Republic of Moldova

National Consultant on Cross-river Business Cooperation and Economic Development

Vacancy Number: Pr15/00933

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	17 May 2015, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:	22 May 2015, 16:00 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:	27 May 2015, 16:00 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	29 May 2015
Reference to the project:	Support to Confidence Building Measures
Expected Duration of Assignment:	Up to 60 working days during May 2015 - December 2015
Submission Instructions: Proposals should be submitted online by pressing the "Apply Now" button no later than 17 May 2015. Requests for clarification only must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: victor.dragutan@undp.org. UNDP will respond by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.
Supporting Documents: Terms of Reference Individual Consultant Procurement Notice Personal History Form (P11) UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Background

The Support to Confidence Building Measures Programme (SCBM Programme) is funded by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP Moldova. The overall objective of the Programme is to contribute to an environment of trust and cooperation across the Nistru/Dniestr River generating new perspectives on shared interests and a shared future by people from both banks of the river while responding to their pressing development needs.

The current phase of the Programme (2015-2018) represents a framework for engaging in development interventions across the security zone on both sides of the Nistru/Dniestr River, comprising a series of activities that will strengthen, regularize and intensify interaction between otherwise divided societies, aiming to establish this interaction as a norm. It looks to deal strategically with barriers to cooperation by building the trust towards such actions and broadening opportunities for engagement for a wide range of actors. Additionally, it provides support for improving critical community infrastructure.

Through its Business Development and Employment Opportunities component, the SCBM Programme aims to support the common interests of business actors from both banks, by facilitating their cross-river cooperation and their to the possibilities offered by Moldova’s deepening relationship with the EU. This component addresses comprehensively some of the key constraints faced by business and focuses heavily on creating sustainable cross-river partnerships. Business to business interaction will be sustained through the facilitation of cooperation between business associations, supporting business cooperation networks, and building local capacities for export. Continuing the successful experience of previous phases of the programme, the business development services market will be further consolidated, by bolstering the capacities of local private actors, business associations and consultants to provide certified services enabling the local business to capitalize on the existing opportunities, including those offered by the DCFTA. Additionally, a culture of entrepreneurship will be promoted energetically in the region, focused mainly on enabling youth on both banks to become successful entrepreneurs.

Scope of work

The overall objective of the National Consultant on Cross-river Business Cooperation and Economic Development (hereinafter Consultant) assignment is to provide substantive expertise in developing and implementing a series of initiatives that would support economic development and cooperation between businesses and business associations on both banks of the Nistru river.

More specifically, the Consultant will:

• Analyse the state of cross-river B2B activity and business cooperation, including at the level of associations and chambers of commerce, and assess the needs of the business communities on both banks of the Nistru River;
• Provide a set of recommendations on targeted institutional development support to business associations to strengthen cross-river cooperation, as well as on promoting a permanent cross-river economic dialogue via support to business cooperation networks and platforms;
• Support the implementation of initiatives targeting economic development and cross-river business cooperation. The Consultant will be asked to contribute with substantial recommendations to the formulation of terms of reference, and the implementation of concrete activities in the field;
• Provide other relevant support as required by the SCBM team.

For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1 – Terms of Reference.

Requirements for experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Advanced University degree in Business Administration, Economy, Public Administration, or other relevant fields;

Skills & Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional working experience in the field of business development, local economic development, development of analytical reports in the socio-economic field, including programmes and projects;
• Previous experience in economic development assistance or related work for a donor organization, consulting company, or NGO;
• Proven training/expertise and/or practical experience in supporting business cooperation
• Proven familiarity with the Moldovan-Transnistrian setting; knowledge and in-depth understanding of the working environment, its sensitivities, economic and political challenges, ability to build solid ground for joint work between the two sides are strongly desirable;
• Proven understanding or experience in working with DCFTA-related issues and business associations would constitute an advantage; 
• Previous experience in working with UN agencies is an asset;
• Knowledge of Romanian, Russian and English is required.

Competencies:

• Ability to analyze, plan, communicate effectively with stakeholders and present ideas clearly and effectively.
• Demonstrated interpersonal, communication, teamwork and diplomatic skills.
• Ability to enter new environments, adapt quickly and produce immediate results.
• Computer literacy - competent user of Microsoft Office programs.

Documents to be included

1. Proposal:

(i) Letter of Interest explaining why he/she is the most suitable for the work

(ii) Provide a brief methodology on how he/she will approach and conduct the work.

2. Financial proposal in USD;

3. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and the contact details of at least 3 reference persons.

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 (consultancy fee, taxes, communication costs, other costs).    

Travel

Travel outside duty station (Chisinau), other administrative costs, and logistical aspects will be arranged for with the support of the SCBM team.

All other envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. 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-country transportation shall be provided by UNDP.

In the 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.