National consultant to support the shock responsive support and cash plus assistance project in Albania

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For more information on what UNICEF does in Albania click the link https://www.unicef.org/albania

For every child, a Champion!

Albania was one of the first countries to agree to take in at-risk Afghans citizens after the withdrawal of the international forces in Afghanistan. UNICEF office in Albania is currently supporting a total of 4,000 evacuated Afghan people who are residing in the country through a number of interventions including support to education, health, child protection and gender-based violence. Since August, UNICEF has started the cash plus intervention as an effective way to address the immediate needs of vulnerable children and families in times of crisis and emergencies. The initiative is implemented through an implementing partner. The “Cash plus” support is a comprehensive and holistic approach through which the multifaceted needs of Afghani children and their families will be addressed. The intervention on cash plus aims at integrating and coordinating additional services and support in order to address the underlying factors that improve the outcomes for Afghani children and their families. The local partner ‘Plan and Go’ will coordinate the efforts and will utilize the existing referral system as a valuable mechanism to refer cases to other partners operating in the targeted location to ensure the provision of critical services such as health care, education, psychosocial support and child protection services to the Afghani children and their families. The model of cash plus offers an opportunity to support the refugee families and at the same time, it serves as an opportunity to the local economy and building bridges between the hosting communities and the refugees. The practice built on this model may offer opportunities to further contribute to building a shock responsive social protection system in Albania that could response to future crises situations by using lesson learnt and evidence from the field.

How can you make a difference?

The national expert will work under the supervision of the UNICEF Social Protection Specialist and will provide comprehensive support in coordinating and overviewing the shock responsive related initiatives and the cash plus project implemented by UNICEF in Albania (Shengjin area). Furthermore, the expert will conduct regular monitoring visits in the field, regular monthly meetings with other key partners in the area to ensure coordination amongst various initiatives, prepare short briefs and advocacy messages on the shock responsive model to inform the national social protection system and ensure visibility of the initiatives by using UNICEF social media platforms and other channels of communications. The expert will coordinate organization of workshops and other events and overview reporting and draw evidence from the field to inform the progress of the response.

Work assignment will include the below deliverables and timeframes:

1.1 Establish the partnership with local partner implementing the cash plus project and other key partners in the area implementing different initiatives. Identify key challenges and key opportunities to strengthen coordination, explore a model of establishing a cash responsive working group in close consultation with UNICEF and other key partners in the area. This practice could be potentially evolved into a national level practice to inform the implementation of the new strategy on social protection, focused on shock responsive.

Deliverable: Inception report delivered; 10 working days - to be finalized by the end of 1st month

1.2 Provide guidance and support to the local partner in documenting and capitalizing the practice through an evidence-based process

Deliverable: Capitalization document produced by the local partner reviewed, commented, and delivered; 3 working days - to be finalized by the end of 4th months

1.3 Prepare 1 Policy Brief based on the capitalization of the practice, including advocacy messages.

Deliverable: Policy brief delivered (max 5 -7 pages); 5 working days following the document capitalization by local partners

1.4 Provide guidance and support to the local partner in preparing the video documenting the practice on cash assistance.

Deliverable: Guidance and suggestions to the local partner in preparing the video on documenting the practice on cash assistance delivered; 3 working days to prepare suggestions/review the materials by end of 4th months

1.5 Conduct regular monthly monitoring visits, follow the cash + assistance project, prepare field reports on the progress of the project. Provide support to monitoring the Protocol on Allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). Making sure that complain mechanisms are available, complaints are treated, people know they can reach out to UNICEF

Deliverable: Monthly reports delivered, following UNICEF template; 13 working days for monthly monitoring visits

1.6 Organize regular bi-monthly technical coordination meetings with other key partners in the area to ensure coordination and synergies btw cash and care interventions.

Deliverable: Minutes of meetings on multiagency coordination with the focus on progress prepared & delivered (based on an agreed template); 12 working days in total for all bimonthly meetings.

