Background

The November 2019 devastating earthquake which hit Albania, according to Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report, affected more than 200,000 people across 11 municipalities, with 51 fatal cases and 913 people injured, with an estimated material damage of EUR 955 million. Social protection losses, mainly referring to governance, coordination, and disaster management as well as referrals, psycho-social counselling and social care services, are estimated at 623.5 thousand EUR (76.7 million ALL) in the Albanian Post Disaster Needs Assessment Report. The total needs of the sector are estimated at 2.83 million EUR (348.2 million ALL).1 Shocks and risks have important implications for people’s well-being. Not only do they lead to immediate losses in income and increases in poverty rates, but they also have longer-term effects that can be irreversible. As households struggle, they engage in coping behaviours such as selling of productive assets, skipping meals or eating less nutritious food, postponing medical care, and taking children out of school. By preventing people from falling below a critical threshold of well-being, and reducing households’ perception of risk, social protection can prevent transitory shocks from having permanent consequences.

 

The project will support the Albanian Government and three earthquake impacted municipalities, in designing and translating the policy intent into proper local actions to ensure that men, women, girls and boys living in poverty, or vulnerable situations, intersecting with post-earthquake conditions, have access to integrated, quality social services. To achieve this goal, the project focuses on the following outcome: all women, men, girls and boys, especially those from marginalized and vulnerable groups impacted by the earthquake, are exercising their entitlements to equitable quality services, in line with human rights and there is increased social and economic resilience of earthquake affected communities. The project will contribute to address any of the multidimensional impacts of the COVID-19 and to protect the needs and rights of people living under the duress of the pandemic, with focus on the most vulnerable groups, and people who risk being left behind.

The following areas were identified to support the Government’s efforts in responding to earthquake damages by social protection measures:

Output 1: Increased social and economic resilience of earthquake effected communities.

Output 2: Strengthened transparency and voices.

Duties and Responsibilities

The ESPR project is seeking to recruit a national consultant in supporting and strengthening central and local social strategies to respond to aspects of social services provision in situations of emergencies and natural disasters. Based on the information collected in consultation with central and local government institutions as well as communities affected directly by the November 2019 Earthquake in Albania, notes that albeit the efforts of government institutions in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the level of preparedness regarding adequate need assessment, distribution and provision of social services requires further attention. To this end, the national consultant will be responsible for developing protocols of work for social care providers to respond to different groups, needs and vulnerabilities in disaster situation. These will be endorsed and included in the Social Care Plans and Strategies of respective Municipalities and will be activated when required to respond to similar situations in the future.  

This assignment is foreseen within the social protection response component of the ESPR Project in three Albanian Municipalities, namely Durrës, Shijak and Krujë. Responsible structures within the Ministry of Health and Social Protection will also be involved in the process with the respective Department responsible for overseeing the development and practice of Strategies for Social Protection. The overall objective of this assignment is to contribute to the improvement of the level of support for local communities living in these municipalities, especially vulnerable and marginalized groups to fully benefit from the social services schemes and the combination of other additional components assisted by the project. The model will also be tested and utilised from Civil Society Organisations which will be funded under the Community-based Grants Scheme with the ESPR framework of support for vulnerable communities affected by the earthquake and respective local government units. In its final form, the protocol will be endorsed also by respective departments of municipalities and utilised as a structured mechanism to better coordinate the harmonisation and delivery of comprehensive socio-economic support to those communities affected directly or not by the earthquake, while adding to the level of preparedness of local government to respond to emergency situations in a timely and adequate manner.

Description of Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator and in strict collaboration with ESPR Project staff and responsible Municipality structures (particularly Departments of Social Services) and State Social Services the National Consultant will be responsible for covering the responsibilities and meeting the deliverables of ESPR Social Protection Response respective component.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Prepare a Methodology and Work Plan with the proposed activities and calendar of consultations/workshops with main stakeholders.
  • Review the Social Plan and related Action Plans, job descriptions and protocols, guidelines and other relevant documentation pertaining to the Social Care Departments for each of the municipalities selected as partner institutions of ESPR project.
  • Support respective Municipal structures to develop and strengthen local strategies related to social case and services in emergency situations (protocols of work for social care providers to respond to those more in need).
  • Preparation of protocols (1 for each municipality – Durres, Kruje and Shijak - 3 in total) for social care providers with particular emphasis on the job descriptions, duties and responsibilities for members of Social Care Department at Municipal Level as well as other professionals involved in the process (including but not limited to social workers, psychologists, specialised professionals with expertise in working with vulnerable children and adults) during emergency and natural disasters situations. Apart from a common framework to be applied at local level, this might include specific sections based on the needs, geographical distribution and coverage for each on the municipalities.
  • Facilitate 4 workshops with respective central and local government institutions – at least 3 with partner municipalities and 1 with MoHSP – presenting the protocols and advising them on practical aspects of activating and applying these protocols when circumstances call for its implementation.
  • Coordinate his/her work with representatives of respective municipalities – primary responsible person for central and local government institutions to facilitate the line of communication between the National Consultant and Municipality to be determined in the very early stages of the consultancy. Establishment of initial contacts will be facilitated by the ESPR project team.
  • Liaise as necessary and ensure periodic communication/coordination with Social Care Departments and Social Care in the recipient Municipalities, ESPR Project staff and ESPR Grant beneficiaries regarding all aspects of the assignment.
  • Report to the ESPR staff the progress to date, status of the target goal completion, based on the timeframes agreed in the early stages of the consultancy.
  • Ensure that work undertaken previously by UNDP Albania within similar initiatives (i.e. projects like ESERE, Leave No One Behind) covering the design of protocols and manuals with respect to delivery of social services and support is being considered as applicable towards further amelioration of existing practices.
  • Treat the facts and all information disclosed to him/her under this assignment and with respect to ESPR Project, its partner institutions and beneficiaries as confidential and not disclose anything, within the roles and responsibilities of this role, to any other person or entity not directly affiliated with the parties.
  • Provide ad-hoc support and information to ESPR project as per the needs within the purpose of ensuring adequate implementation of the activities related to the consultancy.
  • Ensure that ESPR is informed accordingly regarding significant changes occurring within the context of this assignment and which require immediate attention from the respective personnel of ESPR, Social Protection Department and other stakeholders with a vested interest in the process.

Expected deliverables:

  • A Methodology and Work Plan with the proposed activities and calendar of consultations/workshops with main stakeholders.
  • Draft document with specific and detailed protocols for social care providers (including but not limited to social workers, psychologists, support teachers and other education experts and specialised professionals with expertise in working with vulnerable children and adults).
  • Four workshops with respective central and local government institutions – at least 3 with partner municipalities and 1 with MoHSP – to present the protocols and coach on their practical application when activated during emergency situations. Collections of comments and suggestions from participants to be included as well.
  • Finalisation of the document based on comments from stakeholders as well as ESPR staff.
  • Final report on the tasks performed as per ToRs of the assignment.

Competencies

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 favouritism.

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:

  • Ability to work well with multiple stakeholders;
  • Great communication skills;
  • Problem solving attitude;
  • Attention to details;

Organisation skills;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree in social studies or related field (i.e., social work, psychology, public health, business, economics, and public policy) is required.
  •  PhD qualifications would be considered an asset.

Work experience:

  • Minimum 7 years’ of progressively responsible, professional-level experience related to social care, social programs, public administration.
  • Experience working with central local government units in Albania and as well as design of protocols/manuals for social care services.
  • Professional engagement in emergency situations will be considered an asset.
  • Good knowledge of rules and procedures applicable in the context of the design and delivery of social protection services at national and local level.
  • Good knowledge and expertise with public authorities (central and local level) functioning.
  • Experience in mediation and consulting public institutions will be considered an asset.
  • In-depth understanding of challenges facing vulnerable and marginalized communities, especially in the targeted region.

Language requirement:

  • Fluency in written and spoken Albanian.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English.

 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: Relevant experience in social care programs and public administration functioning - max points: 20

Criteria C: Professional experience on the design of integrated service models - max points: 20

Criteria D: Professional engagement in providing support in emergency situations- max points: 10

Application procedures

Interested applicants are advised to carefully study all sections of this ToRs and ensure that they meet the general requirements as well as specific qualifications described. . Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. 

The application should contain: 

  • 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 & Detailed Financial Proposal - please fill in the attached form. Download Here (kindly use Firefox browser)
  • Completed and signed UN Personal History Form (P11)  for Service Contracts (SC) and Individual Contracts (IC) – Blank form Download here.or latest Curriculum Vitae
  • Financial Proposal in ALL*- Specify a Total Lump Sum in Albanian Lek for the tasks specified in this announcement. The attached template may be used - Download Here (kindly use Firefox browser) Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall consider various expenses incurred by the consultant during the contract period (e.g. fee and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services). 
  • Copy of Diplomas and copy of Passport. 
  • Technical proposal – specifying the methodology which the consultant will employ to conduct this assignment.

*Kindly note that Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal are two separate documents and should be both part of your application. 

 

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); In the P11 Form make sure to include Email Addresses of the Persons who are willing to provide References on your past experience in working with them.
  • Merge your UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs) or CV, 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. 

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process. 

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