UNDP Jobs - 58248- Individual Consultant - Development of State Speci

Individual Consultant - Development of State Specific Compendium - Uttar Pradesh - (Open to Indian Nationals Only)

Location :

Home Based, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Aug-2015

Application Deadline :

25-Jul-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

5 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)-UNDP partnership on ‘Governance and Accelerated Livelihoods Support’ helps strengthen the effectiveness of key Ministry programmes by providing (a) technical assistance to the state government and NGOs in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha to improve sustainable livelihoods with linkages to Panchayati Raj Institutions for governance in focus districts (b) policy advice and technical assistance to the Ministry and the state governments to help improve the efficiency, accountability and inclusiveness of National Rural Livelihoods Mission and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme and (c) policy advice and technical assistance to the Ministry and state governments to help “green” select schemes.

One of the schemes selected for ‘greening’ under the project, is the Indira Awaas Yojana, a flagship programme of the Ministry of Rural Development which aims at rural housing as part of the larger strategy of rural poverty eradication. Indira Awaas Yojana provides assistance to poor households for the construction of a 'core house' with sensitivity to user requirements and adequate provision for incremental improvement. It also provides a choice of materials and construction technology keeping in view among other issues, environmental preservation, energy consumption over the life cycle, ease of maintenance and sustainability. ‘Greening’ strategies through the project are focused especially towards development of appropriate and affordable housing for the rural poor.

The revised IAY guidelines of 2013 have several provisions to facilitate green housing.

These include:

Demand creation for green housing;
Construction of prototypes and preparation of small scale models for demonstration;
Imparting habitat and housing literacy to beneficiaries;
Training of master masons and beneficiaries providing labor, including training on maintenance practices;
Training of Community Resource Persons and NGOs and payment of honorarium to them;
Service charges to non-government agencies providing support services.

The Ministry of Rural Development, in partnership with UNDP and technical support from HUDCO aims to promote green housing in rural areas. One major strategy is to provide beneficiary households choices in terms of green building designs, materials and construction technologies. These choices will be tailored to local conditions, will enhance user benefits and reduce the environmental footprint of housing.

Under this partnership, UNDP is commissioning a state-specific studies in the state of Uttar Pradesh. This is a request for proposals for a state specific study to develop green housing technology compendiums for each identified state. It is expected that this request for proposals will help in identification of an Individual Consultant for the state of Uttar Pradesh. The methodology for classification of the housing zones and development of appropriate designs has already been piloted in similar state-level studies done through the GOALS project in five states. An inception workshop to be conducted in the state at the start of this study will help in developing agreement on the process of developing the report. The inception workshop will be supported by state-level consultations conducted to gather further context-specific information and discuss the study findings. This study will result in the development of indicative housing designs which can be shared with IAY implementers and potential beneficiaries specific to each of the identified housing zones in the state.

Duties and Responsibilities

The study is expected to:

Demarcate the state into distinct ‘housing zones’ on the basis of climatic conditions, exposure to specific natural hazards, resource mapping of locally available skills and construction material, existing traditional construction practices and design elements related to prevailing socio-cultural practices;
Prepare a compendium of technologies (building designs, materials, construction techniques and life cycle costs) including existing traditional practices where relevant and with potential for improvement in each housing zone;
Suggest a set of suitable foundation, walling, roofing options and other building elements specific to each housing zone;
Develop indicative designs for each housing zone including costing details and suggestions for incremental expansion of the house.

Scope of work

To deliver on the objectives of the assignment, the consultant is required to:

