LONG-TERM POLICY ADVISOR ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) |
| Location : |
Yerevan, ARMENIA |
| Application Deadline : | 16-Jul-12 |
| Additional Category | Democratic Governance |
| Type of Contract : | Individual Contract |
| Post Level : | International Consultant |
Languages Required :
|
English |
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) | 20-Aug-2012 | | Duration of Initial Contract : | One year (150 working days) | | Expected Duration of Assignment : | One year with possibility of renewal |
Background |
The EU Advisory Group (EUAG) supports the Government of Armenia in its reform agenda as further detailed in the extended EU/Armenia Action Plan in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The overall objective of the project is to support the Republic of Armenia (RA) in the implementation of Armenia's reform agenda and relevant international commitments assumed by Armenia including through the implementation of the extended ENP Action Plan (ENPAP).
The EUAG will achieve these objectives through the continued delivery of an optimal mix of policy, legal and institutional advisory services. These services are targeted at assisting the national authorities to negotiate and conclude the EU-Armenian Association Agreement including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA), implement the extended EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan and make effective use of European Commission (EC) external assistance instruments and programmes to support the implementation of core policy areas.
Goals and Specifics of Assignment
The 1996 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the RA emphasized the protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) among those provisions affecting business and investment. Thus the Armenia-EU ENP AP has foreseen actions to ensure IPR protection in the RA according to EU and international standards. As a consequence, the EC and the EUAG have identified a number of gaps and recommendations concerning the Armenian IPR system.
Since December 2009, the EUAG has been taking an active role, together with the Armenian stakeholders, in the following areas of the IPR system: legislative reforms, awareness-raising actions, designing an IPR Strategy and an IPR enforcement Twinning and enforcement implementation. During the first year of implementation of phase III of the EUAG (since March 2011) the reform process has been accelerated.
The assistance will be continued by supporting: specific enforcement IPR legislative reforms (civil and criminal procedures); specific IPR institutional reforms (special focus to Customs and Judiciary); reform of the pharmaceutical data protection legislation; and, continuous IPR awareness raising actions.
|
Duties and Responsibilities |
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the EUAG Team Leader, the Advisor on IPR is expected to:
- Provide advisory services to Armenian authorities on all issues related to bringing Armenian legislation, awareness-raising actions and enforcement of IPR in line with the extended ENP AP for 2012-2013;
- Provide policy advice and assistance regarding all IPR and related rights issues raised during the ongoing DCFTA negotiations between the RA and the EU on IPR aspects;
- Follow-up implementation of the RA IPR Strategy and its Action plan;
- Develop proposals on enhancing coordination with other EU assistance instruments (TAIEX and the 2012/2013 Twinning on IPR enforcement) and other international donors;
- Cooperate with Twinning or any other EU instruments and prepare EU AG workplans taking into account Twinning/EU instruments activities;
- Support the registration of Trade Marks and strengthen their enforcement;
- Provide advisory services, or alternately coordinate technical assistance, on protection of data related to the registration of medicines;
- Develop and maintain good working relationships with all stakeholders, related projects and the donor community;
- Ensure that the management reporting timelines defined in the EUAG work plan are adhered to and that outputs/results are delivered on time;
- Ensure transfer of skills and experience to national experts and trainees.
The Advisor will adhere at all times to the provisions of the EUAG Code of Conduct. The EUAG will provide the Advisor with the interpretation/translation services required for carrying out the assignment.
Expected Deliverables:
The Advisor on IPR is expected to produce the following deliverables:
- Advice on (i) the criminal and civil codes reforms, (ii) RA Customs detentions practices, and (iii) RA Police actions discussed with the beneficiaries, implemented and monitored; all activities should assure coordination with any relevant Twinning activities;
- Policy papers on any new RA IPR-related law, in particular on data protection of registered medicines and enforcement proceedings, drafted and delivered;
- Advice in relation to IPR-related training programmes implemented and monitored against sustainability. In particular, the proposals of inclusion of IPR topics in the official curricula of the RA Prosecutors School, Judges Academy and Police School;
- A number of trainings on IPR delivered to judges, prosecutors, police officials, customs officials and private stakeholders. Some trainings will be organized in collaboration with international donors (e.g. USAID), EU technical assistance programmes (e.g., Twinning and TAIEX) and civil society (local chamber of Commerce, NGOs, etc);
- Proposals of agenda items for the IPR Observatory sessions developed and participation on behalf of EUAG at the Observatory sessions accomplished;
- Support and coordination provided in relation to the implementation of the 2012/2013 IPR enforcement Twinning project and participation on the Twinning Steering Committee accomplished;
- Reports on the state of play of the IPR reform drafted and regularly updated;
- Posters on risks posed by counterfeiting and piracy distributed at the Yerevan Airport and educational institutions.
|
Competencies |
- Good understanding of the ENP and EU Accession Policy and a good knowledge of EU Institutions and Community assistance programs;
Highly developed coordination and facilitation skills and the ability to negotiate complex agenda with a broad range of stakeholders;
Proficient command of English; knowledge of other EU community languages and some knowledge of Russian would be an asset.
|
Required Skills and Experience |
Education
- University education, preferably a post-graduate level in Law, with a specialization on IP or equivalent working experience.
Experience: - A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in dealing with IPR issues in an EU Member State and/or a EU Institution, with particular emphasis on the effective enforcement of those rights and the cross connection of legislation of different legal nature concerning IPR;
- First hand work experience in IPR enforcement would be considered an advantage.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
