UNDP Jobs - 52487- International Consultant on EU approximation of Mo

International Consultant on EU approximation of Moldovan legislation on Indirect Taxation (VAT, Excise Duties)

Location :

Chisinau, MOLDOVA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

12-Jan-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 working 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

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.

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement will soon be replaced by an Association Agreement which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The documents provide for political association and economic integration and have been initialed in Vilnius in November 2013.

For the Republic of Moldova the AA represents a reform agenda which is based on a comprehensive program of legal harmonization with EU acquis communautaire.

Quality standards and rules, sanitary rules, intellectual property rights, trade facilitation, public procurement and competition, energy trade and other, require a gradual rapprochement and the country undertook to approximate its legislative framework to the EU norms, standards and good practices as well as with relevant international instruments.

UNDP and its international partners are committed to assist Moldova, through technical and financial assistance, in promoting costly legal and institutional reforms that the Association Agreement entails.

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 through aligning relevant policies, administrative and institutional arrangements, legislation, procedures and best practices to EU standards and requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project will contract an International Consultant to consult and raise capacity of the Moldovan Ministry of Finance in upgrading and EU approximating national legislation, institutional arrangements, procedures and best practices in the area of Indirect Taxation.

The expert will report on the current legal situation in the area of indirect taxation (VAT, excise duties) containing a comparative analysis with relevant EU law, policies and best practice drafted, draft legislation/legislative amendments and supporting documentation related to indirect taxes (VAT, excise duties), make institutional arrangements within the Ministry of Finance and procedures brought in line with best EU practices and provide workshop with beneficiaries including presentation of final mission report.

Competencies

Strong analytical and drafting skills;
Ability to analyse, plan, communicate effectively with stakeholders and present ideas clearly and effectively;
Demonstrated interpersonal and diplomatic skills;
Ability to enter new environments, adapt quickly and produce immediate results;
Computer literacy - competent user of Microsoft Office programs;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualification:

Relevant Bachelor degree in Finance, Taxation, Economics. Relevant Master's Degree would be an asset.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years’ work experience in the field of Taxation, primarily in the indirect taxation;
Proven experience in the field of approximation with the EU acquis on taxation, primarily the EU Directives and Regulations on VAT and excise duties, and also conducted/participated directly in the approximation of indirect tax laws in one of the EU Member State
Proven experience in tax policy making, primarily in indirect tax area.
Experience in a senior position in a state institution/mandated body responsible for the approximation/harmonization of indirect tax laws would be an asset

Language requirements:

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

Application procedure:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Proposal: explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
Financial proposal: in (USD, specifying a total lump sum amount and the number of anticipated working days);
Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.

Financial procedure

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.

Note:

For complete information about this vacancy, including detailed tasks and responsibilities, full and detailed description of the evaluation procedure which will be applied, as well as the UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract, please refer to the Terms of Reference, the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice published at the UNDP Moldova website, Jobs Section: http://www.undp.md/jobs/current_jobs.