UNDP Jobs - 56728- Consultant for drafting the Methodology for Determ

Consultant for drafting the Methodology for Determining the Price of 5 Selected Social Services

Location :

Home Based and Podgorica, MONTENEGRO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Jun-2015

Application Deadline :

04-Jun-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

25 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Five months , from June 2015 through October 2015

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 implements the project: “Continuation of the Social Welfare System Reform – Bridging period July 2014 –December 2015” through the following components: 1. Further development of the regulatory framework and raising awareness among beneficiaries in relation to introduced changes in social protection rights (benefits and services available); 2. Capacity building of the new Division for Development of Social Services in Municipalities for planning and coordinating development of social and child care services; 3. Support to local administrations and local stakeholders in drafting and implementation of Local Social Inclusion Plans. The main project objective is that socially vulnerable groups have access to and benefit from comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable social services.

This Project aims at developing a modern, pro-beneficiary social welfare and child care system that will contribute to reduction of disparities and gaps in access to quality social services in line with EU standards and best practises. The activities within this Project to a large extent represent a continuation of the activities implemented within the "Social Welfare and Child Care System Reform – Enhancing Social Inclusion” (IPA 2010), with the aim to consolidate what has been achieved during the “Enhancing Social Inclusion” project and ensure sustainability of the results. In line with that, efforts will be invested in strengthening the regulatory and institutional framework and in enhancement of the social and child protection services system throughout Montenegro to ensure better social inclusion of various groups of beneficiaries, possibilities for productive life in the community, family support in caring for the vulnerable family members, prevention of institutionalization and de-institutionalization.

Duties and Responsibilities

Assignment Objectives

The purpose of this activity is to draft the Methodology for determining the price of 5 selected social services in order to support the process of development of secondary legislation – Rulebook on criteria for determining the price of social services (the Law on Social and Child Protection, article 157, Official Gazette 27/13) (Pravilnik o kriterijumima i mjerilima za utvrdivanje cijene usluge socijalne i djecje zaštite).

Main Responsibilities

Under direct supervision of the respective Programme Manager and tin close cooperation with he Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, the Consultant will draft the Methodology for determining the price of the following types of social services: 1. Day Care Centre for Children with Disabilities, 2. Home care for elderly (geronto domacice), 3. Day Care Centre for elderly, 4. SOS telephone and 5. Personal assistance for persons with disabilities.

The plan is to analyses 5 (five) providers of each above listed services, depending on availability of services identified in the field. Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare and UNDP Programme Manager are responsible for the final selection of social service providers in line with the following criteria:

Geographic – North, Centre and South of Montenegro;
Number of beneficiaries recorded;
Type of funding the service – national/local budget, donations, projects, participation of beneficiaries in cost of service;
Duration of social service.

The list of criteria is not final and may be amended during additional consultations of Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare and UNDP Programme Manager with selected Consultants.

Tasks

Collecting and analyzing existing documentation regarding operations of social service providers (five per type of social service – in total up to 25 service providers) selected by Deputy Minister, UNDP Programme Manager and Consultant referring to:

Program of work of social service provider (general and annual for 2015, 2014, 2013);
Annual reports (for 2014, 2013, 2012);
Monthly reports for the last 12 months;
Financial reports - annual for 2014, 2013 and 2012; monthly for the last 12 months;
Documentation giving the information of sources of funding (national/local budget, donations, projects, participation of beneficiaries in costs of services etc.);
Structure of engaged personnel (number, educational background, trainings, type of engagement etc.);
Structure of beneficiaries (age, gender, financial status, needs etc.).

Analyses of legal framework regulating the area of social services provision:

Analyses of the Law on Social and Child Protection and respective bylaws (adopted and Draft versions);
Analyses of other relevant laws and bylaws.

Collecting and analyzing data through field visits of social service providers:

In-depth interviews with management and personnel of selected social service providers (up to 15);
Focus groups (up to 3) with beneficiaries of selected social services (where possible, taking in consideration confidentiality and protected identity of individual beneficiaries).

Drafting methodology for determining the price of social services (on monthly level):

Cross-cutting data gained through analyses of documentation, legal framework and from field visits;
Assessment of the actual/current price of five above listed social services;
Drafting Methodology (1st Draft) for determining five above listed services.

Consultative process with the members of the Working group established by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare:

Presenting the findings from the analyses of documentation and data gained through field visits;
Presenting the Draft methodology for determining the price of selected social services (on monthly level);
Revision of the Draft Methodology in line with inputs received from the Working Group;
Presenting the Final Draft Methodology.

The work will include desk review, filed visits to selected municipalities, in-depth interviews and focus groups, participation and presentation at the working group sessions, consultations with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. The Consultant is expected to work both in the field (up to 10 days in the field and 3 days in Podgorica) and from home.

The expected results:

Draft Methodology for determining the price of five selected social services prepared and submitted to the Deputy Minister.

Timing and reporting:

The engagement period will be up to 25 days in the period June 2015 – October 2015 according to the schedule to be agreed with the Programme Manager and Deputy Minister, including:

Up to 3 days in Podgorica;
Up to 10 days in the field (4 selected municipalities);
Up to 12 days for work from home.

The consultant will conduct preparatory activities and shall work on production of outputs from home, but in close cooperation with the Programme Manager and Deputy Minister. The Consultant is expected to work closely and to plan and coordinate all the activities with another Consultant to be engaged for this purpose, specialist in finance.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the United Nations 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.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to work in a team;
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 ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills;
Excellent social, communication, advocacy and presentation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelor's degree in social work;
Master degree would be considered as an asset.

Experience:

At least ten years of proved experience in developing social services, with specific focus on introducing minimum standards, monitoring of fulfilment and necessary corrective measures;
Analytical skills and experience in diagnostic/analytical studies of organisations, benchmarking and comparative analysis;
Proven record on data collecting and analyses and developing reports in the field of social welfare;
Excellent knowledge of Montenegrin social protection and child care system;
Previous work experience with UN organizations will be considered as an advantage;
Excellent computer skills and ability to operate under pressure;

Language:

Fluency in English and Montenegrin (written and spoken).

Criteria for selection:

Combined Scoring method will be used. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the inidividual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: (i) responsive, compliant, acceptable, and (ii) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical criteria weigth - 70% (Background and education 10%; Relevant previous experience 20%; Substantial knowledge/Required competencies 30%; Required language 10%);
Financial criteria weight - 30%.

Only offerors obtaining a minimum 490 points for technical criteria will be considered for the financial evaluation.
For more information on procurement methodology for Individual Contractors, please refer to Procurement Notice.

Application procedure:

Interested applicants are requested to submit their applications by June 4th, 2015 by using the Apply now button. The application should contain a duly completed Personal History Form (P11) that can be downloaded from http://www.me.undp.org/content/montenegro/en/home/operations/jobs.html.
Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in EUR) requested for the work envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".