Re-advertised: National individual consultant - provide technical assistance in relation National individual consultant - provide technical assistance in relation to engaging adolescent boys

Contract

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1. Background and Context

Montenegro has an upper-middle-income economy and is a candidate for accession to the European Union (EU). This process is a national priority and a major driver of reforms for human and children’s rights.

Observance of human and child rights represents an important part of the enlargement policy for Montenegro and an essential value of the European Union. Thus, the country has undertaken relevant measures to implement institutional, legislative and administrative reforms to align its policies with those internationally recognized and make sure that the rights and needs of each individual child are observed and protected in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. However, not all children have benefitted equally and there are still significant regional and urban/rural inequalities to be addressed, as well as divergences between socioeconomic quintiles, and deprivations based on discrimination.

UNICEF Montenegro Country Programme (2017-2021) is aligned with the Government of Montenegro’s EU accession priorities, the National Strategy on Sustainable Development until 2030 and the Integrated UN Programme in Montenegro (UNDAF, 2017-2021). The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism.

Montenegro is a parliamentary democracy, with a single-chamber legislature. The Parliament adopts the Constitution, passes laws, approves the State budget and elects the Prime Minister. There are 81 seats in the Parliament. Through the election process, citizens transfer their sovereignty to their representatives, members of the Parliament, who strive to propose and pass laws which serve the best interests of each citizen. In doing so, the Parliament of Montenegro strives to use its convening power to shed light on various issues and align its functioning with the needs of various social strata. In the past, “Women’s” Parliament, “Children’s Parliament”, democracy workshops for children, etc. were organized. Thus, the Parliament continues to evolve its functioning, by adopting comparative practices and innovative approaches to engagement and interaction with the citizens. In 2021, the occasion of Days of Parliamentarism, normally celebrated toward the end of October, will give young people an insight into the processes of the legislature. To achieve this, simulation sessions of the Parliament will be organized, to empower adolescent boys and girls to have their rights protected and promoted.

2. Purpose and Objective

The objectives of the assignment are to enable the Parliament of Montenegro staff to engage adolescents and youth in its functioning, by relying on its own resources. Specifically, the intention is to enrich outreach to adolescent boys and girls through parliamentary simulation education programmes and enable the participants in simulation to get to know the parliamentary institutional structure and decision-making process and experience the democratic process of legislative procedures through active participation and practical experience. The work will be carried out in close cooperation with the team of the Education Centre of the Parliament of Montenegro. Overall, through the simulation the participants will: develop their skills of self-expression and public speaking/debate and negotiation skills; develop a sense of the parliamentary work and have hands-on experience in the Parliament of Montenegro and the people behind it; understand democratic processes and parliamentary system and gain further knowledge on how the society functions; promote youth activism and participation and awareness about the protection and promotion of child rights, enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

3. Methodology and Technical Approach

Engagement of adolescents in this activity will be done through the formal education system. A detailed parliamentary simulation programme with methodology and materials for high school teachers and students will be designed, as well as training for the staff of the Education Centre will be provided. The Consultant is expected to support the staff of the Education Centre in designing the programme and prepare materials for parliamentary simulation, as well as provide necessary training for the staff of the Education Centre. Therefore, this is envisaged as a training-of-trainers format, to ensure that capacities remain with the Education Centre team, thus ensuring sustainability.

4. Activities and Tasks

Under the direct supervision of UNICEF Child Rights Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, the local consultant will be responsible to deliver the following:

1. Conducting a comprehensive 15-day training programme for the staff of the Education Centre of the Parliament of Montenegro (for approximately 10 participants):

• Support the staff of the Education Centre (trainers) in designing the concept, programme curricula and methodology for interactive parliamentary simulation reflecting Montenegrin legislative procedure to include, but not limited to, introducing law proposals, introducing amendments, MP group work, committee work, plenary work, etc.;

• Train the trainers and provide them with the guidance, expertise and information specifically in relation to:

• Views and principles of political parties, political and electoral system in Montenegro, the complexities of decision-making process to include the law proposal, amandments, work in MP groups, committees, plenary;
• How to transfer knowledge to students on self-expression, public speaking/debating and negotiation skills, as well as defining problem statements and formulation policies to solve them;
• Nomination and selection process of participants in the parliamentary simulations (schools, teachers, students);
• Communication strategy with high school teachers who will be participating in simulation, in order to engage and coordinate with the teachers who will, with guide of the trainers, support the students in the preparation for the parliamentary simulation event (facilitators);
• Preparing the teachers and students as participants in the simulation;
• Defining specific roles of the participants (trainers, teachers, students and other participants in simulation);
• Defining views and principles of political groups in parliamentary simulation game;
• Defining the topic for draft bill and elements of the draft bill to reflect the topic of high interest to participating students in order to stimulate the debate.

2. Support the staff of the Education Centre to prepare relevant age-appropriate materials for participants in the parliamentary simulation (10-day training programme)
3. Deliverables and Timeframe

The Consultant is expected to deliver a comprehensive 25-day training programme for parliamentary staff and produce final consultancy report, with recommendations for future work.

Duration: This assignment will commence on March 22, 2021 and will end on May 30, 2020. The Consultant is expected to work using personal equipment. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, some parts of the assignment will need to be carried out online.

6. Management and Organisation

Management: The Consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Child Rights Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist.

Organization: National Consultant will be required for this consultancy.

7. Qualifications and Background

The Consultant is expected to have the following qualifications to complete the task.

Education:

• Advanced University Degree in political science, law, public administration or related fields.

  Experience:

• Minimum three years of professional experience working with parliamentary programmes.

• Prior work experience in working with youth.
• Prior work experience in developing child-friendly materials such as publications, brochures, infographics, banners, etc would be an asset.
• Knowledge of adult learning theories as well as communication and presentation methodologies.
• Prior work experience on such or similar programmes will be an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in Montenegrin (written and verbal) language is required.

Other:

• Proven ability to work and collaborate in a team and maintain excellent collegial and respectful working relations.
• Capacity to research, evaluate and synthesize information.
• Ability to present data in an interesting and effective way.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented with ability to work quickly and efficiently as part of a team.
• Ability to build and sustain effective working partnerships with relevant partners.
• Excellent writing skills in Montenegrin.
• Excellent computer skills including MS Office.

8. Budget and Remuneration

• Consultancy fee

The candidates are requested to submit their financial offer consisting of daily professional fee for the services to be provided, and other related costs (e.g. in case the training will be conducted online, other applicable costs such as Internet, communication applications, etc).

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 the Contract.

• Payment schedule

The payments will be made upon submission successful submission of deliverables:

Deliverable

Tentative timeline

Payment schedule

Upon successful delivery of a comprehensive 25-day training programme for parliamentary staff

April 2021

70%

Final report, with recommendations for future work – 1 working day

May 2021

30%

• Recourse

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

9.

Application procedure:

• To apply for the vacant position please submit P-11 form through “apply” button;

Candidates are requested to submit a financial offer as a separate document consisting of a daily professional fee and other applicable costs.

Selection Method:

All applicants will be screened against qualifications and requirements set above. Candidates fully meeting all the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below.

1. Technical Criteria - Interview – 70 % of total evaluation– max. 70 points

• Education: 20 points
• Previous experience: 30 points
• Technical questions at the interview: 20 points

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the technical part (who will score at least 49 points) will be qualified for considering for financial proposal evaluation.

2. Financial Criteria - 30 % of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

• Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

As part of the selection process, the office will select the individual who quoted the lowest fee from the list of individuals who are deemed suitable for achieving all tasks in time, and as per the criteria and deliverables stipulated in the Terms of Reference.

The recommendation for award of contract will be based on best combination of technical and financial score. Based on verified nominations and final scores, contract negotiations could be initiated with one or more successful candidates.

REMARK:

Mandatory learning: Upon concluding the recruitment process and prior to signing the contract, all Consultants and Individual Contractors, including those working from home, must complete the following three online courses

• Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF
• Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority
• Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA)

​In addition, Consultants and Individual Contractors must complete the following course before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF.

• BSAFE security training

The courses can be found on the following link: UNICEF Mandatory Training/Learning Classes​ .

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process;