Background

Project Description

National Urban Poverty Reduction Programme (NUPRP) is to provide support towards contributing to balanced, sustainable growth and reduction of urban poverty in Bangladesh. NUPRP will work nationwide and cover poor people living in slums and informal settlements in cities and towns in Bangladesh. Selected NUPRP cities/towns will either be City Corporations and Class A Pourashavas. NUPRP will initially focus on 12 cities/ towns in Phase 1.

NUPRP intends to contribute to more effective inclusive urbanization in Bangladesh. Recognising the complexity of inclusive and climate smart urban development, the expected outcomes of the programme relate to different levels of intervention: national, municipal and the community.

1.  At the national level outcome, the programme aims to ensure that the Government of Bangladesh and actors working in the urban space are more coordinated and strategic in their approach to inclusive and climate smart urban development.

2.. At the municipal level outcome, the programme aims to help municipal authorities more effectively manage inclusive and climate smart urban development. In order to achieve this, the programme will work towards a number of intermediate outcomes:

•   Increased resources available at the municipal level for inclusive, climate smart urban development;
•   More effective deployment of these resources;
•   Greater accountability of municipal authorities to the urban poor

3.  At the community level outcome, the programme will aim to ensure that urban poor communities are more resilient and empowered to articulate and demand their needs. In order to achieve this, the programme will work towards a number of intermediate outcomes:

• Urban poor are mobilized and better able to hold municipal authorities to account;
• Improved security of housing and infrastructure in urban settlements;
• Improved well-being, security and safety of the urban poor.

This programme will contribute to ensuring a sustainable improvement in the livelihoods and living conditions of poor people living in urban slums/informal settlements in the following five Outputs.

1. Strengthened municipal and national government capacity to deliver pro-poor, climate     sensitive, urban   development;
2. Strengthened community organization in informal settlements;
3. Improved livelihoods and well-being;
4. Piloting options to improve land tenure and developing low cost housing initiatives; and
5. Climate smart rehabilitation of small scale infrastructure supported.
    

The ultimate intended beneficiaries of this intervention are the poor and vulnerable urban people, now and in future years. Based on evidence outlined in the previous UPPR reviews and similar types of urban interventions in Bangladesh, the NUPRP reasonably expects a wide range of benefits to result from the interventions at community, municipal and national levels. Given the ever expanding size of the urban centres and the populations that will be linked to employment opportunities, interventions targeting urban poor people should affect overall economic growth, income inequality, employment and the poverty situation.

NUPRP will commence with an Inception Phase. It will set the foundations of the launching of the National Urban Poverty Reduction Programme, particularly Phase 1 (months 9-32). The objectives of the Inception phase are represented in four key components: Output Development and Strategy, Government Relations and NUPRP Management Set-Up, Programmatic Activities and Operations Activities. NUPRP will run for 6 years from 2016-2022.

During the inception phase, five studies led by national/international consultants will collect and compile background information on the five outputs. These studies will lay the groundwork for the intervention strategies to be questioned and reinforced for the logframe to be refined and for the baseline studies to be led in this refined framework.

Each output contains multiple and varying themes, therefore, strategies for the outputs will require consultants with varying specializations. The five consultants will assess the requirements, challenges and targets of each output. Henceforth, working together, a comprehensive strategy will be created that incorporates the varying themes within each output.

The five consultants will specialize in the following fields: 1.urban policy/legislation/urban governance and planning; 2.urban sociology, behaviours change and gender; 3. urban livelihoods and financial inclusion; 4. low-cost housing and property economist; as well as 5. climate change infrastructure and urban services.

These five studies will provide deep understanding of and signal the potential challenges and opportunities emerging on three basic levels:

• The social and cultural norms at play, as well as the economic context;
• The current policy context and the legal context;
• The external stakeholders and main actors and their detailed role (government, cities, communities, CSOs etc.).

Most importantly, the studies will provide a detailed assessment of both the planning and decision-making mechanisms and the state of play of the capacity in place at the national level (government) and above all at the urban -city/town and communities level.

Output 3: Improved  livelihoods and social well-being

The programme will incorporate a number of livelihood and social wellbeing activities that focus on particular challenges for the urban poor and women and girls in particular - (i) developing skills for productive employment and income generation; (ii)financial Inclusionof the Urban Poor through access to formal banking system (iii) piloting mechanisms to address violence against women and girls and combating early marriage; and (iv) continuing the focus on improved nutrition started under UPPR;

This particular ToR will specifically focus financial Inclusion of the Urban Poor living in informal settlements, with strong emphasis on the intersection of gender and financial inclusion and access to formal banking system.

