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National Consultant to support UNICEF Albania office on the development of the Regional Social Plan for Elbasan Region

Apply now Job no: 585123
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Tirana
Level: Consultancy
Location: Albania
Categories: Social Policy

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a Champion!

The National Strategy on Social Protection 2024-2030 aims to address issues of poverty, social exclusion and advancing the reforms in the area of integrated social care services, disability assessment reform, provision of social care services, deinstitutionalization of care. This new strategy underlines the role of local government in the provision of social care services Furthermore, the strategy aims at further consolidating the provision of social care services at the local level, strengthening the mandate and capacities of local government units to local social planning and provision of social services and financing with the funds from central budget, local budget and through other partnerships with wither the public or private sectors. Furthermore, it notes the importance of expanding specialized services and shared services at the regional level.
Based on Law No. 121/2016 “On Social Care Services in the Republic of Albania,” Article 38, Regional Councils are mandated to prepare Regional Social Plans in coordination with the social plans of local government units and submit them to the responsible ministry for social issues.
The Regional Social Plan (RSP) is a strategic document that guides the provision of specialized social care services at the regional level, ensuring coordination among municipalities and alignment with national priorities. For Elbasan Region, which is one of the largest regions in Albania and faces significant social challenges - particularly concerning vulnerable groups such as children, youth, women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and Roma and Egyptian communities - the RSP is essential to promote sustainable social and economic development, reduce exclusion, and improve the quality of life of its residents. There are seven municipalities under this region: Elbasan, Belsh, Cerrik, Gramsh, Librazhd, Peqin, Perrenjas.
To this end, UNICEF seeks to engage a qualified consultant to facilitate the participatory process of drafting, finalizing, and supporting the approval of the Elbasan Regional Social Plan.

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant will support the Elbasan Regional Council in the preparation of the Regional Social Plan through an inclusive, evidence-based, and participatory process.
Specific objectives of the assignment will be:
- Map out the local social plans, identify planned specialized services and gaps that exist in the provision of social services.
- Facilitate consultations with municipalities, regional directorates, NGOs, and community service providers to identify needs and gaps, as well as links to other services.
- Support the coordination and alignment of the RSP with municipal social plans and national policy frameworks.
- Draft the Regional Social Plan, including needs, priorities, interventions, and resource planning.
- Support the costing of the RSP.
- Support the Regional Council in presenting, discussing, and approving the final RSP
 
The scope of work and specific deliverables include:
 
1. Preparation of a Desk review of relevant legislation, municipal social plans and national policy frameworks.
2. Facilitate Participatory Consultations
  • Organize workshops and focus groups with Elbasan regional council and municipalities staff, service providers, regional state social services directorate, CSOs, and vulnerable groups.
  • Organize consultations with the seven municipalities of the Elbasan Region to identify needs and gaps for specilized services.
5. Draft Local Social Care Plan
  • Develop Regional Social Plan including goals, objectives, measures, activities, costing, financing sources, and monitoring framework.
  • Share and consult with the key stakeholders. Reflect feedback and inputs.
4. Validation and Finalization
  • Present the final Regional Social Plan for feedback from stakeholdres such as: municipal council, staff, and other stakeholders.
  • Finalize for official adoption.

Deliverable 1: Inception Report & Methodology and Work Plan. Format for the Regional Social Plan.

Tasks: 

- Develop a detailed work plan outlining methodology, key milestones, and consultation process.

- Submit to UNICEF for review and incorporate UNICEF feedback

- Develop the methodology in close consultation with UNICEF and Regional council representatives

Timeline for deliverable 1: 3 working days, to be completed by 30 December 2025 

Deliverable 2: Desk review of Local Social Plans of 7 municipalities; Summary report on the consultation process with key stakeholders

Tasks: 

- Desk review/ mapping of the Local Social Plans of municipalities under the Elbasan Region (Elbasan, Belsh, Cerrik, Gramsh, Librazhd, Peqin, Perrenjas)
- Meetings with the key municipality stakeholders on local social plans, identifying needs and gaps.
- Facilitate a stakeholder consultation workshop with relevant stakeholders, such as municipalities, service providers and CSOs
 
Timeline for Deliverable 2: 10 working days, to be submitted by 30 January 2026
 
Deliverable 3: Draft of the Elbasan Regional Social Plan
Tasks: 
- Develop the Draft Plan of Action of the Elbasan Regional Social Plan
- Submit the draft to UNICEF and Regional Council Directorate for review and feedback.
- Collect feedback and refine the draft based on discussions.
- Submit the first draft to UNICEF and Regional Council for feedback
 
Timeline for Deliverable 3: 12 working days, to be submitted by: 30 March 2026
 
Deliverable 4:  Final Draft of the Elbasan Regional Social Plan; Report on consultation meetings; Methodology for the process of developing the RSP
Tasks:
 
- Integrate feedback from consultations and finalize the draft law.
- Submit the final draft to Elbasan Regional Council and UNICEF for final revision and approval.
Timeline for Deliverable 4: 12 working days, to be submitted by 30 April 2026

The consultancy anticipates local travel according to the below plan: 2 daily trips per Municipality (Elbasan, Belsh, Cerrik, Gramsh, Librazhd, Peqin, Perrenjas) and 6 trips to Elbasan Regional Council Office (Elbasan). In total, 20 daily trips.

The duration of the consultancy will be for 37 days during the period November 2025- June 2026.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Requirements:

  • Education: Master’s degree in Social Policy, Social Work, Sociology, Public Administration, Economics, Development Studies, or related fields.
  • Work Experience:
    - At least 7 years of proven professional experience in the area of social protection and/or local governance planning of social protection/ inclusion programmes.
    - Demonstrated experience in designing Regional and Local Social Care Plans, or municipal development strategies in the area of social protection/inclusion.
    - Demonstrated ability to work with local government stakeholders, civil society organizations, and international partners in developing local policy frameworks. Experience in participatory methods and stakeholder engagement on similar processes
  • Language Requirements: English and Albanian language are a must.

What to submit: 

- Latest CV and a cover letter indicating the interest for this assignment

- Financial proposal: all-inclusive fee in ALL bdivided in the daily consultancy fee and a separate travel offer (based on the travel plan indicated above). 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Advertised: Central Europe Daylight Time
Deadline: Central Europe Standard Time

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