Background

1. BACKGROUND / PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has had a direct and highly negative impact on social cohesion, resilience, livelihoods, community security, and the rule of law. Recognizing the need to urgently address reconstruction, economic recovery and peacebuilding needs in areas affected both directly and indirectly by the conflict, in late 2014 the Government of Ukraine requested technical assistance and financial support from the international community to assess priority recovery needs. In late 2014, the United Nations (UN), the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) conducted a Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment, which was endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in mid-2015.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been active and present in eastern Ukraine for the past decade, prior to the conflict, with a focus on community development, civil society development, and environmental protection. Work on addressing the specific conflict-related development challenges discussed above built on this earlier engagement, established partnerships, and started in 2015 through the UN Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (UN RPP). The UN RPP is a multi-donor funded framework programme formulated and led by the UNDP in collaboration with the Government of Ukraine and in cooperation with a number of partnering UN agencies (UN Women, FAO, UNFPA).

The UN RPP was designed to respond to, and mitigate, the causes and effects of the conflict. It is based on findings of the Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment (RPA) and is aligned to the State Target Programme for Recovery as well as to the two oblast development strategies up to 2020. It takes into account the opportunities that have arisen from the Minsk Protocol of September 2014 and the renewal of its cease-fire provisions (the latest cease-fire having been agreed in March 2018) and is also fully adjusted to the humanitarian-development nexus. It is an integral component of the UNDP Country Programme and is therefore fully aligned with the United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPF). It is closely interlinked with the Democratic Governance and Reform Programme, operating nationally and in all of Ukraine’s regions, and is consistent with the SDGs, in particular SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong institutions).

The Programme’s interventions are grouped under the following key Programme components, which reflect the region’s priority needs:

Component 1: Economic Recovery and Restoration of Critical Infrastructure

Component 2: Local Governance and Decentralization Reform

Component 3: Community Security and Social Cohesion.

The Programme, which operates on the basis of a pooled funding arrangement, follows a multi-sectoral programme-based approach and is implemented using an area-based methodology. It is a unifying interventions framework for 10 projects funded by 11 international partners and is worth about USD 80 million (2019-2022) USD.

In October 2018, four UN agencies (UNDP, UN Women, FAO and the UNFPA) have countersigned a new joint project document, funded by the EU. The overall objective of the project is to restore effective governance and promote reconciliation in the crisis-affected communities of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, thereby enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of local governments in the government-controlled areas (GCAs) of the regions. It will contribute to peace build and prevent further escalation of conflict in Ukraine through effective and accountable decentralization, gender-responsive recovery planning and equal access to services, as well as enhanced community security and social cohesion.

This endeavor will be achieved through the pursuit of the following specific objectives:

1.             To enhance local capacity for gender-responsive decentralization and administrative reforms to improve governance, local development and the delivery of services.

2.             To stimulate employment and economic growth by providing assistance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development.

3.             To enhance social cohesion and reconciliation through promotion of civic initiatives.

4.             To support sector reforms and structural adjustments in health, education and critical public infrastructure to mitigate direct impacts of the conflict. and enhance the capacity of governmental authorities for national the coordination of actions to cope with emergencies arising from the conflict zone.

5.             Supporting the implementation of the European Investment Bank’s Early Recovery Programme.

In 2018 the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine has been further deteriorated with the capture of Ukrainian navy vessels in the Kerch Strait (Azov sea). The continuous limitations of freedom of passage across the Kerch strait have accelerated the economic downturn in urban centers along the Azov coastline, limiting freight traffic through Azov Sea ports (Mariupol and Berdyansk), as well as limiting employment opportunities for those engaged in the fishing industry. These conflict-related issues have significantly contributed to the aggravating of the overall decline of the region’s socio-economic situation. In order to support the affected surrounding areas, UN RPP has spread its activities to the Azov coast (districts along the Azov sea coastline: Berdiansk, Prymorsk, Pryazovia, Orikhiv, Rozivka, Guliaipole, Yakymivka, Bilmak, Melitopol and Tokmak).

Given the change in the structure of industry in Donetsk (GCA), Luhansk (GCA) and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, as well as increased labor migration outside the region regional employers face a lack of qualified personnel. In turn, regional VET institutions (Vocational Education and Training institution) cannot meet this need because of the shortage in foreseen demand on the labour market and capacity for its fulfilment.

