Background

UNDP is the development arm of the United Nations system, with offices in 180 countries. Globally the organization employs 17,000 people and manages a budget of USD 5 billion each year. 

The UNDP office in Skopje employs a team of 65 and currently manages a portfolio of projects in environmental protection, good governance and social inclusion worth USD 15 million per year.

The sub-regional Project Promoting Inclusive Labour Market Solutions in the Western Balkans aims to assist the Western Balkans economies (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo*[1], Montenegro and Serbia) in their efforts to enhance inclusiveness of the labour markets. To achieve this, the project supports pilot initiatives that promote collaborative and innovative practices to employment and social service provision, involving local employment offices, social welfare centres, the business sector, civil society organizations etc.

Under this regional initiative, in six municipalities from the Western Balkans, the project supports development and implementation of pro-employment local action plans i.e. territorial employment partnerships (TEPs), aiming to mobilize all local potentials and resources that can boost employment generation in their respective communities.

In FYR Macedonia, the project has facilitated establishment of a local employment partnership network in Gostivar. For this purpose, an in-depth assessment of economic and jobs creation potentials and barriers for accessing formal jobs was carried out in 2017. The local diagnostic study revealed numerous institutional barriers job seekers face in accessing information, mediation services as well as in the provision of systematic support to job seekers, in particular from the vulnerable groups (youth, rural women, Roma etc.) in their job-searching and business start-up efforts.

Local partners have committed to support establishment of a local resource centre, which can serve as a local aggregator and disseminator of information and service provider for unemployed job-seekers. While the centre will be open for all job-seekers in the municipality and those who would be interested in upgrading skills, obtaining on-the-job experience, or other forms of mentoring and advisory support, the Centre will primarily target the youth section of the population.

The envisaged consultancy assignment will be co-supported by the UNDP Project “Creating Job Opprtunitiies for All – Entry phase”, which is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation as a contribution to the employment promotion of vulnerable groups that are underrepresented in the labour market.

The recruited national consultant is expected to work under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the the Regional Project Manager.

Objectives

The specific objective of this assignment is to undertake a feasibility study for the establishment of a Youth Employment Resource Centre in the municipality of Gostivar, including a model organizational structure, required human and financial resources and sources of funding. In consultation with local stakeholders and potential users of services of the Resource Centre, the consultant will provide a description of services as well as with the technical and human resource requirements for their efficient delivery.

[1] Reference to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

Duties and Responsibilities

Building on the recommendations from the Territorial Assessment of Gostivar, the local consultant will:

• Meet and consult with relevant stakeholders from the public and business sector, civil society organisation, business centres and equivalent facilities, employment offices and municipality directorates relevant to the local socio-economic development about the model and priority services they consider relevant to be provided by the Resource Centre;
• Meet and consult with representatives from potential groups of beneficiaries/clients of the Employment Resource Centre, to obtain in-depth insights on their expectations from the Centre the type of services, modalities of provision, preferred communication outlets etc;
• Desk research of good practices of similar youth resource centres and innovation labs;
• Organize wide consultations on the model services to be provided by the youth resource centres;
• Design the main services to be provided by the Employment Resource Centre in a progressive/evolving manner, and develop marketing materials for service promotion;
• Propose organizational set up, number and profile of the staff of the Centre, composition and function of the supervisory body and modalities for coordination and communication with relevant stakeholders;
• Describe the job requirements for each position, the set of skills to be owned by the staff members, and the communication and reporting structure;
• Develop staff capacity building, compensation and evaluation plan;
• Propose models for the financial sustainability;
• Develop a manual including essential templates to be used by the staff members in their day-to-day work;
• Draft a communication strategy for respective target group of clients.

Deliverables

All deliverables are subject of review and approval by the Regional Project Manager.

Duration of assignment

The assignment shall commence on 02 May 2018 and should be completed latest by 31 July 2018. The overall duration of the assignment is estimated to 60 working days.

Travel

Only travel to the municipality of Gostivar is foreseen.

