Link to Atlas Project

Documents

Overview

Purpose

To support the Government in promoting creative industries, audio-visual production and tourism.

Objective

To ensure results oriented, effective, efficient and accountable implementation of the priorities arising from the program of the Government. 
 
Background Information

In order to steer reforms at a fast-track pace, the Office of the Prime Minister has set up a Strategic project implementation Unit as a single information and coordination point supporting the head of Government in reaching evidence-based policy decisions. Areas, outlined in the expose of the Prime Minister  in which there are huge potentials, include tourism, creative industries and culture. Owing to the talented and creative people, uniquely versatile culture, gorgeous landscapes and historical heritage, these activities provide great potentials both for economic development, increase of foreign currency inflow and employment, as well as for promotion of Serbia across the world. The goal of the Government of the Republic of Serbia is to increase the number of tourists from 2.7 million in 2016 to 3.7 million arrivals in 2020, with the projected foreign currency inflow from tourism of USD 2.5 billion. On the international list of congress destinations, Serbia jumped 25 places in the past 10 years and is now 48th. The focus of the present Government is to bring the gatherings of international organisations to Serbia, not only to Belgrade but also to other congress centres, such as Novi Sad, Subotica, Aranđelovac, Vrdnik, Kopaonik and Niš. Further, a great contribution for the promotion of Serbia as a tourist destination comes from the film industry and TV production. Films, series and advertisements coming from the United States, Europe, and even India, enable Serbian landscapes to be seen by dozens of millions of people across the world. The Government will support the programme of incentives that has yielded results, work on the provision of training of film workers and look for investors for additional film studios. Incentives are also intended for local film and TV productions. The Government will also support the development of new media, such as virtual reality, visual effects and digital entertainment.

Description of Responsibilities

Scope of work

The Consultant shall be contracted in order to deliver the following:

• Analysis and report on impact of Serbia audio-visual content production incentives programme in 2016 and 2017  (thus far) and recommendations for improvement. The report should especially contain data on foreign and domestic investments, public sector income (taxes, film permit fees, etc.), jobs created, film locations used, economic impact of the program and its contribution to the GDP and recommendations on the promotion
• Support organization of familiarization tours for up to 12 international TV and film producers and locations managers from US, UK and India to Serbia by providing lists of specific professionals to be invited and developing agendas and material for their visits.
• Review existing feasibility studies, reports, marketing materials, due diligence reports on film studios, spas, convention centre and recommend improvements
• Develop marketing and promotion strategy and plan for the audio-visual production incentive programme and other opportunities on new markets such as India, China, South Korea, South Africa, Turkey.
• Develop a report on the need and prospect of investing in a new film studio in or around Belgrade and provide comparative analysis of other big studios in the SEE region (their infrastructure, business models, rates, success drivers, etc.)
• Support strategic cooperation efforts with China and India in creative industries, film and TV production sectors (MOUs or treaties with China National Film Development Council and India International Film Tourism Conclave) by developing communication materials to be sent, participate in meetings and negotiations, suggest specific strategies and measures, all in close cooperation with the Office of the Prime Minister.
• Develop a draft concept and outline business plan for a potential creative skills technical school with comparative analysis of other such facilities in Europe and the best examples from around the world, by consulting existing art and tech schools and key stakeholders in the related sector in Serbia.
• Analyse the Serbian creative industries development potential and recommend key steps, stakeholders, opportunities and bottlenecks.
• Support facilitation of the Serbia creative and digital industries as well as tourism branding concept development by leading workshops, brainstorming sessions and meetings and developing reports with key findings, recommendations and action plan (at least 10 meetings foreseen).
• Analyse the key tourism organizations’ websites – Tourism Organization of Serbia, Tourism Organization of Belgrade and Serbia Convention Bureau and online promotional tools with recommendations for improvements
• Provide a set of specific recommendations on steps necessary in order to improve Serbia’s standing on the World Economic Forum’s Tourism Competitiveness Index, along with an action plan listing timelines and responsible parties, based on specific indicators of the index.

Duties, responsibilities and key milestones

The consultant is responsible for the following deliverable:

• Output 1: Analysis and report on impact of Serbia audio-visual content production incentives programme in 2016 and 2017 (thus far) and recommendations for improvement, submitted. Deadline: 30 September 2017.
• Output 2: Report on the need and prospect of investing in a new film studio submitted. Deadline: 30 September 2017.
• Output 3: Analysis of key Serbia tourism websites. Deadline: 15 October 2017.
• Output 4: At least 2 familiarization trips organized for US, UK or Indian film professionals. Deadline: 30 October 2017.
• Output 5: Marketing and promotion strategy and plan for the audio-visual production incentive programme and other opportunities on new markets, submitted. Deadline: 30 October 2017.
• Output 6: Revision of existing feasibility studies, reports, marketing materials, due diligence reports on film studios, spas, convention centre and recommend improvements. Deadline: 30 November 2017.
• Output 7: Letters, materials and recommendation for strategies and measures for cooperation with China and India in creative industries, film and TV production sectors. Deadline: 30 November 2017.
• Output 8: Draft concept and outline business plan for a potential creative skills technical school, submitted. Deadline: 30 December 2017.
• Output 9: Recommendations for Serbia’s improvement on the World Economic Forum’s Tourism Competitiveness Index. Deadline: 30 December 2017.
• Output 10: Analysis on the Serbian creative industries development potential, submitted. Deadline: 30 January 2018.
• Output 11: Report on workshops, brainstorming sessions and meetings with key findings, recommendations and action plans for the branding concept for Serbia’s creative and digital industries, film and tourism. Deadline: 15 February 2018.

The timelines may be slightly adjusted once the contract is signed with the consultant in order to align with actual project implementation. All written deliverables should be not less than 7 and not more than 20 pages long, written in English, with a one page summary of key points or findings.

All deliverables will have to be quality reviewed and approved or accepted by the UNDP Technical Advisor and Program Analyst 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.
• 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

Education:

• BA in social studies or arts and culture, tourism, marketing, or media production.

Experience:

• Over 15 years of proven international professional experience in the area of creative industries development
• Proven EU / Global experience with international development agencies
• Local economic development and global business background – especially in tourism and media destination marketing and branding
• Sound understanding of Serbia’s economy, legal environment and specifically creative and tourism industries and stakeholders
• Sound experience of working with film studios - infrastructure development, business planning & feasibility studies
• Proven sound understanding of the creative industries, especially audio-visual production in China, India, South Korea, South Africa.

Languages:

• Excellent written and spoken English.

Application Procedure:

Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit their applications via UNDP Web site: UNDP in Serbia under section “Jobs” no later than 14 September 2017.

Applications should include:

• P11 (PDF format) 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 (PDF format) confirming Interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment (Table B: Breakdown of Cost by Deliverables). Can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/ic/Confirmation.docx (only PDF will be accepted). The Offeror’s letter must also include Cover Letter – Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work.

Additional Information:

• Individual Contract (IC) will be applicable for individual consultants applying in their own capacity. 
• 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. 1730 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.