INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT ON WHOLESALE MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE

In 2005 in the context of the new European Neighbourhood Policy, RM and EU signed an agreement: EU-Moldova Action Plan (EUMAP) for a period of 3 years, where a series of actions were included in order to intensify cooperation between the two parts. At the end of the period of the Action Plan, the European Council adopted in February 2008 a decision regarding a principle availability of the EU to initiate new negotiations with the RM with the aim of singing of a new agreement. In parallel with the Action Plan, RM has signed with EU an agreement for a facilitated visa regime, as well as obtained from EU a preferential trade regime for most of the goods produced in Moldova. In the framework of the Eastern Partnership and the European Neighbourhood Policy, the EU has been negotiating an Association Agreement with Moldova since 2010. On December 5, 2011, the EU decided to launch negotiations on a deep and comprehensive free trade area with Moldova in order to boost economic growth and investment with its Eastern European partner. These negotiations will tackle a broad range of trade and economic issues so as to achievement by Moldova of a closer economic integration with the EU. Although the Council authorised the European Commission to start the Association Agreement negotiations in 2010, the launch of the trade negotiations was conditioned upon Moldova fulfilling a set of "key recommendations", issued in December 2010. The recommendations covered necessary reforms in key regulatory areas related to trade and investment (notably in the field of technical regulations and sanitary and Phytosanitary measures) in order to prepare Moldova for further negotiations. The European Commission has now assessed that sufficient progress has been achieved in these preparations and reported to the Council's Trade Policy Committee, recommending the launch of negotiations. The future Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area will be part of thee Association Agreement, which aim to closely associate Moldova to the EU both in economic and political terms, in line with the Eastern Partnership objectives. The future trade relations will therefore expand significantly beyond the scope of current cooperation, set out in the EU Moldova Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of 1998. Wholesale market is among the key infrastructure elements to be built for the implementation of EU requirements and standards in the field of product quality and food safety. It will help to ensure control over the quality and safety of the agricultural products to be sold on the internal and external markets.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives The Project will contract an International Consultant to consult the General Directorate of sectoral development policies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (further referred as MAFI) in preparation of analytical operational and financial documentation for planned activities of the Chisinau Wholesale Market Company (business plan) as a basis for obtaining a preferential loan from international financial institutions. The business plan shall fulfil the requirements of the international financial institutions, according to European best practice. Key activities: 1. Analysis of the current situation in the field of production, storage and marketing of the main agricultural products, subject of current trade operations; 2. Analytical estimation of the potential product’ flows, structure of the flows and phasing of flows (extension), subject of the future trade operations; 3. Estimation of seasonal financial flows (import/export operations) and yearly financial flows with estimation of cash flows for each separate product, including early and seasonal flows; 4. Prepare a marketing development plan for the wholesale market; 5. Assist with the preparation of pro-forma operational and financial plans yearly and quarterly for the period of 3 years, including breakeven point; 6. Based on the feasibility study, elaborated for Chisinau Wholesale Market Company prepare an estimation of the amount of capital investment needed; 7. Draft a decision making criteria plan, including different options, including advice to the Director of the Chisinau wholesale market on decision making regarding each phase of the process of building wholesale market infrastructure.

Competencies

I. Competencies: · Knowledge of and experience in the region of Central and Eastern Europe (experience in countries of transitional economy would be an asset); · Qualification and/or proven skills in dealings with governmental officials, excellent analytical and communication skills;

Required Skills and Experience

I. Academic Qualifications: · University or Advanced Degree in Business Administration, Economics, EU law or other relevant field; II. Years of experience: · Minimum 5 years of working experience in the area of expertise; · Experience in wholesale market managing or planning; · Experience in drafting of business plans for wholesale market operations; · Deep knowledge of requirements for business planning from international financial institutions; III. Languages: · Fluency in written and spoken English, knowledge of Romanian or Russian would be an asset. Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications: 1. Proposal: Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work 2. Financial proposal 3. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references

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.