National Consultant to Support the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro in Preparing Economic Reform Programme 2023-2025

Background

Since independence in 2006, Montenegro has made steady progress in improving human development, democratic governance, and European integration, which is a priority of the Government. EU accession remains the key priority in the upcoming years. The need to further improve public finance management (PFM) is set as one of the key areas of the PAR, and recognized as important for further development of all sectors of economy and better quality of life for the citizens. 

With view of the abovementioned, the Project “Strengthening Transparent and Accountable Public Finance Management in Montenegro”, supported by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, was launched and it is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro (MF MNE) and UNDP. The Project is linked with the past and present activities implemented through the Slovak Ministry of Finance (MF SR) - UNDP Public Finance for Development (PFD) program since 2009. The main goal of the Project is to support MF MNE in strengthening the transparent and accountable public finance management on central and local level.

In the scope of the Project, one of the intervention areas will entail the regulatory reform and overall improvement of business environment in the country. Given that the economic governance has become even more central in the enlargement process in recent years and with a view of the need for the high-quality macroeconomic and fiscal programming, as well as planning of structural reforms in the country, Montenegro has been preparing the Economic Reform Programme (hereinafter referred to as ERP) for eight (8) years in a row. The Economic Reform Programme (ERP) is a principal economic policy document of a country. On one hand, it represents an instrument for economic policy planning of a country and managing the reforms aimed at maintaining the macroeconomic stability, strengthening international competitiveness, and improving conditions for an inclusive growth. On the other hand the Economic Reform Programme is a core element of the “fundamentals first” approach as part of Montenegro’s negotiations on the European Union accession, in particular for fulfilling the Copenhagen economic criteria. The document represents a basis for dialogue of a country with the European Union Member States and institutions in terms of macroeconomic, fiscal, and structural reforms. Each enlargement country prepares an Economic Reform Programme (ERP) annually and this document is the basis for country-specific policy guidance jointly adopted by the EU and the Western Balkans and Turkey at ministerial level in May each year.

UNDP CO Montenegro provided consultancy assistance in the preparation of Montenegro Economic Reform Programme (ERP) 2022-2024, having in mind its significance as the key national strategy paper for medium term. The consultations process for the Economic Reform Programme preparation was strengthened and implemented in two phases. The consultations for the preparation of the Economic Reform Programme 2022-2024 started on 13 September 2021 with stakeholders and they were invited to provide their proposals of reform measures to be integrated in the ERP. Representatives of international organisations, non-governmental organisations, representatives of local self-governments, representatives of trade union associations, and academia participated in the mentioned event and provided their proposals for improving the ERP text. The consultations continued in December, with the objective to discuss the first draft of the entire document. To that end, the public consultations were held in the period from 3 to 23 December 2021, while as part of the public consultations for the Draft Economic Reform Programme the round table was held on 17 December 2021. At the same time, a broad consultation process took place within the Government, and the draft ERP was subject of deliberation by the relevant Parliamentary Committee. 

ERP 2022-2024 has taken into consideration five key principles the Government has based its work on – 1. Rule of Law and Equal Opportunities, 2. Sound Finances and Economic Development, 3. Health and Healthy Living Environment, 4. Education and Knowledge-based Society, and 5. Digital Society. To that end, ERP 2022-2024 has set an ambitious, but also a realistic set of reforms and investments, in order to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive economic growth which will contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of all citizens. Concurrently, the ERP reforms are also based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and contribution of Montenegro to achieving those goals on the global level. In June 2022, EC will submit the Commission’s Assessment of the 2022 Economic Reform Programmes of the Western Balkans and Turkey, based on which the key areas where structural reforms should be improved will be identified. Upon the analysis of the EC Assessment and the final conclusions from the Economic and Financial Dialogue between EC and WB and Turkey, the work on ERP 2023-2025 will start in June 2022. The preparation of ERP 2023-2025 will be a complex process, having in mind the new composition of the Government and the need to align this document with the EC Policy guidance and IPA III.  

In order to support the Ministry of Finance to fulfill the above described obligations, UNDP Montenegro intends to engage National Consultant to Support the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro in Preparing Economic Reform Programme 2023-2025. The Consultant will be engaged in the scope of the Project “Strengthening Transparent and Accountable Public Finance Management in Montenegro”, supported by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, and jointly implemented by MF and UNDP CO Montenegro. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the assignment:  

The main objective of the assignment is the provision of inputs for the preparation of Montenegro Economic Reform Programme 2023-2025.  

