Assistance in the preparation of a Seminar with Local Authorities in the European Neighbourhood Southern Region

Global objective:
The overall objective of this assignment is to assist the European Commission, specifically DEVCO Unit D2, in the design, research and delivery of the Regional Seminar with Local Authorities and Associations of LAs in the Neighbourhood South Region. The Regional Seminar should take place in the last trimester of 2012, in one of the countries of the Neighbourhood South Region.

Specific objectives:
Preparation of the content of a Regional Seminar in the European Neighbourhood South.
A senior Expert (hereafter "the Expert") will be hired to define the content of the Regional Seminar with Central and Local Authorities and Associations of LAs from the European Neighbourhood Southern Region.
The Seminar would take place in one of the countries of this region and should be conceived as a moment to analyse the LA dynamics taking place in the region, after the events of the 'Arab Spring', which has encouraged a broader participation in public affairs, as well as to consider the role of LAs in the ongoing reform process. DEVCO Unit D2 will organise the Regional Seminar with the support of a logistic team hired under a Framework Contract(s) Lot 3 (Logistical organisation of conferences).

One senior expert during 45 days

. Master's degree or equivalent working experience in Politics/International relations/Development cooperation/Public Finance;
· Fluent in English and French, both spoken and written and good knowledge of Arabic.
· Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in development cooperation, particularly working on decentralisation and local governance;
· Excellent knowledge of topics related to: (i) roles and added-value of various categories of LAs in development cooperation, with focus on the countries of the European Neighbourhood South, (ii) division of labour and complementarity between stakeholders (Central governments, Local Authorities and Civil Society Organisations) and cooperation programmes (geographic and thematic),
(iii) aid effectiveness agenda and enabling environment for Local Authorities at country level, (iv) EC delivery mechanisms;
· Excellent knowledge and understanding of EC procedures and programmes related to Local Authorities involvement in the EC cooperation in the European Neighbourhood South Region;
· Excellent knowledge of the European Neighbourhood South Region as well as previous experience in cooperation in this Region will be necessary;
· Experience in writing practical guidance;
· Experience in organising seminars, workshops and in facilitating discussions;
· Prior experience in mappings on assessments and analysis on LA will be an asset;
· Computer literacy.

4 June 2012

10 months

18/05/2012 - Please contact Mrs Aktas (iaktas@proman.lu)