International Consultant for support of Inclusive Initaitive of the Youth Resource Centre, Gostivar

Consultant

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

UNDP is the development arm of the United Nations system, with offices in 180 countries. Globally, the organization employs 17,000 people and manages a budget of USD 5 billion each year.

The UNDP office in Skopje employs a team of 65 and currently manages a portfolio of projects in environmental protection, good governance and social inclusion worth USD 15 million per year.

UNDP is seeking an International consultant specialized in inclusive education to provide support to Youth Resource Centre (YRC) activities becoming more inclusive by providing advisory services and training of the YRC’s staff.

The country’s decentralized system of local government aims to improve the quality, efficiency and inclusiveness of public services by bringing local governments closer to the people. However, many municipalities struggle to fulfill their responsibilities.

Implementation of the joint project “Deinstitutionalization of persons with disabilities in the Strumica region” tackles upon development of models of education, employment, social and health services to facilitate independent living of persons with disabilities, supported by the global UN Partnership for the rights of People with Disabilities, since the country has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2011 and it is binding document upon ratification. The UNCRPD purpose is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. This is relevant in all situations and all areas, including employment and education, and thus it is important to examine best practices related to provision of support in order to recommend the most suitable model for advancement of the country in this area.

Moreover, a new four-year project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, implemented by UNDP, in one of its main objectives works to generate innovative policy and programming solutions to help youth, Roma and persons with disabilities to access the labour market while promoting services for broader social inclusion. Participation in education is integral part of the project’s activities as access to quality education is interlinked with social inequalities and full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity. Recently, under this project, a Youth Resource Centre (YRC) is being established as training service provider, innovation hub and community space in the city of Gostivar dedicated to support young people in the Polog region in finding employment through a series of services, such as job seeking, business, career, innovation and skills development, startup incubation and acceleration, and others. The services offered by the YRC will focus on youth between the ages of 16 and 29 as its primary clientele, but will also work with local SMEs, NGOs and public institutions engaged in supporting entrepreneurship, education and innovation.

UNDP believe that the is of vital importance to set conditions for active inclusion and participation of all citizens in the country’s socio-economic life. That is leading to increased competitiveness of all citizens and has influence on the quality of lives and productiveness of every individual.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the Assignment

The overall aim of this consultancy is to support the Youth Resource Centre (YRC) in its future efforts of comply with UNCRPD recommendations including, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) standards as a framework that improves and optimizes teaching and learning for all people. While UNCRPD is important because it is a tool for ensuring that people with disability have access to the same rights and opportunities as everybody else, UDL means planning to build physical, learning and work environments so that they are usable by a wide range of people, regardless of age, size or disability status. The UNCRPD maintains that states shall guarantee that persons with disabilities receive the requisite supports within the general education system to promote their education. It also affirms that effective individualized supports are available within settings that “maximize academic and social development, consistent with the goal of full inclusion” (UN, 2007, Article 24[e]). The UNCRPD asserts that state parties shall “ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access general tertiary education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning without discrimination and on an equal basis with others”. On the other hand, the concept of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is key to inclusion because it increases access to equal learning opportunities within the mainstream teaching environment, including for learners with disabilities. UDL is a framework, based on scientific insights into how humans learn, to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people. UDL provides flexibility in the way information is provided, in the way learners respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the way, learners are engaged. UDL approach is for all learners - not just those who have a disability, and that learners require differing levels of support.

Despite all the reforms and undertaken activities in the country, lack of overall understanding as to what an inclusive education system entails are obvious, as well as what are the responsibilities of stakeholders. Thus, the Consultant is expected to conduct a training of trainers (ToT) of YRC staff, as well as South-Eastern European University (SEEU) staff that are responsible for implementing activities of the YRC on UNCRPD principles, and UDL concept. Based on practices in EU countries, the consultant is expected to developed recommendations with procedural guidelines and a minimum set of standards that YRC shall follow to become inclusive setting. In doing so, the Consultant is expected to guide and advice the YRC and SEEU staff in their efforts to follow the principles of accessibility as one of the guiding principles of UNCRPD. Based on the principle related to the equality of opportunities, support YRC to develop training materials that will be inclusive to all, at the same flexible enough and as per learners’ abilities.

By doing so, in close collaboration with the business community (up to 10 companies), examine and provide recommendation on the adaptive technologies that can be utilized along the process of learning, skills gaining and employment, so that adequate support can be required or expected by the business community, academia etc. In addition, in collaborative manner with other partners that are working on the inclusive market approach guide and support the develop at least one training programme that will be accessible and adjustable to all learners needs.

Scope of Work

The methodology of work will consist of desk review of relevant project documentation and direct consultations with the project team and other key local stakeholders involved during the assignment. Guidance material will be provided by UNDP and will include, but not be limited to the following:

• Project Document “Creating Job Opportunities for All—Main Phase”
• Training programme outlines, developed as per employers needs

The consultant should take the following elements into account for the gathering and analysis of data:

• Desk review of relevant documents for this assignment
• EU countries’ practices
• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stipulations

Moreover, consultant is expected to:

• to undertake discussions with YRC, SEEU, NGO “Izbor” and its training center
• to conduct a training of trainers (ToT) of YRC staff, as well as South-Eastern European University (SEEU) staff that are responsible for implementing activities of the YRC on UNCRPD principles, and UDL concept
• to developed recommendations with procedural guidelines and a minimum set of standards that YRC shall follow to become inclusive setting
• to support and guide YRC in its efforts of becoming inclusive setting
• to support YRC to develop training materials that will be inclusive to all, at the same flexible enough and as per learners’ abilities
• to support collaborative efforts of YRC with up to 10 companies (business sector) in finding solutions for utilization of adaptive technologies that will lead to development of at least one training programme that will be accessible and adjustable to all learners needs as per business sectors needs

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES:

The consultancy is expected to deliver the following outputs:

Deliverables

Tentative date

Training to YRC and SEEU’ s staff on UNCRPD principles, UDL concept, what an inclusive education system entails, the responsibilities of the stakeholders, and what are the roles of the various support services needed within the system

By 20th of November

Develop recommendations with procedural guidelines and a minimum set of standards that the YRC and SEEU staff need to follow, based on the UNCRPD principle of accessibility

By 30th of November

Provide recommendation on the adaptive technologies that can be utilized for the YRC activities, including web page, training programmes and etc.

