National Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultant (NESSC) to support development of a project proposal for the Adaptation Fund addressing extreme climate-induced water-related events in Moldova.Vacancy Number: Pr20/01983
Contacts: Ms. Silvia Pana-Carp. silvia.pana-carp@undp.orgBackground
Republic of Moldova (Moldova) is a small-sized landlocked country in Eastern Europe, exposed to different natural hazards, including floods, droughts and severe storms. In line with climate scenarios, in Moldova the average temperature is expected to increase with 2-3º C, resulting in more acute weather patterns and increased the frequency and magnitude of floods and drought. Climate change and water resources Water resources in Moldova are sensitive to climate change with regards to their quantity and quality. Various emission scenarios and climate models provide different projected values for future water quantity and quality in Moldova; however, they indicate the sign that expected changes will be negative in any case. The natural water regime of the big and small rivers will change by increasing in the instability of annual flow and magnitude of spring and flash floods. Floods on big rivers The two big rivers as Prut and Dniester flooding in 2008 and 2010 caused the greatest damage. The 2008 floods on Prut and Dniester Rivers incurred USD 120 million in losses while the 2010 floods - USD 41.92 million which are estimated to have had an adverse economic impact on GDP of about 0.15 percent. Flash floods Heavy rains result in frequent floods, to which over 40 percent of the country’s settlements are exposed. The flash floods occurring within small river basins provoke average annual damage estimated at the level of $5 million. Despite these facts, the system for early detection and warning of flash (rapid) floods was not established in Moldova. Flood defense infrastructure Flood is seen as one of the major risks given that almost half of all Moldovan localities are situated in the flood-prone areas and additionally, around 45,000 ha (or 2% of agricultural lands) have a history of being waterlogged. During last decades the risk of floods has increased due to outdated and weak flood protection system mainly inherited from Soviet times. There are also gaps in legislation addressing land relations, use of land of water bodies, commissioning of hydro-technical infrastructure, etc. Hydrological monitoring network The exclusive role in monitoring of meteorological and hydrological parameters lies with the State Hydro-meteorological Service. There exists a network of meteorological stations and gauges both on the big rivers Dniester and Prut, and on smaller ones. Currently, up to 50% of gauging stations are not in functioning due to different reasons (stolen, broken, no supplies and/ or poor maintenance). Thus, the hydrological data on smaller rivers and their tributaries are very limited. Water dependent natural ecosystems Currently, in Moldova, natural ecosystems are in very poor conditions. Forests cover only a small percentage of the country's territory, and they, with some exceptions, are unproductive and are semi-degraded. Remained wetlands are mainly found in the downstream of the Prut and Dniester Rivers. They are mainly small sized and not healthy being subject of anthropogenic and natural pressures and impacts. According to rough estimate, in Moldova, more than 75% of natural wetlands have been lost. Thus, the project objective is to improve national and local resilience to extreme water-related events through promotion of sustainable integrated management of flood and drought risks. International expertise is required to support the project scoping, design the AF Concept and, consequently, develop the AF project Proposal based on thorough situation analysis and extensive stakeholder consultation. During the proposal preparation period, a number of studies and stakeholder consultations will be conducted with the view to further develop a fully formulated proposal. The final output of the international consultant’s work will be the AF project Proposal addressing obtained feedback and ready for submission to the AF. To support formulation of the Project Concept and Project Proposal, the UNDP Moldova has prepared a conceptual framework with indicative outcomes and activities listed below, but to be validated after the first in-country mission: 1. Strengthening of the early warning system for extreme water-related weather events at the national and local level and operational support capacity
2. Strengthening of the flood defense infrastructure
3. Piloted and demonstrated ecosystems-based adaptation to climate change
Scope of work
UNDP is seeking a qualified candidate to ensure application of social and environmental safeguards and standards in development of the Project Proposals for the Adaptation Fund. The National Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultant (NESSC), under the leadership of International Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultant (IESSC), will provide technical support to the Project Proposal development, by ensuring a full compliance with UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) and the relevant standards of the Adaptation Fund. Therefore, the NESSC is responsible for the expected outputs and deliverables, as outlined below: 1) To prepare description of Moldova permits and regulations that apply to the project suitable as a chapter to the ESMP, including - Environmental and Social Impact Assessment regulations and Ecological Expertise procedures - Land use zoning - Local/regional level permits and approvals - Engineering design and safety - Building permits - Labour rules including health and safety, 2) To provide description of existing physical and environmental conditions at the national/regional level (as specific sites are not known) or specific (if will be known), suitable as chapter of ESMP, including but not limited to: - climate - topography and land use (including mapping) - main river systems and watersheds (including mapping of dams and impoundments) - description (and mapping) of significant biodiversity features including protected and significant areas and listing of rare and endangered species (include on land use mapping) – description of aquatic habitats including streams and rivers, wetlands, natural ponds and lakes, and artificial ponds and lakes 3) To prepare overview of existing socio-economic conditions at the national/regional level (as specific sites are not known) or specific (if will be known), suitable as chapter of ESMP, including but not limited to: - Demographics - Vulnerable groups including ethnic minorities and displaced people - Core Labor rights issues - Human rights issues - Indigenous peoples 4) Photo Compilation of representative existing flood control systems to illustrate issues faced 5) To conduct the UNDP Social and Environmental Screening of the project proposal and identify the relevant risks and mitigation actions 6) Provide Inputs for the Environmental and Social Management Framework 7) Following the conducted analysis and desk review support with development of 2 additional project ideas in the area of water management 8) Others as might be necessary in relation to the UNDP and AF Social and Environmental Standards. All documentation related to the assignment will be in Romanian and English. This is a part-time consultancy. The timeframe for the work of consultant is planned for March 2020 – December 2020. The NESSC will work under the guidance of LIC, LNC, IESSC and UNDP Moldova Programme Specialist/Cluster Lead. Payments will be disbursed in several instalments, upon submission and approval of deliverables, and certification by UNDP Moldova Programme Specialist/Cluster Lead that the services have been satisfactorily performed. Requirements for experience
Academic qualifications:
Experience:
Language skills
Documents to be included
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
Financial proposal
Lump sum contracts 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. | |||||||||||||||
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