Back Local Consultant for the mentoring support in marketing and product development to grant beneficiaries within the 1st Call for self-employment grants under the “Programme of Support to Self-Employment” (2 posts)

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is implementing project Promoting Inclusive Labour Market Solutions in the Western Balkans (ILMS). The overall objective of ILMS project is to make national and local labour markets more inclusive in the Western Balkans. All the activities and measures undertaken by the project will need to result in improved capacities of relevant stakeholders (national and local labour market institutions, private sector, civil society) to design and implement inclusive policies and programmes for those individuals experiencing multiple forms of social and labour market exclusion.

In the frameworks of this project, UNDP is supporting the implementation of the individual projects/businesses awarded under the 1st Call within the “Programme of Support to Self-Employment” i.e. Direct Award to Employment agency of Montenegro (EAM) by Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MLSW) deriving from the Joint EU-MNE programme for Employment, Education and Social Protection. Within the framework of the implementation of this programme, 94 grants were awarded to unemployed persons, distributed in 20 municipalities in Montenegro (9 in the south, 35 in the north and 50 in the central part of the country with most of the grantees being located in Podgorica and Niksic). Priority in the award of grants was given to the following categories of unemployed: up to 35 years old, women and long term unemployed. The grantees have launched micro-enterprises in the following areas: personal services (hairdressers, beauty services, car repair etc.), agriculture and food production (pond, fruit and vegetable growing, beekeeping, cake and pastries production), intellectual services (including financial and bookkeeping services, administrative support, graphic design, digital marketing and production), trade, construction related services (painting, carpentry, ceramic and sanitations), tourism and accommodation, health and fitness.  

The businesses are registered either as micro enterprises - limited liability companies or entrepreneurs.

Throughout 7 months’ period (June – December 2020), UNDP will be supporting the grantees to develop their businesses through the provision additional, mentoring and counselling support.  

During May 2020, UNDP conducted needs assessment of the newly registered businesses so as to determine what kind of support they would need during the forthcoming period. One of the identified areas for support was related to marketing and product development. 
To assist with the above, UNDP seeks to recruit two Local Consultants for the support in legal requirements to grant beneficiaries within the 1st Call for self-employment grants under the “Programme of Support to Self-Employment” with expertise and experience in the areas of marketing and product development.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the assignment: 

• Engaged Consultant, in close coordination with UNDP team, will, based on the already conducted comprehensive needs’ assessment, provide mentorship support to the interested grantees, in order to assist them in building profitable businesses, by using most effective marketing strategies. 

Job content: 

• The consultant will be engaged under Individual Contract and will work under supervision of Project Manager. 
• The consultant is expected to design and implement comprehensive mentoring programme for the interested grantees related to marketing and product development. The grantees should be supported in developing and implementing marketing strategy, including understanding their customers` needs, product development and branding, positioning, communications and other marketing issues, use the most effective marketing tools and channels, etc. 

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Based on the needs assessment results and if needed, additional consultations with businesses, develop comprehensive mentorship plan and programme for individual and/or groups of businesses.
• Review, analysis and preparation of the supporting educational/informational package/guidelines related to marketing.
• Implement the prepared programme, through the following modalities:

• Cooperate with other mentors/consultants and advise on the other types of support identified through the work with grantees;
• Enable networking of businesses among themselves or with other businesses, as per need and opportunity.

Expected results/ Deliverables:

• Comprehensive consultancy plan and programme (2 days);
• Supporting educational/informational package/guidelines (2 days);
• Quality mentoring in marketing and product development through face to face and online group and individual meetings/workshops/consultations (16 days);
• Meetings and communication with other mentors/consultants, UNDP and NEA (2 days);
• Regular monitoring and reporting on grantees progress (3 days).

Consultant will be required to plan and report based on working days and working hours, depending on the type of deliverable. In the above distribution, one working day is considered to include 8 working hours, which can be distributed to more than one calendar day.

Time duration: The Consultant (two individual contractors) will be engaged during the period 15 June 2020 – 30 November 2020 (25 working days) and will be paid in tranches, depending on deliverables set by the ToR for this position. Local travel, inside of Montenegro, is planned in the total of up to 10 days, depending on the estimated needs.  

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s 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;
• 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 excellent analytical, oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure and under specific circumstances, as well as conflict resolution skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Relevant degree in marketing, communications, business or other related technical field.

Experience: 

• At least 3 years of experience in conducting similar assignments; 
• Related working experience in Montenegro, in/for private sector; 
• Experience in work in or with sectors business operate will be an advantage;
• Experience in starting up and/or managing of business would be an asset.

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of Montenegrin and English.

Criteria for selection:

Combined Scoring method will be used. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the inidividual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: (i) responsive, compliant, acceptable, and (ii) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• Technical criteria weight - 70% (Background and education 10%; Relevant previous experience 20%; Substantial knowledge/Required competencies 30%; Required language 10%);
• Financial criteria weight - 30%.

Only offerors obtaining a minimum 490 points for technical criteria will be considered for the financial evaluation. For more information on procurement methodology for Individual Contractors, please refer to Procurement Notice.

Application procedure:

Interested applicants are requested to submit their applications by June 3, 2020 by using the Apply now button. The application should contain a duly completed Personal History Form (P11) that can be downloaded from http://www.me.undp.org/content/montenegro/en/home/operations/jobs.html. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file.

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 envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".