International Consultant (Economic and market diversification expert)

UNDP Afghanistan Mission Statement

UNDP helps countries to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock. In Afghanistan, a country in conflict, UNDP works for development and recovery choices that reduce vulnerability and contribute a development perspective to strengthen humanitarian and peace-building responses, to strengthen the continuum from relief to rehabilitation and development.

CONTEXT

Economic diversification in Afghanistan remains low, the export sector only represents 7.7 percent of GDP[1]. Productive capacities are centred in the agricultural sector which also provides income/livelihood for 61 percent of the population and employing 40 percent of the total workforce.[2] Agricultural imports have declined in 2019, mostly due to increased agricultural output in the grains sector after the 2018 drought but also lower demands.[3]

The proposed intervention areas are guided by national strategies namely the Afghan National Peace and Development Framework 2021-202[4] and the National Export Strategy. The underlying objective in UNDP’s support to the private sector development and engagement is employment creation and sustainable economic growth.

SCOPE OF WORK, OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES 

The initiation plan is to develop a project document and establishment of strategic unit in MOIC and to mobilize funds.

1. The development of full-fledged Project document with all annexes is expected to include below interventions:

a) Economic and market diversification will likely play a major role in the success of the contribution of the private sector to rebuilding Afghanistan. Changes in productive capacities in global markets, as well as the likely impact of prolonged droughts in Afghanistan pose a serious threat to already weakened and fragmented productive capacities in the country.

b) Systems approach for business and productive capacities support to ensure scale as per recommendation of the 2019 CP evaluation.[1] Business support ecosystems are important for the private sector, as they traditionally bridge knowledge from production to sales and are an important entry point in terms of dissemination of standards (financial, commerce, production), business practices and market access. Only a limited amount of business support services exists in the country, most of which are not for profit and donor driven. Access to strong business ecosystems for SMEs is crucial to upskill the sector but also to ensure that government policies and regulations are translated well and implementable by SMEs. 

c) Market-based approach in programming. This is fully aligned to priorities set forward in both the NPP on private sector and agricultural development, as well as the productive Afghanistan strategy. Lead companies in urban centers and the capital will function as a consolidation point. UNDP will offer risk-mitigation measures for wholesale retailers to capture national production. UNIDO will support development of industrial policy to support attainment of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) for employment creation and sustainable economic growth.

1. Technical support in establishing a strategic unit: Foresighting forward-looking productive capacities. Supporting analytical skills identifying drivers of exponential growth in Afghanistan both in terms of productive capacities (high—added value and employment rich products) and policy. These drivers include technological change, population shifts and consumption patterns and will allow to identify potential high-added value markets. The analytical work will also support the government in terms of market foresighting, such as identifying high-end national markets and export niche products, including product space and related high-end niche products that are green and employment rich. A strategic unit could be established in the MoIC or other relevant ministry with satellites in COCs/ACCI and relevant trade associations to ensure linkages to business service providers. This work could also link to existing work of country office around impact modelling within the trade sector (RECCA support).

Under the supervision of Section Head of Prosperity pillar and in close coordination with the UNDP Programme Officer in charge of the project, the International Consultant will:

1. Analyse data and develop supporting documents required for the project document development and lead the consultations with all relevant stakeholders.

2. Develop a full-fledged Project document in close coordination with UNIDO.

3. Technical support/recommendation/concept in establishment of strategic unit to promote Trade and Market intelligence in MOIC.Develop a detailed TOR to stablish the unit for Trade and market intelligence. Introduce tools for trade and market intelligence and propose HR structure of the strategic unit

(b) The Project document includes:

1. Project / Programme Background and Context

2. Overview of Afghanistan

3. Project / Programme Objectives

4. Theory of Change for the proposed project

5. Project / Programme Components and Financing:

6. Project / programme justification

7. Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the proposed project / programme

8. Analysis to show the consistent with national or sub-national sustainable development strategies, including, where appropriate, national or sub-national development plans, poverty reduction strategies, national communications, SDGs, or other relevant instruments

9. Detailed project budget with Results Framework

10. Additional supporting documents of the project document

11. ToR together with a proposed structure for the Strategic Unit

Expected Outputs, Deliverable and Timelines:

1. Technical support documents in establishing a strategic unit with acceptance by UNDP CO and government counterpart, 25 working days – (50%)

2. Develop and finalize full fledge project document with all annexes with acceptance by UNDP CO and government counterpart, 25 working days – (50 %)

Payment Modality

Payments under the contract shall be delivery-based and lumpsum after entire deliverables which shall be made on receipt of the specific milestone indicated above, per UNDP procurement formats for individual contractors. These shall be as indicated above and shall be deemed delivered upon the approval of the Prosperity Pillar t at UNDP County Office.

Institutional Arrangements:

The International Consultant will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Prosperity Pillar and UNDP Programme Officer.

Duration of the Work:

(15 June 2021 to 31th Dec 2021) (50 working days)

Duty Station:  Homebased and Kabul based (30 days in Kabul and 20 work days homebased)

[1] UNDP (2029), Independent country programme evaluation, p.37

Competencies:

• Demonstrated expertise in gender analysis and gender assessment.

• Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Special skills requirements

• Analytic capacity and demonstrated ability to process, analyse and synthesise complex, gender related information;

• Proven experience in the developing country context and working in different cultural settings.

• Good knowledge and awareness of gender issues and how they impact upon men and women’s roles especially in community development

• Excellent inter-personal, communication, and teamwork skills

Academic Qualifications:

Master’s degree or higher in Economics, Commerce and Trade or relevant field.

Years of experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in research and project design, policy development, trade and related fields

• Related working experience in developing, conflict and crisis countries is an advantage

  Language:

• Excellent English writing skills.

PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.  The consultant shall then submit a price proposal when requested by UNDP, in accordance with the below

• Daily Fee – The contractor shall propose a lumpsum fee, with breakdown of daily fees for 50 working days, inclusive of his professional fee, local communication cost and insurance (inclusive of medical health insurance and evacuation). The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract is 50 working days.
• The contractor shall propose a Living Allowance at the Kabul applicable rate of USD 162 per night for his/her stay at the duty station. The number of nights for which the Living allowance shall be payable under the contract is 30 nights. The contractor is NOT allowed to stay in a place of his choice other than the UNDSS approved places. UNDP will provide MORSS compliant accommodation in UNOCA to the contractor. The payment of accommodation shall be made directly by the contractor.
• Travel & Visa – The contractor shall propose an estimated lump-sum for home-Kabul-home travel (economy most direct route) and Afghanistan visa expenses.

The total professional fee, shall be converted into a lump-sum contract and payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of deliverables under the contract in accordance with the schedule of payment linked with deliverables.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• 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%;
• Financial Criteria weight 30%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria 70 points

Technical Proposal (30 marks)

Technical Approach & Methodology (20 marks) – This explain the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the degree of detail of such output. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach.

Work Plan (10 marks) – The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan.

Qualification and Experience (40 marks) [evaluation of CV]:

• General Qualification (10 marks);
• Experience relevant to the assignment (25 marks);
• Experience of working for projects funded by UNDP (5 marks).

OCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document.

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
• Technical Approach & Methodology – This explain the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the degree of detail of such output. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach.
• Work Plan  – The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan