Expert in Youth Employment Strategies
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| Location : |
Home-based with the mission to Ukraine, UKRAINE |
| Application Deadline : | 08-May-14 (Midnight New York, USA) |
| Type of Contract : | Individual Contract |
| Post Level : | International Consultant |
Languages Required :
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English |
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) | 15-May-2014 |
| Expected Duration of Assignment : | 18 working days |
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.
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Background
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The overall objective of the Project is to support the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and other involved national and local institutions and organizations in applying innovative youth development approaches and integrating them in new policies/strategies/services related to youth development. The Project supports the implementation of the Strategy on the Youth State Policy for the period until 2020, including the development of a National Programme on Youth Development.
The Project focuses on three key dimensions. These are youth employment, promotion of healthy life styles and capacity of youth engagement as citizens. Thus, the project promotes the broadening of opportunities for human capital development by expanding access to and improving health services and nurturing values of healthy life style; by facilitating the start of working life; and by giving young people a voice to articulate their needs and participate in policy decisions and implementation.
The issue of youth employment is of particular importance in Ukraine’s current socio-economic context. The country’s 6.25 million young people aged 15-24 are the next generation of economic and social actors. It is crucial that they are well prepared for their future integration in the country’s labour market and economic activities. At present, a large number of young people face significant difficulties entering the labour market. Unemployment rate for young people stood at 17,5% in 2012, which is significantly higher than for adults (55% of all unemployed people in Ukraine were youth). Along with that the alarming rates of youth unemployment and challenges young people face at present directly relate to their economic and social inclusion, as well as their health and way of life. This suggests that the efforts in youth employment initiatives have room for improvement. The actions should be aimed at empowering young people towards entering the labour market through promoting best practices and innovative models of youth employment.
A key factor affecting their employability is an outdated education system which is not adjusted to the needs of the Ukrainian labor market, poor career advice services in schools and a lack of modern platforms for matching needs and skills supply. Making the transition from school into vocational training or higher education represents a great challenge. Pupils and students have limited possibility to gather information in advance on exactly which opportunities and perspectives are available. For successful career training, and therefore a successful career launch, it’s important to reflect upon one's own wishes and expectations, as well as to consider what it’s truly like in a certain professional field. It is highly beneficial to see the practice while still in school.
There is no doubt that, provided political stability and Ukraine’s continued focus on implementing the EU Association Agreement requirements, the economic landscape of Ukraine may change over the years to come. With an improved business climate, entrepreneurship may start prospering. On the other hand, existing larger business will increasingly require skills matching their specific and evolving needs. New opportunities may present themselves to young graduates, as well as tougher skills requirements.
Taking into account the importance of youth in the UN development agenda and the government’s prioritization of this area, UNDP will support the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine in new interventions, which will kick-start an innovative and strategic approach to development actions for young people.
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Duties and Responsibilities
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The assignment has 2 main objectives:
- To research innovative and successful youth employment models in Europe, which also promote gender equality, and highlight national good practices that have a potential for scaling up (30% of assignment);
- Based on the research findings, to design 3 innovative models of youth employment customized for Ukrainian environment. Each model will be tested in 3 pilot regions. The models shall focus on the best European practices of supporting youth entrepreneurship, merging education and employment markets and developing early career orientation at school (70% of assignment).
Description of responsibilities / Scope of work:
The consultant should provide an analysis of best European and, where possible, Ukrainian practices of youth employment mechanisms focusing on: - Early career orientation. This includes testing to detect students’ professional inclinations, providing information to young people attending the last classes of secondary school on career prospects, employers and their requirements, training and counselling opportunities, entrepreneurship opportunities, etc.;
- Merging education providers’ and employers’ markets. The examples of it may include the engagement of employers to the curriculum formation, designing targeted faculty courses, doors open days, job fairs, competitive apprenticeships etc ;
- Developing/supporting youth entrepreneurship. This may include the support to first job/entrepreneurship initiatives, analyzing existing job seeking tools and employers/job seekers matching platforms; promoting the concept of micro-working (outsourcing of functions by large companies); promoting/facilitating mentorship programmes; supporting the development of a business angels for young entrepreneurs (drawing from the UK experience in this sphere); conducting business trainings; organizing entrepreneurs’ ideas competitions across Ukraine. In this context, the Project could help facilitate transnational exposure by helping with the integration of selected Ukrainian universities in such European initiatives as the European Business Game.The recommended sources include, but are not limited to: http://www.weforum.org/issues/education; http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GEI_UnlockingEntrepreneurialCapabilities_Report_2011.pdf; http://elientrepreneur.com/Entrepreneurship_Education_Report.pdf; http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/nov/26/young-unemployment-entrepreneurship-best-bits; http://mckinseyonsociety.com/downloads/reports/Education/Education-to-Employment_FINAL.pdf; Council of Europe (2013). Youth policy in Ukraine. Conclusions of the Council of Europe International Review Team, Council of Europe, Strasbourg.
The result of this activity will be a comprehensive report, highlighting strong and weak points, scope, scale, trends and results of interventions.
Based on the research findings the consultant will design 3 models to be tested in Ukraine. The designed interventions should be realistic, applicable and well-structured. The following aspects should be thoroughly elaborated:
- Overall idea and justification for Ukraine;
- Timeframe and measurable results anticipated;
- Institutions engaged and their areas of responsibilities described. Institutions shall include: state and local, NGOs and other civic activists group, international agencies;
- Tasks to all the involved actors allocated;
- If possible, approximate costs estimated;
- Risks that may undermine the models implementation named and graded. The mitigation methods foreseen
- Possibilities for scaling up envisaged.
This activity will be conducted in continuous collaboration and coordination with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the project team and other actors where necessary
Deliverables:
The expected duration of the assignment is 18 man/days. The target date for the start of work is 15 May and the expected completion date is 15 June.
Estimated Duration to Complete Target Due Dates:
- Research on innovative and successful youth employment models - 5 man/days until 25 May. Review and approval by Project/Programme Management - 3 man/days;
- Design of models of youth employment to be tested in Ukraine on the local level - 13 man/days until 15 June. Review and approval Project/Programme Management 3 man/days.
Monitoring / reporting requirements:
The following reporting is expected from the consultant:
- Weekly progress report to and meeting with the Project Manager;
- Reports upon each delivery;
- Draft final report;
- Final report.
Under facilitation of the Project Team the consultant is expected to liaise with the following institutions and type of institutions:
- Ministry of Youth and Sports;
- Ministry of Social Policy;
- Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine;
- State Services targeting youth employment;
- Respective Research Institutes;
- Employment Centers;
- Education providers;
- Municipalities.
- NGOs;
- International organizations.
The consultant will work from home and in close liaison with the project team, Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.
Expected places of travel (if applicable): To Kyiv and internal Ukraine up to 5 days which will be covered by the Project additionally.
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Competencies
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- Deep understanding of the situation and development in youth employment globally;
- Expertise in analysis, planning, monitoring/reporting and policy advice on employment and/or youth issues;
- Strong inter-personal and presentation skills;
- Excellent coordination skills and result orientation;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
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Required Skills and Experience
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Education:
- Master’s or higher degree in Social Sciences, Law, Human Rights, Gender Equality or other relevant area.
Experience:
- At least 5 years work experience and proven track record of analytical work, planning and monitoring/reporting and policy advice on employment and/or youth issues;
- Experience in delivering advisory services in social sector;
- Prior experience of working in UNDP projects would be an asset.
Language skills:
- Excellent English (both verbal and written), working Russian and/or Ukrainian would be an asset.
Application procedures:
Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via http://jobs.undp.org
The application should contain:
- Letter of interest/proposal, explaining why the applicant considers him- or herself the most suitable for the work
- Letter of interest/proposal, providing brief methodology on how the work will be conducted and/or approached
- Personal CV, including information about past experience in similar projects / assignments and contact details for referees.
- Financial proposal.
Financial proposal - Lump sum contract.
The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. 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 travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).
Travel costs:
All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.
In the case of unforeseen travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.
Evaluation of applicants:
Selection method: Desk review
The cumulative analysis will be applied for the evaluation of proposals. Under the cumulative analysis scheme, a total score is obtained upon the combination of weighted technical (70) and financial attributes (30).
When using this weighted scoring method, 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.
Technical Criteria weight: 70
Financial Criteria weight: 30.
Evaluation Criteria:
Technical:
- Educational background – 15 points max (15 pts – PhD degree; 10 pts – Specialist/Master’s degree);
- Relevant professional experience – 40 points max (40 pts – 10 years and more; 30 pts – 7-9 years; 20 pts – 5-6 years);
- Language Skills – 15 points max (15 – English, Russian and Ukrainian; 10 pts – English and Russian; 5 – English only).
Total score obtainable for Technical evaluation - 70 max. points.
* Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points under Technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Financial:
The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:
- 30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].
The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal (A+B) will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.
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, office costs 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.
Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org.
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://europeandcis.undp.org/home/jobs
Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to a large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.
Applications should be filled in only in English.
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