UNDP Jobs - 107382- Coordinator of the Innovation Working group for th

Coordinator of the Innovation Working group for the specific priority area identified by S3 Strategy (2 positions): Sustainable/Health Tourism; Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Location :

Homebased and Podgorica, MONTENEGRO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

20-Jul-2022

Application Deadline :

04-Jul-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

20 July 2022 - 1 August 2023

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

96 consultancy days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Almost three years ago, Montenegro became the first candidate-EU country that adopted the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) and the accompanying Action Plan. With the S3 adoption, Montenegro opted to transform its economy towards increased competitiveness by concentrating knowledge resources and their linking with a limited number of priorities. The Council for Innovation and Smart Specialisation (ISS Council) (Government Decision on formation of Innovation and Smart Specialization Council (Official Gazette 078/21 of 19 July 2021 and 120/21 of 12 November 2021) was set up as a high-level body for the S3 implementation. The establishment of this political body at the highest level ensures synergies among all actors in the innovation policy and is a sign of Montenegro’s clear commitment to knowledge and innovation-based society based on S3 concept as the driver of its development.

Based on UNDP’s experience with establishing effective innovation ecosystem trough UNDP Accelerator labs network globally and recognizing both the Government’s genuine commitment to enforce the innovation potential in the Country as well as the Council’s strong foundations, the UNDP has committed to supporting S3 Strategy implementation.

Smart Specialisation (S3 – Smart Specialisation Strategy) was conceived within the reformed cohesion policy of the European Commission, as a place-based strategic approach characterized by the identification of priority areas to be supported, based both on the analysis of the strengths and potential of the economy and on an Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP), with wide stakeholder involvement. Smart specialisation links innovation policy to selected priority areas. In the priority areas selected, appropriate measures mechanism is used to follow and support innovations in the broad sense, primarily (but not exclusively) those related to technological progress.

Through its partnership and bottom-up approach, smart specialisation brings together local authorities, academia, business community and the civil society, working for the implementation of long-term growth strategies based on innovations and supported by EU funds. One of the most important elements of smart specialisation is coordination in the programming and utilisation of EU funds, which was lacking in the previous period, causing investment fragmentation.

The main goal of the S3 is to modernize and increase the competitiveness of the Montenegrin economy by concentrating available research, natural and economic resources on a limited number of priority areas. S3 should enable further intensive development of the subject priority areas, as well as the development of new sub-areas within them and development of new industries with strategic potential based on the synergistic interaction of the priority areas. The achievement of the main goal of the S3, i.e. modernised and competitive Montenegro, relies on three key strategic directions that represent the general long-term vision of the country’s development.

The priority areas of the S3 strategy are:

Sustainable agriculture and food value chain;
Energy and sustainable environment;
Sustainable and health tourism; and
Information and communication technologies as a horizontal priority in the function of development of the previous 3 (vertical) priorities.

By identifying the key development priorities, the goal is to give priority to investment in research and innovation in an economic area that is recognized as competitive. Therefore, programming of various instruments to support innovation at the national level is fully focused on S3 priorities, which are also the key segment of connecting with partners who have the same or similar comparative advantages at the regional and EU level.

The goal of the S3 Action Plan for the period 2019-2020 was to support development within the identified priority areas by means of imposing different and efficient policy instruments. The reporting process to the Government of Montenegro and EU is ongoing and will show the effectiveness of this approach. However, the need for better program orientation of Montenegro in priority thematic areas and the definition of development projects, i.e. the development of new S3 support instruments was also one of the recommendations by the EU that proved necessary during the implementation. The intention was to achieve this through the Operational Program for the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy 2021-2024 with the Action Plan 2021 -2022, which was successfully developed and adopted by the Government in December 2021 (as per the Government Work Program for 2021).

Regarding further developments related to implementation of Smart Specialisation Strategy, the ISS Council adopted the S3 National Implementation Framework, which enables efficient process management, continuous consultations with all stakeholders, adequate and quality monitoring and evaluation. As such, it provides an adequate mechanism to manage the implementation process, further maintains and strengthens the commitment of high-level political bodies in this process and enables continuous work to strengthen collective awareness of the effects of smart specialization in the context of knowledge and innovation-based development.