Payment Schedule

• 50 % upon submission and approval of Deliverable 1.
• 30% upon submission and approval of Deliverable 2 and Deliverable 3;
• 20% upon submission and approval of Deliverable 4 and Deliverable 5

Competencies

Functional competencies

• Good research, analytical and problem-solving skills. Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Excellent and effective written and oral skills; ability to persuade people with varying points of view and to present information in a concise and accurate manner, ability to clearly communicate links. between the organizations. Flexible and prepared to pursue goals through teamwork.
• Proven ability to plan, coordinate and monitor own work and that of others. Ability to work under pressure and to use time efficiently. Identifies priority activities and adjusts them as require.

Corporate competencies

• Sensitive to gender issues and issues of concern to vulnerable groups.
• Ability to work collaboratively and to solicit input by valuing others’ ideas and expertise.
• Willing to take responsibility, act professionally at all times, and make sure tasks are fully completed.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A Master degree in Economics or other relevant field.

Professional experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in the area of local economic development planning, employment generation programme design and implementation, development of local employment action plans;
• Minimum of 3 years in youth career counselling and/or youth employment promotion;
• Prior experience in performing territorial employment assessments and designing of territorial employment plans is not mandatory but will be considered an asset;
• Experience in designing or supporting the implementation of employment and social policies;
• Substantive experience on issues related to micro business promotion, employment generation and formalization of household-based enterprises.

Languages:

• Excellent language proficiency in both written and oral Macedonian and English is a must.

Application procedure

Step 1

• Click on the "Apply now" button
• Input your information in the appropriate sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume, and motivation (cover letter). You can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box.
• Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload other required documents listed in the step 2.

Step  2

Interested individual consultants must submit the documents/information listed below to demonstrate their qualifications. The system will allow only one attachment. Therefore, please upload the following documents as one file:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position
• CV and/or P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees
  (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc);
• Evidence of experience as per Annex A_Evidence of professional experience (to be completed by the consultant).
• Brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (max. 500 words)
• Financial Proposal* in MKD - specifying a) total lump sum MKD amount for the deliverables specified in this announcement; and b) mission related travel costs.

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account all relevant expenses related to the performance of services.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

Evaluation of applications

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.

Technical Criteria (70% of total evaluation – maximum 70 points)

Only candidates who will obtain at least 49 points and will score at least 70% of the maximum points obtainable for the mandatory technical criteria will be considered for financial evaluation.

• A Master degree in Economic or other relevant. Max. 5 points.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in the area of local economic development planning, employment generation programme design and implementation, development of local employment action plans. Max. 15 points.

• From 5 to 7 years: 11 points
• From 7 to 10 years: 13 points
• More than 10 years: 15 points

• Minimum of 3 years in youth career counselling and/or youth employment promotion. Max. 15 points.

• From 3 to 5 years: 11 points
• From 5 to 7 years: 13 points
• More than 7 years: 15 points

• Prior experience in performing territorial employment assessments and designing of territorial employment plans is not mandatory but will be considered an asset. Max. 5 points.

• At least 1 assignment: 3 points
• From 2 to 3 assignments: 4 points
• Over 4 assignments: 5 points

• Experience in designing or supporting the implementation of employment and social policies. Max. 12 points.

• At least 2 assignments: 9 points
• From 3 to 4 assignments: 10 points
• Over 4 assignments: 12 points

• Substantive experience on issues related to micro business promotion, employment generation and formalization of household-based enterprises. Max. 8 points.

• At least 2 assignments: 6 points
• From 3 to 4 assignments: 7 points
• Over 4 assignments: 8 points

• Methodology (technical knowledge and approach). Max. 10 points.

• The methodological approach is relevant and applicable: 7 points
• The methodological approach is relevant, applicable, concise and it provides well thought out solutions for realistic and timely implementation of the planned activities: 10 points

Financial Criteria (30% of total evaluation – maximum 30 points)

The offer with the lowest price will receive the maximum of 30 points. Other offers with higher prices will receive their respective scores according the following formula:

   Lowest Bid

               ------------------- x 30

                Proposed Bid

The contract will be awarded to the candidate that will obtain the highest aggregate score based on the technical and financial evaluation.