Senior Non-Key Expert in the area of Plant Protection - PLAC II

Position: Senior Non-Key Expert in the area of Plant Protection

Country: Serbia

Start date: 25 June 2018

Duration: 5 working days

Deadline: 11 June 2018

Background: the scope of PLAC II Project is to provide support to relevant national institutions in charge of alignment of national legal acts with the Union acquis and to contribute to further building of capacities of relevant national structures for successful carrying out of accession negotiations.

Objectives of the assignment
The specific objective of this assignment is assistance to the members of the Negotiation Group in charge of Chapter 12 in addressing one of the benchmarks for the opening of the Chapter, laid down in the respective Screening Report, by further improving draft Strategy and the Action Plan for Chapter 12, prepared by MAFWM.
In further improving drafts of the Strategy and the Action Plan, NKEs shall work jointly with representatives of target beneficiaries, i.e. Members of the Negotiation Group 12, high-ranked officials and operational staff of MAFWM and representatives from other competent institutions. Participation of high-ranked officials in the role of decision-makers is important to ensure coherency and sustainability of measures and activities to be foreseen in the Action Plan with strategic goals set at the national level.

Requested services
The Senior NKE are expected to provide the following services:
a) To analyse draft Strategy Concept Note and the first draft of the Action Plan for Chapter 12 in respective fields of plant protection;
b) To provide guidance and support to target beneficiaries in further improving texts of draft Strategy and the Action Plan for Chapter 12 for respective fields and assist them in group work during (internal) workshop and/or retreat;
c) To draft improved versions of draft Strategy and the Action Plan for respective fields of plant protection within Chapter 12, in conjunction with beneficiary representatives.

Outputs
The Senior NKE are expected to deliver the following outputs:

- Proposal on further improvements of the current texts of draft Strategy and the Action Plan for Chapter 12 based on the analysis of the relevant documents in respective fields and beneficiaries’ inputs, including presentation at (internal) workshop and/or retreat planned for target beneficiaries to work in groups;
- Improved versions of draft Strategy and draft AP for Chapter 12 for respective fields of plant protection. 

Expert's input
Total working days: 5 working days (WDs). Additional number of WDs may be allocated for this ToR, should the needs of target beneficiaries require an extension for the activity areas mentioned in this ToR.
Period of the assignment: June 2018 –September 2018. It is expected that the work of the SNKEs will be performed during several missions. The first mission is expected to start on 25 June 2018. The exact dates of the following missions will be agreed at a later stage.
Location/Place of assignment: the NKEs have to deliver 100% of the input in Serbia.
Working language: English

Expert's profile
Qualifications and skills
• University degree (where university degree has been awarded on completion of three years’ study in university or equivalent institution) in Agriculture, Biology, Forestry or similar, relevant to the assignment
• Proficiency in English language
• Computer literacy (MS Office applications)
General professional experience
• Minimum 8 years of postgraduate professional experience in the field of plant protection products gained in an EU Member State or a candidate country
Specific professional experience
• Proven professional experience in drafting national legal and/or strategic documents and action plans in the field of Chapter 12 Union acquis, gained in an EU Member State or candidate country
• Previous professional experience, and/or knowledge of the legislation of the Republic of Serbia in the respective area would be an advantage