Background

On its path toward European Union membership, Montenegro makes important steps. The negotiations on Accession to EU were opened on 29th of June 2012, and so far Montenegro completed screening process opened 7 negotiation chapters and temporary closed two: 25 – Science and Research and 26 – Education and Culture. EU has provided significant financial assistance - 235.7 million euros were allocated to Montenegro within the framework of Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) under the multi-annual financial perspective of EU for the period 2007-2013. New EU multi-annual financial framework for 2014-2020, defined in 2013, followed the ongoing experience with IPA established new Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance - IPA II.

IPA II should be more coherent, strategic, efficient, better targeted, more result oriented, and based on a sector wide approach aiming at improving the readiness of Montenegro for EU membership. Based on a strategic and sector wide approach, including multi-annually targeted intervention programmes, IPA II should support EU accession process through enhancing economic and social development in Montenegro, underpinning a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth agenda in line with the Europe 2020 strategy and to align progressively with the Copenhagen criteria. Under this new framework, stronger cooperation and coordination among the institutions is required and the programming process should ensure coherence between the EU financial assistance and national resources supporting the implementation of the pre-accession strategy.

This indicates that one of a major innovation in the IPA II instrument is focused at strengthening a sector approach in the utilization of future assistance. The sector approach under ΙΡA II is defined as a process which aims to broaden government and national ownership over public sector policy and decisions on resource allocation within the sector, thereby increasing the coherence between sector policy, government spending and the achievement of results. Following these priorities Government of Montenegro established Sector Working Groups (SWG) for each sector in order to ensure development of a more coherent and strategic approach to the programming.

For sector Education, Employment and Social policies the specific Sector Working Group has been established with leading role of Senior Programme Officer in Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. This SWG has developed first drafts of the Action Documents for 2014 in IPA II and need to further develop overarching Sector Planning Document.  
  
Education, Employment and Social policies sector addresses key elements needed for sustainable economic growth. An average unemployment rate in Montenegro of 20% represents urgent needs for reforming its labour market system, the education, training and research system, as well as the health, social protection and inclusion policies in Montenegro. Taking these factors into account, Montenegro needs to improve the regulatory environment and conditions for job creation, as well as to increase employment opportunities for various social, especially vulnerable, groups in the labour market. Montenegro should continue to implement a systematic reform of the social welfare, child care and health systems, with the full implementation of a new strategic, legal and institutional framework in line with the EU acquis.

The efforts within this sector need to take into account the requirements of the EU acquis and objectives included in the accession negotiations chapter 2 – Free Movement of Persons, chapter 19 – Social Policy and Employment and chapter 23 on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights. This sector constitutes a key factor, in addition to economic competitiveness and innovation, needed to achieve economic growth. The main national strategic document within this sector is National Strategy for Employment and Human Resource Development 2012-2015 aims at improving the conditions for job creation and investment in human capital.

Also, Montenegro has obligation to develop an Employment and Social Reform Programme which will focus on core employment and social challenges and identify policy reform pathways for addressing these challenges in the mid-to-long term perspective. The outmost importance is to establish coherency and correlation between this strategic document and the Sector Planning Document for sector Education, Employment and Social policies.   

The Capacity Development Programme  (CDP) is implementing project, funded by the EU, which addresses some of the most pressing challenges regarding the development of capacities to ensure adequate and timely planning and programming IPA II in Montenegro. As a part of this project CDP will engage international expert for support the Government in programming IPA II in sector Education, Employment and Social policies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the assignment:  The objective of the assignment is to support NIPAC office, Sector Working Group for Education, Employment and Social policies sector in finalization of Action Documents, as well as development of Sector Planning Document and the Employment and Social Reform Programme.

Job content and expected results: During his/her assignment in Montenegro, the consultant will have a number of meetings with Sector Working Group for Education, Employment and Social policies sector, as well as with MFAEI, Delegation of European Union and Capacity Development Programme.

In order to be better prepared for work, consultant will receive in advance all relevant documents related to his/her engagement and tasks, such as: drafted Country Strategy Paper for Montenegro, relevant sector strategies in area of Education, Employment and Social policies, drafted Action documents for IPA 2014 within this sector, etc.

The international consultant will perform the following: 

  • Review the relevant strategic documents in field of Education, Employment and Social policies, which will be sent prior to the first visit to Montenegro, in order to get acquainted with existing documents relevant for the assignment;
  • Assist the Sector Working Group for Education, Employment and Social policies in understanding and defining correlation between Country Strategy Paper, Sector Planning Document and the Employment and Social Reform Programme;
  • Organize coaching and ‘on the job training’ on IPA II programming for Sector Working Group and other staff in beneficiary institutions which participate in programming process for the sector;
  • In close collaboration with Sector Working Group, support development of Sector Planning Document, finalization of Action Documents for 2014 and other programming documents for IPA;
  • Support development of the Employment and Social Reform Programme;
  • Prepare a report on completed tasks at the end of his/her engagement.

Timing and reporting:

The consultant will work under direct supervision of CDP Programme manager. She/He will be obligated to provide short mission reports on her/his deliverables during the assignment, and final report at the end of engagement.  

Time duration and travel:

The assignments of the consultant will be 25 days from April 30th, 2014 – December 15th, 2014. The consultant will be obligated to make at least four (4) missions to Montenegro.

Competencies

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the EU’s and UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • 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 ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills;
  • Excellent communication skills, facility in working with teams and capacity to compose clear and readable narrative reports;
  • Superior writing skills, clear and persuasive and experienced enough to prepare a comprehensive guidelines.

Required Skills and Experience

The international consultants should have the following qualifications and expertise:

Education:

  • University Degree in Law, Political or Social sciences.

Experience:

  • 10 years of professional experience;
  • Proven experience in programming and implementation of EU structural funds and/or pre-accession funds in sector relevant to the assignment;
  • Relevant experience from working within an IPA contracting authority or in an EU Delegation in EU accession country will be an advantage;
  • Proven experience in applying sector wide approach in programming in sector relevant to the assignment;
  • Proven experience in providing training and coaching to government officials and public servants;
  • Expertise on Decentralized Management (DM) environment and development of DM in candidate countries for EU membership will be an advantage;
  • Working knowledge of PC-based word processing and e-mail technology;

Language:

  • Excellent written and spoken English;
  • Knowledge of local language would be an advantage.

Application process:

Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in EUR) requested for the work and travel envisaged in the section "Duties and Responsibilities".