International Expert for Development of the LULUCF Sector Analysis within Third Biennial Update Report (TBUR)

Contract

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Background

Montenegro became a party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change by succession, after gaining independence in 2006, and became a non-Annex I Party to the UNFCCC. The responsible authority and main body for coordinating and articulating national climate actions in Montenegro is the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism (MESPU), through its Department for Climate Change. Montenegro developed National Climate Change Strategy by 2030 and submitted its INDC to the UNFCCC Secretariat, both in September 2015.

Under its commitments as a non-Annex 1 party of the UNFCCC, Montenegro prepared three National Communications (NCs), an Initial National Communication in 2011, the Second National Communication (SNC) in 2015, and the Third National Communication in October 2020. Moreover, Montenegro submitted its First Biennial Update Report (FBUR) in January 2016, and the Second Biennial Update Report (SBUR) in April 2019, while development of the Third BUR is underway.

On the international level, Montenegro is an active player, trying to assume voluntarily advanced reporting obligations, preparing for national contributions for the post 2020 period, and supporting EU in advocating its ambitious targets and objectives. Montenegro ratified Paris Agreement in November 2017, and joined international community committed to decreasing GHG emissions in order to combat climate change. On the national level, Montenegro adopted the Law on Protection Against Adverse Impacts of Climate Change in December 2019, as well as National Regulation on GHG emission allowances in 2020, as a preparation for joining EU emission trading system in the years to come.

Montenegro stays committed to international fight against negative impacts of climate change and through thorough consultative process revised its NDC, which was adopted by the Government in June 2021. The revised NDC stipulates decrease of 35% of GHG emissions by 2030, compared to the 1990.

Among other sectors, the NDC revision process tackled LULUCF as well. However, due to the uncertainty of data, LULUCF has not been include in the enhanced NDC.

Objective of the assignment

The consultant is needed to scan the existing situation in relation to LULUCF sector in Montenegro and provide recommendations for further actions, so that LULUCF can be eventually included in the next NDC revision cycle.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under direct supervision by the UNDP Project Manager, as well in close cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Waters, a consultant is needed to develop detailed LULUCF analysis, i.e. assessment of current state of the affairs in LULUCF in Montenegro, in order to provide specific recommendations for future actions.

The LULUCF Analysis should be organized across a range of the following five areas:

• Policy alignment
• Institutional coordination
• Capacity building
• Data Gaps
• Dedicated financial resources.

Policy alignment

The Assessment would include analysis of current legislation and policy framework related to LULUCF, including both international and national level (UNFCCC obligations, Paris Agreement and transparency requirements, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification requirements etc). The assessment would provide review of the current legal and policy framework with clear specific recommendations on how related strategies, action plans, and pieces of legislation could be adapted in order to align with the international requirements.

In order to answer those questions, the Assessment report will try to examine:

• national climate change policy and existing relevant sectoral policies and assess the extent to which LULUCF aspects have been incorporated. This means assessing how the different needs and gaps have been considered in the sector.
• national LULUCF related policies and national strategies to understand what the country is striving for in this area.

As a result, the recommendations and guidance on concrete actions to align national legislation and strategic framework with the international requirements should be provided. This entails outlining/proposing relevant mechanisms to be put in place in order to reach the desired goals.

Institutional Coordination

In the area of institutional coordination, the Assessment would focus on the analysis of whether there are systems in place to integrate LULUCF into the existing climate-related coordination mechanisms and vice versa. These could include for example national level coordination mechanisms or those at the sub-national level. The analysis should identify opportunities which could be further utilized to strengthen the coordination mechanisms among climate change institutions, key line ministries and institutions related to the land use, land use change and forestry.

The results of an examination of institutional coordination mechanisms should articulate concrete actions that are needed to improve the institutional cooperative arrangements within the overall climate change policy framework and coordination process.

