Background

Albania has made important progress in establishing relevant institutional and policy frameworks for achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, in line with international, regional, and national gender equality standards and obligations. Despite significant efforts, the legislative framework has gaps, institutional response mechanism face challenges to improve and strengthen inter-institutional co-operation in preventing and handling violence against women (VAW) cases. Therefore, in order to ensure an effective response, it is critical to mobilize government, civil society and people in local communities to act in unison to fulfill national and international commitments to prevent and eliminate VAW.

On this long road to end VAW, the United Nations (UN) has supported Albania for the past 12 years. In line with current challenges Albania needs to address in ending GB-VAW, and Output 2.5 of the UN’s Programme of Cooperation for Sustainable Development (PoCSD) with the Government of Albania (GoA), the UN Joint Programme (JP) (three years programme) aims to produce these output level results: (1) a strengthened normative and accountability framework related to GB-VAW; (2) improved institutional practices, services and coordination for survivors of GB-VAW; and (3) to challenge norms pertaining to GB-VAW at the state, community and individual levels. These results aim at bringing institutional and behavioral change in preventing and responding to GB-VAW, thereby contributing to freeing women and girls from all forms of GB-VAW and from the threat of such violence.

The programme’s target groups, who will indirectly and directly benefit from improved legislative framework, policies and institutional coordinated response practices are women survivors of VAW and men and women in communities at large. A specific focus of this JP will be the hard to reach communities that have been marginalized because of age (elderly women), ability (women with disabilities), minority status (Roma, Egyptian), sexual orientation (LGBTI), and place of residence (rural and remote areas of the country).

Specifically, under output level result 1, UNDP will provide direct support in the revision and preparation of the necessary by laws, legal amendments under the GE and DV law. Under previous programming cycles till at present UNDP supported the GoA with development of a comprehensive legislative package that thoroughly analyses Albanian legislation from the gender equality perspective and proposes concrete provisions for amendment of several pieces of legislation, in compliance with Albania’s international and regional commitments.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of the assignment

The national legal experts will work under the guidance and the direct supervision of EVAWIA programme coordinator to undertake the following functions:

• Support national institutions to revise existing laws and policies, drafting new legislation for combating all forms of GB-VAW, in line with CEDAW and GREVIO recommendations.
• Facilitate dialogue/ activities with all relevant stakeholders including CSOs on existing and new laws and policies for all forms of GB-VAW.
• Support the GoA to draft and adopt sexual harassment policies at central and local levels.
• Support national authorities in increasing the understanding of obligations stemming from due diligence principles on GB-VAW. 
• Support national authorities in increasing their professional capacities in view of recent legal amendments in the GBV area;
• Provide technical support to draft working protocol related to inter-institutional communication and coordination on actions related to GB-VAW for government ministries and LGUs.
• Support the National Council for Gender Equality to address capacity gaps in monitoring the implementation of the multi-sectoral action in combating GB-VAW through various capacity strengthening methodologies.
• Provide technical assistance to sub-Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and GB-VAW for oversight and government monitoring.
• Organize capacity building activities to strengthen the role of National Human Rights Institutions and monitoring GB-VAW and preparing alternative reports to relevant international human rights bodies.
• Review of legal acts through gender lenses in accordance with the priorities of GoA and Parliament.
• Other tasks as assigned by the Programme Coordinator.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

• Improved laws and policies related to GB-VAW in alignment with international human rights standards and practices.
• Improved capacities of Parliament, state, government, equality bodies and civil society entities to implement and monitor international HR commitments.
• A final report (in English) highlighting overall progress of the legal acts implementation, barriers encountered, lessons learned and recommendations for future similar interventions.

Competencies

Core Values

• Demonstrating/safeguarding UN core values on accountability, integrity, transparency, mutual respect, professionalism, and results orientation
• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
• Displays cultural, gender, nationality, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability

 Core competencies

• Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Able to identify priorities and plan/organize efficiently in line with agreed approach/framework
• Demonstrates self-initiative and responsibility in carrying out tasks
• Demonstrates the ability to act as a team player and facilitate team work in a multicultural environment
• Shows readiness to self-development, sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent analytical skills, initiative, sound judgment, results-oriented and efficiency in doing legal research;
• Good inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking attitude, ability to work in multi-cultural environment
• Excellent capacity building/training skills with a multi-sectorial audience.
• Ability to work under pressure in complex situations
• Ability to work in an independent manner, set priorities and organize the workflow efficiently
• Willingness to travel around the country to coordinate, attend and monitor project activities
• Very good computer skills and ability to use information technology as a tool and resource.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• Advanced degree in law;

Work experience:

• Minimum 7 years of experience as a legal professional.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience on issues of gender equality;
• Past experience in capacity building and legal empowerment of legislative, executive and monitoring state and non-state bodies and interest groups;
• Strong commitment and contribution in advancement of women’s rights, achievement of gender equality and eradication of violence against women
• Good knowledge and understanding of United Nations System and particularly the role and mandate of UNDP is desired

Language skills:

• Working knowledge of English and fluency in Albanian

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 - 70% of total evaluation – max points: 70

• Criteria A: Experience working on gender-based violence or domestic violence related legislative improvements – max points: 35
• Criteria B: Relevance of prior working experience on capacity building in GBV and gender equality area – max points: 20
• Criteria C: Educational background– max points: 15

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

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. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 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-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* - The financial proposal shall specify an all-inclusive daily fee in Albanian .
• Copy of Diplomas and copy of Passport. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FURTHER EVALUATION 

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