EUROPEAN PROFILES S.A

TITLE OF PROJECT

Short-Term Technical Assistance for Implementation of Special Framework of Assistance Programmes in Saint Lucia

Country:

Saint Lucia

Project Period:

01/2009-09/2009

Project Value:

€ 196.910

No of Staff Provided:

1

Origin of Funding:

EC EDF

Name of Client/ Beneficiary:

Government of St. Lucia, NAO

Description of Project:

The overall objective of this project is to assist in the development of Saint Lucia through the reinforcement of national capacity to maximise the absorption, efficiency and effectiveness of EC development cooperation.

The specific objective of this contract is to provide interim technical support to the Support Services Unit of the National Authorising Officer (NAO), relevant line ministries and other public and implementing bodies in Saint Lucia in all areas of project cycle management to ensure effective coordination, programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes financed under the Special Framework of Assistance (SFA) for traditional ACP suppliers of bananas.

This contract forms part of the second phase of technical assistance support to continue to help Saint Lucia overcome administrative challenges with the implementation of SFA programmes. Specifically, the project is focused on assisting St Lucia in the successful coordination, programming, implementation, monitoring and, as appropriate, closure of SFA programmes within the relevant or extended deadlines.

The consultants should work closely with the Office of the NAO as well as other relevant public sector agencies and stakeholders to achieve the following results:

• Improvements in institutional arrangements and coordination, including clarification of responsibilities and roles of all implementing agencies and stakeholders;

• Better understanding within implementing agencies of the financial, contractual and related requirements of SFA programmes through on on-the-job training and other means;

• Improved financial management and better compliance with SFA procurement and contracting procedures;

• More timely preparation to a higher standard of remaining project documents (annual programme estimates, grant and other contracts) for the implementation of SFA financing agreements;

• More timely preparation to a higher standard of tender dossiers and calls for proposals and better support for the evaluation of tenders and grant applications;

• Improvements in the quality and timeliness of the reporting and monitoring of implementation; and

• Appropriate handover at the end of this consultancy project.

Services Provided:

• Support in the preparation of an annual work plan for the Support Services Unit to the NAO to guide the implementation and monitoring of SFA programmes;

• Assessment of the extent to which programmes and projects are being implemented, address bottlenecks, clarify institutional roles and responsibilities and provide capacity support at each stage of the project cycle, where needed;

• Meetings with assigned project staff of implementing agencies to assess their knowledge of EC rules and procedures;

• Coaching and training of staff on an ad hoc on-the-job basis at the Office of the NAO and at implementing agencies in the financial execution of the programme in line with EC rules, procedures and implementation deadlines.

• Supervision of the management of programme estimates and grant contracts in close collaboration with the Office of the NAO paying particularly attention to adherence to EC procedures;

• Development of mechanisms for quality assurance in the preparation of tender dossiers to ensure compliance with EC procedures.

• Assistance with the drafting of works, supplies, services and grants contracts in implementing financing agreements in line with relevant EC procedures;

• Assistance with the evaluation of tenders and grant applications for the implementation of financing agreements.

• Assistance to the NAO in drafting and presenting six-monthly interim and final programme reports for each financing agreement using the requisite formats;

Name of Partners:

• DFC S.A.