New Consultancy Recruitment & Non-Staff Workflow

Hiring an International Consultant to Support the Periodic Reporting of Albania to the Committee on the Rights of the Child

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Background

In 1991, the Government of Albania ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)[i], marking a significant initial step towards enhancing the promotion and protection of child rights in the country. CRC enshrines a serious of universally accepted human rights for children, incorporating the full spectrum of human rights - civil, political, economic, social and cultural - and provides for the full development of the potential of the individual child in an atmosphere of freedom, dignity and justice. With the CRC's ratification, the Government of Albania is obliged to develop and undertake policies and actions in the best interest of the child, and is hold, as well, accountable before the international community for the 'progress made in the enjoyment of the rights set forth in CRC[ii]. In 2012, the Committee on the Rights of the Child issued the concluding observations/recommendations for Albania[iii], after considering the combined second to fourth periodic reports submitted by the Government of Albania. 

Furthermore, in 2008, the Government of Albania ratified the two Optional Protocols to the CRC: 'On Child Involvement in Armed Conflicts' (OPAC) and 'On Child Trafficking, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC). In 2012, the Committee on the Rights of the Child released separate concluding observations reports on the progress of their implementation[iv].

Counted as the first among the States in international arena, Albania ratified the 3^rd Optional Protocol to the CRC on Communication Procedures in 2014. Consequently, the Governmental of Albania is committed towards the full spectrum of the international child rights treaties/obligations. In carrying out its coordinating role, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in Albania started in 2017 the preparatory work for the reporting to the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the CRC and its Optional Protocols (namely, OPAC and OPSC). An inter-ministerial working group has been established, as per the guidelines issued by the Order of Prime- Minister[v]. The working group is co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health and Social Protection/State Agency for Child Rights and Protection. Due to the recent re-configuration of the Government's structure, the working groups composition/membership is, currently, being revamped.

The Secretariat of the Committee on the Rights of the Child has confirmed to the Government of Albania September 2018, as the deadline for submitting the CRC/OPAC/OPSC Periodic Report (hereafter, Report). UNICEF in Albania has been requested to support the inter-ministerial working group along the process of Report preparation.

Objective, Purpose and Expected Results

UNICEF in Albania commits to supporting the Government of Albanian in the preparation of the Periodic Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, recognizing that this process constitutes an opportunity for a broad and participatory review of the measures taken so far to harmonize national laws and policies with the CRC; it sets the stage for later implementation of the Concluding Observations and Recommendations; it creates awareness and understanding of the CRC among a wide range of stakeholders, including children; and foremost, it provides an opportunity to respond to any shortcomings revealed by the analysis of the Report between the submission of the Report and the Committees review of it (approx. 2 years).

UNICEF in Albania intends to engage, both, an International Consultant, a National Consultant and a Junior Consultant to support the inter-ministerial working group in the process of Report preparation, including its consultation. The process of the consultancies solicitation will be taking place simultaneously.

The objective of this consultancy (International Consultant) is to:

1. Build the capacity of relevant government officials and other stakeholders in CRC reporting process.
2. Support the design of a broad participatory process of Report preparation;
3. Draft a comprehensive and analytic Report, in accordance with the reporting guidelines both, with regard to content and length;
4. Support the identification of the measures to be potentially pursued by the Government before the review of the Report.

Description of the assignment

The International Consultant will closely collaborate with the UNICEF team in Albania, the CRC Reporting inter-ministerial group, and the national consultants.

The International Consultant will be responsible for the following, but not exclusive, tasks:

1. Review relevant reports/documents, to get familiar with the previous conclusions, observations and recommendation in regards to CRC, OPAC and OPSC. The review will also include the initial feedback assembled so far by the inter-ministerial group from various governmental institutions.
2. Prepare and conduct the workshop for CRC reporting, to improve understanding and capacities of relevant stakeholders on the purpose, objectives and process of the CRC reporting and the roles to be played by different actors. The Committees guidelines for preparation of the report will be explained, and instructions/clarifications will be provided on how to follow the thematic structure of the Report. While in the country, the International Consultant will interact with the inter-ministerial committee, UNICEF staff and other key stakeholders to define milestones of the process of Reporting, and prepare the initial draft of the consultation road-map for the Report.
3. Populate the structure of the report with the preliminary information from different reports made available by the inter-ministerial working group. Prepare thematic questionnaires for all the relevant institutions to collect missing information.
4. Provide guidance and support to the National Consultant and inter-ministerial group along the process of collecting the information with different institutions. 
5. Using the information/resources collected, compile first Draft of Report. It should address the Committees previous recommendations; in addition, it should entail comprehensive, updated information/data and a multi-disciplinary approach to the implementation of all provisions/clusters, including information on budget allocation, legislative revisions, as well as difficulties in implementing the Convention.  
6. Complete the road-map on the process of consultation with different stakeholders/actors (including children), identifying the scope and format of consultation activities and modality of capturing the feedback.
7. Incorporate in the Report inputs received from the consultations activities (Consolidated Draft Report).
8. Draft a follow up instrument, mapping the possible measures that could be prioritized by the Government of Albania to be pursued/ addressed during the time between the reporting and the review of the Report.

