National consultant/Architect to design physically accessible furniture and equipment for multifunctional community center and people with disabilities

Background

“Improving Municipal Social Protection Service Delivery” (IMSPSD) is a two-year long UN Joint Programme which catalyses a step-change in the quantity and quality of delivery at local (municipal) level of integrated social care, as part of an effective integrated social protection system. It builds upon the vast experience of the UN in addressing social inclusion, protection and the needs of the most vulnerable groups including Roma, refugees and migrants, persons with disabilities, vulnerable children, elderly, rural women, and women at risk of Gender Based Violence. The programme supports the implementation of the newly shaped vision of the social sector in Albania, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the country’s aspirations towards European Union (EU) integration. The programme avails of technical expertise and know-how of UN agencies aiming at allowing for greater impact and outreach by focusing on the municipal level and its linkage to the national level.

The programme’s goal – contribute to support Albanian Government translate the policy intent into proper local actions so that men, women, girls and boys living in poverty, or vulnerable situation have access to integrated, quality social care services- supports the vision of an overall inclusive Albania. Pilot municipalities are Tirana, Kamza, Puka, Rrogozhina, Progradec and Devoll. The joint programme supports Albania’s progress in view of achieving SDGs - being directly related to social protection/inclusion - especially SDGs 1-5 (no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, 10 (reduced inequalities), and 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions).

In order to achieve the goal, the programme focuses on the following outcome:

All women, men, girls and boys, especially those from marginalized and vulnerable groups, are exercising their entitlements to equitable quality services, in line with human rights; and more effective and efficient investments in human and financial resources are being made at central and local levels to ensure social inclusion and cohesion.

The programme’s target groups who indirectly and directly benefit from improved social care services, are the marginalized populations of Albania, with persons with disabilities often being the most vulnerable, along with Roma and Egyptians as well as children, women, migrant, refugees, long term unemployed etc. The improvement of their social protection is supported by interventions at macro level (central government authorities and national services), at meso level (municipalities and civil society organizations), and at micro level, actively involving the project’s target groups into the project’s implementation. The “Improving Municipal Social Protection Service Delivery” programme is implemented through the modalities of the Delivering as One (DaO) mechanism, under the Programme of Cooperation for Sustainable Development 2017-2021, with the joint participation of UN agencies, including UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA, UNHCR, WHO and ILO, and in close partnership with relevant governmental bodies at the central and local levels. UNDP is the lead UN agency for the overall implementation and coordination of the Programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Joint Program "Improving the Delivery of Local Social Protection Services" is providing technical assistance to the municipalities of Tirana, Rrogozhina, Devoll, Kamza, Puka and Pogradec to design and administer local social plans and provide integrated social services. More specifically related to this assignment, the programme is supporting Devoll municipality to adapt and establish the services of a multifunctional community center. The center will provide social care services to several categories of beneficiaries:

a) Any child and their families, including minors in conflict with the law;

b) Adults, with socio-economic problems belonging to vulnerable groups such as Roma and Egyptians;

c) Adults with social problems due to poverty, who are beneficiaries of economic assistance;

d) Persons with disabilities;

e) Elderly in need, etc.

Services to be provided include:

"Community services": day care, library, information and awareness activities, recreational activities, homework preparation, extracurricular courses, life skills courses, etc.

"Pre-social services": services that include informing the beneficiaries of social care services by service providers, assisting beneficiaries in determining their needs, initial assessment, support and assistance with the choice that suits the needs of the beneficiary in the social services system.

"Specialized services": various psychosocial therapies, speech therapy, physiotherapy, employment counseling etc.

The design of furniture and professional equipment is critical to social functioning with direct impact on social wellbeing, earnings, education and health of the “clients” of the multifunctional community center. Thus, UNDP seeks to contract an Architect to design physically accessible furniture and equipment for the multifunctional community center and people with disabilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the programme manager, the expert/architect will:

Assist with designing the furniture and other equipment arrangements for the new multifunctional community center of Devoll.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

Detailed design and specifications, including cost estimation for the furniture and other equipment arrangements for community center to be established.

Duration of the Work

The duration of this assignment is for a maximum of 6 person-days over the period of 1 month from contract signature.

Competencies

Corporate:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age differences;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:

Ability to work collaboratively with other programme professionals;
Excellent understanding of physical accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities;
Creativity;
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to pose questions, listen, evaluate and capture opinions, suggestions and comments;
Capacity to deliver as per the deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

Master University Degree in Architecture
Professional license of category 2/b, 2/c, 2/ç, (business and/or socio-cultural facilities, and exterior and interior design).

Relevant Experience:

Minimum ten years work experience in architectural design;
Professional experience in architectural design for socio-cultural buildings;
Proven experience in exterior and interior design of premises meeting the various needs of persons with disabilities for physical accessibility;
Similar work experience with UNDP or other national and international organizations is much appreciated

Language

Fluency in written and spoken Albanian and English.