Background
Bangladesh was a global leader in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and shaping the discourse for the Post 2015 development, resilience, urban poverty reduction and social protection agendas. In the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) era, UNDP Bangladesh (UNDP) looks to continue to act on its portfolio of programs to achieve the national objectives of Bangladesh and eliminate poverty. It has originated many of the most exciting and innovative solutions to development challenges. UNDP’s mission is to help create open and inclusive civic spaces, within which the government and people are empowered to realize national development goals and fully engage in global sustainable development efforts.
UNDP Bangladesh is supporting the Government to find innovative solutions to its development challenges based on the new Country Programme Document, which began in 2017. A key cross-cutting theme behind UNDP’s work in Bangladesh is institutional development, ranging from environmental resilience to urban development to improved governance.
In the area of improved governance, UNDP is partnering with the Government of Bangladesh in significant ways, particularly in improved institutional development in social protection and aid effectiveness. Specifically, Social Security Policy Support (SSPS) Programme, through expert, evidence-based support, is working with the government to reconfigure the current social security system so that economic growth is achieved in a more inclusive manner, with economic opportunities reaching the rural and urban poor and the protection of vulnerable groups against shocks. The programme will help the government in two areas namely governance of social protection and strengthening of systems. This work includes enacting a national Single Registry Management Information System to improve social protection delivery, improving upon the country’s Grievance Redress System to ensure accountability and transparency, develop holistic Monitoring & Evaluation approaches to measuring social protection outcomes, and strengthening Government to Person (G2P) delivery of social protection cash benefits. In regard to the latter, the programme is tied to a sister project, Strengthening Women's Ability for Productive New Opportunities (SWAPNO), which has begun an advanced e-payment study with programme participants, with the intent to drive knowledge on strengthening G2P, as mandated by the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS), and provide a rigorous, high quality evidence-base in support of a pathway for national scaleup of digital payment alternatives.
Additionally, in partnership with the Government’s recently created Development Effectiveness Wing, UNDP is working toward improving aid effectiveness through increased bilateral aid reporting from development partners, and dissemination and usage of such information by both national and subnational Government actors for use in budgeting, planning, and targeted programmatic coordination. An anchor point of this work is in attaining maximum utilisation of Bangladesh’s unique Aid Information Management System (AIMS) and strengthening the capacity of Government actors at all levels in accessing and utilising the information in AIMS, and in implementing national strategies on development in a whole of government, cohesive approach.
The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the SSPS Project Manager and the Assistant Country Director (Partnerships and Business Development) for the relevant tasks.
Objective
The overall objective of this assignment is to:
- Provide in-depth policy analysis, review, research, and recommendations in achieving the following national policy goals: implementing a Single Registry Information Management System, improving the national Grievance Redress System, improving Monitoring & Evaluation of social protection in relation to the NSSS, transitioning social security cash transfers from physical to digital delivery, and strengthening the capacity of national Government actors in aid effectiveness and in implementing national strategies and priorities.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of work
Under this assignment, the consultant will work to achieve the following tasks:
- Research the best practices of other countries on single registries, and assess the current state of affairs of Bangladesh in relation to implementing such a single registry by conducting an initiation assessment;
- Feasibility study on single registry MISs at SID/BBS link to line ministries on programme level MISs and M&E data collection processes across social security programmes, including identifying the challenges and opportunities for a Single Registry of all beneficiaries under social security schemes including propose initial activities.
- Mapping hardware and software compatibility and identify most suitable platform and solution
- Mapping potential key professionals and scope of MIS skill building, at both national and sub-national level
- Independent Feasibility study report recommending strategy and programmes and single registry on social security is in place as recommended by feasibility study.
- Examine, review, and analyse the current policy situation of the Grievance Redress System;
- Capacity building, orientation, demand generation through a pilot in selected areas of Kurigram and Satkhira districts (most poverty and disaster-prone); meetings, follow-up.
- GRS Pilot report, CMC meeting minutes on decisions on online GRS platform, training follow-up reports.
- Conduct a policy review on the current state of affairs of Monitoring & Evaluation in relation to the NSSS and social protection outcomes and provide recommendation on improvement;
- Dialogues, workshops, conferences, orientations, meetings, data collection related to NSSS M&E, and CODI.
- Policy research, diagnostic/feasibility/scoping studies, seminars, symposium, workshops, book launch.
- An approved NSSS M&E framework; two NSSS annual M&E reports: 2018, & 2019.
- About seven diagnostic study reports and a book composition of the study reports.
- Examine, review, analyse, and report on the all the necessary components of the digital financial services research, indicatively including survey development, enumeration oversight, data analysis framework, implementation schedule, interview questions, partnerships, procurement of good and services, and finish with a comprehensive policy report on findings and conclusions (2 Quarterly Reports, 1 Mid-Term Report, 1 Final Report);
- Randomised controlled trial pilot study; frequency of Interpersonal communication (IPC), mass media (print materials), group and courtyard meetings; GIS mapping; MIS data (on monthly basis); orientation of UDC; field visits.
- Saving habits and financial inclusivity under G2P and P2P Pilot study report; meeting minutes endorsing pilot study as evidence to replicate to other programmes.
- Develop and provide direct inputs into the Development Effectiveness Wing’s initiation concept of establishing an Aid Effectiveness Facility.
- Consultations meetings, discussions, data collection and assessment related to developing concept and Aid Effectiveness Facility.
- An approved concept note, and framework of aid effectiveness facility.
- Provide direct technical and policy support in advancing the national aid effectiveness agenda items including the Joint Cooperation Strategy, strengthening the Local Consultative Group mechanism, and improving development partner data entry into AIMS.
