PUBLIC INSTITUTION "ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS IMPLEMENTATION UNIT" OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA. 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT OF THE THIRD BIENNIAL UPDATE REPORT (BUR3) TO THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

I. Position Information

Project Title:

Jobs Positions:

Duration of employment:

Republic of Moldova: Preparation of the Third Biennial Update Report (BUR3) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

National Consultants in Climate Change Mitigation and Domestic MRV Activities at the national and sectoral levels, including:

(1) Energy Sector:

1A1 Energy Industries

1A2 Manufacturing Industries and Construction

1A3 Transport

1A4 Other Sectors (institutional and public; residential; agriculture, fisheries and forestry)

1B2 Fugitive Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas

Memo Items: CO₂ emissions from biomass  

(2) Industrial Processes and Product Use Sector:

2A Mineral Industry

2B Chemical Industry

3C Metal Industry

2D Non-Energy Products from Fuels and Solvent Use

2F Product Uses as Substitutes for Ozone Depleting Substances

2G Other Product Manufacture and Use

2H Other

(3) Agriculture Sector:

3A Enteric Fermentation

3B Manure Management

3D Agricultural Soils

3H Urea Application

(4) LULUCF Sector:

4A Forest Land

4B Cropland

4C Grassland

4D Wetlands

4E Settlements

4F Other Land

4G Harvested Wood Products

4H Other  

(5) Waste Sector:

5A Solid Waste Disposal

5B Biological Treatment of Solid Waste

5C Incineration and Open Burning of Waste

5D Wastewater Treatment and Discharge

(6) Greenhouse gases mitigation scenarios: GHGs projections and total effect of policies and measures; Constraints and gaps, and related financial, technical and capacity needs, including support needed and received to enable the preparation and submission of BUR3.

(7) Socio-Economic Development Scenarios of the Republic of Moldova:

Mid-term (until 2025) and long-term (until 2035) socio-economic development scenarios of the Republic of Moldova

(8) Domestic MRV arrangements for Climate Change Mitigation Actions:

Reporting MRV activities for climate change mitigation actions undertaken at the national and sectoral level: ex.: Energy, Industry, Building, Transport, Industrial Processes and Product Use, Agriculture, LULUCF and Waste Sectors)

(9) Climate Change and Gender Mainstreaming:

Reporting information on gender and climate change (i.e., roles and responsibilities of women and men; opportunities for women to share knowledge with climate change specialists; sector specific programs on women's resilience and long-term adaptation to climate change effects; gender representation in project management committees and institutional frameworks and capacity building actions; capacity weaknesses in climate change gender mainstreaming, etc.).

9 months (October 2020 - June 2021)

II. Background 

The project is being pursued to support the Republic of Moldova in the preparation of its Third Biennial Update Report (BUR3) to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The main components of the project are as follows: (i) National consultations organized and the Third Biennial Update Report (BUR3) Project Implementation Plan (PIP) developed and approved; (ii) Description of national circumstances relevant to the GHGs emissions and removals, and institutional arrangements relevant for the preparation of biennial update reports on a continuous basis; (iii) The national  inventory  of anthropogenic emissions by sources  and  removal by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, including a National Inventory Report for the period since 1990 to 2018; (iv) Information on mitigation actions and their effects described; (v) Information on constraints and gaps, and related financial, technical and capacity needs, including support needed and received reported; (vi) Domestic Monitoring, Reporting and Verification arrangements for mitigation actions and its effects described; (vii) Other information relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention provided; (viii) Technical assistance; (ix) Compilation and publication of the BUR3 of the RM to the Conference of the Parties; (x) Stocktaking assessment and institutional arrangements for subsequent biennial update report preparation; (xi) Project management; and (xii) Monitoring and reporting.

The preparation of the BUR3 it is also expected to enhance general awareness and knowledge on climate change-related issues in the Republic of Moldova. It should seek to assist in the process of national planning and policy formulation, especially as it relates to mainstreaming mitigation measures within the work programme of the various stakeholders. In addition, it will contribute to the social and economic development of the country by proposing options to reduce GHGs emissions in the key sectors of the national economy and enhance the sinks of GHGs in the Republic of Moldova.