Job content:

Under the supervision of the UNDP Project Manager, the National Consultant is expected to deliver the following services: 

• Conduct desk research of the relevant strategic and policy documents, gather inputs, suggestions and hold discussions with the representatives of  the Ministry of Finance, particularly the ERP coordinator and members of the inter-ministerial working group, which involves all the relevant ministries, in charge of ERP 2023-25 preparation; 
• Analyze the European Commission’s Assessment of Montenegro 2022-2024 Economic Reform Programme, together with ERP coordinator and expert secretaries; 
• Based on the EC Assessment of Montenegro ERP 2022-2024 and Joint Conclusions of the Economic and Financial Dialogue between the EU and the Western Balkans and Turkey, identify the key areas in which structural reforms should be improved, in order to target certain ministries; 
• Analyse the suggestions of the European Commission in relation with the monitoring process and propose the manner of improving the structure of monitoring reports; 
• Analyze IPA III and propose the best manner of its linking with ERP 2023-2025; 
• Prepare the Analysis, in cooperation with the Department for Macroeconmic Analyses and Projections, with the aim of identifying structural reforms that contribute to the economic growth to the highest extent; 
• Prepare forms for the work of the WG on the Structural Reforms Chapter; 
• Participate in the meeting dedicated to the deadlines and division of tasks for ERP 2023-2025 preparation with the aim of presenting the novelties in the preparation of the document, inclusive of the guidelines and forms according to which the measures for structural reforms should be prepared; 
• Analyze proposals and materials submitted by the inter-ministerial working group and all relevant stakeholders/academia to draft ERP 2023-25 and align them with the key national priorites in the PFM//SOEs reforms, business envinronment enhancement, green and digital trnansition; 
• Participate in the Presentation on novelties from EC Guidelines for ERP 2023-25 to WG members to be given by CEF expert in September 2022; 
• Draft the introductory part of Chapter V; 
• Provide suggestions and comments on the first ERP 2023-2025 with the view of the reform measures prioritization; 
• Finalize the text of the Chapter V - Structural reforms, in cooperation with the ERP coordinator and expert secretaries; 
• Prepare Chapter 1 - Overall Policy Framework and Objectives and Chapter  2 - Implementation of the Policy Guidance, in cooperation with the ERP coordinator and expert secretaries;
• Provide overview of the effects of structural reforms on the budget, with the aim of preparing the Chapter 6 - Costs and Financing of Structural Reforms; 
• Provide comments on the Chapter 3 (Macroeconomic Framework) and 4 (Fiscal Framework); 
• Analyze harmonization of the draft ERP 2023-25 with other important strategic documents (both national and international) and indicate possible inconsistencies and manners of their addressing and rectification;  
• With the aim of increasing transparency of the preparation of the document and involving the general and professional public to the largest extent possible, prepare the text of ERP 2023-2025 which will be submitted for the public discussion, intended for local self-governments, associations of employers, academy, CSOs and NGOs, think-thanks, planned in November 2022; 
• Fine-tune and finalize the ERP 2023-25 document with annexes in December 2022;
• Check consistency of English and Montenegrin final versions of the document in January 2023;  
• Prepare the report on the completed activities with recommendations for follow-up activities – to be submitted to UNDP in English language (up to 3 pages) in January 2023. 

The expected results:

Under the supervision of the UNDP hiring Manager, the National Consultant is expected to deliver the following results:

• Final Montenegro Economic Reform Programme 2023-2025; 
• Report on the completed activities with recommendations for follow-up activities in English language (up to 3 pages). 

Timing and reporting: 

The National Consultant is expected to work home-based during 100 consultancy days (10 June 2022 – 10 January 2023). The National Consultant shall regularly report to the UNDP Project Manager for the project “Strengthening Transparent and Accountable Public Finance Management in Montenegro”, supported by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, and implemented by MF MNE and UNDP.

Time duration and travel:

National Consultant will be engaged under Individual Contract, for the total of 100 consultancy days (10 June 2022 – 10 January 2023), pursuant to the agreed plan with UNDP. No travel is envisaged under this assignment. 

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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;
• 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;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced degree in Economics/Finance, MA or PhD would be an asset, but are not considered as a requirement;  

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in tasks related to preparing strategic or policy documents, programmes, reports, analyses in the area of finance/economy, particularly concerning macroeconomic and fiscal programming, economic development and structural reforms; 
• Proven record of involvement in the process of ERP preparation and coordination; 
• Good understanding of the public finance management system in Montenegro;  

Language:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Montenegrin language; 

Other:

• Advanced computer literacy (MS Office); 
• Statistical skills to conduct the analytical work in ERP drafting process by using any of the statistical softwares (E-views, or Stata, or R, etc.) would be an asset, but is not considered as requirement;
• Ability to work with people of different nationalities, religions and cultural backgrounds; 
• Excellent organisational skills, proven communication and presentation skills, and ability to work in an environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors including government representatives, international organizations, and other stakeholders.  

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 June 1, 2022 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".