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 Extended Deadline for National consultant (Thematic Area: Health) to contribute to the Development of the National Youth Strategy 2023-2027 in the Republic of North Macedonia.

 

Level:      Consultant
Contract Type: Individual Contract
Closing date: 19 September 2022
Duty station: Skopje, North Macedonia
Duration of the contract and timeline: September - December 2022
Deadline for applications: 19 September 2022, 23:59 CEST

 

 

 

Background:

 

UNFPA CO North Macedonia through the project “Strengthening the role of youth in promoting increased mutual understanding, constructive narrative, respect for diversity, and trust in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo” funded by the United Nations Peace Building Fund (UN PBF) will support the Development of the National Youth Strategy 2023-2027. The project started in May 2022 and will last until May 2024. It is being implemented by partner organizations: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women and UNESCO. The national counterpart for this particular activity is the Agency of Youth and Sport. As part of their programme activities, UNFPA, UNDP and the OSCE Мission to Skopje (OSCE) are supporting the Agency of Youth and Sport in the preparation of the National Youth Strategy.

In 2022 the Agency of Youth and Sport has started the process of Preparation of the National Youth Strategy for the period 2023-2027 based on the Law on Youth Participation. The process of the preparation of the National Youth Strategy started with research of the needs and the trends of young people in North Macedonia as well as creation of Methodology for the preparation of the National Youth Strategy, led by UNDP.

 

In this context, UNFPA is looking to identify three national consultants - National experts on the following  thematic area:

  • Health

The national experts are in-charge of thematic working groups in the thematic areas: Health, Education and Culture, one expert per thematic group, to lead, facilitate and coordinate the work of the thematic working group within the National Youth Strategy 2023-2027. Moreover, the national experts will support and contribute to the overall development of the National Youth Strategy 2023-2027.

 

The national experts will contribute to the UNFPA Country Office support to the development of the National Youth Strategy 2023-2027. National Experts are expected to support the Lead Experts Team to prepare and to lead the offline and the online consultation process for the preparation of the National Youth Strategy following an established Methodology.

 

They (he/she) will collaborate with the UNFPA CO team, Agency of Youth and Sports, and the Lead Experts Team to facilitate working group and provide inputs in development the National Youth Strategy. The consultants will also communicate with the National Experts of the remaining working groups, as well as UNDP and the OSCE Мission to Skopje counterparts.

 

Throughout the engagement, the National Experts will organize and facilitate work group sessions, organize, lead and participate in working meetings and relevant events and activities in period starting from September 2022 to December 2022, and will provide inputs to the Lead Experts Team in development the National Youth Strategy. The consultants will work closely with the team of the Agency of Youth and Sports, the entire UNFPA team and the relevant counterparts.

 

 

Deliverables:

 

  1. Get familiarized with the Methodology for the preparation of the National Youth Strategy and relevant legislation/policy documents
  • Conduct a desk review of all relevant documentation, namely the Methodology for the preparation of the National Youth Strategy and relevant legislation/policy documents in the thematic area of responsibility.
  • Participate in all meetings with the Agency and Youth and Sport, UNFPA, UNDP and OSCE Мission to Skopje, and other relevant stakeholders involved in the process. 

 

 

  1. Prepare and lead the online and offline consultation processes
  • Prepare and lead 1-day kick-off conference, i.e. thematic area of responsibility with all relevant stakeholders and young people.
  • Prepare and lead 2-days meetings with all relevant stakeholders as consultation of the draft Strategy. 
  • In cooperation with the other thematic national experts, prepare the questionnaire for an online consultation.
  • Analyze the received information from the online process and prepare a written report.

 

  1. Prepare first draft of the National Youth Strategy based on consolidated inputs from the consultation process
  • Consolidate the inputs from the thematic consultation processes into a draft for thematic area of the National Youth Strategy.
  • Provide quality control of the prepared documents ensuring adherence to the principles from the Methodology for the preparation of the National Youth Strategy.
  • Provide first Draft of the thematic chapter of responsibility for the first draft National Youth Strategy that will be published for consultation.

 

  1. Prepare the thematic area of responsibility chapter for the National Youth Strategy
  • Consolidate the inputs from the online and offline consultation process on the draft version of the National Youth Strategy.
  • Attend the isolation session with all National experts, Lead experts; UNFPA, UNDP, AYS, and OSCE representatives, and prepare the consolidated version of the chapter of the thematic area of responsibility.

 

  1. Prepare final report of the assignment
  • Prepare the final report of the assignment providing all the relevant data for the fulfillment of the duties and recommendations for the process.

 

 

 

Monitoring and progress control:

 

The SRH/Youth Program Analyst will monitor the implementation of activities and relevant deliverables. The Head of Office will also provide overall guidance in this process. Moreover, the consultants will receive guidance from the Official Representatives from the Agency of Youth and Sports and the Lead Experts Team.