Project Goal

The goal of the project is to assist the Republic of Moldova in mainstreaming and integration of climate change consideration into national and sectorial development policies by giving continuity to the institutional and technical capacity strengthening process, partly initiated and sustained by the National Communications and Biennial Update Reports.

Project Objective

The objective of the project proposal is to prepare and submit the Republic of Moldova's Third Biennial Update Report (BUR3) to fulfil its obligations to the UNFCCC, as outlined in decision 2/CP.17, paragraphs 39-44.

Project Strategy

The strategy of the project is to employ the best practice at the maximum extent possible and as well, international consultancy when needed. The project will build upon findings and experience gained through activities/projects aiming at addressing climate change issues and meeting the country's commitments under the UNFCCC.

Project Outputs

The following are the expected outputs from which the project objectives are directed:

Output 1: National consultations organized and BUR3 Project Implementation Plan developed and approved 

Output 2: Information on national circumstances relevant to the GHGs emissions and removals and institutional arrangement relevant to the preparation of the BURs on continuous basis, reviewed, updated and described; 

Output 3: National inventory of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removal by sinks of all GHGs not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, including a NIR for the period since 1990 to 2018, developed;

Output 4: Information on mitigation actions, their effects, and greenhouse gases emissions projections and total effect of policies and measures described.  

Output 5: Information on constraints and gaps, and related financial, technical and capacity needs, including support needed and received reported.  

Output 6: Domestic MRV arrangements for mitigation actions and its effects described.  

Output 7: Other information relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention provided.  

Output 8: Technical assistance provided.  

Output 9: The BUR3 of the RM is compiled and submitted to the UNFCCC.  

Output 10: The stocktaking assessment undertaken and institutional arrangements for subsequent biennial update report preparation reported.  

Output 11: Project implementation mechanism is in place and a PMU is operational.  

Output 12: Project is effectively monitored and evaluated by UNEP based on regular reports provided by PMU.

III. Organizational Context

The project is executed by the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Third Biennial Update Report (BUR3) to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) set up besides the Public Institution "Environmental Projects Implementation Unit"(P.I. "EPIU") of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment (MADRM) on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, and in consultation with the UNEP. As national executing agency, the PMU besides the Public Institution "Environmental Projects Implementation Unit" is primarily responsible for the planning and management of the project activities, accounting, reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the project.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Climate Change Mitigation Assessment, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Thematic Working Group Team Leader, the incumbents will provide technical knowhow for capacity assessment and for developing:

• Chapter 3: 'Information on mitigation actions and their effects',

• Chapter 4: 'GHGs projections and total effect of policies and measures',

• Chapter 5: 'Constraints and gaps, and related financial, technical and capacity needs, including support needed and received to enable the preparation and submission of BUR3',

• Chapter 6: 'Domestic MRV arrangements for mitigation actions' and

• Chapter 7: 'Other information relevant to the achievement of the objectives of the Convention' and for inclusion in the compilation of the BUR3 of the RM to the UNFCCC'.

Relevant project activities that will involve the services of national consultants are under:

Output 4: Information on mitigation actions and their effects described:

4.1   Technical capacity building including participation in international/regional/national workshops and trainings on mitigation policies and measures and their effects undertaken.

4.2   The overall policy context, including any national targets for GHG mitigations; strategies for sustainable development, long-term mitigation strategies and other relevant policy objectives described.

4.3   The way in which progress with policies and measures to mitigate GHG emissions is monitored and evaluated over time described. Status report on institutional arrangements for the monitoring of GHG mitigation policies in selected sectors provided.

4.4   Information on climate change mitigation policies and measures by selected sectors (i.e., energy, transport, industry/industrial processes and product use, agriculture, forestry/LULUCF, waste management/ waste, other sectors and cross-cutting), indicating which GHGs (CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6 and NF3) are affected by which policies and measures documented and described.

4.5   The mitigation policies and measures database updated, including: the name of policy or measure; sector(s) affected; the GHG(s) affected; objective and/or activity affected (in quantitative terms, to the extent possible); type of instrument (i.e., economic, fiscal, voluntary agreement, regulatory, information, education, research or other); status of implementation and time frame for implementation (i.e., no longer in place, in the planning stage, has been adopted or is under implementation); brief description of the policy or measure (including estimated changes in activity levels and/or emissions and removals due to adopted and implemented policies and measures reported and a brief description of estimation methods); start year of implementation; implementing entity or entities; estimate of mitigation impact for a particular year (in kt CO2 eq.); information on costs of policy or measure (for adopted and implemented measures include funds already provided and/or future budget allocated).

