UNDP Jobs - 56418- International consultant on phytosanitary

International consultant on phytosanitary

Location :

Home-based within country mission, TAJIKISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

10-Jun-2015

Application Deadline :

28-May-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

2 months ( June -July, 2015)

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

25 w/d (including 20 days in-country mission)

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

Integration processes in the post-Soviet space create new conditions for the development of trade and economic cooperation between the countries. One of the results achieved so far is the establishment of Customs Union (CU) of the Russian Federation, the Republics of Belarus and Kazakhstan and the foundation of an international organization called Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) based on Common Economic Space. Recently the Republic of Armenia has joined CU and EurAsEC acts and it is envisaged that the Kyrgyz Republic will join it as well based on the “Road map” previously approved.

UNDP in Tajikistan based on consultations with the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan plans to start feasibility study to implement high priority measures on the improvement of sanitary, veterinary and phytosanitary security in the Republic of Tajikistan. The initiative is aimed to protect health of population and ensure the competitiveness of the goods of Tajik producers in the external markets, including EurAsEC member-countries.

Republic of Tajikistan (RT) has officially become WTO member in 2013. Notification agency on TBT and SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) measures has been established under the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan, key function of which is to ensure transparency of TBT and SPS measures in RT trough submitting notifications to WTO-SPS secretariat on SPS measures being developed and modified in the country. A number of regulatory instruments to adapt these documents to the requirements of WTO agreements have been revised and approved while the RT accession process in WTO. For that purpose, the evaluations of separate Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) system units and elements in the Republic of Tajikistan have been performed within the framework of international and donor organization projects, particularly by OSCE, UNCTAD/International Trade Center, World Bank and other, due to which primary actions on SPS system improvement in the Republic of Tajikistan have been undertaken. However, the issues on compliance of sanitary, phytosanitary and veterinary control of the Republic of Tajikistan, including regulatory, technical and staffing support to the requirements of developing ErAsEC were not adequately addressed. In the meantime, the challenges and the needs of state control within these areas are not only causing public health threats in the Republic of Tajikistan but are also hindering the external trade development in the country.
To study the experience in undertaking practical steps on SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) system improvement, harmonization of legislation, bringing technical requirements, including sanitary and phytosanitary measures and etc. to conformity with this mini-project requirements, UNDP in Tajikistan plans to provide an opportunity to Tajik specialists and experts in studying the experience on SPS system organization in CU countries, as well as to study the experience of the Kyrgyz Republic in undertaking practical steps to improve SPS system, legislation adaptation, bringing technical requirements, including SPS measures to conformity in terms of the accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to CU acts stipulated in the Road map.

Moreover, one of the focus areas of the project activities is study of the issues on sanitary, phytosanitary and veterinary security of the Republic of Tajikistan and identifying appropriateness of integrating the efforts of UNDP and Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) in providing technical and financial assistance to the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in their solution.

UNDP office in Tajikistan intends to hire a team of international and national consultants 1) in the field of veterinary with the knowledge and experience on food safety and 2) in the field of phytosanitary with the knowledge and experience on food safety to implement mini project on providing technical assistance on the improvement of sanitary, phytosanitary and veterinary security in the Republic of Tajikistan.
Current assignment covers the activity of international expert in the area of phytosanitary with the knowledge and experience on food safety.

Duties and Responsibilities

Goals and objectives

Goal of this assignment is to perform the assessment of SPS system in RT to define the needs and requirements and draft priority measures that should be included in the Plan on SPS system in RT for 2015-2017, as well as develop a business-plan (project proposal) to carry out measures reflected in the activity plan on the creation of the efficient and effective SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) system in the Republic of Tajikistan.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the general supervision of UNDP Senior Project Officer on economic development and UNDP “Aid for Trade” Project Coordinator, as well as in close cooperation with UNDP SPS local consultant, the International consultant will carry out the following below scope of work:

Review, analyze and compile relevant reports, analytical documents and researches, conducted by the government, international and donor organizations in the area of SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) in RT;

Study needs assessment in terms of SPS system in RT based on FAO biosecurity toolkit or/and other methodology focused on security and plant health in the Republic of Tajikistan.

In this regard, International consultant will have to:

Analyze and summarize relevant information and data associated with the country’s capacity in the field of security and plant health that include: policy, legislation and norms, organizational mechanisms, ability and opportunity of appropriate services to carry out the key functions ensuring biosecurity (e.g., inspection, laboratory services, phytosanitary control of plants under quarantine and of pests, etc. ), including SPS measures applied in regard of exports and imports, laboratory network and its capacity (opportunities) at inspection services and agencies, emergency preparedness and response, including prevention and control of transboundary pests and diseases, monitoring and control of agrochemicals, communication and information exchange, interdisciplinary cooperation, as well as the cooperation with customs service. The evaluation should also cover the activity of a contact person on IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention), fulfillment of country’s obligations and identification of the obstacles in WTO agreement implementation on applying sanitary and phytosanitary measures, legal and normative acts of ErAsEC and possible barriers for trade of Tajikistan, as well as multipartite and bilateral agreements with the third countries in the area of SPS measures application (plant health and protection, phytosanitary control), as well as access of the goods having export capacity to sales markets;
Submit detailed proposals and contribute to the development of a Plan on high priority measures to improve SPS system in RT on solving the issues related with the security and plants protection;
Provide recommendations and coordinate the work of the national consultant on SPS and specialists on the data collection on SPS system in RT, focused on plant health and protection, phytosanitary control and agrochemicals management;
Submit recommendations on collection of relevant information to interdepartmental working group, as well as provide the proposals for the elaboration of an Action Plan on SPS system development in RT;
Hold round table in cooperation with the national consultant and Working group to discuss draft plan of high priority measures on SPS system development in RT for the period of 2015-2017;
Submit detailed written proposals and assist in the elaboration of the final version of the Action Plan on SPS system development in the Republic of Tajikistan (on solving the issues in the area of plant health and protection) considering stakeholders’ comments and proposals;
Assist and contribute in the development of the draft business plan and its further final version on identifying the needs and the issues of SPS system in RT in accordance with the Action Plan (on solving the issues in the area of plant health). This work will be carried out jointly with an international consultant in the area of veterinary and food safety;
Prepare and submit a report with all the key conclusions and recommendations for further implementation of the action plan on SPS system development in RT.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standard;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
Ability to plan and organize his/her work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
Ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

Required Skills and Experience

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced (MA) university degree (or equivalent) in agriculture, phytosanitary or other relevant areas.

Experience:

Expert in the field of phytosanitary, crops and food processing;
Knowledge and experience in the field of agronomical chemistry and food security would be an asset. Relevant experience on SPS potential and needs assessment, particularly referring to FAO biosecurity toolkit;
At least 10-year experience in the area of SPS-consulting in CIS countries.
Successful experience in conducting qualitative evaluations in the area specified;
Working experience in developing countries with economy in transition;
Working experience in CIS countries would be an asset;
Computer literacy in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other, excellent communication skills, as well as high quality analytical and document drafting skills.

Language:

Language proficiency (written and oral) of English and Russian languages.

Application Procedure:

Please follow the link to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice:
http://www.undp.tj/procurement/panel/uploads/ICPN_SPS_Phytosanitary.docx