Вакансія: Policy and Legal Expert

In the face of disasters, societies everywhere are experiencing conditions of increasing vulnerability and enormous losses in social, environmental and economic terms. In 2017 climate-related disasters and extreme weather events in the EU caused 6.7 billion EUR of economic damages (over 100 billion USD worldwide). At the same time, in 2017 only 1% of climate-related risks in the EU were insured (EEA, 2019). In Ukraine, direct and indirect economic losses caused by wildfires range from 3 billion UAH to 8 billion UAH annually (DSNS, 2018). At the same time, the annual economic losses in Ukraine resulting from floods just in Zakarpattia oblast varying between 150 million UAH and 800 million UAH.

UNDP’s programmatic response is based on Country Office’s interventions so far and on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030 and its identified priorities: (i) Understanding disaster risk; (ii) Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk; (iii) Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience; (iv)  Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Forward Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. 

The Sendai Framework calls for a broader and a more people-centered preventive approach to disaster risk. According to the Framework, Governments should engage with relevant stakeholders, including women, children and youth, persons with disabilities, and other groups in the design and implementation of policies, plans and standards. Disaster Risk Reduction practices need to be multisectoral, based on the multi-hazard risk assessments, inclusive and accessible to ensure efficacy and effectiveness of the related measures.

To achieve transformational change the Programme will focus its activities to ensure that necessary capacities and institutional mechanisms are achieved at the national and oblast levels, while ensuring impact at the community level:

• Output 1. National government has improved policy frameworks and plans for Disaster Risk Management, coherent with Climate Change Adaptation policies that respond to the needs of women and men from diverse groups, especially the most vulnerable.
• Output 2. National and local authorities have capacities to integrate and implement gender-responsive DRR measures.
• Output 3. Target communities, including the most vulnerable, have necessary capacity, knowledge tools and financing mechanisms to build resilience, and to prevent and better recover from natural disasters based on the principle of leaving no one behind.

While not a formal output, a key task of the project team is to mobilize resources for scaling up of the project, and to deliver outputs related to DRR that are being developed in other projects in the portfolio.

In this context, UNDP is recruiting a professional with relevant experience and track record for the position of a Policy and Legal Expert, who will be responsible for reviewing legal and policy frameworks related to DRR, Civil Protection and Climate Change Adaptation in Ukraine and supporting the development of training programmes for DRR practitioners and public officials on DRR and CCA.

2. Duties and Responsibilities:

Under direct supervision of the Project Manager in liaison with Technical Advisor and under the overall supervision of Energy and Environment Portfolio Team Leader, the incumbent will be responsible for:

• Review current legal and policy frameworks related to DRR, Civil Protection and Climate Change Adaptation in Ukraine regarding observance of international frameworks and relevant EU directives as well as the specified initiatives.

The international frameworks include:

• Ukraine’s obligations under the EU Association Agreement
• Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks
• Sustainable Development Goal 13, Sustainable Development Goal 11
• Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement; and
• European Green Deal.

Current frameworks in Ukraine should include the documents as follows:

• The Civil Protection Code of Ukraine. Adopted on 02 October 2012.
• The Water Code of Ukraine. Adopted in 1995.
• The Law of Ukraine on National Security. Adopted 2018; last amended as of 17 September 2020.
• The Law of Ukraine on Major Hazard Facilities. Adopted in 2001; last amended as of 16 October 2012.
• National Security Strategy of Ukraine ’Security of a Human—Security of the Land’. Adopted on 14 September 2020.
• Regulation on the Unified State System of Civil Protection. Approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 09 January 2014.
• Regulation on the Government Commission on Technological & Environmental Safety and Emergencies. Approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 26 January 2015.
• Model Regulation on a Regional or Local Commission on Technological & Environmental Safety and Emergencies. Approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 17 June 2015.
• Regulation on the Public Security and Civil Protection Review by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 22 May 2019.
• Regulation on the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. As last revised and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of 16 December 2015.
• SESU Emergency Response and Firefighting Operations Manual. Approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on 26 April 2018.
• Regulation on the Classification of Emergencies per their Levels. Adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2004; last amended as of 29 May 2013.
• Emergency Nomenclature. National Nomenclatures of Ukraine. Adopted by the State Committee on Technical Regulations and Consumer Policies on 11 October 2010.
• Methodology for the Calculation of Loss from Technological and Natural Emergencies. Adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2002; last amended as of 04 June 2003.
• Environmental Security and Climate Change Adaptation Strategy
• Civil Protection Strategy
• Regional/Area Risk Passport.

