Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is implementing project Promoting Inclusive Labour Market Solutions in the Western Balkans (ILMS). The overall objective of ILMS project is to make national and local labour markets more inclusive in the Western Balkans. All the activities and measures undertaken by the project will need to result in improved capacities of relevant stakeholders (national and local labour market institutions, private sector, civil society) to design and implement inclusive policies and programmes for those individuals experiencing multiple forms of social and labour market exclusion.

In the frameworks of this project, UNDP is supporting the implementation of the individual projects/businesses awarded under the 1st Call within the “Programme of Support to Self-Employment” i.e. Direct Award to Employment agency of Montenegro (EAM) by Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MLSW) deriving from the Joint EU-MNE programme for Employment, Education and Social Protection. Within the framework of the implementation of this programme, 94 grants were awarded to unemployed persons, distributed in 20 municipalities in Montenegro (9 in the south, 35 in the north and 50 in the central part of the country with most of the grantees being located in Podgorica and Niksic). Priority in the award of grants was given to the following categories of unemployed: up to 35 years old, women and long term unemployed. The grantees have launched micro-enterprises in the following areas: personal services (hairdressers, beauty services, car repair etc.), agriculture and food production (pond, fruit and vegetable growin, beekeeping, cake and pastries production), intellectual services (including financial and bookkeeping services, administrative support, graphic design, digital marketing and production), trade, construction related services (painting, carpentry, ceramic and sanitations), tourism and accommodation, health and fitness. 

The businesses are registered either as micro enterprises - limited liability companies or entrepreneurs.
Throughout 7 months period (June – December 2020), UNDP will be supporting the grantees to develop their businesses through the provision additional, mentoring and counselling support. 

During May 2020, UNDP conducted needs assessment of the newly registered businesses in order to determine what kind of support they would need during the forthcoming period. One of the identified areas for support was related to tax regulations and basics of accounting.
To assist with the above, UNDP seeks to recruit Local Consultant for financial management and accounting to grant beneficiaries within the 1st Call for self-employment grants under the “Programme of Support to Self-Employment” with expertise and experience in the area of financial management including financial procedures, tax regulations and accounting when it comes to micro enterprises and entrepreneurs in Montenegro.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the assignment:

Engaged Consultant, in close coordination with UNDP team, will, based on the already conducted needs’ assessment, provide both mentorship and consultancy support to the interested grantees, in order to assist them in building profitable businesses that follow all required financial management regulations in Montenegro.
Job content:
The consultant will be engaged under Individual Contract and will work under supervision of Project Manager.
The consultant is expected to design and implement comprehensive consultancy programme for the grantees in the area of financial/accounting requirements related to financial and tax regulations relevant for their businesses operation.

Topics to be covered may include, but are not limited to:
- tax related requirements and procedures
- procurement policies
- contractual obligations
- obligations related to labour law
- preparation and processing of financial documentation
- minimum documentation and procedures for financial transactions
- provide advice on cost analysis and management
- provide advice on improving related business practices in order to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Specific responsibilities will include:

  • Based on the needs assessment results and if needed, additional consultations with businesses, develop comprehensive consultancy plan and programme for individual and/or groups of businesses.
  • Review, analysis and preparation of the supporting package/guidelines of the existing financial management requirements for LLCs and entrepreneurs in Montenegro.
  • Implement the prepared programme, through the following modalities:

- Face to face group trainings
- Online group trainings
- Small groups face-to-face consultations
- Individual consultations (through face-to-face meetings, phone or email communication)

  • Cooperate with other mentors/consultants and advise on the other types of support identified through the work with grantees
  • Provide, when and if needed, other finance related advice, such as access to finance for development of business and similar
  • Enable networking of businesses among themselves or with other businesses, as per need and opportunity.

Expected results/ Deliverables:

  • Comprehensive consultancy plan and programme (2 days)
  • Supporting package/guidelines of the existing financial management requirements for LLCs and entrepreneurs in Montenegro (3 days)
  • Quality advice regarding financial management through face to face and online group and individual meetings/workshops/consultations (up to 15 days)
  • Meetings and communication with other mentors/consultants, UNDP and NEA (2 days)
  • Regular monitoring and reporting on grantees progress (3 days)

Consultant will be required to plan and report based on working days and working hours, depending on the type of deliverable. In the above distribution, one working day is considered to include 8 working hours, which can be distributed to more than one calendar day.

Time duration: The Consultant will be engaged during the period 15 June 2020 – 30 November 2020 (25 working days) and will be paid in tranches, depending on deliverables set by the ToR for this position. Local travel, inside of Montenegro, is planned in the total of up to 10 days. 

Competencies
  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • 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;
  • Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
  • Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure and under specific circumstances, as well as conflict resolution skills.
Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Relevant degree in economy, financial management, accounting or other related technical field;

Experience:

  • At least 3 years of experience in conducting similar assignments;
  • Related working experience in Montenegro, in/for private sector;
  • Experience in work in or with sectors business operate will be an advantage;
  • Experience in starting up and/or managing of business would be an asset;

Other:

  • Excellent analytical, oral and written communication skills both in Montenegrin and English;

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 June 3, 2020 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".


This vacancy is archived.

Recommended for you