Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

HIV, Health and Development Approach

UNDP is a founding cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), a partner of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and a co-sponsor of several other international health partnerships. UNDP’s work on HIV, health and development leverages the organization’s core strengths and mandates in human development, governance and capacity development to complement the efforts of specialist health-focused UN agencies. UNDP delivers three types of support to countries in HIV, health and development.

First, UNDP helps countries to mainstream attention to HIV and health into action on gender, poverty and the broader effort to achieve and sustain the Sustainable Development Goals.  For example, UNDP works with countries to understand the social and economic factors that play a crucial role in driving health and disease, and to respond to such dynamics with appropriate policies and programmes outside the health sector. UNDP also promotes specific action on the needs and rights of women and girls as they relate to HIV.

Second, UNDP works with partners to address the interactions between governance, human rights and health responses. Sometimes this is done through focused or specialized programmes, such as promoting attention to the role of legal environments (law and access to justice) in facilitating stronger HIV responses, including the use of flexibilities in intellectual property and human rights law to lower the cost of drugs and diagnostics and to increase access to HIV-related treatment.  UNDP also works to empower and include people living with HIV and marginalized populations who are disproportionately affected by HIV - also known as key populations - such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people.  Beyond these focused efforts, UNDP plays a key role in ensuring attention to HIV and health within broader governance and rights initiatives, including support to district and municipal action on SDGs, strengthening of national human rights institutions and increasing access to justice for marginalized populations.

Third, as a trusted, long-term partner with extensive operational experience, UNDP supports countries in effective implementation of complex, multilateral and multisectoral health projects, while simultaneously investing in capacity development so that national and local partners can assume these responsibilities over time. The UNDP/Global Fund partnership is an important part of this work, facilitating access to resources for action on SDG 3 by countries that face constraints in directly receiving and managing such funding. UNDP partners with countries in crisis/post-crisis situations, those with weak institutional capacity or governance challenges, and countries under sanctions. When requested, UNDP acts as interim Principal Recipient in these settings, working with national partners and the Global Fund to improve management, implementation and oversight of Global Fund grants, while simultaneously developing national capacity for governments or local entities to be able to assume the Principal Recipient role over time.

In the 25 countries and two multi-country grants where it currently holds the role of interim Principal Recipient (PR), UNDP is responsible for the financial and programme management of Global Fund grants as well as procurement of pharmaceutical, non-health items and required services. 

Given the importance of the partnership with the Global Fund, UNDP continues to strive towards providing high value-added services to governments and the Global Fund, both in its role as the PR, and, increasingly, as a significant technical partner to governments implementing Global Fund grants. In all areas of implementation, UNDP provides capacity development services to relevant institutions, Sub-recipients (SRs) and implementing partners.

UNDP Global Fund Supported Portfolio in Sudan

In 2014 Sudan submitted an integrated concept note for four components (HIV/TB/malaria/ Health System Strengthening). The grants for three diseases (HIV, TB and malaria) were signed with UNDP as the PR with start dates of 1 April 2015 (malaria and TB) and 1 July 2015 for HIV. The start period of three NFM grants overlapped with closure of previous rounds based grants and finalization of some delayed activities. The Global Fund considers Sudan as an Additional Safeguard Policy (ASP) country which required implementation of additional risk mitigation measures. Because of the factors listed above, the implementation of activities envisaged for 2015 under the three NFM grants are delayed and plans are being developed to catch up with the delay and ensure that grants perform well and deliver intended targets by June 2016.

For the implementation of the Global Fund programmes, UNDP Sudan has established a Project Management Unit (PMU) that coordinates the implementation of the grants and provides general guidance of Global Fund rules and procedures to all Sub Recipients participating in the implementation of the projects.

Under the guidance of the Deputy Country Director (Operations) and PMU Manager in Sudan the International Consultant for accelerated implementation ensures the overall guidance and assistance to the PMU to develop plan and implement measures required for grants to catch up with implementation and deliver intended targets.

Objective

Specifically the following key results are expected from the Consultancy:

  • Provide advice to the PMU to develop and implement plans for implementation acceleration of UNDP/GF HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria grants;
  • Support improvement of grants’ programmatic and financial performance for the period January – June 2016 compared to 2015 and support the PMU to regularly monitor progress towards improvement of grant performance;
  • Facilitate timely preparation of responses and implementation of recommendations provided by the OAI and GF (OSDV, field visits etc.);
  • Support PMU to regularly monitor and implement activities as per the Capacity Development Plan;
  • Support and monitor implementation of the assurance plan activities and facilitate regular updates to the assurance plan and the risk log.
  • Optimized PMU processes through revision of SOP.

Duties and Responsibilities

Applicants are requested to complete a Confirmation of Interest and Submission of financial proposal as per template:

Support implementation of acceleration of Global Fund grants focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Conducting in depth programmatic and performance analysis, identifying risks and recommend actions;
  • Review the SR financial management processes to identify operational and financial problems and support implementation of them at the PMU and SR levels;
  • Support the coordination of the acceleration plans development and participate in discussions with national partners;
  • Provide advice and guidance on implementation of acceleration plan for three grants in accordance with GF and UNDP rules and procedures;
  • Support timely preparation of reports for UNDP and the Global Fund;
  • Support the PMU Programme Manager in tracking and implementing the management actions;  
  • Coordinate with corporate UNDP services to ensure that expected results are delivered in a timely manner;
  • Support and monitor the implementation of the CD plan and initiate revisions and updates as required;
  • Support and monitor the implementation of the Assurance Plan.

Support optimization of PMU functioning through revision of Standard Operating Procedures:

  • Revise the PMU Standard Operating Procedures to reflect the current PMU structure and optimize the processes. Develop SOP in newer areas;
  • Discuss the revised SOP with the PMU and finalise for senior CO management approval.

Specific deliverables:

Consultant will be responsible for supporting the PMU to:

  • Develop, monitor and implement the Acceleration plans for the HIV, TB and malaria grants;
  • Analysis of performance of three grants for the period January- March 2016 undertaken and corrective actions developed and implemented to ensure at minimum adequate performance by end June 2016;
  • Capacity Development activities implemented as planned, regular monitoring reports prepared and corrective measures developed and implemented as required;
  • OAI recommendations (report issued June 2015) implemented;
  • Revised PMU SOP;
  • Prepare a Handover Note that outlines the project’s next steps.
  • Any other tasks as requested by the Country Director/Deputy Country Director (Operations) to support the health and development portfolio. 

Payment:

Payment will be conducted as per a time based payment and payments will be verified by the Deputy Country Director (Operations). Travel, DSA and Terminal Expenses covered separately as required according to UNDP travel rules and procedures.

Institutional arrangements:

  • The Consultant will fulfill the assignments in line with Scope of Work and Deliverables under the guidance of the Deputy Country Director (Operations) and PMU Manager in Sudan;
  • Payments are subject to submission of regular reports duly approved by UNDP Deputy Country Director (Operations), which shall serve as the basis for the payment of services;
  • The Consultant will be submitting the reports based on the results achieved in agreed format stating all actions taken during the assignment in English.

Competencies

Corporate:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional:

  • Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products,
  • Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of international development, public health or related field.

Project and Resource Management:

  • Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs;
  • Strong organizational skills;
  • Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs.

Communications and Advocacy:

  • Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly;
  • Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically;
  • Strong inter-personal, negotiation and liaison skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s Degree or equivalent  in Business Administration, Accounting, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Medical & Health Sciences or related field.

Experience:

  • Minimum 7 years of experience in the project management, with preferable minimum 2 years of international experience;
  • Experience in the implementation of Global Fund programmes required;
  • Knowledge of UNDP rules and procedures is required;
  • Knowledge of GF rules and reporting requirements, grants design and implementation is required;
  • Experience in risk assessment and implementation of risk mitigation measures is desired.

Language:

  • Fluency in English with good verbal and written skills;
  • Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.  

Submission of Applications

Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of references (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload this P11 instead of your CV.  

Scope of Price Proposal

Lump sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Applicants are requested to complete a Confirmation of Interest and Submission of financial proposal as per template; 

Payments are subject to submission of reports/deliverables duly approved by UNDP DCC/O, which shall serve as the basis for the payment of services.

Preferred Currency of Offer: United States Dollars (US$)

In the event of unforeseeable travel, the respective Business Unit and the Individual Contractor should agree upon the manner in which travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses are to be paid prior to travel. 

Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period including living expenses, health insurance, vaccination, visa costs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged costs except travel costs for missions, must be included in the financial proposal. Travel costs for missions will be paid separately according to UNDP rules and regulations. 

Evaluation Process

Offerors will be evaluated based on the methodology of cumulative analysis.

The selection of candidates will be done in 3 stages:

  • 1st stage: Shortlisting, screening against eligibility criteria (minimum qualification requirements);
  • 2nd stage: Evaluation of the Technical Proposal;
  • 3rd stage: Evaluation of the Financial Proposal.

Additional requirements for recommended Consultant

Statement of Medical Fitness for Work: 

Individual Consultants/Contractors whose assignments require travel and who are over 62 years of age are required, at their own cost, to undergo a full medical examination including x-rays and obtaining medical clearance from an UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment.Where there is no UN office nor a UN Medical Doctor present in the location of the Individual Contractor prior to commencing the travel, either for repatriation or duty travel, the Individual Contractor may choose his/her own preferred physician to obtain the required medical clearance.

Inoculations/Vaccinations

Individual Consultants/Contractors are required to have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director.  The cost of required vaccinations/inoculations, when foreseeable, must be included in the financial proposal.  Any unforeseeable vaccination/inoculation cost will be reimbursed by UNDP

Security clearancet

The Consultant/Contractor will be requested to undertake the Basic Security in the Field II (BSIF-II) training and Advanced Security in the Field (ASIF) training (https://training.dss.un.org/

Travel requirement:

Duty Station: Khartoum, Sudan

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Please be guided by the following information when preparing your financial proposal:

  • Round Trip Airfares to and from duty station.

ANNEX 1- INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS is provided here: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.