To improve the situation great attention is paid by UN RPP to the development of professional education in the region which is considered to be the basis for the enhancement of regional economic capacity. However, the mechanism for monitoring the needs of regional labour market in vocational education institutions’ graduates has not been created yet. Thus, vocational education institutions of the region now provide training basically without information about estimated number of workers of different professions required by regional employers. It is also important to develop the mechanisms aimed at involving social partners, i.e. employers from large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), branch organizations, employment services, public authorities, regional committees of industry and public employers, in the development of vocational education which is interlinked with labor market and State Employment Service work. As the result, in addition to labour market analysis the study of the State Employment Service as an important partner of vocational education institutions is planned. It will contain an overview of the Regional State Employment Service System and the development needs of State Employment Service (SES) system aimed at strengthening its capacity.

2. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The main objectives of the assignment are: (i)  to conduct comprehensive analysis of the present labour market requirements and what demands are expected in the near future; (ii) to conduct interviews with local employment experts and regional employers that had information on the labor market situation in their area;  (iii) to provide the review of the State Employment Service activity.

Duties and Responsibilities

3.DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK

The Individual Consultant for comprehensive analysis of regional labour market and the State Employment Service under the supervision of the Vocational Education Development Specialist will be responsible for implementation of following tasks:

• To prepare action plan to carry out the assignment and develop the methodology for the analysis and forecast labour market needs and for review of the State Employment Service activity and agree it with the Programme Coordinator and Vocational Education Development Specialist
• Using different sources of information and modern research approaches to give the comprehensive analysis of the regional labour market (on rayons and cities of regional significance, wherever relevant) with special attention to districts along the Azov sea coastline (Berdiansk, Prymorsk, Pryazovia, Orikhiv, Rozivka, Guliaipole, Yakymivka, Bilmak, Melitopol and Tokmak).

The data should be collected for a certain period of time (at least 10 years), which will allow tracing the dynamics and identifying patterns and trends in the development of the labor market, changes in demand for the profession.

The analysis of the labour market in Zaporizhzhia oblast should include, but not be limited to, the following items:

• Basic factors influencing labour demand and labour supply in the region:

1. Geographical preconditions;
2. Patterns of economic development in the past;
3. Demographic development;
4. Labour migration;
5. Labour market trends;
6. Political situation and economic policy orientation;
7. Degree of social protection;

• Development of the main types of economic activity in the region;
• Employment structure and main trends in employment structure changes;
• Employment in the public sector;
• Employment in the private sector;
• Impact of business and sector development on employment generation;
• General factors influencing the business environment;
• Identifying important sectors for employment generation;
• Effectiveness and efficiency of labour market and social protection policies;
• Demand and supply in the labor markets in terms of types of economic activity and professional groups;
• Matching demand and supply of labour: the impact of labour market institutions and policies on employment generation;
• Assessing the problem of skill mismatch; impact of labour market institutions, regulations and policies on the matching process;
• Dynamics of wages by professional groups;
• Level and structure of unemployment;
• Major challenges in the education system to provide adequately skilled labour supply.

• To conduct in-depth interviews (at least 20) with local employment experts in particular with representatives of recruitment agencies and the state employment service centers that had information on the labor market situation in their area;

• To conduct survey of the regional employers by types of economic activity, including agrarian enterprises, in particular to answer the following questions:
  • List of professions with the lowest quality of training against the employers’ requirements;
  • List of professions with current and/or expected shortage of skilled workers.

More specifically, the following sub-activities will be carried out: to conduct a survey among agricultural MSMEs in the programme area that will identify the technical skills that are lacking in the workforce with the focus on the structure of the prioritized value chains.

• To forecast labour market needs, the volumes and structure of labor demand in middle and in long term perspective;
• To give an overview of the Regional State Employment Service System and the main directions of its activities, including training activity;
• To prepare presentation and handouts of the study results; to conduct a presentation and proper discussions with stakeholders in Berdyansk.

4.DELIVERABLES AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

Output 1: 

Action plan of carrying out the assignment prepared, the methodology for the analysis and forecast labour market needs and for assessment of capacity of the SES developed and agreed upon with the Programme Coordinator and Vocational Education Development Specialist:

• Prepare the action plan to carry out the assignment;
• Develop the methodology for the analysis and forecast labour market needs and for assessment of capacity of the SES;
• To discuss and approved the action plan and methodology with the Programme Coordinator and Vocational Education Development Specialist.