Financial Inclusion of the Urban Poor: For financial inclusion, the consultant has to identify appropriate linkages with relevant agencies/ departments and integrate Universal Financial Inclusion principles in the implementation of NUPRP at the town level for the urban poor. Informal Community Savings and Credit Groups were noted as a best practice under the UPPR project in an independent Lessons Learned and Good Practices study. The consultant will need to review the Community Savings and Credits groups and propose ways to move from informal community banking to formal financial inclusion.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Under the direct guidance of the International Project Manager for NUPRP, the Consultancy will focus on Output 3 of NUPRP (Financial Inclusion) and will entail the following scope of work.

The consultant will be responsible to carry out the following, but not limited to these duties;

1. Identify and review relevant documents, policies, data sources, laws, regulations, management arrangements and implementation realities of the Government of Bangladesh;
2. Conduct Key Informant Interviews that will inform a Situational Analysis;
3. Mapping of similar thematic projects within Bangladesh and Region;
4. Design specific strategy and methodology for NUPRP Output 3 and related framework following the key principles of innovation, transferability and sustainability, strategy, methodology and framework that that addresses the 3 levels and answers to the set of questions;
5. Identify the potential partners related to the thematic operating particularly in an urban setting;
6. Conduct Coaching sessions for project staff and Produce materials for training.

Expected Results and DeliverablesExpected Results and Deliverables

The main expected results of this consultancy are the design, the implementation strategy and methodology of the new urban poverty reduction programme – specifically on output 3 for the present consultancy - informed by the urban knowledge gathered through the study. Such design, implementation strategy and methodology are key deliverables. They should make sense in the

context of the overall NUPRP city/town-level approach and the consultant should keep in mind that output 3 is one of 5 pillars of the project.

The main deliverables will be:

• An inception report (final) incorporating comments/feedbacks from NUPRP/UNDP management with approach; sampling strategy; qualitative tools, analysis and framework; and timeline. (hard and soft copy);
• Final Report that includes the following:

1. Policy and Literature Review;
2. Mapping of Similar Projects within Bangladesh and Region;
3. Situational Analysis based on Key Informant Interviews that identifies linkages with relevant agencies/ departments and options to integrate Universal Financial Inclusion and Self-employment programme agenda in implementing NUPRP at the town level for the urban poor;
4. The main findings of the whole analysis of the consultancy that presents the strategy, methodology, tools, indicators, data, and key potential partners , precise and evidence-and-data-based recommendations concerning NUPRP’s urban strategy. The report should identify key entry points and interventions that will help make a sustainable difference in the urban agenda. Output 3 key questions below should be answered systematically.

• Coaching Session/Orientation for Project Staff and training manual.

Methodology

The consultant will have to answer Output 3 key questions, but are encouraged to proposed other key questions and areas of examination on financial inclusion. The consultant should keep in mind the overall NUPRP city/town-level approach.

Financial Inclusion

• What are the principles and best practices of financial inclusion?
• How do we move from informal community banking to formal financial inclusion for poor urban people living in informal settlements?
• Identify public and private sector partners for financial inclusion.
• Who are the stakeholders in Bangladesh concerning financial inclusion and what are their interests?
• What are the gendered aspects of financial inclusion in Bangladesh
• What are the drivers of economic exclusion and the barriers faced by the urban poor for financial inclusion?
• What are demand-driven financial inclusion products?
• What is the legislation, rules, and regulations underpinning financial inclusion in Bangladesh?
• What are efficient and widely accessible financial and ICT infrastructures that need to be in place for financial inclusion of the urban poor in Bangladesh?

The Consultancy will undertake the following tasks to achieve the objective of this assignment:

• Desk review: this review will focus on options to improve financial inclusion for the urban poor initiatives that can be implemented in NUPRP through accessible, demand-drive financial inclusion modalities. It will also highlight the Asian models that has been successful and replicated in similar contexts of tackling the most pressing issue of financial inclusion of the Urban Poor.
• Key Informant Interviews: These interviews with stakeholders, such as banks, insurance companies, government and industry (not an exhaustive list), will identify linkages with relevant agencies/ departments and options to integrate Universal Financial Inclusion and Self-employment programme agenda in implementing NUPRP at the town level for the urban poor.

Deliverables/Outputs

• An inception report (final) incorporating comments/feedbacks from NUPRP/UNDP management with approach; sampling strategy; qualitative tools, analysis and framework; and timeline. (hard and soft copy)

Estimated Duration to Complete: 3

Target Due Dates:13 June 2016

• Final Report that includes the following:

1. Policy and Literature Review;
2. Mapping of Similar Projects within Bangladesh and Region;
3. Situational Analysis based on key informant interviews that identifies linkages with relevant agencies/ departments and options to integrate Universal Financial Inclusion and Self-employment programme agenda in implementing NUPRP at the town level for the urban poor;
4. The main findings of the whole analysis of the consultancy that presents the strategy, methodology, tools, indicators, data, and key potential partners , precise and evidence-and-data-based recommendations concerning NUPRP’s urban strategy. Output 3 key questions answered systematically.

Estimated Duration to Complete: 22

Target Due Dates:31 July 2016

• Coaching Session/Orientation for project staff, including training materials

Estimated Duration to Complete: 5

Target Due Dates: 30 September 2016

Institutional Arrangement

The consultancy will be overseen by the International Project Manager (IPM) of NUPRP. UNDP shall provide office space and necessary logistic supports to the employed personnel. The project will not provide a laptop.

Review and Approvals Required :

• Payment will be made upon  confirm acceptance by the International Project Manager;
• Need approval of work plan to be prepared and submitted with inception report;
• Need prior approval for any mission outside of UNDP with the provision of TA and DSA as per organization policy.

Duration of the Work

This assignment will take place over 4 months and require 30 days including field visits and travel. The intended start date is 5 June 2016.

Tentative payment schedule

• 1st payment: 20% of total contract value will be paid after submission and acceptance of the inception report.
• 2nd  payment: 60% of total contract value will be paid after submission and acceptance of  the Final Report that includes the following: 1. Policy and Literature Review; 2. Mapping of Similar Projects within Bangladesh and Region; 3. Situational Analysis based on Key Informant Interviews that identifies linkages with relevant agencies/ departments and  options to integrate Universal Financial Inclusion and Self-employment programme agenda in  implementing NUPRP at the town level for the urban poor; 3. The main findings of the whole analysis of the consultancy that presents the strategy, methodology, tools, indicators, data, and key potential partners , precise and evidence-and-data-based recommendations concerning NUPRP’s urban strategy.
• 3rd  Payment: 20% of total contract value will be paid after Coaching Session/Orientation for project staff, including training materials

Duty Station

The consultancy will be home based with visits to Dhaka, Bangladesh, and other towns.

During the field visit the project will facilitate the visit and arrange transport and Daily Subsidy Allowance (DSA) will be reimbursed as per UNDP policy.

Final Products

The assignment should result in a report, including the handbook (illustrated format with operational guideline) that should be formatted to A4 size paper, and be in a condition that can be published without any need for further work. All data sets and analysis must be shared and handed over to the project.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace,
• understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, and impartiality;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrates openness to change, flexibility, and ability to manage complexities;
• Proven strong written, analytical and communication skills

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Eligibility Criteria:

Education

• Masters’ Degree in Economics, with specialization in pro-poor financial inclusion in the urban context, or equivalent relevant Master’s degree. PhD is preferred.

Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in the fields of financial inclusion for poor urban people
• At least fifteen years of working experience in undertaking qualitative and quantitative research including participatory methodologies in the urban field;
• Demonstrated previous experience of building urban poverty programme knowledge and programme strategy;
• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of international best practices and policies in the field of financial inclusion for the urban poor.
• Experience in undertaking research with UN/international organization in last 10 years
• Examples of at least five (5) key publications/Programme Strategy proposals through his/her leadership. Two (2) of the examples should be submitted (or links provided) to the technical proposal.

CVs must be tailored to demonstrate competence against these requirements. Failure to demonstrate experience against these eligibility criteria will result in proposals being discarded.

Language Requirement

• Excellent proven written and spoken English

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Individuals will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Combined Scoring method:

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) 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 in the technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation:

 Evaluation Criteria:

1. Level and relevance of Education obtained: 20 points;
2. Working experience in the field of financial inclusion for the urban poor: 25 points;
3. Working experience in undertaking qualitative and quantitative research including participatory methodologies in the urban field: 10 points;
4. Demonstrated previous experience of building urban poverty programme knowledge and programme strategy: 10 points;
5. Experience in undertaking research with UN/international organization: 5 Points;

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 points)

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.

Documentation to be included when submitting the proposal:

• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in the below link:

http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

• 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;
• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment and 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.  If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate this  at this point and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

N.B.

Applicants are reminded that the UNDP application process only allows you to upload single file so please ensure that you consolidate all of the above documentation into a single file for uploading at the time you submit your application