UNDP Jobs - 33304- Adviser to the Customs Service of the Republic of

Adviser to the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova

Location :

Chisinau, MOLDOVA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Nov-2012

Application Deadline :

25-Oct-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year with possibility of extension

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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 High Level Policy Advisory Mission (EU HLPAM) is a project financed by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP. The objective of the project is to support the Government to implement its wider reform agenda, the Government Activity Programme and the National Development Strategy Moldova 2020, and in particular to assist the Government to develop the capacities required for the preparation, negotiation and implementation of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, and visa liberalization. Specifically, the project aims at strengthening the policy-making, strategic planning and policy management capacities of selected line Ministries and State Agencies involved in the negotiation and implementation of the Association Agreement and visa liberalization and at enhancing stakeholders’ knowledge and awareness of EU policies, legislation and regulations in sectors strategic to the conclusion of the Association Agreement including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, and to the implementation of visa liberalization.

The EUHLPAM will achieve these objectives through the continued delivery of an optimal mix of policy, legal and institutional advice ensuring that the Moldovan authorities have direct access to EU best practice and reform experience in order to strengthen policy design and implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Adviser to the Customs Service will act within the Agency’s overall framework to help build a stable and comprehensive customs control procedures at land borders and inland, airport, which ensures that proper, uniform and/or harmonised application of national and international customs-related legislation enhances the powers for customs officers to administrate and enforce customs legislation, He/she will report to the Director general of State Customs Service, with a reporting line to UNDP, and will be the lead sector expert and coordinate short term and local experts’ work within the Mission on this particular component. The Adviser will cooperate closely with the other Advisers in the EUHLPAM team and the EU Delegation in Moldova. Together with other EUHLPAM advisors s/he will represent the Mission in meetings with key officials, partner organisations and other institutions involved in implementation of the project. All activities performed in the scope of this assignment will be closely coordinated with ongoing and planned EU-funded activities, especially with the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM).

Key responsibilities:

Provide strategic advice on developing a modern and efficient customs service in line with the EU standards and aiming to:

Provide general advice in view of negotiations on the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Agreement, a possible future Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and the EU-Moldova Visa Dialogue.
Assist in implementation of the Strategic Framework in customs co-operation between EU and Moldova;
Support development of customs cooperation related to the EU external borders including exchange of information-systems and joint control;
Ensure that national customs-related legislation, including provisions related to the supply chain security based on international standards, is applicable and can be implemented;
Support the development of border and inland control strategy to have the relevant controls with all the necessary resources;
Support delivery of the system to monitor and reduce waiting times at the border;
Ensure that a comprehensive intelligence setup is in place and regularly updated, in support of investigation and enforcement systems and procedures;
Advice on the capacities and institutional requirements for preventing and combating customs fraud, risk analysis, mobile teams;
Support facilitation of legitimate trade as a matter of principle and balanced approach to security measures;
Facilitate dialogue between Moldovan Customs Service and other customs authorities in EU-member states including administrative assistance on customs matters and support formalising cooperation through bilateral agreements;
Promote exchange of experience and mutual assistance with other customs administrations/authorities to promote confidence and cooperation with other national enforcement agencies;
Facilitate coordination and synergies between various donor-funded initiatives in the sector.

The above responsibilities will be carried out through development of strategy documents, policy papers, advisory notes and other relevant documentation as well as through provision of technical on-the-job advice.

Competencies

Previous knowledge of the EU-Moldova relations and of Moldovan state institutions is an advantage.
Knowledge of EU programmes and policies;
PC literacy, excellent writing and communication skills;
Full time commitment is an advantage.

The advisor is required to be present in Moldova and work according to a prioritised work plan, which will be established in a close consultation with the beneficiary, EU and UNDP.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master Degree (Law, Public Policy and Management, Finance, Economics, or similar) or equivalent working experience in the sector.

Experience:

Minimum 12 years working experience in the area of expertise;
Minimum 8 years experience in similar positions of advisory for and/or implementation of reforms (Customs regulations and policies), in providing advice to policy makers on related reforms issues, or in capacity building in EU or ENP and candidate countries;
Experience in national negotiations of EU integration is an asset;

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English.
Good working knowledge of Romanian or Russian is an asset.

Evaluation Criteria:

UNDP will perform an evaluation of the technical proposal prior to any price proposals being discussed. The technical evaluation will be represented through a desk review of applications and further interview of the shortlisted candidates.

Technical Evaluation:

The technical part is evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR). Namely:

Educational background – 10 points max;
Relevant experience on similar assignments – 10 points max
Relevant technical expertise – 20 points max
Language Skills – 10 points max
Interview - 50 points max

Total Maximum Score: 100 points

UNDP will further consider the price proposals only from the candidates that passed the minimum technical threshold of 70% of the obtainable score of 100 points in the evaluation of the technical proposals.

Financial Component:

UNDP will contact the technically qualified candidates to provide a financial offer for the proposed vacancy. UNDP reserves the right to offer the financial remuneration to the qualified candidates within the limits of the available project budget and rates of remuneration applicable for the international consultancies within the EU High Level Policy Advisory Mission.

Award of Contract:

The contract shall be awarded to the technically most responsive candidate subject to a mutual agreement of the remuneration level within the usual EUHLPAM advisory service remuneration rates.