Historique
Exporting is considered to be one of the main drivers towards economic development and growth, in particular for small developing countries like Kosovo. Increasing exports provides new opportunities for enterprises and entrepreneurs to further increase their productivity levels, expand and upgrade their production, and create more and better jobs.
Several most pressing economic and labour market challenges that Kosovo is facing include the high unemployment rate, the low employment rate, the increasing inactivity rate among unemployed and the lack of skilled workforce as well as low production and processing capacity of the operating businesses. Although exports have experienced a positive increase in the last decade, imports have been continuously high resulting in persisting trade deficit.
The current low level of competitiveness of the domestic sector and the lack of diversification is a result of various constraints that the external sector in Kosovo faces since early 2000. These constraints are domestic in nature where firm specific limitations/barriers equally affect firm competitive levels in foreign markets.
The recent literature shows a positive correlation between firms and exporting, indicating that companies which export grow faster and fail less often than companies that don’t export. Furthermore, the jobs generated by exporting companies are considered to be more sustainable jobs resulting in inclusive and more developed communities.
Doing business in foreign markets is far more complex than conducting business domestically. The complexity of foreign markets is conditioned by differences in legal systems, different cultures, languages, different tastes and preferences, and other factors. The results of several surveys conducted with business community in Kosovo reveal that the limited knowledge on marketing issues and lack of proper firm marketing strategies have a significant effect in exporting level, in parallel with other internal and external factors.
One of the Aid for Trade project objectives is import substitution and export promotion leading to economic growth and income generation. In this line and based on the identified needs, the project is seeking to support local businesses in overcoming one of the export barriers through developing better export-marketing plans. The export marketing plans would help businesses to adjust their product/service features, their pricing strategy, identify distribution channels as well as introduce tools to promote exports in compliance with and relevant to existing market specificities.
Assignment will be conducted in line with UN 8 Point Agenda and the UNDP Gender responsive mandate.
Objectives of the Assignment
The objective of this assignment is to identify businesses operating in the predefined sectors jointly with the selected local business associations and representatives of the respected municipalities to support businesses in conducting their own export plan through provision of trainings and draft a step by step guideline on how to develop export-marketing plans.
Training materials and guideline should incorporate all required concrete phases/actions of compiling a realistic, viable export marketing plan (such as: identification of export resources, determine products with export potential, assess export readiness or expansion of exports, develop export business plan, conduct market research, identify most appropriate financial structure, perform firm and industry analysis, assess domestic and foreign market factors, compile sales forecast, cost analysis, etc.) and provide information on market opportunities to export firms’ products.
In addition, Kosovo’s political and social context as well as the role of support organizations namely regulatory bodies, public organizations, local agencies, financing institution, etc. should also be analyzed.
Devoirs et responsabilités
Scope of work
Under the direct supervision of the UNDP Aid for Trade Project Manager, in close cooperation with local business association and respective municipality representatives, and in accordance with the Kosovo context, the international consultant is expected to:
- Meet with selected relevant local businesses/companies about their export experience, about the obstacles and concerns they face in doing export;
- Define the selection technique for businesses/companies to participate in training and specify the modality of training delivery;
- Finalize the list of participants in cooperation with local stakeholders;
- Design pertinent training material and organize trainings on developing firms export strategy/plans for representatives of local businesses and local business association personnel (training for trainers to ensure continuity/sustainability of the action) applicable to the Kosovo context, ensuring direct involvement of representatives from the local business association;
- Draft the step by step guideline incorporating relevant aspects raised during the training, provide recommendations for future use/update of the plan and recommendations on exploring new exporting markets, export expansion and competitiveness;
- Provide an overview of best practices applied by firms and future local trainers i.e. business association personnel operating in similar business environments;
- Findings on all of the above will be part of a final report that will be delivered for validation to UNDP.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
- Meetings with selected relevant local businesses/companies conducted.
Estimated Duration to Complete:
- 4 w/days.
Target Due Dates:
- 29 September – 02 October 2014.
Review and Approvals Required:
- Project Manager / Programme Analyst.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
- Selection technique and modality of training delivery is defined.
Estimated Duration to Complete:
- 3 w/days.
Target Due Dates:
- 03 – 07 October 2014.
Review and Approvals Required:
- Project Manager / Programme Analyst.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
- List of training participants is finalized.
Estimated Duration to Complete:
- 1 w/day.
Target Due Dates:
- 08 October 2014
Review and Approvals Required:
- Project Manager / Programme Analyst.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
- Training material for businesses and local trainers is submitted.
Estimated Duration to Complete:
- 5 w/days.
Target Due Dates:
- 09 – 15 October 2014.
Review and Approvals Required:
- Project Manager / Programme Analyst.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
- Trainings to representatives of selected companies is delivered.
Estimated Duration to Complete:
- 2 w/days.
Target Due Dates:
- 22 – 24 October 2014.
Review and Approvals Required:
- Project Manager / Programme Analyst.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
- First draft of step by step guideline on developing export strategy/plans is submitted.
Estimated Duration to Complete:
- 2 w/days.
Target Due Dates:
- 27 – 28 October 2014.
Review and Approvals Required:
- Project Manager / Programme Analyst.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
- Training for trainers to selected personnel of the local business association is delivered.
Estimated Duration to Complete:
- 2 w/days.
Target Due Dates:
- 29 – 30 October 2014.
Review and Approvals Required:
- Project Manager / Programme Analyst.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
- Final draft of guideline on developing export strategy/plans is submitted.
Estimated Duration to Complete:
- 1 w/day.
Target Due Dates:
- 31 October 2014.
Review and Approvals Required:
- Project Manager / Programme Analyst.
Deliverables/ Outputs:
- Final report is submitted and validated.
Estimated Duration to Complete:
- 1 w/day.
Target Due Dates:
- 03 November 2014.
Review and Approvals Required:
- Project Manager / Programme Analyst.
The duration of the assignment is 21 working days. All deliverables are to be implemented in close cooperation with the local business association designated personnel, respective municipal representatives and UNDP Aid for Trade Project.
The guide booklet containing recommendations for future use/updating the plan and recommendations on exploring new exporting markets and export expansion and final report incorporating main findings and recommendations covering the entire assignment is to be validated and approved by the Project Manager of the UNDP Aid for Trade project.
Lump sum payment schedule:
- 20% upon signature of the contract;
- 35% upon successful completion of the first four deliverables;
- 45% upon successful completion of the remaining deliverables.
Recommended Presentation of Offer:
The following documents may be requested:
- Personal CV and P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
- Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price.;
- The Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.
- Provide a list of similar profiles prepared during previous work experience.
Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer
This section should indicate all the criteria which shall serve as basis for evaluating offers, which may be done in either of the following manner:
- Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.
Application Instructions:
- Click on the "Apply now" button;
- Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. You can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box;
- Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume. Instead of uploading your Resume, please submit a fully completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (P-11);
- System will only allow one attachment. All docs (P11, academic qualifications/diploma) should be included as one attachment;
- Without the completed and signed P11, your application may not be considered. The UNDP Personal History Form can be downloaded at this link: http://www.ks.undp.org/content/kosovo/en/home/operations/jobs/.
Compétences
- In-depth understanding of the techniques and modalities for enhancing firms’ exports;
- Ability to synthesize research and draw conclusions on the related subjects;
- Ability to design and synthesize action oriented plan for implementation of the training and guide recommendations;
- Good analytical and report writing skills;
- Good communication skills;
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
- Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment;
- Excellent and team-building skills;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability in the assigned process;
- Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
- Responds positively to critical feedback.
Qualifications et expériences requises
Education:
- Master’s degree in International Trade with extensive professional knowledge on development of export marketing plans.
Experience:
- Minimum five years of demonstrated work experience with private sector in the related field;
- Extensive experience in working with public institutions, international development agencies or NGO’s and substantive exposure to international trade and export-related projects;
- Knowledge of the economic, political and social context of the Western Balkans with special focus on the business environment in Kosovo;
- Demonstrated experience in successful delivery of subject relevant trainings.
Language:
- Fluency in the English language.