1.7 Prepare ToR for a Cash Assistance Working Group (following UNICEF good practices) for a long-term approach to cash plus and coordination. Furthermore, the ToR should include a map of national stakeholders who have been engaged in cash assistance, introduce with partners and establish the first cash assistance working group as part of the initiative. Upon agreement, establish the Cash assistance working group in the area.

Deliverable: ToR prepared and consolidated with the inputs from UNICEF and other relevant partners. Establish the Cash assistance working group and conveying the first meeting; 15 working days - to be finalized by the end of 7th month.

1.8 Coordinate and facilitate organizing a 2 days’ workshop on shock responsive social protection in close consultation with UNICEF (national and regional office). The workshop will serve as a learning event, sharing of good practices, discussion of challenges and drawing lesson learnt and linkages to the national social protection strategy of Albania.

Deliverable: Concept note delivered for the event, coordinate with UNICEF national and regional office on the agenda, identify facilitators and trainers, coordinate administrative and logistical matters, prepare talking points, prepare media briefing materials, prepare report documenting discussions and outcomes of the workshop; 15 working days - to be finalized by end of the 6th month.

1.9 Prepare bimonthly social media posts reflecting the work on cash plus assistance.

Deliverable: Monthly posts on social media delivered in coordination with the local partner as relevant; 3 working days (0.5 days for each posting for a total of 6 postings) throughout the contract time.

1.10 Revision of quarterly reports in coordinate with UNICEF Social Protection Specialist and Programme Assistant, follow up with the partner on finalization and approval.

Deliverable: Quarterly reports delivered; 6 working days (1.5 day for each quarterly report)

1.11 Prepare a Concept Note for establishing a shock responsive training course for professionals in close coordination with UNICEF office in Albania and regional office.

Deliverable: Concept Note/Outline on the training course following UNICEF template delivered (including main documents for reference) - 8 working days by the end of 8th month

1.12 Overview, coordination and guidance to other related initiatives on shock responsive, prepare monitoring reports, advocacy briefs, and stories to promote good practices (in close consultation with the SP Specialist)

Deliverable: Regular monthly field monitoring reports on shock responsive related projects delivered; 25 working days (including preparation of reports/ suggestions).

Duration of the whole consultancy: end of October 2023 - end of December 2024

As part of the consultancy contract the expert will engage on one day local travels. The travel plan contains two daily trips per month to Shengjin and one daily trips per month to each of the municipalities of Kukes, Kamez, Puke, Bulqize, Fier, Korce, Skrapar, Diber and Divjake.

If you have any question related to the TOR for the consultancy, please contact Elvana Pernaska at epernaska@unicef.org

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (master’s) in social sciences and humanities, public policies; international development, economic, public administration, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated at least 7 years of experience in planning, assessing, designing and evaluation social protection policies.
• Demonstrated at least 5 years of experience of working and liaising with different stakeholders.
• Familiarity with international best practices and frameworks related to social protection and humanitarian response.
• Demonstrate experience in organizing workshops, conferences or high-level events.
• Ability to conceptualize and refine events themes, session topics and ensure relevance and coherence.
• Excellent writing skills in English and Albanian language and ability to synthetize complex information and prepare policy and advocacy briefs.
• Experience in shock responsive social protection and emergency response is an advantage.
• Flexibility in working arrangements.

What to submit:

• Letter of interest, summarizing the educational background, the working experience that is relevant to the assignment, and the specific role the candidate will play in collaboration with the key stakeholders involved in the process and UN relevant agencies in the area of social protection.
• Proposed methodological approach and management plan (3 pgs max)
• Updated CV clearly indicating relevant experience to the TOR.
• Financial proposal (all-inclusive lumpsum indicating daily fee and travel costs). The financial proposal shall be submitted in local currency (LEK) and should include all taxes.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advanced to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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