Annex Ii: Terms of Reference

Annex Ii: Terms of Reference

ANNEX II: TERMS OF REFERENCE

Web Construction Expert (25 September 2014)

1.BACKGROUND INFORMATION......

1.1.Beneficiary country......

1.2.Contracting Authority......

1.3.Relevant country background......

1.4.Current state of affairs in the relevant sector......

1.5.Related programmes and other donor activities:......

2.OBJECTIVE, PURPOSE & EXPECTED RESULTS......

2.1.Overall objective......

2.2.Purpose......

2.3.Results to be achieved by the Consultant......

3.ASSUMPTIONS & RISKS......

3.1.Assumptions underlying the project intervention......

3.2.Risks......

4.SCOPE OF THE WORK......

4.1.General......

4.2.Specific activities......

4.3.Project management......

5.LOGISTICS AND TIMING......

5.1.Location......

5.2.Commencement date & Period of implementation......

6.REQUIREMENTS......

6.1.Personnel......

6.2.Office accommodation......

6.3.Facilities to be provided by the Consultant......

6.4.Equipment......

6.5.Incidental expenditure......

6.6.Expenditure verification......

7.REPORTS......

7.1.Reporting requirements......

7.2.Submission & approval of progress reports......

8.MONITORING AND EVALUATION......

8.1.Definition of indicators......

8.2.Special requirements......

1.BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1.1.Beneficiary country

Albania

1.2.Contracting Authority

Eco-Partners for Sustainable Development

1.3.Relevant country background

A large part of Albania's national income comes fromtourism. Tourism - as of 2013 - funds 10% of its gross domestic product, and this is expected to increase. Albania welcomed around 4.2 million visitors in 2012, mostly from neighbouring countries and theEuropean Union. In 2011, Albania was recommended as a top travel destination, byLonely Planet.In 2014 Albania was nominated number 4 global touristic destinations byNew York Times.The number of tourists has increased by 20% for 2014 as well.

The increase in foreign visitors is dramatic, Albania had only 500,000 visitors in 2005, while in 2012 had an estimated 4.2 million tourists. An increase of 840% in only 7 years. Several of the country’s main cities are situated along the pristine seashores of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. An important gateway to theBalkan Peninsula, Albania’s ever-growing road network provides juncture to reach its neighbours in north south, east, and west. Albania is within close proximity to all the major European capitals with short two or three hour flights that are available daily. Tourists can see and experience Albania’s ancient past and traditional culture.

1.4.Current state of affairs in the relevant sector

Tourism is one of the most important industries in Albania. Due to its rapid growth, it exerts pressure today on the environment, natural and cultural resources of the country. Currently the trend to increase profits in the short term, long-term effects on the environment unconsidered, constitutes one of the main concerns for the future of natural and cultural assets of the country. In this regard Albania recognizes the important role that tourism plays in its economic future, and recognizes the need to promote interest in sustainable tourism, which is clearly stated in Article 5 of the Law no. 9734, dated 14.05.2007, "On Tourism", amended by Law no. 9930, dated 09.06.2008. The development of the values of sustainability requires above all optimal use of environmental resources, and respect for socio-cultural characteristics of local communities, so that in the future to provide benefits to all stakeholders’ tour. Based on these principles, civil society represented by the NGOs on the development of sustainable tourism in Albania is a step forward for the promotion of activities that turn Albanian tourism more sustainable and continuous process. A special role is also played by the public institutions, private companies and national organizations, as well as international ones that work in our country.

1.5.Related programmes and other donor activities:

Green Business is another relevant project implementing new sustainable environment strategies in the Region of Kukes also. Its main objective is to introduce or adapt new sustainable environment plans to companies that do not apply it and to reform these strategies for companies that have outdated strategies.

2.OBJECTIVE, PURPOSE & EXPECTED RESULTS

2.1.Overall objective

The overall objective of the project of which this contract will be a part is as follows:

-Creation of a quality oriented document aiming at the touristic valorisation of the participating areas.

2.2.Purpose

The purpose of this contract is as follows:

Construction of the project database and project website.

2.3.Results to be achieved by the Consultant

The expected key result is:

-The project website constructed.

-Interactive website

-Quality traditional products promoted

-Project activities performed

Information exchange among project partners and stakeholders developed.

3.ASSUMPTIONS & RISKS

3.1.Assumptions underlying the project intervention

N/A

3.2.Risks

Winter time might bring about logistical problems for the implementation of the activities based on the approved action plan.

4.SCOPE OF THE WORK

4.1.General

4.1.1.Project description

Under the IPA Cross Border Cooperation Programme Albania – Kosovo, 2010 – 2011, Eco-Partners for Sustainable Development in cooperation with SHTAK-KATA, Regional Council of Kukes, and the Municipality of Prizren are currently running a project titled: “Promote Eco – Tourism through fostering “QUALITY LOGO PRODUCTS” of Albanian traditional agricultural products and touristic sites”

The “Quality Logo Products” project led by Eco-Partners for Sustainable Development, is trying to promote traditional products and breathe behaviours and attitudes that characterize the history of each area. By promoting a basket of goods in each territory and also promoting traditional recipes Quality Logo Products project wants to mobilize local stakeholders. Adopting a “quality logo” that will be awarded only to firms and economic actors that fulfil quality-based criteria, the Quality Logo Products project will disseminate this as the quality of goods and services. These firms will be encouraged and to a certain degree obliged to use traditional products by assuring to use traditional recipes in their cooking. The ambition of this effort is to create “quality areas” that enhance traditional products in a strategic way. This will be the main pole of attraction for tourists and travellers. Anyone interested to visit the participating areas will know before –by Internet, road maps – Facebook and YouTube - places that should be visited and the firms that this quality logo is awarded.

