Re- Advertisement: National consultant for UNICEF Albania office to support MHSP in the efforts of opening chapter 19

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 every child, Social Protection

On 25 March 2020, the European Council decided to open the accession negotiations with the Republic of Albania, in light of the progress achieved on reforms and the fulfilment of the conditions set unanimously by the Council in June 2018. The Council in its conclusions assessed that Albania had demonstrated its determination to advance the EU reform agenda and had delivered tangible and sustained results, fulfilling the conditions identified by the June 2018 Council for the opening of accession negotiations. The National Plan for European Integration 2022 – 2024 was approved by the Decision of Council of Ministers No 91 of 09.02.2021 aiming to coordinate this approximation process while aiming simultaneously at the fulfilment of the obligations under the Stabilization and Association Agreement and the obligations that arise as part of the process of membership in the European Union.

In order to accelerate the process of approximation of Albanian legislation, administrative reforms and institutional infrastructure with the acquis of the European Union a series of processes should be undertaken by different sectors. The preparation for the accession and negotiation process poses an enormous management and administrative challenge for the Albanian government. To this end, to support the process of opening of the chapter 19 (Social Policy and Employment) technical support will be provided to MHSP focusing on the area of social protection, which would imply the areas of cash assistance, disability and social care services. Through combined international and national expertise, the support will ensure that MHSP has taken the necessary steps and will be ready to open the chapter in due time. While the main focus of the work will be the support to opening of the chapter 19, technical expertise will also be availed to MHSP so that they can fully contribute to the opening of other relevant chapters, namely: chapter 23 (fundamental rights) and chapter 18 statistics.

The technical support will enable the preparation of MHSP for the screening process which means that the work will entail a prescreening to understand the extent to which social protection legislation, policy and institutional set up is aligned with EU acquis, outline plans for further alignment and provide or adopt the required technical content.

How can you make a difference?

The national consultant is expected to be performing the following tasks:

• Through formal and informal meetings with MHSP, Ministry for EU integration and other important players understand the process timeline and requirement, including the process of establishing the benchmarks for cluster 3 which includes social protection. Review the National Action Plan for EI integration and actions defined for chapter 19 (focusing on the area of social protection), as well as the two latest EU country progress reports. Review also the actions for chapter 23 and chapter 18 and extract only those that are relevant for MHSP.
• Review all the documents that Albania has produced with regard to chapter 19 (social protection) and makes a preliminary screening. Make recommendations for the content that needs to be produced for the approximation. This task will be further supported by an international consultant.
• Support with materials, briefs and documents all responsible staff working for the chapter
• Support with materials, briefs and documents all responsible staff working for the chapter 19 (area of social protection). When an international consultant is hired, support the process of developing the proper content

The national consultant will also have to be able to provide regular briefs and updates for ongoing processes, an example but not the only is the development of the social protection strategy 2023-2030. The national consultant is expected to consider that the approximation of the documents for the chapter opening maintains alignment with international treaties and benchmarks, including the international and national targets for SDGs. The consultant will work closely with MHSP team responsible for the negotiations, including the EU integration UNIT

Finally, the consultant will have to develop a clear workplan for al the tasks above which will have to be developed and agreed by MHSP and UNICEF. The workplan should be reviewed and updated regularly in line with the process dynamics.

Deliverable 1****: Makes the preliminary screening (to be completed during October-November 2022) 25 working days

• Review national action plan for EU integration, latest EU country reports, the LGA (screening list Chapter 19) and IAGA. Meet with all actors
• Provide comments to both LGA and IAGA aiming at completing/reviewing the information on the Albanian state of play in view of EU acquis requirements. The goal is to provide information on important aspects and elements for the presentation in the bilateral meeting.
• Highlights important aspects/ requirements deriving from the acquis in the area of social protection, discusses them with MHSP and prepares a short report with the next steps for the country, indicating clearly what are the changes that need to happen, at what level and what are the documents expected to be produced.
• Prepares a presentation with the Albanian advancements aligned with acquis to be used for the bilateral screening. Provide three briefings online/ or in person based on the gaps identified to guide the work for the next steps of chapter screening

Deliverable 2. Supports the approximation process, including providing support to MHSP for the negotiation process (to be completed within December 2022-June 2023) 50 working days

• Provide inputs as needed to the reporting and issue related to chapter 19.
• Supports MHSP with any documentation of briefing needed for the cluster introductory meeting. Support MHSP unpack the benchmarks for cluster screening.
• Make summaries, or draft content for the new documents that need to be produced for the approximation process

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

- Advanced degree or equivalent in relevant areas of studies such as: law, economics, education, social science, international and European relations & management.

- More than 10 years of demonstrated professional experience with social policy analysis.

- Demonstrated experience in report writing.

- More than 10 years of professional experience related with EU accession negotiations in the area of social policies.

- Preferred experience in at least one Western Balkan country in EU accession related matters (preferably in a candidate country)

- Language skills: business fluency in English

What to submit:

1. Letter of intent to confirm the ability to perform the tasks and confirm qualifications.
2. Previous work conducted in this area of expertise including links, samples of work.
3. A concept paper (not longer than 1-2 pages) providing the consultant’s methodology, references, plan for conducting this consultancy.
4. Daily fee in albanian (inclusive of all taxes)

For every Child, you demonstrate:

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

If you have any question related to the terms and deliverables please contact Elvana Pernaska at epernaska@unicef.org.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 advance 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.