UNDP Jobs - 81484- International consultant for inter-municipal coope

International consultant for inter-municipal cooperation

Location :

Home-based and Podgorica, MONTENEGRO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Nov-2018

Application Deadline :

23-Oct-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 November 2018 - 28 December 2018

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

20 consultancy days

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

The EU funded project “Support to the creation of a more transparent, efficient and service-oriented public administration” will support the implementation of the Public Administration Reform Strategy 2016-2020, specifically contributing to the strategy objectives related to the provision of services and civil service system and human resources management. The project will be implemented in the framework of the Sector Budget Support “EU Support to Public Administration Reform in Montenegro” and it has two specific objectives: 1) Support the implementation of the national optimisation plan at local level and 2) Upgrade the Single Information System for the exchange of data among state registers.

As stated in the Public Administration Reform Strategy 2016-2020, in the previous period, normative preconditions for its implementation have been created, through the adoption of numerous systemic laws and subsidiary by-laws of a reform character. This also applies to implementation of measures for optimizing public administration at state and local level. Namely, by analysing existing legal framework and comparing with possible measures of optimization of public administration in the practice of EU member states, the conclusion is that the existing legal framework in Montenegro allows the implementation of the largest number of the potential optimization measures.

The Optimization Plan for Public Administration of Montenegro 2016-2020 defined short-term and mid-term measures in order to implement the process and create transparent, more efficient and service-oriented public administration. The measures are precisely separated for the local and state level and are systemized so that, in a short time, they show the relevant results.

With the aim to fulfil the requirements from the Optimization plan, local self-governments units are encouraged to foster inter-municipal cooperation on possible areas and mechanisms of cooperation and funding sources, which represents a form of decentralized implementation of public services. This measure could be effective especially in cases of poor administration and services in municipalities, when, despite their responsibility, they are not able to deliver, or when service provision is inadequate. Insufficient financial resources or lack of administrative capacity are frequently cited reasons for weak service delivery. In addition, many municipalities have small population and subsequently limited ability to individually support big infrastructure projects and raise private investors’ interest. In that case, the law prescribes that two or more units of local self-government may establish a company or a public institution, in order to more economically and rationally perform certain tasks within their competence, according to the law and to jointly perform certain own affairs, in line with a separate contract if it is in their common interest.

In Montenegro there are two levels of government – central and local (municipal) level, which is sometimes very challenging for the decentralization process. Municipalities in Montenegro are becoming increasingly aware of the need to undertake certain joint activities in order to solve problems that, for various reasons, cannot be solved by each municipality individually. In this area, problems to be addressed include: insufficient communication between municipalities, lack of vision and plan on issues of inter-municipal interest and weak capacity and knowledge on possible forms of interest-based municipal cooperation.

Inter-municipal cooperation represents effective mechanism in order to overcome the lack of adequate professional staff and financial resources necessary for independent performance of work, by reducing organizational and other tax authorities of the municipality for their performance and providing better service to citizens.

The analysis and model of inter-municipal cooperation should be directed to municipalities that are not able to independently carry out tasks for financial, staffing or other reasons, which can be performed through their cooperation (internal audit, public procurement, job creation and realization of municipal development plans and programs, development and management of inter-municipal cooperation projects, development and management of projects funded from EU funds, protection and rescue operations, etc.), and to foster them to conclude the contracts on conditions and manner of joint performance of responsibilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the assignment:

Together with the local consultant, the international consultant will be required to develop Analysis of possible areas and mechanisms of cooperation among local government-units and possible sources of financing. The Analysis will include overview of the Montenegrin legislative system related to inter-municipal cooperation, summary of the previous cases and best practices of inter-municipal cooperation in Montenegro and in the region and develop recommendations for further fostering of cooperation between local self-government units according to the experience from the visits to local self-government units in Montenegro. Also, it is necessary to propose a plan of incentive measures and present mechanisms for implementation of the activities proposed in the plan. The local consultant will provide support to international consultant in the process of analysing the concrete models of inter-municipal cooperation for the municipalities.

