UNDP Jobs - 28994- Consultant for community based social services for

Consultant for community based social services for multiply discriminated women, hard to employ women, single parents, women and children victims of domestic violence

Location :

home based and Podgorica, MONTENEGRO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Apr-2012

Application Deadline :

04-Apr-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 week

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

4 days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP CO Montenegro, together with Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of Education and UNICEF implements a joint project: “Social Welfare And Child Care System Reform: Enhancing Social Inclusion” composed of 3 components funded by Delegation of European union (DEU) through IPA 2010. UNDP component No. 2 is dealing with Social welfare reform. This project component builds and strengthens the institutional mechanisms and capacities that will enable development of community-based social services. The services will be responsive to the needs of the vulnerable groups and will contribute to their social inclusion and improved quality of life.

The overall objective of the Programme is to establish a social welfare and education system that facilitates inclusion of vulnerable, socially excluded groups in Montenegro. The specific objective of this project is to build and strengthen the institutional mechanisms and capacities to develop community-based social services responsive to the needs of the vulnerable, contributing to their social inclusion. The project aims to develop and upgrade the capacities of the social system to plan, commission and manage the decentralisation process, and introduction of standardised community social services. In other words, the project builds national and local actors’ capacities to plan, manage and deliver community services.

At the local level the project has been piloted in three municipalities: Niksic, Bijelo Polje and Bar whereas so far 12 community-based social services has been financially supported. In addition to financial support for provision of social services the project provides on-going support, guidance and expertise for local actors who plan, design, run/manage and deliver community service in order to make them capable to deliver standardised, quality social services to the vulnerable: persons with disabilities; elderly; families at risk; vulnerable long-term unemployed and single parents; youth at risk etc.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the assignment:

As part of the capacity development provided by the project, focused 2 day workshop will be offered to project partners involved in provision of the following services: SOS telephone, orientation and motivation-carrier session, legal counseling, family counseling. The participants of the workshop will be representatives of: local NGOs and public institutions providing social services, Social Welfare Centres and local self-government. Approximate number of participants is 20.
The main aim of the workshop is to transfer knowledge and experience in order to agree on most applicable practical solutions for empowerment of providers of social services for vulnerable women, partners in the project. The workshop will be delivered by one consultant specialized in the field of design, management, running and standardization of social services to multiply discriminated women, hard to employ women, single parents, women and children victims of domestic violence, with the focus on: SOS telephone, orientation and motivation-carrier sessions, legal counseling, family counseling. All the logistics of the process will be the responsibility of the Project Management Unit.

Job content:

Under direct supervision of the respective Programme Manager selected Consultant will prepare and deliver two-day workshop, including the following activities:

Conduct a brief assessment of 4 social service providers (3 NGOs and one local public institution) through: desk research of documents and information provided by the Project Management Unit, phone call or Skype call with respective NGOs/institution in order to get acquainted with currently used methodologies in work. Consultant will be required to prepare and fill in a questionnaire for all 4 social service providers.

Based on the assessment, Consultant will prepare the presentation of models of best practices / experiences related to:

Design and establishment of community based social services for poor, multiply discriminated women, hard to employ women, single parents, women and children victims of domestic violence (identification of potential beneficiaries, initial needs assessment and initial planning of the contents of the service, establishing linkages with other social services…).
Management and running (staffing, infrastructural equipping, communication with beneficiaries, communication with the community and general public, institutions etc., monitoring, evaluation, improvement of quality of the service provided …).
Financing (costs calculation, fundraising) and sustainability of mentioned services.
Consultant will facilitate discussion on applicability of presented best practices in the local context and based on discussion’s outcome provide recommendations for further improvement of respective social services.
Prepare workshop report including main recommendations for further improvement of respective social services.

The expected results:

Prepare brief assessment of 4 social service providers
Conduct Two-day workshop
Workshop report including main recommendations for further improvement of respective social services submitted.

Timing and reporting:

The engagement period will be 4 days in April 2012 according to the schedule to be agreed with the Programme Manager: 2 days for preparation, 2 days for workshop.
The consultant will conduct preparatory activities and shall work on production of outputs from home, but in close cooperation with the Programme Manager.

Time duration and travel:

Four days of consultancy work, including one visit to Montenegro for a two-day workshop. (Dates, timing and workshop venue will be determined as soon as possible).

Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills
Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in Social Sciences or other related field.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years of experience in social protection/social inclusion area in the Western Balkan Region, with special attention to social inclusion of multiply discriminated women, hard to employ women, single parents, women and children victims of domestic violence.
Proven record in design, management, running and standardization of community based social services (such as SOS telephone, orientation and motivation-carrier sessions, legal counselling, family counselling).
Excellent social, communication and presentation skills
Excellent computer skills and ability to operate under pressure

Language:

Fluency in English (excellent written and spoken)
Knowledge of local language is a distinctive advantage.