Project Proposal Evaluator

Background

The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2[1]) is a continuation of the EU-UNDP partnership and previously supported initiative – ReLOaD1,[2] implemented in the period 2017 - 2020.

ReLOaD2 continues to strengthen participatory democracies and the EU integration process in the Western Balkans by empowering civil society and youth to actively take part in the decision making and by stimulating an enabling legal and financial environment for civil society. The programme is implemented in the following IPA beneficiaries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, and Serbia.

Working across the region, ReLOaD2 enhances capacities of municipalities and civil society organizations (CSOs) to engage in productive partnerships and contribute to improved service delivery and realization of local priorities in line with development strategies.

ReLOaD2 in Albania works with 11 partner municipalities[3] and two mentor partner municipalities[4] towards institutionalization of the partnership between these municipalities and the civil society sector. It incites partner municipalities to mainstream public funding for CSOs in a transparent and development-oriented manner, recognizing local needs and embracing a project-based approach. Also, the Action promotes youth engagement and support implementation of youth initiatives and will work on improvement of their economic perspectives in all partner localities.

In March 2022 UNDP in Albania and the State Minister for Youth and Children signed a Memorandum of Understanding in support of the youth sector in Albania. In this context UNDP Albania is supporting the State Minister for Youth and Children and the Youth Agency to adopt and use LOD methodology for the next public call as a transparent mechanism of funding from state budget to the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) specialized in youth related issues and Municipalities.

Pursuant to the adoption of the CoM Decision 566, date 29.07.2022 “For detailing selection criteria and procedures organizations for youth and youth organizations that benefit funding from state budget grants dedicated for youth”[5] based on LOD methodology, project proposals received in a public call are reviewed by an Evaluation Committee formed by state administration officials and external experts.

In this regard, UNDP in Albania in partnership with the Albanian State Minister for Youth and Children are seeking two experienced consultants for the evaluation of grant applications received within the framework of the Public Call of the National Youth Agency[6].

[1] https://www.undp.org/albania/projects/regional-local-democracy-programme-western-balkans-reload2

[2] https://www.undp.org/albania/projects/regional-programme-local-democracy-western-balkans-reload

* For the European Union, this designation is without prejudice to position on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. For UNDP all references to Kosovo shall be understood in the context of the UN Resolution 1244/1999.

[3] Partner Municipalities of ReLOaD2 in Albania:

Six new partner municipalities Kamëz, Kavajë, Kukës, Lushnje, Patos, Sarandë,

Five partner municipalities from ReLOaD1 - Elbasan, Korçë, Lezhë, Përmet Roskovec.

[4] Mentor partner municipalities of ReLOaD2 in Albania: Tirana and Shkodra.

[5] Official Journal (qbz.gov.al)

[6] http://rinia.gov.al/thirrja-e-2te/

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective

The objective of this assignment is to assist National Youth Agency in the assessment and selection of project proposal applications and supporting documents submitted by the applicants.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultants will perform the tasks in close cooperation and under the direct supervision of the ReLOaD2 Project Manager. Each consultant will be tasked with the following duties:

Review of relevant documents

Within this task the consultant will review main project documents such as LOD Methodology, Public Call for the disbursement of funds to CSOs and municipalities, and documents regarding legal framework of NYA.

The time foreseen for this task is 1 working day.

Assessment of applications submitted by CSOs and municipalities in the context of the Second Public Call of NYA. The time foreseen for this task is 5 days.

The consultant is bound by a declaration of impartiality and confidentiality[1] to be signed before starting the assessment. In case of conflict or potential conflict of interest the expert should declare it immediately to the head of Evaluation Commission.
The consultant is expected to ensure a transparent and open process of selection of project proposals submitted from CSOs and municipalities. S/he will professionally provide coherent and exhaustive comments reflecting the score and provide technical advice to the Evaluation Commission related to the project proposals, work plan, budget planning and supporting documents.
The consultant, member in the Evaluation Commission shall be a voting member in the Evaluation Commission and perform evaluation in line with the Public Call guidelines.
S/he will participate in the evaluation process from the beginning to the end. S/he will actively contribute to the successful completion of the evaluation process by providing qualitative evaluation of the project proposals. Upon the completion of applications’ evaluation, the consultant will jointly sign with other evaluation commission’s members the evaluation report, ensuring inclusion of findings and providing additional comments related to the work of the evaluation commission, if and when necessary.
Provide additional comments in exceptional and justified cases at the request of the Evaluation Commission.

Reporting

Upon the completion of evaluation process, the consultant will prepare a final report that will include, but will not be limited to: number of applications assessed; lessons learned and recommendations, etc. The draft report should be submitted to the ReLOaD2 project team, in English language (in MS Word electronic version).

The time foreseen for this task is 1 day.

Deliverables and timelines

Each of the consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

Deliverables (outputs)

No. of days per task

Due date

Percentage

Review of relevant documents

1 day

25 September 2022

14%

Assessment of applications submitted by CSOs and municipalities in the context of the Second Public Call of NYA

5 days

05 October 2022

72%

Final report

1 day

15 November 2022

14%

Total

7 days

100%

[1] A standard document as per LOD methodology will be made available by the project.

Competencies

Competencies

a. Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives.

b. People Skills:

Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior;
Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

c. Partnering and Networking:

Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously.

d. Results-Orientation:

Plans and ensures quality results to meet established goals.

e. Communication:

Formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

f. Job Knowledge and Expertise:

Strong analytical skills;
Advanced writing skills,
Proven skills in conducting researches, interviews, and reporting,
Conceptual and practical knowledge of policy development, with specific focus on public budgets,
Ability to review data, identify and adjust discrepancies,
Good knowledge of administrative rules and regulations regarding civil society sector,
Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently,
Initiative and sound judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master’s degree in public administration, economy or a related law or social science field.

Experience

At least 10 years of professional experience in public administration, economy or a related law or social science field.
Previous experience and skills in conducting an impartial, fair, and transparent evaluation of grant applications of CSO projects. Experience with EU grant awarding schemes will be considered as an asset;
Experience in preparing and / or implementing and /or monitoring and evaluating projects financed from public sources
Good understanding of youth policy and youth work in Albania.
Previous relevant and proven professional experience in working with civil society and/or local governments
Experience in EU/ UNDP funded project will be considered an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Albanian

Evaluation Procedure

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their financial proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate whose offer:

Is deemed technically responsive / compliant / acceptable (only technically responsive applications / candidates will be considered for the financial evaluation)
And has obtained the highest combined technical and financial scores.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max points: 70

Criteria A: At least 10 years of professional experience in public administration, economy or a related law or social science field. Previous experience and skills in conducting an impartial, fair, and transparent evaluation of grant applications of CSO projects. Experience with EU grant awarding schemes will be considered as an asset; Experience in preparing and / or implementing and / or monitoring and evaluating projects financed from public sources. Good understanding of youth policy and youth work in Albania; Previous relevant and proven professional experience in working with civil society and/or local governments; (Experience in EU/ UNDP funded project will be considered an asset) - max points: 50

Criteria B: Educational background: Master’s degree in public administration, or a related law or social science field – max points: 20

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max points: 30