Republic of Moldova

National Consultant in carbon assessment and monitoring

Vacancy Number: Pr13/00397

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	13 Oct 2013, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	21 Oct 2013
Reference to the project:	Clima-East: Ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation
Expected Duration of Assignment:	October 2013 – October 2016 (100 working days)
Submission Instructions: Proposals should be submitted online by pressing the "Apply Now" button no later than 13 October 2013. Requests for clarification only must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: alexandru.rotaru@undp.org. UNDP will respond 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 applicants. Important notice The applicant who has the statute of Government Official / Public Servant, prior to appointment will be asked to submit the following documentation: a no-objection letter in respect of the applicant received from the government, and; the applicant is certified in writing by the government to be on official leave without pay for the entire duration of the Individual Contract. A retired government official is not considered in this case a government official, and as such, may be contracted.
Supporting Documents: Terms of Reference Individual Consultant Procurement Notice Personal History Form (P11) UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Background

Moldova is located in an insufficiently wet zone which results in a high frequency of droughts in the result of climate change which negatively affect its economy. According to climate projections for Moldova the annual mean air temperature in Moldova will increase under all emission scenarios. The most affected sectors will be agriculture and forestry.

Researchers expect that even small changes in temperature and precipitation could greatly affect future forest growth and survival, especially at ecosystem margins and threshold areas such as Moldova's forests. The potential lack of summer precipitation with consequent droughts is the main constraint factor on forest growth and productivity.

Soil erosion and landslides are common features throughout the country, which impacts on soil quality and contribute to GHG emissions. About 877,644 ha of lands are affected by erosion in the country (of which 114,165 ha are heavily eroded). The Government of Moldova recognized the land degradation problems in the country and adopted a country wide Programme for conservation and increase the soil fertility, which states along with other activities mentioned in programme, that soil erosion problems could be solved through afforestation activities on lands affected by landslide and ravine formation and effective grassland restoration and management. The carbon accumulation in soil and vegetation will continue to decline in pastures and degraded lands in the result of climate change factors and unsustainable human activities if no active interventions and long term planning measures to be undertaken.

In this regard EU Commission under CLIMA EAST package provided a grant to Republic of Moldova to demonstrate a natural resource management model in the pastures and forests of Moldova which increases ecosystems’ capacity to sequester carbon under pending climate risks, while at the same time retaining biodiversity and economic values. The CLIMA EAST pilot project targets the pastures and forest degraded lands located in the Orhei National Park area (33,792.09 ha) and its buffer zone. The project will develop innovative pasture and community forest management systems on the whole territory of the park, including rehabilitation of 500 ha of pastures and afforestation of 150 ha of eroded and non-productive lands. The project will help avert further deterioration of natural resources (biodiversity, land, forest), sequestrate the carbon and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, improve local pasture and forestry resources, promote better understanding of problems related to climate change impacts and contribute to local/regional sustainable development. The project activity is expected to enhance the GHG removals by preventing soil erosion, by establishing a robust GHG monitoring system. The systematic collection of relevant climate-related data based on developed monitoring system will further help to identify how communities of grassland and forest species will be affected by climate change i.e., what physical and biological changes could take place as a result of changes in temperature, precipitation and aggravation of situation with extreme climate events. This observation and forecasting system will provide the foundation for planning appropriate response measures and integrating them into on-going pasture and forest management efforts.

Scope of work

The expected output for the assignment is to assist the Ministry of Environment of Moldova and Orhei National Park administration in developing a robust GHG monitoring system and facilitating the carbon stock measurements, forest and pasture monitoring on restored areas under the project in Orhei National Park region.

The activity will consist in developing a robust GHG monitoring system in National Park Orhei area. Also the project will facilitate the carbon stock measurements, forest and pasture monitoring on restored areas (500 ha of pastures and 150 ha of afforested eroded and non-productive lands).

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

Requirements for experience

Academic Qualification:

• Graduate degree in biology or related fields.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of significant experience in carbon and biodiversity inventory, forestry or related issues in Moldova;
• Technical knowledge in the targeted focal area(s);
• Work experience with projects financed by international organizations will be an asset;
• Experience in working with local public authorities and local communities;

Competencies:

• Capacity for analytical studies;

• Ability to undertake field works are strongly required;
• Ability to plan and organize his/her work, observing deadlines and achieving results.

Language requirements:

• Fluent in written and oral communication in Romanian;
• Knowledge of English 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:

1. Proposal explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;

2. Financial proposal;

3. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references or the dully filled Personal History Form (P11).

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify 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 all related costs e.g. fees, taxes, travel, phone calls etc.) and the number of anticipated working days. The consultant shall bare costs for all supplies needed for data collection and data processing including possession of his own personal computer. 

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 should 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 the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Under this assignment consultants will have to travel to the communities of Orhei National Park. When submitting the financial offer, consultants will include travel expenses as per following details:

1) working days in the region – not more than 50 days;

2) total mileage – not more than 9,000 km.

 

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