Deadlines: Within two weeks after the start of assignment.

Output 2:

The data from different sources for comprehensive analysis of regional labour market and the State Employment Service and their implications for the vocational education and training system collected and analyzed:

•  Collect the data, which will allow tracing the dynamics and identifying patterns and trends in the development of the labor market, changes in demand for the profession with special attention to districts along the Azov sea coastline (Berdiansk, Prymorsk, Pryazovia, Orikhiv, Rozivka, Guliaipole, Yakymivka, Bilmak, Melitopol and Tokmak);
• Collect the data on the disaggregated by gender basis whenever possible.

Deadlines: Within five weeks after the start of assignment.

Output 3:

In-depth interviews (at least 20) with local employment experts in particular with representatives of recruitment agencies and the state employment service centers that had information on the labor market situation in their area conducted:

• Develop methodology of conducting interview;
• Conduct interviews;
• Process and analyze of conducted interviews;
• Provide aggregated analysis and description of cases;
• Create an annex with the list of people interviewed.

Deadlines: Within six weeks after the start of assignment.

Output 4:

The survey of the regional employers by types of economic activity, including agrarian enterprises conducted:

• Develop methodology of conducting survey of the regional employers by types of economic activity (agrarian and non-agrarian enterprises);
• Conduct survey of the regional employers from agrarian and non-agrarian enterprises;
• Process and analyze of conducted survey;
• Provide aggregated analysis and description of cases;
• Identify list of professions with the lowest quality of training against the employers’ requirements; list of professions with current and/or expected shortage of skilled workers;
• Identify the technical skills that are lacking in the workforce among agricultural MSMEs;
• Create an annex with the list of the regional employers;
• Develop recommendations for improving coordination between VET system and regional employers to provide more effective regional workforce trained based on the actual needs of the labour market.

Deadlines: Within eight weeks after the start of the assignment.

Output 5:

Forecast labour market needs done.

• To predict volumes and structure of labor demand on regional labour market.

Deadlines: Within nine weeks after the start of assignment.

Output 6:

The interim analytical report, which includes comprehensive analysis of regional labour market and forecast labour market needs prepared. The report should include, but not be limited to, the following components:

• Detailed analysis of the regional labour market (on rayons and cities of regional significance, wherever relevant) that based on statistical and other kinds of information from different information sources as well as on modern research methodology, illustrated by graphical, tabular materials and appendices;
• Develop forecast labour market needs. Forecast the volumes and structure of labor demand. The formation of medium-term labor demand by profession and by the rayons and cities.

Deadlines: Within ten weeks after the start of assignment.

Output 7:

Analysis of the main directions of activities of State Employment Service System done.

Deadlines: Within eleven weeks after the start of assignment.

Output 8:

Final analytical report Comprehensive analysis of regional labour market and review of the State Employment Service activity in Zaporizhzhia oblast, which should include all the above mentioned deliveries:

• Prepare Final Analytical Report which will include all the above mentioned outcomes (1-8);
• Develop graphical, tabular materials and appendices;
• Prepare Executive Summary (10-12 pages).

Deadlines: Within twelve weeks after the start of assignment.

Output 9:

The Power Point Presentation (at least 20 slides) and handouts (at least 10 pages) to Final report created; a presentation of the study results and proper discussions with stakeholders in Berdyansk conducted.

Contents of the Power Point Presentation include:

• Executive Summary;
• Background information;
• Study purpose and objectives;
• Scope of work;
• Methodology (qualitative, quantitative or both);
• Limitations of the study;
• Findings;
• Conclusions & Recommendations;
• Lessons learned.

Deadlines: Within twelve weeks after the start of assignment.

Output 10.

The findings of research Comprehensive analysis of regional labour market and review of the State Employment Service activity in Zaporizhzhia oblast summarized and general conclusions and recommendations prepared.

Deadlines: Within twelve weeks after the start of assignment.

5. PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Lump sum contract

UN RPP will pay the negotiated amount in 4 tranches as per delivery of the outputs outlined above.  

The payments will be paid upon the full completion and acceptance of contractual obligations whereupon the Programme Coordinator signs the certification of acceptance.

