tenders

1. Context and objectives :

About Plan Bleu: This consultation is published by Plan Bleu, Regional Activity Center of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), established in the form of a French association in Marseille, France. The MAP is one of the main components of the Regional Seas Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It has a legal instrument: the Barcelona Convention and relies on six regional activity centres (“RACs”) responsible in particular for promoting the implementation of the various protocols attached to the convention. Plan Bleu is one of these six centres mandated by the twenty-one countries Parties to the Barcelona Convention and the European Union (Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention). Plan Bleu acts as an observatory of the environment and sustainable development in the Mediterranean, and conducts thematic, systemic and prospective analyses to enlighten decision-makers of the region on the environmental risks and the challenges of sustainable development.

About MEDPOL: MEDPOL (Mediterranean Pollution) is a program developed under the framework of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), which aims to assess, and control marine pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. MEDPOL focuses on the monitoring of pollutants in marine and coastal areas, evaluating the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce pollution, and supporting the implementation of the Protocol concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol), the Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft and the Protocol on the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. MEDPOL works closely with Mediterranean countries and other partners to strengthen their monitoring systems, improve data collection, and support policy development for pollution reduction.

Background and Context: MEDPOL is currently leading the update/development of National Action Plans (NAPs) for the 2025-2035 period, aimed at updating and enhancing strategies of Mediterranean countries to reduce pollution from land-based sources. This revision aligns with the Protocol concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol). The process involves:

• Assessment of the state of play of existing measures and the current status of marine and coastal pollution, referred to as the NAP midterm baseline.
• performance of a gap analysis to evaluate the need for implementing additional actions to fill the gap between existing measures and status of the marine pollution with reference to the defined ECAP–GES and regional plan targets in the framework of the SAP-MED.
• prioritization of issues and identification of potential new measures, as appropriate. The potential prioritized measures are assessed for their technical feasibility and analyzed in an integrated manner taking into account their resulting impacts on the marine environment, implementation cost, cost-effectiveness/benefit, duration for implementation with the view to develop an integrated programme of measures for inclusion in the NAP.

The update/ development of NAPs ensures that each country’s actions are aligned with regional objectives for protecting the Mediterranean coastal and marine environment. Additionally, the exercise includes a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) component to evaluate the economic impacts of the proposed measures, facilitate prioritizing, and ensure their effectiveness in achieving both environmental and economic objectives.

Plan Bleu provides a supporting role in this endeavor, offering expertise on CBA/CEA to assist MEDPOL in evaluating the economic impacts of the proposed pollution reduction measures.

2.Task Description

The main objective of this consultancy is to provide targeted support to MEDPOL’s efforts in the development and implementation of simplified methodologies for Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)/Cost Effective Analysis (CEA) related to the NAPs (National Action Plans) update process. This support includes assisting in socio-economic data review, providing feedback on tools and templates prepared by MEDPOL and its regional consultant, and assisting MEDPOL in addressing specific methodological queries from national stakeholders. 

This consultancy is specifically designed to offer targeted, supportive contributions to ensure the feasibility and effectiveness of the CBA/CEA application on prioritization of the selected measures, while the primary responsibilities lie with the MEDPOL and its regional consultant.

The objective of the present call is to select a consultant “CBA expert” that will provide targeted support for the following tasks:

1. Review and Provide Feedback on CBA/CEA Templates
   • Provide support in identifying the main pillars for the Cost-Benefit Analysis/Cost Effective analysis  templates, which will be developed by MEDPOL, while considering the time constraints and the need for efficiency.
   • Ensure that the templates are practical, easy to use, and adaptable for national stakeholders with limited technical capacity. 
   • Provide clear recommendations to enhance their accessibility and applicability, helping simplify the process without compromising the analytical rigor necessary for decision-making.
2. Assist with Data Collection Frameworks
   • Provide feedback on the data collection framework created by MEDPOL’s regional consultant, with a focus on simplifying the process for countries with limited technical resources. 
   • Suggest, when possible, practical approaches that enable countries to gather baseline data efficiently, ensuring that the process is not overly burdensome while still providing accurate and relevant information for the revision of NAPs.
3. Targeted Technical Guidance
   • Assist, when possible, MEDPOL in addressing specific methodological queries from national stakeholders, as communicated via the regional consultant. This includes:
     1. Contributing to selected Online Working Groups for NAPs by offering expert opinions and support as needed, while ensuring the time commitment is realistic within the available schedule.
     2. Participating in and contributing to the NBB/NAP Meeting and its sub-working groups (planned for April 2025, tbc) and the MEDPOL FPs Meeting (end of June 2025, tbc), providing expert support and input as required.
   • Offer targeted advice on applying suitable valuation techniques that are both effective and feasible within the Mediterranean context and the capacities of each country. Focus on providing assistance that is clear, actionable, and aligned with local realities. 
4. Review of Project Fiches