 

 

 

Expected travel:

 

Due to the scope of the work, short travel arrangements are expected within the country. In-country travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by UNFPA according to the travel policy.

 

 

Roles and responsibilities:

 

In particular, the consultant will:

  • Lead 1 of the 3 Working Group supported by UNFPA, in the thematic areas: Health, Education and Culture of the National Youth Strategy 2023-2027;
  • Develop the layout of the content of the thematic area of responsibility for in-person, online and offline consultation processes;
  • Prepare call for participants/questionnaire for the online consultation process in the thematic area of responsibility;
  • Lead the consultation process in the area of responsibility, establish strategic priorities as per the Methodology for preparation of National Youth Strategy (2023-2027);
  • Conduct thematic area sessions with relevant stakeholders, state and non-state, as part of the process of drafting of the National Youth Strategy 2023-2027;
  • Facilitate and moderate at least two focus group discussions in the thematic area of responsibility aiming at receiving input on the National Youth Strategy 2023-2027 and share the written inputs with Lead experts, Agency of Youth and Sports, UNFPA and project partners (UNDP and OSCE Мission to Skopje);
  • Draft the thematic area of responsibility of the National Youth Strategy;
  • Participate and be actively involved in regular meetings with the Lead Experts, Agency of Youth and Sport, UNFPA and project partners (UNDP and OSCE Мission to Skopje);
  • Coordinate and communicate with the relevant government representatives involved in the process;
  • Analyze the received information from the online process and prepare written report from the entire development of the Strategy;
  • Regularly coordinate with the UNFPA SRH/Youth Program Analyst throughout all stages of the process, as well with project partners and the Agency of Youth and Sport.

 

 

 

Main outputs of the assignment:

 

Get familiarized with the Methodology for the preparation of the National Youth Strategy and relevant legislation/policy documents

  • Desk review conducted
  • Presence at meeting ensured.  

 

Prepare and lead the online and offline consultation processes

  • Kick off conference prepared and led.
  • 2-days meeting with relevant stakeholders prepared and held.
  • Questionnaire for online consultation prepared.
  • Questionnaire analyzed and written report provided.

 

Prepare first draft of the National Youth Strategy based on consolidated inputs from the consultation process

  • Inputs from the thematic consultation processes consolidated and out into a draft for thematic area of the National Youth Strategy.
  • Quality control provided for the prepared documents ensuring adherence to the principles of the Methodology for the preparation of the National Youth Strategy.
  • First Draft of the thematic chapter of responsibility provided and available for public consultation.

 

 

Prepare the thematic area of responsibility chapter for the National Youth Strategy

  • Inputs from the online and offline consultation process on the draft version of the National Youth Strategy consolidated.
  • Participation ensured to the Isolation session with National experts, Lead experts; UNFPA, UNDP, AYS, and OSCE representatives.
  • Consolidated version of the Chapter thematic area of responsibility prepared.

 

Prepare final report of the assignment

  • Final report of the assignment provided stating all the relevant data for the fulfillment of the duties and recommendations for the process.

 

 

Qualifications and Experience needed:

 

Education:

  • University degree (diploma) in a relevant field (Health, Education, Culture, Law, Social Sciences and Human Rights), as a minimum requirement; higher level education will be considered as an advantage;

 

 

Experience:

  • At least two years of relevant experience in preparation of strategic and policy documents; strategic thinking or similar experience in facilitating multidisciplinary working groups on specific thematic areas;
  • At least five years of proven working experience, knowledge and experience in the area of youth, health, education and culture;
  • Understanding of the national context and infrastructure with regards to youth participation, youth engagement and empowerment, including experience in working with marginalized youth groups and organizations;
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills;
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national, cultural and professional backgrounds, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
  • Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
  • Proven ability in effective process consultation (facilitation and team integration)
  • Fluency in Macedonian and English language, spoken and written;
  • Computer literacy; and
  • Ability to work with minimum supervision.

 

 

 

How to apply:

 

Interested applicants should send:

 

  • A short letter of motivation;
  • The application documents should be sent via email with the subject clearly stated "National Consultant – National Youth Strategy 2023-2027, Thematic Group: ------" by selecting one of the thematic groups (Health/Education/Culture) to north.macedonia@unfpa.org. UNFPA will only respond to those applicants in whom we have further interest.
  • Examples of previous similar work (optional).
  • Contacts (name, surname, e-mail and telephone number) of two reference persons, who can be contacted if the candidate reaches the final stage of the selection process;
  • A detailed CV, which should highlight relevant experience in delivering similar work with relevant links;

 

 

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm