UN WOMEN Jobs - 66996- National Consultant to provide technical assistanc

National Consultant to provide technical assistance to MEDTE to implement Pillar I–Policy Framework of the NAP for Women Entrepreneurship 2014-2020 in Albania

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Tirana, ALBANIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

04-Jul-2016

Application Deadline :

29-Jun-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

8 working days per month within a period of 6 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

Over the last 4 years women’s entrepreneurship in Albania gained momentum due to the shrinking presence of women in labor market and paid activities, lack of opportunities to access finances, immovable properties and market, as well as poor participatory level in the policy making processes. Women constitute a large under-represented group in Albania in terms of business start-up and ownership. Encouraging more women to become involved in enterprise and grow existing businesses can have a potentially positive impact on Albania’s economic performance.

The National Strategy for Gender Equality, Gender-based Violence and Domestic Violence 2011-2015 was a serious step of the GoA in supporting women’s economic empowerment particularly in the areas of women’s employment, skills and entrepreneurship. In line with the Program of Cooperation signed between the Government of Albania and the UN, for the period 2012-2016, UN Women in cooperation with Ministry of Economic Development Trade Tourism and Entrepreneurship (MEDTTE) have worked towards gender mainstreaming in the Business and Development Strategy 2013-2020, which represents a major step ahead in including women’s entrepreneurship among its priorities. UN Women and MEDTTE advanced this further by also developing a National Action Plan on Women Entrepreneurship 2014-2020. This plan was developed in response to a pressing need to encourage more Albanian women to start and grow their own businesses and to address positively the need for coordinated support for women’s enterprises. As of now, the National Plan has been officially endorsed by MEDTTE and is being implemented by various stakeholders in the country. The Plan encompasses four major pillars of intervention: 1) Policy Support Framework 2) Education and Training 3) Access to Finance and competitiveness 4) Networking. Taking into consideration the peculiar conditions of women in rural areas it was decided to address “Women’s participation in rural economy” as a cross-cutting issue.

Considering the vast landscape of stakeholders covering SME’s support and direct sustenance being provided to women in business in terms of access to finance, business advice, business coaching, and entrepreneurial skills courses, it results that an uncovered, yet indispensable area of support, is the one pertaining to the policy support framework for women entrepreneurship in Albania. Regardless of successes recorded so far, the legal and regulatory framework has to be strengthened to encourage women’s entrepreneurship. There is core need to strengthen the SME’s regulatory framework which women can benefit from and reduce the administrative burden on the business. Other very important aspects of policy support framework are the collection and use of gender segregated data, social support for women entrepreneurs who besides involved in business are also primary care givers within the household, fiscal policies and incentives to support women entrepreneurs, financing and investment as well as relief from business segregation.

To this purpose UN Women is seeking the support of a national consultant to provide technical assistance to MEDTTE in designing a set of legal and policy measures that promote, strengthen women’s entrepreneurship and create a friendly environment where women entrepreneurs have access to adequate resources and support. The National Consultant is expected to work very closely with the Ministry of Economic Development Trade Tourism and Entrepreneurship, the SME support team, as well as coordinate with the Advisory Board of the Women Entrepreneurship Plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of National Programme Coordinator for Women Economic Empowerment and in coordination with the SME Support Directory at MEDTTE, the National Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

Prepare a work plan and methodology with details of desk review of key documents to be researched, legal and policy areas to be explored, key stakeholders mapped and timeframes in place.
Filter actions from WEE NAP Policy Support Chapter that will need follow up in terms of policy and legal change proposals;
Map main policy and legal documents that need to be revised, amended, introduced; detail on concrete changes that will need to be proposed, legally wise as well as policy and institutionally wise;
Base proposal on demonstrated best cases from other countries in the region and beyond;
Assess data availability and data needs in order to prepare the up-date of each sector analysis;
Carry a structural description of each sector where changes will be proposed;
Provide a first draft of the package with legal and policy recommendations to be reviewed by SME Support Directory at MEDTTE, WE Advisory Board, key involved stakeholders, women interest groups;
Provide a final draft of the package with legal and policy recommendations- incorporating key stakeholders’ comments and fine tuning all proposed measures so that they are in line with the overall policy agenda, national and international requirements;
Prepare a final report in English and Albanian for the work done during the whole consultancy.

Expected deliverables:

Work plan and Methodology: One week after initiation of the assignment;
An analytic report on policy and legal documents that need to be revised, amended, introduced with detailed description on legal, policy and institutional proposed changes; 8 weeks after initiation of the assignment
A list of best cases from other countries as related to suggested changes; 10 weeks after initiation of the assignment
A first draft of the package with legal and policy recommendations; 16 weeks after initiation of the assignment;
Final draft of the package with legal and policy recommendations- incorporating key stakeholders’ comments and fine tuning all proposed measures; 20 weeks after initiation of the assignment
A final report in English and Albanian for the work done during the whole consultancy. 24 weeks after initiation of the assignment

Institutional Arrangement:

The National Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the National Programme Coordinator for Women Economic Empowerment, and in day-to-day cooperation with the Support Unit at MEDTTE, who will be responsible for approval/acceptance of outputs, timesheets and performance evaluation. Ultimate oversight rests with the National Programme Coordinator for Women Economic Empowerment.

The contractor is required to submit Deliverables in a highly responsive manner and as agreed with UN Women and SME Support Unit at MEDTTE.

Duration of the Work:

The National Consultant will be contracted for a maximum of 8 (eight working days/month for a period of 6 months to perform specified tasks from 4th July – 31st December, 2016

Duty Station:

The successful contractor will perform tasks based at MEDTTE and from home (desk-based when possible).

Competencies

Core values:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modeling UN values and ethical standards;
Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Core competencies:

Communication: 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.
Client orientation: 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.

Functional Competences:

Good knowledge of Albanian legislation at large and legal framework related to private sector in particular including international models;
Knowledge of the women entrepreneurship environment and institutional and legal set-up;
Ability to draft legal proposals in line with Albanian legislative technique and international standards;
Ability to write high quality reports in English and Albanian.

Required Skills and Experience

Education/Academic Qualification:

Graduate Degree in Law; gender studies and development related fields are an asset.

Work Experience:

Minimum of 10 years of country based as well as regional work experience in conducting social, economic and legal research in the field of gender equality, economic empowerment;
Experience in drafting legal and/or policy frameworks in economic field preferably related to women in business;
Demonstrated experience in preparing policy papers in related areas on behalf of government and international organizations in the relevant area of work;
Previous Work with UN agencies would be considered an asset.

Language requirement:

Strong analytical, writing and communication skills in both English and Albanian, and excellent drafting skills.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

Financial Proposal specifying the daily fee and the overall amount in Albanian Lek for the tasks and anticipated number of days specified in this announcement.

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 and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services). In the framework of this assignment, neither travel nor accommodation costs are foreseen to occur.

Payment will be made as per the payment schedule in the contract upon (i) satisfactory completion of tasks; (ii) provision of deliverables specified in the ToRs; (iii) submission of and approval of final draft; and (iv) submission of the respective invoice.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit their application no later than 29th June, 2016. Applications should include:

A Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability including a brief description explaining why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
P11 including past experience in similar assignment. Can be downloaded at: http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment .
A list with links and titles of research documents/papers/publications produced by the applicant.
Financial Proposal specifying the daily fee and the overall amount in Albanian Lek for the tasks and anticipated number of days specified in this assignment.

Note: Failure to submit financial proposal will result in automatic disqualification.

Evaluation of applicants:

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. Contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Applications will be assessed according to the following Technical Criteria:

Graduate Degree in law and other academic or professional qualifications in economy; gender studies and development: (weight 20, max. points 20);
Minimum of 10 years of country based as well as regional work experience in conducting social, economic and legal research in the field of gender equality, economic empowerment; (weight 20, max. points 20);
Experience in drafting legal and/or policy frameworks in economic field preferably related to women in business; (weight 10, max. points 10);
Demonstrated experience in preparing policy papers in related areas on behalf of government and international organizations in the relevant area of work; (weight 10, max. points 10);
Previous Work with UN agencies would be considered an asset; (weight 10, max. points 10);

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion. The calculation formula applied is as follow:

p = 30 (µ/z); where: p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated; µ = price of the lowest priced proposal; z = price of the proposal being evaluated.