Social Economy and the Roma community challenges and opportunities Situation Analysis Report CONCEPT NOTE POSDRU/69/6.1/S/34922

Transcription

1 Social Economy and the Roma community challenges and opportunities Situation Analysis Report CONCEPT NOTE I. PROJECT OVERVIEW Project title: Project number: Social Economy a solution for the development of Roma communities in Romania POSDRU/69/6.1/S/34922 Duration: March 2011 March 2014 Foundation Center for Institutional Analysis and Development (CADI Beneficiary: Eleutheria) Partner 1: United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Romania II. INTRODUCTION Through the Project Social Economy a solution for the development of Roma communities in Romania UNDP seeks to address the delicate development status of Roma communities by means of applying Social Economy (SE) practices as an innovative solution. Thus the project promotes SE as an instrument for an integrated development by: (1) analysing the potential for applicability of SE practices within Roma communities from a social, an economic and an institutional point of view; (2) training the specialists in social enterprises setup and in assisting such initiatives; and (3) promoting SE and the project within Roma communities and for the Romanian public. The project framework seeks to make a tangible difference to Roma communities from Romania by means of applying Social Economy practices as an innovative solution. Through the proposed activities, the project contributes directly to achieving specific objectives under axis 6 in Sectoral Operational Programme - Human Resource Development (SOP HRD) programme, by developing social economy structures, promotion of social economy and enhancing capacity of social economy operators and environment. The Project is also contributing to the development of

2 human capital in Romania by implementing concrete measures for social inclusion on modern flexible labour market. The project is also in line with the European Union (EU) Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 that request EU Member States to address the situation of Roma in terms of employment, poverty and education. III. OBJECTIVES OF THE SITUATION ANALYSIS In compliance with the project documents, the proposed situation analysis of the socio-economic and legal environment is initiated by UNDP and its project partners to map the situation of social enterprises within Roma communities in Romania and to identify the key challenges and opportunities for implementing socio-economy models. The situation analysis will be carried out by a team of experts and will be overseen by the UNDP Project Management Team. The analysis should provide information on the social economy models in Romania, on the development strategies employed by the governmental institutions and civil society organizations in order to increase the level of socio-economic inclusion of Roma communities from Romania, legal barriers and opportunities to advance the social economy models, lessons learnt and recommendations. The situation analysis should cover the following specific issues: an overview of the emergence and evolution of social enterprise in Romania; social enterprise within Roma communities, including description of the structure and dynamics of unemployment, education levels and standards of living within the Roma groups, of the legal environment and the national response; civil society involvement on developing social economy models for Roma communities; recommendations for actions. Data collection and related assessments will be carried out within the project target area, addressing specific questions on the relevance of social economy models for the target group, the effectiveness and efficiency of such interventions and the role of partnership for development. It will also provide recommendations for sustainability of the social enterprises proposed for development within the framework of the Social Economy a solution for the development of Roma communities in Romania project. UNDP will share the report findings and recommendations with the relevant units of UNDP, government agencies, civil society partners and project implementing partners, donors.

3 IV. METHODOLOGY The situation analysis should include but not necessarily limit to the following methods: desk review of available key documents. These documents will encompass policy documents, research reports, activity report of key stakeholders; individual and/or group interviews with representatives of the governmental agencies, civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders; field visits and observation of socio-economy models, including interventions developed with UNDP assistance; conference calls with representatives of relevant partner agencies. A concise evaluation methodology will be presented by the team of experts in the inception report. Based on the findings, the experts will prepare a draft report and submit it to the UNDP Project Coordinator. The draft report will be circulated for comments to the involved parties. In conducting the situation analysis, the experts needs to take into account United Nations Evaluation Group s Standards for Evaluation in the UN System and Norms for Evaluation in the UN system 1. V. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND TENTATIVE TIMEFRAME Inception report with detailed assessment plan and methodology including situation analysis tools to be delivered 15 days after contracting. Estimated deadline: 31 October 2011 Draft report that will contain the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the situation analysis as well as a recording of the lessons learnt and best practices. Estimated deadline: 15 December 2011 Final evaluation report, after the incorporation of comments from stakeholders and receiving clearance from the UNDP Project Management Team. The report should not be longer than 100 pages, excluding the annexes and the executive summary. Annexes to the evaluation report should at least include any evaluation tools such as questionnaires or surveys, a list of persons interviewed, the reports reviewed but should otherwise be kept to an absolute minimum. Only those annexes that save to demonstrate or clarify an issue related to a major finding should be included. Existing documents should be referenced but not necessarily annexed. The analysis will cover a gender balance perspective. The report 1

4 will assess the social and economical situation of the Roma communities from Romania and will include inter-alia the following chapters: The Social Economy and development of Roma communities background/history and key challenges; Social context; Analysis of the institutional and legal environment; Analysis of the financial environment; The role of civil society in development of social economy models for Roma communities; Recommendations for ensuring a sustainable development of social economy models. Estimated deadline: 15 February 2012 Tentative timeframe: 15 October 15 February 2012

5 Timeframe for team of experts Position Expert Coordinator Lead Researcher Expert on Social Economy Tasks Coordinate and supervise the research team work. The research team comprises two national experts (National Expert on Social Economy and National Expert on Roma Issues). Ensuring that all ethical and confidentiality requirements related to data analysis are met to a satisfactory standard in accordance to the UNDP rules and proposed situation analysis protocol. Development of the methodology for the situation analysis and sharing with the UNDP Team. Consideration of comments and preparation of situation analysis plan and methodology. Desk review of reports, national strategies and other relevant documents. Preparation of the draft situation analysis report Social Economy and the Roma community challenges and opportunities. The template for the report will be prior agreed with UNDP. Share draft situation analysis report with UNDP team and receive feedback and comments. Review the draft situation analysis report and include comments. Deliver the final report to UNDP. Prepare regular short briefings on research findings to be shared with partners at different stages of the process, as requested by UNDP. Ensuring that all ethical and confidentiality requirements related to data analysis are met to a satisfactory standard in accordance to the UNDP rules and proposed situation analysis protocol. Desk review of reports, national strategies and other relevant documents Number of working days and proposed budget 500 hours 350 hours Timeline 15 Oct February November January 2012 Deliverables Inception report with detailed assessment plan and methodology including situation analysis tools (Romanian) Draft situation analysis Social Economy and the Roma community challenges and opportunities. (Romanian) Final situation analysis Social Economy and the Roma community challenges and opportunities. (Romanian and English) Individual monthly reports;

6 Expert on Roma Issues regarding social economy. Support the development of the draft situation analysis report Social Economy and the Roma community challenges and opportunities by preparing specific chapters on Social economy prior agreed with the research team and following the report template approved by UNDP. Review and include the UNDP comments on the draft situation analysis report. Deliver the final documents to the Expert Coordinator Principle Researcher in order to finalize the report; Prepare regular short briefings on research findings to be shared with partners at different stages of the process, as requested by UNDP. Ensuring that all ethical and confidentiality requirements related to data analysis are met to a satisfactory standard in accordance to the UNDP rules and proposed situation analysis protocol. Desk review of reports, national strategies and other relevant documents regarding social economy. Support the development of the draft situation analysis report Social Economy and the Roma community challenges and opportunities by preparing specific chapters on Roma communities vulnerabilities determined by the socio-economic factors. The chapters are prior agreed with the research team and follow the report template approved by UNDP. Review and include the UNDP comments on the draft situation analysis report. Deliver the final documents to the Expert Coordinator Principle Researcher in order to finalize the report; Prepare regular short briefings on research findings to be shared with partners at different stages of the process, as requested by UNDP. 350 hours 1 November January 2012

7 VI. REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES The situation analysis will be carried out by a team of national experts, comprising of an Expert Coordinator Lead Researcher, an Expert on Social Economy and an Expert on Roma Communities appointed by UNDP. All the costs associated with the team are eligible costs under the project. Competencies: (i) The experts must have extensive knowledge of, and experience in developing situation analysis on social economy and/or socio-economic disadvantages communities issues; (ii) The experts must have at least 5 years of practical experience in working/researching the situation of socio-economic disadvantages communities, especially Roma groups. The Expert Coordinator must have a proven experience of at least 7 years in the proposed field; (iii) The experts must have analytical and report writing skills; (iv) The Coordinator must have a strong record/experience in designing leading and/or conducting situation analysis focused on the socio-economic disadvantages communities; (v) It is desirable that the experts have knowledge/understanding of the socio-economic models in Europe; (vi) It is desirable that the experts have knowledge of the UN environment as well as of the UN guiding principles/recommendations in the area of poverty reduction and socio-economic development. Required Education and Skills: Education: Advanced university degree in social sciences, economy or public policies. Languages: Excellent Romanian and English oral and written communication skills. Responsibilities: The team of experts shall: (1) carry out a thorough desk review; (2) develop a suitable evaluation methodology including interview guidelines and questionnaires for key informants and groups of stakeholders; (3) analyze the data and be responsible for drafting the situation analysis report; (4) share the draft report with the UNDP team; (5) finalize the evaluation report and receive quality assurance clearance from UNDP; (6) present the evaluation findings to UNDP team. The team of experts will be contracted by UNDP. The experts team will not act as representative of UNDP and must remain independent and impartial. The experts team shall respect the Ethical Guidelines of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG)

8 VII. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS Evaluation management arrangements The Project Coordinator, located at the project site, will provide and ensure the following: coordination of administrative activities related to the situation analysis; organization of meetings with selected local stakeholders; coordination with UNDP Management Team for report reviews and clearance. Although the national experts should be free to discuss all matters relevant to their assignments with the authorities concerned, they are not authorized to make any commitment on behalf of UNDP.