Back Local Consultant for Negotiating Chapters 23 and 24 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and Justice, Freedom and Security)

Background

The European Integration Office (EIO) represents a central coordinating institution for the process of the accession to the EU including accession negotiations and implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement as well as 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 chapter, but the requirements for permanent monitoring and coordination of the fulfilment of interim and closing benchmarks as well as meeting other key criteria for the provisional closure of the negotiations. In line with this, EIO deals with the continuous alignment of the national legislation with the EU acquis.

The task related to the coordination of activities in negotiations are mainly coordinated by the Sector for EU Accession and the Alignment with the EU acquis. The Sector is in charge of managing the accession process in part related to regular implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), coordination and monitoring the work of joint bodies established under the SAA. The Sector coordinates the accession process, cooperation between the public authorities with the EU institutions, its member states, potential and candidate countries.

Furthermore, the Sector is in charge of coordinating activities related to the work of Working groups in certain chapters as well as preparation of documents and overall assistance to the work of Negotiating Group and other relevant bodies within the Negotiating structure. The Sector monitors and analysis the main EU policies. Given the current phase of negotiating process, the dynamics of negotiations and continuous need to meet the EU standards across the board, the EIO needs to further strengthen its capacities especially in areas that are very complex and wide.

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 general objective of this action is to assist, advise and support EU accession negotiations through strengthening the 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 strengthen capacities of the EIO and its Sector for EU Accession and the Alignment with the EU acquis through engagement of the local consultant for Negotiating Chapters 23 and 24 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and Justice, Freedom and Security).

Job content: The local consultant should support the Sector for EU Accession and the Alignment with the EU acquis in terms of contributing to coordination and contacting the relevant public bodies and relevant EU institutions with aim of managing the given tasks, analysing documents, participate in drafting of reports and other strategic documents, as well as providing support to other emerging needs for the specific chapters. The consultant will also be engaged in facilitating the activities emerging from the commitments assumed by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement in the given area.

Under the supervision of the UNDP Project Manager in consultation with the Deputy Chief Negotiator, the local consultant will perform the following tasks:

• Preparing transposition tables for relevant legislation under chapters 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security;
• Analysing the current state of play as regards the implementation of the action plans for chapters 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security;
• Analysing the current state of play as regards the implementation of the interim benchmarks for chapters 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security;
• Providing support in organizing focused meetings with coordinators of each sub-area under chapters 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security, as well as providing minutes from the meetings, in order to obtain relevant data for revision of each sub-area of the action plans;
• Gathering relevant data from the relevant state institutions for the purpose of drafting the revised/new action plans for chapters 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security;
• Analysing the final benchmarks for chapters 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security, once Montenegro receives them;
• Providing support in defining needs and activities leading to fulfilling the final benchmarks in chapters 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security;
• Drafting of the revised action plans for chapters 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security or adoption of new action plans for chapters 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security; based on relevant analyses and in line with the final benchmarks for chapters 23 and 24;
• Providing support in making comparative analyses and tables under the rule of law area;
• Translating the key documents in the rule of law area to/from both languages;
• Preparing monthly reports on implemented activities;
• Performing other relevant tasks upon request of the UNDP Project Manager in consultation with the Deputy Chief Negotiator.

The expected results: It is expected from the consultant to coordinate and deliver above mentioned tasks, in order to strengthen capacities of the EIO and support the implementation of the project “Strengthening capacities for the acceleration of EU accession of Montenegro II”.

Timing and reporting: The local consultant will work under direct supervision of UNDP Project Manager, and in close coordination with the Deputy Chief Negotiator and the Head of Department for EU Political Affairs. He/she will be obligated to provide monthly reports on their deliverables during the assignment. 

Time duration and travel: The local consultant will be engaged in the period from September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021. The consultant will be placed at the premises of the EIO and work during the working hours of the EIO.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP/EIO;
• 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;
• Knowledge Management and Learning;
• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
• Ability to perform a variety of standard tasks related to Results Management, including collecting of documentation, data entering, preparation of revisions, filling, provision of information;
• Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems;
• Responds positively to feedback;
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills;
• Ability to work independently and in a team.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University degree, preferably Law degree or other social sciences;

Experience:

• Minimum three years of working experience in the relevant field;
• Previous experience related to the negotiation process or specifically to the Negotiating Chapters 23 and 24 would be considered as an asset;
• Experience in desk research, as well as analysis of legal documents or policy planning papers is an asset;
• Interest in major EU policy developments is an asset;

Language:

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

Other:

• Computer literacy.

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 individual 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 July 13, 2020 by using the Apply now button. The application should contain CV or P11 that can be downloaded at https://www.me.undp.org/content/montenegro/en/home/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".