Background

As part of collaboration between the Government of India (GoI) and UNDP, the project “Strengthening Human Resource Management of Civil Service” is being implemented by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India with funding from UNDP.

The project focuses on developing capacities of civil servants and on strengthening their enabling environment in view of a more effective, efficient, transparent and accountable Public Administration at National and State level that takes to heart the GoI objective of inclusion through an enhanced delivery of services to the marginalised and vulnerable. Project takes an integrated approach that spans policy development, human resource management, and capacity development with its core activities focussing at National level institutional capacity building and select State-level activities.

Domestic Funding of Foreign Training (DFFT) Scheme:

• Domestic Funding of Foreign Training (DFFT) is a scheme introduced by the Government of India in 2001 with an objective to upgrade the knowledge & skills of the Government officers. As part of this scheme, civil servants are nominated to attend long-term and short-term courses/ training programmes in foreign institutions. The objectives of providing cross-country experience along with the exposure to the international best practices are the driving force behind the scheme;
• The DFFT scheme consists of three components namely short-term programmes, long-term programmes and partial funding for long-term programme.

 Short term Foreign Training:

• Training programmes abroad of duration of two (2) weeks to six (6) months are treated as Short-Term;
• Themes for the short-term programmes are leadership, executive development, fiscal decentralization, tax analysis & revenue forecasting, project management, anti-corruption, health sector reforms, public administration, public finance management, infrastructure and Public Private Partnership (PPP), training of trainers, environmental policy issues etc.

Long term Foreign Training:

• Training programmes abroad for a minimum duration of six (6) months and a maximum of twelve (12) months are considered as Long-Term. These programmes preferably lead to the granting of a certificate, diploma or degree;
• The long-term programmes are mainly in the fields of public policy, public management and public administration.

Partial Funding for Long-term Programme:

• The component of partial funding under the DFFT scheme was instituted to better meet the individual requirements of the officers for skill up-gradation and knowledge advancement as well as to enable a larger number of officers to pursue foreign study. Under this component, officers are free to seek admissions for relevant courses leading to a degree/ diploma in institutions of repute. Once an officer secures admission in such a course, he/ she can apply to government for the partial funding support.

Selection of Courses/ Programmes under DFFT Scheme:

• The component of partial funding under the DFFT scheme was instituted to better meet the individual requirements of the officers for skill up-gradation and knowledge advancement as well as to enable a larger number of officers to pursue foreign study. Under this component, officers are free to seek admissions for relevant courses leading to a degree/ diploma in institutions of repute. Once an officer secures admission in such a course, he/ she can apply to government for the partial funding support;
• At present under the DFFT Scheme, there are 16 courses with 12 universities for long-term and 32 courses with 14 universities/ institutes for short term programme;
• More information about the DFFT scheme including list of courses/ programmes for current financial year, and frequently asked questions are available at the department’s website at the following links: 
              http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02trn/Circular_DFFT_01Oct2012.pdf
              http://persmin.gov.in/dfft/Dfft_FAQs.pdf

The Government finalises the list of specific programmes both long-term and short-term under DFFT scheme each year. The selection of the courses/ programmes under DFFT scheme depends on multiple factors such as the reputation and ranking of the university/ institution in the global surveys and relevance of the programme for Government of India.

Committee to Review the Foreign Training Programmes under the DFFT Scheme

• Government of India had set-up a High Powered Committee under the chairmanship of Secretary- DoPT to review the foreign training programmes under the DFFT scheme. The committee was empowered to examine all issues relating to DFFT scheme such as training needs, budget, courses and institutions, terms and conditions and allowances to officers during the training period;
• In its report, the committee emphasized the need for foreign training of officers and noted “the learning skills acquired in different parts of the world can be leveraged to make our growth process faster and by avoiding the pitfalls which the other countries may have experienced. Exposure to the international best practices for officers involved in the task of governance should be as important as the task of governance itself.” The committee defined the foreign training as “an investment which though not quantifiable easily, has the potential of exponential returns.”
• The committee noted that list of courses/ programmes and universities/ institutions should be examined periodically keeping in view the emerging areas and opportunities for necessary changes with a view to making the list of programmes relevant, evolving and financially prudent. Committee recommended that list of programmes be reviewed to identify the programmes which offer best value for money.
  

