International Consultant (Project Development and Implementation Expert) Transitional Support to MOIA Project Initiation Plan (TSM PIP) UNDP

UNDP Global Mission Statement:

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with national counterparts on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

Organizational context:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is committed to strengthening the capacity of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s (GIROA) to administer rule of law and improve the safety and security for all Afghan citizens.  As the lead rule of law institution in the country, improving the ability of the Ministry of Interior Affairs (MoIA) to fulfil its mandate remains critical to the overall stability of Afghanistan and its people. As the UN’s primary development agency, and a longstanding development partner to GIROA’s rule of law and security sector, UNDP Afghanistan plays a leading role in facilitating reform and development of MOIA as well as the Afghan National Police (ANP) to better serve the people of Afghanistan.

Under the new LOTFA Multi-Partner Trust Fund (LOTFA MPTF) Terms of Reference and its inclusion of four funding/thematic Windows (Payroll, Security, Justice and Anti-Corruption), UNDP is seeking a consultant to conduct research, develop evidence-based projects, in line with LOTFA’s Strategic Framework, to meet MOIA and/or other justice institutions’ priorities, and support implementation of existing and new projects funded by LOTFA MPTF and/or bilaterally by specific partners.

Objective of the Assignment:

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Governance for Peace Unit and direct supervision of LOTFA Programme Coordinator, the Project Development and Implementation Expert will be responsible for developing new project areas and supporting in project implementation, especially with those activities funded by the government of the Republic of Korea (ROK).  Specific deliverables will include:

1. Support activities funded by the government of the Republic of Korea (ROK)
2. Work with partner institutions/agencies to develop a new project with ROK’s funding to LOTFA;
3. Ensure all communication and reports to the ROK Government are up to date;  
4. Identify potential programmatic areas of interest to ROK and develop concept notes/project proposals to engage with ROK

Activities:

• Under the direction of the LOTFA Programme Coordinator, support the implementation of existing project activities including the (Afghanistan-India-ROK) Trilateral Training initiative;
• Draft concept notes, reports, and research frameworks and any documentation necessary to facilitate and support effective implementation of project activities;  
• Under the direction of the LOTFA Programme Coordinator and LOTFA M&E Team Leader, support the design and conceptualization of new project areas including the design and implementation of studies/assessments, drafting concept notes, briefing notes, presentations, etc. across all LOTFA windows;
• Closely coordinate with all LOTFA thematic windows to ascertain their funding needs and their fit for possible funding from the ROK Government;
• Ensure all communications, quarterly reports, annual reports and other ad hoc reports to donors, especially the ROK Government, are met in a timely and quality manner;
• Identify potential programmatic areas of interest to ROK and develop concept notes/project proposals to engage with ROK;
• Regularly communicate with the ROK Embassy in Kabul to ensure the regular sharing of information and that any requests that may arise are addressed in a timely manner; and
• Any other tasks as may be required.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

Payment Modality: 

Payments under the contract shall be delivery based and be made on receipt of the specific milestone deliverables indicated above and including a timesheet according to UNDP procurement formats for individual contractors. The deliverables will be reviewed by the LOTFA Programme Coordinator. The payments will be paid upon the full completion and acceptance of contractual obligations.

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

Institutional Arrangements:

The Consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Head of Governance for Peace Unit and direct supervision of the LOTFA Programme Coordinator. The Consultant shall work in close collaboration with the Programme and Project colleagues.

UNDP will provide office space and internet facility, logistical and other support service including transport and security applicable to UNDP international personnel. The Consultant, however, is expected to bring his/her own laptop and mobile phone and meet local communications costs (UNDP will provide a local pre-paid SIM card). Costs to arrange meetings, workshops, travel costs to and DSA during field visits (if any), etc. shall be covered by UNDP TSM PIP.

Duration of the Work

The deliverables under this contract shall be completed within 4 months (With Maximum 88 working days), after the signing of the contract, including all preparation work and on-site visits, excluding joining and repatriation travel days.

Duty Station

The duty station for the contractor is Kabul, Afghanistan for the entire duration of the contract. Some field visits outside Kabul is envisaged. The TSM PIP will cover expenses of all official field missions within or outside the country, upon receiving the prior approval from the LOTFA Programme Coordinator. When in Kabul, the Consultant will be based in G4P Unit at the United Nations Office Complex in Afghanistan (UNOCA) during working hours, security conditions permitting.  The consultant will follow the working hours and weekends as applicable to the Project staff. The Consultant’s movement for meetings and consultations shall be coordinated by the project. The contractor is at all times required to observe UNDP security rules and regulations.

