Antecedentes

Albania’s progress in recent years in respecting and promoting gender equality is highlighted in a series of international commitments as well as domestic legal and policy development and implementation. Since 2008 Albania passed the Gender Equality in Society Law, established the national gender machinery, improved the Law on Measures against Violence in Family Relations, opened the first national shelter for survivors of domestic violence, established the mechanism of coordination and referral of domestic violence cases in several municipalities, evaluated the National Strategy for Gender Equality and Domestic Violence (2007-2010), and approved the revised National Strategy on Gender Equality and against Gender-Based and Domestic Violence (2011-2015). In addition, Albania created a stronger data collection system through conducting Domestic Violence, Time Use and Demographic Health Surveys as well as through approval of a series of gender indicators that will mandate gender disaggregation of public statistics for a number of entities. Starting from mid-2014 Albania built also an online data collection and case tracking system that will produce statistics on the cases handled in an inter-disciplinary fashion in every district. Introduction of the 30% quota of representation in the Electoral Code and community initiatives in engaging women more intensively in electoral and decision-making processes have opened the door for a greater voice for women’s need. Albania’s reporting in the framework of CEDAW Committee, Universal Periodic Review, Beijing and EU have evidenced certain recommendations and in August 2014 the European Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence entered into force for all CoE Sate Parties.

To support Albania’s international commitments to the implementation of international human rights standards, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and development of national capacities the Government of Albania and the United Nations signed in 2011 the Programme of Cooperation 2012-2016. While UN agencies will be required to mainstream gender in all their activities and projects, the Programme also envisages interventions focused entirely or considerably on gender equality issues, organized in the following outcomes:

• Parliament and electoral institutions have the capacity to perform core functions;
• Line ministries and public service delivery institutions are able to mainstream gender and conduct gender responsive planning and budgeting and evidence-based policy making at all levels;
• Mandated line ministries and state institutions ensure that their practices and policies effectively prevent and address violence (against women and children) in society;
• National and sub-national government units have the capacity to generate and strengthen investments, employment and livelihood opportunities, especially for youth and women.

UNDP  implements activities and deliver assistance, particularly under the outcomes mentioned above, building on the results, lessons learned and challenges of the previous UN assistance to GoA’s efforts in addressing gender inequalities, discrimination and violence, in implementation of its international commitments in the area and the National Strategy on Gender Equality and against Gender-Based and Domestic Violence (2011-2015).

UNDP Albania, in the context of the UN Joint Programme on Gender Equality and Domestic Violence has supported the establishment of the first government shelter that serves victims of domestic abuse from all over Albania, women and their children. The Shelter has been running for four full years and the staff had received initial training and follow up training to obtain skills in running a shelter for domestic violence survivors and responding to survivors’ needs. However, in the course of these years the shelter has a new organogram and new staff entry that the majority of the existing staff members needs to further strengthen their professional capacities.

Making use of the best national and international expertise, support was provided to MOLSAEO (at present MSWY) and State Social Services to develop and later re-shaped the contents of the regulatory framework of the shelter, that guides shelter operations, including government standards for sheltering services, licensing requirements, a series of memorandums of understanding that regulate the shelter’s interaction with other government authorities and NGOs, a thorough manual for shelter service providers, with complete guidelines for intake procedures, treatment, house management, departure, reintegration and follow up of residents following their departure from the shelter.

Deberes y responsabilidades

UNDP intends to assist the staff of National Shelter for Domestic Violence Victims as well as Albanian cadres in the field of psychology and/or counseling to handle better and more professionally domestic violence cases. As earlier stated, , UNDP has supported the shelter personnel with professional training on domestic violence with a view to obtain skills in running a shelter for domestic violence survivors and responding to survivors’ needs. Considering the organogram changes of the shelter’s personnel in the last years; the need to build an effective collaboration with other relevant regional sate and non-state service providers and strengthen the functioning of the referral system; and last but not least the necessary support needed for a successful reintegration of the survivors, UNDP is seeking the services of a professional expert to design a training needs assessment; design a long- term training programme containing different training modules; provide a five days training on one or two modules and develop a coaching program to support shelter’s staff strengthen further their services with other state and non-state providers.

Under this consultancy the consultant shall make use of international best practices and models, while being sensitive as to the level of knowledge and needs of participants. The ultimate goal of this follow-up programme is not only to give participants some general understanding and awareness on domestic violence and gender equality, but more importantly to equip them with practical skills in two directions: a) Handling professionally domestic violence cases and b) build cooperation with other local and regional state and non-state actors to further strengthen shelter’s services.

In this activity the expert will focus on the following:

• Assess the functioning of the shelter and the way the cases have been handled;
• Design a follow up programme, in consultation with UNDP and the shelter personnel based on their needs and level of knowledge;
• Compile training manual/modules, draft the training agenda, prepare power point presentations, suggest contents of participants’ folder, write exercises for the seminars;
• Conduct one additional training session customized per the needs and level of knowledge of the shelter personnel, particularly the counselors, based on the findings of the evaluation.

Final deliverables:

• Evaluation report of the functioning of the shelter and of the quality of personnel’s work, highlighting the needs for additional capacity building;
• Outline of a training programme to be designed as per the shelter personnel needs;
• Development of the initial training manual/modules and conducting of the training  manual/modules and sample participant folders for the seminar;
• A final report highlighting the expert’s work, outputs, achievements, lessons learned and the proceeding of the consultancy, including recommendations for future similar interventions.

The consultants shall report to the Gender Programme Manager responsible for the respective contract at UNDP.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent analytical skills, initiative, sound judgment, results-oriented and efficiency in doing the evaluation;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Communication and public speaking skills, team player and capacity to deliver as per deadlines;
• Meet tight deadlines without compromising on the quality of work, and being flexible;
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communications skills;
• Excellent presentation skills.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• University diploma in psychology, counseling, social sciences or gender equality disciplines;
• A Ma or higher degree in any of these is highly preferred.

Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of practicing experience as a psychologist/counselor or shelter manager especially to domestic violence victims;
• Demonstrated experience in training counseling professionals to provide counseling services to victims of domestic abuse;
• Sensitivity and understanding of Albania’s socio-cultural situation;

Language requirement:

• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

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

• 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.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 35 points:

• Criteria A: Compliant educational background - max points: 10
• Criteria B: Demonstrated knowledge and experience on issues of gender equality - max points: 10
• Criteria C: Extensive experience in training counseling professionals to provide counseling services to victims of domestic abuse - max points: 15

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 15 points

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• A brief presentation explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position, to be entered in the first part of "Resume and Motivation" (max 1000 characters)
• Your word format resume in the following box, under"Resume and Motivation".
• Filled UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs); form to be downloaded at link: http://www.al.undp.org/content/albania/en/home/operations/jobs.html.  Please upload P-11 instead of 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).

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

How to Submit the Application:

To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

• Download and complete the UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs);
• Merge your UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs), Financial Proposal and cover letter into a single file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded;
• Click on the Job Title (job vacancy announcement);
• Click “Apply Now” button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and then click “Submit Application;”
• Upload your application/single file as indicated above with the merged documents (underlined above);
• You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. 

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.