Background

A.     Title of the Project: “Achieving Kuwait 2035 Vision Towards Persons with Disability Project”

This institutional development assignment is implemented within the framework of the Project: “Achieving Kuwait 2035 Vision Towards Persons with Disability Project”. The project is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kuwait office and implemented by the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs of Kuwait.

B.     Background of the project

Project Description       

The project “Achieving Kuwait 2035 Vision Towards Persons with Disability” supports PADA to enhance its human capacities and organizational effectiveness towards achieving its mandate. It supports its efforts at integration of PWDs in schools, employment, and social life in partnership with CSOs working for disabilities and supports it to ensure an inclusive physical environment for PWDs. The project will continue until December 2018. It seeks to achieve three outputs:

• Output 1.1: Enhanced human capacities and institutional effectiveness for prevention, early detection, diagnosis and rehabilitation of disabilities.
• Output 1.2: Coordinated and well organized efficient efforts towards removal of barriers to social, economic and educational inclusion of persons with disability.
• Output 1.3: Increased technical expertise and organizational capacities for implementation of Universal Design and countrywide use of technology enablers.

The Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA)

The Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA) of Kuwait is responsible for all matters related to care and rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities. Its mandate includes, inter alia, setting the disability policy; setting regulations and procedures for care and rehabilitation of PWDs and developing and overseeing an integrated action plan responsible for all aspects of Persons with Disabilities’ welfare in coordination with relevant government entities. Furthermore, care and rehabilitation centers were recent, in 2016, transferred to the responsibility of PADA. PADA was established as per law no.8 for 2010 as a governmental entity. The law is concerned with protecting the rights of Persons with Disabilities in Kuwait and covers their inclusion in society, rehabilitation and employment in addition to care and other government services and entitlements. PADA developed a five-year strategy 2014 – 2019, which includes 15 themes and goals and provides a guiding framework for implementation and has an annual development plan. One of these themes is to improve the role and participation of the civil society sector. The project aims to achieve maximum collaboration and partnership between PADA and other stakeholders including CSOs 

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

The civil society organizations (CSOs) play a greater role in the Kuwaiti society as they enjoy substantial public liberties which enables them to freely address the concerns of diverse groups in their communities. In disability field, CSOs have been very active in complementing the government's efforts in service delivery. Currently, the new Kuwait National Development Plan 2017/2018 (KNDP) has highlighted the key role of partnership with CSOs to achieve the sustainable development. Moreover, PADA strategy (2017/2018) and its projects plan indicate the importance of the coordination and support of CSOs working with people with disabilities to; build their capabilities; initiate a network for CSOs; and reach collaboration agreements with them. This current transition has brought new opportunities for CSOs and PADA to engage constructively on development and reform programs to achieve the common goal of inclusive society.

Coordinate and Partnership with CSOs

Within the framework of the project and output 1.2, the project aims to remove barriers to social, economic and educational inclusion of individuals with disabilities in Kuwait, to empower individuals with disabilities in Kuwait to achieve their full potential, and enable them to fully contribute to the society they live in. One approach to achieving its aims is by increasing collaboration and partnership between PADA and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) specialized in working with persons with disability issues for better services and utilization of fund in coordination with PADA.

Duties and Responsibilities

A.     Scope of Work

The purpose of this assignment is to define PADA partnership strategy and cooperation with CSOs at effective service delivery, inclusion, and empowerment of persons with disability. The Consultant is expected to work closely with PADA to achieve the above role. The assignment will contribute to Output 1.2.

Specific tasks include:

1. Review existing laws and regulation in Kuwait regulating the work between government and private sector, Including a brief description of the legislative/regulatory basis for cooperation between PADA and CSOs within Kuwait. And conduct brief assessment of current partnership and cooperation practices within PADA if available
   1. Review and analysis of the current Kuwait legal, administrative and financial framework that regulate cooperation and partnership between public (PADA) and private/CSOs sectors.
   2. Conduct brief assessment of current partnership and cooperation practices within PADA if available
   3. Based on the above, produce an inception report include the results of the review, suggested methodology and work plan for the whole assignment.
2. Consultation, enhance capacity and knowledge of PADA regarding the value and nature of partnership and cooperation.
   1. Share and present the main findings and recommendations with PADA high management and propose an overall methodology for improvement.
   2. Conduct workshop to ensure that all PADA key staff have a shared understanding about partnership and the reasons for working with CSOs using different partnership approaches suitable to Kuwait context.
3. Define frameworks for partnership, collaboration, and accountability between the PADA and CSOs to enhance participation and inclusion, and to improve efficiency, this framework includes but not limited to Principals, Process, and tools of:
   1. Define PADA Partnership framework
   2. Defining the objectives and goals of different options of frameworks.
   3. Consultation with PADA and modification of the framework according.
4. Develop PADA partnership strategy including operational procedures and action plan that include but not limited to:
   1. Define partnership strategy, vision, objective, output, and outcomes of strategy.
   2. Define PADA priorities and roadmap for strategy implementation including scope and area of partnerships. 
   3. Develop operational procedures for:
      1. Setting Up, Managing and Maintaining the Partnership                    
      2. Evaluation and Monitoring partnerships and collaboration    
      3. Partnership accountability, termination, and renewal.
      4. Suggested scope and issue area of cooperation to apply PADA partnership framework
      5. Types of currently available partnerships and selection criteria.

Indicative Approaches

• Gender approach: the consultant should ensure gender analysis is conducted based on the differentiated needs of girls and boys, men and women and it should be considered and explicit in all the components, especially the situation analysis and proposal.
• Participation and ownership: the consultant should ensure participation of PADA staff in the process of analysis and ensure their views and feedback is incorporated.
• Capacity Development approach: the consultant should work closely with project staff to enable the transfer of know-how as well as through the direct training component of the assignment
• Innovation and cultural: sensitivity the consultants should select contents and utilize techniques that are innovative and culturally appropriate and effective.

B.     Expected Outputs and Deliverables

All final deliverables must submitted in hard copy and electronic format

C.     Institutional Arrangement

1. The consultant will report on a day to day basis to the UNDP Project Manager.
2. All submitted deliverables, reports, developed papers (reports, framework, strategy, training plan, etc.) are subject to PADA, GSSCPD and UNDP Programme Analyst approval. These documents will serve as justification of payments.
3. Regular meetings will be set for updates on progress in line with the agreed work plan

D.     Duration of the Work

The duration of this consultancy is expected to be 15 weeks.  Expected start date of the assignment is 15th Nov 2017.

E.     Duty Station

The consultant is expected to be in Kuwait for the duration of the assignment and will be based at PADA office.

F.     Scope of Price Proposal

The financial proposal submitted shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. The financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, living allowance, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel: All envisaged travel and other related costs must be included in the financial proposal.

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

G.     Evaluation

Cumulative analysis

Total score=Technical Score + Financial Score.

Technical Criteria weight - 70%, 700 scores maximum 

Financial Criteria weight - 30%. 300 scores maximum

The selection of candidates will be done in 3 stages:

1st stage: Prior to detailed evaluation, all applications will be thoroughly screened against eligibility criteria (minimum qualification requirements) as set in the TOR to determine whether they are compliant/non-compliant.

2nd  stage: Evaluation of technical proposals

Short-listed candidates will be evaluated based on the following criteria. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 490 points (70%) at the Technical Evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

3rd stage: Financial evaluation

The cumulative analysis will be used based on the following methodology: All the offers of individual consultants who scored 490 (70% from 700) and more points during the desk review are acceptable for financial evaluation. The lowest financial qualified proposal receives 300 points and all the other technically qualified proposals receive points in inverse proportion

Competencies

• Flexibility and adaptability to uncertain environments
• Ability to work independently and find solutions
• Political and cultural sensitivity
• Promoting ethics and integrity
• Gender sensitivity
• Teamwork and cooperation with colleagues
• Creating and promoting an enabling environment for open communication;
• Sharing knowledge and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.
• Conviction of the full rights of Persons with Disabilities and alignment with the values of human rights 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master degree in law, public management, public or business administration, development or related field

or

Bachelor degree in the mentioned fields with additional 5 years of experience in the same fields.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in public management, partnership and cooperation practices and law, stakeholder engagement and multi-stakeholder partnerships or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting public organizations to strategically cooperate and engage with the private and non-profit sector as well as directly setting up, managing and maintaining partnering programs.
• Fluency in English (speaking, writing, reading) required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable
• Local (Kuwait) experience in the above-mentioned areas is desirable.

Note: Kuwaiti nationals whose qualifications are assessed equivalently with another offer based on the required criteria will be given priority over the other.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Applicants are requested to compile and submit as one PDF file the below requested documents:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability http://www.kw.undp.org/content/kuwait/en/home/operations/procurement.html
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects that show how the candidate meets the above requirements, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional referees;
3. Technical Proposal includes:
   1. One page that highlight your track record of work experience that demonstrates your practical skills and abilities in these areas and how you’ve been involved in these tasks in the past and explaining why you are the most suitable for this assignment.
   2. Proposed Methodology, Approach and Implementation Plan – this section should demonstrate the Proposer’s response to the Terms of Reference by identifying the specific components proposed, how the requirements shall be addressed, as specified, point by point; providing a detailed description of the essential performance characteristics proposed; and demonstrating how the proposed methodology meets or exceeds the specifications.
4. Financial Proposal that indicates an all-inclusive Lump Sum Amount with a fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. http://www.kw.undp.org/content/kuwait/en/home/operations/procurement.html  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, the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.  Consultant should be aware that the contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components.