Core competencies:

• Promotes ethics and integrity and creates organizational precedents;
• Builds support and political acumen;
• Builds staff competence and creates an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Builds and promotes effective teams;
• Creates and promotes environment for open communications;
• Leverages conflict in the interest of UNDP and sets standards;
• Shares knowledge across the organization and builds a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Functional Competencies:

Job knowledge/technical expertise:

• Possesses expert knowledge of advance concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines and in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures;
• Applies knowledge to support the Project´s objectives and to further the mandate of UNDP;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in the area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments.

Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise:

• Conducts programme assessment to improve development of models and methodologies;
• Demonstrates the ability to engage development partners at all levels in conceptual and methodological innovation that is pertinent to the context.

Advancing a policy-oriented agenda:

• Advocates for inclusion of UNDP´s focus areas in the public policy agenda;
• Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues;
• Builds consensus concerning UNDP´s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives;
• Leverage UNDP´s multidisciplinary expertise to influence policies and programmes;
• Demonstrates political/cultural acumen in proposing technical sound, fact-based solutions/approaches;
• Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives;

Demonstrates cultural sensitivity, political savvy and intellectual capacity in handling; disagreements in order to promote and position UNDP in complex environments.

REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Academic Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Law, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Development, Public Administration, or related field.

Years of experience:

• Seven (7) years of relevant experience working on development projects at the national or international level, including in the areas of project management, monitoring and evaluation, project planning, design, operations, donor relations and coordination of development projects;   
• Familiarity with ROK funding requirements and workings of ROK government, is a distinct advantage;
• Experience working in Afghanistan or fragile state context required;
• Experience with government, UN, donor agencies and NGOs in Afghanistan is an advantage; and
• Experience working in the area of democratic governance, rule of law, security sector public administration/civil service reform is an advantage.

Language:

• Excellent written and oral English skills a necessary requirement; knowledge of written an oral Korean is a distinct advantage; knowledge of local language, Pashto and/or Dari, a plus. 

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 Consultant shall propose a daily fee which should be inclusive of his/her professional fee, local communication cost, insurance (inclusive of medical health and medical evacuation etc.), equipment, and other costs required for performance of the contract but excluding travel, visa and DSA. The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract is 88 working days over a contract duration of 4 months.
• DSA – The Consultant shall be separately paid the DSA as per applicable UNDP rate for stay in Kabul and travel to other locations as per actual number of nights spent in Kabul or other locations. Deductions from DSA shall be made as per applicable UNDP policy when accommodation and other facilities are provided by UNDP. An estimated provision in this regard shall be included in the contract. The consultant need not quote for DSA in Financial Proposal.
• Accommodation in Kabul – The Consultants are NOT allowed to stay in a place of their choice other than the UNDSS approved places in Kabul, Afghanistan. UNDP will provide accommodation to the Consultant for the duration of the stay in Afghanistan in UNDSS approved places. Deductions in this regard shall be made from DSA payment as per applicable UNDP Policy.
• Travel – The Consultant shall include lumpsum cost of travel per trip for Home-Kabul-Home (estimated 2 trips) and Afghanistan visa expenses in the Financial Proposal. Any other travel for work, originating from Kabul shall be payable by UNDP separately as per applicable Policy.
• Payment schedule – Payments towards remuneration/fee shall be linked to deliverables and shall be made on certification of completion of deliverables and submission of certified timesheet. Payment towards travel shall be made on an instance of actual travel and shall be cost-reimbursable limited to the amount quoted in Financial Proposal. Payments towards DSA, Visa, etc. shall be cost-reimbursable, as specified above.

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:

Qualification and Experience (25 marks) [evaluation of CV for shortlisting]:

• General Qualification (10 marks);
• Experience relevant to the assignment (15 marks); and

Interview (45 marks)

Financial Evaluation (30%):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

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:

• Updated 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. 

All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNDP Afghanistan.  UNDP Afghanistan will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

• Annex 1 – IC Contract Template (for information);

• Annex 2 –  Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (to be completed at later stage upon request by UNDP);
• Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions (for information);
• Annex 4 – RLA Template (if consultant wishes to be recruited through an employer) – (for information).

Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be disqualified automatically.