Aid for Initiative for Arab States Terms of reference for Individual Contract Project Management and Oversight Consultant A. Project Title Aid for Initiative for the Arab States B. Project Description The Aid for initiative for the Arab States region aims to achieve inclusive economic growth with increased employment opportunities and greater competitiveness through trade policy reforms in Arab countries as an integral part of the regional trade and economic integration agenda. It provides a platform for targeted trade reforms, building upon UN agencies experience and ongoing technical assistance and capacity development interventions. UNDP is the implementing agency of this regional initiative, working closely with the International Islamic Finance Corporation (ITFC) as the chair of the project board (executive) and UN agencies from the CEB and Productive Capacity Cluster (ILO, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, and UNIDO) responsible for leading work in specific result areas in coordination with partners in the region and beyond. The project (initiative) will focus on helping countries and the main sub-regional and regional integration entities to accelerate the pace of trade reforms and regional economic integration, to strengthen the employment effects of those reforms with particular focus on women and youth and to mobilize additional resources for this purpose. Accordingly, the project will aim to: Review, assess, and where feasible, develop into actionable interventions for investment and resource mobilization the trade-related aspirations on energy, transport, communication and pipeline infrastructure, food security, water, SME financing and support, trade-facilitation and customs reform, expressed in the outcome documents of the January 2009 and January 2011 Arab Economic and Social Summit held in Kuwait and Sharm-el-Sheikh respectively. Enhance the capacities of the League of Arab States (LAS), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) to implement regional integration processes and the Pan- Arab Free Area (PAFTA). Provide a platform for trade reform including non-tariff measures, technical barriers to trade, and for enhancing the capacities of trade support institutions, to foster the regional trade integration s of the member countries of the League of Arab States. Enhance the employment effects of trade and trade-related policies by ensuring the alignment of human resource related policies with policy changes in the area of trade. Mobilize Aid for (AfT) resources to finance and implement country, sub-regional and regional priorities that will contribute to broader trade development outcomes. 1
The main stakeholders at the national level are: 1) Government and governmental organizations a. Line ministries: Ministry of, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Economy/Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Gender Equality/Gender Affairs; b. Specialized agencies: Customs Agency, Export Credit Agencies, Investment Promotion Agencies, National Statistical Office, National Standards Bodies, National Food Safety Authorities, Central Bank, National and Regional Development Banks and Authorities, Antitrust Authority, Technical Vocational Education and Training institutions, Higher Education Institutions; c. Special committees: Facilitation Committee, Aid for Committee, Skills Committee etc. 2) Business and employer organizations and trade unions a. Business and employers: national trade promotion organization, sectoral business associations, small and medium enterprises business associations, associations of artisans and traders, chambers of commerce, export associations, representatives of entrepreneurs, business women associations; b. unions: confederation of trade unions, main trade unions, women workers association, association/cooperatives of workers; 3) Civil society: Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), including environmental NGOs, associations of NGOs, women and sub-population groups associations, independent thinktanks, national and local media. C. Scope of Work Under the guidance of the Regional Programme Coordinator, Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) and direct supervision of the, the Project Management Consultant will be responsible for developing and ensuring compliance of the project with UNDP and operations policies and procedures including monitoring and oversight functions support. The scope and responsibilities of the work will include: Ensure results based project management - Provide advisory services for effective and efficient project management and implementation; - Ensure that preparation of the regular progress report is timely and effective; - Provide effective guidance and advice for effective monitoring and oversight; - Support the quality control of project activities; Provide support to resource mobilization - Support the mobilization of resources for the project in function of implementation of the project activities; - Support effective liaison with key donors; - Ensure updates on the potential and availability of resources and donors for effective mobilization of resources in coordination with RBAS and BERA focal points, and promotion of partnership with concerned entities; Support to development of knowledge products - Support to the development of knowledge products of the project, i.e, on the LAS institutional capacity development interventions; 2
- Provide advisory service for the project advocacy and communication efforts; Provide support to other activities required by the Project D. Expected Outputs and Deliverables Outputs Output 1 results based and operational management services Deliverables Preparation and submission of the report on project management report Preparation of the progress reports related to the use of financial resources from Sida and others as relevant support to the preparation of the quarterly report. Target Due Dates Every two months after the signing the contract. Seven and half months from the signing of the contract. Over the assignment period. Review and Approvals Required (Indicate designation of person who will review output and confirm acceptance) Output 2 resource mobilization and Participation to preparation of Terms of Reference and mobilization of expertise Two notes of updates on the potential and availability of resources for the subsequent phases of the project. Every three months after the signing the contract. Submission of the report on the outcomes and deliverables as related to the resource mobilization Seven and half months from the signing of the contract. Output 3 knowledge management Design of the concept of the knowledge product and its action plan Two months from the signing of the contract. 3
services First draft of the knowledge project in collaboration with the project technical team Four months from the signing of the contract. E. Institutional Arrangement a) The consultant will work under the guidance of the Regional Programme Coordinator, Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) and direct supervision of the Advisor of the. The supervision will include approvals/acceptance of the outputs as identified in the previous section. b) The consultant will be reporting progress on monthly basis and verbally on regular and needed basis at any period throughout the assignment. c) The consultant may be asked to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with the representatives of the International Islamic and Finance Corporation (ITFC), representatives of the UN Cluster of and Productive Sectors in Geneva, or any other relevant counterparts for the preparation of the specific outputs identified above. d) The consultant may be asked to complete other tasks as required by the F. Duration of the Work a) The duration of the work is expected to be 7.5 months from the start of the contract. The deliverables identified above will be scheduled in a timeline agreeable to both sides within this period. b) The consultant is expected to dedicate 3 working days per week for the provision of services as per the above scope of work. G. Duty Station a) The Consultant s work will be home-based with frequent travel to Amman for coordination and work planning. UNDP will cover travel costs in accordance with its Rules and Procedures. Along this line, the selected consultant should only address costs required for the delivery of works needed as per Section (D) in her/his proposal respectively b) Certain activities may require travel to other countries in the region for Experts Group meetings, visits to UNDP country offices etc. Such missions will be planned and budgeted for on an ad-hoc basis. c) If needed, UNDP will provide office space and logistical resources to be used by the Senior Expert. G. Qualifications of the Successful Individual Contractor I. Academic Qualifications: Master s degree in international development, public administration, business administration, public policy or other relevant fields of education. II. Years of experience: 7 years of relevant work experience in international development, with links to trade and 4
regional integration. III. Competencies: A solid experience in the areas of international trade, economic development, poverty analysis, development and planning, focusing on economic development through provision of evidence-based policy advice; Excellent knowledge of and experience with results-based management methodologies and tools (project and management, audit, monitoring and evaluation) and research and policy-level analysis. Substantive knowledge of UNDP programming and application of UNDP s operational policies & practices. Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple tasks IV. Languages: Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English; I. Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments All proposals must be expressed in Lump Sum Amount ( all-inclusive ). Please note that the contract price will be fixed regardless of changes in the cost components. All payments will be issued upon submission of each deliverable and certification of UNDP. J. Annexes to the TOR - Project Document - Project Work Plans 5