Background

Purpose

To provide technical expertise in the legal field to the Ministry of Finance and Public Investment Management Unit during the review and monitoring of capital investment projects.

Objective

To enhance overall quality of the process of capital investments projects review and monitoring.

Background Information

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the further improvement of the capacities of the Ministry of Finance for the efficient coordination and management of economic reforms and accession negotiations as well as for fulfilling the economic and political criteria for EU membership. The present proposal complements the Support to strengthening technical capacity and institutional development of the Ministry of Finance and coordination in the field of economic governance and foresees the provision of additional support for the implementation of the activities in the previous amendment.

Ministry of finance (MoF) adopted unique methodology - system for managing both planning and implementation of capital projects. On the basis of the unique Methodology, on 18 of July 2019 the Government of the Republic of Serbia (GoS) adopted a new Public Investment Management (PIM)  Decree that came into force as of January 2020 and applies to all capital projects regardless of funding source. New PIM system is aimed at strengthening the existing quality controls of capital projects, both at the planning and execution stages, institutionalized quality control points and installed new “gate-keeping” mechanisms, such as investment pre-selection, resolution of dormant projects and ex-post evaluation are.

New system is built to ensure the development of a single mechanism for all investments, regardless of the source of financing, in order to ensure a more active role of the MoF during preparation and monitoring of capital investments.

During April 2019, the GoS established the Capital Investment Commission (CIC), chaired by the Prime minister of Serbia, as a key decision-making point for capital projects, as stipulated by the new PIM Decree. The new PIM system is also enhanced by the establishment of the Public Investment Management (PIM) Unit at the MoF that will be dealing with capital investment planning and monitoring with direct reporting line to the CIC.

As one of the most significant capital investment projects, the construction and development of the land area envisaged for the new Fair and EXPO BELGRADE 2027 in Belgrade represents one of the main priorities of the Government of Serbia. Taking into consideration the importance of EXPO BELGRADE 2027, the Government of Serbia has allocated major financial support within the budget for the implementation of this capital project. Being an event of great strategic significance for the Republic of Serbia, EXPO BELGRADE 2027 has been declared as project of national interest for the country. Bearing in mind the strategic location of Serbia and its long history in being a bridge between the West and the East, as well as a major transport hub within Europe, connecting different major international highways, the said project will additionally boost the economic outlook of Serbia, but also its image of one of the fastest growing economies in Europe.

In this context, by hosting the EXPO in Serbia, and sharing the advanced technologies, cultures, social issues, and visions of the individual, international participants will be able to send an important message not only to the Serbian public but also to audiences in the rest of the region of Southeast Europe, reaching a rapidly growing market of over 400 million people.

In line with the abovementioned, the UNDP in Serbia is seeking a qualified and experienced local expert to assist the Ministry of Finance by providing technical expertise in the organizational field to the Ministry of Finance and Public Investment Management Unit during the review and monitoring of capital investment projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work

The consultant shall, under the overall guidance of the UNDP Technical Advisor for Strategic Framework / Delivery Unit Coordinator and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and UNDP project team, assist the Ministry by conducting the following activities:

• Assist MoF PIM Unit during the assessment of organizational and managerial aspects of capital investment projects with focus on the EXPO goals and support of the city of  Belgrade;
• Provide recommendations to the MoF related to project management and organizational aspects of capital investment projects for the construction and development of the EXPO facilities in Belgrade;
• Assist MoF PIM Unit during monitoring of implementation of capital investment projects for the construction and development of the EXPO area in Belgrade from the project management and organizational perspective;
• Provide recommendations to the MoF related to the capital investment projects for the construction and development of the EXPO area in Belgrade from the organizational and project development perspective.

Deliverables and timelines

The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

All deliverables will have to be submitted electronically in Serbian language and quality reviewed and approved or accepted by the Technical Advisor for Strategic Framework / Delivery Unit Coordinator.

Competencies

• Consistently ensures timeliness and quality of project work.
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
• 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.
• Proven experience with developing programs or projects.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills;
• Full computer literacy.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken Serbian and English.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• BA in a relevant field (economics, public administration, organizational science, social sciences or other related field).

Work experience:

• At least 5 years of working experience in organizational affairs;
• Knowledge and understanding of a domestic legal framework, rules and procedures at local level;

Language:

• Excellent speaking and writing skills in Serbian and English language.

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 11th June 2023.

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: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-07/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 (Offeror’s Letter, including Annex 2, Table A: Breakdown of costs & Table B) Breakdown of costs by deliverables).

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.

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

Travel:

This is home-based engagement therefore no travel envisaged under this Terms of Reference.                 

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: Template of General Conditions on IC could be found on: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-07/General_Conditions_for_Individual_Contracts.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: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-07/PSU_Individual%20Contract_Model%20Reimbursable%20Loan%20Agreement.docx

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.