Background
UNDP has developed and implemented a number of projects in the human rights, justice and security areas, including, but not limited to, Support to the National Human Rights Commission, Police Reform, Judicial Strengthening, the Justice Sector Facility, Access to Justice and Activating Village Courts. While these interventions proved to be successful in improving frameworks and services provided by the human rights and justice institutions to the citizens of Bangladesh, there is a growing need to increase involvement of wider stakeholders to UNDP programmes to facilitate demand-side activities. This is also in line with the UNDP New Strategic Plan 2014-2017 to meet citizen expectations for voice, development, the rule of law and accountability by stronger systems of democratic governance.
UNDP has now developed a Human Rights Initiation Project (‘The IP’) which will undertake activities designed to establish a foundation for the new human rights programme. The initiation plan will focus on data gathering and mapping of the enjoyment of human rights and related interventions in Bangladesh in line with its obligations under international law. In addition there will be a number of activities designed to strengthen existing rights based institutions and to work with tribal minorities. The IP will maintain UNDP’s strong links with the National Human Rights Commission and a number of activities will be undertaken in conjunction with that institutions.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work
The consultancy has two central objectives:
To provide advice and input in the deployment and execution of the new human rights IP
To utilise data gathered from the IP to refine and strengthen the programme document for a full 5 year human rights programme for consultation with stakeholders and potential donors.
The consultant will work with the project coordinator of the human rights IP to ensure that the project is undertaken within human rights based approach principles and with respect to international law, in particular focusing on UNDP’s obligations under same.
The consultant will liaise directly with the NHRC to undertake IP activities such as including the development of international legal advices, focusing on the interaction between international law and domestic obligations. Further the consultant will support the NHRC in interpreting international obligations and interacting with international human rights mechanisms, such as treaty reporting bodies.
The consultant will further engage potential donor partners and stakeholders in the continued refinement of the human rights programme ensuring that consultations are undertaken with reference to data gathered in the human rights IP.
The consultant will join other consultants and project staff in field trips to undertake project activities in regional centres giving advice and support on international law and human rights and as they pertain to IP activities and providing strategic direction to the activities.
In addition the international law consultant will be expected to support the IP staff to in the following areas:
- Guarantee the technical soundness of activities and achievement of IP outputs and outcomes ensuring human rights objectives meet international standards.
- Provide strategic support to the project for ensuring successful implementation and possible up scaling; plan and strategize the scaling up the project to a national level;
- Support coordination of project activities with related projects within UNDP and with outside agencies;
- Ensure successful coordination with multiple and multi-level stakeholders for facilitating broader network and strategic alliance building;
- Provide necessary inputs and backup support to Cluster for marketing the project for possible resource mobilization;
- Work with other consultants on project activities ensuring results are output focused.
- Liaise effectively with senior level functionaries of government, donor and other stakeholders for possible replication of the success stories;
- Provide policy advisory services;
- Ensure project adheres to UNDP rules and regulations.
- Lead the process of knowledge capture of national, regional and global human rights information and data;
- In this context, partner with relevant practitioners and civil society organizations including think tanks;
- Promote convergence between the different development interventions in the area of local justice, international legal standards, human rights and governance;
- Work closely with UNDP to analyze IP goals and develop lessons learned for upscaling to a five year project;
- Ensure IP outputs are aligned procedurally with UNDP strategy and practice area development goals;
- The International Law will also provide inputs and services as may be required by UNDP with the objective of achieving high level of project performance and results;
- The International Law Expert will provide inputs and services as required by the Management of the Project with the objective of achieving high level performance and results;
- Build and maintain strong relationships with a range of key actors, especially the NHRC, various civil society organizations and development partners;
- Establish, develop and maintain mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with the press and media, the education sector, etc.;
- Establish networks with experts of national and regional offices of the UN System, international development organizations, sub-regional and regional associations, affiliations and bodies (intergovernmental, non-government or private sector)
Expected Outputs, Deliverables and Payment Schedule:
- Develop mapping of international human rights initiatives being undertaken by the police force - 10 working days
- 20% of the contarct amount will be paid after sucessful completion of this deliverable and upon certification by the UNDP Contarct Administrator;
- Support the NHRC to undertake 2 international legal advices that take into account the interaction of international and domestic human rights law, for public consumption - 20 working days;
- 20% of the contarct amount will be paid after sucessful completion of this deliverable and upon certification by the UNDP Contarct Administrator;
- In conjunction with data specialist, pilot and test community profile exercise in two districts ensuring that Bangladesh’s international legal standards are at the forefront of the study - 15 working days;
- 20% of the contarct amount will be paid after sucessful completion of this deliverable and upon certification by the UNDP Contarct Administrator;
- Organise divisional level meetings of human rights CSOs to develop strategic plans in line with the IP - 20 working days
- 20% of the contarct amount will be paid after sucessful completion of this deliverable and upon certification by the UNDP Contarct Administrator;
- Finalise a full five year human rights project, in line with international obligations, including vetting and approval process - 21 working days;
- 20% of the contarct amount will be paid after sucessful completion of this deliverable and upon certification by the UNDP Contarct Administrator.
Institutional Arrangement
The International Law consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Programme Specialist while reporting to the programme analyst and will be paid in monthly instalments. Certification from the programme analyst after receiving specific deliverables will be required to clear the instalments.
Duration of the Work
The International Law Expert is expected to work 86
Duty Station
The International Law Expert will work from Dhaka.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
Functional Competencies:
- Independent and flexible;
- Ability to work under pressure in a challenging and complex environment;
- Excellent communication skills;
- Creative and result-oriented; and
- Client-oriented;
- Demonstrated fluency in written and spoken English;
- Strong analytical and time management skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Minimum Master’s degree in International Law or a related field.
Experience:
- Minimum 4 years’ experience in international law;
- Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in human rights related research, policy and legal advice;
- Proven track record working with Government officials in an official capacity;
- Experience with an international organization;
- Demonstrated experience working in developing countries, experience working in Bangladesh will be an added advantage.
Language:
- Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills are a requirement.
Evaluation of the Candidates
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:
Cumulative analysis:
The candidates will be evaluated through Cumulative Analysis method. When using the weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will 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.
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation out of 70 would be considered for Financial Evaluation.
Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks):
- Academic Qualification in International Law, Human Rights Law or related discipline - 10 marks;
- Years’ experience in international law - 15 marks;
- Relevant experience in human rights related research, policy and legal advice - 15 marks;
- Proven track record working with Government officials in an official capacity - 10 marks;
- Experience of working with and international organizations - 10 marks;
- Demonstrated experience working in developing countries including in Bangladesh - 10 marks.
Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks)
All technical qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula:
p = y (µ/z)
Where:
- p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
- y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
- µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
- z = price of the proposal being evaluated.
Documents to be included when submitting the proposal:
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
- Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and Financial proposal using the template provided in below link:
- 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, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and b) a methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
Note:
- Financial Proposal needs to submitted along with other documents;
- Please upload all as one document.