Background

Purpose

To propose a project document describing the introduction of AI use cases in one priority sector (e.g., medicine, energy, telecommunications, transport/mobility, smart cities, education, agriculture, justice/ethics, security, environment, public administration).

Objective

To support the nascent AI ecosystem in Serbia by improving collaboration among public and private sector and academia.

Background Information

Over the past 10 years, Serbia has made progress in modernizing its strategic and regulatory framework to support development of the information society.

With digital transformation of the national economy and public administration high on the government's agenda, Serbia has a future-proofed its administration’s capability for rapid deployment of cost-effective, secure and citizen-focused e-services, and coordinated implementation of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) policies. First steps have been made with the establishment of the central Office for IT and e-Government (ITE) and strengthening of the Ministerial Council for IT and Innovative Entrepreneurship.

This project aims to support the efforts to build internal capacities of the ITE for effective coordination and implementation of the digital government strategy, providing support to other institutions in introducing e services, building a common ICT infrastructure and shared services, and maintaining close relations with the key stakeholders and the public. As the ITE has also received an additional mandate for operationally delivering a part of the IT Council and Creative Industries Council agendas, this project aims at supporting the efforts of these councils at enhancing the digital transformation of Serbia’s economy, in particular through increasing human capital, enhancing the regulatory framework and implementing innovative solutions.

Serbia was the first country in the region to develop and adopt the Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy  for the period 2020-2025 and to established the Institute for AI.

In order to maximize the results in this area of emerging technologies and provide government, businesses and citizen with the best possible services and skills, it is crucial to leverage the advantage of this technology in all respective areas. It is expected that the rapid development in the AI would lead to economic growth, improvement of public services and development of future ready workforce.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work

Within this ToR, UNDP will engage a consultant to support the nascent AI ecosystem in Serbia by improving collaboration among public and private sector and academia.

The Senior Advisor is expected to:

• Generate a project concept/proposal in one of the priority sectors (e.g., medicine, energy, telecommunications, transport/mobility, smart cities, education, agriculture, justice/ethics, security, environment, public administration);
• Streamline the development and implementation of AI use cases in the priority sectors and provide inputs and policy advise accordingly;
• Identify emerging actors and new potential partners on all levels in order to achieve the results in the priority sectors;
• Provide inputs on how to engage the leading national and international experts and institutions to secure efficient delivery of results in the priority sectors

In order to complete the assignment, the consultant is expected to collaborate with UNDP, the Institute for AI Research and Development, and the Office for ITE. All documents created through the work (methodologies, analysis, etc.) will be delivered in both Serbian and English language.

Duties, responsibilities and key milestones

The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

All deliverables will have to be quality reviewed by the Portfolio Manager – Competitiveness and Digital Governance and in consultations with the Office for ITE.

Competencies

Competencies

• Consistently ensures timeliness and quality of project work;
• Evidence of ability to express ideas clearly, to work independently and in teams;
• Ability to summarize and systematize complex information and identify priorities for follow up activities;
• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Focuses on results and responds positively to feedback;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling ethical standards.
• Full computer literacy.
• Experience in teamwork and coordination of complex projects/processes that included extensive communication, coordination and facilitation requirements;
• Experience in partnership building at international, national, regional and local level;

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications

The Consultant selected to undertake the assignment must fulfil the following minimal requirements:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (MA, MSc, PhD) in information technology, mathematics, economy, social sciences, or other related field.

Work experience:

• 5 years of experience in implementing IT projects;
• Familiarity with the AI ecosystem in Serbia, current AI policies and legislation;
• Familiarity with the EU GDPR;
• Experience in working or cooperating with some of the priority sectors (medicine, energy, telecommunications, transport/mobility, smart cities, education, agriculture, justice/ethics, security, environment, public administration);
• Experience working in an international organization will be considered as an asset, as well as experience of engagement within the IT sector and government bodies in Serbia or regionally;

Language:

• Excellent English and Serbian language speaking and writing skills;

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Application Procedure:

Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit their applications via UNDP Web site: UNDP in Serbia under section “Jobs” no later than 19 December 2021.

Application should include: 

• CV in English language containing date of birth, contact information (home address, phone number, e-mail) and timeline of work experience (including description of duties);
• Offeror’s Letter (only PDF format will be accepted) confirming Interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment. Can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/ic/Confirmation.docx. The Offeror’s Letter shall include financial proposal specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement with a breakdown of costs;
• Cover Letter – explaining why you are the most suitable for the work should be included in the CV.

In order to apply please merge above listed documents into a single PDF file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded.

The shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide copies of diplomas and any other certificates providing evidence of their education and experience in relevant fields.

Note: Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit signed Offeror’s Letter Confirming Interest and Availability including a price for the work envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".

Any request for clarification must be sent by standard electronic communication to the e-mail vacancy.rs@undp.org. The procuring UNDP entity will respond by standard electronic mail and will send response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

Financial Proposal:

• Lump sum contracts

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 will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including 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.

Evaluation

Additional Information:

• Individual Contract (IC) will be applicable for individual consultants applying in their own capacity.  If the applicant is employed by any legal entity, IC would be issued upon submission of Consent letter from the employer acknowledging the engagement with UNDP. Template of General Conditions on IC could be found on: https://rs.undp.org/content/dam/serbia/downloads/General%20Conditions%20for%20Individual%20Contracts.pdf
• Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be applicable for applicants employed by any legal entity. Template of RLA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/RLA%20with%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.doc. In the case of engagement of Civil servants under IC contract modality a no-objection letter should be provided by the Government entity. The ‘no-objection’ letter must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status (if applicable), and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. If the previous is not applicable ‘leave-without-pay’ confirmation should be submitted.

Engagement of Government Officials and Employees

• Government Officials or Employees are civil servants of UN Member States.  As such, if they will be engaged by UNDP under an IC which they will be signing in their individual capacity (i.e., engagement is not done through RLA signed by their Government employer), the following conditions must be met prior to the award of contract:

(i)       A “No-objection” letter in respect of the individual is received from the Government employing him/her, and;

(ii)     The individual must provide an official documentation from his/her employer formally certifying his or her status as being on “official leave without pay” for the duration of the IC.

• The above requirements are also applicable to Government-owned and controlled enterprises and well as other semi/partially or fully owned Government entities, whether or not the Government ownership is of majority or minority status.  

UNDP recognizes the possibility that there are situations when the Government entity employing the individual that UNDP wishes to engage is one that allows its employees to receive external short-term consultancy assignments (including but not limited to research institutions, state-owned colleges/universities, etc.), whereby a status of “on-leave-without-pay” is not required.  Under such circumstance, the individual entering into an IC with UNDP must still provide a “No-objection” letter from the Government employing him/her.  The “no objection” letter required under (i) above must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status, and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any.  The said document may be obtained by, and put on record of, UNDP, in lieu of the document (ii) listed above.