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MiDL - National Consultant on Local Economic Development .

Vacancy Number: Pr21/02147

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	18 Jan 2021, 12:00 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:	25 Jan 2021, 15:00 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:	29 Jan 2021, 12:00 (GMT+2:00)
Starting date:	01 Mar 2021
Reference to the project:	Integrated Migration Local Development Project
Expected Duration of Assignment:	estimated 375 working days
Submission Instructions: Proposals should be submitted on-line by pressing “Apply on-line” link, no later than 18 January 2021. Requests for clarification only must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: zinaida.adam@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 Procurement Notice OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR (IC) ASSIGNMENT UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Ms. Zinaida Adam.

Background

Migration still remains an overwhelming issue in the Republic of Moldova, with a decisive impact both, at national and local level. According to various sources, overall 1/4 of the country’s population is still residing abroad. The rural area of the country is particularly affected, as it loses its economically active population in favor of international labor migration and with it, its long-term development perspective. On the other side, remittances continue to make a difference and create significant dependence. The Moldovan Government (GoM) acknowledges that, if addressed and managed properly, human mobility can bring many opportunities, changes and improvements in the country. Due to the Swiss development support, the GoM migration policy focus shifted from a management and control perspective to capitalizing on the opportunities provided by migration.

Building on the positive experience from 2016-2019, a new 4-year (2019-2022) phase of ‘Migration and Local Development Project’ has been decided to be implemented, with the financial support being provided by the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development.

A special focus of the project consists in devising and piloting of tailor-made and innovative solutions to boost local economic development in the Republic of Moldova, through promoting of an active engagement of private sector and building effective partnerships between local public authorities and local businesses. In this context, there were selected 35 target-municipalities to be supported to actively engage with local private sector stakeholders, aiming to promote innovative and efficient local economic development initiatives.

In this context, MiDL has initiated the assistance of beneficiary-municipalities to devise and initiate the implementation of 25 innovative LED catalytical interventions (valuing $4,8 M, inclusively $3,3 M mobilized from local stakeholders and $1,5 M co-financed by MiDL), aiming to support the expansion of 48 existing local companies and to develop over 50 new start-ups, which targets the creation of over 1,000 new jobs and increased income opportunities for over 10,000 inhabitants.

Scope of work

The overall objective of the National Consultant on Local Economic Development assignment (hereinafter Consultant) is to facilitate the private sector pro-active engagement within the local development process of approximately 32 target municipalities throughout Moldova. In this regard, the Consultant is expected to deliver the following tasks:

• Support the capacity enhancement activities in the field of local economic development for the representatives of selected pilot LPAs.
• Support the MiDL Project Management in the coordination of the implementation of 25 pilot LED investment initiatives, in partnership with local stakeholders, to foster job creation and income generation activities.
• Support in the conceptualization of the project experience into innovative knowledge management products on Local Economic Development.

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

Requirements for experience

The following qualification criteria shall be applied for the selection of the consultant:

Education:

• University degree in the relevant field (economics, finances, development studies, local development, etc.).
• Specialized LED trainings will be an advantage

Experience:

• At least 10 years of practical experience related to local economic development
• Advanced experience related to implementing organic LED methodology (PACA - Participatory Appraisal of Competitive Advantage) methodology (at least 2 assignments/communities assisted).
• Experience in promoting activities related to the engagement the migrants’ into the local development initiatives

 Competences:

• Good knowledge of private sector development context in Moldovan communities
• Knowledge and skills of MS Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint;
• Excellent command of English, Romanian and Russian.

Abilities:

• Demonstrated capacity of team-orientation work, excellent planning and organizational skills;
• Good communication and writing skills
• Sensitivity and respect for human rights and gender equality
• Ability to achieve results and deadlines in a timely manner, maintaining a high standard throughout;
• Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations, in particular, respecting differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status

Documents to be included

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

1. Proposal explaining the approach and methodology to be used for the implementation of the tasks described in the ToR. Also, describe how applicant responds to each of the qualification requirements and why he/she is the most suitable for the work.
2. Personal CV including records on past experience in similar projects/assignments and concrete outputs obtained.
3. Financial proposal in USD, specifying a total lump sum amount and the number of anticipated working days, incorporated in the Offeror’s Letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment, and at least 3 reference persons.
4. Offeror’s letter confirming interest and availability for the assignment.

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. 

 Travel

All travel expenses to target communities are in the responsibility of MiDL project and shall not be included in the financial offer.