Capacity Building

The Assessment would include analysis of the capacities of national institutions dealing with LULUCF sector, primarily Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Waters (MAFW), but also Ministry of Interior (DRR), Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare, as well as relevant national institutions, like Forest Management Institute, Environment Protection Agency (GHG Inventory department), State Statistical Office, etc.

As already known, not all institutions have sufficient knowledge on climate change and its impacts on specific sectors, as well as increasing international obligations in this regard. Therefore, the analysis will focus on gaps in capacities specifically in relation to LULUCF sector.

The task would include the following:

• Conducting interviews with the relevant national institutions in order to scan their capacities;
• Analysis of institutional capacities to understand and to implement related responsive finance and budgeting;
• Proposals for capacity building (trainings, seminars, exchange of best practices) for advancing state of the art in LULUCF sector;
• Explore possibilities for exchange of best practices in specific sector (regarding improved management, data gaps and maps, potentials for defining mitigation measures etc).

Data and Maps

The Assessment will include analysis of relevant existing data regarding land use, land use change and forestry, which are essential for informative decision/policy making in this sector. The assessment will recognise data gaps related to LULUCF in GHG Inventory, relevant maps related to land use and land use change and similar.

The analysis should investigate reliable databases that already exist for monitoring and reporting on climate action in LULUCF and will articulate which actions are needed by the relevant ministry, Forest Management Institute and/or State Statistical Office to improve the collection, availability, and analysis of relevant data and the formulation of mitigation measures and indicators for decision-making processes.

Clear recommendations on gaps in this regard must be highlighted.

Dedicated financial resources

The analysis should be able to identify national frameworks, guidelines, policies, or mandates that support financing of monitoring and management in the LULUCF.

The analysis should look into the availability of domestic and international climate finance and assess the extent to which LULUCF can be included. The analysis report should contain recommended actions to better integrate LULUCF in existing or new financial mechanisms under the climate change planning and reporting process, including regular data collection, monitoring and definition of mitigation measures.

Concurrent with the development of the Assessment, set of activities related to networking and information and knowledge exchange would be organized.

Thus, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Develop LULUCF Sector Analysis with the above-mentioned information. The result of the analysis should provide concrete, action-oriented recommendations for governance, planning and policy to ensure better and informed related planning and reporting.
• Present major findings of the analysis at various meetings/round tables and provide expert input for set of networking and information and knowledge exchange activities mentioned above.

Main project deliverables will include the following:

• First draft of the LULUCF Sector Analysis – 30th September 2021
• Final LULUCF Sector Analysis – 30th October 2021
• Expert input at various meetings/round tables/workshops – 30th November 2021

Time duration and travel:

The assignment will be carried out within 50 working days from 25th August until 30th November 2021. Due to the nature of the assignment, the consultant would have to closely collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Waters and the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism, i.e. UNFCCC focal point at the Department for Climate Change.

Competencies

• 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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University degree in the thematic areas relevant to the assignment, e.g. forestry, environmental science, natural science. Advanced degree desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of experience in development of similar analysis and programmes in relation to LULUCF, climate change, mitigation, UNFCCC reporting;
• Participation in at least 5 similar projects related to LULUCF (data and maps analysis, related training programms, policy making and UNFCCC reporting etc.);
• Excellent knowledge of the United Nations Framework for Climate Change (UNFCCC), Paris Agreement, NDC requirements when it comes to LULUCF;
• Demonstrable experience in developing relevant analysis, including policy, legal, capacity development and data needs and considerations. Knowledge of Montenegrin institutions and stakeholders will be an asset;
• Experience in policy/regulatory/financial frameworks related to climate change.

Language:

• Fluency in English with good writing, presentation and communication skills;
• Knowledge of Montenegrin language will be considered as an asset.

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 August 25, 2021 by using the Apply now button. The application should contain a duly completed CV or Personal History Form (P11) that can be downloaded from https://www.me.undp.org/content/montenegro/sr/home/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 envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".