UNDP Jobs - 83431- International Consultant for State Aid Policy

International Consultant for State Aid Policy

Location :

Home-based and Podgorica, MONTENEGRO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Mar-2019

Application Deadline :

24-Feb-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

15 March 2019 - 15 September 2019

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

10 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 European Integration Office (EIO) represents a central coordinating institution for the process of the accession to the EU including accession negotiations and management and programming of IPA funds. Staff assigned to the new EIO have responsibility for and experience to date in anchoring negotiations with the EU, not only in establishing the preconditions for opening the remaining negotiating chapters, but the requirements for continuous alignment of the national legislation with the EU acquis and establishing benchmarks and key criteria for the closure of the negotiation chapters.

The EIO coordinates accession activities in Chapter 8 – Competition Policy, the only chapter where the negotiations have not been opened, together with other bodies, such as the Agency for Protection of Competition (APC). In February 2018, Montenegro adopted the amendments to the Law on Protection of Competition and the new Law on Control of State Aid. With the adoption of this legislation, the APC has taken over major activities in relation to state aid policy and therefore needs additional support to strengthen capacities and establish good practice in this area.

Having in mind current situation, the EU concluded on several occasions that it is necessary to ensure effectiveness of State Aid control, including the building up of an enforcement record. Therefore, it is important for Montenegro gain experience in solving concrete cases of State aid and establish enforcement record in this area.

Additionally, besides concrete results in this area, the EU also insists on strengthening capacities of the Agency for Protection of Competition and improving expertise of people dealing with the State aid policy. Thus, the main objective in Chapter 8 is to create a solid enforcement record in state aid control and improve expertise of people working directly with concrete cases of state aid. In this regard, it is crucial to have adequate consultant support.

The project “Strengthening capacities for the acceleration of EU accession of Montenegro” is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the EIO. The project started on October 1, 2017 and it will be implemented over the next two years. The general objective of this action is to assist, advise and support EU accession negotiations through strengthening capacities of the EIO in responding to the demands of the new phases of accession.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the assignment:

The objective of the assignment is to engage international consultant who would provide expert support to the Agency for Protection of Competition (APC) in: analysing documents in relation to state aid cases with the special focus on the best EU practices in similar cases, assistance and support in formulation of the opinions, guidelines and/or reports of the Agency in relation to state aid cases, providing consultation to state aid grantors, under the Chapter 8 – Competition Policy.

Job content:

Under the supervision of the UNDP Project Manager and the Head of the State Aid Department of the Agency for Protection of Competition (APC), the international consultant will perform the following tasks:

Provide assistance and support in analysing documents in relation to three most important state aid cases in Montenegro and provide APC with advice on next steps;
Provide assistance and support in formulation of opinions, guidelines and/or reports of the APC;
Prepare final assessment of analysed state aid cases;
Participate in meetings with representatives of the APC and other relevant institutions (state aid grantors);
Present best practices of the EU countries to representatives of APC and all relevant institutions, especially grantors of state aid;
Prepare the Final Report for the assignment, approved by the UNDP Project Manager.

Expected results: Under the supervision of the UNDP Project Manager and Head of the State Aid Department of the Agency for Protection of Competition (APC), the international consultant is expected to deliver the following results:

Analysed documents related to state aid cases;
Prepared final assessment of state aid cases;
Mature suggestions and comments in relation to state aid cases;
Brief analyses of the EU acquis in relation to state aid cases;
Final report on all activities undertaken under this assignment provided, highlighting main results achieved and proposed recommendations.

Timing and reporting: The international consultant is expected to work homebased and in Montenegro during the assignment duration from 15th March 2019 to 15th September 2019. The international consultant will be responsible for preparing final report to the UNDP Project Manager, and it 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: The international consultant will be engaged in the period from 15th March 2019 until 15th September 2019. Bearing in mind necessity for continuous support, the consultant will be obliged to provide services on-line and via other means of telecommunication from his place of residence for approximately five days. The consultant will have an obligation to travel to Podgorica for the least of five days from 15th March 2019 to 15th September 2019, as required and in accordance with the requirements of the Agency. For the purpose of the mission, the consultant will be placed at the premises of the Agency for Protection of Competition and work during the working hours of the Agency. The 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/MEA;
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;
Excellent communication skills, facility in working with teams and capacity to compose clear and readable narrative reports;
Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills;
Excellent organizational and time management skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in Law, preferably degree in Masters;

Experience:

At least 10 years of professional experience in the field of state aid control;
Proven understanding/knowledge of Montenegrin administrative system;
Proven expertise and experience in the development of analyses and strategic documents in the region and the EU;
Modern approach to delivery of policy/technical advice and experience of working with public institutions/bodies;

Language:

Excellent communication and presentation skills;
Excellent command of spoken and written English language;

Other:

Excellent IT skills, including word-processing, database applications, presentation software.

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 February 24, 2019 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".