Key Deliverables and time-frame:

Deliverable 1

CRC Workshop Report

Report Preparation Plan

First draft of Consultation Road Map

Tasks:

Desk review available reports/documents; Prepare/design the CRC reporting workshop; Conduct the two-day-workshop in Albania (while in country); Define the milestones of the Report preparation process (while in country); Draft first version of the consultation road-map.

Time duration: March - April 2018. Estimated working days: 15

Deliverables 2 - Initial draft report & Consultation road-map

Tasks:

Populate structure of the report and identify missing information/resources;

Prepare guides with questions for collection of information by various institutions; provide assistance, if needed, to the working group and national consultant responsible to facilitate the process;

Review feedback received and additional documents/reports;

Compile Draft 1 of the Report;

Finalize the consultation road map.

Time duration: May - June 2018. Estimated working days: 25

Deliverables 3 - Consolidated Draft Report & Follow up measures instrument

Tasks:

Incorporate inputs received by consultations, and/or any other documents or/and feedback;

Share the consolidated draft of the Report;

Draft a list of measures to be addressed/pursued by the time of Report review - format of document to be agreed upon.

Time duration: August - September 2018. Estimated working days: 10

Reporting requirements and penalty for insufficient performance

All materials will be developed and submitted by the International consultant in the English language. The International Consultant will report primarily to the UNICEF Albania Deputy Representative, and second reporting line will be the Child Rights Monitoring Officer.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines (specifications will be defined in the Contract). UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines (specifications will be defined in the Contract).

Administrative arrangements

The exact dates for starting and ending the contract will be negotiated with the individual when awarded the contract.

• Starting period: the indicative starting date for the assignment will be beginning of March 2018.
• Foreseen end of contract will be October 2018.

The consultancy requires to travel in and outside Albania as indicated at sections describing tasks and deliverables. The Consultant will be expected to make his/her own international travel arrangements for country missions and provide UNICEF with invoices at the end of the travel. The consultant is responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visa(s) and travel insurance. International travel expenses paid by UNICEF shall be based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel.

Daily subsistence allowance (DSA) will be paid as per respective UN rates and rules/regulations.

While in Albania, UNICEF office will provide the working space. Office space, IT solutions, communication costs, etc. are the responsibility of the International Consultant when not present in Albania.

Qualification requirements

Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required:

• Advanced university degree in Law, Education, Social protection and/or other relevant field; 
• Minimum 10 years of experience in children rights area (international human rights normative framework);
• Thorough knowledge and previous experience in CRC reporting process (essential);
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English;
• Analytical and conceptual ability to synthesize large amount of information (quantitative and qualitative);
• Experience in trainings and consultations.

What to submit

The applicants must submit to the UNICEF Albania office for review:

• Letter of Interest specifying the relevant experience with similar type of assignments, the commitment in terms of time availability; and a brief outline of how the Consultant envisions the process (including, any possible proposal/adjustment to the tasks/timelines specified in the TOR);
• Updated Curriculum Vitae;
• Samples of similar reports (web-links if possible) undertaken as lead consultant in the past 3-5 years;
• Financial proposal - Financial proposal (as close estimation as possible), indicating an all-inclusive cost in US$, with a break down into the following categories:

i) Daily fee;

ii) Travel cost (ticket price) for country mission trip.

The daily fee will not include taxes, which remain the responsibility of the contractor. The travel cost will be calculated based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel.

Submission of applications

Please consult UNICEF Albania website at www.unicef.org/albania/jobs.html or UN Albania website at www.un.org.al/employment-and-procurement, to download the detailed TOR and other documents or requirements related to this announcement. There is also a link that will direct you at UNICEF e-Recruitment System to submit your application.

Only applications submitted online will be considered.