UNDP Jobs - 40611- International Consultant on Meat Carcasses Classif

International Consultant on Meat Carcasses Classification

Location :

Chisinau, MOLDOVA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

21-Oct-2013

Application Deadline :

05-Oct-13 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

up to 25 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Relations between the Republic of Moldova (RM) and the European Union (EU) formally started with the signing of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in 1994 that entered into force in 1998. The PCA established the basic principles of cooperation between RM and EU and was designed for a10 year period. With the formal expiration of the term in 2008, the validity of the Agreement is being extended automatically provided none of the parties’ requests formal cancellation. PCA constitutes the framework of relations between RM and EU.

In 2005, in the context of the new European Neighborhood Policy, RM and EU signed an EU-Moldova Action Plan (EUMAP) for a period of 3 years, which included a series of actions aiming at deepening the cooperation between the two parties. In February 2008, upon the conclusion of the Action Plan implementation period, the European Council adopted a decision expressing the readiness to initiate new negotiations with the RM with the goal of signing a new agreement. In parallel with the Action Plan, Moldova has signed with the EU a Visa Facilitation Agreement, and received a preferential trade regime (Autonomous Trade Preferences) with the EU for a majority of the goods produced in Moldova.

Since 2010, RM has been successfully carrying out negotiations with EU for an Association Agreement (AA) and has undertaken concrete steps towards a deeper relationship with the EU. On 5 December 2011, EU decided to launch negotiations on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with Moldova, with the purpose of boosting economic growth and investment within its Eastern European partner. These negotiations tackled a broad range of trade and economic issues in order to ensure a closer economic integration with the EU for Moldova. DCFTA will be part of the AA, which strives, also in line with the EU’s Eastern Partnership objectives, to closely associate Moldova to the European Union in both economic and political dimensions. The EU and the RM successfully held the final round of negotiations on a DCFTA in June 2013.

The DCFTA consists of 14 chapters; it will provide for a significantly improved mutual access for European and Moldovan goods and services. It will ensure an open, stable and predictable legal environment for the benefit of Moldovan businesses and consumers. The DCFTA will improve the trade opportunities between EU and Moldova and enhance prosperity of both economies. The Project “Building Institutional Capacity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI)” aims at strengthening the institutional capacity of the MFAEI as lead institution in the AA negotiation process. In the same context, the Project seeks to contribute to developing EU integration capacities of key line ministries, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI).

The immediate focus is currently the post-negotiation and implementation phases of the AA. Alignment of policy, institutional arrangements, legislation procedures and best practices to EU standards and requirements is a priority for MAFI to raise the level of consumer protection and competitiveness domestically and to gain access to EU markets. In particular reference is made here to relevant parts of Common Market Organization policy documents and legislation (including Council Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 establishing a common organization of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1249/2008 laying down detailed rules on the implementation of the Community scales for the classification of beef, pig and sheep carcasses).

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project will contract an International Consultant to consult and raise capacity of both the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) and the National Agency for Food Safety (ANSA) in the area of upgrading and EU approximation of policy, legislation institutional arrangements, procedures and best practices in the area of meat carcasses classification

This objective should be met through the following activities and through the following deliverables:

Key activities:

Assess and report on current Moldovan policy, legislation, institutional arrangements, national procedures and documentation in the area of EU meat carcasses classification. Provide examples of EU member states’ systems and best practices and consult with private sector;
On the basis of activity 1 to agree jointly with beneficiaries the most suitable system for Moldova and agree a mission action plan for creating such a system;
Support MAFI in drafting legislation / legislative amendments (including regulating institutional arrangements) and supporting documentation (e.g. legislative impact analysis) based on EU best practice;
Support ANSA in drafting a package of operational documentation for implementing official control of compliance with EU meat carcasses classification;
Present the final mission report during a workshop with both beneficiaries.

Deliverables

Report on Moldovan current policy, legislation, institutional arrangements, national procedures and documentation and EU member states systems and best practices and opinions of Moldovan private sector in the area of official control of compliance with EU meat carcasses classification;
Mission action plan;
Draft legislation / legislative amendments (including regulating institutional arrangements) and supporting documentation (e.g. legislative impact analysis);
Package of operational documentation for implementing official control of EU meat carcasses classification;
Workshop with both beneficiaries. Result MAFI and ANSA capable of defining and implementing a EU compliant system of official control regarding EU meat carcasses classification.

Competencies

Strong interpersonal skills;
Communication and diplomatic skills;
Ability to work in a team.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualification:

Relevant University degree. Relevant Master's Degree or PhD would be an asset.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years of work experience in the area of EU meat carcasses classification systems;
Experience in transposing of EU requirements in the area of EU meat carcasses classification systems;
Specific experience especially of implementing EU meat carcasses classification system;
Knowledge of and experience in assisting government institutions within projects funded by international organizations in the region of Central and Eastern Europe (experience in countries with economies in transition would be an asset).

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English;
Knowledge of Romanian or Russian would be an asset.

Application procedure:

Financial proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract).

Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals the financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including fee, taxes, travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel:

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. Up to two travel missions are envisaged under this assignment, with a minimum 20 working days in Moldova.

Evaluation:

Initially, individual consultants will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:

Relevant University Degree;
Minimum 7 years of work experience in the area of EU meat carcasses classification systems.

The short-listed individual consultants will be further evaluated based on the following methodology: Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight – 60% (300 points)
* Financial Criteria weight – 40% (200 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 210 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Relevant University degree (max. 30 points);
Minimum 7 years of working experience in the area of EU meat carcasses classification systems (max. 90 points);
Experience in implementing EU meat carcasses classification systems(max. 80 points);
Knowledge of and experience in assisting government institutions within projects funded by international organizations in the region of Central and Eastern Europe (experience in countries of transitional economy would be an asset) (max. 50 points);
Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team(max. 30 points);
Fluency in written and spoken English, knowledge of Romanian or Russian would be an asset (max. 20 points);

Evaluation of submitted financial offers will be done based on the following formula:
S = Fmin / F * 200 S – score received on financial evaluation;
Fmin – the lowest financial offer out of all the submitted offers qualified over the technical evaluation round;
F – financial offer under consideration.

Important notice:

The applicant who has the statute of Government Official / Public Servant, prior to appointment will be asked to submit the following documentation: A no-objection letter in respect of the applicant received from the government, and; The applicant is certified in writing by the government to be on official leave without pay for the duration of the Individual Contract. A retired government official is not considered in this case a government official, and as such, may be contracted. This Vacancy Announcement is also placed on http://www.undp.md/jobs/current_jobs.