Background

The PARCS project (Project Strengthening the Institutional and Financial Sustainability of the National Protected Area System) is nationally implemented (NIM) by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEE) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Croatia over a period of four years (2014 – 2017). The UNDP monitors the implementation of the project, reviews progress in the realization of the project outputs, and ensures the proper use of UNDP/GEF funds. Working in close cooperation with MEE, the UNDP (CO) provides support services to the project - including procurement, contracting of service providers, human resources management and financial services - in accordance with the relevant UNDP Rules and Procedures and Results-Based Management (RBM) guidelines.

The MEE designated a senior official to act as the Project Director (PARCS PD) that will provide the strategic oversight and guidance to project implementation. A Project Implementation Unit (PARCS PIU) is hired by UNDP and is responsible to ensure that the project is implemented and administered to the satisfaction of the UNDP and MEE. The PIU is led and supervised by Project Manager (PARCS PM), that plays a key role in driving and managing the project and managing all project inputs and activities. PARCS PM is directly responsible to UNDP and PD, and operates under their supervision and instructions. The PARCS PIU is technically supported by contracted national and international experts and service providers. 

The PARCS project is organized and implemented into two components.
The first component (institutional component) of the project is focused on improving the current institutional framework of national protected areas to address its key systemic and institutional weaknesses (weak coordination, limited performance accountability, duplication of efforts, cost-inefficiencies and inequitable distribution of funds). 
The second component (financial component) of the project is focused on improving the financial sustainability of the national protected areas to ensure that they have adequate financial resources to cover the full costs of their management.

As part of the activities under the first component the PARCS project is providing the assistance to MEE in the process of establishment of the shared centralized support organizational structure that will provide assistance services for all the individual nature and national parks in Croatia, a kind of a ‘shared service center’ (SSC) with the goal of reducing duplication of efforts, and improving the cost-effectiveness in the national protected areas.

In line with these efforts the MEE has started the process of changing the way the Public institutions that govern the protected areas (PIs) are using the available incomes received as donations without defined specific purpose and their other own incomes such as revenue from sales of tickets, souvenirs, renting of the equipment and similar. The changes will be introduced in the form of a By-law (a rulebook) that defines that a PIs have to deposit the certain percentage of the available incomes to a separate shared account called the Joint fund for Parks of Croatia (in further text the Fund).

The details on the by-law can be found on the Governments web page for consulting with the wider public:  e-savjetovanje (https://esavjetovanja.gov.hr/Econ/MainScreen?entityId=4958). 

The financial means available in the Joint Fund for Parks of Croatia will be used for provision of specific technical and professional support services (such as assistance in the field of legal advising, public procurement, marketing, branding, communication, fund raising, project development, and similar) and for direct financial support of implementation of different high priority activities within the PIs and co-financing of nature and biodiversity protection projects in cooperation with Croatian Environment Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund.
The adoption of the by-law and start of the activities on collecting of the revenues is planned for July 2017 and for this purpose the MEE will form an initial 3 person team that will be responsible for management of the funds and provision of the planned shared services. The team will consist of a Coordinator, a Finance expert and a Marketing expert. 

The purpose of this ToR is defining responsibilities, scope of work, qualifications and competences of a Financial Expert within the team that will manage the Joint fund for Parks of Croatia (further in the text Fund).

Duties and Responsibilities

The Expert is expected to provide technical and advisory support within financial aspect of all activities of the SSC. She or he will play an important role in preparation of financial analyses and reports for Commission for selection of projects to be funded from the Joint Fund for Parks of Croatia. The Expert will also control  the implementation of projects funded from the Fund and continuously report to Directorate of the MEE (MEE-NPD).

The Expert will also work closely with Directors of PIs on provision of technical advice and support, ensuring that PARCS project objectives planned as a kind of a ‘shared service center’ (SSC) are met.

The Consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

• Preparation of regular financial and budget reports, financial projections and cash flow reports;
• Assists in the planning, coordination and arrangements in procurement processes within the Fund;
• Technical support in preparation and submission of the project proposals to Committee for selection of projects to be funded from the Fund (financial analysis, reports and cost-benefit analysis);
• Control of the implementation and disbursement ratio of the projects funded from the Fund;
• Support a further development of a Financial Management Information Software used by PIs on a system level, in coordination with MEE and Ministry of Finance (MF);
• Provide technical advice and support to PIs in financial management and planning of various projects (financial proposals and reporting) for EU funds and other international financing institutions or Croatian government financing projects;
• Work on identification of funding opportunities under each of the relevant key EU funds and other appropriate financial instruments and innovative mechanisms suitable for financing PIs projects; 
• Act as the point of contact and communicate on the financial issues, findings and opportunities to Directorate of the MEE (MEE-NPD), MF (Execution of the State Budget Department) and representatives of PIs.

Deliverables and timeframe
To carry on the joint activities, services and projects coordination, the Finance Expert will be engaged on a part-time basis, up to 60 days total. The engagement is expected for 5 (five) months of the PARCS project. The assignment is expected to start in August 2017.
The Expert shall participate in preparation of periodic performance reports and also submit monthly reports (time sheet) that will include a brief summary of work undertaken for each day of the reported period. The reports will be submitted in Croatian in 2 copies to be approved by the PARCS PM and MEE-NPD Assistant Minister. 
Two weeks before the scheduled close of the assignment, the Expert will prepare a Final Report, which summarizes the work of the Finance Expert and sets out details of the future work schedules. The report will be prepared in English and Croatian.
For her or his engagement the Finance Expert will receive a remuneration based on a daily fee. 

Supervision and monitoring
The Financial Expert will report to the PARCS Project Manager and MEE-NPD Assistant Minister - directly by continuous submission of various analysis and reports.
At least one meeting a month in person with the PARCS project manager is expected.
PARCS project team members will be closely associated to the discussion with the Expert and review of draft and final products, through regular communication. 

Competencies

Functional competencies:

• Excellent analytical, organizational and reporting skills; 
• Strong communication skills and writing abilities;
• Good presentation skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office applications including Outlook, Word and Excel.

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;
• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education: 

• At least graduate degree in Economy or Natural sciences with specialization in Finance;
• Postgraduate degree in Economy or Natural sciences is an asset.

Experience:

• At least 6 years of professional experience at the financial management position; 
• At last 5 years of professional experience with Croatian laws, policies and other regulations affecting international project accounting; 
• At least 3 years of financial management experience on sizable and multiannual projects; 
• Experience with computer based financial management systems;
• Experience with the Croatian State Budget financial management, budgeting and accounting principles will be considered as an advantage;
• Experience in working with Croatian Public Institutions for management of national parks and nature parks will be considered as an advantage;
• Experience in the implementation of multilateral donor funded or government funded development projects will be considered as an advantage;
• Experience in programming, preparation or implementation of EU projects and experience in working with the EU funds would be an advantage;

Language skills: 

• Proficient user in Croatian and English (equivalent to C1 or C2 as per Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Evaluation of Applicants
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 

Only candidates who will get at least 70% of points in each step of the process (desk review) can be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70/100 points, as follows:

• Criteria A - max points: 20 - Relevance of the professional experience at the financial management position
• Criteria B - max points: 15 - Very good knowledge of Croatian tax laws, Government administrative and accounting procedures, policies, banking and other regulations
• Criteria C – max points: 10 - Excellent knowledge and skills in computer based financial management systems and MS Office applications;
• Criteria D – max points: 10 - Experience on a sizable and multi annual projects with familiarity in introduction of innovative financial mechanisms 
• Criteria E – max points: 5 - Experience with the Croatian State Budget financial management, budgeting and accounting principles
• Criteria F – max points: 5 - Experience in the implementation of multilateral donor funded or government funded development projects and Experience in programming, preparation and/or implementation of EU projects and experience in working with the EU funds
• Criteria G – max points: 5 - Postgraduate degree in Economy or Natural sciences 

Financial criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30/100 points

Application procedures
Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application. 
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from (http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc);
• please upload the P11 instead of your CV. 
• Financial Proposal* in USD - specifying a) daily fee amount for the tasks specified in this announcement and b) travel to join the duty station/repatriation travel.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All travel to join duty station/repatriation travel must be included in the financial proposal.  

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner. 

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.