PUBLIC INSTITUTION "ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS IMPLEMENTATION UNIT"

PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT OF THE FIFTH NATIONAL COMMUNICATION

 VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

I. Positions Information

Project Title:

Job Titles:

Republic of Moldova: Preparation of the Fifth National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

National Consultants in Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation, including:

Position 1: Applying information technologies (IT) for data processing, statistical analysis, indices calculation and mapping, to support the climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessments;

Position 2: Risk assessments, vulnerability indices for most probable climate risks and extremes, in depth impact assessments and adaptation measures identified for energy sector;

Position 3: Risk assessments, vulnerability indices for most probable climate risks and extremes, in depth impact assessments and adaptation measures identified for plant production sector;

Position 4: Risk assessments, vulnerability indices for most probable climate risks and extremes, in depth impact assessments and adaptation measures identified for livestock sector;

Position 5: Risk assessments, vulnerability indices for most probable climate risks and extremes, in depth impact assessments and adaptation measures identified for forestry sector;

Position 6: Risk assessments, vulnerability indices for most probable climate risks and extremes, in depth impact assessments and adaptation measures identified for water resources sector;

Position 7: Risk assessments, vulnerability indices for most probable climate risks and extremes, in depth impact assessments and adaptation measures identified for human health sector;

Position 8: Socio-economical assessment of climate change impacts on national and district level.

Duration of employment: 

February - June 2021 (5 months)

II. Background 

The project is being pursued to support the Republic of Moldova in the preparation of its Fifth National Communication 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 stocktaking exercise, stakeholder consultations and preparation of the Fifth National Communication (NC5) Project Implementation Plan (PIP) (ii) Description of national circumstances relevant to the GHGs emissions and removals, and institutional arrangements relevant for the preparation of national communications on a continuous basis; (iii) The national  inventory  of anthropogenic emissions by sources  and  removal by sinks of all GHGs not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, including a National Inventory Report for the period since 1990 to 2019; (iv) Information on climate change mitigation policies and measures and their effects; (v) Information on Greenhouse Gases emissions projections and total effect of policies and measures; (vi) Information on vulnerability assessment and climate change impacts; (vii) Information on measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change; (viii) Other information relevant to the Convention (i.e., integrating climate change considerations into national development priorities;  information on research and systematic observation, information on education, training and public awareness, transfer of and access to ESTs, efforts to promote information sharing and networking; capacity building; gender and climate change issues); (ix) Constraints and gaps, related financial, technical and capacity needs (i.e., constraints, gaps and needs, and activities for overcoming gaps; financial resources and technical support for preparing communications provided by various sources; financial resources and technical support provided by various sources; projects proposed for financing or in preparation for arranging support; opportunities, barriers for implementation of adaptation measures; country-specific technology needs and assistance received); (x) Technical assistance; (xi) Compilation and publication of Fifth National Communication of the Republic of Moldova to the Conference of the Parties; (xii) Stocktaking assessment and institutional arrangements for subsequent national communication preparation; (xiii) Project management; and (xiv) Monitoring and reporting.

The preparation of the Fifth National Communication to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 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 vulnerability and adaptation, and 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 reducing vulnerability associated with climate change, or proposing options to do so in the key sectors while reducing emissions and enhancing sinks of greenhouse gases.

Project Goal

The goal of this 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.

Project Objective

The objective of this project proposal is to prepare and submit the Republic of Moldova's Fifth National Communication (NC5) to fulfil its obligations to the UNFCCC, as per their obligations under Articles 4.1 and 12.1 of the UNFCCC.

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 NC5 Project Implementation Plan (PIP) 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 NCs 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 National Inventory Report for the period since 1990 to 2019, developed;  

Output 4: Information on climate change mitigation policies and measures and their effects described;  

Output 5: Information on greenhouse gases emissions projections and the total effect of policies and measures described;  

Output 6: High resolution climate change scenarios generated, assessment of climate change impacts and vulnerability conducted for key sectors;  

Output 7:  Information on adaptation actions and their effects provided;

Output 8: Other information relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention provided;  

Output 9: Information on constraints and gaps, and related financial, technical and capacity needs, including support needed and received reported;  

Output 10: Technical assistance provided;  

Output 11: The NC5 of the Republic of Moldova is compiled and submitted to the UNFCCC.   

Output 12: The stocktaking assessment undertaken and institutional arrangements for preparation of subsequent national communications reported.   

Output 13: Project implementation mechanism is in place and a PMU is operational.   

III. Organizational Context

The project will be executed by the NC5 Project Management Unit (PMU) established by the Public Institution "Environmental Projects Implementation Unit" (PI "EPIU") of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment (MARDE), on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, and in consultation with the UNEP. As national executing agency, the PMU established by the PI "EPIU" will be 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 Leader of Climate Modelling, Vulnerability and Adaptation Team, the National Consultants in Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation will provide technical knowledge for climate change related assessment and developing the:

• Chapter 5: 'Climate change impacts and vulnerability assessment' of the NC5 of the Republic of Moldova to the UNFCCC; and

• Chapter 6: 'Measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change' of the NC5 of the Republic of Moldova to the UNFCCC.

Relevant project activities that will involve the services of the national consultants in climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessments are under:

Output 6: High resolution climate change scenarios generated, assessment of climate change impacts and vulnerability conducted for key sectors:

6.1   Technical capacity building including participation in international/regional/national workshops and trainings on vulnerability assessment and climate change impacts.

6.2   Undertake a detailed analysis of historical climate data to detect changes and determine current trends in annual and seasonal (winter, spring, summer, autumn) temperatures (maximal, mean and minimal) and precipitations.

