Background

Albania’s vocational education and training (VET) and vocational skills development (VSD) system all too often has failed to equip students with the req­uisite knowledge, competences and skills for a suc­cessful transition into the labour market. This has resulted in an unsuitably qualified labour force, skills shortages and soaring youth unemployment. Recognizing the need to systematically address em­ployment by re-orienting the vocational education and training and vocational skills development sys­tem towards labour market needs, and modernizing and extending outreach of employment services, the Albanian government adopted the National Employ­ment and Skills Strategy 2014-2020.

UNDP globally and regionally has built a strategic vision that recognizes the importance of creating employment opportunities as a means to addressing both poverty reduction and inequalities and exclusion. Indeed, the first outcome of the recently adopted United Nations Youth System Wide Action Plan focuses on Employment and Entrepreneurship with the intention to ensure greater opportunities for youth to secure decent work and income over the life-cycle, contributing to a virtuous circle of poverty reduction, sustainable development and social inclusion. To support the integration of various youth employment policy objectives through coordinated action, UNDP Albania, in collaboration with other UN agencies has designed and implemented several skills development / employment related interventions.

After six years of experience addressing labor supply interventions, UNDP Albania’s strategic vision is to contribute to building a labour-market focused skills development system that is suited to enhance the employment and entrepreneurship aspects of the unemployed in urban and rural areas, while simultaneously addressing the skills needs of those employed in the formal and informal sectors and emerging entrepreneurs.

The ambition of the Swiss funded Skills Development for Employment (SD4E) Programme is to make a systemic contribution to the modernization of Al­bania’s VET/VSD system by addressing several key challenges: skills mismatch and unequal access to employment and training services; labour market challenges in rural areas; insufficient governance of funding for employment and training; lack of coor­dination / collaboration in the system; inadequate labour market information; and insufficient quality and relevance of VET and VSD providers and their programmes. The overall goal of the programme is that “more young women and men in urban and rural areas in Albania are employed or self-employed.” To achieve this goal, the programme focuses on four outcomes:

Outcome 1:       Improving and diversifying employment promotion measures, and advancing their governance

Outcome 2:       Improved environment and regulatory framework for up-scaling work-based learning schemes (elements of dual system)

Outcome 3:       Quality assurance and accreditation of VET/VSD providers

Outcome 4:       Anticipating skills needs in the short and medium term

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of the assignment 

In early 2016, the SD4E programme undertook research on the private VT providers currently licensed to offer short term course in Albania, their location, types and levels of vocational programs and courses delivered, profiles adapted or modified, and the number of students enrolled and graduated etc. More specifically a database of private VT providers was built, and a detailed analysis of the licensing process of these entities (including the legal basis, steps, criteria, deadlines and relevant structures), was carried out. Data from the National Licensing Center for the period 2009 – June 2016 was the primary source of information. 493 licensed entities were identified, offering courses in a wide range of profiles. An update of the database took place in mid-2017, bringing the number of registered entities to 523.

The findings of the mapping exercise instigated the first ad-hoc inspection of the 493 private VT providers by a task-force set up by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth. The inspection yielded that a significant number of the private VT providers are no longer active, or their contacts are no longer valid. Against this backdrop, UNDP is seeking to contract a national consultant who, under the supervision of the Deputy Team Leader of the SD4E programme, and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, will carry out the following tasks:

  • Draft a questionnaire / format to be used for the inspection / data collection of all active licensed entities – the consultant is expected to liaise closely with the staff of the National Employment Service;
  • Survey active VT providers and analyze the data collected;
  • Support the SD4E programme in its efforts to advise MoSWY on the extent of government intervention in the private VT offer;
  • Support MoSWY in setting / developing minimum standards for private vocational training providers;
  • Review licensing criteria for private VT providers and assess the possibility to include additional elements (e.g. curricula and programmes, fees, etc.);
  • Propose changes needed in the initial assessment mechanism (linked to the licensing process) and the development of a periodic inspection mechanism. With regards to the latter, the consultant is expected to assess human resource needs / capacities that allow for quality initial and continuous inspection;
  • Identify legal acts needed and support the drafting of bylaws that will enable the implementation of the above-mentioned licensing / monitoring mechanisms.

Deliverables

The expected deliverables for this individual consultancy will be as follows:

  • Survey analysis and report;
  • Report on proposed minimum standards for private vocational training providers developed;
  • Report on proposed legislative changes related to licensing, inspection and monitoring of private VT providers.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

  • Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
  • Demonstrate sound judgement;
  • Self-development, initiative-taking;
  • Act as a team player and facilitate team work;
  • Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
  • Creating synergies through self-control;
  • Managing conflict;
  • Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
  • Informed and transparent decision-making.

Functional Competencies:

  • Strong communication skills (written, spoken, composing, presentation);
  • Substantive knowledge of VET reforms in the country;
  • Prior experience working with private VET providers highly desirable;
  • Political and cultural sensitivity and commitment to UNDP’s development objectives in the country.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications

  • University degree in Social Sciences, Law or other related field combined with relevant working experience.

Work Experience

  • Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience;
  • Prior experience in working in the VET sector;
  • Previous experience/familiarity with UNDP or other UN agencies is desirable.

Language

  • Full working knowledge of English and Albanian is essential.

 

Evaluation Procedure

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that would consider both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their financial proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate whose offer:

  • Is deemed technically responsive / compliant / acceptable (only technically responsive applications / candidates will be considered for the financial evaluation)
  • And has obtained the highest combined technical and financial scores.

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

Criteria A: Practical familiarity with Vocational Education and Training reform in the country – max points: 35

Criteria B: Educational background– max points: 15

Criteria C: Brief methodology on how the consultant intends to carry out this assignment – max points: 20

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max points: 30

 

Application Procedure

Interested applicants are advised to carefully study all sections of this ToRs and ensure that they meet the general requirements as well as specific qualifications described. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

The application should contain:

  • Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
  • Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability-please fill in the attached form...http://www.un.org.al/doc/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Letter%20to%20UNDP.docx
  • Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees, please upload the P11 instead of your CV. Download here.
  • Financial Proposal in ALL* - specifying a total lump sum in Albanian Lek  for the tasks specified in this announcement.  The attached template may be used - http://www.un.org.al/doc/Financial%20Offer%20template.doc Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant during the contract period (e.g. fee and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services).
  • Copy of Diplomas and copy of Passport.

*Kindly note that Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal are two separate documents and should be both part of your application.

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 Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability 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.

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.

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.