• Review the templates of Project Fiches developed by MEDPOL to guide countries in creating bankable measures.
• Provide constructive feedback that enhances the clarity, quality, and feasibility of the proposed measures, ensuring they are practical and ready for implementation. Emphasize the need for simplified approaches to project development, making it easier for countries to develop projects that are both environmentally effective and economically viable.

3. Timeframe

• Consultancy period: February to December 2025.
• Estimated total effort: 20-25 working days.

4. Selection of Consultants and Required qualifications

The assignment is open to individual consultants, to consulting firms, and associations/consortiums of consultants. All documents will be produced in a single language (English or French). 

Qualified candidates for this assignment must meet the following criteria:

• Advanced degree in environmental economics, policy analysis, or related fields.
• Expertise in conducting Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) in environmental or policy contexts, including:
  • Knowledge of key valuation techniques (e.g., market-based, replacement cost, and non-market valuation methods).
  • Ability to calculate benefit-cost ratios and conduct sensitivity analyses.
  • Experience in ranking and prioritizing measures based on quantitative and qualitative criteria.
• Familiarity with UNEP/MAP processes, including an understanding of NAPs, policy frameworks, and environmental governance in the Mediterranean region.
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder processes
• Strong analytical, communication, and report-writing skills, with a demonstrated ability to produce concise and actionable outputs.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of French and/or Arabic is an asset.

The selection of the consultant(s) will be based on the evaluation of their technical proposal (their skills in relation to the required qualifications described above and the proposed methodology) as well as a letter of interest and a resume making reference to these Terms of Reference. A financial offer, which shall not exceed €10,000 gross, shall include all costs, ancillary expenses, and taxes (including any applicable VAT). Candidates must provide references for their previous work on similar subjects as well as relevant documents via email to the address indicated below if they are not provided through an active web link. Furthermore, candidates must demonstrate their legal capacity to sign contracts and issue invoices according to the legislation of their country. 

5. Contractual and financial terms

Payment will be made in two installments:

• Interim Payment (50%): Upon submission and approval of the initial deliverables, feedback on the CBA templates and participation in the initial MEDPOL meetings.
• Final Payment (50%): Upon completion of the consultancy, including submission and approval of the final report summarizing contributions and outcomes.

The acceptance of the offer of the successful tender will implicate the acceptation of the conditions and schedules detailed in this ToR.

A duly-issued invoice will be required for payment at the presentation of the final document. The payment term for the invoice will be by bank transfer 15 days after the invoice date (bank account details should be detailed).

The tax legislation in force at the date of acceptance of the offer will be applied.

Selected flights and accommodation, if needed,  may be covered as part of a separate budget.

6. How to apply

• Applications must be submitted by January 31st 2025
• Applications must be submitted by e-mail at: [email protected] 
• Applications must contain a technical offer, as well as a letter of interest and a resume making reference to these Terms of Reference.
• Candidates must demonstrate their legal capacity to sign contracts and issue invoices according to the legislation of their country. For this purpose, they must also include the following documents in their proposal:

For consulting firms:

• Recent KBIS extract (less than 3 months old) for France
• Document confirming company registration in their country, including the indicated tax number (for foreign countries)
• Full bank account details (BIC, IBAN or BBAN) provided by the bank.

For individual consultants:

• Certificate of registration in the Directory of Companies and Establishments.
• Document certifying the right to practice this profession (such as a registration certificate) according to the legislation of their country, including the tax number (for foreign countries).
• Full bank account details (BIC, IBAN or BBAN) provided by the bank.