4.6   Chapter 3: 'Information on mitigation actions and their effects' of the BUR3 of the Republic of Moldova to the UNFCCC compiled and drafted.

4.7   The mitigation options leading to low emission development pathway for selected sectors updated.

4.8   Two mitigation scenarios: (1) WM - with measures scenario (projections shall encompass currently implemented and adopted policies and measures) and (2) WAM - with additional measures (projections shall encompass planned policies and measures), when emissions projections shall be presented relative to actual inventory data for the preceding years (the starting point should be the most recent inventory year), updated to the 2035 horizon for selected sectors and on gas-by-gas basis (CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6 and NF3) by using available models and software (i.e., ENPEP, LEAP, IPCC software, etc.).

4.9   For each model or approach used, in the extent possible, (i) for which gases and/or sectors it was used is explained; (ii) its type and characteristics described (i.e., top-down model, bottom-up model, accounting model or expert judgment); (iii) the original purpose that it was designed for and, if applicable, how it has been modified for climate change purpose described; (iv) its strengths and weaknesses summarized; (v) how it accounts for any overlap or synergies that may exist between policies and measures explained; (vi) references to more detailed information related to each model or approach used provided; (vii) the main differences in assumptions, methods employed and results between the projections reported in the current national communication and those reported in the previous national communication reported; (viii) the sensitivity of the projections to underlying assumptions discussed qualitatively and where possible, quantitatively; (ix) information on key underlying assumptions and values of variables, such as GDP growth, population growth, tax levels, international fuel prices and any relevant information on factors and activities for  each sector reported.

4.10 The projections and information on historical emissions and removals analyzed and presented on a quantitative basis in a tabular format; projections provided in an aggregated format for each sector as well as for a national total, using GWP values agreed upon by the COP (to ensure consistency with inventory reporting, emission projections related to fuel sold to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport shall be reported separately and not included in the national total); information should be presented for 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and subsequent years that end in either a zero or a five up to the most recent inventory year; projections presented, starting from the most recent inventory year and for subsequent years that end in either a zero or a five, extending at least 15 years from the most recent inventory year.

4.11 Chapter 4: 'GHGs emissions projections and total effect of policies and measures' of the BUR3 of the Republic of Moldova to the UNFCCC compiled and drafted.

4.12 A national workshop on climate change mitigation actions and total effects of policies and measures organized to present the results of the climate change mitigation assessment group.

Output 5: Information on constraints and gaps, and related financial, technical and capacity needs, including support needed and received reported:

5.1   Constraints and gaps, and related financial, technology and capacity building needs for mitigation actions implementation identified and assessed.

5.2   Information on financial resources, technology transfer, capacity building and technical assistance received from the GEF, Annex I Parties and other developed country Parties, the GCF and multilateral institutions for mitigation actions implementation collected, analyzed and updated.

5.3   The level of support received to enable the preparation and submission of BUR3 described.

5.4   A project proposal for supported international financing compiled.

5.5   Chapter 5 'Constraints and gaps, and related financial, technical and capacity needs, including support needed and received' of BUR3 of the RM to the UNFCCC compiled and drafted.

Output 6: Domestic Monitoring, Reporting and Verification arrangements for mitigation actions and its effects described:

6.1 Technical capacity building including participation in international/regional/national workshops/trainings on domestic measurement, reporting and verification undertaken.

6.2   Functional domestic MRV system to support the implementation of the NAMAs and of the LEDS.

6.3   Information on protocols and operations procedures of the MRV system provided.

6.4   MRV conducted and documented, a reporting process established.

6.5   Chapter 6: 'Domestic MRV arrangements for mitigation actions' of the BUR3 of the RM to the UNFCCC compiled and drafted.