Within this background, the project partners have decided to develop a methodology for reviewing the long-term and short-term courses/ programmes offered under the DFFT Scheme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the National Project Director, the Consultant will be tasked to develop tool-kit and methodology to review the long-term and short-term courses/ programmes under the DFFT scheme:

Scope of Work

• Develop robust, transparent and sophisticated methodology and tool-kit to review the short-term and long-term courses/ training programme under DFFT Scheme;
• It is envisaged that two distinct tool-kits and methodologies are required to review the long-term and short-term courses/ programmes;
• The tool-kit and methodology will need to be multi-dimensional covering institutional aspects (such as reputation, infrastructure, teaching, research, diversity etc.) as well as aspects related to the course/ programme (such as faculty, teaching methodology, course credit, contact hours, course content etc.);
• The tool-kit will include data collection questionnaires for gathering relevant data and information about the institution and the course/ programme. Methodology will include the weightage of various parameters in the overall review and approach to analyse the data and information collected through questionnaires;
• For adapting the leading national and global practices in tool-kit and methodology, consultant will be required to research and refer to the practices in similar reviews/ assessment/ surveys (such as ranking of universities/ colleges in higher education, assessment methodology of  National Assessment and Accreditation Council, India).

Capacity Development Workshop:

• The consultant will conduct a one-day workshop with key stakeholders to equip them in using the tool-kit and methodology. The workshop will be held in New Delhi. 

Deliverables:

Tool-kit and Methodology:

• Two (2) distinct tool-kits and methodologies are required to review the long-term and short-term courses/ programmes. The tool-kit and methodology will include the parameters for review, weightage, data collection tool and approach to analyse the data.

Capacity Development Workshop:

•  A one-day workshop with key stakeholders to equip them in using the tool-kit and methodology.

Completion report:

• Final report highlighting the approach and methodology for the assignment, leading national and global practices in similar reviews/ evaluations/ surveys and recommendations.
  

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Strong results orientation, strategic thinking, flexible and responsive with a client-oriented approach;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to produce high quality reports and knowledge products (samples may be requested as reference);
  Excellent presentation and facilitation skills;
• Proficiency in the use of office IT applications especially MS-Excel, relevant statistical packages and internet in conducting research;
• Survey design and implementation; 
• Quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis;
• Excellent understanding of the Indian Civil Services and Public Administration.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualifications:

• Minimum Master’s degree in Statistics/ Management/ Human Resource Management/ Training or related field   from an institute/ university of repute.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience at national and/ or international level in survey design, data collection and analysis; 
• Experience in conducting relevant surveys such as ranking of the universities/ colleges would be a strong asset;
• Experience of working with Government Departments, NGOs, Civil Society on monitoring and evaluation, designing and conducting large surveys, training evaluation and other similar assignments would be an advantage.

Language:

• Excellent command of  the English language.

Location:

The assignment is home-based and consultant will be required to undertake 2 missions to New Delhi with the following objectives:

• One day mission at beginning of the assignment to meet with key stakeholders to understand the requirements and context;
• One day mission to conduct capacity building workshop for key stakeholders.
  

The Consultant will need to be self-sufficient in the use of information and communication technologies as most of the work is based at home. Any office management costs such as communication equipment, internet, laptop and other overheads (if any), have to borne by the consultant.

Duration:

• The total working days for this consultancy have been estimated at Thirty (30) spread over a period of two months, starting in Mid-August.

Travel:

• Consultant should specify his/her per day consultancy rate;
• The assignment includes 2 missions to New Delhi as per the mutually agreed timelines, this would be handled  separately by UNDP as per prevailing rules.

Payment Modality:

The consultant will receive payments in accordance with the following milestones:

• Upon Submission of draft took-kit and methodology for review of Short-term and Long-term programmes under the DFFT scheme- 20%;
• Upon conducting the capacity-building workshop for stakeholders -20%;
• Upon submission of completion report that has incorporated the feedback received from stakeholders and UNDP 60%.
  

Payment to the consultant will be made upon certification of satisfactory completion of the above milestones by the National Project Director.

Submission of Proposal:

Proposed Work Methodology:

• Proposed work methodology or work plan for execution of work has to be submitted.

• Consultant should specify his/her daily consultancy fee, travel expenses would be handled separately  by UNDP as per  rules.

CV:

• Consultant should submit his/her updated CV with three references.

 Note:

• Miscelleanous charges i.e. internet, phone,relocation charges etc. would not be reimbursed separately;
• Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;
• Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
• Methodology of Work, CV and Financial proposal can be clubbed in one file for uploading.

Cumulative analysis:

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

• Responsive;
• 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.

Criteria for Technical Evaluation would be as under:

• Background and Qualification of the Consultant - 15%;
• Relevant work experience - 25%.
• Proposed work methodology or work plan for undertaking the task-30%

For any clarification please write to sandeep.sharma@undp.org.