Vacancy: Environmental Economist & Finance Specialist for the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, UNDP Moldova

Environmental Economist & Finance Specialist for the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Vacancy Number: Pr12/00148

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	25 Jul 2012, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	01 Aug 2012
Reference to the project:	United Nations Development Programme Moldova
Expected Duration of Assignment:	35 working days during August 2012 – December 2013
Submission Instructions: Proposal should be submitted online by pressing the “Apply Now” at the link http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=31253 or by email to vacancies-moldova@undp.org no later than 25 July 2012. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to silvia.pana-carp@undp.org. The UNDP Officerwill respond in writing or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.
Supporting Documents: Terms of Reference Individual Consultant Procurement Notice Personal History Form (P11) UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is providing assistance to the Ministry of Environment of Moldova in the implementation of the GEF Biodiversity Enabling Activity Project “National Biodiversity Planning to Support the implementation of the CBD 2011-2020 Strategic Plan in Republic of Moldova”.

This project is part of the second generation of Biodiversity Enabling Activities under the GEF. Republic of Moldova has been Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) since October 1995. The project addresses the country’s need to continue to fulfill its obligations under the CBD, with particular focus on the Convention’s Article 6 and the CBD COP Decision X/2. Above all, the project is a significant contribution to Moldova’s efforts towards implementing the CBD Strategic Plan 2011-2020 at the national level.

The project builds on the current status and achievements of Moldova with respect to biodiversity planning and reporting. It aims to integrate Moldova’s obligations under the CBD into its national development and sectorial planning frameworks through a renewed and participative ‘biodiversity planning’ and strategizing process. This process is expected to produce measurable targets for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. It will equally ensure that the value of ecosystems’ goods and services, as well as the challenges and opportunities for ecosystem-based adaptation and resilience are taken into consideration in the process.

The project will achieve its objective through the implementation of three components (1) A participative stocktaking exercise on biodiversity planning takes place and national biodiversity targets are developed in response to the global Aichi Targets; (2) The NBSAP is developed and it fully integrates new aspects of the CBD strategic plan, such as mainstreaming and anchoring the implementation of the plan into national development frameworks, valuing ecosystem services and promoting ecosystem-based adaptation and resilience; and (3) National frameworks for resource mobilization, Convention reporting and exchange mechanisms are strengthened.

Scope of work

In order to ensure that the new National Biodiversity Strategy and Actions Plan incorporates the aspect of valuing of ecosystem services and goods and that the national framework for NBSAP Implementation is in place the consultant will be responsible for:

Identifying and, to the best extent possible, quantifying the economic benefits provided by Moldova’s biodiversity, including ecosystem services.
Developing a resource mobilization strategy for the implementation of the NBSAP

The international consultant will be assisted by a national environmental economist and finance specialist and will cooperate closely with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders as identified by the Project Management Team.

For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1 - Terms of Reference.

Requirements for experience

Academic Qualifications:

Advanced university degree (at least MSc) in economics, finance and environmental economics or others relevant areas preferable with exposure to natural resources /biodiversity conservation;
Relevant education and/or trainings in one of the areas related to natural resources is a strong advantage;

Years of experience:

At least 8 years of experience in economics, finance, environmental economics or other relevant fields;
Extensive experience in conducting economic analysis in the biodiversity-related field;
Previous experience in developing economic information for the national biodiversity planning documents is a strong advantage;

Competencies and Skills:

Proven track record of ecosystem services evaluation, including financial and economic aspects of conservation of biological diversity;
Strong skills in economic and financial analysis, evaluation and reporting;
Proven experience in implementing GEF Projects under Biodiversity Focal Area (BD1 or BD2).
Proven ability to collect, verify and analyze information, and to finish and present work with a high degree of accuracy and technical quality;
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, in order to communicate complex, technical information to both technical and general audiences;
Prior experience with UNDP projects;
Experience in working with government officials, civil servants and technical public administration agencies and authorities is desired;
Proficiency in standard computer software (word-processing, excel, presentations, databases and internet);
Fluent in written and oral communication in English;
Knowledge of Romanian or/and Russian will be a strong asset.

Documents to be included

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

Technical Proposal:
- explaining how applicant responds to each of the qualification requirements and why he/she is the most suitable for the work;
- describing a short vision on achievement of tasks;
Personal information (as a detailed CV or as a Personal History Form /P11) including records on past experience in similar projects/assignments and concrete outputs obtained;
Financial proposal (in USD, specifying a total lump sum amount and the number of anticipated working days).

Financial proposal

Each candidate will be required to submit a financial proposal which specifies a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel: All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP does not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP Moldova and the consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Payment will be disbursed upon submission and approval of deliverables and certification by the PMT and UNDP that the services have been satisfactorily performed.

Disclaimer

In case of discrepancies between the text published on the website and the contents of the supporting documents, the provisions, instructions and conditions included in the supporting documents (published as Adobe Portable Document Format files) shall prevail. In case of discrepancies between the English version and the Romanian and/or Russian versions of text, documents or other content published on this webpage, the English version shall prevail.

Notice

UNDP, as a matter of practice, does not charge any application, processing or training fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions as to vacancy announcements you may have received, please refer to this website.

UNDP is currently aware of fictitious vacancy announcements that are being circulated through the internet, the purpose of which is to get people to register for a training and send in a fee. If you believe that you have received such a notice, please forward it, and any other related information you have received, to scamalert@undp.org. Since logos, emblems, names and addresses can be easily copied or reproduced, you are advised to take particular care in applying for vacancies, including undertaking all appropriate measures to protect against the unauthorised use of any personal information you may have provided as a result of the scam.