Call for Proposals: European Union for Labour Market Inclusion Project (Albania)

This will be achieved through establishing partnerships between the NAES regional Directorates and employment offices in the 19 target municipalities with municipalities and civil society organizations. The focus will be on establishing inclusive and integrated pathways to support labour market inclusion of vulnerable groups, replicating successful models and interventions, as well as pilot implementation of well-designed interventions.

This CfP aims also to foster integrated approaches to building labour market resilience, by bringing together skills development, employment promotion, and social care and engaging with all other regional and local labour market actors, by leveraging the role of NAES as a catalyst of the labour market to increase the employability levels of vulnerable jobseekers. Selected partnerships need to ensure sustainability and transfer of the on-going interventions and strengthen results achieved.

Objectives

• To enhance the partnership of the National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES) with municipalities to establish and deliver inclusive and integrated employment, skills development opportunities for vulnerable groups, in collaboration with all labour market actors.
• This call for proposal is organized in Lot I, Lot II and Lot III. The specific objectives and priorities for each Lot are provided below:
  • Lot I: Establishing and delivering Intensive Counselling for Employment.
    • The objective of this lot is to support the establishment and extension of intensive counselling for employment delivered in partnership with NAES, experienced civil society organizations and/or municipalities. With the technical support of UNDP, NAES has designed an innovative and inclusive Employment Promotion Programme titled “Social Re-integration programme”, which has duration of up to six-month offering intensive counselling for employment to jobseekers (earlier referred to as Intensive Counselling for Employment) . This programme offers holistic support to individuals prone to labour market exclusion. Its primary objectives include widening outreach, disseminating essential labour market information, and promoting training, employment, and self-employment opportunities. It is implemented in partnership with the employment offices and municipal social services, aiming at enhancing the existing mechanism for integrated service delivery (ex. Mechanism for social assistance beneficiaries, for people with disabilities etc.).
    • Successfully piloted in 2021 through UNDP-NAES collaboration in the Elbasan region through sub-grants to NGOs, the insights and knowledge have been captured in a comprehensive capitalization report, disseminated to pertinent entities. Through this Lot, NAES will be supported to expand this effective model to additional municipalities, targeting 600 vulnerable jobseekers from the target groups in all 19 target municipalities. UNDP will work with the Employment Office to identify the beneficiaries and to monitor their transition from welfare to work.
    • This Lot aims to achieve the following objectives:
      • 600 vulnerable jobseekers benefited from Intensive Counselling for Employment, delivered through awarded projects in this Lot.
      • Enhance the existing mechanism for integrated service delivery for the target groups, engaging with all the relevant labour market actors in the targeted municipalities
      • Capture and disseminate insights and knowledge from the previous models /pilot projects to the NAES and employment offices.
      • Expand the effective model of intensive counselling to the 19 targeted municipalities in Albania.
  • Lot II: Establishing and delivering qualitative, flexible, targeted trainings in basic skills (literacy, numeracy, and digital).
    • NAES, with the support of UNDP, has developed a tailored and flexible learning offer on basic literacy and numeracy, as well as basic digital skills for adult jobseekers who have not completed primary education in Albania, under the framework of ‘Support Continuous Unemployed Learning’ SCUL project, funded by the EU programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI). These skills are imperative for labour market entry, access to further education, and overall to ensure their societal inclusion. This learning offer (model, curricula, operational guidelines) has been designed as a ‘bridge course’ to ensure access to vocational trainings offered to individuals who have not completed compulsory education.
    • Extending the implementation approach of the SCUL project, outlined in the external evaluation of the SCUL project, this Lot aims to deliver the developed curricula to 600 long-term unemployed from the target group who have low level of skills or have not finished primary education. Consultations at the local level confirmed the relevance of this initiative, and Employment Services stated that jobseekers have been identified and ready to be enrolled in this programme.
    • This Lot aims to achieve the following objectives:
      • 600 low-skilled vulnerable jobseekers benefited from qualitative, flexible, targeted trainings in basic skills (literacy, numeracy, and digital), delivered through awarded projects of this Lot.
      • Provide ‘bridge courses’ to ensure access to vocational training for individuals who have not completed compulsory education.
      • Implement the developed curricula from the SCUL project, extending its approach to target long-term unemployed individuals.
      • Strengthen integrated service delivery for vulnerable groups which include vocational guidance and counselling.
  • Lot III:  Establishing and delivering supported employment and skills development programmes, incorporating job coaches and mentors for Persons with Disabilities.
    • The recently adopted amendments in the Law on Employment Promotion (2023), expands the scope of programs eligible for financial support through the Employment Social Fund, with the aim to facilitate social and labour inclusion of persons with disabilities and their family members. NAES acknowledges its limited technical capacity and unpreparedness to strategize, budget, solicit bids, and oversee these programs. Sub-granting within the proposed action aims to finance diverse accessible and innovative models of supported employment and skills development for PwD. This will support NAES to capture the experience developed throughout the project’s lifespan and utilise it for programmes that can later be financed by the Employment Social Fund.
    • In this context, this Lot will serve the need to capitalise on the experience of local actors in delivering employment services and skills development programmes to PwD on supported employment and vocational rehabilitation.
    • This Lot aims to achieve the following objectives:
      • 200 jobseekers with disabilities are employed or receive skills through supported employment and skills development programmes, incorporating job coaches and mentors, delivered through awarded projects of this Lot.
      • Capitalize on the experience of local actors in delivering employment services and skills development programmes to persons with disabilities.
      • Utilize the experience developed throughout the project’s lifespan for future programmes financed by the Employment Social Fund.
      • Support NAES in strategizing, budgeting, soliciting bids, and overseeing programmes aimed at social and labour inclusion of persons with disabilities.
• Key considerations for all Lots:
  • The proposed actions should aim for a human rights-based approach, considering the core principles of gender equality and social inclusion, respect and protection of people with disabilities’ rights, environment protection – ensuring alignment with international human rights standards and principles and applying a ‘zero tolerance’ for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment policy, code of conduct and ethics, absence of conflict of interest and comply with all applicable laws and regulations related to anti-bribery and anti-corruption.

