International Consultant for a United Nations Philippines Policy Note on Leaving No One Behind UN Resident Coordinator Office in the Philippines

UN Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework for COVID-19 Recovery in the Philippines

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis calls for global solidarity and cooperation with the Philippines to support its health system to prevent COVID-19 deaths and illness, to address growing inequality which is a structural driver of conflict that the pandemic has significantly deepened, and to support the sustainable recovery of its economy and society. The Government has adopted the We Recover as One roadmap, with recommendations to rebuild national confidence and adjust to the “new normal” that will inevitably arise from the impact of COVID-19 and the Government’s response. The mid-term update of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) released in 2021 aligned it with “the imperatives for recovery and the new and better normal within the overall goal of a healthy and resilient Philippines.”

The United Nations system-wide commitment to support the redefined national priorities is embodied in the UN Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework for COVID-19 Recovery in the Philippines 2020-2023 (SEPF). The SEPF provides a roadmap for prioritizing, aligning, and positioning the UN in the Philippines. It incorporates follow-on actions from the Humanitarian Response Plan, updates the Partnership Framework for Sustainable Development (PFSD), and serves as the UN COVID-19 response and recovery plan, addressing in an integrated manner the areas most in need of attention and support across the UN Philippines’ three mutually reinforcing pillars: People, Prosperity and Planet, and Peace.

Across these pillars, the SEPF expresses the UN’s commitment to fulfilling the 2030 Agenda’s promise to leave no one behind and reach the furthest behind first. Although the COVID-19 crisis has affected everyone, it has had disproportionate and adverse impacts on disadvantaged and at-risk groups, and many individuals are at the intersection of multiple groups. Furthermore, population sub-groups are affected differently. By using the UN’s human rights-based approach and the Leave No One Behind guiding framework it is possible to identify those who experience overlapping and reinforcing vulnerabilities, deprivations, and inequality and constructively engage with them in humanitarian-development-peace processes. Their participation and that of other demographic groups impacted differently by COVID-19 are essential in accelerating socio-economic development and sustaining peace while protecting fundamental rights.

UN Approach to Leaving No One Behind

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is unequivocal:

“As we embark on this great collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. Recognizing that the dignity of the human person is fundamental, we wish to see the Goals and targets met for all nations and peoples and for all segments of society. And we will endeavor to reach the furthest behind first.”[1]

The UN approach to leaving no one behind is set out in the “Shared Framework on Leaving No One Behind: Equality and Non-Discrimination at the Heart of Sustainable Development” endorsed in November 2016. This shared framework for action is to ensure the UN System puts the imperative to combat inequalities and discrimination at the forefront of United Nations efforts to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It is further informed by the vision of the Secretary-General’s report on “Our Common Agenda”[2] and his “Call to Action for Human Rights.”[3]

In this regard, UN Philippines is looking to engage an international consultant to formulate and develop a “Policy Note to operationalize the principle of Leaving No One Behind (LNOB)” in close consultation with the UN Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in the Philippines.

[1] General Assembly resolution 70/1, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development A/RES/70/1 (25 September 2015).

[2] https://www.un.org/en/un75/common-agenda

[3] https://www.un.org/en/content/action-for-human-rights/index.shtml

The objective of the assignment is to develop a Policy Note intended to provide guidance to the UNCT Philippines on the practical application of the LNOB principle in all UN programmes, projects and activities. The Policy Note should build on existing research, data and evidence generated and gathered by UN agencies and other development partners.

The International Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and in close coordination with the RCO Team. She/he will be responsible for conducting, amongst others, the following tasks:

1. Gather and review all relevant UN policies, international norms and standards (or UN norms and standards), guidance, and lessons learned on Leaving No One Behind, such as but not limited to:
   1. Shared Framework on Leaving No One Behind: Equality and Non-Discrimination at the Heart of Sustainable Development (2017)
   2. Leaving No One Behind: A UNSDG Operational Guide for UN Country Teams (March 2019)
   3. UN norms and standards, particularly those ratified by the Philippine Government.

1. Review all relevant Philippine Government and UN Philippines strategic documents, including but not limited to:
   1. Updated Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022
   2. Partnership Framework for Sustainable Development (2018)
   3. UN Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework for COVID-19 Recovery in the Philippines 2020-2023
   4. Common Country Assessment
   5. Country program documents/strategies of UN agencies, programmes, funds, projects in the Philippines

and assess how LNOB principles have been embedded and/or mainstreamed in these documents.

