National consultant/Architect to design physically accessible furniture and equipment for multifunctional community center and people with disabilities.

Background

“Improving Municipal Social Protection Service Delivery” (IMSPSD) is a two-year long UN Joint Programme which catalyses a step-change in the quantity and quality of delivery at local (municipal) level of integrated social care, as part of an effective integrated social protection system.  It builds upon the vast experience of the UN in addressing social inclusion, protection and the needs of the most vulnerable groups including Roma, refugees and migrants, persons with disabilities, vulnerable children, elderly, rural women, and women at risk of Gender Based Violence. The programme supports the implementation of the newly shaped vision of the social sector in Albania, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the country’s aspirations towards European Union (EU) integration. The programme avails of technical expertise and know-how of UN agencies aiming at allowing for greater impact and outreach by focusing on the municipal level and its linkage to the national level.

The programme’s goal – contribute to support Albanian Government translate the policy intent into proper local actions so that men, women, girls and boys living in poverty, or vulnerable situation have access to integrated, quality social care services- supports the vision of an overall inclusive Albania. Pilot municipalities are Tirana, Kamza, Puka, Rrogozhina, Progradec and Devoll. The joint programme supports Albania’s progress in view of achieving SDGs - being directly related to social protection/inclusion - especially SDGs 1-5 (no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, 10 (reduced inequalities), and 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions).

In order to achieve the goal, the programme focuses on the following outcome:

All women, men, girls and boys, especially those from marginalized and vulnerable groups, are exercising their entitlements to equitable quality services, in line with human rights; and more effective and efficient investments in human and financial resources are being made at central and local levels to ensure social inclusion and cohesion.

 

The programme’s target groups who indirectly and directly benefit from improved social care services, are the marginalized populations of Albania, with persons with disabilities often being the most vulnerable, along with Roma and Egyptians as well as children, women, migrant, refugees, long term unemployed etc. The improvement of their social protection is supported by interventions at macro level (central government authorities and national services), 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 “Improving Municipal Social Protection Service Delivery” programme is implemented through the modalities of the Delivering as One (DaO) mechanism, under the Programme of Cooperation for Sustainable Development 2017-2021, with the joint participation of UN agencies, including UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA, UNHCR, WHO and ILO, and in close partnership with relevant governmental bodies at the central and local levels.  UNDP is the lead UN agency for the overall implementation and coordination of the Programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Joint Program "Improving the Delivery of Local Social Protection Services" is providing technical assistance to the municipalities of Tirana, Rrogozhina, Devoll, Kamza, Puka and Pogradec to design and administer local social plans and provide integrated social services. More specifically related to this assignment, the programme is supporting Kamza municipality to adapt and establish the services of a multifunctional community center. The center will provide social care services to several categories of beneficiaries:

a) Any child and their families, including minors in conflict with the law;

b) Adults, with socio-economic problems belonging to vulnerable groups such as Roma and Egyptians;

c) Adults with social problems due to poverty, who are beneficiaries of economic assistance;

d) Persons with disabilities;

e) Elderly in need, etc.

 

Services to be provided include:

"Community services": day care, library, information and awareness activities, recreational activities, homework preparation, extracurricular courses, life skills courses, etc.

"Pre-social services": services that include informing the beneficiaries of social care services by service providers, assisting beneficiaries in determining their needs, initial assessment, support and assistance with the choice that suits the needs of the beneficiary in the social services system.

"Specialized services": various psychosocial therapies, speech therapy, physiotherapy, employment counseling etc.

 

The design of furniture and professional equipment is critical to social functioning with direct impact on social wellbeing, earnings, education and health of the “clients” of the multifunctional community center. Thus, UNDP seeks to contract an Architect to design physically accessible furniture and equipment for the multifunctional community center and people with disabilities.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

 

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the programme manager, the expert/architect will:

• Assist with designing the furniture and other equipment arrangements for the new multifunctional community center of Kamza.

 

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

 

• Detailed design and specifications, including cost estimation for the furniture and other equipment arrangements for community center to be established.

 

Duration of the Work

The duration of this assignment is for a maximum of 10 person-days over the period of 1 month from contract signature.

Competencies

Corporate:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values; 
• Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age differences;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

 

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to work collaboratively with other programme professionals;
• Excellent understanding of physical accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities;
• Creativity;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to pose questions, listen, evaluate and capture opinions, suggestions and comments;
• Capacity to deliver as per the deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

• Master University Degree in Architecture
• Professional license of category 2/b, 2/c, 2/ç, (business and/or socio-cultural facilities, and exterior and interior design).

 

Relevant Experience:

• Minimum ten years work experience in architectural design;
• Professional experience in architectural design for socio-cultural buildings;
• Proven experience in exterior and interior design of premises meeting the various needs of persons with disabilities for physical accessibility;
• Similar work experience with UNDP or other national and international organizations is much 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: Professional experience in architectural design for socio-cultural buildings – max points: 20

Criteria B: Educational background – max points: 15

Criteria C: Evidence of experience in exterior and interior design of premises/ furniture accessible for people with disabilities – max points: 25

Criteria D: Similar experience with UNDP or local and international organizations – 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 

Interested applicants are advised to carefully study all sections of this ToRs and ensure that they meet the general requirements as well as specific qualifications described. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. 

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 & Detailed Financial Proposal - please fill in the attached form. Download Here (kindly use Firefox browser)
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees, please upload the P11 instead of your CV. Download Here (kindly use Firefox browser)

• Financial Proposal in ALL*- Specify a Total Lump Sum in Albanian Lek for the tasks specified in this announcement. The attached template may be used - Download Here (kindly use Firefox browser) Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall consider 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. 
• Technical proposal – specifying the methodology which the consultant will employ to conduct this assignment.

*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: 

To 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); In the P11 Form make sure to include Email Addresses of the Persons who are willing to provide References on your past experience in working with them.
• 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. 

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. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.