Emplois au PNUD - 20883- International expert on support to the study tour

International expert on support to the study tour to Croatia, SSA (EU/UNDP Support to the Regional Development Agency in Crimea)

Lieu :

CROATIE

Type de contrat :

Individual Contract

Date de commencement :

31-Jan-2011

Date limite de candidature :

17-Jan-11 (Minuit New York, États-Unis)

Niveau du poste :

International Consultant

Durée du contrat initial

1 month

Langues requises :

Anglais

Durée prévue de la mission :

1 month

Le PNUD s’engage à recruter un personnel divers en termes de genre, de nationalité et de culture. Nous encourageons de même les personnes issues des minorités ethniques, des communautés autochtones ou handicapées à postuler. Toutes les candidatures seront traitées dans la plus stricte confidentialité. Le PNUD ne tolère pas l’exploitation et / ou les atteintes sexuelles, ni aucune forme de harcèlement, y compris le harcèlement sexuel, et / ou toutes formes de discrimination. Tous/tes les candidats/tes selectectionnes /ées devront ainsi se soumettre à de rigoureuses vérifications relatives aux références fournies ainsi qu’à leurs antécédents.

Historique

In April 2010, the new ARC Government announced plans to establish the Crimean Regional Development Agency (ARD-ARC) under the direct authority of the Prime Minister of Crimea. A republican development strategy has been developed and awaits ratification by the Parliament in Simferopol.

As a first step, a newly formed ARC Council of Ministers is keen to launch the operations of the ARD-ARC as soon as possible. It is also planned to convert the Agency into a multi-stakeholder institution. The overall objective of the RDA-ARC is to effectively coordinate and contribute to the sustainable regional development of the peninsula, including the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment to the region.

The support project “Crimean Regional Development Agency Support Project”, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Crimea was launched on August 23, 2010. The main objective of the Project’s Technical Assistance Team (TAT) is to build up the capacities of the RDA-ARC to make it able to effectively coordinate and contribute to the sustainable regional development of the peninsula, endorsed by Crimean development actors.

One of the elements pursued by the Technical Assistance Team is training and coaching of the ARD staff, in order to allow them to fulfill their functions within the Agency effectively. As part of the training and coaching programme, the Technical Assistance Team intends to organize several study tours overseas in order to allow Agency stakeholders and staff to learn from international experience in the area of Regional Development, its framework and structure.

Experts of the EU-funded SSRD project recommended the selection of Croatia for the first Executive Crimean delegation. This country demonstrates a loose national legal and institutional framework for regional development. Yet, at the same time, Croatia represents good examples of successfully operating RDAs. This would also offer Crimean decision-makers relevant experience of proactive regions which have built a regional development capacity using a bottom-up approach.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Study tour to Croatia by Crimean Executive officials and representatives of stakeholders and other key partners of the Crimean ARD. The aim of the study tour is to study the Croatian Regional Development Institutional framework & see specific examples of successful Croatian RDAs.

Objectives of the study tour:

The proposed study tour should offer the Crimean counterpart an improved understanding of the concept of a Regional Development Agency; its roles and activities, its legal and regulatory framework, procedures, organizational structure and operation practices.
It should familiarise the Crimean counterparts with the frameworks for planning, evaluation and implementation of Regional Development policies in Croatia.
It should offer a firsthand overview of the Croatian experience in regional development management and implementation systems, their role and achievements.
It should assist the Crimean counterparts to develop capacity in Regional Development through training, information and other education activities.
It should assist in establishing networks and partnerships between Crimean officials and Croatian counterparts for future cooperation, including in development best practice exchange in the sphere of Regional Development

Strategy of the study tour

There are several issues of interest within the area of Regional Development. Institutional, practical and procedural aspects should be covered in the course of the study visit. Therefore the main institution(s) and stakeholders coordinating and implementing Regional Development in Croatia should be visited during the study tour. These should include:

a. Presentation of the Regional Development System in Croatia: framework, structure, procedures\functions, management schemes and implementation mechanisms (two days overview/ meetings in Zagreb):

