International Consultant to Conduct a Baseline Study and Strengthen Capacities of Local Partners on Results Based Monitoring and Reporting

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

UN Women Indonesia Country Office (CO) hosts the ASEAN liaison  office which extends support to ASEAN and its Member States in advancing Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in line with global normative frameworks. UN Women in partnership with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) is implementing the regional programme, “Empowering women for sustainable peace: preventing violence and promoting social cohesion in ASEAN” (Advancing WPS in ASEAN).  The programme aims to support select ASEAN Member States to advance and strengthen WPS agenda, including through preventing violence against women and girls and promoting social cohesion in the region. The programme will ultimately contribute to the achievement of gender equality through inclusive and sustainable peace and development process in the region. This regional programme is currently in its inception phase and will be implemented in four ASEAN  countries: Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

Against this backdrop, UN Women seeks to hire an International  Consultant (IC) to conduct a baseline study and to develop a monitoring system for this regional programme. Essentially this will encompass the development of guidelines and M&E tools. Furthermore, the IC will strengthen the capacity of UN Women COs involved in the implementation of this programme and Implementing Partners (IP) on Results Based Monitoring and Reporting (RBMR).

Objectives of the assignment

The main objective of this consultancy is to conduct a  baseline study and develop a strong gender-sensitive monitoring and evaluation mechanism as well as strengthen the capacity of UN Women COs involved in the implementation of this regional programme and IPs on RBMR.

Scope of work and tasks

Under the overall guidance and management of the Regional Advisor, Governance Peace and Security a.i, and supervision from the Project Coordination Specialist ASEAN WPS and in collaboration with the Programme Management Specialist/Head of Office, Indonesia CO the IC will perform the following tasks:

Task 1. Desk Review and development of a consultancy work Plan and inception report that describe the methodology for the baseline study.

• Conduct a desk review of existing relevant documents (Home-based);
• Conduct preliminary consultations with members of the project team and stakeholders
• Develop a consultancy work plan ;
• Develop and submit an Inception report. The report should be structured as follows:

1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Data collection tools
4. Findings
5. Annexes

Task 2. Assess and review Programme Monitoring of Framework (PMF) of the project and develop necessary monitoring tools.

• Assess and review the PMF of the project with the aim of strengthening alignment with existing UN Women planning and reporting frameworks at Regional and CO level. This includes strengthening soundness of results-based Management.
• Provide recommendations for strengthening outcome and output-level indicators and means of verification.
• Provide recommendations to streamline the reporting mechanism.
• Ensure that the PMF follows the Results-Based Management Guidance Note of Global Affairs Canada on RBM.
• Develop necessary data collection tools for regional and COs implementing this programme.

Task 3. Undertake  data collection, analysis and develop  a baseline report

• Develop data collection tools,  and analyze   data collected

• Develop a well-structured report that comprehensively describes findings of the research. The report may be structured as follows:
  • Executive summary
  • Acronyms
  • Introduction
  • Table of contents 
  • Background information
  • Methodology
  • Baseline data
  • Analysis
  • Findings
  • Conclusion and recommendations
  • Annexes

Task 4. Facilitate a debrief session and  present  results to major project stakeholders

• Develop a concept note, a presentation, and an agenda
• Debrief  ASEAN secretariat and UN Women COs.
• Collect additional information from stakeholders to ensure finalization of the baseline study report and submission.

Task 5.  Strengthen the capacity of UN Women team and major implementing partners on gender responsive and results-based monitoring

• Facilitate a four-days’ workshop to strengthen capacity of  COs and  IPs on gender responsive and results-based monitoring and reporting.
• Facilitate a two-days’ workshop for the regional team and UN Women COs implementing this programme on RBMR and application of data collection tools.
• Develop and submit a training report.

Expected Deliverables

The IC will produce the following deliverables:

All the deliverables, including annexes, notes and reports should be submitted in writing in English.

Upon receipt of the deliverables and prior to the payment of the first installment, the deliverables and related reports and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women. The period of review is one week after receipt.

Inputs

• UN Women will provide the Consultant with background information and documents, and a list of stakeholders relevant for the assignment; and
• The Consultant is expected to work using his/ her own computer.

Scope of bid price and schedule of payments

The contract price is a fixed deliverable-based price regardless of extension of the contract duration. Payment will be done once deliverables detailed in section II are submitted and approved by UN Women.

The lump sum costs should include a consultancy fee, administration costs, communication costs, and expenses related to the consultancy. All prices/rates quoted must be exclusive of all taxes. The lump sum costs must be accompanied by a detailed breakdown of costs calculation using the template in Annex 1.

Performance evaluation

Consultant’s performance will be evaluated based on: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Leading by Example

Required experience and qualifications

The Consultant should fulfil the following requirements:

Education

• Master’s degree in Political Science or Social Science, Gender Studies, International Development or in Monitoring and Evaluation.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of  relevant  experience   in monitoring  and evaluation and research  at the national or international level;
• Previous experience in conducting baseline studies;
• Proven experience in facilitating workshops on results-based monitoring and reporting;
• Experience in the United Nations systems and/or UN Women would be an asset; and
• Knowledge of the WPS agenda would be an asset.

Language and other skills:

• Proficiency in oral and written English;
• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, Internet and email; and 
• Excellent facilitation skills.

Submission of application

1. Cover letter;
2. Curriculum vitae including contact information of at least 3 referees;
3.  A sample of similar work done previously;
4. A copy of the latest academic certificate;
5. UN Women P-11 form, available via  http://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/about-us/jobs; and
6. A financial proposal. The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount per each deliverable, including any administrative fees (internet cost, etc), based on the template in Annex 1. The lump sum costs must be accompanied by a detailed breakdown of costs calculation.

Applications without any of the items listed above will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further processing.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be invited to the interview.

Evaluation

Applications will be evaluated based on the Cumulative analysis.

• Technical Qualification (100 points) weight; [70%]
• Financial Proposal (100 points) weight; [30%]

A two-stage procedure is utilised in evaluating the proposals, with evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to any price proposal being compared. Only the price proposal of the candidates who passed the minimum technical score of 70% of the obtainable score of 100 points in the technical qualification evaluation will be evaluated.

Technical qualification evaluation criteria:

The total number of points allotted for the technical qualification component is 100. The technical qualification of the individual is evaluated based on following technical qualification evaluation criteria:

Only the candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be longlisted, and additional documentation may be requested. Candidates with a minimum of 70% of total points will be considered as technically-qualified candidates and will be shortlisted for interview.

Financial/Price Proposal evaluation:

• Only the financial proposal of candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation will be considered and evaluated.
• The total number of points allotted for the price component is 100.
• The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened/ evaluated and compared among those technically qualified candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

Payments

Payments for this consultancy will be based on the achievement of each deliverable and certification that each has been satisfactorily completed.

Annex I: Financial Proposal

BREAKDOWN OF COSTS

Breakdown of Cost by Components:

The lump sum costs should include administration costs (internet cost, etc) and expenses related to the consultancy. All prices/rates quoted must be exclusive of all taxes. The lump sum costs must be accompanied by a detailed breakdown of costs calculation.