6.3   Undertake a detailed analysis of historical climate data to detect changes and determine current trends in extremes indices of temperatures (cold nights and days, warm nights and days, warm and cold spell duration, the maximum and minimum daily temperatures, frost and ice days, summer days and tropical nights, growing season length and diurnal temperature range) and precipitations (maximal 1 day and 5 days precipitation, simple daily intensity, number of wet days, heavy precipitation days, very heavy precipitation days, consecutive dry and wet days, very wet and extremely wet days, total wet-day precipitation).

6.4   The latest GCMs and RCMs available, are tested and the best used for projecting climate change scenarios on a finer spatial resolution, for different time horizons, up to the end of 21st century, for climate change impacts and vulnerability assessment.

6.5 Describe the possible climate change scenarios for three 20 years' time slices in the future, centered on 2030s (2021-2040), 2050s (2041-2060) and 2080s (2081-2100), relative to the climatological baseline period (1995-2014), inclusive for: air temperature, precipitation, level of supply with heat and humidity, extreme events occurring, etc.

6.6 Risk assessments made and vulnerability indices developed for most probable climatic risks and extremes.

6.7 In depth impact assessments of climate change on key sectors (i.e., agriculture, water resources, terrestrial ecosystems, human health, etc.) completed.

6.8 Based on vulnerability indices developed, produce and publish spatial vulnerability profiles in GIS format at national and sub-national levels.

6.9 Compile and draft Chapter 5: 'Climate change impacts and vulnerability assessment' of the NC5 of the Republic of Moldova to the UNFCCC.

6.10 Based on findings highlighted in Chapter 5: 'Climate change impacts and vulnerability assessment' of the NC5 of the RM to the UNFCCC, develop and publish an awareness raising booklet 'Climate Change in the Republic of Moldova' (in Romanian language).

Output 7: Information on adaptation actions and their effects provided:

7.1   Indicate ways in which adaptation to climate change is considered/intended to be considered in relevant planning frameworks at the national and sectoral levels; and outline national climate change policies, strategies and programmes that have been enacted, including the institutional structures for their implementation and assess extent to which adaptation to climate change is taken into account in national and sectoral policies and plans.

7.2   Assess extent to which adaptation to climate change is taken into account in national and sectoral policies and plans and the synergies between climate risks and adaptation and mainstreaming; identify measures and policies identified in previous national communication that can ensure sustainable development and design a road map on how to achieve the introduction of them in the development plans of the country.

7.3   Undertake a detailed analysis of domestic adaptation policies and measures and provide updated information on progress on adaptation policies, strategies or plans that illustrate the Republic of Moldova's medium- and long-term approaches to addressing risks and vulnerability through its broader domestic development and sectoral planning.

7.4   Undertake a detailed analysis of the monitoring and evaluation framework and provide updated information on approaches to the monitoring and evaluation of implemented adaptation strategies or plans.

7.5 Undertake a detailed analysis of the progress and outcomes of adaptation actions and provide updated information on adaptation measures taken to address current risks and vulnerabilities and on their status of implementation, and updated information on progress and, where possible, outcomes and the effectiveness of already implemented adaptation measures.

7.6 Compile and draft Chapter 6: 'Measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change' of the NC5 of the Republic of Moldova to the UNFCCC.

7.7 Organize a national workshop, to present the results of the vulnerability assessment, climate change impacts and adaptation measures in the Republic of Moldova. 

IV. Results Expected 

Key Tasks:

• To perform activities marked above in bold under supervising of the Leader of Climate Modelling, Vulnerability and Adaptation Team and report in all aspects of program implementation;

• To carry out all necessary studies, assessments and implement the above mentioned activities according to the project document, and as outlined in the personal TOR;

• To provide in electronic format required materials and information to the Leader of Climate Modelling, Vulnerability and Adaptation Team according to the personal TOR;

• To contribute to training activities organized during project development;

• To participate with a presentation in the national workshop, to present the sectorial results of the vulnerability assessments, climate change impacts and adaptation measures in the Republic of Moldova;

• To contribute proactively in the preparation of the final reports on completion of climate change risk assessments, development of vulnerability indices for most probable climate risks and extremes, in depth impact assessments undertaken and adaptation measures identified the at the national, sectoral, and district level.

Key Deliverables:

• Progress and Final Reports containing specific sub-chapters and/or sections from Chapter 5: 'Climate change impacts and vulnerability assessment' of the NC5 of the RM to the UNFCCC, as outlined in the personal TOR

• Progress and Final Reports containing specific sub-chapters and/or sections from Chapter 6: 'Measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change' of the NC5 of the Republic of Moldova to the UNFCCC, as outlined in the personal TOR.

V. Recruitment Qualifications 

Education: 

Advanced University Degrees (MSc or equivalent) in relevant fields, such as energy, agriculture, forestry, biology, geography, climatology, hydrology, physics, economics, human health, information technologies or other fields relevant to the project. Additional training and certification in project activity would be an advantage.

Experience: 

• Professional working experience in technical activities related to climate change analysis and assessing climate change risks, impacts and adaptation measures on national, sectorial and district levels;

• Demonstrated experience in projects with similar tasks;

• Professional working experience in analysis and use of data sets using various statistical tools and instruments demonstrated by previous assignments;

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

• Strong communication and teamwork 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 explaining why candidates are most suitable for the work, including information on previous similar assignments;

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

3. Personal 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 Leader of Climate Modelling, Vulnerability and Adaptation Team of the activity reports around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables specified in the TOR. 

Documents should be submitted by email on clima@clima.md, no later than Friday, 22 January 2021, by 5:30 PM. 

Extended deadline: Thursday, 28 January 2021, by 5:30 PM.

 Only those shortlisted will be contacted.