Framework Agreement for an International Consultant for STAR3 OSSIS

Decentralization and local government remain in the focus of Albania’s reform agenda and subject to various international technical assistance that supports capacity building, improved service delivery and local finance management, and promotes good governance and EU integration knowledge and preparations.

In this context, UNDP Albania, since 2013, has facilitated a series of joint international partnerships’ projects under the name of STAR

STAR1 and STAR2 provided respectively technical assistance for the design and implementation of Albanian administrative and territorial reform and the full reorganization of the local governments and the consolidation of the new local governments in terms of capacities, service provision, and good governance aspects.

The Administrative and Territorial Reform has merged most of former municipalities to create a reduced number of new ones with much larger territories combining urban and rural areas. These larger and more complex territories are now managed through a municipality centre. As a result, municipalities need new tools to administer, provide, document, and track the delivery of local services. The one-stop shop for the delivery of administrative services is a solution that satisfies a number of the abovementioned requirements.

The provision of public services through a One-Stop Shop Information System (OSSIS) has also been identified as a critical element by the PAR and the Decentralization Strategy in reforming the public administration, enhancing its effectiveness and transparency and efficiency in responding to citizens’ demands.

By 2014, only about 11 Albanian municipalities, out of 61 in total, had in place various OSSIS solutions, supported by international or national initiatives. In response to generalizing the OSSIS approach, STAR1 planted the seed for developing a standard OSSIS for municipal administrative service delivery; STAR2 made the development and rollout of the OSSIS the main output, targeting 50 Albanian municipalities. 

The municipal OSSIS has a dual purpose:

• To empower municipalities to improve the quality of administrative services, monitor service execution, shorten the processing time, and increase transparency in the provision of G2C and G2B services.
• To provide citizens additional possibilities for service tracking, providing feedback and receiving higher quality services in a shorter time.

STAR2 developed a customized municipal OSSIS through a full development process from design to testing, piloting, and then roll out along with user training, reviewing and standardizing municipal workflows and creating over 70 standard municipal administrative services. The system was installed incrementally during 2019-2020 to 48 Albanian municipalities out of a total of 50 in the project scope.  

STAR3, starting in late 2020, has a similar focus on strengthening local government effectiveness and efficiency through enhancing the supporting framework, consolidating systems, standards and organizational capacities in place, expanding and sustaining service delivery innovation and best practices, and institutionalizing local government accountability for enhanced participatory governance. 

The main focus of STAR3 remains the OSSIS, whereby the project aims at the consolidation, upgrade and expansion of OSSIS, now across 240 Administrative Units or sub-municipal levels in the 50 municipalities supported by STAR2.

In this regard, UNDP is seeking to hire an international Consultant (hereinafter “Consultant”), who over the period of July 2021 – December 2022, will provide an additional layer of technical advice and quality assurance for the consolidation and expansion of OSSIS in the targeted Albanian municipalities.

The objective of the Consultancy is to facilitate the successful expansion of OSSIS, its upgrade and integration with third-party systems, by providing qualified expertise and advise to the main steps and milestones of implementation of this activity.

The Consultant will work under the overall guidance of UNDP and STAR3 Project Management Team. First of all, the Consultant will seek to familiarize with the OSSIS system in place, its features and challenges of implementation as well as understand the contractual setting that has enabled the OSSIS development and rollout. The scope of work will vary depending on the specific assignments, including potentially a part or all of the below identified tasks:

1. Provide technical advice in developing Terms of Reference for full OSSIS rollout to the administrative units:

• Provide input to the Terms of Reference for full OSS rollout to the administrative units.
• Ensure quality control of all deliverables under the assignment
• Ensure the ToRs are in line with the objective of OSS implementation
• Ensure that monitoring system and control tools are in place and functional for the deployed systems

2. Contribute to the conceptualization and development of OSSIS Mobile App:

• Provide advice and/or review concepts on the development of an OSSIS Mobile App
• Provide support during the implementation of the OSS Mobile App

3. Review the status and provide technical advice for improving the OSSIS Business Intelligence module:

• Review the current functionality and the potential development of the existing OSS Business Intelligence module
• Provide inputs for reconceptualizing/improving the module
• Provide quality assurance and necessary tests for the revised Business Intelligence module

4. Provide advice and final review the options for OSS integration with third-party data:

• Identify priorities for additional service delivery improvements and overall OSSIS upgrade
• Support the national OSSIS expert in developing options for OSSIS integration with third-party data
• Final review and quality assurance of the upgraded OSSIS and recommendations for system sustainability and handover.

Core Values

• Demonstrating/safeguarding UN core values on accountability, integrity, transparency, mutual respect, professionalism, and results orientation
• Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
• Displays cultural, gender, nationality, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability

Core competencies

• Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Able to identify priorities and plan/organize efficiently in line with agreed approach/framework
• Demonstrates self-initiative and responsibility in carrying out tasks
• Demonstrates the ability to act as a team player and facilitate teamwork in a multicultural environment
• Shows readiness to self-development, sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others

Functional Competences:

• Thoroughly and methodically collects, verifies and records data, demonstrating attention to detail and identifying and correcting errors on own initiative

Functional Competencies

• Ability to establish strong working relationships with government and local government officials, civic leaders, businesspeople, international donors and work well with multiple stakeholders
• Demonstrated understanding of methodologies appropriate to complex change processes and capacity development
• Proficient with standard computer applications
• Result oriented and ability to define problem areas, brainstorm solutions, and take decisions based on evidence, consultations and sound analysis

Communication skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to analyze, write, edit and conduct presentations
• Good interpersonal and networking skills
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders from a wide range of disciplines and fields

Education:

• Postgraduate in IT/Computer Science, Management or any other relevant field

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in IT projects
• Prior experience providing consultancy and analysis of one-stop-shop systems for LGUs
• Prior experience of similar development work in the country or the region

Languages:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English

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:            Professional experience in the required areas – max points: 55

Criteria B:            Educational background – max points: 15

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

Application Procedure 

Interested applicants are advised to carefully study all sections of this ToRs and ensure that they meet the general requirements as well as specific qualifications described. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. 

The application should contain: 

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the “Resume and Motivation” section of the electronic application. 
• Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability & Detailed Financial Proposal – please fill in the attached form. Download Here (kindly use Firefox browser)
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees, please upload the P11 instead of your CV. Download Here (kindly use Firefox browser)
• Financial Proposal in ALL*– Specify a Total Lump Sum in Albanian Lek for the tasks specified in this announcement. The attached template may be used – Download Here (kindly use Firefox browser) Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall consider various expenses incurred by the consultant during the contract period (e.g. fee and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services). 
• Copy of Diplomas and copy of Passport.

?*Kindly note that Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal are two separate documents and should be both part of your application.  

How to Submit the Application: 

To submit your application online, please follow the steps below: 

• Download and complete the UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs); In the P11 Form make sure to include Email Addresses of the Persons who are willing to provide References on your past experience in working with them.
• Merge your UN Personal History Form (P11) for Service Contracts (SCs) and Individual Contracts (ICs), Financial Proposal Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and cover letter into a single file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded; 
• Click on the Job Title (job vacancy announcement); 
• Click “Apply Now” button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and then click “Submit Application;” 
• Upload your application/single file as indicated above with the merged documents (underlined above); 

• You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system. 

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process. 

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.