One of the important parts of the S3 National Implementation Framework are the functional Innovative Working Groups that enable the maintenance of the continuity of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP). The EDP has a clear objective of discussing results of quantitative and qualitative mapping and ultimately recommending priority domains of the Smart Specialisation Strategy, together with relevant policy mix and indicators. Upon completion and adoption of the strategy, maintaining the interest and focus of stakeholders has proved more challenging and required setting up (or developing) a long-term framework for EDP. The key actor in this process are just the Innovative WGs.

The Innovative Working groups are thematic working groups, focusing around the priority domains, keeping a long-term engagement and connections between stakeholders from the quadruple helix (academia, government, business, civil society). The main purpose and overall role of the working groups is to foster dialogue and co-operation between all actors in their priority domain.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP office to Montenegro is recruiting four consultants to enable efficient functioning of the WG in four identified priority areas, as well as to ensure effective coordination of the WG and different levels of governance and management in the S3 implementation structure.

Job content:

The tasks of the Consultant (the task of each individual consultant within the selected priority area) will include the following:

To coordinate activities of the Working Group, to steer the process and manage day-to-day operations related to the development of S3 process.
To support the work of the S3 team within the Ministry of Economic Development, responsible for effective implementation of S3;
To map economic, scientific and innovation potential of Montenegro;
To Conduct the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP);
To identify, collect and consider proposals for activities, measures, instruments for improving S3 priority areas;
To participate in the preparation of the Report on the implementation of the Operational Program for the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy 2021-2024 with the Action Plan 2021 -2022;
To participate in the development of the Action Plan for the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy 2023-2024.

The expected results/deliverables:

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the UNDP Coordinator it is expected for the experts to deliver the following results:

To coordinate work of the Innovation Working Groups and other relevant stakeholders within the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process followed with monthly report;
To provide support to the Ministry of Economic Development in preparation of the regular reports on implementation of the Operational Program for the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy 2021-2024 with the Action Plan 2021 -2022;
To provide expert inputs and coordinate preparation of materials, recommendations, analysis, presentations and other inputs for discussions for all meetings of the WG followed with monthly report;
To provide expert support to the relevant authorities in defining of a thematic call and design the scope of a call in line with S3. Delivered thematic call should be annexed with narrative report;
To look for potential niches within the priority domains and investigate the needs of stakeholders for public support followed with the appropriate report;
To provide support for the development of the of the Action Plan for the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy 2023-2024 based on S3 concept including criteria, goals, performance indicators for specific priority area;
To periodically disseminate information in written form regarding the developments in the domain among other stakeholders and the general public in cooperation with the S3 team of the Ministry of Economic Development and UNDP;
To prepare periodical reports of the WG and present it to the ISS Council.
To prepare reports and supporting documents for the ISS Council sessions.

Timing and reporting:

The assignments will start on July 20th 2022.
The consultants shall report to the Ministry of Economic Development and to UNDP regularly on an ad-hoc basis, and formally quarterly on the activities and recommendations.
The final report to be submitted to the UNDP Project Coordinator and shall include the description of the all achievements of the assignment.

Time duration and travel:

The duration of the assignments is expected to be from July 20th 2022 until August 1st 2023.

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;
Expertise in the field of the priority domain;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills;
Practical knowledge of facilitation/workshop techniques (brainstorming, various methods of collecting ideas and reaching consensus);
Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in social, natural or technical sciences (depending on priority area covered by Consultant);
An advanced degree would be an asset.

Experience:

At least 5 years of relevant professional experience;
Minimum 4 years of experience in research and innovation policy development or work on research and innovation projects;
Minimum 2 years of experience in preparation of calls for proposals, evaluation of projects or monitoring and implementation of grants;
Good understanding of the process of Smart Specialization Strategy development;
Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and clearly;
Ability to formulate consensus and clear conclusions from group discussions;
Knowledge of international good practice on innovation development (innovation strategy in EU, UNDP innovation accelerator labs etc.);
Ability to interface effectively with government and private sector.

Languages:

Fluency in local language;
Excellent knowledge of English language.

Other:

Excellent computer skills.
Proven written and oral communication skills;

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 4, 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".