International consultant to technically support with a review of national SDG monitoring framework in Turkmenistan and clarification of baselines and target values for national SDG targets as part of the national SDG mid-term review in Turkmenistan

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN member states in September 2015 constitute the global framework of Sustainable Development Agenda for the period up to 2030. The 17 outlined sustainable development goals are aimed at ending poverty, preserving the planet’s natural resources and ensuring equality and prosperity for all. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets forth the highly ambitious targets for the coming years.

In Turkmenistan, the Agenda 2030 serves as a central strategy, thus government policies are focused on its implementation. As such, the National Programme for Social and Economic Development of Turkmenistan until 2030 and the Programme of the President of Turkmenistan for Social and Economic Development for the period 2019-2025 are aimed at achieving sustainable development and consistent implementation of the SDGs as the main priority.

Activities on adaptation and integration of the SDGs in relevant national strategic programmes and plans in Turkmenistan began in 2016 with the formal adoption of the 2030 Agenda by the Government of Turkmenistan through national consultations. The nationalization process involved defining SDGs that were applicable to Turkmenistan, integrating them into national development plans and establishing the monitoring system. As a result, 17 SDG goals, 148 targets (of which 121 remained unchanged and 27 were adjusted according to the national priorities) and 187 indicators (of 241 global indicators) were formally adopted. Subsequently, the number of indicators was revised and currently 136 national SDG targets and 180 indicators have been identified for implementation until 2030. However, not all national SDG indicators have defined baselines and target values.

In 2019, Turkmenistan undertook its first Voluntary National Review of SDG implementation in the country, which was presented at the ECOSOC High-level Political Forum.  The review focused on the SDG 3 and cluster SDGs (SDGs 4, 8, 10, 13, 16 and 17). Focusing on the indivisibility of the 2030 Agenda and the interrelatedness of SDG goals and targets, each section of the Review included analysis of the relationship of the targets of Goals under consideration with the targets of other SDGs.

Building on the successful first national voluntary review of Turkmenistan as well as considering the approaching mid-term period since the adoption of the Agenda 2030, the Government of Turkmenistan and the UN Country Team have agreed to jointly conduct the mid-term review of SDGs implementation in Turkmenistan and prepare the country’s 2nd Voluntary National Review to be presented at the ECOSOC High Level Political Forum in 2023.  As part of undertaking national SDG mid-term review, international consultancy is required to technically support the national working group on SDG implementation in reviewing and identifying national SDG indicators that lack baselines and targets, setting baselines and targets for national SDG indicators as appropriate and improving data flows for better measurement of SDG progress.

The objective of this assignment is to support the national working group on SDG implementation in reviewing and identifying the national SDG indicators that lack baselines and targets, as well as setting baselines and targets for national SDG indicators as appropriate.  Furthermore, the given assignment requires the review of data flow across government departments for SDG monitoring and development of relevant recommendations on streamlining SDG data flows among Government ministries and departments.

Under the overall guidance of the RCO Team Leader and UNDP Programme Analyst on Governance and inclusive economic growth and the direct supervision of the RCO Data Officer and UNDP Partnering for SDG acceleration, Phase 2 Project Manager, the International Consultant will be responsible to carry out the following tasks. In performing the given tasks, the incumbent will work with the team of five national consultants to be engaged to support the coordination of SDG mid-term review process.

1. Review the list of national SDG targets and indicators, including the baseline and target values assigned to each national SDG indicator and identify the existing gaps and areas for improvement in the national SDG monitoring/reporting framework;
2. Review the best international practices on measuring the SDG progress (collection, processing and analysis of SDG data) and present to the working group and relevant employees of the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan;
3. Through meetings and discussions with the members of the national working group on SDG implementation to map the existing data flows on SDG monitoring across Government ministries and departments;
4. Review, update and improve (as appropriate) the table with information on data sources for each national SDG indicator, including official Government sources, administrative data sources and international data sources.The table also needs to reflect on the latest information on global custodian agencies for each SDG indicator;
5. Identify data gaps on monitoring of national SDG indicators and develop recommendations on addressing those data gaps either via national statistical system, periodic and stand-alone surveys or administrative data;
6. Consult the national working group on SDG implementation with recommendations on effective ways of addressing the gaps in the national SDG monitoring framework (missing baselines and target values) in line with international best practices;
7. By reviewing the mid- and long term national and sectoral development programmes of Turkmenistan, such as the National Programme on Socio-economic development of Turkmenistan in 2019-2025, Turkmenistan’s 1st Voluntary National Report, as well as the UN (including the UN agency led studies and assessments) or other international assessments/reports, provide recommendations on filling the existing gaps with regard to the availability of baseline and target values for national SDG indicators.Where appropriate and if justified the use of globally set baseline and target values of global SDG indicators should also be proposed for the consideration of the national working on SDG implementation;
8. Building on international best practices, develop a set of recommendations on enhancing the national SDG monitoring and reporting system in Turkmenistan, which inter-alia reflects on optimization of data flows across Government departments;
9. Conduct online meetings and workshops with the members of the national working on SDG implementation to present the results of the review and the proposed recommendations;
10. Prepare a final report documenting the following:

• findings of the review of the national SDG monitoring framework;
• findings of the review of data flows within the Government departments on SDG monitoring in Turkmenistan;
• recommendations on addressing SDG data gaps and the proposed table with information on data sources for each national SDG indicator;
• recommendations on addressing the gaps (missing baselines and targets) in the national SDG monitoring framework;
• proposals on baseline and target values for national SDG indicators that lack such information;
• recommendations on enhancing the national SDG monitoring and reporting system in Turkmenistan.

It is anticipated that within the contract duration the International Consultant will undertake a series of online meetings and workshops with the relevant UN staff and the members of the national working group on SDG implementation in Turkmenistan.  Therefore, she/he is expected to be available for on-line feedback, review and consultations throughout the whole period of the contract.

Deliverables and timeframe:

The following deliverables and indicative schedule are expected from the consultancy contract. The final schedule will be agreed upon in the beginning of the consultancy assignment.

Deliverable 1 prepared through the actions below:

1. Findings of the review the list of national SDG targets and indicators, including the baseline and target values assigned to each national SDG indicator, which identify the existing gaps and areas for improvement in the national SDG monitoring/reporting framework;
2. Presentation of the best international practice on collection, processing and analysis of the SDGs data to measure SDG indicators to the employees of the State Committee on Statistics;
3. Mapping of the existing data flows on SDG monitoring across Government ministries and departments and an updated table with information on data sources for each national SDG indicator, including official Government sources, administrative data sources and international data sources.The table also needs to provide updated information (if any) on global custodian agencies for each SDG indicator;
4. Analysis of data gaps on monitoring of national SDG indicators and recommendations on addressing those data gaps either via national statistical system, periodic surveys or administrative data;

Location and period: 20 days Home-based with online meetings (October – November 2021).

Deliverable 2 prepared through the actions below:

1. Recommendations on effective ways of addressing the gaps in the national SDG monitoring framework (missing baselines and target values) in line with international best practices.

2. Proposed set of baseline and target values for national SDG indicators that lack such information. The proposed baselines and target values should be informed by mid- and long term national and sectoral development programmes of Turkmenistan, such as the National Programme on Socio-economic development of Turkmenistan in 2019-2025, 1st VNR of Turkmenistan, as well as UN or other international assessments/reports.Where appropriate and if justified the use of globally set baseline and target values of global SDG indicators should also be proposed for the consideration of the national working on SDG implementation.

Location and period: 20 days Home-based (January – March 2022).

