UNDP Jobs - 84244- Local Consultant to deliver training on tourism an

Local Consultant to deliver training on tourism and hospitality services to new guesthouse operators/ microbusinesses in Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce and Viti/Vitina

Location :

Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce and Viti/Vitina, Kosovo, UNSCR 1244 (1999)

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

08-Apr-2019

Application Deadline :

02-Apr-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

08 April 2019 – 31 August 2019 (19 working days within this period)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

08 April 2019 – 31 August 2019 (19 working days within this period)

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Integrated Territorial Development 2 project builds on the successes of the Austrian Development Cooperation-funded UNDP “Local-level Response for Employment Generation and Integrated Territorial Development (INTERDEV)” project that has been implemented in southern Kosovo’s municipalities of Dragash/Dragaš and Shtërpcë/Štrpce since 2014. This project has proven to address some of the paramount challenges citizens of not only the partner areas, but of Kosovo in general, face: high rate and long spells of unemployment, lack of decent income generation, poor public services, as well as socioeconomic exclusion of women, youth, and other vulnerable groups.

The project continues to utilize tested methodologies and will expand its services to a new municipality of Viti/Vitina in the south-east of Kosovo. It is expected that as a result of project’s three core pillars of activities, 1) municipal officials have enhanced capacities in provision of services in rural development; 2) local micro and small enterprises and farmers have been supported to upgrade their businesses; and 3) bottom-up approaches and local-level concertation for employment generation in the form of Territorial Employment Pacts operate at the municipal level.

The Territorial Employment Pacts in the Municipality of Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce and Viti/Vitina are an institutional innovation based on negotiated planning where different actors at the local level assume complementary and inter-connected roles and responsibilities in views of employment objectives. They constitute a model of territorial concertation that has been adopted in many European countries.

Rural tourism allows the creation of a replacement source of income in the non-agricultural sector for rural dwellers. Rural tourism is particularly relevant in developing countries where farmland has become fragmented due to population growth. The wealth that rural tourism can provide to poor households creates great prospects for development. Rural tourism exists in developed nations in the form of providing accommodation, food and get-to-know the nature in a scenic location, ideal for rest and relaxation. There are many scenic towns that have become quaint spots for vacationers.

The Municipalities of Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce and Viti/Vitina, have the potential to develop and market unique tourism products that can be integrated into already existing regional resources. A crucial aspect of this is the place-based authenticity which presents the link between nature and rural mountain culture. For example, the municipality’s isolation in Dragash/Dragaš region has been able to preserve much of the traditional activities of agriculture and livestock, traditions and ways of life that has disappeared in much of Europe and may thus be an attractive location to tourists. The three pillars of tourism potentials in the three target municipalities are: Natural Beauty (mountains, biodiversity), Culture and Heritage (Albanian, Serbian, Gorani), and Hospitality and cuisine (locally produced food; village hospitality).
The municipalities of Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce and Viti/Vitina contain a wealth of as yet unexplored opportunities for outdoor activities and tourism, including: animal tracking, bird watching and nature observation (including for academic and research purposes); Fishing; Hiking and hillwalking; Mountain biking; Picnicking sites; Camping; Exploration of heritage, archaeology and rural culture; Skiing; Snowshoeing; Horseback riding; Cycling; Scenic drives; Local, natural products and cultivation (herbs, honey, fruits and vegetables).

This TOR contributes to the expected result no. 3: Bottom-up approaches and local-level concertation for employment generation will be operationalized at municipal level through Territorial Employment Pacts (TEPs). Recognizing the abovementioned touristic potential, the TEPs within these three municipalities, the interventions number 2 under the TEPs of three municipalities promote employment opportunities for youth and women in tourism and hospitality and will provide grants to upgrade dwellings into guesthouses and complementary services to gain tourism and hospitality-related skills to their owners. Around 12 selected beneficiaries will receive a grant to improve conditions of one guest room (with dedicated sanitary infrastructure). In addition, family members will receive training on hospitality and tourism services. All the guesthouses are to be promoted through different channels, including participation in various fairs.

Objectives of Assignment
The objective of the assignment is to develop capacities in tourism and hospitality-related topics of the approximately 12 beneficiaries of the intervention in Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce and Viti/Vitina (yet to be selected through a competitive open call), who will upgrade their dwellings into operational guesthouses. As a result of the assignment, the guesthouses will become operational and providing high-quality services to travellers in the area.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the INTERDEV Project Manager and in daily cooperation with the Municipal Project Support Officers (MPSOs) in Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce, and Viti/Vitina Municipalities, the consultant is expected to:

1. Physically visit all the selected beneficiaries of the intervention located in Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce and Viti/Vitina (to be communicated by the project), and provide specialized advice to each household for upgrading the conditions for the guest room(s) (i.e. comfortable bed), the bathroom (hygiene standards, shower, etc.) dedicated to guests, internet/Wi-Fi routers, as well as suggesting other safety and security items that are mandatory for a facility hosting tourists (i.e. exit signs in case of fire, fire extinguishers, med kits, etc.).

