Republic of Moldova

National Consultant on mainstreaming employment in local development policies

Vacancy Number: Pr17/01612

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	04 Sep 2017, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:	11 Sep 2017, 12:00 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	15 Sep 2017
Reference to the project:	Integrated Migration Local Development Project
Expected Duration of Assignment:	12 months
Supporting Documents: Personal History Form (P11)

Background

The Government of Moldova explicitly acknowledges its commitment to generate employment and link migration and development at the local level. Institutions at all government levels are becoming increasingly aware that migration is one of factors affecting development; this is especially true for emigrants and their potential to support the home communities through local essential service improvement (water, sanitation, education, health and social services), skill and knowledge transfer and income generating opportunities.          

Given the stringent need to further advance with the implementation of the Decentralization Strategy and embedding migration aspects into development processes, the State Chancellery together with United Nations Development Programme have designed a new Programme phase of the Integrated Migration and Local Development Programme. The project is designed to support Central Public Authorities (CPAs) and LPAs to develop and implement strategic policies, methodologies and procedures related to temporary, permanent and circular migration and link them to local development processes, which will enable further design and implementation of joint service improvement and income-generating initiatives, ensuring equal access for women, children, young people the elderly, the disabled, and other population groups  in selected localities. Moreover, the project is developed as a replicable approach with potentials for scaling up, with intensive capacity building and strengthening of national and local public authorities to better plan, manage, budget, and implement public service management with participation of community members, including migrants.

Thus, as seen above, integrating migration into local development requires a systematic, tangible and programmatic approach. The current project is proposed on the basis of the results achieved during the implementation of 3 phases of JILDP (2007-2015), which has put a series of methodological approaches and strategic frameworks in place. It supports integrated and systematic local development planning and management, by tackling both central and local levels.

The Overall Objective of the Programme is: Communities affected by migration benefit from improved essential local services, namely water and sanitation, health, social and education services, and have access to income-generating opportunities, including improved employment reintegration support for returnees.

Considering the specific local development context, the current situation and needs, the project sets out two primary outcomes:

Outcome 1: The Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family[1] and the National Employment Agency have mandates, capacities and resources to provide qualitative employment reintegration services to all returnees.

Outcome 2: Local public authorities have the capacities and resources to engage with community members, including migrants, and to promote knowledge transfer from abroad with a view to improving local essential services and offering opportunities for income-generating activities.

Working toward achieving the first outcome mentioned above, MIDL has provided support to the MLSPF, in developing and promoting the National Employment Strategy and its Matrix of Actions for 2017-2021, in cooperation with ILO (as part of the first Policy Component of MiDL). This strategic document contributes directly to the implementation of the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the RM–EU Association Agreement on the creation and implementation of strategic employment policies, the Government’s Activity Program as well as advancing the Agenda 2030 in Moldova. The National Employment Strategy aims at developing a “dynamic, flexible and inclusive” labour market, by interpolating economic policies on productive and inclusive jobs creation and education policies on adequate skills development, a modernized NEA and active labour market measures, while integrating gender aspects, accounting for, and capitalizing on the benefits of migration. This specific activity shall contribute to implementing the NEA activities related to mainstreaming employment promotion in local strategic development policies and boost the capacities of local authorities in fostering employment at local level.

At the same time, as part of its second Local Development Component, MIDL has provided support to its target communities in boosting economic development, by supporting specific projects meant to develop the local business support infrastructure. This assignment shall compliment the “hard” economic development projects, by enabling local governments from the pilot localities in developing the necessary knowledge and analytical tools to foster employment at local level.

[1] Following the 2017 Governmental Reform as of 26.07.2017, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection is the legal succesor of the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family.

Scope of work

UNDP Moldova is seeking a National Consultant to develop the methodological guidelines and support the piloting of mainstreaming employment in local strategic development policies.

The assignment will require the completion of the following tasks:

• Perform a comprehensive analysis of exiting local development strategies from the viewpoint of employment;
• Develop methodological guidelines for mainstreaming employment promotion and job creation in local social-economic development strategies;
• Provide support to relevant stakeholders in updating/adjusting the existing data collection tools on employment, job creation and labour force at local level;
• Provide support and guidance in pilot testing in two MIDL communities the developed methodological guidelines for mainstreaming employment promotion and job creation in local development strategies and tools to be applied by local governments and stakeholders to boost employment at local level;
• Update the developed methodological guidelines and tools based on the piloting results and provide recommendations for scaling up at the national level;
• Provide methodological support and guidance to two pilot local employment agencies and local rayonal authorities in developing local employment promotion and job creation plans.

Requirements for experience

1. Qualifications:

• University/Master Degree in Economics or related social sciences, Employment/Job promotion Policies, Public Administration, Public Policy or related areas.

1. Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional working experience in the field of local development, employment, economic development, etc;
• Proven experience in providing support and consultancy to local public institutions, employment agencies in developing strategic policy documents - local social-economic strategies, employment promotion plans, etc;
• Proven experience in developing analytical reports on labour market and employment promotion, job creation, macro-economic analysis, local development, decentralization, and other relevant fields;
• Proven experience in data analysis and developing methodological guidelines in relevant fields;
• Previous experience in development assistance or related work for a donor organization, consulting company, or NGO.
• Competencies:
• Demonstrated capacity  of   team-orientation   work, excellent   planning   and organizational skills;
• Strong, research, communications and writing skills;
• Fluency in Romanian and Russian, English (will be considered an advantage);

• Sensitivity and respect for sustainable development, human rights and gender equality;
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy;

• Ability to achieve results and deadlines in a timely manner, maintaining a high standard throughout;
• Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations, in particular, respecting differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status.

Documents to be included

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. P11 form;
2. Cover letter, stating their interest in and qualifications for the consultancy (1 page maximum);
3. A two page description of candidate’s understanding and approach to the tasks;

4. Financial offer (1) fee per consultancy day in the field; 2) fee per consultancy day in the office).

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown (fee per day * days) of this lump sum amount (including fee, taxes, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

 

Travel

All envisaged travel costs shall not be included in the financial proposal, they shall be covered by the MIDL project. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

 

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