Background
UNDP in partnership with ILO implements the sub-regional project co-funded by Austrian Development Agency titled Promoting Inclusive Labour Market Solutions in the Western Balkans, with an objective to assist public employment services (PES) and centres for social work (CSW) in their efforts to build more inclusive labour markets. For this purpose, the project supports mandated institutions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia to introduce new and improve existing models, practices and systems for provision of holistic support to people at risk of exclusion from PES-CSW services; better outreach to job seekers and inactive population; more effective information dissemination of labour market information, training and employment opportunities.
Tackling specific labour market barriers of unemployed youth and other vulnerable groups who are unlikely to be reached by standard active labour market policies is central to this project, which is expected to be achieved through three interlinked outputs:
- Labour market governance: Public employment and social service agencies capacitated to provide user-centred approaches, with a focus on vulnerable and hard-to-employ groups;
- Innovation for fostering inclusive labour markets: Innovative programmes developed and promoted to tackle the employment of vulnerable groups and foster inclusive labour markets;
- Knowledge systematization for effective policy making: Convergence towards EU and global good practice enhanced through peer learning and support.
To accomplish these goals, UNDP and Moldova Innovation Lab (MiLab/UNDP Moldova) set up a cooperation to promote human-centred design (HCD) that aligns with the needs of the final beneficiaries and stakeholders as an innovative and effective tool for public sector work in the region, and apply the same methodology in the modernization of an array of employment-related public services in target countries. UNDP seeks to build up the capacities of the public servants from target countries on the engagement with end-beneficiaries.
Human-centred design (HCD) workshop was conducted in Skopje on 6-7 September 2017, as a first-step of a series of activities which will identify, map and attempt to solve existing bottlenecks in service outreach to hard-to-employ groups. The workshop brought together 10 representatives from the Kosovo public sector (Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Employment Agency, Social Welfare Centres) to discuss how existing public services can be reframed through human-centred design thinking. Group discussions/exercises revolved around the selected theme of youth unemployment and collaboration practices between PES and CSWs.
Through virtual information sessions with MiLab, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) and UNDP Kosovo, the workshop’s proceedings shall be provided to the Consultant as a baseline input for constructing interview guides, list of interviewees and other relevant components of ethnographic research.
Objective of the Assignment
Under the direct supervision of the Sustainable Development Programme Analyst of UNDP Kosovo and the overall oversight of the Regional Project Manager, the objective of the assignment is to conduct an ethnographic research in the realm of provision of public employment services to youth, underlined by elements of human-centred design.
Duties and Responsibilities
A local consultant will be hired, and his/her work shall be instrumental in carrying out the field assessments, qualitative data collection, and facilitation of the consultation process. The consultant shall work in close cooperation with and expect guidance and feedback from UNDP Kosovo, UNDP IRH, and MiLab throughout the preparation, execution and final reporting of the ethnographic research. Within this TOR, the consultant is expected to:
- Conduct virtual consultations with UNDP IRH, UNDP Kosovo, MiLab. During the virtual consultations, the Project Team together with the Consultant will discuss and decide which tools to be used during the ethnographic research. In addition, parties will agree on which specific theme (e.g. youth’s lack of access to information in labour market) the ethnographic research shall concentrate on. (est. 0.5 w/day)
- Perform a desk review of relevant information sources, preparation of research templates (i.e. observation, interview, focus group discussion guides), arrangement of appointments for interviews/focus-group discussions which shall involve approximately 16-20 persons. Participants will be determined in consultation with UNDP Kosovo, MiLab and UNDP IRH. Exemplary templates for the selected research tools will be provided to the Consultant. (est. 2.5 w/days)
- Carry out interviews/focus group discussions with the target group. Ethnographic research should be applied with the involvement of public servants from selected municipalities (i.e. Gjakovë/Djakovica, Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce, Viti/Vitina), local and central PES and CSW officials, and relevant NGOs. (est. 5 w/days)
- Draft the research report. The research findings shall be documented with a final report which includes an analysis of bottlenecks in service delivery, priorities/concerns of the stakeholders (e.g. frontline service-providers, groups of end-beneficiaries), potential solutions to tackle the issues raised. Following the ethnographic research exercise, proposed solutions will be discussed and verified through a workshop. During the entire implementation of the research, MiLab will provide technical guidance to the Consultant while UNDP Kosovo will provide assistance in reaching out to selected sample of interviewees. (est. 2 w/days)
Expected Results:
- A research methodology along with the research templates and list of interviews is developed and validated, based on the desk review of relevant materials and the virtual consultations with UNDP IRH, UNDP Kosovo, and MiLab.