6. MONITORING / REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator and direct supervision of Vocational Education Development Specialist. The Consultant will directly report to the Specialist on fortnightly basis and will also report to the Programme Coordinator on a monthly basis through in-person meetings/ by phone or Skype or sending electronic materials.

The Consultant shall provide interim progress reports for each stage of the study specified in the Tentative Work Plan above, and a final report including final recommendations in Ukrainian.

Interim reports shall include all results in full compliance with the Terms of Reference and according to the Work Plan. It is imperative to include into the foregoing reports the following: charts, quantitative and qualitative comments for the works carried out, as well as to update them and make changes to them if necessary. The information (results) must be relevant, reliable, appropriate and objective. The final report shall be executed in a manner that would require no further editing.

Competencies

7.  EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Specialist / Master Degree in Economics, Social science, Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Law or other relevant related field.

Experience and competencies:

• At least 5 years of proven experience in drafting scientific desk research and in methodology development for assessments of dynamics of socio-economic processes; development of recommendations and policy (at least one example of research methodology, research report or recommendations shall be provided);
• At least 3 years of proven experience in tasks corresponding to the assignment: focus group organization and conducting; expert interviews; processing of interview and focus group data and related tasks;
• Proven academic experience on preparation of written publications (including pieces of research, articles and written reports; in the fields related to complex assessments of dynamics of socio-economic processes (the list of at least 3 publications and examples of the developed materials shall be provided);
• Proven experience in developing materials/publications related to either labour market or state employment service – at least 3 significant publications shall be provided;
• Previous experience with an international organization and/or NGO project funded by international donors would be an asset;

Language skills: Excellent Ukrainian/Russian writing and presentation skills are essential. Knowledge of English will be an asset.

Functional Competencies:

Ethics & Values:

• Demonstrating and promoting the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status.

Organizational Awareness:

• Ability to lead formulation, design, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
• Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, RBM and reporting.

Developing & Empowering People/Coaching and Mentoring:

• Self-development, initiative-taking.

Working in Teams:

• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work.

Communicating Information and Ideas:

• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Delivering verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner
• Informed and transparent decision making
• Accepting responsibility and accountability for the quality of the outcome of his/her decisions.

8. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

9. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Lump sum contract

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount.

The Consultant will be responsible for all personal administrative expenses associated with undertaking this assignment including office accommodation, printing, stationary, telephone and electronic communications, and report copies incurred in this assignment.

Travel costs

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Required Skills and Experience

10. EVALUATION CRITERIA

UNDP will use a two-stage procedure for evaluating applications with an evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to any price proposals are compared. The technical part will be evaluated on the basis of its relevance to the Terms of Reference. The following criteria will be rated as indicated below:

Education

• University degree in Economics, Social science, Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Law or other relevant related field – 10 points max (Doctor of science, PhD or candidate of science – 10; Specialist / Master Degree – 9 points).

Experience and competencies:

• At least 3 years of proven experience in drafting scientific desk research and in methodology development for assessments of dynamics of socio-economic processes; development of recommendations and policy (at least one example of research methodology, research report and recommendations shall be provided) – more than 10 years– 10 points, 7-9 years – 9 points, 3-6 years – 8 points;
• At least 3 years of proven experience in tasks corresponding to the assignment: focus group organization and conducting; expert interviews; processing of interview and focus group data and related tasks – more than 5 years – 10 points; 3-5 years – 8 points;
• Proven academic experience on preparation of written publications (including pieces of research, articles and written reports; in the fields related to complex assessments of dynamics of socio-economic processes (the list of at least 3 publications and examples of the developed materials shall be provided))  – more than 20 publications – 10 points, 14-19 publications – 9 points, 7-13 publications – 8 points, 3-6 publications – 7 points;
• Proven experience in developing materials/publications related to either labour market or state employment service  – at least 3 significant publications – 10 points max (more than 5 publications – 10 points, 3-5 publications – 9 points);
• Previous experience with an international organization and/or NGO project funded by international donors would be an asset – 5 points max (experience absent – 0 points, experience available – 5 points);

Languages:

• Excellent Ukrainian/Russian writing and presentation skills are essential, working knowledge of English is an asset – 10 points max. (5 points – excellent Ukrainian/Russian; working knowledge of English – 5 points).

?11. EVALUATION METHOD

 Cumulative analysis

Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

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

* Technical Criteria weight: 70%

* Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.