Antecedentes

Kindly note that this is a re advertisement announcement for the assignement  of Expert on Basic Numeracy Training Material and Curricula . The applicants who have applied in the initial announcement need not reapply.

Although the Government of Albania has been successfully implementing important political, social and economic reforms, Roma and Egyptian face direct and indirect barriers in accessing public services, stemming from an eligibility criterion they cannot comply with, lack of information or understanding of administrative procedures, as well as stigma and frequent discriminatory attitude from the majority population. Long-term exclusion has affected the living conditions of Roma and Egyptians, treatment by the majority population and relationship with government institutions. Studies show that the level of poverty amongst Roma is twice as high as the majority population. Regardless of their recognition as minority, Roma are both marginalized and socially excluded communities.

The Economic and Social Empowerment for Roma and Egyptians- a booster for social inclusion (ESERE) project is funded by the European Union and aims to further improve the social inclusion of most vulnerable communities consisting of Roma and Egyptians in Albania residing in the regions of Tirana, Durrës, Shkodra and Berat. Further on, the project’s purpose is to promote the economic and social empowerment of Roma and Egyptian communities in Albania by standardizing an innovative and integrated new approach at the policy and programming level and to provide integrated social inclusion models at local level.

This will be achieved by facilitating the horizontal and vertical communication and cooperation of different stakeholders, including the target groups, at the national and local level, and implementing innovative tools, new models in flagship initiatives for increasing employment and vocational training opportunities, improving access to basic social services, strengthening institutional capacity, and establishing supportive mechanisms for those who live under severe circumstances. In the long term, this aims to elevate Roma and Egyptian families’ poverty and support their sustainable inclusion in the Albanian society and labour market.

The project is composed based on four (4) project objectives formalized in four (4) work packages, introduced below.

Objective 1 – Increased employment and skills development opportunities accessed by Roma and Egyptian women and men reduce the employment gap between R&E communities and the majority of the population.

Objective 2 – Community Led Local Development (CLLD) for R&E inclusion at the local level through integrated, inclusive and sustainable development.

Objective 3 – Procedures, models, tools and guidelines established and made operational based on the Integrated Approach and a Behavioural Change Model to support better access of Roma and Egyptian communities to basic equitable, inclusive and decentralized services and to foster a tolerant and inclusive society in Albania.

Objective 4 – The National Action Plan for Roma and Egyptian Integration in the Republic of Albania, 2015-2020, supported for implementation, monitoring and evaluation at the national, regional and local level.

All of the above will be supported by a comprehensive communication and visibility strategic plan. The methodology selected is based on hands-on support to active participation in community development activities and businesses required and selected by the beneficiaries. Through this methodology it has been calculated that the impact will be stronger and the interest of different stakeholders higher and more sustainable in the long term.

Scope of the assignment

The ESERE Project is seeking to design and pilot a Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course. The purpose of the course is to low the illiteracy level among marginalised groups in order to improve their life skills, educate more caring citizens able to participate in the cultural life of the community and in public affairs and ultimately, to increase their employability.

This course targets marginalised group who are above 16 years old, have not completed basic education, are illiterate or poorly educated, do not intend to return to formal education system in the near future or find unsuitable the available education programmes for any reason whatsoever, but express an interest to develop life skills. It is important to emphasise that this Course will not be addressed specifically to Roma and Egyptians but it will be customised and oriented towards marginalised groups’ needs at large, upon careful consideration of their background upon entrance in the programme, i.e. lifestyle, age of enrolment and poor education level.

The Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course shall comprise four customised training materials on (i) basic literacy, (ii) basic numeracy, (iii) citizenship education and (iv) orientation on vocational education. Each of these modules will be accompanied by own specific guideline. The course will have determined terms and conditions for accession, an alternative and adapted teaching methodology, as well as teachers and instructors trained accordingly.

In this context, four (4) experts will be hired. Under the overall guidance of the ESERE Project’s Manager and Employment Coordinator, experts will be expected to work individually and as a team for the successful implementation of this assignment in project sites of Tirana, Durres, Shkodra and Berat (focusing mainly in the ESERE Project’s intervention areas within these regions).

As per the individual work, each expert will develop one of the four modules of the Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course: namely one expert for (i) basic literacy; one expert for (ii) basic numeracy; (iii) one expert for citizenship education, and finally (iv)one expert for orientation on vocational education. With regards to the respective module, each expert will develop also a curricula on the purpose and goals of the module and expected knowledge to be gained by the trainee.

As per the team work, all four experts, under the lead of the Expert on Orientation on Vocational Education and Curricula, are expected to develop a suitable training methodology, structure the course and train teachers and instructors respectively. It is suggested that the course is either to be taught in the community or in public vocational training schools

The Expert on Basic Numeracy Training Material and Curricula is one of the four members of the team of the Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course. The Expert on Basic Numeracy Training Material and Curricula will be responsible for developing a customized training material, i.e. textbook, on basic numeracy, as well as teaching guidelines about this specific module. He/She will be expected also to work in team with other three experts for purpose of developing a suitable teaching methodology, structuring the course and training teachers/instructors.

The total length of the Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course will not be longer than 6 months whereby the module on basic numeracy will be taught in 5 months, simultaneously (in parallel) with basic literacy and citizenship education (whereas the module on orientation on vocational education will be a one-month long course, upon completion of the first 3 modules). 

The programme will be piloted over a period of one year at Roma and Egyptian communities who reside in the project sites of Tirana, Durres, Shkodra and Berat, and fall under the above target group category. Once the programme is piloted and a positive outcome is observed, the ESERE Project’s ultimate scope is to accommodate this Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course within the vocational education system, in collaboration with the National Albanian Vocational, Education and Training Agency, in the form of a special course taught in Vocational Education Institutions.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Under the overall guidance of the Project Manager and Employment Coordinator and with respect to the project sites of Tirana, Durres, Shkoder and Berat, the Expert on Basic Numeracy Training Material and Curricula will be responsible for preparing the training material and curricula for the Basic Numeracy module part of the Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Prepare a methodology and a detailed work plan with the proposed activities necessary to: a) develop the training material on basic numeracy, b) a rationale for the specific content to be included in the training materials, and c) teaching goals.
  • Under the lead of the Expert on Orientation on Vocational Education and Curricula, provide his/her input and feedback for preparing an inception report for the Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course with other three experts on the teaching methodology to be used for the entire course, particularly as relates to the basic numeracy module, as well as the framework for accessing the course such as: age range, venues of classes, need for offering the course to beginners and upper level. During the inception, the consultant is expected to work closely with all three experts, ESERE field staff, and make use of available data under the mapping of skills, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, existing need assessments prepared by UNDP in the framework of previous Roma and Egyptian related projects, and review existing data on illiteracy/numeracy in Albania.
  • Review and analyse existing textbooks of basic education in use in the formal education system, with a specific focus on numeracy (mathematics) taught in elementary and high schools.
  • Review the existing teaching methodologies of the formal, informal or non-formal education system, whether national or international, for basic numeracy.
  • Consult with stakeholders including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth (as well as its National Agency for Vocational Education Training and Qualifications), NGOs, experts, R&E communities;
  • Conceptualize and develop one training material in Albanian language suitable to the target groups and fit to be taught during 5 month long timeframe on Basic Numeracy.
  • Conceptualize and develop a comprehensive Curricula Guidelines for basic numeracy module, highlighting the purpose and goals of the module, explaining and analysing in detail specific knowledge to be gained by the trainee at the end of the programme and the underlying principles of the methodology used in drafting the training material. In addition, the consultant is expected to give references to existing methodologies, text books and/or other training materials used and consulted in drafting the training material.  
  • Under the lead of the Expert on Orientation on Vocational Education and Curricula, work in team for preparing, modelling and writing with three other experts an alternative training methodology for the Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course, particularly regarding the basic numeracy module, suitable for the target group
  • Under the lead of the expert on orientation on vocational education and curricula, work in team with three other experts for developing and submitting one directive (instructive document) on attending the Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course consisting on: age range, admissibility criteria, training hours, teaching venue, experience or previous knowledge necessary for starting the course.
  • Under the lead of the expert on orientation on vocational education and curricula, work in team with three other experts for training teachers and instructors of the Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course. In particular, it is expected that the expert on Expert on Basic Numeracy Training Material and Curricula shall: (i) train at least eight (8) teachers (two (2) per region Tirana, Durres, Shkodra and Berat) on basic numeracy using the developed methodology; (ii) deliver at least two (2) training sessions in each region; (iii) prepare reports for each training session conducted on basic numeracy, summarizing all relevant information, including participants’ feedback on delivered training, discussion points, comments and suggestions. All tailored training materials should be included as annexes to the report.
  • Support the selection of teachers of basic numeracy to participate in the trainings.
  • Assess knowledge gained by the teachers of basic numeracy after each training module.
  • Prepare a final report on all activities undertaken under this assignment, highlighting main results achieved and propose recommendations on areas for future improvement in teaching the Basic Numeracy module part of the Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course.
  • Closely collaborate and coordinate common activities with all members of the team of experts and UNDP/ESERE Project.

