Historique

While future aspirations of teenagers are changing, young people staying in education longer than ever and the labour market automating with a high speed (OECD, 2020), the young generation needs to make sense and prepare for the new nature of the labour market. The risk of automation has been the main driving force of the recent debates about the future of work, but studies have shown that the potential effects of automation on job creation is one of the elements the labour is facing. Globalisation, population ageing, urbanisation, political uncertainty, technological change, increasing inequality and the rise of the green economy are among a few elements that are influencing the world of work and require new strategies in the labour market.

For a long time, innovation research basically concentrated on the manufacturing sector – in particular on high-tech industries – and technological innovation, while neither the service sector nor nontechnological innovations were considered in detail. However, this situation changed drastically: both in science and policy, as interest in knowledge-intensive services (KIS) and in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) in particular grew over the last 15 to 20 years, as reflected in the number of publications. During this time, the perception of services shifted from adapters of innovation stemming from the manufacturing sector to important players in the innovation process, not only as individual innovating actors, but also by spurring on the innovativeness of their clients.

Albania is a middle-income country that over the past two and half decades has made a significant stride in establishing a consolidated market economy. Due to strong growth performance (annual growth rate at 6%), Albania grew from the poorest nation in Europe in the early 1990s to the status of middle-income country in 2008. Despite the growth trend, the structure of the country’s economy is dominated by small enterprises (95%), which even if substantially contributing in terms of both economic growth and employment, have limited potential for job creation. With a narrow export and production base, and limited innovation capacities, the competitiveness of Albania’s economy is weak. The Albanian Government has committed to transforming the economy from an import-dependent, consumption-based, and informal economy, to one that is based on sustainable job-creation and increased productivity. As such, it has largely recognized the need to systematically address employment by re-orienting the vocational education and training system towards labour market needs and modernizing and extending the outreach of employment services.

Albania’s skills development system all too often has failed to equip students with the req­uisite knowledge, competitiveness and skills for a suc­cessful transition into the labour market and contribution to the country’s competitiveness. 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 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.

To understand better the relevance of these discussions, the Swiss Funded, Skills Development for Employment Programme (SD4E), is seeking to hire a local expert to research and draft a working paper on the relevance of the knowledge intensive and creative industries for the Albanian economy.  Furthermore, to steer a debate on job creation and the role of the knowledge intensive and creative industries, SD4E will organize a national conference on job creation. Lastly, the SD4E will support the MFE to draft the annual progress report 2019 of the NESS 2019-2022

Devoirs et responsabilités

Scope of the assignment

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Programme Specialist, the main duties and responsibilities of the national consultant include the following:

1. Review all the necessary literature on the topic, prepare a list of all the resources utilized;
2. Prepare and propose the methodological approach, structure and content of the working paper;
3. Conduct a research on the business environment in Albania and prepare an initial analysis on the stage of development of KIS and KIBS in Albania;
4. Organize meetings/workshops with the key experts / businesses in Albania;
5. Analyse all the collected data and information;
6. Draft a working paper on the relevance of the knowledge intensive and creative industries for the Albanian Economy;
7. Prepare a conference concept on the theme, content and the topics to be discussed during the National Conference on Job Creation. Identify the key stakeholders, national experts, research institutes, universities to be invited for the conference.

Deliverables

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Programme Specialist and Programme Coordinator and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economy and all other relevant institutions, the consultant will be supplied and supported by the project team with all the necessary information, progress reports, analysis and other relevant documents. Main deliverables include:

Payment Schedule

Deliverable 1: Desk review of the national and international experience on future of skills and national responses towards such trends. List of resources utilized. Methodological approach on analysing the future of skills, relevance of the knowledge-intensive and creative industries in the Albanian context; structure of the report: 10% of the overall contract value, 20th of March 2020

Deliverable 2: Annual Report 2019 of the National Employment and Skills Strategy: 25% of the overall contract value, 30th of March 2020

Deliverable 3: The final working paper on the relevance of knowledge intensive and creative industries for the Albanian Economy; 35% of the overall contract value, 1st of may 2020

Deliverable 4: Concept Note on a National Conference on job creation in Albania: 25% of the overall contract value, 30th of May 2020

Compétences

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and 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:

• Knowledge and expertise of data collection techniques and tools, and familiarity with employment promotion, labour market analysis and policy assessment;
• Strong communication and drafting skills (written, spoken, composing, presentation);
• Good skills in analysis of education and training, and/or labour market and skills development policies, and system monitoring for reform process;
• Substantive knowledge of employment situation and VET system in Albania;
• Sound understanding of the European policy framework in education, training and employment, tools and approaches, as well as of pre-accession instruments and procedures;
• Political and cultural sensitivity and commitment to UNDP’s development objectives in the country.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Academic Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree in economics, social sciences or in international development, education, or another relevant field is required;

Work Experience

• Minimum two years of professional experience with research institutes, academic institutions, or international organisations;
• A good understanding of the Albanian economic context, VET system and labour market in the Albanian/regional context would be highly desirable;
• Previous experience in conducting similar researches (future of jobs/skills, digitalisation etc).

Language

• Full working knowledge of English and excellent report-writing skills are 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 - 50% of total evaluation – max 50 points

• Criteria A: Post-graduate degree in in economics, social sciences or in international development, education, data science or another relevant field – max 10 points
• Criteria B:  Minimum two years of professional experience with research institutes, academic institutions, or international organisations – max 10 points
• Criteria C: A good understanding of the Albanian economic context, VET system and labour market in the Albanian/regional context would be highly desirable – max 10 points
• Criteria D: Previous experience in conducting similar researches (future of jobs/skills, digitalisation etc).  – max 10 points
• Criteria E:  Full working knowledge of English and report-writing skills – max 10 points

Technical proposal – 20% of the total evaluation – max 20 points

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

Application Procedure

The application should contain:

• Technical Proposal – outlining the methodological approach to conducting the assignment, type of sources utilized, list of main publications to be used and timeline for conducing the research.
• 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...  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
  http://www.un.org.al/doc/Financial%20Offer%20template.doc 
  (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).- Please note that with regard to travel component you may provide an average estimated travel cost for one circuit with and without accommodation.
• Copy of Diplomas and copy of Passport. 

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.