Antecedentes

UNDP project “Creating Better LLL Opportunities through Local Partnerships” addresses the employability related challenge of the most vulnerable cohort of Georgia’s population, Youth and physically or socially disadvantaged people. The project complies to the overall objective of the programme by addressing the human capital development, with focus on creation of accessibility to new education services and quality development of Vocational Education and Training provision.

The project is concentrated around two sectors of Care Economy: Tourism and Wellness/health around with specific objectives, which are building three main pillars, addressing leading components – Accessibility, Quality and Relevance of skills to labour market needs, taking into consideration the new realities, including safety requirements caused by COVID-19. The project aims at increasing three different types of accessibility - Geographical - by developing new VET provision spot in non-covered municipalities. Social - creation of new opportunities for early school leaver vulnerable groups to finalize the basic education level through catch-up courses and access VET system; Physical - by developing digital/blended learning opportunities for all with focus on people with special needs and those who cannot regularly attend the learning process. The project also aims at strengthening of service quality, which will be achieved by two types of interventions: Institutional strengthening - Capacity building of the managing teams in stakeholder institutions, also support to VET providers in introducing Entrepreneurial School Model and establishment of the Sectorial School Networks, including peer-learning; Multiplier strengthening – training and coaching of teachers, trainers, professional associations, youth workers to improve the service quality and transfer knowledge, including on safety requirements against COVID-19 in education and employment. Labour market relevance is aimed to be achieved by increased employability of youth and vulnerable groups, to enhance and match their skills with dynamic labour market. All the activities of the project are based on 4 cross-cutting principles: Gender Equality, Inclusion, Environmental Protection and Partnership. 

To achieve the programme purpose and finally the programme goal, it will aim to improve the quality of service provision in VET and employment promotion in Georgia.

The outcomes and outputs of the project are:

1. Outcome 1. Strengthened institutions contribute to delivery of high quality live-long-learning provision in selected regions is achieved through 2 outputs:

• Output 1.1. Accessibility on skills of youth, women and men, including vulnerable groups, in selected regions is strengthened through new types of formal and non-formal education-related service provision.
• Output 1.2. Quality of skills development is improved through institutional and human capacity strengthening of the service providers.

       2. Outcome 2. Youth and selected vulnerable groups have access to the flexible services of formal and non-formal learning in targeted regions is achieved through 1 output:

• Output 2.1. Employability of youth is enhanced through developed key competences including digital and entrepreneurial competence.

Vulnerable groups suffer more from restricted employment opportunities hindering their social and economic inclusion. Due to new reality associated with COVID-19 and in an attempt to contain the pandemic, states have adopted “social distancing” measures, closing businesses and enacting stay-at-home orders. Although distance working had risen even before the pandemic it has now increased substantially leaving vulnerable groups without social protection. Under this action the International Consultant will develop the model of distance and home-based employment opportunities that will provide capacity building of selected vulnerable groups in the target regions to rise their chances for employment thus assisting their economic and social inclusion.

The International Consultant will develop the model based on the studies of the current situation and international experience. The model will also provide suggestions for adapting the model in the fields of e-commerce, call-service and social med and others.

The International Consultant will work closely with the CBLLL Project team to provide expertise and advice in the process of creating access to new educational services in vocational education and training

Deberes y responsabilidades

The consultancy involves the following tasks and activities:

• Creation of distance work or home-based work opportunities for vulnerable and special target groups (PWDs, youth, ethnical minorities)
• Adaptation of the model in the fields of e-commerce, call-service and social media

Under this activity, the International Consultant shall produce a model  that will include the vision, concept and supporting mechanisms for the effective implementation of distance work or home-based work opportunities for vulnerable and special target groups (PWDs, youth, ethnical minorities), as well as the adaptation of the model in the fields of e-commerce, call-service and social media.

The model along with supporting mechanisms will be drafted together with stakeholders, to be further implemented in the target regions of the project. In future, the model will serve as a bases to build capacity of vulnerable groups in fields of e-commerce, call-service and social media and set up the sectoral network on the respective fields.