- Consultations meetings, discussions, data collection and assessment including provide policy guidance inputs for related to strengthening local consultative groups and incorporating Aid Effectiveness in joint cooperation strategy.
- An approved joint cooperation strategy including data entry into AIMS strengthen local consultative group’s mechanism.
Expected outputs / deliverables
- Draft Aid Effectiveness Facility Project Support Document - 20 days;
- Digital Financial Services Study First Quarterly Report - 23 days;
- Final Aid Effectiveness Facility Project Support Document - 21days;
- Single Registry Management Information System Initiation Assessment - 35 days;
- Digital Financial Services Study Mid-Term Report - 23 days;
- Grievance Redress System Policy Review - 26 days;
- Digital Financial Services Study Third Quarterly Report - 23 days;
- Aid Effectiveness Technical and Policy Assistance Summary Report - 23 days;
- National Social Security Strategy Monitoring & Evaluation Policy Review - 26 days;
- Digital Financial Services Study Final Report - 40 days.
Supervision and Performance Evaluation
The assignment will be supervised by the Project Manager of SPPS and the Assistant Country Director (Partnerships and Business Development) for the particular tasks.
Timeframe and Deliverables
This specific assignment is expected to be carried out for 260 working days over a period of 12 months.
Inputs
UNDP Bangladesh will provide office space and transport / travel to field sites (Dhaka to within Bangladesh) when required.
Travel
Under this assignment, the Consultant is required to participate in at least three missions to Dhaka, Bangladesh (comprising of at least 150 days in the country), to be able to meet with relevant key stakeholders in the development of all outputs, and participate in local field visits to the jurisdictions of Kurigram and Satkhira where the e-payment study is taking place. The consultant is responsible for arranging international air travel to and from Dhaka (3 round-trip), Bangladesh.
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.
Competencies
- Excellent communication, reporting, and professional writing skills;
- Critical thinking skills and ability to provide material supported by evidenced bases research;
- Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time and produces quality results to meet established goals;
- Knowledge of national policy objectives of Bangladesh, specifically as laid out in the NSSS;
- Knowledge of digital financial services, specifically, mobile electronic payment methods in Bangladesh;
- Demonstrated understanding of indicators, SDGs, and results-based management;
- Creative and innovative in producing the desired outputs;
- Ability to work with a multicultural environment and a multidisciplinary team;
- Willingness to travel to project site.
Language Requirements
- Perfect fluency in English (written, oral, and spoken).
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Minimum bachelors in International Development, Development Studies, Global Health, public policy, public planning, financial banking, and / or social development fields.
Experience
- Minimum 2 years’ experience in social protection, or monitoring and evaluation, human rights issues, indigenous communities, rural vulnerable and marginalized communities, or public health, or a combination of the aforementioned;
- At least 1 year experience of working with UNDP / UN agencies or Donor, with alternative and digital payment services, and / or indicators and results-based management, and / or research related to poverty, and / or research related to health or vulnerable communities;
- Proven work experiences with policy formulation and design related to vulnerable and marginalized communities in the South Asian Countries.
Financial Proposal
The financial proposal will specify the daily fee, 3 round-trip international travel expenses, per diem quoted in separate line items, and other optional budget line items such as travel / medical insurance.
Travel to Dhaka:
- September 2018
- December 2018
- April 2019
Contracts based on daily fee
Payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based on the delivery of agreed upon deliverables, verified by the Project Manager of SSPS and the Assistant Country Director (Partnerships and Business Development) for the particular tasks.
Evaluation of the Candidates:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.
Cumulative analysis-
The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant up on Cumulative Analysis/evaluation 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 70% mark in technical evaluation will be considered eligible for financial evaluation.
Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks)
- Overall experience in the provision with similar services (10 Marks)
- Demonstrated experience in understanding research and planning in relation to policy outcomes, with an emphasis on evidence creation and documentation (20 marks)
- Proven knowledge of poverty in Bangladesh, in areas such as health, rural poverty, social security, or marginalized and vulnerable communities, specifically in relation to the national objectives laid out within the NSSS (10 marks)
- Demonstrated experience with digital financial services research in relation to social policy (15 marks)
- Experience with aid effectiveness initiatives and partnerships (05 marks)
- Demonstrated experience working with UN or similar agencies and writing written, professional reports (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.
The financial proposal 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. 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).
Financial Milestone
- 1st Installment (6.37%)-Draft Aid Effectiveness Facility Project Support Document;
- 2nd Installment (9.07%) - Digital Financial Services Study First Quarterly Report;
- 3rd Installment (7.77%) - Final Aid Effectiveness Facility Project Support Document;
- 4th Installment (13.39%) - Single Registry Management Information System Initiation Assessment;
- 5th Installment (9.07%) - Digital Financial Services Study Mid-Term Report;
- 6th Installment (9.83%) - Grievance Redress System Policy Review;
- 7th Installment (9.07%) - Digital Financial Services Study Third Quarterly Report;
- 8th Installment (9.07%) - Aid Effectiveness Technical and Policy Assistance Summary Report;
- 9th Installment (9.83%) - National Social Security Strategy Monitoring & Evaluation Policy Review;
- Final Installment (16.53%) - Digital Financial Services Study Final Report.
DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
Proposal
- A curriculum vitae outlining the candidate’s educational and professional experience;
- Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment and submit evidence of research produced by the consultant which would substantiate the technical requirements;
- Financial Proposal: Financial Proposal has to be submitted through a standard interest and availability template which can be downloaded from the link below: