Strategic Environmental Assessment Consultant to conduct SEA of the National Energy and Climate

Background

The Paris Agreement aims for “enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change”. Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development is one of the main ways set in Article 2.1 of the Paris Agreement to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change, in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.

Under the Paris Agreement, Ukraine has committed to develop and regularly submit to UNFCCC its National Adaptation Communication, to set and implement its national adaptation goals with NDC framework. Ukraine will need to undertake continuous iterative adaptation planning and action, and to communicate about those actions to the international community.

UNDP’s Strategic Plan (2018 – 2021) lays out a commitment to enhance national prevention and recovery capacities for resilient societies. In this context, UNDP is currently supporting a number of countries to implement a portfolio of climate change adaptation projects, which have designated sets of indicators to track project activities and impact. Among these initiatives is one that focuses on supporting Ukraine to advance its national adaptation plan (NAP) process, which is meant to result in the integration of climate change considerations into planning and budgeting systems at the country level.

In order to implement its international commitments, Ukraine has already developed national legislation framework on both mitigation and adaptation, including the State Climate Policy Concept till 2030 and Action Plan to Implement State Climate Policy Concept till 2030 adopted in December 2016 and 2017 respectively. Both documents foresee detailed mitigation actions and only some basic steps on adaptation. For example, the new Ministry of Energy and Environment Protection (MEEP) of Ukraine, plans to develop “medium-term strategy of climate change adaptation of Ukraine for the period until the year 2030” and GoU plans to approve in 2020 “Ukraine’s 2030 Climate Change Adaptation Strategy”.  Sectoral adaptation plans are also at the early stage of development. The Ministry of Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine has developed and currently in the process of public consultations on the “Adaptation Strategy of agriculture, forestry and fishery of Ukraine till 2030”. 

Given the direct and existential threat of the climate change, the European Union launched in 2019 a new regional initiative called EU4Climate, aiming to support the six Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine) to develop and implement climate-related policies based on the countries’ commitments under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Association and Partnership Agreements with the EU, the Eastern Partnership policy initiative "20 Deliverables for 2020,” (in particular the climate-related Deliverables 15 and 16) and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (in particular SDG 13 on “Climate Action”). The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme. The project goal is to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation and the development towards a low-emissions and climate-resilient economy in line with the Paris Agreement in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. This project operates on both regional and country level. It supports regional cooperation, learning, knowledge exchanges and policy dialogue among the beneficiary countries, as well as between the countries and the EU partners. 

All six countries are highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. An increase in extreme weather events, more frequent heat waves, forest fires and droughts, heavier precipitation and flooding are just some of the consequences, which are likely to enlarge the magnitude of disasters and to lead to significant economic losses, public health problems and deaths.

Under the EU4Climate project UNDP Ukraine supports the Government of Ukraine with the national adaptation planning (NAP). This includes scoping study, road map, NAP development, institutional, coordination, financing, monitoring, reporting and communication frameworks for the NAP. NAP development will include gender analysis and will use data disaggregated by sex and age, take into account how climate change impacts affects men and women differently, and identify key sectors, strategies and mechanisms for gender responsive policy and action.

Through this TOR, UNDP Ukraine is seeking a qualified local expert to provide technical assistance in carrying the Strategic Environmental Assessment procedure for the National Energy and Climate Plan of Ukraine by 2030.

Duties and Responsibilities

2 MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The main objective of the assignment is to conduct the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) of Ukraine by 2030. In particular, the consultant is expected to support the Ministry of Energy in launching and conducting the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Energy and Climate Plan, in compliance with the Law of Ukraine “On Strategic Environmental Assessment” and relevant procedures, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

 

3. TASKS and DELIVERABLES

3.1. Scope of services

Under the overall guidance of the EU4Climate Project Coordinator in Ukraine and close cooperation with the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, the Consultant will be tasked with conducting the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Energy and Climate Plan of Ukraine by 2030. The Strategic Environmental Assessment should be carried out by the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On Strategic Environmental Assessment” and considering the provisions of the Methodological Recommendations for the implementation of Strategic Environmental Assessment of state planning documents (approved by the Order of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine #296 as of 10.08.2018), as well as Directive 2001/42/EU on Environmental Impact Assessment of individual projects and programs. For this purpose, the Consultant will carry out the following activities:

• Analyze the draft National Energy and Climate Plan of Ukraine by 2030 (NECP), provided by the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, on the interests of stakeholders and available alternatives for determining the scope of strategic environmental assessment;
• Identify possible factors of anthropogenic and natural changes in the implementation of the NECP on the environmental components, on safety and security, health and welfare of the population, assessment of the impact and risks of planned activities on the environment components, assessment of the danger and risks to public health, socioeconomic impacts, waste management, transport, infrastructure development, aesthetic characteristics of the territory, use of landscapes for recreational purposes;
• The consultant should analyze:
  • the territorial coverage of possible consequences;
  • studies to be carried out in the SEA process;
  • methods and tools that can be used in the assessment;
  • stakeholders (including environmental authorities, health care institutions, the public);
  • the work plan of the SEA;
• Prepare the draft Statement of SEA’s, which should include the following components:
  • definition of the customer;
  • defining the type and main goals of this state planning document (SPD) and their commitment with other SPDs;
  • establishment of conditions for carrying out activities and identifying assets for which the legislation implies an environmental impact assessment procedure, including determining the location, size, capacity or allocation of resources;
  • likely environmental impacts, including those related to public health, taking into account areas with conservation status and possible transboundary SPD impacts;
  • justified alternatives to be considered;
  • the studies to be carried out, the methods and criteria that will be used to conduct the SEA;
  • measures to prevent, reduce and compensate the negative effects on the environment, including health, caused by the implementation of the SPD;
  • suggestions on the structure, content and scope of the SEA Report;
  • determining of an inquiry body for comments and suggestions submitted, as well as deadlines for the submission.
• Support of the Ministry in the process of public discussion of the Statement of SEA’s scope, in particular:
  • processing of comments on the Statement that will be submitted to the Ministry;
  • participating in public hearings and assist the Ministry in preparing the minutes of public hearings.

