologies and analysis (track record with producing high quality research/analytical reports and papers);
• Experience of work in mountain regions and/or South Caucasus countries.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required (written and oral). Knowledge of Armenian or Russian is an asset.

Other Information

 Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants' technical qualifications and experience, and financial proposal.
The contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Technically responsive/compliant/acceptable to the requirements of the ToR; and
• Having received the highest cumulative (technical & financial) score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

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

• Criteria A – Advanced university degree in natural sciences, environmental sciences, environmental and natural resource management or other relevant discipline - max. points 10 if mandatory requirement is met;
• Criteria B – At least 10 ten years of proven experience in policy advice and consultancy related to climate change mitigation/adaptation in land use and forestry sectors - max. points 15 if mandatory requirement is met;
• Criteria C – 5 years of experience in carbon stock assessment/monitoring including in mountain regions and REDD funded activities - max. points 10;
• Criteria D – Good knowledge of international and national climate change agenda, UNFCCC process and provisions, GHG inventory processes; good knowledge in landscape management, rehabilitation and certification, standard development (such as FSC, CDM, VCS) - max. points 10;
• Criteria E – Experience of work in mountain regions and/or South Caucasus countries is an asset – max. points 5;
• Criteria F – 5 years of experience in conducting research and analysis on to climate change mitigation/adaptation in land use and forestry sectors - max. points 5;
• Criteria G – Demonstrated knowledge and/or experience in overseeing and coordinating field experts, at least two projects - max. points 5;
• Criteria H – Brief methodology on task implementation applicable with the project document -  max. points 5;
• Criteria I – Language fluency (written and spoken) in English - max. points 3. Knowledge of Russian or Armenian is an asset - max. points 2.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation - max. 30 points.
The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Mandatory submission of UNDP Personal History form P11. A personal CV with list of publications is welcome in addition;
• Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
• Brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work;
• Financial proposal or task implementation.

Note: Please note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).
UNDP Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants.
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.
General Conditions of Contract for ICs is available here:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.