Expected deliverables:

  • Methodology and detailed work plan with the proposed activities necessary to: a) develop training material on basic numeracy, b) a rationale for the specific content to be included in the training materials, and c) teaching goals.
  • One training material, in Albanian language, on:

           - Basic Numeracy, which training material shall fit in a 5 month long course and taught in parallel with two other modules of the course,  i.e. basic literacy and citizenship education.

  • One comprehensive Curricula Guidelines on basic numeracy highlighting the purpose and goals of the module, explaining and analysing in details specific knowledge to be gained by the trainee at the end of the programme, the underlying principles of the methodology used in drafting the training material, giving references to existing methodologies, text books and/or other training materials used and consulted in drafting the training material.
  • Development of Directive (instructive document) on attending the Basic Literacy and Life Skills Course in close collaboration with the team of experts and team leader involved in this task. This Directive shall determine the: age range, admissibility criteria, teaching hours, teaching venue, experience or previous knowledge necessary for starting the course.
  • Development of the Training Methodology for teachers and instructors, particularly regarding the basic numeracy module, in close collaboration with the team of experts and team leader involved in this task.
  • Reports for each of the training conducted to teachers on basic numeracy that include relevant information, participants’ feedback on delivered training, discussion points, comments and suggestions.
  • Monthly progress report on the tasks performed as per this assignment.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
  • Core Competencies:
  • Communication - Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
  • Planning & Organizing – Develops clear goals in line with agreed strategies, identifies priorities, foresees risks and makes allowances accordingly.
  • Organizational Awareness - Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
  • Teamwork - Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
  • Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and delivers outputs in accordance with agreed time, cost and quality standards.

Functional competencies:

  • Comprehensive knowledge on the Albanian education system’s and/or vocational education training system’ curricula; 
  • Expertise in writing textbooks, teaching materials, designated for basic education system in the basic numeracy module.
  • Comprehensive knowledge on teaching/training methodologies.
  • Understanding and compassion for the issues associated with marginalized groups in general and Roma and Egyptian communities in particular.
  • Excellent ability to conceptualize and develop textbooks in the ambit of the basic numeracy module or related areas;
  • Ability to design and write teaching/training methodologies;
  • Ability to work well wit multiple stakeholders;
  • Excellent organizational skills, and attention to detail;
  • Creativity skills;
  • Strong communication skills.
  • Proven experience of work with textbooks and teaching materials of basic education;
  • Proven experience of work with training teachers or instructors would be an asset;

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

  • Master degree in education, Albanian language or other related fields.

Work experience:

  • Minimum of 10 years professional experience.
  • Proven experience of work with textbooks and teaching materials of basic education;
  • Proven experience of work with training teachers or instructors would be an asset;

Language requirement:

  • Fluency in written and spoken Albanian.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English is an asset.

Evaluation of applicants:

Applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies specified above. UNDP applies the ‘Best value for money’ approach - the final selection will be based on the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) Responsive, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Individual consultant will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

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

Criteria A: Compliant educational background– max points: 20

Criteria B: Professional experience in the area of the Albanian education system’s and developing textbooks/teaching materials in the related field - max points: 30

Criteria C: Relevant work experience: max points: 20

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

Application procedure:

Qualified and interested candidates are requested to apply by October 19, 2016, midnight.

The application should contain:

  • Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.

  • Completed and signed UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SC) and Individual Contracts (IC) – Blank form Download here.

  • Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability - please complete the attached form...

  • Financial Proposal - specifying a total lump sum amount (working days, travel, per diems, and any other possible costs) for the tasks specified in this announcement. Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of service, etc.).

    * Kindly note that Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal are two separate documents and should both be part of your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

    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.

    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.