Through this assessment, the consultant is expected to prepare and submit to UNDP a list of equipment that is needed to be procured for the beneficiary households, in the maximum value available within the project’s budget (to be communicated at the start of the assignment by the project). The list of equipment should reflect the style of the respective guesthouse communicated and agreed upon with the beneficiaries.

Moreover, the consultant is expected to assess knowledge gaps of the households in tourism and hospitality related services that will serve as a basis for the training delivered.

2. Based also on the gaps identified in the activity (1) and the latest trends in tourism industry in the Western Balkans and beyond, design the training methodology for tourism and hospitality services for the beneficiaries, including any relevant materials / handouts. The training should also include information for the beneficiaries on compliance with relevant business, tax, and tourism laws and regulations.

3. Based on the training methodology, provide a joint 2-day tailored, comprehensive and practical training to the selected beneficiaries / guesthouse owners of the three municipalities. A maximum of two members of the households operating the guesthouse can participate in the training. Training costs (training room, materials, translation) are to be covered by the project. The location of the training will be communicated by the project team.

The training should apply brief pre-training and post-training tests to evaluate the knowledge acquired by the training participants. The post-training test should also include a brief satisfaction questionnaire with the training delivered.

4. Collect information and provide basic design suggestions for the guesthouse brand, leaflets and business cards for each guesthouse. Printing costs, professional design, and professional photography for the leaflets and business cards are to be covered by the project.

5. Develop profiles and introduce the guesthouses to most important online platforms promoting tourism attractions (including Airbnb and Booking.com).

6. Prepare and facilitate tour operators’ visits in the guesthouses supported by the intervention (overnight, minimum 2 for each Municipality). Owners of the guesthouses cover food/accommodation costs. Transport costs for tour operators are to be covered by the project.

7. Submit to UNDP a final report on implementation of the assignment, elaborating on the results of the trainings and advisory services delivered, analysis of the pre- and post-training test data, the satisfaction of the beneficiaries with the training and advisory services. The report should also provide providing further recommendations for effective and sustainable tourism services for the beneficiaries.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

All the selected beneficiaries of the intervention located in Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce and Viti/Vitina (to be communicated by the project) are visited and specialized advice to each household for upgrading the conditions of their guesthouses is provided. A list of equipment for each household to be procured by the project is developed and delivered to UNDP.
Training methodology is developed, and the training is delivered to the group of beneficiaries in Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce and Viti/Vitina, including the pre- and post-training knowledge assessments.
Information collected, and basic design suggestions provided for the guesthouse brand, leaflets and business cards for each guesthouse.
Beneficiary guesthouses are introduced into most important online platforms promoting tourism.
The tour operator visits (overnight, minimum 2 for each municipality) in the guesthouses supported by the intervention are facilitated.
A final report on implementation of the assignment, elaborating on the results of the trainings and advisory services delivered, analysis of the pre- and post-training test data, the satisfaction of the beneficiaries with the training and advisory services is delivered and validated by UNDP. The report should also provide providing further recommendations for effective and sustainable tourism services for the beneficiaries. The consultant is expected to review the report taking into consideration the feedback provided by UNDP.

Remuneration - Lump Sum Amount
The Contract is based on lump sum remuneration and shall be processed subject to deliverables as per the schedule listed below:
Upon successful completion and certification of deliverables 1-4: 60% of the total amount
Upon successful completion of all outstanding activities and validation of the final report: remaining 40% of the total amount.

Recommended Presentation of Offer
The following documents are required to be submitted:

Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability;
P.11 and personal CV, indicating all past experiences from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
Technical proposal, a max. 2-page document briefly outlining the methodology envisaged for the assignment for delivering the expected results within the indicated timeframe, and why the candidate is considered him/herself as the best candidate for the assignment.
Financial proposal, the consultant is expected to provide an all-inclusive lump sum amount financial proposal. The Offeror must indicate at this point and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer
Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and technical proposal will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%;

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Committed to professionalism, impartiality, accountability and integrity;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, ethnicity, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Demonstrates substantial experience in gender equality. Actively promotes gender equality in all activities;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

Empathy and patience, people orientation;
Ability to follow and understand latest trends in tourism and apply them to the local context.
Punctuality and honouring of commitments;
Ability to draw conclusion on the related subjects;
Ability to pay attention to details;
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment;
Good organisational skills;
Commitment to accomplish work;
Responds positively to critical feedback;
Results and task oriented.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in Tourism and Hospitality, Rural Development, Economic Development, or other relevant fields is required.

Experience:

At least 4 years of demonstrated work experience with designing and delivering capacity development interventions in tourism and hospitality topics is required.
Excellent knowledge of up-to-date specifics and trends in tourism and hospitality in Kosovo and the Western Balkans is required.
Proven experience and knowledge of rural development and local economic development is a strong asset.

Language requirements:

Knowledge of fluent spoken and written English and Albanian is required. Knowledge of Serbian is considered an asset.

Application Instructions:

Click on the "Apply now" button;
Input your information in the appropriate sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation; 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 your Resume;
System will only allow one attachment. All docs (CV; P11; financial offer; list of similar profiles should be included as one attachment).
Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete.