UNDP Jobs - 67729- Consultant in Developing the Concept Paper

Consultant in Developing the Concept Paper

Location :

Home-based with two missions (6 day each) to Georgia

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

01-Sep-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

24 days including 12 days in Georgia (period of September-November 2016)

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

The Overall Objective of UNDP implemented and EU supported project “Deepening Linkages between Formal/non Formal VET System and the Labor Market Needs within a Broader Lifelong Learning Context in Georgia” is to improve the labor market responsiveness of the formal and non-formal VET system and promoting the lifelong learning process in Georgia.

Initiatives to improve the quality and attractiveness of the formal VET in Georgia are of critical importance, therefore, one of the project objectives is to introduce the innovative ways for accessing VET education (e-learning programs in VET, distance learning for trainers, support to international mobility programs). In order to introduce innovative ways for accessing VET education, and international mobility of VET students, an international expertise is required. For this objective UNDP will seek international consultant who will develop Concept Paper on international mobility of VET students in Georgia. The Concept Paper will also include framework of training programs for vocational education teachers and managers to raise their capacity for international mobility of vocational education students from Georgia.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will conduct review of education systems in Georgia and EU countries and will develop concept paper on international student mobility perspectives for Georgia. For this objective, the consultant will also analyze and report on existing problems in regard to international student mobility in Vocational Education in Georgia.

The overall objective of the consultancy is to produce a concept paper on international mobility of VET students and teachers in order to increase the quality and attractiveness of VET training. The concept paper will be presented to the Government of Georgia (Ministry of Education and Science) for international mobility of VET students.

The consultant is expected to:

Produce Concept Paper on International Student Mobility in VET in Georgia;
Produce Analysis Report on existing problems in Georgia in International Student Mobility in VET in Georgia.

The selected Consultant will be accountable to the Economic Team Leader of UNDP and the Project Manager of the Skills project and is expected to to perform the following tasks and duties:

Conduct analysis of international experience in student mobility in vocational education and produce report of the findings considering best EU practice;
Conduct analysis of education sector in Georgia and of vocational education sector in order to find existing challenges for international mobility of students in vocational education and develop report on findings;
Develop Concept Paper on international student mobility in vocational education in Georgia; Solicit feedback from UNDP and other relevant stakeholders of education field in Georgia and revise concept document draft according to the feedback from the UNDP and other key stakeholders;
Develop main conceptual approaches for trainings of teachers and managers of vocational educational institutions through identification of teachers skills development needs to raise their capacity in support of international mobility of vocational education students;
Develop implementation plan for Concept Document on International mobility of vocational education students in Georgia; Finalize the concept document and Implementation plan and submit to UNDP Office in Georgia in editable electronic format (preferably MS Word).

Major Deliverables:

The selected Consultant is expected to produce below deliverables:

Report on analysis of international experience in student mobility in vocational education;
Report on analysis of education sector in Georgia in general and vocational education in particular with a reference to findings on challenges for international mobility of students in vocational education;
Concept Paper on international mobility of students in vocational education in Georgia;
Concept Paper for trainings of teachers and managers of vocational educational institutions to raise their capacity in support of international mobility of student in vocational education;
Implementation plan for concept paper on international mobility of students in vocational education in Georgia.

Competencies

Core competencies:

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Shares knowledge and experience;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of program, managing data, reporting;
Strong communication skills;
IT competencies in Word, Excel, Power Point and internet.

Leadership and Self-Management:

Focuses on result for the client and responses positively to feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

MAster's degree in Education, Sociology and Economics or other related discipline (minimum qualification requirement: Master's Degree = 10 Points; PHD = additional 5 points)

Experience:

Experience in development of concept and policy papers in the field of education, with a focus on vocational education and training, or other related fields;
Proven knowledge of EU policy on VET and Education Sector development;
Minimum 7 years of experience in conducting studies and developing reports on vocational and higher education with focus on international mobility and training mechanisms (minimum qualification requirement: 7 years = 15 Points; More than 7 years = additional 5 points);
Minimum 5 years of experience in projects in the area of international student mobility on vocational and higher education levels (minimum qualification requirement: 5 years = 15 Points; More than 5 years = additional 5 points).

Languages:

Fluency in English.

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on cumulative analysis method:

Offerors will be evaluated against combination of technical (deskreview and interview) and financial criteria. Maximum obtainable score is 100, out of which total score for technical criteria equals to 70 and for financial criteria – to 30. Offerors obtaining minimum 35 points will be invited for an interview. The maximum score for interview will be 15 points. Those offerors who pass 70% threshold as a result of technical evaluation criteria (i.e. those who obtain min. 49 points), will be considered as short-listed offerors.

The short-listed candidates will be asked to provide financial proposals (lump sum) for the scope of work defined in the Terms of Reference in detail.

Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, indicating breakdown and include all envisaged travel costs, accommodation, communication, taxes and others.

Arrangements
The Consultant will work under the supervision of the UNDP Economic Development Team Leader and the Project Manager of the project “Deepening linkages between formal/non-formal VET system and the labor market needs in the context of lifelong learning in Georgia”.

The assignment should be concluded within 24 days during the period of September - November 2016. Electronic copies of deliverables shall be submitted to UNDP Georgia till November 15, 2016.

Duration. The assignment implies 24 working days during September - November 2016. A tentative timetable is given below, which may be modified following the working process:

Mission to Georgia: 6 days in September, 2016
Remote consultancy: 6 days in September, 2016
Mission to Georgia: 6 days in October, 2016
Remote consultancy: 6 days in November, 2016

Payment. The payment will be disbursed in two installments: 1st installment upon submission of the Deliverables 1 and 2 and 2nd installment upon submission of the Deliverables 3, 4, 5 the payment is a subject to certification by UNDP that the services have been performed satisfactory.