Funding Information

• The overall financial allocation made available under this call for proposals is EUR 1,200,000.
• The amount allocated per Lots is:
  • Lot I – EUR 660,000
  • Lot II – EUR 290,000
  • Lot III – EUR 250,000.
• Size of Grants
  • Any grant requested under this call for proposal must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
  • Lots 1, 2 and 3:
    • The minimum amount: EUR 60,000 (approx. 6,024,000 ALL)
    • The maximum amount: EUR 200,000 (20,080,000 ALL).

Duration

• The duration of each proposed action under this call for proposal may not be shorter than 8 (eight) months nor exceed 18 (eighteen) months.

Activities

• The proposed activities should contribute to the objectives and priorities of respective Lot 1, 2 and 3. Main types of indicative activities eligible for financial support under this call for proposal include:
  • Lot I: Establishing and delivering Intensive Counselling for Employment 
    • Preparation and implementation of Individual Reintegration Plans to support selected targeted beneficiaries (registered unemployed jobseekers) of Lot 1 in the targeted municipalities, achieve their employment goals.
    • Provision of individualised support to personal growth through life and soft skills (i.e. training to enhance beneficiaries (registered jobseekers) personal development and employability)
    • Provision of group and individual counselling sessions (i.e. counselling for employment and career development, addressing multiple needs of beneficiaries etc)
    • Provide specialized employment counselling, self-employment guidance, and professional training (i.e. training and professional courses, employability mentoring and coaching).
  • Lot II: Establishing and delivering qualitative, flexible, targeted trainings in basic skills (literacy, numeracy, and digital) 
    • Delivering training on basic numeracy, literacy, and digital skills (i.e. courses to improve fundamental numeracy and literacy abilities, basic computer, and internet skills etc)
    • Offering mentoring services to improve employability skills (i.e. guidance and support to help beneficiaries develop skills relevant to job acquisition and retention, etc)
    • Providing referral and integrated case management services addressing multiple needs of beneficiaries etc.
    • Providing support for job search and placement.
  • Lot III:  Establishing and delivering supported employment and skills development programmes, incorporating job coaches and mentors for Persons with disabilities.
    • Delivering supported employment and vocational rehabilitation and training;
    • Awareness raising on active living among PwD and their families;
    • Job coaches and mentors for PwD;
    • Awareness raising and training for employers on reasonable accommodation;
    • Innovative employment, training, and self-employment programmes for PwD;
    • Purchase necessary equipment and supplies to enhance service delivery, ensuring these investments directly contribute to the objectives of the Lot 3.
• Cross-Cutting Activities
  • Ensure integrated approaches to service delivery, including municipal social services, employment offices, skills development providers and others.
  • Provide or refer to necessary social services, including addressing issues such as violence, substance abuse, education, health, and legal problems.
  • Provide support to beneficiaries (financial compensation) to address participation barriers, such as transportation, childcare and elderly care or reasonable accommodation.
  • Reasonable accommodation related activities to align with the main objectives of the services, ensuring they meet the needs of beneficiaries with disabilities.
  • Implement outreach programs to identify and build motivation for job search and labour market activation.

