UNDP Jobs - 54431- Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Provision of

Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Provision of Professional Services in Local Development and Township Planning in 5 pilot Townshipsin 2 States in Myanmar

Location :

Yangon with travel to UNDP selected locations, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Mar-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

May to December 2015

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

As evidenced in the recently conducted State of Local Governance reports, various consultative mechanisms at the township level related to inclusive township planning are emerging. The major issue raised however, is that there is no ‘discretional’ budget available at the local level and for the committees (such as the Township Management Committee, Township Development Support Committee, and Ward/village development support committee) to make any substantial decisions.

UNDP is planning to pilot a township planning process in 5 locations spread in 2 states that combine (on a township voluntary basis) the various amounts presently available from different sources of funding, and make one area based and integrated township plan and tries to put in place one uniform implementation and oversight mechanisms that is led by the Township Administrator (as chief executive officer), but that involves the TMC, the TDSC, the WA/VTDSC and Township Municipal Affairs Committee (for activities in the municipal areas) and the meeting of VTAs. It will be piloting an embryonic unified township administration that operates on a township budget for local development.

Part of the proposed activities is to develop guidelines for planning and implementation as well as learning from the experiences, and support a better understanding of the roles of the multiple actors at the local level, notably the TMC, the TDSC (and the WA/VTDSCs), the TMAC, the VTAs and the coordinating as well as executive role (if any) of the General Administration Department (GAD) in the process.

The activity is expected to produce a planning manual (by May 2015, ahead of the planning cycle for FY 2016/17), that also describes the role of the various parties in local development planning. The Company/Consultants shall provide training and backstopping support for the planning exercises in the participating townships and, together with these townships evaluate the experiences with regards to the planning process before the end of 2015.

At present, both recurrent and investment budgets for the various township departments to work with are fairly minimal, and only available in sectoral ‘silos’ often still planned for at higher levels. However, over time and as the reforms, aimed to improve service delivery, progress, it is highly likely that part of the sector budgets will be made available as ‘budget envelopes’ at township level.

Already since 2011/12, there is an emerging system of region/state level funds that can also be made available at the township level.

These funds include amongst others:

The so-called constituency development fund (MMK 100 million per township), for which sometimes allocation decisions are made by both the union and region/state Hluttaw members in collaboration with other stakeholders, notably from the existing committees and the township administrator;
The Poverty Reduction Fund, that started in FY 2012/13 with MMK 1 billion per region/state (and MMK 3 billion for Chin), for infrastructure and development projects. For the 2014/15 budget, the total envelope was raised to MMK 50 billion. While most region/states still received MMT 1 billion some (like Kayin, Shan, Chin and notably Rachine and Kachin) received much more. Said funds are formally controlled by the chief minister of each of the states/regions accordance to guidance provided. Typically they have been allocated among townships in each state/region on an equal shares basis. In the townships, the GAD, the TMC as well as the TCDC and the TMAC are said to be involved in the allocation decisions, but arrangements vary from one place to another;
The Rural Development Fund, for township development under the General Administration Department (on average about MMK 20 million per state/region) that can be disbursed to projects identified at the township level;
Funds (from the union budget) made available by the Department of Rural Development (Ministry of Fishery, Livestock and Rural Development) as discretionary township development fund, presumably for projects in the rural areas (i.e. outside the municipal area);
In addition, UNDP will provide some seed funds to the participating townships. The funds will be in form of a grant for local development if the township succeed in meeting the criteria agreed upon with UNDP and government.

As much as it is important that citizens in townships are able to have a say with regards to sector service delivery and implicitly on the spending of sector budgets, local level accountability will start with accountability for the utilization of a local budget and this is why the discretional budgets are important. Yet, the local bottom up planning has to be dovetailed with the higher level planning processes (that are at the local level perceived as top down planning), and the proposal below caters for that in the form of township level coordination workshops.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Contractor shall provide the following services:

Provide a methodology for inclusive township planning;
Organize and conducting a number of trainings for the key stakeholder involved in township level planning (Township level committees, Township administrations, WA/Village tract committees and Village Tract Administrators (VTAs);
Preparation of a planning manual/guideline to be used for TS level planning;
Provide technical support for the preparation of TS plans in 5 locations selected by UNDP.

Results to Be Achieved by the Contractor/Outputs:

Methodology and tools for effective TS planning that could be up-scaled to other locations in country.

For more detail visit following links:

http://procurement-notices-admin.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=20942

http://www.mm.undp.org/content/myanmar/en/home/operations/procurement.html

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for international civil servants;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

Good knowledge of the natural resource management particularly lake and watershed management, the concept of sustainability and sustainable development in the region and developing countries;
Ability to quickly grasp and synthesize inputs from a range of disciplines related to sustainable financial mechanism for environmental conservation;
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and team oriented work style;
Ability to advocate and provide technical advice on the relevant sector/theme;
Ability to communicate effectively and to facilitate discussions at the senior level with government officials and the development community;
Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision;
Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, respectful and helpful relations with all UN/UNDP staff;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage;
Proven ability to deliver quality output working under tight deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters or equivalent, PhD would be an asset (Team leader).

Experience:

At least 10 years of managerial experience;
At least 10 years experience of working with sub national and national governments;
Professional experience in conducting similar activities, analyses, technical support to local development planning;
Experience in working with UNDP and government counterparts;
Solid academic experience, including pieces of research, is an important asset;
Solid knowledge of the political and administrative landscape of Myanmar;
Solid experience in Public Financial Management;
Experience of working in post conflict environments;
At least 10 years of experience in local development planning;
Experience of post conflict environment.

Language:

Fluent in English.

To qualify for the bid solicitation process, bidders shall meet the following mandatory criteria:

Qualifications and financial capability to develop an appropriate methodology and related capacity development activities to support the preparation of township level plans;
A legal entity duly incorporated in Myanmar;
Minimum 10 years of experience in conducting participatory and inclusive local development planning activities;
At least 3 positive references (preferably in the similar area of expertise/service provision);
Bidders should have a team of at least 3 experts (Team Leader and Two Key Experts) with the following qualifications