International customs consultant to conduct training and develop manual related to POPs for customs officers in BIH (2 positions)

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BA Home-based; Travel; Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Application deadline 2 years ago: Tuesday 27 Apr 2021 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and availability - https://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx - Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 98260.

The project intends to prevent the release in Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the environment through the improvement of health care waste management, implementation of green chemistry initiatives in the industry and agriculture along with destruction of identified POPs waste stockpiles.

The following POPs will be targeted by the project: Dioxins (PCDD/F) released by unsafe incineration of medical waste and empty pesticide containers, POPs substances listed under Stockholm Convention (SC) on Persistent Organic Pollutants used in the manufacturing of plastic products, with special reference to plastic use in articles exposed to sources of heat; and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) existing in the dielectric fluid of electrical equipment, and obsolete POPs stockpiles/materials.

All these substances pose a global threat to the environment and human health due to their long persistence in the environment, their long term and cumulative toxic properties, and their capacity to bioaccumulate in living organisms.

The overall objective of the project is to reduce risk for people’s health and the environment through the prevention of U-POP releases, shifting from POPs toward non-POPs chemicals in the plastic industry, and sound destruction of at least 50 tons of POPs waste.

POPs are primarily regulated by the international Stockholm Convention on POPs which entered into force on May 17, 2004, following ratification by 50 countries. Its main objectives shall include imposing measures for the elimination and restriction or prevention of the production, import, export, and use of all manufactured POPs and the continuous reduction to minimize an occurrence of these pollutants in the environment and an elimination of emissions of unintentionally produced POPs (known as U-POPs). The Convention shall foresee for each party signatory, an obligation to draft its National Implementation Plan (NIP) within a two year period. Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) authorities ratified the Stockholm Convention in 2010 and developed the aforesaid NIP in March 2016. In line with the Convention, most of substances have been banned or their use has been severely restricted under particular circumstances in aforesaid countries, including EU member states and BIH. It is noteworthy that POPs substances had never been manufactured in BiH and accordingly are not subject of direct export from BIH in such genuine form, but possibly may be found as substances in some equipment, a subject of export.

As stated, one of important aspects of POPs’ management include a control of import and export of aforesaid POPs, including primarily pesticides and industrial chemicals containing POPs, but also of other commodities that may contain POPs (e.g. an electrical equipment contaminated by PCBs, firefighting foam, some paints, etc)

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the state customs office, namely the Indirect Taxation Office BIH (ITA) oversees exercising customs clearing procedure regarding import and export of all goods and detecting any illegal practice in that regard. According to BIH regulations, chemicals are treated as dual use goods and as such are subject of specific customs procedure regime that requires an obtainment of appropriate permits from the local authorities, among others. However, it is noteworthy that from 29 total POPs substances, listed under the Stockholm Convention subject of restriction or limited use, seven substances including: Heksabromodifenileter (HexaBDE); c-Tetrabromodifenileter (tetraBDE); Heksahlorobutadien HCBD; Dekabromodifenil eter decaBDE; Dikofol; perfluorinated carboxylic acid (PFOA), (PFOA); Polichlorinated dibenzo-dio-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans do not have assigned the appropriate tariff numbers, a fact that certainly aggravates monitoring of their potential import to the country. This issue has been underlined in the project’s document Gap Analysis of Legal and Institutional Shortcomings in Implementation of the Stockholm Convention and requires further action of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations (MOFTER) in cooperation with ITA concerning proposing the assignment of appropriate tariff numbers to aforesaid seven substances to the Council of Ministers BIH (in line with the Law on Customs Tariff). In addition, POPs substances had never been manufactured in BiH and accordingly are not subject of direct export from BIH in such genuine form, but possibly may be found as substances in the equipment subject of export.

As of January 2021, the list of dual use goods had been implemented through the Indirect Taxation Authority’s IT system Asycuda which will facilitate keeping records for those goods as well (whereas chemicals play a significant portion) and allow development of appropriate risk assessment.

External trade of chemicals in BiH, including their import and export takes place at the 1st class border crossings, including 13 such land traffic border crossings and four international airports whereas customs offices are located. In the previous period, some customs officer received training that familiarized them with a concept of recognizing the dual use goods, whereas basics on chemicals had been addressed as one training module out of ten. However, this basic level of training organized annually addresses all chemicals partially and briefly and accordingly has not been sufficient to deal efficiently with all challenges of POPs foreign trade including their export and import.

Accordingly, the Project will develop the manual to address all relevant topics concerning POPs foreign trade with specialized focus on preventing illegal import and transit of POPs chemicals or POPs containing mixtures or goods. Furthermore, the Project will provide training to at least 20 customs officers on the practical enforcement of acts described under manual. This number may be expanded to a certain extent and include also other interested parties such as phytosanitary inspectors and others located at border crossings inspectorate.

The Objective #1 of this consultancy assignment is to develop the appropriate manual for customs officers on POPs (industrial chemicals, pesticides, and other materials containing POPs) with focus on customs and inspection control during import, transit and export of such materials. Some relevant topics may include: notion and types of POPs; international legal obligations arising from multilateral environmental agreements governing trade of such commodities (the Stockholm Convention, the Rotterdam Convention, the Basel Convention) and their enforcement; the best EU and international practices concerning POPs (e.g. UNEP SC Guidelines- Guidance for the control of the import and export of POPs under the Stockholm Convention, UNEP 2017, ECHA Manual- Guidance for Implementation of Regulation (EU) No 649-2012 concerning the export and import of hazardous chemicals, version 1.1., July 2015). The manual must consider a particular situation in BiH concerning POPs management and trade and work of ITA. The content shall be discussed, developed and approved by the Project Team.

The Objective #2 of this consultancy assignment is to develop and deliver a specialized training regarding the content of manual and its practical application concerning all relevant topics addressed in the manual. The training will be organized as one or two face to face training events pending the actual number of participants and training agenda but also its format (face to face or online sessions) will be pending to COVID 19 measures. The training will be delivered to at least 20 customs officers, but the exact number will be determined in cooperation with the ITA. In addition, phytosanitary inspectors at the border inspectorates may be invited to attend the training too.

Duties and Responsibilities

In close cooperation with local consultants, the International customs consultants to conduct training and develop manual related to POPs for customs officers in BIH (2 posts) will be assigned to three tasks including: (1) development of manual for the BIH customs officers regarding treatment of POPs in foreign trade, (2) development and delivery of training for customs officers, (3) public presentation of the manual to the customs officers and other interested professional community.

With respect to the task 1, the Consultant shall conceptualize, develop and draft the appropriate manual aimed at identification, prevention of illegal import of POPs and safe handling for customs officers. The following topics should be considered for inclusion to the manual: notion and types of industrial chemicals and pesticides (with focus on POPs); international legal obligations arising from multilateral environmental agreements governing trade of such commodities (the Stockholm Convention, the Rotterdam Convention, the Basel Convention); the best EU and international practices concerning POPs (e.g. UNEP SC Guidelines- Guidance for the control of the import and export of POPs under the Stockholm Convention, UNEP 2017; ECHA Manual-Guidance for Implementation of Regulation (EU) No 649-2012 concerning the export and import of hazardous chemicals, version 1.1., July 2015; EU Regulation 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on persistent organic pollutants; EU Regulation 649/2012 of the European Parliament and the Council of 4 July 2012 concerning the import and export of hazardous chemicals, EU customs Union Legislation and others). Furthermore, the manual has to consider a particular legal setting in BIH and ITA ‘s responsibilities defined by law.

With respect to the task 2, the Consultants shall develop and deliver a specialized training regarding the content of manual and its practical application to customs officers and phytosanitary inspectors located at border inspectorates and other interested officials concerning all relevant topics addressed in the manual. The training will be organized as one or two face to face training events on three to four locations close to border crossing posts, pending the actual number of participant and training agenda but also its format (face to face or online sessions) will be pending to COVID 19 measures. The training will be delivered to at least 20 customs officers, but the exact number will be determined in cooperation with the ITA.

