Macedonia - TA for Supporting the Operating Structure in Implementation of the Operational Programme for Regional Development (OPRD) 2007-2009 – Preparation, Organisation and Carrying out Trainings

Lot:2 - Transport and infrastructure - EuropeAid FWC Beneficiaries 127054

Senior Expert 1 : Regional Development Expert


- At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in the field of European Union Cohesion Policy,
- At least 3 years of experience in a Managing Authority or Delegated Managing Authority of Operational Programme(s) of an EU Member State,
co-financed by the ERDF and/or the Cohesion fund of the programming periods 2000-2006 and/or 2007-2013;
- Coordination, management of at least 2 projects in delivering trainings;
- Experience in processes of identification, selection and assessment of investment projects for EU Structural Funds within a Managing Authority, Delegated Managing Authority and/or an Intermediate Body would be considered as an asset.


Junior Expert 2 : Expert in Environmental issues related to infrastructures

-At least 3 years of relevant professional experience,
-At least 2 years experience in the EU funded projects in the field of Environmental issues related to infrastructures;
-Involvement into at least 1 projects in EIA and SEA for EU or IFI investment projects;
-Knowledge in Project Cycle Management would be considered as an asset.


Junior Expert 3 : Expert in Economic and Financial Analysis of Projects

- At least 3 years of general professional experience in financial and economic analysis.
- At least 2 years experience in conducting economic/financial analysisof infrastructure projects in accordance with the EC methodological guidelines;
- Proven experience of at least 1 project of implementation of trainings of similar nature and scope;
- Knowledge of EU policies for Regional Development, Environment and/or Transport will be an asset.


Junior Expert 4 : Expert in Monitoring

-At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in monitoring, and financial management of projects.
-At least 1 years experience in the areas of financial management of EU Structural funds co-financed programmes/projects
-At least 1 year experience in conducting on-the-spot checks of the technical and financial implementation of the projects and, verification procedures of projects and programmes co-financed by EU Structural funds; -Knowledge of EU policies for Regional Development will be an asset.

Global objective
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the effective management and implementation of the OPRD, as well as to high absorption of the IPA funds under the Regional Development Component.


Specific objective(s)
Specific project objective is to train the Operating Structure for Regional Development Component, in order to strengthen its administrative capacity and skills to carry out designated tasks directly linked to the management and implementation of IPA funds under the Regional Development Component.


 Requested services
The Consultant shall provide assistance to the staff of the Operating Structure for Regional Development Component through organisation and implementation of trainings in order to improve their skills and knowledge for effective and efficient carrying out designated task and responsibilities for management and implementation of OPRD.


The Consultant shall provide the following services:

1. Prepare Training Needs Assessment (TNA), Training Maps, Training Programme(s) and Training Plan
The Consultant shall provide this service consisting of the following elements:
1.1. Preparation of Training Needs Assessment (TNA);
1.2. Development of specific Training Maps for key functions;
1 3. Development of Training Programme(s) and Training Plan, including training curricula.

1.1. The Consultant shall prepare and deliver a Training Needs Assessment (TNA) for the staff of the Operating Structure for Regional Development Component.
Training Needs Assessment shall be prepared in accordance with and should take into consideration the following:
- Responsibilities and designated tasks of the staff of the Operating Structure for Regional Development Component as per IPA IR, Decree on determining mutual relations between the bodies and the structures of decentralised management of IPA, Operational Agreements, Internal Manuals of Procedures and other relevant documents,
- Training register of the bodies as part of the Operating Structure for Regional Development Component, which present database of trainings attended by the employees,
- Coordination and no overlapping with trainings envisaged for implementation by other projects and programmes and with the Plan for development /Training for 2010 for Operating Structures,
- Identification of specific training needs related to the topics mentioned specifically for Regional Development.

1.2.The Consultant shall particularly develop specific training maps per key functions of the Operating Structure staff.. The training maps will be developed for the functions, which will be agreed with the Contracting Authority. Training maps will at least refer to the programming, technical implementation and monitoring functions.

1.3 On the basis of the TNA prepared, the Consultant shall propose Training Programme(s) on concrete topics specifically mentioned and developed for Regional Development and shall prepare and deliver Training Plan with determined schedule for trainings implementation.
In addition to the Training Plan, the Consultant shall also develop and deliver detailed training curricula on each workshop/training topic.
TNA, Training maps, Training Programme(s) and Training Plan with training curricula will be submitted for approval to the Contracting Authority. Before the approval by the Contracting Authority, these documents shall be submitted on consideration and discussion to the Project Steering Committee’s members.

2. Organize and implement trainings for the staff of the Operating Structure for Regional Development Component
The Consultant shall implement Training Plan for the staff of the Operating Structure for Regional Development, namely the staff of the CFCD, IPA structures of the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and PIU of the Agency for State Roads.
Training Plan for the staff of the Operating Structure for Regional Development Component will be organized on the following themes (the proposed list is not exhaustive):


• EU Cohesion and Structural Policy
Indicative theme areas: Basic principles of the EU Regional and Cohesion Policy, policy stages and development, policy management, key objectives and requirements; common principles, rules and standards, etc;

• EU Environmental Policy and impact into infrastructure projects
Indicative theme areas: EU Environmental Policy and legislation and their inter-relation with the operations to be financed under the Regional Development Component;

• EC Methodological guidelines for conducting cost-effectiveness analysis
Indicative theme areas: EC Methodological guidelines for conducting cost-effectiveness analysis of the project proposals and methods for forecasting the value of projects; public-private partnership schemes in the infrastructure projects; revenue generating projects; preparation of Feasibility Studies and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) in accordance with the Guide to Cost-Benefit Analysis of Investment Projects, published by European Commission DG REGIO, 2008;

• Operational Programme for Regional Development Implementation
Indicative theme areas:
- Financial management of EU funds on the project and programme level in accordance with the principle of sound financial management; irregularities in payments and procedures; maintenance of an adequate audit trials; levels of budget utilisation by programme; carrying out verifications to ensure that the expenditure declared has actually been incurred in accordance with applicable rules;
- Monitoring on the level of projects and on the level of Programme; risk assessment and management of irregularities, etc.

Participants to the trainings will be the employees of the institutions/bodies that are part of the Operating Structure for Regional Development Component (approximately 45 persons for each training themes) and in accordance with the TNA prepared.
The Consultant shall provide that the trainings are more practical oriented and shall include simulations and practical cases.

During organisation and delivering of trainings, the Consultant shall be responsible for providing logistical support, preparing, delivering and tailor made supporting training materials (hard copies, electronic versions).


3. Prepare and deliver Satisfaction Survey upon completion of the trainings implemented under the Project

Satisfaction Survey on trainings shall be prepared and conducted on the basis of satisfaction survey questionnaires completed by the trainings participants. This Survey shall be prepared upon completion of the trainings implemented in accordance with the Training Plan and shall present Annex of the Final Report.

 Required outputs
• Training Needs Assessment Report (TNA) prepared and approved,
• Training Maps per functions prepared,
• Training Programme(s) accompanied by developed training curricula and Training Plan prepared and approved by the Contracting Authority,
• All trainings implemented in accordance with approved Training Plan and training materials provided,
• Satisfaction Survey on trainings prepared and delivered to the Operating Structure/Contracting Authority.

PLEASE NOTE: ONLY SELECTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED