Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. The Government of Albania has made national and international commitments to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in many different areas of life. Several international conventions and platforms, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Platform for Action, demonstrate Albania’s commitment to the realization of women’s rights and the achievement of gender equality.

UN Women Albania Strategic Note (SN) 2022-2026 aims to ensure that “All Women and girls enjoy and exercise their human rights in a gender equal society and meaningfully contribute to Albania’s sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development and EU integration”. UN Women is implementing jointly with UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA), the UN Joint Programme “Leave No One Behind 2”. UN Women interventions within the project aim to empower vulnerable women to have equal access to public services that support their social rights, social inclusion and well-being. In that regard, UN Women is working to strengthen capacities of state authorities at central and local level to apply a gender and intersectionality perspective in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies, policies and plans relevant for social inclusion and protection. To achieve such result, across its interventions, UN Women Albania addresses key thematic areas in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022 – 2026[1], specifically STRATEGIC PRIORITY A. Human capital development & social inclusion and Outcome A; By 2026, there is increased and more equitable investment in people, removing barriers and creating opportunities for those at risk of exclusion.

Throughout the recent years UN Women has worked with central and local government to address social inclusion and the needs of the vulnerable groups with a focus on women and girls. As social care services reform is underway in Albania, UN Women alongside other UN Agencies is committed to support efforts to social inclusion and protection of vulnerable groups. One of the main challenges when addressing social inclusion and protection issues of vulnerable women and girls in Albania is the lack of addressing intersectional vulnerabilities of women. This is rooted in a lack of understanding as to how women and girls from different marginalized groups and those with multiple vulnerabilities have different needs and experiences which inherently affect their access to resources, services, justice, and empowerment. In addition to the existing perceptions, these factors further curtail gender equality by limiting access to equal opportunities.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection through support from UNICEF, in the framework of two UN Joint Programmes in Albania: Financing of SDGs supported through JSDGF and Leave None Behind supported by SDC, has initiated the development of the new Social Protection Strategy 2023-2030. The strategy will be the key government document to promote social cohesion and equality through adequate, accessible, and financially sustainable social protection systems and social inclusion policies. The strategy of social protection should demonstrate a promotional approach of social protection and the potential of the basic social security instruments to strengthen human, productive and social capital, as well as the capacity for resilience of the most vulnerable households and individuals.

In this framework UN Women will cooperate with UNICEF and will support the Ministry of Health and Social Protection for mainstreaming gender perspective in the upcoming National Strategy on Social Protection 2023-2030, ensuring compliance with EU and international standards Albania has adhered to, including CEDAW and SDG targets on gender equality. The upcoming strategy needs to clearly state the commitment of the Albanian Government to an integrated social protection system that protects women and men equally through their lifecycles, including in times of shocks and crisis through adequate, accessible, and inclusive social protection measures that take into consideration intersectional discrimination of women. The strategy should be drawn up considering the profile of vulnerability and risks in the country, the new ways of measuring poverty and deprivation, with an engendered diagnosis of the current situation of the system and it should establish clear gender responsive goals, indicators, and targets. The strategy should capitalize on the ongoing reforms on cash assistance, disability, and social care services, so as should ensure alignment and complementarity with the National Strategy on Gender Equality Strategy 2021-2030 as well as other gender equality relevant policy documents and plans.

[1] UN Albania UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework: https://albania.un.org/en/153115-government-albania-united-nations-sustainable-development-cooperation-framework-2022-2026

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UN Women Albania Program Manager on National Planning and Budgeting and in close coordination with UNICEF team and implementing partner in charge of leading work for the National Social Protection Strategy drafting the Consultant will be responsible for engendering the development of the National Social Protection Strategy.

More detailed tasks include:

• Participate in key meetings with MoHSP, UNICEF and UN Women with the purpose of drafting a joint workplan;
• Conduct a desk review and compile a list of available analyses, data, reports and studies related to social protection issues and challenges in Albania from a gender perspective as well as thematic UN and/or EU gender mainstreaming guidance notes on this topic in order to contribute with gender analysis during the development of the situation analysis of the strategy and ensure that all chapters reflect latest data and statistics on gender equality and gaps in the country and links to the National Strategy of Gender Equality and its Action Plan.
• Based on the desk review of the key documents, guide the MoHSP to establish quantified gender sensitive objectives and targets for the Social Protection Strategy 2023-2030 that address gender gaps in the social protection field and related intersectionalities.
• Work with the team to develop a gender responsive draft policy vision and draft objectives/priorities for the new strategy;
• Provide inputs and suggestions to major building blocks of the strategy, so as to draft a fully gender responsive context analyses/situation that addresses gender inequalities of women in the sphere of social protection and related intersectionality;
• Provide inputs from a gender perspective to the first draft of the National Social Protection Strategy and participate in the consultation/validation process with partners.
• Contribute to the development of an engendered action plan of the strategy through a consultative process with MoHSP.
• Participate and contribute to stakeholders’ workshops that will take place for the discussion of the strategy, plan of action, indicators and targets.
• Prepare presentations, briefs and minutes for key events/meetings as relevant and requested by the Program Manager;
• Provide a report on reflection of UN Women inputs, comments and recommendations in the final/approved strategy and action plan (in English).

Expected deliverables:

• A work plan comprising a detailed methodology, workplan and timelines (to be consulted with and approved by UN Women and in consultation with UNICEF team);
• Inception report: list of stakeholders and reference documents with tracked inputs
• Draft Situation analysis with tracked inputs
• Draft strategy paper with tracked inputs
• Draft Action Plan with tracked inputs
• Final strategy, costed and budgeted action plan with M&E framework in line with the gender equality national requirements.
• PPT presentation for donors and IPMG. Reports from stakeholders’ workshops.
• Report on the GE inputs/comments/suggestions from UN Women that were reflected in the final/approved version of the strategy and action plan
• Final consultancy report in English including minutes of main meetings and workshops with counterparts and partners.

All deliverables should be agreed with UN Women and be provided in English, in electronic copy. Reports and timesheets need to be duly signed and submitted to UN Women as per agreed deadlines.

Duration and remuneration:

The duration of the contract will be up to 60 working days in the period between March – December 2023. The payment will be made in installments and upon satisfactory completion of all tasks and deliverables in the assignment, and submission and approval by UN Women.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues

• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Excellent understanding of vulnerabilities, gender equality and social protection/social inclusion issues;
• Excellent understanding of social protection sector;
• Excellent analytical thinking and research, writing, reporting and presentation skills;
• Flexibility to adapt to a broad range of central and local government stakeholders;
• Strong inter-personal, team working and communication skills;
• Ability to work and adapt to a dynamic working environment;
• Knowledge and skills to mainstream gender equality in outputs.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic requirements:

• Master’s degree in gender studies, human rights, social sciences or any other related science

Work Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant work experience, particularly in social protection/care and inclusion policy development, implementation and monitoring

• At least 3 years of progressive experience in conducting gender responsive research/analyses, and proven experience in providing capacity building to national and/or local administrations in the field of gender equality;
• Experience with mainstreaming gender in social services related policy and planning documents;
• Experience working with UN Agencies or other international organizations is preferable.

Language Requirements: Excellent written and oral English and Albanian communication skills are required.

Scope of Financial Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

• Financial Proposal specifying the total fee in Albanian Lek for the tasks (60 days).

Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services and travel- missions).

• Payment will be made as per the payment schedule in the contract upon (i) satisfactory completion of tasks; (ii) provision of deliverables specified in the ToRs; (iii) submission of and approval of final draft; and (iv) submission of the respective certification of payment.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

Qualified and interested candidates are required to apply online:

• A Letter of Confirmation of Interest including a brief description explaining why the individual considers her/himself as the most suitable for the assignment.
• Completed and signed UN Women Personal History Form (P11) that can be downloaded at link:UN Women Personal History Form (P11) or http://www.unwomen.org/en/about- us/employment
• Financial Proposal specifying a daily fee in ALL (Albanian Leke) for the tasks specified in this assignment, following the instructions under the above section on Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments.

Evaluation of applicants:

Candidate will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicant’ qualifications and financial proposal. Contract will be awarded to the consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received high score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Technical Evaluation –70 points:

• Master’s degree in gender studies, human rights, social sciences, or any other related science – 10 points;
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience, particularly in social protection/care and inclusion policy development, implementation and monitoring – 20 points;
• At least 3 years of progressive experience in conducting gender responsive research/analyses, and proven experience in providing capacity building to national and/or local administrations in the field of gender equality– 20 points;
• Experience with mainstreaming gender in social services related policy and planning documents – 15 points;
• Experience working with UN Agencies or other international organizations is preferable – 5 points.

Financial Evaluation – 30 points

• Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.
• The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion. The calculation formula applied is as follow:

p = 30 (µ/z); where: p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated; µ = price of the lowest priced proposal; z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application. UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel 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.)