The Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and North Region Development publishes a public advertisement for an Information Technology Specialist on the project "Strengthening the Montenegrin Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and actions to adjust transparency through the Transparency Capacity Building Initiative (CBIT)".

Briefly about the project

As a Party to the Paris Agreement, Montenegro – like all other signatories – is committed to implementing the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) for action and support under Article 13. The ETF is designed to build mutual trust among Parties and to promote the effective implementation of both the Agreement and countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This commitment requires countries to make significant and immediate progress in strengthening their domestic monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems. A key condition for success is the availability of sustainable financial and capacity-building support to developing countries, enabling them to build and maintain credible MRV processes and meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Digital platforms are a key enabler for enabling the transparency and credibility needed for effective monitoring of NDCs, as well as for countries seeking to engage in international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Agreement.

In response, UNDP has identified a unique opportunity to support countries through the development of an open-source, open-data, and privacy-conscious digital climate MRV system. Montenegro will build on this international best practice to customize, adapt and scale its own National Climate Transparency Platform (NCTP) is a customized digital solution developed under this initiative.

The mentioned expert will be hired under a consulting contract from June 2025 to January 2026 (90 working days).

Objective of the task

The main objective of the assignment is to develop, install, and adapt a National Climate Transparency Platform to Montenegrin context, building on the international open-source code base. The consultant is expected to utilize an open-source codebase of a national MRV/NDC Tracking system that was developed by UNDP.

Duties

Under the direct supervision of the project manager, the expert will be in charge of the activities that are given in the description of the project task attached to this competition.

Education and experience

Education:

University degree – Advanced university degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, or a related technical field. A bachelor’s degree with additional relevant experience may also be considered.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in designing, developing, configuring, and deploying customized digital platforms, preferably in the environmental, public sector, or governance domains.
• Strong knowledge of IT systems architecture, including server setup (cloud and on-premise), security protocols, data encryption, and backup systems.
• Proven ability to assess IT infrastructure, conduct technical scoping, and translate user requirements into robust system architecture and workflows.
• Experience with secure web hosting, including SSL certification, data encryption standards, and vulnerability testing.
• Hands-on experience in developing and testing APIs and integrating platforms with existing national or international databases and services.
• Familiarity with data governance and system maintenance planning, including budgeting and long-term sustainability strategies.
• Strong project planning and implementation skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multi-phase projects from design to delivery.
• Experience in working with diverse stakeholders including government officials, IT staff, and technical consultants.
• Ability to translate technical language into clear, actionable steps for non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven track record of documenting system design, user guides, and technical manuals, and submitting code and documentation to platforms such as GitHub.
• Previous experience with Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) or National Transparency Systems (NTS), or similar climate and environment-related digital systems is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of international standards for data security, digital governance, and public sector IT solutions.
• Experience working in or with public administration, particularly in transition or developing countries, is an asset.

Language:

Fluency in Montenegrin and English with good writing

How to apply

Applicants should submit:

Application in the prescribed form (attached to the announcement);

CV;

List of references related to relevant experience;

Confirmation of availability for the estimated time of engagement (attached to the announcement);

Statement on the veracity of the data (attached to the announcement).

Note for applications of civil servants

Hiring a civil servant is possible only in the case of a very justified short-term engagement of civil servants from: state universities, research institutions and specialized state institutions with unique expertise. For such cases, decisions on the possibility of engagement will be made after the approval of UNDP.

The shortlisted candidate is obliged to provide a letter of approval from the institution in which he is employed, proving that the institution gives consent to the engagement and confirmation that he is no longer employed by the institution in question.

Evaluation of applications

The evaluation of received applications will be carried out by the expert commission of the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and North Region Development.

Conclusion of the contract

Once the applications are evaluated by the expert commission of the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and North Region Development, the Ministry will sign a contract with the selected candidate for the purpose of his/her engagement within the project.

Application submission

The application with complete documentation, in Montenegrin and English, is sent exclusively electronically by June 30, 2025 at 11 AM to the e-mail address andrijanacukovic@gmail.com with copy to kabinet@mers.gov.me , nenad.vitomirovic@mers.gov.me and drobnjakjovana@ymail.com .

The application documents in Montenegrin language can be downloaded at:

Javni oglas za specijalistu za informacione tehnologije

The contact person in the Ministry is Andrijana Ćuković, e-mail andrijanacukovic@gmail.com.

Applications that do not meet all the requirements of this announcement will not be taken into consideration.