Target Final Beneficiaries

• The four final beneficiaries, rights-holders, of this CFP are the following:
  • NEET, defined as individual aged 15-29 years who fulfil one of the conditions, as defined by the Law nr. 15/2019 on Employment Promotion.
  • Young mothers not in employment, defined as mothers below the age of 18, who are also head of household and are not employed, as defined by the Law nr. 15/2019 on Employment Promotion.
  • Beneficiaries of cash assistance scheme that include a) Families in need, facing financial hardship with no or insufficient income. b) Orphans living outside social care institutions. c) Parents with more than two children, who also fall under families in need category. d) Victims of trafficking, supported from the time they leave social care institutions until they secure employment. e) Victims of domestic violence, eligible for assistance during the validity of the protection order if they are not receiving support from social care institutions, as defined by the Law nr. 57/2019, on the Social Assistance in the Republic of Albania.
  • People with disabilities (PwD), individuals who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments, which, in interaction with various barriers, including environmental and attitudinal ones, may prevent the full and efficient participation of these persons in society, on equal terms with others, as defined by the law nr. 93/2014, on Inclusion and Accessibility for PwD.
• The total number of direct beneficiaries is 1,400 individuals: 600 in Lot 1, 600 in Lot 2, and 200 in Lot 3. During the selection process, the evaluation committee will ensure that jointly the selected grantees achieve the total number of direct beneficiaries.
• All the project beneficiaries need to be either registered as unemployed jobseekers with the respective employment office of NAES in the targeted municipality/ies or need to be referred to the respective employment office to be registered at the time of project implementation.
• Only representatives of the target group who are registered unemployed jobseekers may be eligible for support under any of the three Lots.

Eligibility Criteria

• For all the three lots, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Local Government Units (target municipalities), social enterprises are eligible to apply.
  • Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)/social enterprises:
    • Must be an active legal entity.
    • Must be a non-profit making organization, legally registered and operating in Albania (in accordance with Law No. 8788, dated 07.05.2001).
    • Previous experience in the target municipalities.
    • In cases when the CSOs will be the lead applicant, it should be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project with the co-applicant(s), not acting as an intermediary;
    • Have previous experience in implementing similar actions in scope and objectives.
  • Municipalities:
    • Must be one of the 19 targeted municipalities.
    • In cases when the municipalities will be the lead applicant, it should be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project with the co-applicant(s), not acting as an intermediary;
    • (Note: In case of a successful application, the applicant(s) should open a separate bank account in all for all transactions under this CfP).
  • The Maximum Number of Applications for Each Eligible Applicant:
    • Each grant can be awarded to a project implemented by one entity, or by two or more entities (consortium) that meet the project conditions and may include one or more than one of the targeted municipalities. In each case the proposed initiatives will have to demonstrate partnership and integrated approaches in the implementation and contribute to a strengthened communication between local level actors.
  • Applications by a single entity:
    • Eligible applicants may apply at any of the three Lots but cannot submit more than one (1) proposal. The same entities can apply as co-applicants for a maximum of two more proposals.
  • Applications by two or more entities (consortium):
    • Joint applications between Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), social enterprises and Local Government Units (LGUs) are strongly encouraged.
    • In case of joint applications, only one entity is the lead applicant (lead organization) and other applicants are co-applicants. If selected, the entity shall sign a contract as per UNDP rules and regulations and shall then be responsible for the implementation.
    • The joint applications can have only one (1) lead applicant and maximum two (2) co-applicants. An eligible applicant can act as lead applicant only to one Lot and can apply as co-applicant for a maximum of 2 other proposals. Each applicant may apply as a lead applicant or co-applicant but cannot submit more than 3 proposals in total.
      • the ‘lead applicant’, i.e. the entity submitting the application form. If awarded the grant, the lead applicant will become the grant beneficiary identified as the grant recipient. The grant recipient is the main contractual party with UNDP. It represents and acts on behalf of the co-applicants (if any) and is responsible for the design, management, and implementation of the action.
      • The co-applicants must satisfy the eligibility criteria as applicable to the lead applicant.
    • The same entity may be awarded a maximum of one grant as a lead applicant and a maximum of two grants as co-applicant.

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