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National Individual Consultant for the provision of technical assistance to the Institute for Social and Child Protection to strengthen its capacity

Podgorica

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Podgorica
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Social Affairs
    • Education, Learning and Training
    • Children's rights (health and protection)
    • Protection Officer (Refugee)
  • Closing Date: Closed

UNICEF Montenegro is seeking for National Individual Consultant for the provision of technical assistance to the Institute for Social and Child Protection to strengthen its capacity to identify and have better access to the latest developments in social and child protection in the EU and to get acquainted with the wide range of modalities for the application for the EU funds.

Terms of Reference: National Individual Consultant for the provision of technical assistance to the Institute for Social and Child Protection to strengthen its capacity to identify and have better access to the latest developments in social and child protection in the EU and to get acquainted with the wide range of modalities for the application for the EU funds

 

I. Background

Observance of human and child rights represents an important part of the enlargement policy for Montenegro and an essential value of the European Union. Montenegro has undertaken relevant measures to implement institutional, legislative and administrative reforms in order to align its policies with those internationally recognized and make sure that the rights of each individual child are observed and protected in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. 

The past two decades in Montenegro are characterized by political stability, social and political reform and steady economic growth. Gross Domestic Product in Montenegro has grown steadily since 2006, with the largest growth recorded in 2008, and the country is now categorised as a high middle-income country.

The overall goal of Country Programme for 2017-2021 of the UNICEF and Government of Montenegro is to accompany the country’s efforts towards increasing equity and ensuring the inclusion of children and women who are in need of special protection, live in poverty, or are socially marginalized so that they can enjoy and exercise their rights.

In the period from 2011-2016 Montenegro`s Government implemented comprehensive Child Care System Reform under the lead of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MLSW) with technical assistance of UNICEF and financial assistance of the European Union (IPA 2010 and IPA 2014). The reform followed a systematic approach to child protection, targeting all levels of the system and covering the areas of law reform, development of child protection standards and monitoring mechanisms, strengthening of the institutional framework, capacity building of professionals, deinstitutionalization and the transformation of residential institutions for children, the development of prevention mechanisms and the expansion of family and community based services for children and families.

Within the Child Care System Reform (IPA 2010), the legal framework in the area of social and child protection has been broadly aligned with international standards. In line with the new Law on Social and Child Protection adopted in 2013 (Official Gazette of Montenegro 27/2013), active participation of beneficiaries in the creation, selection and use of the rights in the area of social and child protection, respect for the best interest of the beneficiaries, prevention of institutionalization and access to services in the least restrictive environment , and pluralism of service providers are among the principles of social and child protection. Standards and quality in the provision of all services have been introduced through the introduction of licensing of professionals and service providers and establishment of the social inspection. The Law also prescribes the establishment of the Institute for Social and Child Protection (henceforth the Institute), which will play a complex role in the development of the social and child protection system, and perform advisory, research and other professional activities. The Institute will performs the following tasks:

  1. Advisory, research and professional activities in the field of social and child protection;
  2. Monitors the quality of professional work and services in institutions, in accordance with this Law;
  3. Provides professional supervisory support for the advancement of professional work and social and child protection services;
  4. Performs licensing of professional workers and issue operating license in accordance with this Law;
  5. Performs professional and organizational activities in the procedure of the program accreditation, that is, the accreditation of the program for service provision which provides vocational training to professional workers and professional associates and service providers;
  6. Passes the Code of Ethics for employees in the field of social and child protection;
  7. Investigates social phenomena and problems, activities and effects of social and child protection, prepares analyses and reports and proposes measures for the improvement in the field of social and child protection;
  8. Develops quality system in the social and child protection sector, coordinates the development of service standards and proposes to the competent state administration body improvement of the existing and introduction of new standards;
  9. Participates in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the effects of implementation of strategies, action plans, laws and other regulations relating to the development of activities of the social and child protection;
  10. Organizes vocational training for professional workers and professional associates;
  11. Create and publishes monographs, journals and collections of papers, professional manuals, guides, bulletins, studies and examples of good practice;
  12. Informs professional and general public about the implementation of the social and child protection, points out the needs and concerns of beneficiaries, especially beneficiaries from vulnerable social groups;
  13. Performs other duties in accordance with this Law (Law on Social and Child Protection 2013, Article 121).

The Institute was formally established in 2014 (Official Gazette of Montenegro 17/2014) and has been in operation since the beginning of 2015. The Institute consists of three departments: The Department for development and professional support, the Department for strengthening capacities of professional workers, and the Department for general and financial activities.

Thus far, the institute has been involved in drafting secondary legislation and standards to the Law on Social and Child Protection, most notably of the bylaws on licensing of service providers and accreditation of training and service provision programmes (Official Gazette of Montenegro 34/2015), supporting the ongoing reform of the centres for social work (CSWs) which includes the introduction of case management methodology , supporting the process of development of social and child protection services, preparing the publication of guidelines for CSW professionals, organization of researches and analysis (Analysis of the implementation of the Strategy on Development of Social and Child Protection (2012-2016), Analysis of Development of the Strategy on Fostering in Montenegro (2013-2017), Analysis of the implementation of the National Plan of Action for Children in MNE (2013-2017), in organization of professional training and supervision in wide range of areas, etc.

