International Consultant on Adaptation in the EU Eastern Partnership Countries (Belarus, Ukraine)

The EU4Climate Project helps governments in the six EU Eastern Partner countries Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to take action against climate change. It supports countries in implementing the Paris Climate Agreement and improving climate policies and legislation. Its ambition is to limit climate change impact on citizens lives and make them more resilient to it. EU4Climate is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The objective of the project is to support the development and implementation of climate-related policies by the Eastern Partnership countries that contribute to their low emission and climate resilient development and their commitments to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. It identifies key actions and results in line with the Paris Agreement, the “20 Deliverables for 2020”, and the key global policy goals set by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  The project will also translate into action priorities outlined in the Eastern Partnership Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Climate Change of October 2016.

The following results will be achieved: (i) Finalized/up-dated nationally determined contributions and national mid-century strategies and communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), (ii) Improved inter-institutional awareness and coordination at political and technical level of the Paris Agreement and the corresponding national commitments, (iii) Established or strengthened measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, with countries getting on track with Paris Agreement transparency requirements, (iv) Establishment of concrete sectoral guidelines for the implementation of the Paris Agreement in each of the Eastern Partners, especially in the field of energy (v) Advanced alignment with EU acquis as provided by bilateral agreements with EU and in the context of the Energy Community Treaty, (vi) Increased mobilization of climate finance, and (vii) Enhanced adaptation planning. As of July 2019, the project has conducted consultations with the governments of the Partner Countries, and has identified priority areas of work and key deliverables for each of the countries.

Expected places of travel:
Two missions to the following locations: Minsk, Belarus (3 days); Kyiv, Ukraine (3 days)

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager the International Consultant is expected to contribute to achieving the main outputs of the projects: (i) climate change adaptation planning; (ii) mainstreaming climate in other policy sectors.

TASKS and DELIVERABLES 

The International Consultant is expected to provide assistance to the governments of the Eastern Partnership countries in developing the national and cross-boundary adaptation strategies, and contribute to the development of sectoral adaptation strategies. The specific deliverables are: 

Deliverable 1A. Upon approval by the Project Manager, perform a 3-day mission to Ukraine to communicate with the government and other stakeholders relevant regarding the formulation of national adaptation strategy – by May 2020. As a part of the mission the Consultant is expected to prepare and deliver a one-day workshop on transboundary and interregional cooperation in climate change adaptation:

• Develop the agenda and training materials for the workshop on transboundary and interregional cooperation in climate change adaptation; 
• Facilitate the workshop and deliver at least three presentations on the topics related to international experience with building interregional adaptation cooperation;
• Provide a workshop report (2-3 pages), outlining key topics discussed and summarizing feedback from the participants received.

Deliverable 1B. Upon approval by the Project Manager, perform a 3-day mission to Belarus to communicate with the government and other stakeholders relevant regarding the formulation of national adaptation strategy – by September 2020. As a part of the mission the Consultant is expected to prepare and deliver a one-day workshop on transboundary and interregional cooperation in climate change adaptation:

• Develop the agenda and training materials for the workshop on transboundary and interregional cooperation in climate change adaptation; 
• Facilitate the workshop and deliver at least three presentations on the topics related to international experience with building interregional adaptation cooperation;
• Provide a workshop report (2-3 pages), outlining key topics discussed and summarizing feedback from the participants received.

Deliverable 2A. Upon approval by the Project Manager, contribute to the development of the Framework National Adaptation Strategy of Ukraine and the Action Plan for the strategy’s implementation – by November 2020.

• Review the existing country’s strategic documents relevant to climate change adaptation; review the results of the previous and current projects with relevance to adaptation.
• Liaise with the national project team of UNDP Ukraine on developing roadmap/plan to develop the National Adaptation Strategy; 
• Develop 12-month program for the national workshops on adaptation, including draft agenda. The program shall consist of: a) up to 6 workshops on climate change adaptation (by sectors: energy, agriculture, health care, water management, transport, construction and infrastructure); b) two workshops on understanding and increasing finance for climate change adaptation; 
• Review the draft National Adaptation Strategy and provide his/her inputs reflecting best international practices in developing strategic adaptation documents;
• Provide technical oversight and backstopping to the development of the National Adaptation Strategy;
• Provide advice on integrating gender considerations into the National Adaptation Strategy;
• Provide technical backstopping to the team of national experts developing the Action Plan for implementing the National Adaptation Strategy;
• Review the draft Action Plan for implementing the National Adaptation Strategy and provide his/her inputs reflecting best international practices in developing strategic adaptation documents;

Deliverable 2B. Upon approval by the Project Manager, contribute to the development of the National Adaptation Strategy of Belarus and the Action Plan for the strategy’s implementation – by December 2020.

• Review the existing country’s strategic documents relevant to climate change adaptation; review the results of the previous and current projects with relevance to adaptation.
• Liaise with the national project team of UNDP Belarus on developing roadmap/plan to develop the National Adaptation Strategy; 
• Develop 12-month program for the national workshops on adaptation, including draft agenda. The program shall consist of: a) up to 6 workshops on climate change adaptation (by sectors: energy, agriculture, health care, water management, transport, construction and infrastructure); b) two workshops on understanding and increasing finance for climate change adaptation. 
• Review the draft National Adaptation Strategy and provide his/her inputs reflecting best international practices in developing strategic adaptation documents;
• Provide technical oversight and backstopping to the development of the National Adaptation Strategy;
• Provide advice on integrating gender considerations into the National Adaptation Strategy;
• Provide technical backstopping to the team of national experts developing the Action Plan for implementing the National Adaptation Strategy;
• Review the draft Action Plan for implementing the National Adaptation Strategy and provide his/her inputs reflecting best international practices in developing strategic adaptation documents;

Deliverable 3. Upon approval by the Project Manager, develop a roadmap for a Transboundary Adaptation Plan in the Eastern Partnership region – by February 2021.

