Background

Please note that the applicants who have previously applied to this vacancy and have submitted all the required documents  specified in the application procedure section , need not re-apply . In case the previous submission was not complete they can re-apply by ensuring the submission of all the required documents. 

Albania has made important progress in establishing relevant institutional and policy frameworks for achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, in line with international, regional, and national gender equality standards and obligations. Despite significant efforts, the legislative framework has gaps, institutional response mechanism face challenges to improve and strengthen inter-institutional co-operation in preventing and handling violence against women (VAW) cases. Therefore, in order to ensure an effective response, it is critical to mobilize government, civil society and people in local communities to act in unison to fulfill national and international commitments to prevent and eliminate VAW.

On this long road to end VAW, the United Nations (UN) has supported Albania for the past 12 years. In line with current challenges Albania needs to address in ending GB-VAW, and Output 2.5 of the UN’s Programme of Cooperation for Sustainable Development (PoCSD) with the Government of Albania (GoA), the UN Joint Programme (JP) (three years programme) aims to produce these output level results: (1) a strengthened normative and accountability framework related to GB-VAW; (2) improved institutional practices, services and coordination for survivors of GB-VAW; and (3) to challenge norms pertaining to GB-VAW at the state, community and individual levels. These results aim at bringing institutional and behavioral change in preventing and responding to GB-VAW, thereby contributing to freeing women and girls from all forms of GB-VAW and from the threat of such violence.

The programme’s target groups, who will indirectly and directly benefit from improved legislative framework, policies and institutional coordinated response practices are women survivors of VAW and men and women in communities at large. A specific focus of this JP will be the hard to reach communities that have been marginalized because of age (elderly women),ability (women with disabilities), minority status (Roma, Egyptian), sexual orientation (LGBTI), and place of residence (rural and remote areas of the country). Specifically, under output level result 2, community coordinated response (CCR) mechanism of domestic violence, have been established in 39 of the 61 municipalities in the country, in close cooperation with international partners. UNDP supported the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MoHSP) and LGUs with the establishment of 21 of the total local referral mechanisms in the country. Based on this output level results 2, UNDP in close cooperation with the MoHSP will continue to assist municipalities to build the community coordinated response (CCR) mechanism of domestic violence in their territory. In 2015, UNDP conduced a thorough analysis[1] of various CCR mechanisms supported in the past by the UN and other partners/donors, aiming at comparing and evaluating their actual functioning on the ground.  The analysis took place during the period March-April 2015 where 11 LGUs and their respective CCRs were visited and consulted.

Since UNDP intends to continue further with CCRs establishment and consolidation of existing ones, there is a need to conduct a thorough analysis of the functioning of all established coordinated community response to domestic violence at the local level in order to intervene with concrete actions as needed.

Therefore, UNDP will need the services of a team leader to lead this analysis and in a team an expert to conduct the assessment work and analysis.

[1] http://www.al.undp.org/content/albania/en/home/library/poverty/functioning-of-the-coordination-mechanism-for-referral-and-treat/

Duties and Responsibilities

The expert will focus on the following:

• Provide input to the team leader to develop a consultancy plan in discussion with UNDP and consultations with the MoHSP, including the development of a methodology for gathering relevant information that would subsequently feed into the analysis.
• Provide inputs to develop tools (questionnaires) for a variety of local level and central level stakeholders, with a view to obtain relevant information from them.
• In the team with the team leader divide municipalities with established CCRs and conduct interviews, meetings, focus group discussions or visits to sites/participation to CCR activities and obtain the necessary information and evidence to use for the analysis.
• Review international instruments, domestic legislation and policies, and literature, particularly from previous similar exercises conducted nationally and internationally in order to point out CCRs progress, challenges, needs to be addressed in order to improve their performance.
• Provide input to develop an analysis report highlighting good practices, lessons learned but also challenges and recommendations to addressing the latter. . This will provide the MoHSP with clear indications for future interventions.
• Assist the team leader to present the main findings and recommendations of this analysis for local and central level stakeholders.

The list of final deliverables:

• Final second analysis of the functioning of the coordinated community response to domestic violence at the local level
• A presentation of findings and recommendations prepared for a public event with a range of relevant stakeholders.
• At the end of the consultancy submit a final consultancy report (in English) describing their involvement in the exercise, progress with the task, problems encountered while carrying out the consultancy and recommendations for future similar interventions.

Competencies

Core Values

• Demonstrating/safeguarding UN core values on accountability, integrity, transparency, mutual respect, professionalism, and results orientation
• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
• Displays cultural, gender, nationality, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability

 Core competencies

• Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Able to identify priorities and plan/organize efficiently in line with agreed approach/framework
• Demonstrates self-initiative and responsibility in carrying out tasks
• Demonstrates the ability to act as a team player and facilitate team work in a multicultural environment
• Shows readiness to self-development, sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others

Functional Competencies

• Analytical skills, initiative, sound judgment, results-oriented and efficiency in a multi-tasking environment
• Good inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking attitude, ability to work in multi-cultural environment and ability to get people engaged and willing to open up and speak out.
• Ability to work under pressure in complex situations
• Ability to work in an independent manner, set priorities and organize the workflow efficiently
• Willingness to travel around the country
• Very good computer skills and ability to use information technology as a tool and resource.

Required Skills and Experience

The selected candidate should have the following qualifications:

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• University degree preferably in development-related disciplines (international development, gender and social studies, law, economics, public administration or any other social science related to development).
• Advanced degree in any of the above-mentioned areas is preferred

Work Experience:

• At least 5 years of practicing and/or academic experience in  gender equality, participatory democracy, local governance, social statistics and research.
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of gender mainstreaming, gender-specific interventions and inter-disciplinary response to domestic and gender-based violence.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting evaluation or analysis of social phenomena or development challenges
• Good knowledge and understanding of United Nations System and particularly the role and mandate of UNDP is desired

Language skills:

• Working knowledge of English and fluency in Albanian

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:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) 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: Specific education development-related disciplines as mentioned under “Qualifications” section – max points: 30
• Criteria B: Work experience – max points: 20
• Criteria C: Previous experience with similar evaluation or analysis exercises – max points: 20

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 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)
• Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability-please fill in the attached form... www.un.org.al/sites/default/files/IC_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx
• Latest personal CV, including past experience from similar projects or completed and signed UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SC) and Individual Contracts (IC) – Blank form Download here.
• Financial Proposal in ALL - specifying a total lump sum in Albanian Lek ( The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable -qualitative and quantitative- deliverables . 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).http://www.un.org.al/doc/Financial%20Offer%20template.doc
• Copy of Diplomas and copy of Passport.

PLEASE NOTE THAT INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FURTHER EVALUATION 

How to Submit the Application:

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

• Merge your CV or P11, 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.

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.

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