National Consultant to Lead the Process of Public-private Partnership (PPP) for Management of a Kitchen Utility in the Multifunctional Center for Social Services in Gostivar

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 inclusive prosperity worth USD 15 million per year.

UNDP is seeking short-term conusultant to lead the process of public-private partnership (PPP) for management of a kitchen utility in the Multifunctional Center for Social Services in Gostivar. This center is under adaptation process in a cooperation project between UNDP and the Municipality of Gostivar. The establishment of PPP is foreseen for the purpose of development of a business model regarding existing kitchen utility in the Multifunctional Center for Social Services in Gostivar. This center needs to incorporate work-oriented, occupational acitivities, training and care services for persons with disabilities in Polog Region. The consultancy shall be conducted on behalf of UNDP, for the benefit of the Municipality of Gostivar that is the owner of the premises and is potentially seen as a beneficiary institution. The final aim is to provide sustainable solutions for work-oriented, occupational activities, training, and care services for persons with disabilities in Polog Region.

The possibility for development of the private public partnership relates to a specific part of the premises planned for the kitchen with about 53m2. It needs to be established in a kind of a business model with a private company to manage and operate in a profitable way, but to preserve on the main goal dedicated for delivering trainings in culinary and gastronomy for all job seekers especially persons with disabilities. The opportunity for the business arises in the food production industry, and more specifically to culinary and gastronomy, catering or hospitality sub-sector so that the training programs will be connected to the same industry. The training will serve for gaining qualifications for certain jobs in the mentioned industry in order to further increase the employability of the vulnerable target group.

The main intention is to attract a private partner that will develop a profitable business so that it will be able to incorporate and provide the training in a sustainable way. Therefore, the Municipality is ready to announce a public tender where the private sector can compete with a best offer in terms of investment but needs to offer also about 3-5 training programs with a precise duration and inclusion of a specific number of disabled people across the training. The training is possibly foreseen in cooperation with a civil society organization that is already experienced in provision of training for the appointed target group. It could be in kind of consortia or a specific partnership that includes both parties for different segment of the work. The private sector can also compete to offer to employ a specific number of disabled people at the appointed location.

The consultancy will be conducted under the project – Creating Job Opportunities for All – main Phase. It is designed in a joint response to the stagnant integration of Roma, persons with disabilities and youth as population segments exposed to multiple barriers in accessing to the labour market. UNDP in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has launched the project at the beginning of 2019 with a strong focus on enhancing the employability and facilitating employment of the most vulnerable individuals. The Project offers innovative policy and programming solutions to activate Roma and persons with disabilities in the open labour market while promoting services for broader social inclusion. In addition, the project provides creative solutions to address the problem of youth unemployment. It tackles also economic reintegration of long-term unemployed, but also institutional and non-formal barriers and drivers of exclusion.

Duties and Responsibilities

The man objective of the consultancy is to define the business model of PPP and lead the process of establishment of the PPP in cooperation with the Municipality of Gostivar, including the announcement of the public tender and guidance in potential selection of the private partner.

The PPP is foreseen for the purpose of development of a business in regard to existing kitchen utility in the municipal premises, that will incorporate also training for people with disabilities. The possible business model needs to include a civil society organization, consulting etc. in a consortium with the private partner, or other type of partnership developed between the two parties, so that the first one is responsible for development of the business, and the other one is responsible for the training.

The main intention is to explore all opportunities on behalf of the private sector and identify potential partners from Gostivar and wider Polog region interested to send a competitive offer in response to the public tender for PPP. The public tender will be announced by the municipality of Gostivar. The PPP and the public tender will be related to the management of the kitchen utility in the Multifunctional Center for Social Services in Gostivar. The kitchen is partially already equipped but the private partner needs to propose an appropriate plan to additionally invest in the kitchen as part of a profitable business, that will include also training and skills development of the people with disabilities. The propositions for the private sector need to be prepared to invest further in the kitchen equipment and final look of the location, depending on the type of the business they could specifically develop. The type of the potential partners can range in different types of businesses from food production industry, that can include but are not limited to bakery, pizzas and sandwiches, production of cakes or other confectionery products, production of soups, stews or other cooked dishes, fresh salads etc. and can include also catering and/or other hospitality services.

Scope of Work

Under direct supervision of the Project Manager, short-term consultant will undertake the following duties:

To collect all relevant information about the feasibility of the whole investment and development of the business model for private-public partnership for the specific location;
To propose an effective model that will include a development of profitable business in a food production industry, and will also incorporate the part for professional training and development of skills of people with disabilities;
To elaborate on the specific modality of the public-private partnership to also include a civil society organization proposed in a type of consortium, that will be responsible for the training and skills development;
To assess the needs of the potential partners and identify about 15 private partners for an appropriate info-session in relation to the upcoming public tender;
To organize specific info-session and facilitate on discussion and elaboration of the model in a type of consortia between the private partner and civil society organization;
To determine and prepare all documents for the public tender and other necessary documentation for selection of the potential private sector partner and/or consortium;
To guide and lead the process of a transparent selection of the best offer coming on behalf of the private partners/consortia;
To set up a monitoring tool and indicators for monitoring and controlling the key outcomes and achievements of the successful partnership in a period of about 3-5 years;

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES:

The consultancy is expected to deliver the following outputs:

Deliverables

% of full contract amount

Tentative date

Develop a feasible model of PPP that can respond to the situation at the appointed location and needs and prospects of the Municipality of Gostivar and related partners; (The model should be elaborated in about 10 - 15 pages)

20%

By 25th of January 2022

Identify 15 potential private partners from food production industry in Gostivar and wider Polog region that are potentially interested to compete for public tender of PPP;

Organize an info session with 15 private partners, including another 5-8 potential civil society organizations that work with disabled people, and attract interest for the upcoming public tender in type of consortia specifically organized for this purpose;

30%

By 30th of January 2022

Prepare the public tender and all the supporting documentation for selection of the private partner/consortia and release public announcement;

30%

By 10th of February 2022

Announce and guide the selection and evaluation process;

20%

By 15th of March 2022

All deliverables need to be finalized upon suggestions provided from UNDP representative.

Institutional arrangment

The consultant will work under direct supervision of the Project Manager. He/she will be in regular communication with the supervisor through e-mail and will follow on regular progress on a weekly basis. The important communication and correspondence needs to be provided in English language, but the prepared material and also, the related documents need to be prepared in Macedonian/and translated also in Albanian language.

In course of performing his/her job, the consultant will need to meet with UNDP, Municipality of Gostivar as a main beneficiary and also, relevant parties from private and civil society sector in Gostivar and wider Polog region. The consultant is solely responsible for scheduling of these meetings, organizing of travel and informing UNDP representative to possibly join the meeting schedule with at least 3 days in advance.

Duration of the Work

The duration of the Consultancy is estimated on 30 working days in the period 20th January 2022 to 31st of March 2022.

Duty station and travel

The assignment will relate to Skopje duty station and envisages partly desk research and home-based work, but also serial of meetings and visits of the main beneficiary and the appointed location, visiting on-site and meetings with different parties in order to collect necessary data and information.

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.

Competencies

Ability to define the business model of PPP and lead the process of the establishment of the model in cooperation with the local government and the private sector;
Ability to successfully conduct relevant needs-assessment and analysis of the private sector but also civil society organizations;
Experience in preparation of feasibility studies, preparation of public tenders and executing public-private partnerships and contracts;
Good understanding of social services provided to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups;
Ability to work and perform well under time pressures and considerable workload;
Report writing abilities;
Ability and willingness to travel;

Required Skills and Experience

The selected candidates shall possess:

Advanced university degree in economy, technical sciences, engineering, business management or a related field;
Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in development of procedures for public private partnership, conducting feasibility studies and executing public-private partnerships and contracts;
Experience in providing support and guidance on public procurement for public institutions of national or a local type;
Comparative experience in needs-assessment, research and analysis;
Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English.