• Adjust the SEA report, which includes:
  • contents and the main objectives of the public planning document, its relationship with other public planning documents;
  • Characterization of the current state of the environment, including human health, current and future risks and its forecast changes, if the NECP is not approved;
  • List of environmental problems and risks, livelihood conditions for people and the state of human health of areas likely to be affected;
  • description of the consequences for the environment in the implementation of the NECP objectives, as well as other information provided by the Law on SEA;
  • outline of effects on the environment, including human health, including secondary, cumulative, synergistic, short, medium and long-term (1, 3-5 and 10-15 years respectively, and if necessary for 50-100 years), permanent and temporary, positive and negative effects;
  • Measures to be taken to prevent negative consequences and monitor performance;
  • justification of the reasons for selecting the alternatives dealt with, and a description of how the strategic environmental assessment was undertaken including any lack of information and technical means, required to carry out such assessment;
  • outline of likely transboundary effects on the environment, including human health (as appropriate);
  • A non-technical summary of information, designed for a wide audience
• Ensure printing of the draft NECP and the SEA report in at least two printed media and publishing on the official website of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine;
• Conduct public consultations of SEA draft documentation;
• Conduct consultations with the participation of key national stakeholders, including the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, the EU Delegation to Ukraine, the Energy Community Secretariat.
• If needed, prepare package of documents required for the transboundary consultations and conduct transboundary consultations in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine
• Develop a final draft of the SEA documentation, considering proposals and recommendations of the interested authorities

 

• 3.2. Expected deliverables

	Deliverables	Tentative Timeframe
1	Draft Statement on determining the scope of the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the draft National Energy and Climate Plan of Ukraine by 2030 developed and submitted to EU4Climate National Coordinator	3 weeks from contract signing
2	Report on the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the draft National Energy and Climate Plan of Ukraine by 2030, including the non-technical summary for a wide audience, prepared and provided to EU4Climate National Coordinator	12 weeks from contract signing
3	Table of comments developed based on the public  and transboundary (if required) consultations; Comments and proposals analyzed and considered in the final SEA documentation; Draft letters to submitted comments prepared	24 weeks from contract signing
4	SEA documentation of the draft National Energy and Climate Plan finalized and submitted to the EU4Climate National Coordinator	26 weeks from contract signing
9	A final report covering the whole assignment	28 weeks from contract signing

The total duration of the consultancy will be a maximum of 100 working days during 7 months from the start date of the assignment. The work does not require traveling.

All deliverables under the assignment shall be submitted in electronic form (MS Word format) in Ukrainian and English language based on the need.

 

4. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payment will be made upon completion of each deliverable. The amount of each instalment will be suggested by the consultant in the financial proposal.

 

5. MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Consultant will work under the overall guidance of the EU4Climate Project Coordinator in Ukraine. The Consultant will duly inform UNDP and Ministry of Energy of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

Any copyrights and other kinds of intellectual property emerging in the course of contract implementation and produced by the Consultant under the assignment shall be retained by UNDP; the Consultant shall not be entitled for any intellectual property in this regard.

The Consultant will duly inform UNDP and Ministry of Energy of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

Competencies

• Excellent communication and organization skills;
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

 6. EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Advanced university degree in, environmental sciences, energy, engineering, economics, law or closely related fields

Experience

• Proven technical knowledge of conducting Strategic Environmental Assessment (at least 2 years of working experience);
• Demonstrated analytical, research, presentation, and report writing skills – at least 2 examples of carried SEA submitted or/and published (authored or co-authored);
• Experience (at least 3 years) in working and collaborating with governmental stakeholders in Ukraine

Language Skills

• Proficiency in Ukrainian. English – working written level would be considered as an asset.

 

7. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSAL

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

Require
?	Offeror’s letter / financial proposal, with provision of cost break-down components and deliverables cost.
?	CV or a Personal History Form (P11 form), including information about past experience in similar assignments and contact details for referees

If an applicant is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the applicant must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

 

8. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Lump sum contract

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 instalments 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 professional fees, travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

 

9. EVALUATION CRITERIA

• Advanced university degree in environmental sciences, energy, engineering, climate science, environmental studies, economics, or closely related fields {12 pts, – Master; 15 pts, – PhD};
• Minimum 1 year of professional, research or academic and consultancy experience, with practical knowledge and experience in conducting SEA {12 pts. – 1 years; 17 pts. – 2 and more years};
• Demonstrated strong analytical, research, presentation, and report writing skills with a focus on environmental analysis and expertise {17 pts. – 2 SEA reports or related publications; 20 pts. – 3-4 SEA reports or related publications; 25 pts. – more than 5 SEA reports or related publications};
• At least 3 years of experience working and collaborating with governmental stakeholders in Ukraine {5 pts. – 3 years; 8 pts. – more than 4 years};

Language criteria {proficiency in Ukrainian, working written level of English 5 pts. ; proficiency in Ukrainian – 0 pts.} Maximum available technical score - 70 points.

 

Evaluation method:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award  of the contract should be made to the individual contractor 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 and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical Criteria weight; 70%

Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates that meet a passing score of 70% (49 points) for the technical evaluation will be considered and invited for an interview.