This project has the ambition to create a strong synergy with long lasting results in the border area. It tries to change also the way of behaviour of local stakeholders and will also give them the chance to promote their products and services. The strategic impact of this project is to change the behaviour towards a tourist or a traveller, or any potential visitor of these places. It will give them the appropriate guidance and assistance; it will help them to be aware of every complaining process, also offering the chance for local stakeholder to create a “quality zone” that helps to attract more people than it does today.

The project team, residing in both sides of the border, has been established and based on the project to design the inputs from a regional expert of the domain as required. It is very important for the technical staff working in the project to exchange the know – how, experiences and learn about them in terms of the definition of the quality traditional products, categorisation, relevant status of the product and the preparation for the logo award.

4.1.2.Geographical area to be covered

Region of Kukes

4.1.3.Target groups

Artisans, local producers, associations, agro – processors, business operator, regional travel agencies and citizens at large.

4.2.Specific activities

The expert will be required to provide the following services:

-Establishing connection with the Local Authorities.

-Construct the project website;

-Enter the project data and activities in a timely way

-Accomplish the multiple language platform and content management system

-Application of the online catalogue elements

-Managing and maintaining the traditional products database

-Online communication and marketing

-Social media network forum

-E-mail management, quality assurance

-Content update, professional photos, video clip

4.3.Project management

4.3.1.Responsible body

Eco-Partners for Sustainable Development will be the main responsible partner of managing this contract.

4.3.2.Management structure

The Steering Group of Eco-Partners for Sustainable Development: notable the Project Manager, Financial Officer, Communication and Campaign Officer and the Project Coordinator.

4.3.3.Facilities to be provided by the Contracting Authority

N/A

5.LOGISTICS AND TIMING

5.1.Location

The location is mainly in the Kukes Region. Cost for travel or other expenses are included in this contract fee.

5.2.Commencement date & Period of implementation

The intended commencement date is 1 November 2014 and the period of implementation of the contract will be 25 days from this date until 15 March 2016.Please refer to Articles 4 and 5 of the Special Conditions for the actual commencement date and period of implementation.

The estimated cost for this service is 3750 EUR.

6.REQUIREMENTS

6.1.Personnel

6.1.1.Key expert

Qualifications and skills

  • University degree in a discipline relevant to the assignment ( Information and Technology)
  • Ability to work together with working team and on the spot
  • Good team working and communication skills.
  • Very good organisational and coordination skills

General professional experience

  • At least 5 years of work experience relevant to the assignment.

Specific professional experience

  • Previous experience in similar projects and/or in relevant domain

Guidance notes on expert inputs:

1) Working days: performance of the contract (and therefore payment) is based on working days only. The Consultant will only be paid for days actually worked on the basis of the daily fee rate contained in the budget breakdown

It is unnecessary to stipulate what the holiday provision for the experts will be. This is for the tenderer to decide. See further article 22 in the General Conditions.

2) The schedule of estimated numbers of working days provides a direct basis for calculating the maximum contract value. This estimation may be updated by the Consultant during the implementation of the project. The Project Manager can use this when monitoring the actual numbers of working days submitted in invoices and to check that the contract is progressing within budget, which is very useful from a financial management perspective.

6.1.2.Other experts

N/A

6.1.3.Support staff & backstopping

Backstopping and support staff costs must be included in the fee rates of the expert.

6.2.Office accommodation

N/A

6.3.Facilities to be provided by the Contracting Authority

The Contracting Authority shall ensure that experts are adequately supported and equipped.In particular it shall ensure that there is sufficient administrative, secretarial and interpreting provision to enable experts to concentrate on their primary responsibilities.It must also transfer funds as necessary to support its activities under the contract and to ensure that its employees are paid regularly and in a timely fashion.

6.4.Equipment

No equipment is to be purchased on behalf of the Contracting Authority / beneficiary country as part of this service contract or transferred to the Contracting Authority / beneficiary country at the end of this contract.Any equipment related to this contract which is to be acquired by the beneficiary country must be purchased by means of a separate supply tender procedure.

7.REPORTS

7.1.Reporting requirements

The Contractor is not obliged to submit any report unless otherwise requested by the Contracting Authority. If that is the case, the report should be submitted no later than 1 month before the conclusion of the project.

7.2.Submission & approval of reports

The report referred to above must be submitted to the Project Manager identified in the contract. The Project Manager is responsible for approving the reports.

In the absence of comments or approval by the project Manager within 10 days upon receipt of the final reports, the reports are deemed to be approved.

8.MONITORING AND EVALUATION

8.1.Definition of indicators

Monitoring with be carried out periodically by the Contracting Authority.

8.2.Special requirements

Submission deadline of the application: 25 October 2014

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Eco-Partners for Sustainable Development
Rr. Ismail Qemali , P. 2K, Nr. 25/C, Tirana, Albania; tel: +355 42234482; e-mail: Page 1 of 8