Overview : Purpose To hire a number of consultants with specific expertise and experience in EU accession process, to provide advisory support to the Ministry of Finance in the course of the EU negotiation process on Chapter 4: Free movement of capital, Chapter 8: Competition Policy, Chapter 9: Financial Services, Chapter 16: Taxation, Chapter 17: Economic and Monetary Policy, Chapter 29: Customs Union, Chapter 32: Financial Control and Chapter 33: Budgetary and financial provisions. Objective To enhance the capacities of the Ministry of Finance in the framework of the negotiations on the accession of Serbia to the European Union. Background Information Since the political turning point in the year 2000, the Serbian Ministry of Finance has led a major donor-supported reform drive, encompassing four distinct administrations and eight Finance Ministers over years. Initially, the Ministry’s internal structure, strategic, planning and forecasting capacity, technical know-how, as well as ICT systems were inadequate for the challenge of transforming economy into a transparent and fast-evolving market-based system. However, through three successive UNDP-led interventions and compatible projects of other donors, the Ministry has consistently introduced and promoted effective public administration mechanisms and practices and has succeeded in providing emerging financial stability. Focusing on the EU integration, the Ministry continues the reforms as defined by priorities and conditions set by the stabilization and association process. Within the context of a global financial crisis, the Ministry must quickly improve its policy coordination capacity, internally and with other stakeholders. Responsible policy-making requires new cohesive mechanisms, harmonizing diverse strategic priorities such as privatization, planning & forecasting, state aid, public finances management, free flow of capital, EU integration and data monitoring. The Republic of Serbia has completed the screening process. The European Commission determined the benchmarks to be fulfilled for opening of the negotiations. The Ministry of Finance needs assistance in fulfilling the opening benchmarks that have been set. This TOR encompasses advisory support and guidance during opening negotiations on specific chapters and support in preparing the negotiating platform/positions. Description of Responsibilities Scope of work The consultants shall be required to provide advisory support and guidance to the Ministry of Finance for Chapter 4: Free movement of capital, Chapter 8: Competition Policy, Chapter 9: Financial Services, Chapter 16: Taxation, Chapter 17: Economic and Monetary Policy, Chapter 29: Customs Union, Chapter 32: Financial Control and Chapter 33: Budgetary and financial provisions within the process of the EU negotiations. Specific responsibilities include: - Design and conduct on the job training/workshops on complying with the requirements of the EU Directives, as well as on the implementation practice;
- Provide advisory services and consultancies in legal harmonization with the European Union standards and practical implementation of EU directives in the relevant fields;
- Conduct analysis/ research necessary for the approximation process, for the relevant chapter.
During the assignments, the consultants shall closely cooperate with the Ministry of Finance management and personnel, as well as other relevant stakeholders. Duties, responsibilities and key milestones UNDP Serbia invites applications from qualified experts who will work within the above defined framework. The specific tasks and outputs for each consultancy will be defined in separate ToRs. Service Deliverables - Design and conduct on the job training/workshop, as per request.
- Provide advisory services and consultancy, as per request.
- Conduct an analysis/research, as per request.
- Report produced - after the completion of each activity, as specified under individual contracts, to be concluded per assignment
Opening briefing with UNDP RR and Project Manager shall be organized at the beginning of the assignment. All deliverables will have to be quality reviewed and approved or accepted by the UNDP Project Manager in consultations with the national partner. Competencies - Consistently ensures timeliness and quality of project work.
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
- Evidence of ability to express ideas clearly; to work independently and in teams. Ability to summarize and systematize complex information and identify priorities for follow up activities.
- Coaching/lecturing skills
- Shares knowledge and experience.
- Focuses on results and responds positively to feedback.
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling ethical standards.
Qualifications - Master degree in the field of economics, law, business administration, organizational sciences or related field;
- Track record of professional experience in the relevant area for which the consultant is applying for, of minimum 8 years;
- Broad understanding and knowledge of comparative experiences in EU accession negotiations of current and former accession countries and excellent knowledge of national institutional and legal framework and implementation practice.
- Knowledge of English language is necessary.
Application Procedure: Interested individual consultants must submit, via UNDP Web site: UNDP in Serbia under section “Jobs” no later than 5 August 2016, the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications: Signed P11 (only PDF will be accepted) containing e-mail contacts of at least three referees (section 26 & 29). P11 may be downloaded at: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/ic/P11.doc. Offeror’s Letter (only PDF will be accepted) confirming Interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment. Please indicate the negotiation chapter(s) you are applying for. This can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/ic/Confirmation.docx . Cover Letter – explaining why you are the most suitable for the work should be included in the Offeror’s letter.
Additional Information: Individual Contract (IC) will be applicable for individual consultants applying in their own capacity. If the applicant is employed by any legal entity, IC would be issued upon submission of Consent letter from the employer acknowledging the engagement with UNDP.Template of General Conditions on IC could be found on: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/ic/Confirmation.docx - Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be applicable for applicants employed by any legal entity. Template of RLA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/RLA%20with%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.doc. In the case of engagement of Civil servants under IC contract modality a no-objection letter should be provided by the Government entity. The ‘no-objection’ letter must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status (if applicable), and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. If the previous is not applicable ‘leave-without-pay’ confirmation should be submitted.
Engagement of Government Officials and Employees Government Officials or Employees are civil servants of UN Member States. As such, if they will be engaged by UNDP under an IC which they will be signing in their individual capacity (i.e., engagement is not done through RLA signed by their Government employer), the following conditions must be met prior to the award of contract: (i) A “No-objection” letter in respect of the individual is received from the Government employing him/her, and; (ii) The individual must provide an official documentation from his/her employer formally certifying his or her status as being on “official leave without pay” for the duration of the IC. The above requirements are also applicable to Government-owned and controlled enterprises and well as other semi/partially or fully owned Government entities, whether or not the Government ownership is of majority or minority status.
UNDP recognizes the possibility that there are situations when the Government entity employing the individual that UNDP wishes to engage is one that allows its employees to receive external short-term consultancy assignments (including but not limited to research institutions, state-owned colleges/universities, etc.), whereby a status of “on-leave-without-pay” is not required. Under such circumstance, the individual entering into an IC with UNDP must still provide a “No-objection” letter from the Government employing him/her. The “no objection” letter required under (i) above must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status, and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. The said document may be obtained by, and put on record of, UNDP, in lieu of the document (ii) listed above. Please note that you may upload your application documents for the mentioned consultancy ref. 1597 at following the link:http://www.rs.undp.org/content/serbia/en/home/operations/jobs/ . For more information on the application procedure please refer to the enclosed Procurement Notice. |