Purpose

To provide guidance and inputs on institutional platform for transparency, analyse climate change related data and provide recommendations for improvement of quality and quantity of data and information.

Objective

To support the establishing of a monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system that will allow Serbia to define and implement climate change related policies and measures that will contribute to the achievement of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) effectively.

Background Information

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is also providing assistance to the Serbian Government, namely Ministry of Environmental Protection, in the preparation and implementation of the GEF funded projects “Second Biennial Update Report and Third National Communication under the UNFCCC” (2BUR-3NC project) and “Establishing Transparency Framework for the Republic of Serbia” (CBIT project).

Both projects will result in the improved system of monitoring, reporting and verification of the data and information that will be used by the Serbian Government to implement climate & energy legislation and feed in the reporting processes and obligations arising out of various international treaties, such as UNFCCC and EU commitments. The projects are also expected to accelerate Serbia’s EU accession process in the area of environment, energy and climate change, contributing to creation of enabling policy and institutional environment for effective implementation of relevant EU Acquis and related national legal acts. 

CBIT project supports the Government of Serbia in mainstreaming and integrating climate change considerations into development strategies and sector-based policy frameworks by strengthening and sustaining efforts to monitor, report, and verify activities to address climate change. The CBIT project supports Serbia in establishing an effective institutional and legal framework to combat climate change, strengthen capacity and improve information sharing among responsible and competent institutions at the national and local levels. The project should result in a comprehensive transparency framework that will create an enabling environment for decision-making regarding future objectives, targets, and priority policies and measures for mitigation and adaptation. By ratifying the Paris Climate Agreement in July 2017, Serbia's INDC became its NDC. The country now needs to enact robust climate and energy policies that will enable the implementation of its NDC pledge and allow the country to strengthen its commitments in coming years. Specifically, the project will assist the Government of Serbia with strengthening the methodologies and tools necessary to enhance transparency as described in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement.

The project will finalize and launch a monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system that will provide more accurate information and analysis of the instruments that the country selects to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The MRV system will also allow Serbia to define and implement climate change-related policies and measures as expressed in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) effectively.
Furthermore, the MRV system will increase stakeholder engagement, including local governments and the private sector in a gender-inclusive manner.  Finally, the project will use training and peer exchanges to strengthen capacity for transparency, which will allow the country to undertake more ambitious commitments in its NDCs over time. 

UNDP is seeking for a short-term consultancy position to provide assistance to UNDP Climate Change Portfolio in initiating activities for the establishment of transparency framework for Serbia. The results of this particular consultancy will be used to feed in the Serbia’s reporting obligations towards the UNFCCC and the EU, as well as for raising awareness on climate change impacts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UNDP Portfolio Manager and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Serbia, the Climate Change Specialist will provide technical guidance to the UNDP Portfolio Manager, the Project Board and other engaged consultants on the overall implementation of project activities, with specific reference to the following:

• Assess the current system for reporting on the NDC implementation and its compliance with the UNFCCC and the EU requirements;
• Analyse climate related policies in the Republic of Serbia, in regard to UNFCCC and EU MRV requirements; particularly related, but not limited to: EU ETS, EU MMR and the Decision (EU) 2019/504 on amending Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency and Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the governance of the Energy Union and climate action, in order to assess possibilities for implementation of recommendation of the Energy Community on the development of National Climate & Energy Plans.
• Identify policy framework related gaps and needs for full compliance with the UNFCCC and the EU MRV requirements;
• Analyse policy, legal and institutional framework for collection, monitoring and reporting of the climate change data and information, identify their compliance with the UNFCCC and the EU MRV requirements, and provide inputs for their improvement;
• Provide overview of options for quantification of the impacts of climate mitigation and adaptation actions, including identification of co-benefits and their compliance with the UNFCCC and the EU MRV requirements;
• Identify current legal framework related to losses and damages and DRR and asses compliance with the EU and international requirements
• Analyse policy, legal and institutional framework for collection, monitoring and reporting of data/information regarding the impact assessment, including socio-economic analysis, and assess the loss & damage climate-related impacts at the national and local level;
• Identify current legal framework for climate financing and compliance with the EU and the UNFCCC requirements;
• Identify national sources of financing relevant for climate change activities at the local and national level;
• Initial assessment of climate related budgeting in order to further develop a framework for mainstreaming climate finance into national budgeting process;
• Analyse policy, legal and institutional framework for collection, monitoring and reporting of data and information provided by local self-governments and business community.

Deliverables and Timeline

• Deliverable 1. Assessment of national climate related policies, with recommendations for immediate actions to be taken related to Serbia’s reporting obligations towards the UNFCCC and the EU, including the recommendations on the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the governance of the Energy Union and climate action, prepared and accepted - deadline: 10 days from signing the contract;
• Deliverable 2. Report on the policy, legal and institutional framework for collection, monitoring and reporting of data/information per key sectors, including gaps and needs analyses of the institutional framework, data/information sharing systems/tools, methodologies and procedures for climate change policy making and implementation, prepared and accepted - deadline: 20 July 2019;
• Deliverable 3. Report with recommendations for the improvement of policy, legal and institutional framework for collection, monitoring and reporting of data/information per key sectors, prepared and accepted - deadline: 20 August 2019;
• Deliverable 4. Report on initial assessment of climate related budgeting in order to mainstream climate finance into national budgeting process, prepared and accepted - deadline: 1 October 2019.

NOTE: All deliverables have to be quality reviewed and accepted by the UNDP Portfolio Manager with support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection. None of the materials, reports, designs, brochures and articles produced under this Contract may be used, released, and/or disseminated without prior approval by UNDP.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent analytical skills;
• Displays ability to synthesize research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subject;
• Strong writing skills;
• Proven capacity to produce reports;
• Displays capacity to provide experienced advice on best practices;
• Possesses knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Good application of Results-Based Management;
• Good communication, coordination and facilitation skills;
• Consistently ensures timeliness and quality of work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling ethical standards.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• University degree in natural sciences, environmental management, environmental law or other related fields;
• Proven expert knowledge of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement .

Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in environmental protection and climate change related issues;
• Knowledge of policies and sectorial plans and programs in the Republic of Serbia;
• Knowledge of the specific climate change mitigation and adaptation measures for Serbia;
• Knowledge of climate related data inputs and data needed for GHG emission estimations;
• Demonstrable experience in training and capacity building of national stakeholders and institutions;
• Experience in Policy/Regulatory and Institutional assessments;
• Previous experience with UNDP is a great advantage;
• Experience in working with wide range of stakeholders (private, governmental, etc.).

Languages

• Fluency in English.

Application Procedure

Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit their applications via UNDP Web site:: UNDP in Serbia under section “Jobs” no later than 7 June 2019.

The above listed documents may be uploaded under consultancy ref. 1946 at following the link:  http://www.rs.undp.org/content/serbia/en/home/jobs.html

For more information please refer to the attached Procurement Notice.

Application should include:

• CV containing date of birth and contact information;

Offeror’s Letter (only PDF format will be accepted) confirming Interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment. Can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/ic/Confirmation.docx . The Offeror’s Letter should include financial proposal specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement with a breakdown of costs. Offeror’s Letter must also include the methodology concept containing a preliminary plan of work (no more than two pages).

Additional Information:

• Individual Contract (IC) will be applicable for individual consultants applying in their own capacity. 
• Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be applicable for applicants employed by any  legal entity. Template of RLA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on:
  http://www.undp.org.rs/download/RLA%20with%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.doc . In the case of engagement of Civil servants under IC contract modality a no-objection letter should be provided by the Government entity. The ‘no-objection’ letter must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status (if applicable), and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. If the previous is not applicable ‘leave-without-pay’ confirmation should be submitted.

Engagement of Government Officials and Employees

• Government Officials or Employees are civil servants of UN Member States.  As such, if they will be engaged by UNDP under an IC which they will be signing in their individual capacity (i.e., engagement is not done through RLA signed by their Government employer), the following conditions must be met prior to the award of contract:

(i)       A “No-objection” letter in respect of the individual is received from the Government employing him/her, and;
(ii)     The individual must provide an official documentation from his/her employer formally certifying his or her status as being on “official leave without pay” for the duration of the IC.

• The above requirements are also applicable to Government-owned and controlled enterprises and well as other semi/partially or fully owned Government entities, whether or not the Government ownership is of majority or minority status.  

UNDP recognizes the possibility that there are situations when the Government entity employing the individual that UNDP wishes to engage is one that allows its employees to receive external short-term consultancy assignments (including but not limited to research institutions, state-owned colleges/universities, etc.), whereby a status of “on-leave-without-pay” is not required.  Under such circumstance, the individual entering into an IC with UNDP must still provide a “No-objection” letter from the Government employing him/her.  The “no objection” letter required under (i) above must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status, and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any.  The said document may be obtained by, and put on record of, UNDP, in lieu of the document (ii) listed above.