UN WOMEN Jobs - 56477- UN Women - International Consultant for Supporting

UN Women - International Consultant for Supporting the Start-up of Three Social Businesses in Albania

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Home-based with One or Two Travel Missions to Tirana, ALBANIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

28-May-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Up to 15 working days over a period of 4 months

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

Trafficking in human beings remains a concern for the Albanian society and authorities, who despite constant efforts are still facing challenges that limit an efficient and sustained response to this phenomenon. Despite the economic growth witnessed over the last years, a number of regions in the country remain economically deprived due to limited infrastructure, undeveloped labor market and lack of local development initiatives. This situation continues to fuel internal migration from rural to urban areas, from north to central and south Albania as well as international migration of Albanian citizens who often seek irregular routes, exposing themselves therefore to high risks of being exploited. Internal trafficking has been rising over the last three years as evidenced by the information provided by the authorities.

The strongest factor to trafficking in women and girls is related to harsh economic conditions. While women in Albania constitute 24% of the labor force, they make-up to 60% of the registered long-term unemployed. Most are employed in low productivity informal areas and make-up over 30% of all self-employed. Women, especially in rural areas, conduct 86% of unpaid work and 96% of domestic care duties. A persistent low presence of women continues in professional education at a third of enrollments. Data from the National Coalition of Shelters in Albania show that the majority

of women survivors of trafficking residing in the 4 anti-trafficking shelters have low levels of education with only 2/3 having finished basic education. This makes it very difficult for them to find or even maintain a job.

In the recent years, the Albanian authorities have taken a number of important measures to combat trafficking in human beings. In 2014 the Strategy on the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and its Action Plan 2014-2017 were adopted. The Strategy is the roadmap for the anti-trafficking action for the three coming years. It provides for tools to fight the phenomenon in a multi-faceted approach leading to an appropriate and dignified treatment for the victims of trafficking. In this spirit, UN Women in Albania, IOM and Ministry of Internal Affairs have jointly drafted a National Plan for the Integration/Reintegration of Women and Girls Victims of Trafficking. The plan foresees concrete economic reintegration measures for women and girls survivors of trafficking.

As a continuation of these efforts UN Women in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the support of the European Union funded project “Preventing and Addressing Violence against Women and Girls” are working towards building provision of services from anti-trafficking and DV shelters by increasing their awareness and knowledge related to income opportunities, employment and self-employment of beneficiaries as well provide support to social businesses that employ women and girls survivors of trafficking and violence.

The intervention foresees the startup of three (3) social businesses that will employ women survivors of trafficking and violence with the support of UN Women through the 6 anti-trafficking and DV shelters. This activity will be informed by other success cases in which shelters/organizations or social businesses in Albania have supported women survivors of trafficking and violence in Albania to start social businesses that employ these women. Based on these successful experiences and through a competitive process the project foresees to support three social businesses (startups and/or growth of existing ones) that will employ only women and girls survivors of trafficking and violence. The support will consist of small grants for the initial phase, while the project will provide technical assistance and supervision to the initial phase of startups, including business plan management and marketing.

Based on the above, UN Women requires the support of an International Consultant, as a team leader who, in collaboration with a National Consultant and on the basis of existing documents and practices will support the whole business start-up process, including: market research for the targeted areas, preparation of 3 business plans, preparation of capacity-building plans, preparation of marketing strategy/plan for each business, as well as the technical supervision of the entire components of the startup and growth process.

Overall objective

Under the direct supervision of UN Women National Programme Coordinator on Women Economic Empowerment, the International Consultant will prepare: a report on market research for the targeted areas based on existing baselines and direct consultations with target groups; 3 business plans accompanied by individual marketing strategies and other necessary components (capacity building plans, etc). The first drafts will be prepared based on prior consultations with the targeted shelters and the direct beneficiaries. In developing the required outputs, the International

Consultant will be guided by the existing baseline reports on job market in the targeted areas, the feedback gathered during the consultations with the target groups and the beneficiaries, the UN Women previous experiences on social businesses, as well as the consultants own professional experience in this area. The consultant will closely examine prior initiatives on the topic in Albania and make use of proven regional and international best practices that have produced positive results in starting up successful social businesses that employ vulnerable girls and women, especially girls and women – survivors of trafficking and violence. The international consultant will be expected to develop a work plan and methodology for the elaboration of the required tasks. Final work plan and methodology will be agreed with UN Women upon start of the consultancy.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Consultant is expected to work closely with UN Women National Programme Coordinator, UN Women Project Coordinator, with a UN Women contracted National Consultant, as well as cooperates with the 6 public and private anti-trafficking and DV shelters in Albania, and the direct beneficiaries targeted by the project intervention.