The international expert is expected to assume the following duties and responsibilities: 

1. Discuss, plan and coordinate the development of all deliverables under the given assignment with the UNDP’s CBLLL team, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, the Skills Agency and relevant representatives from other public agencies such as vocational colleges, employment services, employers and others.
2. Get familiarised with the existing situation in the country in regard to the vulnerable groups, to learn the local context and circumstances for providing the model of distance work or home-based work opportunities for vulnerable and special target groups (PWDs, youth, ethnical minorities) as well as the adaptation of the model in the fields of e-commerce, call-service and social media
3. Develop a draft version of the Model on best international practice on providing distance work or home-based work opportunities for vulnerable and special target groups for further references describing opportunities and challenges taking 3 selected country cases.
4. Conduct virtual meetings and interviews with stakeholders – public and private organizations’ (the list of stakeholders will be developed in cooperation with the MoES and Skills Agency representatives) for collecting data and information, getting initial feedback and validating findings.
5. Drafting inputs for the Model summarizing information collected through various sources such as an individual interviews with relevant stakeholders.
6. Develop a draft Model for distance work or home-based work opportunities for vulnerable and special target groups (PWDs, youth, ethnical minorities)
7. Develop a draft version of the adaptation of the Model in the fields of e-commerce, call-service and social media
8. Develop a presentation on the Model for distance work or home-based work opportunities for vulnerable and special target groups (PWDs, youth, ethnical minorities)
9. Develop a presentation of the adaptation of the Model in the fields of e-commerce, call-service and social media
10. Reflect the collected feedback into the draft and develop the final Model for distance work or home-based work opportunities for vulnerable and special target groups (PWDs, youth, ethnical minorities) and the adaptation of the Model in the fields of e-commerce, call-service and social media
11. Develop a final report, reflecting the steps undertaken as part of the consultancy, assignment, listing the challenges, lessons and learned.

All documents shall be developed in English.

Payment Schedule for the initial contract:

80 % - upon submission and clearance of the deliverable 1,2,3 (November 2021)

Deliverable 1 - A document of best international practice on distance work or home-based work opportunities for vulnerable and special target groups. Submission Date: 7 days after the commencement of the assignment

Deliverable 2 – A Draft Model for distance work or home-based work opportunities for vulnerable and special target groups (PWDs, youth, ethnical minorities) along with the  adaptation of the Model in the fields of e-commerce, call-service and social media. Submission Date: 15 days after the commencement of the assignment

Deliverable 3 - Presentation on the Model document to the CBLLL project team and stakeholders, conduct a discussion and collect feedback. Submission Date: 17 days after the commencement of the assignment.

20 % - upon submission and clearance of the deliverable 4 (November 2021)

Deliverable 4 - Submit a final report, reflecting the steps undertaken as part of the consultancy, assignment, listing the challenges, and lessons learned. Submission Date: 21 days after the commencement of the assignment.

Management Arrangements: 

The International Consultant will work closely with the CBLLL Project team to provide expertise and advice in the process of creating access to new educational services in vocational education and training.

Competencias

Core Competencies

• Demonstrated commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age;
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional Competencies

• Excellent intercultural, moderation, facilitation and negotiation skills;
• Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, focuses on impact and result and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Demonstrates strong oral communication skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
• Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and operational effectiveness

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education

• At least Master or equivalent diploma in international development, education, economics, public policy, policy analysis, social sciences or other field closely matching with the announced position  (minimum requirement) –  5 points . 

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in providing expertise, research and analysis on the labour market trends especially in distance and/or home-based  work opportunities,  electronic commerce and social media  (minimum requirement)  - 5 years 10 points, More than 5 years 15 points;

• Experience of leading at least 3 consultancies similar assignments for large international donor funded projects, government organizations or international organization(s) in the distance work and electronic commerce and media (minimum requirement) - 3 years 10 points, More than 3 years 15 points;

• Demonstrated track record of publications related to VET System development, including research services (minimum qualification; publications to be listed in the application form and/or resume - 5 points,

Language requirements:

• Proficiency in both spoken and written English. 

Evaluation: 

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis. Individual consultants will be evaluated against combination of technical and financial criteria. Technical evaluation stage encompasses desk review and interview of applications. Experts not meeting any of minimum technical qualification requirements will be automatically excluded from the list of candidates for further technical evaluation.

Maximum obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria equals to 70 points (70%) and for financial criteria 30 (30%). Technical criteria composed of desk review (40 points) and interview (30 points). Offerors who pass 70% of maximum obtainable scores of the desk review (i.e. 40 x 70% = 28 points because of a desk review of applications will be invited for the interview. Those offerors who pass 70% of maximum obtainable scores for interviews of (i.e. 30x 70% = 21 points) will be considered as short-listed offerors and requested to provide financial proposals.

Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum. Payments are based 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.