International Technical Expert for Minamata Initial Assessment

Montenegro signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury on September 24th 2014. On the basis of Article 34 of the Law on Chemicals ("Official Gazette", 18/12), Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism adopted the Rulebook on the prohibition and limitation of production, the marketing and production of chemicals that are unacceptable risk to human health and the environment ("Official Gazette", 49/13). In this Rulebook mercury (CAS no. 7439-97-6 EC no. 231-106-7) is prohibited for placing on the market for general use in the thermometer, other devices measuring (manometers, sphygmomanometers - devices for measuring pressure, barometers, thermometers and etc.). The prohibitions apply from 3 April 2014 for measuring devices for the first time placed on the market. Those measuring devices used as medical devices remain in circulation until the expiry of the deadline prescribed for medical devices. The prohibitions do not apply to measuring devices that were in use before 3 October 2014. Also, bearing in mind, Regulation (EU) No 847/2012 which amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards mercury Ministry adopted Amendments of Rulebook on the prohibition and limitation of production, the marketing and production of chemicals that are unacceptable risk to human health and the environment ("Official Gazette", 12/16).Government of Montenegro adopted a new Law on Environmental, and the Law was undergoing the parliamentary procedure. This law will prohibit the export of metallic mercury, (I) chloride, mercury (II) oxide and mixtures metallic mercury with other substances, including alloys of mercury, with a mercury concentration of at least 95% by weight. The prohibition shall not apply to the export of mercury is used in research, in medical and analytical purposes. Also, the mixing of metallic mercury with other substances for the sole purpose of export of metallic mercury shall be prohibited. Metallic mercury that is no longer used in the chlor-alkali industry, metallic mercury gained from the cleaning of natural gas, metallic mercury gained from non-ferrous mining and smelting operations and metallic mercury extracted from cinnabar shall be considered as waste. Since 1999, Montenegro has been a Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal 1989.

The project’s objective is to undertake a Mercury Initial Assessment to enable the Governments of Montenegro to determine the national requirements and needs for the ratification of the Minamata Convention and establish a sound foundation to undertake future work towards the implementation of the Convention.

Objective of the assignment

The International Technical Expert (further in the text – ITE) will provide an overall technical backstopping support to the UNDP Project Manager, Steering Committee and national consultants and be responsible for helping to plan data collection, oversee data collection and data analysis, oversee monitoring and evaluation of activities being implemented, and take a lead role in writing the National Mercury Profile and Initial Assessment Report.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of UNDP Project Manager, the International Consultant will provide around 20 days of home-based support, and around 15 days of support within Montenegro spread over three missions, all of which aim to bring international technical assistance to the project. The main duty of the ITE will be to provide technical guidance to the UNDP Project Manager, the Project Steering Committee and other engaged consultants on the overall implementation of project activities, with specific reference to the following:

• Provide technical guidance and advice in the detailed planning of project activities, elaborating on the two-year work plan.  This will be initiated through home-based inputs and consolidated during the first mission to Montenegro;
• Review and comment on the awareness raising plan of the project that will be developed by the Public Awareness Expert;
• Review and comment on the assessment report on the existing and required policy and regulatory framework as well as institutional capacity to implement the Convention that will be developed by the Legal Expert, regulatory advisory support where needed with respect to existing international benchmarks;
• Design and facilitate national capacity training on how to conduct the mercury inventory for both the National Project Team (including consultants collecting data) and key personnel of Government institutions (including representative from the relevant laboratory).  Prepare and deliver training materials as necessary. The training will also be undertaken during the second mission to Montenegro;
• Assist the national team in developing a methodology and work programme for the Mercury inventory;
• Support the national team during data collection, analysis and preparation of the Mercury inventory;
• Take a leading role in drafting the National Mercury Profile, based on the Mercury inventory, and support the national team in its presentation at a validation workshop;
• Take a lead role in the preparation of the Mercury Initial Assessment Report, support the national team in the national review process as necessary;
• Support to develop and analyse cost related to the implementation of the Convention and description of potential sources of funds, including existing bilateral sources;
• Support services to start creating expertise on how to deal with mercury in the workplace including substitution of mercury by alternative substances in certain production processes;
• Review and provide inputs into project quarterly and annual reports as requested by the Project Manager;
• Assist and provide guidance to any other technical issues arising within the project as needed.

Deliverables are as follows:

• Written contribution to project quarterly and annual reports which describe the general status of the project achievements and challenges faced, and make recommendations to the SEC and Project Manager to address issues arising;
• Written review of the project awareness raising plan;
• Report on training and capacity building for conducting mercury inventory;
• Environmental and health impact analysis conducted to support government decision;
• National capacity training materials;
• Lead authorship on the National Mercury Profile;
• Lead authorship on the Mercury Initial Assessment Report, including cost for the implementation the convention.

Timing and reporting:

The assignment will be carried out within 35 working days until 31st December 2017.

Time duration and travel:

The consultant is expected to start with activities in May 2016, with a completion period in a maximum of 35 working days, until 31st December 2017. Three missions to Montenegro with the maximum of 15 working days of duration is expected.

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.

Education:

• University degree in hazardous waste management, environmental science and management, or related fields; An advanced degree is desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in preparation of national reports and assessments related to chemicals in the environment, POPs, etc.
• Specific experience with Mercury inventories is an advantage;
• Solid knowledge of United Nations, Global Environmental Facility, The Minamata Convention and other international or bilateral organizations and their policy, programme and operations;
• Demonstrable experience in training and capacity building of national stakeholders and institutions;
• Experience in development of long term plans for mercury management;
• Experience in Policy/Regulatory and Institutional assessments;
• Practical experience in similar projects in Small Island Developing States is an advantage;
• Prior UNDP/GEF project experience and knowledge of UNDP and GEF procedures and guidelines is an advantage.

Languages:

• Fluency in English;
• Knowledge of Montenegrin language would be considered as an advantage.

Criteria for selection

Combined Scoring method will be used. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the inidividual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: (i) responsive, compliant, acceptable, and (ii) 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% (Background and education 10%; Relevant previous experience 20%; Substantial knowledge/Required competencies 30%; Required language 10%);
• Financial criteria weight - 30%.

Only offerors obtaining a minimum 490 points for technical criteria will be considered for the financial evaluation.

For more information on procurement methodology for Individual Contractors, please refer to Procurement Notice.

Application procedure:

Interested applicants are requested to submit their applications by April 7, 2016 by using the Apply now button. The application should contain a duly completed Personal History Form (P11) that can be downloaded fromhttp://www.me.undp.org/content/montenegro/en/home/operations/jobs.html. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file.

Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in EUR) requested for the work and travel envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".