Coastal and Water Management Expert via ReliefWeb

Individual Contractor to the beneficiary countries on ENI SEIS II Project Activity: Support to national production of H2020/NAP indicators and assessment and data availability assessment

1. Background

The European Environment Agency cooperation with the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) south region is supported by the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) Support Mechanism – South implemented jointly by the EEA and the United Nations Environment Mediterranean Action Plan (UN environment/MAP), building-up on a previous phase of cooperation (ENPI-SEIS project, 2010-2015). This partnership is ensuring proper linkages with the Horizon 2020 initiative for a Cleaner Mediterranean (H2020) and the agreed work programme of Horizon 20202 for the second phase of the initiative (2015-2020) and other relevant EU-funded initiatives in the region.

The specific objective of the SEIS South Support Mechanism is to improve the availability of and access to relevant environmental information to the benefit of effective and knowledge-based policy-making in the ENP South region (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia). Among the expected results is the refinement and consolidation of the Horizon 2020 indicator set, such that it can serve multiple purposes, ensure that the progress towards achieving Horizon 2020 objectives is properly measured and contribute to assessing compliance with commitments under the Barcelona Convention. A second H2020 indicator-based assessment is planned in 2020 to inform the review of the Initiative. The indicator-based report and assessment was carried out in line with other ongoing assessment process and good practice examples from the region, and based on the Eionet’s experience of working with the EEA.

Within the project, engagement of key national stakeholders is ensured through the development and agreement with the countries on realistic country national work plans. The national work plans prepared in 2016/2017 include an important focus on indicator development and assessment. Operational implementation of the activities set in national work plans is supported by bilateral financial agreement (Small Scale Funding Agreement – SSFA) with national authorities. In the framework of these agreements national consultants are hired to support the National Focal Points and National team on the implementation of the agreed activities in the countries and ensure more active engagement of national stakeholders.

The implementation of the project relies on strong engagement from countries, good national coordination and active network of thematic expertise to support the content and assessment development and effective reporting. Within this perspective, the SEIS South Support Mechanism is providing direct support to countries in view of improving the availability and access to environmental information to the benefit of effective and knowledge-based policy making in the ENP South region, while ensuring proper linkages with national and H2020 and UN environment MAP work programmes. The “in country support” aims at strengthening national capacities and contributing to regional coherence and objectives by addressing particular national needs.

The current request for consultancy services aims to support the Environmental Ministries and the statistics institutions in the beneficiary countries with the production of H2020 indicators assessment, and key messages.

1. Objectives of the consultancy service:

The main objectives of this consultancy service are:

1. Review and finalization of H2020 water indicator factsheets

2. Review of water data availability

3. Close communication and reporting;

4. Scope of the work and Tasks

The individual contractor (contract Employee) shall be responsible for the following tasks:

III. 1 – Review and finalisation of H2020 water indicators factsheets

In 2017 and 2018, the H2020/NAP Indicator set was revised as part of ENI SEIS II South project. The revised H2020 indicators for the 2nd Phase resulted from an extensive revision and participatory process with key national and regional stakeholders. The final list of H2020 Indicators is presented in Table 1 below.

The contractor will review the water indicator assessment submitted by the countries and provide support their finalisation and drafting of key messages.

Table 1. List of revised H2020 Thematic Indicators

H2020

Thematic Area

Indicator nr/Title

WATER

3.1

Share of total, urban and rural population with access to an improved sanitation system (ISS)

3.2

Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services (SMSS)

4.1

Municipal wastewater collected and wastewater treated

4.2

Direct use of treated municipal wastewater

4.3

Release of nutrients from municipal effluents

5.1

Nutrient concentrations in transitional, coastal and marine waters

5.2

Bathing water quality

III. 2- Review of data availability

The level of implementation of h2020 Water indicators and data availability differ in the level of maturity at the national and regional level. As result of task I; assess to which extent the indicators have been implemented and data availability.

III.3- Communication

Keep a close communication, preparatory teleconference with the Environment Agency Austria shall be organised to discuss in detail the output of this assignment and the input expected from the contractor and exact timing.

1. Period of implementation and expected deliverables

The period of implementation of the requested services is End of May 2020 – July 2020,

All deliverables should be submitted in English language.

Supervision

The individual contractor will work under the supervision and under general guidance of Environment Agency Austria -Vienna SEIS Project Manager, in close cooperation with the MoE.

Qualifications

The Individual contractor should have / be:

1. University degree in environmental management with proficiency in water, coastal and marine management

2. Knowledge of H2020 indicators and EEA core set of indicators

3. Environmental data and information

4. Environmental Monitoring and assessment

5. Minimum 5 Years’ experience in the implementation of SEIS

6. Experience in working with ENI South countries

Please submit proposals and CV no later than Tuesday, 26^th of May