• Provide policy & legal advice on improvement of the national frameworks to better align with the international frameworks for a more coherent and interlinked DRR and CCA;
• Provide input in the development and implementation of training programmes for DRR practitioners and public officials on DRR and CCA.

3. Deliverables and implementation schedule

The incumbent will be responsible for the following specific deliverables:

UNDP will provide payments upon provision of deliverables duly certified by UNDP in accordance with the table above. UNDP will be the ultimate authority to control the quality of work results and assess the Contractor’s performance during the assignment.

Payments are made in three tranches as per the Schedule of payments indicated in the table above.

In particular, the payment schedule will be as follows:

4. Monitoring / reporting requirements:

Work-progress reporting/monitoring meetings will be held with the consultant on a weekly basis. UNDP will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. No reports or documents should be published or distributed to third parties without approval of UNDP.

The consultant will work under the daily supervision of the Project Manager and will interact with UNDP to receive any clarifications and guidance that may be needed.

The satisfactory completion of each of the deliverables shall be subject to endorsement of the Project Manager.

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

All reports and results are to be submitted to the UNDP in electronic form (*.docx, *.xlsx, *.pptx, and *.pdf or other formats accepted by UNDP).

Skills

• Strong managerial and leadership skills, notably planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling, problem solving and decision-making;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Excellent writing, proficient communication and organization skills.

Corporate competencies

• 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;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

5. Experience and qualification requirements

Education

• Master’s degree or equivalent in law, political science, economics, public administration, international relations, or related field;

Experience

• 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in the area of policy & legal analysis and international law, specifically with international treaties and conventions;
• Proven prior experience (at least 4 years) in European integration matters in Ukraine context and legal approximation;
• Experience in the area of DRR, Civil Protection and Climate Change Adaptation in Ukraine or sustainable development (Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, SDGs) and/or development planning would be an advantage.
• Expertise in legislative drafting would be an advantage.

Languages

• Fluency in English and Ukrainian languages is required, including mastery of legal terminology

6. Documents to be included when submitting the proposals

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

7. Financial proposal

 Contracts based on daily fee

The financial proposal will specify the daily fee and payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked.

Travel costs

Should any travel be necessary in connection to this TOR, UNDP will reimburse the expenses based on the duly authorized travel details, including travel and per diems.  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.

8. Evaluation criteria

Criteria A: Education – 10 points max

Master’s degree in law, political science, economics, public administration, international relations, or related field

{10 pts – PhD degree in the relevant field or higher; 8 pts –Master’s degree in the relevant field};

Criteria B: Work Experience –  points max

1. At least seven (7) years of relevant experience at the national or international level in the area of policy & legal analysis and in international law, specifically with international treaties and conventions- 20 points max

{20 pts – 10 years and more; 18 pts – 8-9 years; 16 pts – 7 years);

2. At least four (4) year of relevant experience in European integration matters in Ukraine context and legal approximation; – 15 points max

{15 pts – 5 years and more; 12 pts – 4 years};

3. Experience (at least 2 years) in the area of to DRR, Civil Protection and Climate Change Adaptation in Ukraine or sustainable development (Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, SDGs) and/or development planning; - 10 points max

{10 pts –3 years and more; 6 pts – 2 years };

4.  Expertise in legislative drafting - 8 points max

{8 pts –proven experience; 0 pts – no experience};

Criteria C: Technical Skills – 7 points max

Language Skills – 7 points max:

Fluency in Ukrainian and English

{7 pts – Fluency in English and Ukrainian}

Maximum available technical score – 70 points.

9. Evaluation method

 Cumulative analysis

Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the cumulative 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 obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: 16 February 2021.

If you wish to apply for this or other positions with UNDP, please visit UNDP in Ukraine website, section Jobs and apply online:

https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=96705  

UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest.

Applications may only be submitted for specific vacancy.

Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.