Job content:

Under the guidance of the UNDP Project Manager, international consultant is expected to deliver the following tasks:

Liaise and ensure constant communication/coordination with municipalities, Union of Municipalities, Ministry of Public Administration and UNDP;
Cooperate with the local consultant in order to fulfil project tasks;
Prepare a work plan with time-table for the assignment;
Investigate, analyse and present examples of good IMC practices in the region and elsewhere;
In cooperation with local consultant develop systematized guidelines to the municipalities on documents and data needed as inputs for the analysis;
Together with the local consultant, undertake visits to 10 municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants (Andrijevica, Gusinje, Kolašin, Mojkovac, Petnjica, Plav, Plužine, Šavnik, Žabljak and Tuzi) in order to identify their specific needs for cooperation with other municipalities.
In cooperation with local consultant, prepare recommendations for further fostering of cooperation between local self-government units according to the experience from the visits to local self-government units in Montenegro and based on the national legislation,
In cooperation with local consultant identify concrete areas and mechanisms of cooperation among specific local government-units and possible sources of financing;
In cooperation with the local consultant propose a plan of incentive measures and present mechanisms for implementation of the activities proposed in the plan;
In cooperation with local consultant, prepare draft Analysis of possible areas and mechanisms of cooperation among local self- government units which would include all above mentioned elements. The document should be prepared in Montenegrin language;
In cooperation with local consultant, consider and introduce all comments and suggestions and finalize the document;
Prepare Final Report for the assignment, approved by UNDP Project Manager.

The expected results/Deliverables:

Under the supervision of the UNDP Project Manager, the consultant is expected to deliver the following results:

Detailed plan of activities with time-table for the assignment prepared, approved by UNDP Montenegro;
Analysis of possible areas and mechanisms of cooperation among local government-units and possible sources of financing, which would include all above mentioned elements;
Final Report for the assignment, approved by UNDP Project Manager.

Timing and reporting:

The international consultant is expected to work homebased and in Montenegro during the assignment from November 1, 2018 – December 28, 2018. International consultant will be responsible to cooperate with local consultant in order to fulfil project tasks and prepare the final report to the UNDP Project Manager, that should contain sufficient detail and information that would allow for the appraisal of the effectiveness to date of the assignment’s activities.

Time duration and travel:

International consultant will be engaged for 20 days in the period from November 1, 2018 – December 28, 2018. Consultant will be obliged to visit 10 municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants (Andrijevica, Gusinje, Kolašin, Mojkovac, Petnjica, Plav, Plužine, Šavnik, Žabljak and Tuzi) in cooperation with local consultant. All travel costs and Daily Living Subsistence Allowance costs should be included in the lump sum figure.

Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

University degree in Social Sciences, preferably in law, economy or public administration; an advanced degree would be considered an asset;

Experience

At least 10 years of the relevant professional experience;
Thorough understanding/knowledge of Montenegrin administrative system;
Proven expertise and experience in the development of analyses and strategic documents, while such experience in the region and the EU would be an asset;
Proven experience in work with local self-government units in Montenegro;
Proven experience in work on the topic of inter municipal cooperation;
Modern approach to delivery of policy/technical advice, and experience of working with central and local self-governments senior officials in the public reform process;
Management experience, preferably within the context of local government;

Language

Fluency in Montenegrin language;
Excellent command of spoken and written English language;

Other

Excellent communication and presentation skills;

Criteria for selection:

Combined Scoring method will be used. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the inidividual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: (i) responsive, compliant, acceptable, and (ii) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical criteria weight - 70% (Background and education 10%; Relevant previous experience 20%; Substantial knowledge/Required competencies 30%; Required language 10%);
Financial criteria weight - 30%.

Only offerors obtaining a minimum 490 points for technical criteria will be considered for the financial evaluation. For more information on procurement methodology for Individual Contractors, please refer to Procurement Notice.

Application procedure:

Interested applicants are requested to submit their applications by October 23, 2018 by using the Apply now button. The application should contain CV or P11 that can be downloaded at http://www.me.undp.org/content/montenegro/en/home/operations/jobs.html. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file.

Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in EUR) requested for the work envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".