Background

The National Planning Authority (NPA) is coordinating the task of developing service and service delivery standards for the housing sector. The task is being undertaken within the framework of the Authority’s project on Strengthening Capacity for Oversight Functions supported by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The absence of approved standards (service and service delivery) is highlighted by the National Development Plan (NDP) as one of the major encumbrances to efficient and effective service delivery.

Following a situational analysis of the housing service delivery standards conducted by NPA in 2013, NPA, together with key role players, would like to finalize the task of developing service  standards and service delivery  standards for the sector. The findings from the study on the status of housing service and service delivery standards established that Uganda is under-performing at national and decentralized service delivery levels as regard to services delivery norms and practice standards. It also reveals the shortfalls in the development and implementation of specified housing codes by categories of building industry and the attendant specified standards for housing within each category of building industry.

Until recently, legislation on housing standards in Uganda was restricted to complying with requirements of the Public Health Act, 1964, Seismic Safety Standards, 2003, and most recently, the National Physical Planning Standards and Guidelines, 2011. Housing standards on structural strength and social objectives have simply been assumed through non-gazette benchmarking of model and other global practices.
The study identified no legislation covering the wide housing market standards to guide the design and construction of private and public, single and multi-family housing, commercial buildings, and public buildings. It further recognizes the lack of standards required to developing and remodeling needs in structural, fire, energy, mechanical, plumbing and sanitation, electrical, ventilation, demographic control, accessibility and visibility in an affordable, orderly and sustainable inter-temporal setting

In fulfillment of the recommendations from the study, meetings were held to draft housing service and service delivery standards. As a result of the meetings, two drafting sub-committees for both housing and Physical Planning were appointed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development (MoLHUD) who have since come up with a draft of housing standards. The task is being coordinated through an overall housing and physical planning committee formed to oversee activities of both the housing and physical planning sub-committees.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose and Objectives
The primary objective of engaging the expert is to guide participants in producing housing- sector service and services delivery standards that are consistent with those of the middle income countries. 

Specific Objectives
  • To benchmark Uganda’s sector service standards and service delivery standards with those of middle income countries;
  • To  determine the requirements for middle income country service  and service delivery standards;
  • To develop service standards and service delivery standards that conforms to a middle income country status.
Scope of Assignment
The International Facilitator will:
  • Make a presentation to the participants on the best practices and requirements for middle income country service and service delivery standards;
  • Take lead in guiding the retreat discussions on the review of the Draft Service and Service Delivery Standards; and
  • Undertake a technical review and approve the retreat report prepared by the Rapporteur 
Methodology & Approach
The Consultant will;
  • Review the work of the technical sub-committee  on the draft service standards and service delivery standards ;
  • Prepare and present information on best practices  regarding service and service delivery standards;
  • Engage  participants  during discussions to ensure  sharing knowledge and experiences and ownership; and
  • Based on the presentations, and the previous works of the sub-committee, he/she will guide the drafting of the service standards and service delivery standards for the Sector.
Duration
  • Preparation – 2 days;
  • Facilitation- 2 days;
  • Technical review  and completion of report/ service standards and service delivery standards – 1 day.
Expected Outputs/deliverables
The specific outputs of the Consultant will be:
  • A paper presented to participants on best practices and requirements for middle income country service and service delivery standards;
  • Retreat report endorsed by the Facilitator, with Sector Service and Service Delivery Standards attached.  In particular, the service standards and service delivery standards developed should conform to a middle income country status and should be specific enough to guide planning, monitoring and target-setting for the sector.
Consultancy Implementation Arrangements
  • The contract will be performance-based; for 5 days spread over a period of 2 days for preparation, 2 days of retreat and 1 day for report writing. Terms and conditions of service linked to the type of proposed contract will apply with overall reporting to NPA.
  • The consultant will have all technical obligations and guidance on a day-to-day basis and will report to UNDP on all contractual obligations or as shall be advised by UNDP.
  • It is expected that this contract will require the consultant to work under the overall supervision of the Executive Director of the National Planning Authority. He/she will, however, be under the close guidance of the Head Monitoring and Evaluation, who will ensure smooth execution of the assignment and achievement of objectives and deliverables.
UNDP will support the Consultant in the following areas;
  • Access to the following Reference Materials for review;
  • The National development Plan (NDP) 2010/11 – 2014/15;
  • Vision 2040;
  • Existing Sector Guidelines or Client Charter;
  • Relevant Sector Policies;
  • Relevant Sector Strategic Investment Plan;
  • Service and Service Delivery Standards for Middle Income Countries such as S. Korea, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, etc;
  • Situational analysis reports on Physical Planning service and service delivery standards conducted by NPA in 2013.
  • Support and assistance to gain access to relevant stakeholders for consultations;
  • Transport for visits within Kampala (for official purposes only), from and to the Airport (if applicable);
  • 1 return Air ticket if applicable.

Competencies

  • Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
  • Mature judgment and initiative;
  • Ability to present complex issues in a simple and clear manner;
  • Ability to work under pressure;
  • Initiative and independence.

Core skills:

  • Analytical capacity and demonstrated ability to process, analyze and synthesize complex, technical information from different disciplines.
  • Demonstrated research skills and ability to write clearly and concisely.
  • Good report writing and presentation skills, demonstrated experience in a similar or related assignment and experience in planning. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education
  • A Master’s degree in the field of Housing ,Physical, Urban, Country, Regional and or settlements planning or any other relevant field from a recognized university;
  • A PhD in a relevant field will be an added advantage.
Experience
  • At least 10 years of experience, 3 of which must be with an international organization in the areas of developing housing standards;
  • Experience working with government, multilateral and bilateral development agencies and civil society organizations in the same area.
Language Requirements
  • Excellent spoken and written English language and interpersonal communication skills.
Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments
  • Payment shall be by the lump sum modality in one (1) Installment. This shall be all inclusive and the contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components;
  • 100% payment upon completion of facilitation and presentation of retreat report.
Evaluation Method and Criteria

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 – Maximum 70 points
Criteria:  Points
  • Qualification and Language skills: 20;       
  • Knowledge of Middle Income Countries’ standards:  40;               
  • Relevant experience in conducting similar assignments: 15;
  • Description of approach/methodology to assignment: 10;
  • Understanding of local and region setting: 15.
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:
  • Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II);
  • 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;
  • Technical proposal:
  • Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
  • A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment;
  • Financial proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided (Annex II).
For clarification and Annexes, please send an email to justine.naiga-bagonza@undp.org and copy agnes.kintu@undp.org .