With respect to the task 3, the Consultants shall be the primary presenters of content of the manual at appropriate public event organized to present its content to other officials from the ITA, relevant inspectorates, and other interested officials.

In close consultation with local consultants, the international consultants acting as team are expected to perform the following tasks:

  1. Develop workplan and short methodology including draft table of content of manual and training topics
  2. Develop and draft the appropriate manual aimed at dentification, prevention of illegal import of POPs and safe handling primarily intended for customs officers in BIH
  3. Provide technical inputs in developing print materials (leaflets/infographics and posters) for customs which contain appropriate message for POPs
  4. Develop and deliver training event(s) regarding the content of manual and its practical application to customs officers and others concerning all relevant topics addressed in the manual
  5. Present the content and application of the manual at appropriate public event to officials from the ITA, relevant inspectorates, ministry representatives and other interested officials. The Deliverables provided will be quality reviewed and approved by the UNDP Environmental Development Project Manager and Chief Project Officer. The deliverables have to be submitted in local language

Deliverables/outputs

#

Deliverables / Outputs

# of Days per Task

Due Date

Percentage

1.

Workplan and short methodology including rough data on table of content of manual and training topics

2

May 30, 2021

8 %

2.

Manual aimed at dentification, prevention of illegal import of POPs and safe handling primarily intended for customs officers in BIH developed

17

August 30, 2021

68%

3.

Specialized training based on the content of manual and its practical application to customs officers designed and delivered with training handouts for further use.

5

September 15, 2021

20%

4.

Presentation of the manual at the appropriate public event to officials from ITA

1

September 30, 2021

4%

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism;
  • Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;

Functional competencies:

  • Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
  • Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
  • Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
  • Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
  • Excellent public speaking and presentation skills;

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

  • University degree in relevant field (engineering, law, economy)

Experience:

  • At least 5 years of professional experience working at customs authorities or organizations closely involved with customs issues , preffered knowledge of customs treatment of chemicals and pesticides
  • Knowledge of multilateral international environmental treaties (e.g the Stockholm Convention, the Rotterdam Convention, the Basel Convention), EU Customs Union Legislation and EU regulations on chemicals
  • Knowledge of classification of chemicals in combined EU nomenclature
  • Previous experience in developing and delivering training to the customs officers on subject regrading trade of industrial chemicals and pesticides
  • Previous experience in conceptualing and drafting training materials intended for customs officers (e.g. manuals-textbooks, guides, studies, etc.)
  • Previous experience with UNDP, WCO or other customs related project preffered
  • Desired accreditation as WCO expert trainer in relevant field.

Languages Requirements:

  • Knowledge of English language (excellent writing, editing and communication skills) demonstrated in submitted one-page segment on English at any relevant study/publication-written document compiled by the consultant to assess language skills.

Other Requirements:

  • Excellent computer skills and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Criteria:

Points

Relevant Education

max 20 points 15 points allocated for BA/BSc degree + 5 points for MSc/MA

Relevant professional experience

max 50 points

Prior work experience with UNDP/UN Agencies

max 10 points

Knowledge of English

max 10 points - will be assessed as: 10 points for fluency; good - 8 points; fair/upper intermediate – 6 points; intermediate - 4 points; beginner - 2 point.

Computer skills and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource

5 points

Accreditation as WCO expert trainer in relevant field

5 points

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Criteria:

Points

Rating based on Qualifications

40%

Knowledge of multilateral international environmental treaties (e.g the Stockholm Convention, the Rotterdam Convention, the Basel Convention), EU Customs Union Legislation and EU regulations on chemicals

20%

Knowledge of classification of chemicals in combined EU nomenclature

10%

Submitted methodology

30%

Evaluation

Individual will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the candidate 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 and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

  • * Technical Criteria weight-70%
  • * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Interested candidated must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

  • Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
  • Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work;

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

  • For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
  • Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.
Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org