Tentative due dates:
- 18 January 2018
Review and Approvals Required:
- Regional Project Manager UNDP IRH, based on feedback and inputs from UNDP Kosovo and MiLab
Expected Results:
- Interviews/focus group discussions with the target group in the partner locations are conducted.
Tentative due dates:
- 26 January 2018
Review and Approvals Required:
- Regional Project Manager UNDP IRH, based on feedback and inputs from UNDP Kosovo and MiLab
Expected Results:
- Research report with relevant findings and recommendations is drafted, finalized, and validated.
Tentative due dates:
- 7 February 2018
Review and Approvals Required:
- Regional Project Manager UNDP IRH, based on feedback and inputs from UNDP Kosovo and MiLab
Deliverables / Final Products Expected
- Completion of the brief research plan (including templates for selected research tools), research outputs (e.g. minutes), and draft report;
- The final report on research findings, incorporating relevant feedback and validated by UNDP.
Scope of price proposal and schedule of payments
Remuneration - Lump Sum Amount:
The Contract is based on lump sum remuneration and shall be processed subject to deliverables as per the schedule listed below, validated for satisfactory performance by the UNDP certifying officer:
- Upon successfully delivering Deliverable 1: 80% of the amount
- Upon successfully delivering Deliverable 2: 20% of the amount
Required Presentation of Offer:
The following documents are required to be submitted.
- Updated P11/CV (signed), indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references (P11 can be downloaded at UNDP web site:
- http://www.ks.undp.org/content/kosovo/en/home/operations/jobs/)
- Technical proposal, a max. 2-page document briefly outlining the methodology envisaged for the assignment for delivering the expected results within the indicated timeframe, and why the candidate is the best suited for the assignment.
- Financial proposal, the consultant is expected to provide an all-inclusive lump sum amount/financial proposal. The Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.
Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer:
- Offers will be evaluated utilizing a combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and technical proposal will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Committed to professionalism, impartiality, accountability and integrity;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, ethnicity, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Demonstrates substantial experience in gender equality. Actively promotes gender equality in all activities; zero tolerance for sexual harassment;
- Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
Functional Competencies:
- Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in team and multi-cultural environments;
- Ability to use innovative methodologies;
- Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
- Ability to engage in group-work including public officials and end beneficiaries;
- Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
- Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
- Excellent knowledge of social innovation and techniques;
- Ability to complete tasks in a timely fashion;
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Social, Economic, or Administrative Sciences is required.
Experience:
- At least 3 years of working experience in projects related to organizational assessments and/or public services reform is required;
- Experience of a portfolio of projects dealing with social services and interaction between public sector, technology and design is required;
- Demonstrated field experience in qualitative research, proven track record in preparing questionnaires, observation/interview guides, field reports, synthesizing reports based on fieldwork is required.
- Knowledge of the Design Thinking and Qualitative research methods is a strong asset.
Language requirements:
- Fluency in spoken and written Albanian and English is required, fluency in Serbian is an asset.
Application Instructions:
- Click on the "Apply now" button;
- Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation; You can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box;
- Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume;
- System will only allow one attachment. All docs (CV; P11; financial offer; list of similar profiles should be included as one attachment).
- Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete.