UNDP Jobs - 28302- Consultant for designing training materials and de

Consultant for designing training materials and delivering trainings in the area of monitoring of municipal budget execution

Location :

home based and throughout Montenegro, MONTENEGRO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

13-Mar-2012

Application Deadline :

01-Mar-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

2 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

14 days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Reform and strengthening of the local governance system in Montenegro is progressing. The Government of Montenegro has developed and adopted several strategic policy documents for further development of the local governance system. Those documents set up the basis for the amendments to the overall legal system for functioning of municipalities; hence, the new legal framework was adopted (changes in the Law on Local Self-Government, the Law on Local Self-Government Financing, adoption of the Strategy for Regional Development and the Law on Regional Development, adoption of the AURUM - Strategy for Public Administration Reform). In the previous period, significant step was made in the fiscal decentralization in Montenegro with the adoption and implementation of the Law on Local Self-Government Financing. Fiscal decentralization is not only a question of transferring resources to the different levels of local government. It is also about the extent to which local governments are empowered and about how much authority and control they exercise over the use and management of devolved financial resources. Budget preparation and planning is one of the most critical phases of the budget cycle in which local governments are supposed to project their activities for the next fiscal year. Execution of the budget can be considered a simple continuation of the budget planning process, and therefore, the manner in which this phase is carried out largely depends on the quality of work invested in the planning phase. In addition to this, monitoring of the budget execution is important part that contributes to the transparency and accountability of the process.

In cooperation with key national stakeholders (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Interior, Union of Municipalities of Montenegro) and all municipalities in Montenegro, and by the financial support of the Kingdom of Netherlands, UNDP Montenegro is implementing Project “Strengthening mechanisms for public finance at the local level in Montenegro” with the overall objective to facilitate socio-economic development at the local level through strengthening accountable, transparent and results oriented public finance mechanisms. The project is designed with a specific purpose to support development of capacities of the municipal stakeholders and stakeholders at the central level to introduce transparent, accountable, results oriented budgeting reflecting capital investments, local and national strategic priorities. In addition, the project will focus on building transparent and accountable public finance system at the local level by improving budgeting processes, support fiscal equalization system and mechanisms at the same time to explore possibilities for issuing municipal bonds for financing of capital infrastructure.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the assignment:
The purpose is to recruit an international consultant to work on design and implementation of a capacity development programme for selected municipal councilors in order to achieve more transparent, accountable and effective municipal budget monitoring.

The objective of this consultancy is to design training curricula and deliver trainings on monitoring of municipal budget execution.

The key target group for capacity development support will be selected municipal councilors from all municipalities in Montenegro (21 municipalities).

Job content:
Under the guidance of the UNDP Programme Manager for Local Governance Programme, an international consultant will conduct following main activities:

• Liaise and ensure constant communication/coordination with UNDP project team regarding the all aspects of the assignment;
• Prepare a work plan with time-table for this assignment;
• Conduct an analysis/assessment of all relevant legislation and documents in the area of public administration, local self-government/local self-government financing, specifically related to monitoring of municipal budget execution;
• Design specialized high-quality tailor-made training curricula focusing on the topic: Monitoring of the Municipal Budget Execution and deliver three two-day trainings (for representatives of seven municipalities per training) for target group representatives (selected municipal councilors from all municipalities, representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Union of Municipalities of Montenegro, etc.). Expected number of participants per training is twenty eight. Delivery of trainings is expected in April 2012;
• Prepare trainings agenda and lead the delivery of trainings (having presenter/trainer/facilitator role);

The expected results:
Under the supervision of the UNDP Programme Manager for Local Governance Programme, international consultant is expected to deliver the following results:

• Approach and the detail plan of activities with time-table for an assignment prepared, approved by UNDP Montenegro;
• A specialized tailor-made curricula for the area of monitoring of municipal budget execution developed, and approved by UNDP Montenegro;
• Trainings delivered based on agreed curricula (total of three trainings);
• Reports for each conducted training prepared (total of three trainings), summarizing all relevant information, such as participants structure, participants feedback on delivered training, discussion points, comments, suggestions, etc.;
• Final report on all activities undertaken under this assignment prepared, highlighting main results achieved and proposed recommendations in the area of monitoring of municipal budget execution.

Timing and reporting:
International consultant is expected to work in Montenegro and home based during the assignment duration (March 2012- May 2012). The international consultant will be responsible for written regular reporting to the UNDP Programme Manager for Local Governance Programme, and it should contain sufficient detail and information that would allow for the appraisal of the effectiveness to date of the assignment’s activities.

Time duration and travel:
The international consultant will be engaged under individual contract, for total of 14 consultancy days, in the period between March and May, 2012 (dates will be determined as soon as possible). During the 14 consultancy days, the consultant is expected to work from home in duration of approximately 6 (six) working days, and undertake one field visit to Montenegro, in duration of 8 (eight) working days, for delivering trainings throughout Montenegro.
International consultant is expected to undertake one mission to Montenegro during the assignment duration (in April 2012) and be able to travel throughout Montenegro, pursuant to the work plan of assignment’s activities.
International and local travel costs and Daily Subsistence Allowance costs should be included in the lump sum figure.

Competencies

- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
- Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
- Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.

Required Skills and Experience

• University degree, preferably in economics or financial management;
• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience;
• Proven expertise and experience in the local public finance (focusing on the oversight role of councilors in the municipal budgeting) and knowledge of relevant practices, preferable working experience in EU countries and in the region of south-east Europe;
• Modern approach to delivery of policy/technical advice, and experience of working with local self-governments senior officials in a process of public finances reform;
• Management experience, preferably within the context of international organization/local self-governments;
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English, whereas knowledge of the local language would be an asset;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, demonstrated ability to facilitate/conduct trainings, workshops, etc.;
• Excellent IT skills, including word-processing, database applications, presentation software, etc.