International Consultant for Conducting the Evaluation of the Quality of Social Services Supported through the Project (Evaluator) - Home-based and Podgorica

Home-based and Podgorica, MONTENEGROStarting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)Duration of Initial Contract :Expected Duration of Assignment :up to 25 working days in the period May 2014 – June2014

UNDP CO Montenegro, together with Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of Education and UNICEF implements a joint project: “Social Welfare And Child Care System Reform: Enhancing Social Inclusion” composed of 3 components funded by Delegation of European union (DEU) through IPA 2010. UNDP component No. 2 is dealing with Social welfare reform. This project component builds and strengthens the institutional mechanisms and capacities that will enable development of community-based social services. The services will be responsive to the needs of the vulnerable groups and will contribute to their social inclusion and improved quality of life.

The overall objective of the Programme is to establish a social welfare and education system that facilitates inclusion of vulnerable, socially excluded groups in Montenegro. The specific objective of this project is to build and strengthen the institutional mechanisms and capacities to develop community-based social services responsive to the needs of the vulnerable, contributing to their social inclusion. The project aims to develop and upgrade the capacities of the social system to plan, commission and manage the decentralisation process, and introduction of standardised community social services. In other words, the project builds national and local actors’ capacities to plan, manage and deliver community services.

At the local level, in 9 municipalities so far 23 community-based social services for the vulnerable: persons with disabilities; elderly; families at risk; single parents; youth and families at risk, psychoactive substance abusers etc. have been financially supported. In addition to financial support for provision of social services the project provides on-going support, guidance and expertise for local actors who plan, design, run/manage and deliver community service in order to make them capable to deliver standardised, quality social services. The financial and technical support through the Project is limited to the end of June 2014.

Objectives of the assignment: The purpose of this activity is to evaluate the quality of social services for vulnerable adults and elderly supported through the Project. The Evaluation Report will serve to decision makers on future funding of these particular services as well as for planning of development of social services throughout Montenegro. On the other hand, it will contain recommendations for social service providers related to improvements, investments and capacity building necessary for obtaining licenses for social service provision.

Job content:  Under the direct supervision of the respective UNDP Programme Manager, the Evaluator will consider that the evaluation approach is participatory and systematic and use appropriate techniques of collecting and analyzing the information to enable an objective and educational assessment, presentation and dissemination of results.

In this respect the ideas and knowledge building should propitiate in the process and be reflected in the evaluation report. It is important to consider the participation of the beneficiaries of the social services and to reflect the interests and perceptions differently by women and men as well as to ensure participation of social service providers, local and national administration representatives.

The evaluator must propose methodology that will be assessed during the selection process (interview) and that should contain at least the following:

Detailed methodology; Description of the sequence of phases related to the proposed evaluation approach; Information sources for primary data collection; Techniques, tools/instruments to be used for data collection; Different types of data analysis to be carried out; Baseline indicators for each evaluation criterion;

The allocation of the number of days that will be required in each phase will be identified in the work plan with a timetable and agreed upon between the evaluator and UNDP Programme Manager.

Existing Information Sources:

Project Document; Intermediary reports and annexes (2011, 2012, 2013); MidTerm Evaluation Report of the Project (2012); Reports and data presented to the Project Steering Committee; Mapping of social services in Montenegro (UNDP Report 2012); Mapping of social services in Montenegro (Institute Alternativa 2013); Monthly reports of 23 social service providers (narrative and financial); Survey of beneficiaries’ satisfaction  with social services

Stakeholder Involvement:

Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (Deputy Minister, Senior Advisors); Local administrations of municipalities where social services are supported (at least 5 of 9); Social service providers (at least 20 out of 23); Beneficiaries of social services (number to be agreed);

Roles and Responsibilities of UNDP Programme Manager and Social Welfare Reform Project Unit:

Participate in the discussion of methodology and tools to carry out the evaluation; Organize field trip evaluation process and provide transport; Receipt, analysis and approval of the draft report; Receipt and approval of the final report of the evaluation; Provide information and documents to the evaluator.

Roles and Responsibilities of the evaluator:

Draft a proposal for the evaluation containing: methodology, detailed sampling strategy, techniques / tools, work plan and structure (table of contents) of the Evaluation Report; Preparation and submission of preliminary report to the Programme Manager; Preparation and submission of final report with annexes relevant to the work, as well as additional information about the process.

The expected results:  

Evaluation Report should not exceed 30 pages, excluding annexes. The evaluation report will consider the following points:

Executive summary; Introduction; The intervention and context; Methodology; Analysis of the information collected; Results of the evaluation; Conclusions; Lessons learned; Recommendations; Bibliography; Glossary.

Timing and reporting: The evaluation will last for 25 working days in the period 5th May 2014 – 30th June 2014. The evaluator will submit a work plan that will address the following phases:

Preparatory phase; Field phase; Analysis phase and preparation of the preliminary report; Presentation of the preliminary report; Drafting phase and final report; Final report

The consultant will conduct preparatory activities and shall work on production of outputs from home, but in close cooperation with the Programme Manager.

Time duration and travel:  twenty five (25) days of consultancy work, with one visit to Montenegro for up to 10 days in total. Period of the engagement is 5th May 2014 – 30th June 2014.

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the United Nations values and ethical standards; Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP; Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting; Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds
positively to feedback; Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills; Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills;Aability to operate under pressure.

The international consultants should have the following qualifications and expertise:

Education:

University degree in relevant social science, Master Degree will be considered as an advantage.

Experience:

At least ten (10) years of relevant experience (in the field of social protection/social inclusion in the Western Balkan Region); Excellent knowledge of the local context in Montenegro in particular with respect to the social protection and child care system: legal, institutional and strategic framework and reform processes; Experience in developing and implementing an evaluation that includes aspects of gender equity; Ability to ensure independence of each component of the evaluation; Experience working civil society organisations,  working/coordinating with government; Previous experience in writing Evaluation Reports for international donors; Excellent social, communication, advocacy and presentation skills; Experience working effectively with people of different social backgrounds; Previous work experience with UN organizations will be considered as an advantage; Excellent computer skill.

Language:

Fluency in English (written and spoken); Knowledge of local language will be considered as a distinctive advantage.

Application process:

Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in EUR) requested for the work and travel envisaged in the section "Duties and Responsibilities". 

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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