National Consultant for supporting the compilation of the Monitoring & Evaluation Report on the Implementation of the Albanian National Action Plan on Persons with Disabilities 2016-2020

Background

Albania has made important steps towards establishing a democratic state, functioning market economy, maintaining a stable economic growth, and achieving human development. Nevertheless, the implementation of social policies for the inclusion of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, remains problematic. In order to support improved social inclusion, UN Agencies have engaged in implementing “Leave No-One Behind” (LNB) Project, which pursues the following goal: Vulnerable persons and groups are empowered to have equal access to public services and opportunities and to have a voice in public decision-making affecting their lives. The project’s first phase (2017-2021) is designed to:

•  strengthen the vulnerable population to request and receive adequate social services from local authorities that support their social inclusion,
• help municipalities to effectively manage the provision of social services and promote social inclusion, and
• support national institutions to implement their policy framework for providing social services and adequately fund social services. Governance and gender equality will be the project’s cross-cutting issues that are mainstreamed throughout outcomes under a human rights perspective.

The project’s target groups who will indirectly and directly benefit from improved social services, are the marginalized populations of Albania, with children and women often being the most vulnerable, and especially persons with disabilities, Roma and Egyptians. The improvement of their social inclusion will be supported by interventions at macro level (central authorities and services such as the Albanian Institute of Statistics), at meso level (municipalities and civil society organizations) and at micro level, actively involving the project’s target groups into the project’s implementation. The project will cover all of Albania, by improving social service provision in all 61 municipalities; specific geographic foci will be targeted by reacting to specific needs and challenges in selected municipalities.

The project’s implementation is the responsibility of the four UN agencies UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA, who will cooperate with state actors from central and local level, with civil society organizations and directly with target groups.

Support to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the national policy and legal framework for persons with disabilities has a special focus in the programme. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The outcome 3 of LNB project aims at supporting the central government authorities and institutions to implement and monitor the implementation of the existing national policies and strategies promoting social inclusion.

The National Action Plan on Persons with Disabilities 2016-2020 (NAPPD), adopted by the Decree of the Council of Ministers no. 483, dated 29.6.2016 is one of the important policy frameworks to be implemented and monitored since it aims to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Albanian society, prevent discrimination and eliminate barriers in accessing services and rights.

This government Action Plan comprises eight strategic goals, respectively, with relevance to accessibility, equality before the law, employment and VET, education, social care, healthcare, participation in political and public life, and promotion of cooperation and monitoring and evaluation. Under every Strategic Goal, the Action Plan outlines several different objectives which need to be achieved in order to address the problems in a comprehensive way. Every objective is operationalized through usually 10-20 concrete activities. For each activity and target, the Action Plan provides a related monitoring indicator, any existing baseline data where these are available, and the targets for 2017 and 2020. In addition, for each activity the respective deadlines and budget available are provided.

The Action Plan designates the former Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, currently the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MHSP), as the main body responsible for leading its implementation monitoring and evaluation processes and for reporting on the progress of the Plan. The Action Plan envisages the publication of annual progress reports including a medium-term evaluation and a final evaluation.

Now, at the end of the second year of the Action Plan’s enactment, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has to conduct the monitoring and medium-term evaluation of its implementation and compile the related report.

The purpose of carrying out such monitoring & evaluation exercise is to: inform the public about the implementation of the Action Plan; take necessary corrective measures while implementation is in progress, and inform policy orientation and allocation of resources; assess the performance of the public institutions, build/strengthen their monitoring and evaluation capacities in the field of social inclusion of persons with disabilities and promote their accountability; introduce mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of national policies and strategies relevant to the social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Hence, this monitoring & evaluation exercise will have to observe, assess and report on:

a) the progress of processes, i.e the status of implementation of activities including achievement of targets, observance of agreed timetable and assessment of assigned resources;

b) the progress of outcomes, i.e the results achieved based on the objectives established for each of the fields covered in the Plan;

c) the progress towards the impact, i.e the achievement of the strategic goals including the attainment of the Plan’s monitoring indicators;

d) the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of measures implemented.

The monitoring & evaluation report will also have to describe difficulties/problems/challenges encountered during the Plan’s implementation, both internal and external, and how these problems were dealt with, as well as draw up any lessons learned and provide recommendations for adaptation of targets and/or measures. Information on gender-based results and stakeholders’ participation should be reported whenever possible and appropriate.

To carry out this work, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has solicited the technical assistance of UNDP/LNB programme. The latter, being willing to provide the requested assistance, is seeking the services of a national consultant, whose scope of work, tasks and responsibilities are described below.

To support the MHSP in collecting information on NAPPD implementation, and compiling the monitoring and evaluation report, the consultant will have to make use of various sources such as desk review, administrative data, formal meetings, MIS, (mini-)surveys (on beneficiaries’ satisfaction), interviews, focus groups, direct observation, etc. While working in close cooperation with the MHSP responsible staff for monitoring the Action Plan, he/she will have to establish contacts with the members of the National Disability Council, the officers in charge of disability issues at the line ministries, the local government offices and the civil society organizations, in particular organizations of persons with disabilities.

