Feb 27, 2012 - development cooperation: PLATFORMA2 (www.platforma-dev.eu). This platform was launched in November 2008 d
COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS EUROPEAN SECTION OF UNITED CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
APPLICATION PACKAGE FOR THE POSITION OF
PROJECT OFFICER FOR PLATFORMA The European platform of local and regional authorities for development This is a three-year contract position. (1st April 2012 – 31st March 2015)
Brussels, February 2012
15 rue de Richelieu, F-75001 ParisSquare de Meeûs 1, B-1000 Bruxelles Tél : +33 1 44 50 59 59 ● Fax : +33 1 44 50 59 60Tél : +32 2 511 74 77 ● Fax : +32 2 511 09 49
[email protected] ● www.ccre.org
The Council of European Municipalities and Regions is recruiting a PROJECT OFFICER FOR PLATFORMA CEMR1, together with 23 other local, national, European and international level partners, established a platform to give a voice to local and regional authorities (LRAs) involved in development cooperation: PLATFORMA2 (www.platforma-dev.eu). This platform was launched in November 2008 during the European development days held in Strasbourg under the French Presidency of the EU. CEMR provides the Secretariat of PLATFORMA, which receives European Commission support as part of a project co-financed under objective 3 of the Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in development programme (NSA-LA), the purpose of which is to coordinate and represent the voice of European LRAs active in development cooperation. PLATFORMA has recently received from the European Commission a subsequent grant as an addition to the current project. This action will cover the period from 1st April 2012 until 31st March 2015. The project’s objective is to produce a more effective dialogue between the EU, the European actors in development cooperation and the LRAs in the partner regions. The successful candidate will ensure and oversee the correct running of the project , namely its flawless implementation, the organization of activities, including meetings and conferences often scheduled outside Europe, relations with PLATFORMA partners, contacts with the European Commission and other institutions, etc. The successful candidate will need to work in full coordination with the PLATFORMA team already in place, under the supervision of the CEMR Director for citizenship and international cooperation. The successful candidate must possess a good theoretical grasp as well as practical knowledge of development cooperation, first-rate organizational skills and be able to work as a team player in an international environment. Perfect fluency (written and spoken) of at least two of the three following languages is essential: English, French, Spanish. Knowledge of another language is a plus. The application package may be downloaded from CEMR’s website: www.ccre.org. Applications must be submitted no later
[email protected].
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Founded in 1951, the Council of Municipalities and Regions of Europe is the main association representing local and regional authorities in Europe. Its members are national associations, which are for the most part large national associations of local and/or regional authorities – visit www.ccre.org
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PLATFORMA brings together the following organizations: CEMR, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Commonwealth Local Government Forum, Forum of Global Associations of Regions (FOGAR), International Association of French-Speaking Mayors (AIMF), Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), Assembly of European regions (AER), French Association of CEMR (AFCCRE), Cités Unies France (CUF), Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG International), Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece (KEDKE), Italian Association of CEMR (AICCRE), Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, Romanian Municipalities Associations (AMR), Local Government Association of England and Wales (LGA), Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR), Region of Tuscany, Province of Barcelona, City of Paris, Greater Lyon, City of Stuttgart, City of Bucharest (District 2)
Conseil des Communes et Régions d'Europe Council of European Municipalities and Regions
Brussels, February 2012
Dear Applicant, Project Officer – PLATFORMA Thank you for expressing interest in our new post of Project Officer. PLATFORMA is a new initiative which brings together many of the most active national, European and international associations of local and regional government in the field of development co-operation. PLATFORMA’s secretariat is provided by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions since January 2009, and benefits from the financial support of the European Commission. CEMR has a small team based in offices in Paris and Brussels. This post will be based in Brussels. The post-holder will work under the direction of the Director of citizenship and international cooperation, who is based in Paris, and in strong cooperation with the other colleagues of PLATFORMA already based in Paris. He/she will need to travel very frequently as part of the job, including many overnight stays, and also outside of Europe. We are looking for an exceptional candidate who understands the importance of development co-operation, who has excellent organisational skills, who has a talent for communication and team working – and who is versatile and committed. If you think you have these skills and qualities, we really hope you will apply. Yours sincerely,
Frédéric Vallier Secretary General
15 rue de Richelieu, F-75001 ParisSquare de Meeûs 1, B-1000 Bruxelles Tél : +33 1 44 50 59 59 ● Fax : +33 1 44 50 59 60Tél : +32 2 511 74 77 ● Fax : +32 2 511 09 49
[email protected] ● www.ccre.org
PLATFORMA PROJECT OFFICER Procedure to apply
Please send us the following documents by noon on Monday, 27 February 2012: 1. A cover letter (1 page) telling us why you are interested in the position and what you would contribute to this mission if you are selected (in English, French or Spanish). 2. A curriculum vitae (in English, French or Spanish), outlining your career, your education, your professional qualifications, other activities and positions held (for example, in a voluntary association), and the contact details for two references we could get in touch with, one of whom should be your current, or most recent employer. 3. A document explaining (maximum 3 pages) why and how you fulfil each of the required qualifications. Please address each point separately and provide details substantiating your experience. It is not enough to state that you have the required skills. When preparing these documents, you must use two of the working languages (one in English, two in French or Spanish, or vice versa). Please send these documents to CEMR’s recruitment department at 15 rue Richelieu 75001 Paris or by email to:
[email protected] Selected candidates will then need to attend interviews to be held on Friday, 16 March 2012 in Brussels. Should you be interested in this position, please keep the date free in your calendar.
PLATFORMA PROJECT OFFICER Job Description
The successful candidate will report to the Director of Citizenship and International Cooperation of CEMR. He/she will work in very close collaboration with the existing PLATFORMA team, which currently consists of a Head of Project and a Project Officer. Key missions and responsibilities: Since 2009, PLATFORMA has been co-financed under the framework of a European project (objective 3 of the Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development programme (NSALA). The main function of the Project Officer is to successfully carry out the activities planned under the framework of this project, which will start on 1st April 2012. Highly capable of multi-tasking and versatile, the successful candidate for this position will be responsible for organising meetings and numerous other scheduled project activities as well as facilitating the cooperation between PLATFORMA partners in accordance with the project’s established priorities: I.
Organisation of regional seminars -
Organise the events planned under the project framework, including an average of two regional seminars per year Define the seminars’ content and programme in collaboration with PLATFORMA partners, and in keeping with PLATFORMA’s political objectives Prepare meeting documents and files Oversee logistical organisation of the seminars in collaboration with the partners onsite, with the support of PLATFORMA’s administrative assistant
II. Setting up of a network of experts -
Pinpoint the expertise available within PLATFORMA partner organisations and facilitate their contribution to the project Set up a network of experts on development, particularly in the areas of competencies of local and regional authorities (taxation, water access, urban planning, health, etc.)
III. Communication and visibility -
Develop a communication plan in accordance with the framework established by the European Commission and the objectives of PLATFORMA Ensure the effective implementation of the communication plan in line with the overall communication strategy of PLATFORMA Draft documents and publications
IV. Technical monitoring of the project -
Ensure the proper implementation of the project in accordance with the contract signed with the European Commission Carry out technical oversight as required by the project in collaboration with CEMR’s administrative services Draft intermediary reports and the final report as well as any other documents required by the European Commission
Evaluate the project
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V. International Relations Communicate with the organisations and networks active in the field of development cooperation Participate in meetings and conferences Manage contacts and cooperate with international development cooperation organisations
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VI. Other activities Undertake all other tasks which may be reasonably required under the scope of this job.
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Synergy with the Secretariat and ongoing PLATFORMA activities The aforementioned tasks will be carried out where possible through teamwork and will therefore entail:
Constant collaboration and contact with the PLATFORMA team on all activities in progress
Participation in all PLATFORMA activities
Follow-up and contributions to PLATFORMA’s political initiatives
Communication with PLATFORMA members and the institutional partners in complete coordination with the team in place
Alignment of the dialogue with the European Commission and the other institutions in accordance with PLATORMA’s political messages
REQUIRED SKILLS
Prerequisites 1. Knowledge of the topics associated with development and international cooperation. Professional experience on the ground is a plus. 2. Thorough knowledge of European institutional structures 3. Understanding of the role of local and regional authorities 4. Interest in international relations 5. Strong organisational skills 6. High capacity for drafting and summarising texts 7. Good interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team 8. Aptitude for multi-tasking and being flexible and available when necessary. Frequent travel is to be expected, sometimes over several days, including outside Europe 9. Ability to foster and manage networking 10. Adaptability for working in an international environment 11. Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of at least two of the three following languages: English, French, Spanish. Proficiency in another language is a plus.
About PLATFORMA and CEMR
PLATFORMA (the European Platform of local and regional authorities for development) 1.
CEMR and 23 other local, national, European and international level partners have established a platform to give a voice to local and regional authorities (LRAs) involved in development cooperation: PLATFORMA (www.platforma-dev.eu).
2.
This platform was launched in November 2008 during the European development days held in Strasbourg under in the framework of the French Presidency of the EU.
3.
PLATFORMA, for which CEMR ensures the secretariat, was set up after a series of preparatory meetings and consultations.
The 24 Partners of the project which committed to provide co-financing are the following: National organisations and associations: Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) French Association of CEMR (AFCCRE) Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece (KEDKE) Italian Association of CEMR (AICCRE) Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG International) Romanian Municipalities Associations (AMR) Local Government Association of England and Wales (LGA) Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) and Cités Unies France (CUF) Other European organisations of local and regional authorities: Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) Assembly of European regions (AER) Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) International Organisations: United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) International Association of French-Speaking Mayors (AIMF) Commonwealth Local Government Forum Local and regional governments: Greater Lyon Paris Stuttgart Bucharest (District 2) Tuscany Region Province of Barcelona 1. PLATFORMA’s objective is as follows: To foster the networking of information and the exchange of experience and best practice between members in order to prepare common positions on the roles of local and regional authorities in development aid and the importance of a local and regional approach in managing this aid; To facilitate the dialogue of local authorities with other programme partners, particularly non-governmental organisations, working at European level through the CONCORD network;
To give a coordinated voice to local and regional authorities vis-à-vis the institutions and in particular the European Commission, for example during consultation processes. 2. PLATFORMA benefits from the European Commission’s support under objective 3 of the Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development programme (NSA-LA). PLATFORMA has just received a subsequent grant from the European Commission as an addition to the current project. This action will cover the period from 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2015. The project’s objective is to produce a more effective dialogue between the EU, the European actors in development cooperation and the LRAs in the partner regions.
The Council of European Municipalities and Regions Founded in 1951, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions is the main association representing local and regional authorities in Europe. Its members are national associations, which are for the most part large national associations of local and/or regional authorities. Today, CEMR consists of 55 member associations spread out over 40 different countries. Its President is Wolfgang Schuster, the Mayor of Stuttgart. CEMR is the European Section of the international organisation of local authorities, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), whose President is the Mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topbaş. Governing bodies The main governing body of CEMR is the Policy Committee which generally meets twice a year. It is made up of mayors and elected councillors belonging to our member associations, with each country being represented by a quota. Every three years, an important general assembly is held which is open to everyone. The next General Assembly will take place in Cádiz at the end of September 2012. The place of international cooperation CEMR has worked for several years to promote the role of local and regional authorities in development cooperation. This lobbying resulted in the European Commission’s creation of the programme "Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development" for the 2007-2013 period, thanks in part to the report presented to the European Parliament by Pierre Schapira, European Member of Parliament and Deputy Mayor of Paris. The setting up of PLATFORMA (acting as a platform coordinating the different spheres representing local/regional authorities in the area of development and as a preferred spokesperson to the EU) lies within the framework of this programme. Meeting in Brussels in December 2011 under the presidency of President Schuster, CEMR’s Policy Committee undertook a new organisation of the thematic activities within CEMR. The Policy Committee approved the creation by CEMR of UCLG Europe in order to strengthen UCLG’s European Section, for which CEMR has been coordinating the European participation since the creation of the world organisation in 2004. Through UCLG Europe, CEMR will need to ensure the active participation both of its national associations and UCLG’s direct members in the world organisation’s work. A focus group on international cooperation and partnership was also established with the aim of bringing together the experts from CEMR’s national associations and their agencies in charge of international cooperation in order to promote the exchange of experience and to organise contributions to the European Institutions’ debates in this area, notably through PLATFORMA.
Staff and offices CEMR’s headquarters are located in France where it has an office at 15 rue de Richelieu, a couple minutes’ walk from the Louvre. This office has eight positions. CEMR also has an office in Brussels, with eleven positions, in the Maison des villes, municipalités et régions européennes, located at Square de Meeûs 1, 1000 Bruxelles. Website Our website can be found at: http://www.ccre.org Additional information on CEMR and its activities can be found there.
PROJECT OFFICER Main employment terms and conditions
The full terms and conditions of employment will be set forth in a contract to be prepared with the candidate and drawn up on the basis of Belgium law. The main conditions are as follows: 1. Location The post is located in Brussels. The person hired for the position will have to be available to travel frequently abroad for meetings and conferences. He/she will work under the direction of the Director of Citizenship and International Cooperation. 2. Duration The proposed contract is a three-year contract. 3. Salary The annual gross salary for this position will be approximately € 48 500 euros depending on the candidates’ skills and experience. 4. Working hours This is a 38-hour per week position (5 days), with general office hours being from 9am to 6pm (from Monday to Thursday) and from 9am to 4pm (on Friday). However, the job requirements call for flexibility in working hours. 5. Paid leave Employees receive 25 days of paid leave per year, in addition to public holidays and a week off between Christmas and the New Year. There are no substitutions for public holidays which fall on a Saturday or Sunday.