Output 7: Other information relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention provided:

7.1   Any other information relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention collected and presented, including information on gender and climate change (i.e., roles and responsibilities of women and men; opportunities for women to share knowledge with climate change specialists; sector specific programs on women's resilience and long-term adaptation to climate change effects; gender representation in project management committees and institutional frameworks and capacity building actions; capacity weaknesses in climate change gender mainstreaming, etc.).

7.2   Chapter 7: 'Other information relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention' of BUR3 of the RM to the UNFCCC compiled and drafted.

IV. Key Tasks / Results Expected 

Key Tasks: 

• To perform activities under supervising and report to Climate Change Mitigation Assessment, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Thematic Working Group Team Leader in all aspects of program implementation;

• To carry out the necessary studies and implement the activities as outlined in the project document and personal TOR;

• To provide required materials and information to Climate Change Mitigation Assessment, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Thematic Working Group Team Leader according to TOR, including in electronic format;

• To contribute to training activities organized during project development;

• To assist the Climate Change Mitigation Assessment, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Thematic Working Group Team Leader in preparation of the reports on the completion of assessments and analysis of issues.

Key Deliverables: 

• Specific sub-chapters from Chapter 3: 'Information on mitigation actions and their effects' of the BUR3 of the Republic of Moldova under the UNFCCC.

• Specific sub-chapters from Chapter 4: 'GHGs projections and total effect of policies and measures' of the BUR3 of the Republic of Moldova under the UNFCCC.

• Specific sub-chapters from Chapter 5: 'Constraints and gaps, and related financial, technical and capacity needs, including support needed and received to enable the preparation and submission of BURs' of the BUR3 of the Republic of Moldova under the UNFCCC.

• Specific sub-chapters from Chapter 6: 'Domestic MRV arrangements for mitigation actions' of the BUR3 of the Republic of Moldova under the UNFCCC.

• Specific sub-chapters from Chapter 7: 'Other information relevant to the achievement of the objectives of the Convention' of the BUR3 of the Republic of Moldova under the UNFCCC.

V. Recruitment Qualifications 

Education: 

Advanced University degree (MSc or equivalent) in environment protection area and/or fields relevant to the Project. Additional training and certification in project activity would be an advantage.

Experience: 

• At least 5 years of professional experience in technical activities related to climate change, GHGs emission accounting and analysis (energy, industrial processes and products use, agriculture, LULUCF and/or waste sectors), mitigation actions and their effects on sectors of the national economy (energy, industry, buildings, transport, agriculture, forestry and waste);

• At least 3 years of demonstrated experience in projects with similar tasks (elaboration of national communications, biennial update reports and national inventory reports; establishing domestic monitoring, reporting and verification systems; implementation of low emissions development programmes and elaboration of nationally appropriate mitigation actions);

• Experience in analysis and use of data sets using various tools and instruments (e.g., MS Excel, IPCC reporting guidance and software) demonstrated by previous assignments;

• Excellent knowledge of GHG inventory, GHG projections, MRV systems, carbon budgets, etc. demonstrated by previous assignments;

• Knowledge of principles, legal and normative framework regulating the MRV systems under the UNFCCC, other relevant international conventions and protocols demonstrated by previous assignments will be a strong advantage;

• Strong analytical and report writing skills demonstrated by previous assignments;

• Strong communication and teamwork/coordination skills demonstrated by previous assignments.

Language Requirements:

Good oral and written communication skills in Romanian and Russian languages are required. English language is an advantage.

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

1.       Technical proposal (please indicate the sector and category for which the incumbent is applying) explaining why the candidate is most suitable for the work, including information on previous similar assignments;

2.       Financial proposal (in USD), specifying a fee per day;

3.       CV, including past experience in similar projects.

Financial proposal

The Financial Proposal shall specify a daily lump-sum fee (indicating if it is negotiable). Payments will be made quarterly, based on the actual number of days worked, subject to the submission and approval by the Climate Change Mitigation Assessment, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Thematic Working Group Team Leader of the activity reports around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables specified in the TOR. 

Documents should be submitted by mail no later than Friday, 2^nd of October 2020, by 5:00 PM to the following address:

Str. Alexandru cel Bun 51A, 2^nd floor, MD-2001, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, PMU of the BUR3 Project, P.I. "EPIU". Alternatively, the applications may be submitted by e-mail to clima@clima.md 

Only those shortlisted will be contacted.