The European Union is seeking to diversify its sources of supply of critical minerals and rare earths, which are essential for the energy and digital transitions. Argentina is a strategic partner as it holds, particularly in the provinces targeted by the project (Catamarca, Jujuy and Salta for lithium, and San Juan for copper), very significant reserves of critical minerals. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Argentina and the European Union was signed in July 2023 in order to initiate actions promoting the development of sustainable and inclusive value chains for critical minerals, particularly lithium and copper.

Argentina is seeking investors to develop its critical mineral value chains, for which it has abundant reserves that are, for the most part, underexploited or not yet exploited. In this context, the Delegation of the European Union to Argentina has delegated the management of a project aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive value chains for lithium within the framework of the EU-Argentina partnership on raw materials.

The project is structured around four sub-objectives:

1. Improving investment conditions for projects in the critical raw materials value chain, particularly EU strategic projects, contributing to sustainable local development.
2. Strengthening vocational training related to the lithium and copper value chains, with a focus on the skills required by EU strategic projects.
3. Strengthening governance and multi-stakeholder coordination for a more stable and favourable investment environment in the mining sector, with a focus on provincial administrations.
4. Expanding EU-Argentina cooperation in research and innovation in the field of sustainable mining value chains.

The project has a duration of 3 years (36 months) and a total budget of EUR 5 million.

The Project Manager will be responsible for implementing the entire project in accordance with the technical, financial and legal requirements defined in the contract between Expertise France and the European Union.

The following list of tasks and responsibilities is not exhaustive and may evolve according to needs.

Establishment of Expertise France in Argentina

• Follow up, in collaboration with the Project officer and Expertise France’s Establishment Unit, on the Intergovernmental Agreement or Establishment Agreement;
• Support the opening of the bank account;
• Set up the procedures for requesting VAT payment exemption with the Argentine authorities and, the request for VAT eligibility from the EU (if necessary);
• Support all procedures facilitating the establishment of Expertise France in Argentina;
• Lead the project inception phase, particularly the establishment of the team, operational procedures and governance committees, as well as the finalisation of the operational programming.

Strategic leadership

• Define and lead the strategic direction of the activities implemented by Expertise France in coordination with the EU Delegation and Argentine partners;
• Ensure high-level dialogue with public, private and institutional stakeholders;
• Facilitate dialogue between the various Argentine and European stakeholders;
• Act as an interface across all project thematic areas in order to strengthen project ownership and visibility;
• Maintain dialogue with other projects and initiatives in the mining sector and identify potential synergies with the project;
• Prepare and monitor the project’s governance committees, particularly the Steering Committee and thematic Technical Committees, and ensure that their recommendations are taken into account in project implementation.

Project supervision

• Supervise and coordinate the implementation of the project’s four components, in coordination with the two component managers and the ETI;
• Lead the annual and semi-annual programming of activities and ensure its regular updating in coordination with the project team and relevant partners;
• Adjust activities, where necessary, in consultation with partners (EU Delegation, AFD, GIZ) and the Expertise France team;
• Manage the project’s operational risks;
• Ensure compliance with Expertise France procedures;
• Supervise the project’s monitoring and evaluation system, particularly the monitoring of the logical framework and results indicators, in collaboration with the component managers and headquarters.

Team and expert management

• Participate in the recruitment of the project team, in collaboration with Expertise France headquarters;
• Manage and motivate the team, ensuring its well-being and performance;
• Supervise, train and build the capacities of team members;
• Identify national and international short-term experts in collaboration with the component managers (areas: gender, communication, governance, specialised technical training, etc.);
• Draft Terms of Reference (ToRs), recruit and supervise the assignments of embedded and short-term experts, and validate deliverables.

Budget and financial management

• Prepare the annual budget in collaboration with the Administrative and Financial Project Officer and in accordance with the donor’s regulations;
• Monitor budget implementation and propose adjustments, where necessary, in agreement with the project team;
• Participate in audits and in the implementation of recommendations.

Monitoring and reporting

• Draft narrative reports (annual), ensuring that the EU Delegation’s requirements are taken into account;
• Supervise Expertise France’s financial reports and ensure their alignment with internal accountability requirements within Expertise France and towards the EU Delegation;
• Carry out periodic internal reporting exercises for Expertise France, in coordination with the Administrative and Financial Project Officer and the Project Manager at headquarters;
• Ensure compliance with the project’s communication and visibility obligations, in coordination with the EU Delegation, particularly on sensitive issues related to the mining sector.