1. Provide a mapping and analysis of major groups considered as “the furthest behind” and/or “at risk of being left behind, including those frequently exposed or at risk to human rights violations, and those in the informal sector or others where official data may not be available.” Potential sources of data analysis to identify the furthest behind include the Philippines Statistics Authority and UN ESCAP.
2. Map comments or observations from the various monitoring and supervisory bodies on the Philippine implementation of UN international instruments, including instruments related to human rights, particularly those ratified by the Government

1. Consult stakeholders to be identified and agreed with the UN RC/RCO, including but not limited to: UN RC and all UN resident and non-resident agencies, programmes, funds, and offices in the Philippines and relevant regional UN agencies (e.g. ESCAP, DCO), external stakeholders, including but not limited to grassroots organizations, civil society organizations, workers’ organizations, national and local government agencies, and UN implementing partners

1. Identify ongoing and future policy review processes in the Philippines in the medium term where UN Philippines and UN ESCAP LNOB analysis (and other LNOB findings from other sources) could be of direct use and help inform government policy.

1. Submit a proposed updated outline for the Policy Note for approval by the Resident Coordinator to ensure the policy note will meet the requirements of UN Philippines based on the following initial outline:

1. Background on Policy Note
2. UN’s principle of Leaving No One Behind in the context of the Philippines
3. Key aspects, concepts, and scope of Leaving No One Behind (LNOB)
4. Recommended Areas and Actions for the application of LNOB by UNCT in the Philippines, including a list of recommended focus areas and entry points for UN support in LNOB operationalization based on current UN programming targeting vulnerable groups and recommended specific innovative solutions and actions

Annexes:

• Summary discussion note (1-2 pages) highlighting specific findings and recommendations to present to key external partners
• Brief outline of methodology and criteria of identification of vulnerable groups, intersectionality between different groups with the reference to the UN Guidance Note on LNOB methodology
• Strategic document on LNOB: (a) An analysis and prioritization of populations, communities and groups of individuals left behind, identification of those left the furthest behind, references to relevant SDGs and to the extent possible national indicators, baselines and targets; (b) A vulnerability root cause analysis that would help identify responses and address the root and underlying causes of inequalities, including gender inequalities, discrimination, vulnerability, deprivation, and exclusion

1. Submit a draft and final Policy Note for review and approval by the Resident Coordinator. The Policy Note should include infographics and other data visualizations to support the main findings and recommendations.

1. Expected Outputs and deliverables

Payments will be done upon satisfactory completion of the delivery by target due dates. Outputs will be certified by the UN Resident Coordinator prior to release of payments.

1. Institutional Arrangements

1. The consultant will be under the direct supervision of the Resident Coordinator (RC) of the Philippines.
2. The consultant will submit the deliverables/outputs to the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO).
3. The consultant will work in close collaboration and meet with the RC and RCO and with other members of the UNCT as directed.
4. The consultant will telework from home due to the constraints imposed by COVID19.

1. Contract Duration

The consultant is expected to provide 20 input days spread over three (3) months unless revised in a mutually agreed-upon timetable between the Consultant and UNDP.

1. Duty Station

The consultant will be based in her/his home of residence and work under teleworking modality.

1. Qualifications of the Successful Individual Contractor

The Offers received will be evaluated using a combined scoring method – where the technical proposal will be weighted 70 points and combined with the price offer which will be weighted 30 points.

The CV will be reviewed using the criteria in the table below. Only offerors who will obtain a minimum of 70% or 49 out of 70 obtainable points will be shortlisted and considered for evaluation of the financial proposal. 

Qualified applicants may be invited for an interview.

1. Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

1. The Contractor should send the financial proposal based on a lump-sum amount for the delivery of the outputs identified below. The total amount quoted shall be “all-inclusive” (professional daily fees X number of days, communications, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor should be factored into the final amount submitted in the proposal. No travel is required.
2. Medical/health insurance must be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense, and upon award of contract, the Contractor must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during the contract duration
3. The contract price will be a fixed output-based price. Any deviations from the output and timeline will be agreed upon between the Contractor and UNDP.
4. Payments will be done upon satisfactory completion of the delivery by target due dates. Outputs will be certified by the UN Resident Coordinator prior to release of payments.

1. Recommended Presentation of Offer

The following documents are requested for the presentation of offer:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references
3. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology,  on how they will approach and complete the assignment
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

1. Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

The Offers received will be evaluated using a combined scoring method – where technical proposal will be weighted 70 points and combined with the price offer which will be weighted 30 points.

Offerors must upload in one (1) file the documents mentioned above.

Templates for a) P11 Personal History Form and b)  Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal (Annex 2) are available through the link below. UNDP General Terms and Conditions for Individual Contractors  are also available:

http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU

Incomplete submission of required documents may result in disqualification.

Please see the deadline of submissions above.

Because of the volume of applications UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified.