Purpose

To provide a detail review of Serbia’s GHG Inventory - Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) Sector, conduct training on IPCC 2006 Guidelines for AFOLU Sector in Serbian Environmental Protection Agency, and provide recommendation for improvement of Serbia’s GHG inventory – AFOLU Sector.

Objective

To enhance the ability of Serbia to participate actively in addressing the global environmental threat of climate change.

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 and Serbian Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) in improving GHG Inventory, AFOLU Sector in particular, during 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, 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 and SEPA, the Expert for GHG Inventories – AFOLU Sector  will provide technical guidance to the UNDP Portfolio Manager, MoEP and SEPA on improvement of national GHG inventory, AFOLU Sector in particular applying 2006 IPCC guidelines , with specific reference to the following:

• Detail review of Serbia’s AFOLU Sector of GHG Inventory, for all years (1990 – 2017) including provided recommendations from expert mission in January 2019 organized by UNFCCC Sec;
• Provide step-by-step guidance on improvement of AFOLU – GHG Inventory, including:
  • detailed information on key institutions to be included in providing necessary data,
  • recommendations for avoiding any possible discrepancies with the national data used for the GHGI and FAOSTAT;
  • to use all the information on forest available, as well as from sample surveys;
  • recommendations on use of Tier 2 methodology for Forest land as a key category;
  • transparently demonstrate in the report how the completeness of all sub-categories estimations has been performed.
• Develop country-specific emission factor for Agriculture and LULUCF.
• Organize at least one 5-day training on 2006 IPCC guidelines for AFOLU sector in SEPA for SEPA’s employees responsible for preparation of GHG inventory;
• Organize one 2-day training on preparation of GHG Inventories – AFOLU Sector for all relevant institutions:
  • Provide list of mandatory institutions (national and local level) to be included in training
  • Prepare detailed training programme including list of potential participants (i.e. institutions) proposed agenda, PPTs, exercises, worksheets, brochures
  • Review the draft Gender Action Plan developed during the project preparation and suggest plan of activities for first year of project implementation towards gender mainstreaming;
• Provide support to SEPA on application of short-term recommendations for improvement of AFLOU part of GHG inventory, delivered by expert mission in January 2019 organized by UNFCCC Sec;
• Final summary report with recommendations on mid-term and long-term improvements of AFOLU part of GHG Inventory.

Deliverables and Timeline

1. Work plan and detailed schedule of activities with key milestones prepared and accepted, deadline: 10 days from signing the contract
2. Report (up to 10 pages) current state of Serbia’s AFOLU Sector of GHG Inventory with recommendations on short-term improvements (data collection, involvement of other institutions, possible transition to Tier2, country-specific factors, etc), prepared and accepted, deadline: 20 August 2019
3. Five-day training on 2006 IPCC guidelines for AFOLU sector in SEPA organized, deadline: 25 September 2019
4. Two-day training on preparation of GHG Inventories – AFOLU Sector organized for all relevant institutions, deadline: 15 October 2019
5. Final summary report (up to 25 pages) with recommendations on mid-term and long-term improvements of AFOLU part of GHG Inventory finalized and accepted, deadline:10 November 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

• Advanced degree in natural sciences, or relevant related fields;
• Expert knowledge of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.

Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in preparation of GHG Inventories;
• A proven experience in at least 3 projects related to climate change, and especially preparation of GHG inventories – AFOLU Sector;
• At least 5 years of experience in applying 2006 IPCC Guidelines;
• Proven knowledge of IPCC Methodologies, Guidelines, UNFCCC documents and the EU legislation;
• Proven knowledge of software related to preparation of GHG Inventory, data collection systems, methodology for key sources analyses, uncertainty assessment and QA/QC plans;
• Proven knowledge of national legal, policy planning and institutional frameworks relevant for the GHG inventory system;
• Substantial involvement in the preparation of the National Communications or other documents relevant for assignment;
• Previous experience in organizing and conducting trainings for preparation of GHG Inventories;
• 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 29 July 2019.

• 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).

The above listed documents may be uploaded under consultancy ref. 1957 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.

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.