Deliverable 3 prepared through the actions below:

1. Set of recommendations on enhancing the national SDG monitoring and reporting system in Turkmenistan, which inter-alia reflects on optimization of data flows across Government departments;
2. Online meetings and workshops with the members of the national working on SDG implementation to present the results of the review and the proposed recommendations across all deliverables above to the working group members and the employees of the State Committee on Statistics;
3. Final report documenting the following:

• findings of the review of the national SDG monitoring framework;
• findings of the review of data flows within the Government departments on SDG monitoring in Turkmenistan;
• recommendations on addressing SDG data gaps and the proposed table with information on data sources for each national SDG indicator;
• recommendations on addressing the gaps (missing baselines and targets) in the national SDG monitoring framework;
• proposals on baseline and target values for national SDG indicators that lack such information;
• recommendations on enhancing the national SDG monitoring and reporting system in Turkmenistan.

Location and period: 20 days Home-based with online meetings (April – May 2022)

Payment conditions:

This is an installment-based contract that should cover the costs of consultancy required to produce the above deliverables. The final schedule of payments will be agreed upon in the beginning of consultancy. Payment will be released in three installments: 1st installment: 30% (for deliverables 1), 2nd installment: 30% (for deliverables 2) and 3rd instalment: 40% (for deliverable 3) – upon timely submission of respective deliverables and their acceptance by UN RCO Team Leader.

1. Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
2. Ability to plan and organize his/her work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
3. Ability to receive/integrate feedback;
4. Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
5. Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

Education:

• A post-graduate university degree, Masters or above, in any of the following disciplines Statistics, Economics, Development Economics, Management, Social Sciences, etc.;

Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years’ work experience in long-term planning, statistical reporting and analysis, systems-thinking and analysis;
• Proved experience in analysis of the interlinkages between different aspects of development, preferably in ECIS region, and developing national or sectoral plans;
• Solid knowledge of Sustainable Development Goals;
• Knowledge and good awareness of the national statistical systems in ECIS countries, including overall policy context and institutional/legal framework;
• Good communication and analytical skills as well as excellent writing skills are mandatory;
• Advanced computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Language:

• Excellent command of spoken and written English. Knowledge of Russian is an asset.

Submission of applications:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. All experts applying for this position are required to provide:

• A summary of experience in similar assignments;
• Financial Proposal with the references to (1) the daily rate for the assignment and within the timing scale indicated in the present TOR, and (2) any other expenses (including transportation costs, accommodation costs, the possibility of vaccination and etc.). Template of the form can be found at: http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/procurement.html . The UNDP will enter into an Individual Contract based on a lump sum amounts. The financial proposal shall represent a detailed, justified and “all inclusive” amount.  In order to assist UNDP in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount, including: a daily fee for the tasks and an estimated duration as specified in this announcement, travel (to and from the missions), per diems, any other possible costs (including vaccinations, dwelling, communication etc.);
• Personal Resume/CV OR filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees;
• Methodology on how you will approach and complete the assignment (methodology will be also used as a basis for assessing the knowledge of Sustainable Development Goals and good awareness of the national statistical systems in ECIS countries, including overall policy context and institutional/legal framework);

Evaluation of proposals:

Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on the combined scoring methodology. When using this method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant and having received the highest score – out of 100 points

Out of the maximum score, the score for technical criteria equals 70%, and for financial criteria 30%.

The technical evaluation will take into account the following as per the scoring provided:

• A post-graduate university degree, Masters or above, in any of the following disciplines Statistics, Economics, Development Economics, Management, Social Sciences, etc. – 25 points;
• Minimum five (5) years’ work experience in long-term planning, statistical reporting and analysis, system -thinking and analysis -30 points;
• Proved experience in analysis of the interlinkages between different aspects of development, preferably in ECIS region, and developing national or sectoral plans -10 points;
• Solid knowledge of Sustainable Development Goals -10 points;
• Knowledge and good awareness of the national statistical systems in ECIS countries, including overall policy context and institutional/legal framework– 10 points;
• Methodology – 15 points;

Financial proposal – 30% of total evaluation.

Additional requirements for recommended contractor:

Recommended contractors aged 65 and older, and if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.