Specifically, the expert with the assistance of the National Consultant will have to:

Prepare a situational analysis of current national and local market researches/baselines to identify potential social business ideas with high probability of success, that employ vulnerable girls and women, with the aim of feeding the next steps of the process;
Conceptualize and conduct a consultation process with the targeted 6 shelters and the direct beneficiaries - girls and women survivors of trafficking and violence;
Upon identification of social bossiness ideas and interested groups, conduct a needs assessment of women to be employed in terms of professional capacities;
Draft three detailed business-plans, that include: step-by-step startup implementation plans with detailed budget lines/specifications; marketing strategy with detailed budget specifications; specific capacity building needs; as well as a practical management plan for each social business;
Detail a plan to fund, reduce risk, support flagging business,
Consult the draft with UN Women, Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, Ministry of Internal Affairs and targeted NGOs;
Prepare a final draft to be approved by UN Women, Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the targeted NGOs;
Supervise the start-up phase of the three social-businesses with the aim to provide continuous feedback and advice;
Prepare a final report for the work done during the whole consultancy.

Expected deliverables:

Detailed work plan for the consultancy and description of methodology to be employed; (by the second week);
A situational analysis of current national and local market researches/baselines to identify potential social business ideas with high probability of success, that employ vulnerable girls and women, with the aim of feeding the next steps of the process; (by the fourth week);
Consultation process in place with the targeted shelters and the direct beneficiaries; (by the eighth week- tentative travel mission to Tirana);
Three detailed business-plans drafted one per each social business. (step-by-step startup implementation plans with detailed budget lines/specifications;
Marketing strategy with detailed budget specifications; specific capacity building needs; as well as a practical management plan for each social business) to be approved by UN Women, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth and the targeted shelters; (by the fourteenth week; tentative travel mission to Tirana);
A final report on the work progress during whole consultancy (by the sixteenth week).

Competencies

Core 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.

Functional Competencies:

Excellent communication skills, including the ability to pose questions, listen, evaluate and capture opinions, suggestions and comments, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different stakeholders;
Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with national partners and pro-activeness in identifying of beneficiaries and partners’ needs, and matching them to appropriate solutions;
Proven research and analytical skills;
Proven ability to work within limited time constraints in the preparation of high quality documents;
Ability to organize work efficiently and deal with multiple tasks;
Strong teamwork and leadership skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Post-graduate degree in economy, business administration, developmental studies or relevant fields.

Experience:

At least 7 years of professional experience in Social Business start-up and follow-up;
At least 5 years of experience in projects addressing among others gender issues, especially gender based violence and trafficking in women and girls;
Previous experience in working with women groups and drafting business plans for social businesses (market research, start-up implementation plans, detailed budgets, capacity building plans, marketing plans, etc) for vulnerable groups, with a special focus on vulnerable girls and women;
Experience/knowledge in legal frameworks/tax system related to Social Business in Albania; Experience in UN interagency cooperation, particularly on Social Business and Gender is an asset;
Awareness of gender equality, domestic violence and trafficking of girls and women dynamics and challenges of developing countries like Albania.

Language:

Fluency in English (spoken and written).

Evaluation of applications

UN Women applies a fair and transparent selection process. Applicants will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications/skills and their financial proposal.

Contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive to and compliant with the ToR; and
Having received the highest score out of below combined technical and financial criteria.

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
b) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;
Technical Criteria weight – 70%;
Financial Criteria weight – 30%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the desk review part of the technical evaluation that will pass through the interview process will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical: Weight 70% Max. Point 70

Financial: Weight 30% Max. Point 30

Application procedures

Interested individual consultants are requested to apply electronically through the following link: http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_jobs.cfm no later than 28th May, 2015 and to submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Cover letter explaining the applicant’s interest in applying for the position;
Filled Personal History form - P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from: http://www.unwomen.org/aboutus/employment/); Please, merge your completed Personal History form, financial proposal and cover letter, if applicable, into a single file when you submit your application via e-mail as indicated;
The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount in US dollars (USD) (15 working days), and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including two tentative missions to Tirana, Albania per diems, and number of working days to be specified for each mission). Given the nature of the work payments will be based upon a) delivery of the services specified in the TORs, and b) certification of performance.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials