Republic of Moldova

International Consultant (Team Leader) to develop (a) RIA of prospective Law and (b) draft Law on the Technological Transfer and Innovations Fund

Vacancy Number: Pr13/00400

Location:	Home based, with travel to Moldova
Application Deadline:	25 Oct 2013, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	01 Nov 2013
Reference to the project:	Innovation Fund: Fostering transition toward inclusive and sustainable development of Moldova
Expected Duration of Assignment:	40 working days during November-December, 2013
Submission Instructions: Proposals should be submitted on-line by pressing the “Apply on-line” link, no later than 25 October, 2013. Those who previously applied do no need to apply again. Requests for clarification only must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: dumitru.vasilescu@undp.org. UNDP will respond by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of ithe query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants. This Vacancy Announcement is also placed on the following web page http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=40690
Supporting Documents: Terms of Reference Individual Consultant Procurement Notice Personal History Form (P11) UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Background

The most recent independent evaluations, conducted by national or international teams of consultants, on the current national system for the promotion of innovations at national level reveal important gaps and malfunctions, particularly in terms of legal and institutional frameworks. Local innovation activities could bring about more and better results, with more creative products. The UNDP supported the initiative of the Ministry of Economy to develop a modern Innovation Strategy for the Republic of Moldova, which would build upon the existing or foreseen strengths and weaknesses of the national system, and thereby tackle some of the key existing gaps in a comprehensive manner. The conducted SWOT analysis of the current system reveals that the key current strengths are relatively strong state financial support for the education system, high level of the development of the digital infrastructure, relatively high percentage of employment in knowledge-intensive sectors, high number of inventions, among others. Key weaknesses are mainly related to policy framework and result in an underdeveloped infrastructure conducive to promotion of innovations, underdeveloped research institutions, and low private investments in research and development, excessive centralization of the national R&D system, insufficient protection of the right of investors and so on. In this context, the Government is engaged to undertake consistent reforms of the legal system to ensure a comprehensive framework of horizontal policies that would increase the international competitiveness of the country and build a knowledge-based economy. The currently endorsed strategic vision of the Government until 2020 is to re-think the national innovations system through consolidating the capacities of the national companies connected via innovation partnerships with academia and research institutions at home and abroad. This would ultimately translate in more and better jobs and making local population resilient to various existing risks, such as poverty, scarcity of resources, including human resources, environmental degradation, among others.

Based on the current Code on Science and Innovations, the key competencies to coordinate the national innovations system are with the Moldovan Academy of Sciences. In particular, the Academy is responsible for development and promotion of strategies in the area of science and innovations, implements the state policies in these areas, coordinates the development of national programmes and mechanisms for their implementation.  The newly developed national Innovations Strategy underlines the need to reform the national system and rethink the role the Academy of Sciences should play as part of the system. The national Agency for Innovations and Technological Transfer, subordinated to the Academy of Sciences, is responsible for the coordination, facilitation and implementation of mechanisms to stimulate innovations and technological transfer. The Agency collects technological transfer projects, coordinates the selection and financing process, monitors the implementation progress, and evaluates results. To support innovations, the Agency is making use of only two available instruments, i.e. innovation and technological transfer projects and support to scientific and technological parks and innovation incubators. As the entire national innovations system will be reformed based on modern best practices, including the experience of the EU countries, the Agency for Innovations and Technological Transfer will be also modernized and reformed into an institution established by the Government, as an implementing structure for the promotion of innovation policies. This would imply the creation of a Technological Transfer and Innovations Fund, to be managed by the Agency. The named Fund shall be institutionalized by law and will function based on a tailored financing mechanism, being governed by a Council of Directors.

Scope of work

The specific objectives of the consultancy are, as per below:

• Develop a robust Regulatory Impact Analysis to assess the prospective impact of a new law to institutionalize the Technological Transfer and Innovations Fund; based on the results of RIA, the consultant shall proceed with all of the below items;
• Analyze and share with local counterparts the experience and existing best practices in designing and implementing similar legislative acts from the EU and CIS countries;
• Contribute to the drafting of the Law for the institutionalization of the Technological Transfer and Innovations Fund;
• Contribute to the national consultative process around the draft Law and finalization of the document after conducting ;
• Develop a Road Map for the implementation of the Law, to contain also an estimation of the costs and resources needed for the implementation.

Note: The international consultant will be supported by a national consultant, who will work as a team on respective assignment.

For detailed information, including the list of responsibilities of the national consultant, please refer to Annex 1 – Terms of Reference.

Requirements for experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Economics, Social Science or other relevant fields.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of proven analytical skills and previous experience in policy analysis, development of comprehensive analytical reports in socio-economic field;
• Previous extensive experience in drafting regulatory acts and laws, experience in conducting extensive national level consultations for validation of draft legislative documents;
• Familiarity with the situation in the national innovations system in the Republic of Moldova; knowledge of the Moldovan context would be a strong advantage;
• Knowledge of the EU regulations, including institutional, legal and policy frameworks, in the area of innovation and technological transfer.

Competencies and Skills:

• Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills;
• Fluency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian is an advantage.

Documents to be included

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Cover letter, explaining why he/she is the most suitable for the work;
2. A brief methodology on how he/she will approach and conduct the work;
3. Financial proposal;
4. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references, or dully filled Personal History Form (P11).

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including daily fee, travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).  

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel (the Consultant is expected to undertake at least 2 working visits to Moldova).  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class, he/she should do so using their own resources.

In case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

 

Disclaimer In case of discrepancies between the text published on the website and the contents of the supporting documents, the provisions, instructions and conditions included in the supporting documents (published as Adobe Portable Document Format files) shall prevail. In case of discrepancies between the English version and the Romanian and/or Russian versions of text, documents or other content published on this webpage, the English version shall prevail.

Notice UNDP, as a matter of practice, does not charge any application, processing or training fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions as to vacancy announcements you may have received, please refer to this website. UNDP is currently aware of fictitious vacancy announcements that are being circulated through the internet, the purpose of which is to get people to register for a training and send in a fee. If you believe that you have received such a notice, please forward it, and any other related information you have received, to scamalert@undp.org. Since logos, emblems, names and addresses can be easily copied or reproduced, you are advised to take particular care in applying for vacancies, including undertaking all appropriate measures to protect against the unauthorised use of any personal information you may have provided as a result of the scam.