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Ref.
2024/CPEIA/11461

Job offer type
Experts

Type of contract
Service contract

Deadline date
2024/08/28 23:55

Duration of the assignment
Short term

Contract
Freelancer

Duration
70 days

Mission description

During the inception phase of the project, the Citizen Participation Expert will be directly contributing to the preparation of the initial analysis report, analysing the existing national state of environmental justice in Albania. This initial analysis will allow the project to:

  • Meet with national and international stakeholders and specify their interest, if any, in participating in the project;
  • Consolidate the project's knowledge of the existing systems;
  • Confirm and refine the project activities and/or adapt them based on the obtained results.

He/She will work in close coordination with all stakeholders and target groups in Albania for the preparation of the Environmental Justice Initial Analysis Report. This report will include: 

  • Analysis of current regulations and practices applied by administrations in participation procedures within the framework of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), including:
    o        Mapping the roles and interactions of various Albanian administrations and International stakeholders in citizen consultations as well as identification of their expectations and interest in participating in the project;                                                                                                o        Study of strategic documents, reforms and methodologies employed by Albanian institutions responsible for participation (both environmental and broader),                                                                                                                                                                                    o        Examination of local dynamics and practices of participation across all sectors (formal and informal, conducted by administrations or other actors such as civil society)                                                                                                                                                                          o       Analysis of the results of some public consultations in environmental matters conducted by administrations
  • Analysis of available tools (if any) to support professionals in carrying out their tasks;
  • Comparison with international standards (including EU standards) and best practices implemented in France;
  • Analysis of barriers and constraints to gender equality;
  • Contributing to the design of the work plan of the project activities related to component 1, 2 and 3 in Albania.
  • Recommendations regarding potential impacts on the content of project activities, the theory of change, the logical framework, and/or the budget.
  • Potential organization of a restitution workshop to present the assessments to the project’s beneficiaries. 

Project or context description

In the framework of the project Climate Environmental Justice Convergence in the Western Balkans, financed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Expertise France (EF) is looking for a Short Term Citizen Participation Expert based in Tirana (Albania).

The Action seeks to improve access to justice and effectiveness of citizen participation in the field of environmental justice, thereby contributing to convergence towards European standards in Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro. More particularly, the Action will support the three countries for EU accession through the alignment of their national frameworks to the Aarhus Convention standards on access to environmental justice, which was officially integrated into EU standards in 2006. 

The Action will be structured around 3 components: 

  • The first component (Component 1) will be dedicated to the improvement of access to justice on climate and environmental matters. 
  • The second component (Component 2) will be dedicated to the improvement of citizen participation on climate and environmental matters. 
  • The third component (Component 3) will focus on the implementation of grants for civil society organizations.

A part-time Citizen Participation Expert will be based in Tirana, Albania during the inception phase of the project. He/she will work under the supervision of the Team Leader and in close collaboration with the Project Manager from Expertise France (EF) and the Legal Expert in accordance with the project specifications. 

Required profile

Knowledge and Skills: 

  • Higher education (at least Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences or other related field;
  • Excellent English writing and speaking skills;
  • Ability to organize, coordinate and draft the various documents required;  
  • Good command of IT and communication tools (word processing, presentation, etc.);
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to work as part of a team (adaptability to a multicultural environment essential);
  • Adaptability to changing circumstances, priorities, and requirements during the mission. 

General Professional Experience:

  • At least 5 years of experience working in/with civil society organizations or within a public institution in charge of citizen participation in Albania;
  • Proven experience in writing research reports with proficiency in research skills, including literature review and desk research, in order to identify relevant dimensions of diagnostic analysis and sources;
  • Strong analytical abilities to assess the scope and objectives of the initial report, define key research questions, and develop a structured framework for conducting the assessments effectively;
  • Strong drafting skills including 1) Attention to detail to ensure completeness and accuracy in scoping the analyses (with definition of research parameters, data sources, and potential limitations) and 2) Good articulation of objectives, scope and methodology of the analyses to convey public participation concepts and findings clearly and effectively to stakeholders.

Specific Professional Experience:

      •    Deep understanding of national participation legal tools and practices, especially on environmental issues;
      •    Deep knowledge of Arhus convention international and national legal obligations;
      •    Strong network within Albanian civil society organizations.

Additional information

Estimated starting date: September 2024

Duration: 70 days

Position: Citizen Participation Expert 

Applications should include a CV and a cover letter.

Selection criteria for applications

The selection process for candidates will be based on the following criteria :

  • Candidate’s training/skills/experience

Deadline for application : 2024/08/28 23:55

Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :

  • democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
  • peace, stability, and security ;
  • climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
  • health and human development ;

In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results. 

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