Facilitate an inception workshop in the state to ensure agreement on the process of the study and engagement of all relevant stakeholders;
Conduct detailed assessments of climatic conditions and disaster risks across the state;
Assess local availability across the state of prevailing levels of skills and different kinds of construction material appropriate for IAY implementation;
Identify prevailing socio-cultural practices across the state related to design, materials and methods of construction related to rural housing;
Delineate distinct ‘housing zones’ in the state on the basis of a resource mapping which will include climatic conditions, exposure to natural hazards, locally available construction material and current socio-cultural practices;
Conduct a detailed assessment of secondary information including various reports, resource manuals, government websites and web-portals to identify construction design, methods and materials currently promoted or in practice through IAY in the state;
Conduct primary information collection through field visits and discussions with Panchayats, Block and District Administration offices, Building Resource Centers, NGOs and experts on the theme ofrural housing, construction technology and energy efficient structures;
Study existing IAY design and construction practices in the state on the basis of their cost effectiveness, environmental impacts, energy efficiency, climate responsiveness and disaster resilience;
Consolidate the various assessments conducted as part of the assignment to develop a user-friendly compendium of technologies including especially building designs, materials and construction techniques appropriate for each ‘housing zone’ in the state;
On the basis of the compendiums, propose indicative housing designs for each housing zone. Prepare design details including material specifications, jointing and cost estimates;
Facilitate state-level consultations to validate the proposed designs, costs, structural safety and other details;
Develop housing zone specific manuals of recommended designs based on the study and consultations, lay out maps and estimates which are accessible by IAY beneficiaries.

Key deliverables and time frame for the study activities:

A detailed inception plan for the study in discussion with MoRD and UNDP (within 5 days of issue of contract);
Conduct of an inception workshop to be conducted at the start of the study (within 15 days of issue of contract);
Development of schedule for field visits and meetings with key stakeholders including Gram Panchayats, government offices, NGOs and line departments at the block, district and state levels (within 20 days of issue of contract);
Review of secondary literature including maps, databases, reports and studies. It is expected that this activity will continue simultaneously with other activities initiated since the issue of contract and also along with the field work (within 20 days of issue of contract);
Submission of mid-term report based on secondary literature review and partial field work (within 40 days of issue of contract);
Completion of field work and stakeholder consultations (within 60 days of issue of contract);
Submission of appropriate and affordable housing designs for each housing zone in the state. (within 75 days of issue of contract);
Submission of draft compendium report. It is expected that the report writing will be done simultaneously along with review of secondary literature (within 80 days of issue of contract);
Conduct of state-level consultation/s for validation of the proposed designs. (within 90 days of issue of contract);
Feedback from MoRD and UNDP(within 100 days of issue of contract);
Submission of final report (within 110 days of issue of contract);
Submission of the housing zone specific user manuals (within 110 days of issue of contract).

Competencies

Good research and analytical skills including skills in data analysis and report writing;
Excellent communication-presentation skills;
Ability to explain the objectives of the assignment in a focused and strategic manner to a varied audience;
Ability to plan and organize work program;
Consultative and collaborative capacities;
Ability to work under supervision as well as with self-initiative & motivation;
Acts as a team player, facilitates team work and shares knowledge with others;
Approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Generates new ideas and approaches, researches and documents best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of non-conventional and cost-effective construction and applies it in work assignments.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering or related fields will be preferred.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of experience at the national or international levels on aspects related to non-conventional and cost-effective construction.

Language:

Excellent writing and oral skills in English. Working knowledge of Hindi and relevant state language/s would be an advantage.

Payment Schedule:

20% upon presentation of inception plan;
30% on submission of Mid-term report based on secondary literature review and partial field work;
30% on submission of draft compendium report;
20% upon acceptance of the final report by UNDP.

Submission of proposal

Proposed Work Methodology

Proposed work methodology for undertaking the assignment has to be submitted.

Financial Proposal

Consultant shall specify his/her per day consultancy rate;
Any travel with prior UNDP approval will be handled separately as per rules.

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

Evaluation Criteria:

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:

Qualifications - 10%;
Proposed Work Methodology- 30%;
Relevant Work Experience-30%.

Inquiries:

For inquiries please write to manikandan.srinivasan@undp.org specifying subject of ToR in the email.

Notes:

Travel related to the assignment will require prior UNDP approval and will be undertaken as per UNDP rules and procedures. All travel related expenditure will be reimbursed on actuals;
Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone, etc. would not be reimbursed;
Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of the institution for the specific services of individual;
Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered ;
CV, Work methodology and Financial proposal can be clubbed in one file for uploading.