UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Black Sea Basin environment is of paramount importance both in terms of regional development and of quality of life for its inhabitants. The Black Sea ecosystem is known to be rich and diverse but is also considered to be vulnerable as it experiences notably significant pressure from land-based pollution. The seriousness of environmental issues has been recognised by the countries of the region and they have responded with national and regional strategies and actions to tackle these issues. The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (Bucharest Convention) addresses these problems through enhanced cooperation among its signatories. Further coordination in policies and legislation is a common interest to all the Black Sea countries. This is particularly true for the riparian Member States of the European Union: being Contracting Parties to the Bucharest Convention and members of the Black Sea Commission (BSC), they also value such coordination as a factor that influences their own ability to comply with the EU legislation, notably the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

The present project is built on the results of previous project phases and complements the needs to build further the national capacities – technical and personal, to implement marine environment monitoring programmes, in line with the Bucharest Convention and EU reporting requirements.

The overall objective of the project is to help improve protection of the Black Sea environment. This objective will be pursued through further technical assistance focused on establishing modern systems and facilities for environmental monitoring (in Georgia and Ukraine), capacity building, assessment of environmental status in line with EU MSFD/WFD and public awareness raising on the Black Sea environmental issues. The key involved actors are the relevant national authorities, as well as research / scientific and educational institutions involved in the Black Sea monitoring.

The specific objectives are as follows: i) Upgrade of the technical facilities of key environmental organisations and laboratories involved in the monitoring of the Black Sea by procurement of modern analytical techniques and enabling their long term operation; ii) Building national capacities and skills in use of the up-to-date monitoring and analytical techniques aligned with the MSFD and WFD principles and methodologies and the Black Sea Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (BSIMAP), including environmental data sharing and assessment; iii) Raise awareness on the key environmental issues and increase public involvement in the Black Sea protection..

A number of activities will be implemented in the following components of EU4EMBLAS project:

1. Establishing modern systems and facilities to support marine environmental monitoring in Georgia and Ukraine;
2. Strengthening national capacities for application of modern analytical methods, data management and assessment related to marine environmental monitoring;
3. Increasing awareness of general public on the Black Sea environmental issues further increased and education of young generation supported;
4. Management and coordination of the project.

The project will be implemented in the context of the ENI Regional East Strategy Paper (2014-2020); Summary Regional East Multiannual Indicative Programme (2017-2020) and the Joint Operational Programme for the Black Sea Basin 2014-2020.

The project is part of the ENI East Regional Action Programme 2019, Part 2: Support to the Implementation of the Eastern Partnership Multilateral Dimension and the Implementation of the Northern Dimension and the Black Sea Synergy. The Black Sea Synergy offers a forum for tackling common problems while enabling political and economic reform. An important goal is to bring added value to the citizens of the region while ensuring environmental sustainability. Two important regional agendas were developed under the Black Sea Synergy umbrella in the blue growth area, namely the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda and the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Chemistry Expert will support establishing of modern systems and facilities for marine environmental monitoring in Georgia and Ukraine, through preparing specifications for relevant sampling, monitoring and analytical equipment to be procured for the selected national laboratories. The Expert will also participate at sampling and monitoring during the transport of the Research Vessel (RV) Belgica from Belgium to Ukraine (research cruise).

The Chemistry Expert will work under the direct supervision of the Project Management Advisor and UNDP Regional Technical Advisor for International Waters, who will have the overall supervision role on the project from the UNDP side. He/she will closely cooperate with the other international, national experts and partner organizations working on the project, as well as other relevant UNDP staff – project assistant and water programme analyst from UNDP Regional Centre for Europe and the CIS.

The key tasks of the Chemistry Expert are the following:

• Supervise sampling of sea water and sediment samples and their proper storage during the travel of RV Belgica from Belgium to Ukraine across the European part of North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea regions;
• Prepare a list of necessary equipment, sampling vessels, consumables and chemicals required for sampling and organize their delivery on-board of RV Belgica prior to its travel from Belgium;
• Organise transport of collected samples from Odessa, Ukraine to laboratories selected for their analyses;
• Review available sampling. monitoring and analytical equipment in the selected laboratories in Georgia (NEA-Batumi) and Ukraine (UkrSCES) and prepare Technical specifications for the planned new equipment.

The consultant will prepare several deliverables in cooperation with the other recruited short-term project experts (e.g. experts on chemistry, biology, etc.), UNDP team, as well as the experts from the national project partners, within the following time frame and payment schedule:

15 October 2021 (40% of payment)

• Summary report on the performed sampling during the travel of RV Belgica;

15 December 2021 (50% of payment)

• Contribution to the needs assessment – summary and assessment on existing laboratory equipment in two laboratories (Georgia and Ukraine);
• Draft Technical specifications of sampling, monitoring and analytical equipment to be purchased.

15 March 2022 (10% of payment)

• Participation in the process of replying to questions by tenderers in case of any queries ;
• Final  summary report on tasks completed during the assignment

The assignment will require travel in the region, as tentatively specified above (section: Location). The travels will be covered separately as per UNDP rules and regulations. 

Competencies

Functional competencies:

• Excellent communication and management skills and demonstrable capacity to lead a multi-national team and to work with governmental institutions;
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategies and work plans to accomplish objectives, empower others to translate visions and efforts into results, identify strategic issues, opportunities and risks and devise timely and effective responses;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Respects and promotes international law, including with regard to territorial integrity;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• PhD in analytical chemistry or environmental sciences.

Experience:

• Minimum 5-years experience in implementation of quality assurance/quality control systems in environmental analytical laboratories and laboratory work.
• Regional/national experience in working with international projects, at least in one of the following areas:  integrated water resources management, water quality, monitoring programmes, quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC), data quality control (DQC), collection of water quality data and data management, laboratory work, organization of trainings and participation in monitoring surveys in European sea regions;
• Experience with establishing environmental analytical laboratories within the Black Sea region or other European sea regions is required;
• Experience in participating in the interlaboratory comparisons for target analyses of EU Water Framework Directive priority substances, as well as for non-target screening analyses of emerging organic pollutants in environmental water and sediment samples is an asset;
• Experience in marine monitoring research cruises and collection of sea water and sediment samples is required.

Language skills

• Fluent writing and communication skills in English;
• Knowledge of one of the languages - Russian, Ukrainian or Georgian languages is an asset.

5. Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11/CV desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates who will get at least 70% of points in desk review (Criteria A-F) will be invited for interviews. Only candidates who will receive will get at least 70% of points in technical evaluation (Criteria A-G) will be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Criteria A – academic qualification / education – max points: 10;
• Criteria B – experience in implementation of quality assurance/quality control systems in environmental analytical laboratories and laboratory work- max points 10;
• Criteria C – experience in international projects integrated water resources management, water quality, monitoring programmes, quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC), data quality control (DQC), collection of water quality data and data management, laboratory work, organization of trainings and participation in monitoring surveys– max points: 10;
• Criteria D - Experience in marine monitoring research cruises and collection of samples from water and sediments – max points 15
• Criteria E – relevant experience in establishing environmental analytical laboratories within the Black Sea region or other regional seas relevant in the EU context – max points: 15;
• Criteria F – interview (technical and communication skills) – max points: 10.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

5. Application procedures

• Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:
• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for this assignment.  Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
• Filled P11 form or CV including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc)
• List of publications in relevant areas produced by the candidate, as author or co-author (to be included in the CV)
• Offeror’s Letter (blank template can be downloaded from https://bit.ly/2KO1okS) includesFinancial Proposal* specifying: total lump sum amount in USD for the tasks specified in this ToR and

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). The travel costs will be covered separately as per UNDP rules and regulations.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.