The national consultant will work under the guidance of UNDP Programme Specialist for Social Inclusion and close supervision of LNB Programme responsible coordinator, and, more specifically, will be responsible for the following:

• Become familiar with the National Action Plan on Persons with Disabilities 2016-2020 and the related policy and legal framework, and review the existing monitoring & evaluation reports, surveys and other documents informing on the implementation of NAPPWD’s measures;
• Prepare an Inception Report comprising of a detailed description of the proposed methodology (approach, sources, format of the report, suggested stakeholders to meet and consultations to conduct), initial outline of the Monitoring and Evaluation report, suggested work plan and timeline, all to be discussed and agreed with UNDP LNB team.  
• Using the sources agreed in the methodology and in cooperation with the MHSP assigned staff, collect, process and analyze valid, reliable, and comprehensive programmatic and financial data and information related to the implementation of NAPPWD measures, with a view to assess the progress and evaluate the impact of its implementation so far.
• Compile, in close cooperation with the MHSP assigned staff, a draft monitoring and evaluation report to document in the agreed format all of the above, by paying due attention to the scope and purpose of this undertaking.
•  Facilitate the development by the MHSP of 4 participatory and inclusive consultation meetings, which will be held in Tirana and other regions, to discuss and validate the draft report findings, and support the MHSP with consolidating and reflecting comments and feedback therein.
• Facilitate the presentation by the MHSP of the validated findings from the report during an open meeting of the National Council on Persons with Disabilities, and collect further feedback and comments.
• Finalize the draft report in English by reflecting stakeholders’ feedback.
• Check for consistency both the English and the Albanian language versions of the report prior to its printing and publication.
• Prepare an assignment report in English including a summary of the services delivered, lessons learned and recommendations for follow-up.

Deliverables:  

• Inception report, including the proposed work methodology, initial outline of the main output, and suggested work plan and timeline.
• Initial Draft Report in English, including all the input relevant to the scope and purpose of the assignment.
• Facilitation of the events organized by the MHSP for the consultation and presentation of the draft report.
• Revised and improved draft report reflecting all the feedbacks from participatory consultation and NCPWD meetings.    
• Finalized draft report in English.
• Draft report in Albanian language checked for consistency.
• Assignment Report in English.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Core Competencies:

• Communication - Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
• Planning & Organizing – Develops clear goals in line with agreed strategies, identifies priorities, foresees risks and makes allowances accordingly.
• Organizational Awareness - Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Teamwork - Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and delivers outputs in accordance with agreed time, cost and quality standards.

Other

• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Excellent understanding of human rights and disability rights;
• Excellent understanding of social economy, public finance, planning and prognosis;
• Analytical thinking and monitoring and evaluation skills, ability to facilitate, consult and negotiate with a broad range of government and non-government partners.
• Excellent research, writing and presentation skills;
• Flexibility to adapt to a broad range of Government & CSO stakeholders and international & local organisations of/for persons with disabilities;
• Strong inter-personal and communication skills;
• Ability to work and adapt to a dynamic working environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in public policies, social policies, economics, or closely related field of studies;

Relevant Experience:

• Minimum ten years of professional experience in social policy/public policy monitoring and evaluation functions;
• Experience in research and strategic studies related to socio-economic affairs, preferably with relevance to disabilities and social inclusion;
• Substantial experience in monitoring and evaluating implementation of policy framework and plans of actions and in drafting documents based on extensive consultations;
• Experience demonstrating familiarity with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and national relevant policy and legal framework;
• Experience in providing expertise on promoting human/disability rights;
• Relevant experience with UN Agencies or other international organizations would be appreciated;

Language

Fluency in written and spoken Albanian and English

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: Relevance of specific professional experience in reporting on monitoring and evaluation of policy framework implementation – max points: 30

Criteria B: Relevance of Educational background – max points: 15

Criteria C: Record of experience in working on issues related to persons with disabilities – max points: 15

Criteria D: Excellent presentation, writing and reporting skills in both English and Albanian languages – max points: 10

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

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Application procedure

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. 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...http://www.un.org.al/doc/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Letter%20to%20UNDP.docx

·        Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees, please upload the P11 instead of your CV. Download here.

·        Financial Proposal in ALL* - specifying a total lump sum in Albanian Lek  for the tasks specified in this announcement.  The attached template may be used - http://www.un.org.al/doc/Financial%20Offer%20template.doc Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant during the contract period (e.g. fee and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services).

·        Copy of Diplomas and copy of Passport.

*Kindly note that Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal are two separate documents and should be both part of your application.

How to Submit the Application:

How submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

·        Download and complete the UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs);

·        Merge your UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs), 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.

·        Merge your UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs), 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

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Qualified women and individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.