Background

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the guidance of the UNDP Programme Analyst for Social Inclusion, and the direct supervision of the National Programme Manager for the SSIREC Programme, in collaboration with a local expert will support the working group for preparation of the Action Plan for Roma and Egyptians in Albania. More concretely the consultant will perform the following tasks:
• Become familiar with the existing Roma Strategy and Action Plan for Roma Decade as well as the key related policy documents (including but not limited to Social Inclusion and Social Protection strategy 2015-2020) to identify challenges and lessons learned; (from formulation of vision, targets and indicators to implementation and monitoring, analysing the funding sources, accountability as well as reporting and monitoring;
• Understand the vision, relevant goals and objectives envisaged in other sector strategies, as well as the cross-sector National Gender Equality Strategy (2011-2015), and make sure that the Action Plan  document is harmonised and contributes to reinforcing those;
• Guide the local expert/s and the technical staff of MSWY to collect information from MSWY, Line Ministries and local governments;
• Assist the working group at MSWY to outline the overall structure of the new Action Plan including a reporting and monitoring matrix;
• Analyse information provided by various line Ministries as related to R/E  support actions and budget and incorporate them as part of the actions and monitoring matrix;
• Meet local government representatives of at least two Municipalities to understand the local approaches and modalities of R/W support actions;
• Guide the process of identification of monitoring indicators and discussions with MSWY and line Ministries on monitoring indicators;
• Cooperate closely with other experts working with the MoSWY or special planning structures in other line ministries involved in the preparation of the Social Inclusion, Social Protection, Social Housing Strategies and other policy documents as relevant to the Action Plan;
• Present the skeleton of the new Action Plan to MoSWY and other key stockholders and obtain their agreement on the proposed draft, and integrate any feedback received into the main document;
• Provide technical inputs related to line ministerial budgeting as well as an effective monitoring/data reporting system of the Action Plan;
• Provide technical inputs related to integration of Roma action plan to the line Ministries so that all planned actions are duly reflected in the sectorial action plans and budgets. 

• A summary (as part of the Situation Analysis chapter) on to date progress on implementation and monitoring of current policies on Roma/Egyptians;
• Outline of the Action Plan document in line with EU 2020 Agenda incorporating vision, goals and targets, actions grouped as per the identified priority areas with cost estimate and potential sources of funding, responsible parties at national and local level and timeline ;
  
• A monitoring and reporting matrix with indicators and responsible actors attached to the Action Plan  ;
• Two missions of up to 4 days each, in Tirana to attend meetings and get agreement on the proposed outline of the Action Plan with different constituencies to be identified in cooperation with MoSWY;
• Two consultation meetings with local government offices in two municipalities of the country;
•  A consultation meeting to get agreement on the proposed outline of the strategy with different constituencies to be identified in cooperation with MoSWY;
• Advisory notes for at least three line Ministries on how to implement the foreseen actions and how to integrate R/E action plan activities and budgets into their sectoral work;
• Final draft of R/E  Action Plan with incorporated monitoring matrix and budgeted interventions.

• Integrated Planning System implementation plan: outlines the key elements of the system and the links between the planning and budgeting processes;
• European integration process documents;
• MTBP preparation forms;
• the existing sector and crosscutting strategies that have been identified above;
• detailed screening of the current system of social care services analysed in 2013-2014 in terms of institutional set up, financing mechanisms, human capacity and information supply needs;
• research studies on selective issues of social inclusion and social protection in Albania;
• the joint inclusion memoranda and national action plans on social inclusion of the Central and Eastern European countries that joined the European Union in 2004;
• the relevant documentation of the European Commission DG on Employment, Social Policy and Equal Opportunities (http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_inclusion).

• Several government documents cover significant interventions of the Roma and Egyptian social inclusion agenda;
• the pre-university education strategy addresses issues of rationalising the school distribution, an issue which could affect access;
• the health strategy discusses access to health services in the section on primary health care and touches upon the issue of informal payments;
• the sectorial strategy of employment and vocational training includes policies that affect the growth of income through employment or training to disadvantaged groups.

• The national strategy on people with disabilities;
• The strategy for improving the living conditions of the Roma minority;
• The National Strategy on gender equality and domestic violence;
• Action Plan for Children 2012-2015.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Display cultural, gender, nationality, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability.

• Analytical thinking and strategic planning skills, ability to facilitate, consult and negotiate with a broad range of government and non-government partners;
• Willing and capable to work and collaborate with other donor-funded advisors;
• Strong inter-personal and communication (oral and written) skills, efficiency in a multi-tasking and multi-cultural environment;
• Ability to work and adapt to a dynamic working environment, judgment, results-orientation, and ability to perform under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced postgraduade degree in economics, public policies, statistics, social policies or closely related field of studies.

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience as social policy/social development advisory functions including those related to Roma/Egyptians;
• Substantial experience in strategy formulation and in drafting documents based on extensive consultations;
• Past relevant experience in social inclusion agenda in EU accession countries and or other countries preferably in the area of Roma/Egyptian integration;
• Familiarity with EU accession requirements and European social agenda.

• Full working knowledge of English, including excellent report writing and presentation skills in English.

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• Criteria A: Professional Experience including research skills – max points: 35;
• Criteria B: Educational Background– max points: 15;
• Criteria C: Writing and presentation skills in english – max points: 20;
• Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max points: 30.

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
• Filled P11 form for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs) - blank form Download here
  (please upload the P11 instead of your CV);
• Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days, travel, per diems and any other possible costs).