Being a relatively new institution and of paramount importance for further development of social and child protection system in Montenegro, the Institute will need better access to the EU policy and legal instruments and documents and funding opportunities. Therefore, national technical expertise is required so that the Institute strengthen its capacity to identify the latest developments in social and child protection and better search for the opportunities for application for the EU funds (through a wide range of modalities).

 


II. Purpose and Objective

The purpose of this activity is to support the Institute to perform its functions related to the development of the social and child protection system, establishment and implementation of quality assurance mechanisms, improvement of the professional capacities of the social and child protection workforce, etc., as prescribed by the Law.

The objective of the assignment is to strengthen the capacity of the Institute to have better access to the latest EU policy development and standards in social and child protection and to have improved access to related documentation and EU funding opportunities (through a wide range of modalities).

 

III. Methodology and Technical Approach

The methodology will include desk review, consultations with the Institute, the MoLSW and other relevant ministries, Faculty of Political Sciences University of Montenegro – Department for Social Work and Social Policy, UNICEF, representatives of centres for social work and other service providers as required, delivery of the brief training to the Institute`s staff, preparation of a report with the recommendations, etc.

The Consultant is expected to work both in the field and from home.

 

IV. Activities and Tasks

The Consultant is expected:

  • To review strategic documents of the Institute and MoLSW as well as the Rulebook on internal organization and systematization of the Institute for Social and Child Protection.  To familiarize oneself with the Law on Social and Child Protection and a selection of relevant bylaws, the Strategy on the Development of the Social and Child Protection System (2017-2021), mid-term and final evaluations of Child Care System Reform (IPA 2010, 2014), the functional analysis of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and wide range of EU policy documents and funding opportunities (Acquis Communautaire and relevant chapters, EU Charter on Fundamental Rights, EU Strategy on Child Rights, IPA instruments for Pre-Accession, TAIEX instruments (and others), National Strategy on Sustainable Development, Montenegro Indicative Strategy paper, etc.
  • To conduct the assessment, including through meetings/interviews with key stakeholders: The Institute for Social and Child Protection, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (both departments: a) for Social and Child Protection and b) for Coordination of IPA assistance), the Ministry of European Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the National Office for Coordination of IPA Assistance, the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Montenegro – Department for Social Work and Social Policy, UNICEF, UNDP, etc. Focus shall be on:
    - Understanding the vision, mission and strategic goals of the Institute with respect to its functions related to the development of the social and child protection system, as well as the roles of relevant staff members of the Institute and other key stakeholders in relation to the Institute’s functions.
    - Assessing the opportunities for the Institute`s staff to better access to the latest EU policy development and standards in social and child protection, related documentation and EU funding opportunities (through a wide range of modalities).
    - Create Repository of documents (Small database) with the compilation of relevant websites, and recommendations for potential participation in related associations and professional groups at the level of the EU.
    - Defining the gap between the current skills and knowledge in this area and the required skills and knowledge of the relevant Institute staff and provision of a brief training on the matter.
  • To prepare a report with a detailed proposal for strengthening Institute`s capacity to identify and have better access to the latest developments in social and child protection in the EU, to get acquainted with the wide range of modalities for the application for the EU funds (with concrete recommendations; list of bodies and associations to be joined, sites to be regularly accessed, etc).
    The Consultant’s approach and methodology should be interactive and participatory.

 

V. Key Deliverables and Timeframe

The Consultant will be engaged for 24 working days in total, with the following tentative break down of days:

 

Deliverables

Timeframe

1.

Desk Review

5 days (by 30th May 2018)

2.

Drafting of the Report

10 days (by 15 June 2018)

3.

Brief Training of the Institute`s staff

2 day (by 20th June 2018)

4.

Development of a Repository (small Database to be maintained by the Institute)

5 days (by end June 2018)

6.

Final report

2 days (by 10 July 2018)

 

TOTAL

24 days

 

VI. Management and Organisation

Management: The Consultant will be supervised by the UNICEF Child Protection Officer.

Organization: National Consultancy, individual, with extensive experience in institutional capacity building and EU accession policy is required for this assignment.

The candidate is requested to submit a financial offer consisting of fee for the services to be provided, travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

The consultant’s fee may be reduced if the assignments/deliverables are not fulfilled to the required standard. In a case of serious dissatisfaction with the consultant’s performance the contract may be terminated in line with UNICEF procedure in such matters and as spelled out in SSA.

Schedule: This assignment will commence on 21 May 2018.   

 

VII. Qualifications/specialized knowledge/experience required to complete the task:

The Consultant is expected to have the following qualifications/specialized knowledge/experience required to complete the task:

Education:

  • An advanced university degree, preferably in social sciences, economics, public administration or another relevant field;

Experience:

  • Proven expertise and at least five years of experience in EU accession processes; familiarity with related regional and national policy documents, plans and financial arrangements;
  • Familiarity with the relevant international and regional standards in social and child protection;
  • Previous work experience with UNICEF will be considered as an advantage;
  • Excellent communication and facilitation skills;
  • Excellent writing skills;

Language:

  • Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English or local language;

 


VIII Applications Procedure

  • The candidates are requested to submit their financial offer as a separate document consisting of fee for the services to be provided, travel and subsistence costs, as/ if applicable.
  • Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted for an interview.

 

This vacancy is now closed.
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