Regional Development legal framework and its statutory objectives
Structure of the Regional Development System in Croatia
System/ structures used to financing Regional Development
Relations with stakeholders (municipal authorities, businesses, NGO’s, community etc.)
Agency for Regional Development (on national level) activities (coordination, support, monitoring etc)
Details of implementation mechanisms in the Regional Development (agenda and activities).
Details of impact evaluation, monitoring and feedback systems.

b. Visits to the Regional Development Agencies and other stakeholders involved in the regional development processes in Croatia (three days):

It is proposed that the Crimean delegation should visit Regional Development Agencies in three Croatian regions (representing 3 different NUTS II regions), including Istria in order to become more familiar with the structure, role and operational practices of the IDA (Istrian Development Agency).
Attend presentations and lectures by relevant practitioners and experts.
Visit relevant institutions and hold meetings with relevant stakeholders (such as county-zupanija offices and heads)
Field trips to programs/projects being implemented as part of the Regional Development Strategy
Explore the possibility of fostering closer relations between the two regions (Istria and ARC) and RDAs for future cooperation based on mutual interest. This could be in the form of Memorandums of Understanding or proposed twinning projects.

Activities to be undertaken by the selected contractor:

Prepare the detailed programme of meetings for the study tour (institutions to be visited, departments/individuals to be met, presentations/lectures to be delivered, arrange visits to relevant projects/programs, recommend experts to be consulted and arrange and confirm meetings with the specialists/professionals working in the sphere of Regional Development)
Preparation of social events (e.g. dinner, sightseeing or similar) and other activities (informal meetings, roundtables, discussions etc.).
Logistics of the whole study tour including transportation within Croatia, arrangements, and assistance with visa procedures and the services of a Russian-Croatian interpreter.
Arrange accommodation within Croatia, if and where required, in cooperation with the UNDP organizers.
Progress report from the preparatory phase of the implementation of the study tour to be prepared.
Assist the UNDP project in the preparation of any MoU and liaise with the Croatian party countersigning such MoUs to obtain their feedback and suggestions.
Conduct the study tour on the above-mentioned issues and assist the Crimean experts, wherever necessary.
Complete and deliver to the UNDP project a final study tour report.

Participants and the duration of the study tour
11 - 18 executive officials from Crimea (number to be confirmed) representing senior officials of the main partners of the Project and stakeholders of the Crimean RDA to visit Croatia for 5 working days (provisionally planned for week commencing 20th February 2011). EU/UNDP “Crimea Regional Development Agency Support Project” shall be responsible for selection of the participants for the events.

Outcomes to be delivered:

Highly organized study tour in terms of logistics, quality and consistency with the study tour agenda and issues.
Creation of the necessary conditions for an in-depth overview by the Crimean counterparts of best practices and methodologies applied in Croatia in the creation of Regional Development Agencies, institutional and legal frameworks, operational schemes, organisational structure and implementation/monitoring mechanisms.
Establishment of working relations between Crimean officials and Croatian counterparts for future cooperation in the sphere of Regional Development.
Study materials of the study tour and participants’ evaluation of the study tour
Final report summarizing the visit, conclusions and actions to be taken.

Selection Procedure:
The technical part is evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference with clear outline of the selection criteria to be given for each of the technical requirements stated in the TOR as follows:

Education – 20 points
Practical experience in the required sphere – 30 points
Understanding of international organisations’ management practices – 20 points
Networking and communication skills – 20 points
Knowledge of required languages – 10 points
Total – 100 points

The award will be based on highest qualified candidate (candidate obtaining highest score).

Compétences

Good understanding of international organisations’ management practices.
Good communication skills, exceptional interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

Master’s degree in Economics or other related fields;

Experience:

Minimum 2 years of the demonstrated experience in the sphere of regional development.
Minimum 2 years of the previous experience in designing/organising study tours related to regional development.

Language Requirements:

Ability to communicate in English both verbally and in writing is a pre-requisite.