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Ref.
2024/EEGOIM/11877

Job offer type
Field staff jobs

Type of contract
Fixed-term contract (CDD)

Deadline date
2024/10/06 23:59

Contract
Employee

Duration
12

Mission description

Expertise France is the French public agency for international cooperation, designing and implementing projects to contribute to the sustainable development of partner countries, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and France's external action priorities.

EU4Innovation East is an EU-funded regional project (Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine) implemented by Expertise France with a duration of 4 years. The overall objective is to strengthen the innovation ecosystems of Eastern Partnership countries, focusing on enhancing the maturity and sustainability of the startup ecosystem, promoting convergence with the EU market and startup ecosystems, and providing targeted support to Ukraine's digital tech sector.

The project aligns with the Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Eastern Partnership, contributing to the integration of these countries into the EU startup ecosystem and supporting flagship initiatives related to private sector support, innovation, green and digital economy, and society. Women entrepreneurship promotion is integrated into all project activities, including dedicated training and cooperation with female business angel networks. A horizontal objective is to promote specialization in high-value-added sectors using digital solutions.

Project or context description

The project has allocated a budget for distributing more than 20 grants to actors in the 5 countries targeted. Under the supervision of the Project Leader and the Grant Manager, based in Tbilisi (Georgia) but also of the Deputy Project Leader, based in Chisinau (Moldova), the EU 4 Innovation East Grant Officer is responsible for overseeing the contracting, execution, and administrative and financial control of the awarded grants.

The Grant Officer is part of the Project Management Unit (PMU) – and is based in Chisinau, Moldova. 

The role requires a high degree of autonomy and thoroughness, plus interpersonal skills suitable for an international and multicultural environment.

Project description

EU4Innovation East is a EU-funded project aiming to support the Eastern Partner Countries (EaP) startup ecosystems’ growth.

Title

Initiative “EU4Innovation East” – Support to Digital innovation in the Eastern Partnership region

Geographic scope

Multi-country Eastern Partner : Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine

Duration and intended start date

  • Duration: 54 months, i.e. 4.5 years (04/2024 - 10/2028)
  • Intended start date: 1st April 2024

Co-financed by

EU Commission: 20.000.000,00€ 

France: 2.120.000,00€, earmarked for Ukraine

Implementing Agency

Expertise France (EF)

Overall objective

Strengthen the competitiveness and maturity of the EaP start-up ecosystem 

Specific objectives

SO1: Enhance early-stage funding access for EaP startups, especially those led or co-founded by women, by creating a new funding mechanism and improving incubation programs, including technology transfer initiatives.

SO2: Foster innovation development in EaP ecosystems by structuring and improving the business environment.

SO3: Amplify the visibility of EaP startups and strengthen connections with European investors, fostering b

oth funding acquisition, market access, and increased local interest in the entrepreneurial journey.

SO Ukraine: Formulate a customised strategy for Ukraine, integrating French co-financing, to navigate and capitalise upon the distinctive challenges and opportunities encountered by the Ukrainian startup ecosystem during the ongoing reconstruction period.

Pillars description

PIllar 1 – Early-stage funding

Pillar 2 - Backing high added-value segments and high-performance incubation

Pillar 3 - Strengthening Community ties

Pillar 4 - International Spotlight for EaP Startups Integrating European emblematic events

 

 

Position Description

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Grant Manage and of the Deputy Project Leader

Technical Aspect:

Support for tender processes and grant awards

  • Assisting the formulation of the calls for projects in close collaboration with Expertise France legal department and with the National Coordinators;
  • Assisting in disseminating calls for projects in collaboration with the Communication unit of the project and the National Coordinators;
  • Organizing informational meetings and training for beneficiaries on responding to calls for projects in the 5 countries targeted;
  • Assisting the evaluation and selection process of project proponents: secretariat of the evaluation committee, organization of workshops for pre-selected beneficiaries, administrative management, etc.;
  • Checking compliance and performing administrative verification according to current procedures;
  • Supporting the instruction of selected projects and the assimilation of management procedures by the beneficiaries;
  • Preparing contracts and formalizing internal documents.

Monitoring the execution of funded projects

  • Assisting beneficiaries in meeting our reporting expectations by developing training materials, templates and documents to facilitate their grant monitoring (financial and narrative) and disseminate them at training sessions and information meetings;
  • Controlling the execution of the granted activities and initiatives, follow-up of the grantees’ expenditures validation requests, assisting the management of follow-up committees and meetings as well as of field visits;
  • Ensuring and controlling the correct use and application of up-to-date procedures related to the grantees’ duties and obligations (purchases and tender processes, justifications, reporting, etc.);
  • Following the technical reporting technique and the good delivery of requested deliverables;
  • Controlling payment requests, financial reports and audit reports of the grantees;
  • Preparing for the EU's and other donors’ periodic audits of grants (documentation, reports).

Project communication

·       Supporting, in close collaboration with the communication team of the project, the relevant communication activities related with the grantees activities, results and impact by consolidating and facilitating the information and related communication material generated by the grantees.

Project monitoring, evaluation and reporting

  • Definition of relevant indicators for each granted initiative in collaboration with the MEAL manager of the project;
  • Capitalizing and compiling results, and supporting the implementation of monitoring and evaluation of the activities under its responsibility in close collaboration with the MEAL manager of the project;
  • Compiling the information to feed the requested project reports, in relation with the activities under it his/her supervision; 

Implementation of technical assistance and capacities reinforcement activities of the innovation ecosystems’ actors

  • Contributing to the definition of the activities and formulation of the terms of reference;
  • Assisting the mobilisation of experts and management of the implicated partners;
  • Assisting the organisation of the activities;
  • Consolidating the requested reporting and MEAL materials related to the implemented activities.

 

Required profile

  • Master's or equivalent university degree in the field of project management, management control, international cooperation, or another relevant discipline;
  • Interest in the field of intervention: innovation, entrepreneurship support, support to the private sector;
  • Knowledge of the European Union's management procedures is an asset.
  • Experience in team management.
  • Proven experience using accounting software (SAGE).
  • Proficiency in office tools, especially Excel.
  • Proficiency in English and Romanian is required. Fluency in reading French would be an advantage. Other regional languages could be an asset (Russian, Georgian, etc). 

 

Specific knowledge, experience, skills or competencies

  • A minimum of 4 years of professional experience in a similar position;
  • Experience in international cooperation is an advantage.

Soft skills

  • Strong work ethic, precision, and organizational skills.
  • Thoroughness, responsiveness, and autonomy.
  • Ability to prioritise, delegate and organise work.
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills

WHAT WE OFFER

Exciting work in an international environment.

A 12-month contract, renewable up to September 2028 based in Chisinau, Moldova with potential travels to the EU or one of the other 4 countries of the project.

The exact remuneration will be defined according to the experience recognized for the position. 

Planned Start Date: Mid-October, 2024

We reserve the right to commence recruitment interviews before the closing date of this advertisement.

Additional information

 

 

Deadline for application : 2024/10/06 23:59

Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :

  • democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
  • peace, stability, and security ;
  • climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
  • health and human development ;

In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results. 

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