• Review the existing National Adaptation Plans, National Adaptation Strategies and other relevant national, bilateral and international strategic documents relevant to climate change adaptation in the six Eastern Partnership Countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine);
• Review the results of the previous and current projects with relevance to adaptation in the six Eastern Partnership Countries;
• Conduct consultations (via email and videoconference) with the national UNDP climate change teams to identify up to three countries to participate in developing the Transboundary Adaptation Plan.
• Develop roadmap for developing the Transboundary Adaptation Plan in the selected countries.

The scope of the deliverables above will be specified in more detail based on the results of the missions to the respective countries, and upon approval by the Project Manager.

MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The International Consultant will work under the supervision of the Project Manager to ensure successful achievement of the main Project outcomes. The Consultant is expected to communicate to the governments of the Partner States, and work in close cooperation with the Project’s National Consultants.

The International Consultant will:

• No later than 10 working days after signing the Contract, submit for the approval of the Project Manager an inception report, including the travel plan, an extended methodology explaining the status of the national adaptation strategies / national adaptation plans and other relevant long-term low emissions strategies process in each country and the approach of work for each of the deliveries. 
• Submit regular bimonthly progress reports to the Project Manager, containing a summary of the work completed during the past 60 calendar days, and plans for the next 60 calendar days. The first progress report shall be submitted 30 calendar days after signing the contract.
• Upon 10 working days after completing a mission trip, submit travel report summarizing main findings from the mission, and explaining any changes to the methodology and/or approach to work based on the mission findings. 
• Submit final report for each deliverable identified above summarizing all outputs produced.     

Schedule of payments 

The total number of days of work is up to 50 working days. The breakdown corresponds to the expected outputs and schedule of payments as follows:

• 5% of payment upon acceptance of the inception report by the Project Manager;
• 15% upon completion of the Deliverable 1A. Mission trip to Ukraine and acceptance of the mission report by the Project Manager;
• 15% upon completion of the Deliverable 1B. Mission trip to Belarus and acceptance of the mission report by the Project Manager;
• 20% upon completion and acceptance by the Project Manager of the Deliverable 2A. Contribution to development of the National Adaptation Strategy of Ukraine and the Action Plan for the strategy implementation;
• 20% upon completion and acceptance by the Project Manager of the Deliverable 2B.  Contribution to development of the National Adaptation Strategy of Belarus and the Action Plan for the strategy implementation;
• 20% upon completion and acceptance by the Project Manager of Deliverable 3. Develop a roadmap for a Transboundary Adaptation Plan in the Eastern Partnership region
• 5% upon submission and acceptance by the Project Manager of the final report for all outputs produced, and acceptance by the Project Manager of any necessary modifications to the Deliverable 2A and the Deliverable 2B.

Travel

The International Consultant is expected to conduct field missions as follows: 1) One mission for 3 days to Kyiv, Ukraine; 2) One mission for 3 days to Minsk, Belarus;

Interpretation services (if necessary) during the field missions will be provided by the UNDP country offices.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and International Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. Approval of the Project Manager is required prior to planning of the trips and relevant logistics.

Functional Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills; 
• Ability to work independently and in teams;
• Knowledge of policy issues associated with the Paris Agreement and its implementation, specifically in the area of climate change adaptation;
• Ability to provide quality assurance and attention to detail;
• Excellent communication skills.

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; 
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; 
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in economics, environmental studies, agriculture, climate policy or related disciplines.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience with developing climate change policy (Adaptation Plans/Strategies, NDCs or LEDS) on the international level;
• At least 5 years of proven experience with developing or implementing climate change policies in one or more of the following sectors: energy, agriculture, health care, water management, transport, construction and infrastructure;
• Experience with developing or implementing international climate policy, in particular policies related to the Paris Agreement and EU Climate Change acquis; 
• Experience with developing or implementing of climate change policies in one or more of the following countries is considered an asset: EU Candidate Countries, EU Eastern Neighborhood Partner Countries, EU Southern Neighborhood Partner Countries.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Fluency in Russian language or one of languages of the EU Eastern Neighborhood Countries (Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Georgian, Romanian, Ukrainian) will be considered as an asset.

EVALUATION OF APPLICANTS
Individual consultant 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 (CV/P11 desk reviews) 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:

• Advanced university degree in the fields related to in economics, environmental studies, agriculture, climate policy – up to 10 points;
• Experience with developing and/or implementing climate policy in the relevant sectors: energy, agriculture, health care, water management, transport, construction and infrastructure – up to 15 points;
• Experience with developing and/or implementing of climate change policies for EU Candidate States, EU Eastern Neighborhood Partner Countries or EU Southern Neighborhood States: up to 15 points;
• Methodology on the approach to conduct the work – up to 10 points;
• One sample of the similar assignments delivered by the applicant – up to 10 points;
• Fluency in English, Russian and/or one of the EU Eastern Neighborhood Countries (Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Georgian, Romanian, Ukrainian): up to 10 points.

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

Application procedure:
The application submission is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications.

Step 1: Interested candidates must include the following documents when submitting the applications (Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF attachment as the system only allows upload of one document):

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the assignment 
• Filled P11 form or CV including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees  (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); 
• Brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work 
• One sample of the similar assignments delivered by the applicant, focusing on developing a national or regional adaptation strategy. The sample shall be developed no earlier than December 2014.

Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and requested to provide a financial offer. 

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
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

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.