By end of November 2020

Support the development of a training programme, in collaboration with other YRC partners working of enabling more inclusive markets for youth

By December 2020

Institutional arrangment

The consultant will work under direct supervision by the UNDP Social Inclusion Unit Staff. He/she will be in regular communication with the supervisor through e-mail and will provide regular progress reports on bi-weekly basis. All communication and reports will need to be prepared in English language. UNDP Social Inclusion Unit Staff estimated lead time to review outputs, give comments, certify approval/acceptance of outputs, etc. shall be within 5 working days.

Duration of the Work

The assignment shall commence on 1st of November 2020 and the tasks should be completed latest by 20th of December 2020.

Duty station and travel

Total estimated time for this assignment is 30 working days.

If unforeseen travel is requested by UNDP and not required by the Terms of References (ToR), such travel shall be covered by UNDP in line with applicable rules and regulations and upon prior written agreement.

Competencies

• Excellent communications and facilitation skills;
• Excellent analytical and negotiation skills.
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

The selected candidates shall possess:

• University degree in development studies, social science, education, inclusion of people/children with disabilities and related areas, where advanced university degree shall be considered as an asset;
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible relevant experience in related fields of development, social science, education, inclusion of people/children with disabilities and related areas, where experience in North Macedonia should be considered as an asset;
• Record of participation in at least 3 assignments of similar size and degree of complexity, such as participation in designing services for people/children with disability, preparation and/or analysis of services for people/children with disability etc., where assignment undertaken in North Macedonian shall be considered as an asset;
• Experience in developing and implementation of projects/ programmes/activities in the area of on social science, education, inclusion of people/children with disabilities or related topics;
• Participation in national/ international bodies or/ and associations working on education, inclusion of people/children with disabilities and related areas, shall be considered as an asset
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF BEST OFFER

The award of the contract shall be made to the offeror whose offer has been evaluated and determined using Cumulative analysis methodology. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) Being responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score based on the following weight of technical and financial criteria for solicitation as per the schedule below:

* Technical criteria weight: 70%

* Financial criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70%) in the technical evaluation shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

For the considered offers in the financial evaluation only, the lowest price offer will receive 30 points. The other offers will receive points in relation to the lowest offer, based on the following formula: (Pn / Pl) * 30 where Pn is the financial offer being evaluated and Pl is the lowest financial offer received.

Technical Criteria:

Criteria

Maximum points

70

Advanced university degree in development studies, social science, education, inclusion of people/children with disabilities and related areas

• BA=5
• MA = 7
• PhD = 10

10

Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible relevant experience in related fields of development, social science, education, inclusion of people/children with disabilities and related areas, where experience in North Macedonia should be considered as an asset

• 10 years = 15 points
• Above 10 = 20 points

20

Record of participation in at least 3 assignments of similar size and degree of complexity, such as participation in designing services for people/children with disability, preparation and/or analysis of services for people/children with disability etc., where assignment undertaken in North Macedonian shall be considered as an asset

• at least 3 assignments of interest - 10 points

• at least 5 assignments of interest - 15 points

• more than 5 assignments of interest, including assignment in North Macedonia - 20 points

20

Experience in developing and implementation of projects/ programmes/activities in the area of on social science, education, inclusion of people/children with disabilities or related topics

• Good experience – at least 3 assignments of interest - 10 points

• Very good experience- at least 5 assignments of interest – 15 points

• Excellent experience – more than 5 assignments of interest – 20 Points

20

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED

Interested offerors are invited to submit the following documents/information to be considered:

1. Offeror’s letter, as per the following form LINK
2. Most updated CV with focus on required qualification as well as the contact details of at least three (3) professional references
3. List of relevant assignment as per the section criteria
4. Financial Proposal The financial proposal must be expressed in the form of a lumpsum all-inclusive cost*, supported by breakdown of costs as per template provided in USD for this consultancy (The term “All inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances, communications, consummables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal. As for the indication of the cost of living in a duty station/destination, the Contractor informs the Offerors that the UN’s Daily Subsistence Allowance for Skopje is 134 USD)

Failure to submit complete set of all required documents will result in disqualification from the process.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation from UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Step 1

1. Click on the "Apply now" button

2. Input your information in the appropriate sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume, and motivation (cover letter). You can type in or paste your short Resume into the last box.

3. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload other required documents listed in the step 2.

Step 2

Interested individual consultants must submit the documents/information listed in the “Documents to submit section” above.

The system will allow only one attachment. Therefore, please upload all required documents as one file.

Failing to submit any of these documents may result in disqualification of the application.

Please note that shortlisted candidates might be interviewed.

If the deliverables are not produced and delivered by the consultant to the satisfaction of UNDP as approved by the responsible Portfolio Manager, no payment will be made even if the consultant has invested man/days to produce and deliver such deliverables.

Apply now

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org