Background

UNDP is the development arm of the United Nations system, with offices in 180 countries. Globally the organization employs 17,000 people and manages a budget of USD 5 billion each year. 

The UNDP office in Skopje employs a team of 65 and currently manages a portfolio of projects in environmental protection, good governance and social inclusion worth USD 15 million per year.

The decentralization process that started in 2001 has devolved a wide range of responsibilities from central to local governments. However, many municipalities still struggle to provide adequate services to their constituents. These shortcomings are particularly severe in smaller, rural and remote municipalities, which need assistance in designing and providing services to address the needs of specific groups, particularly women, minorities and vulnerable or marginalized groups such as persons with disabilities.

To address these challenges, UNDP is currently implementing a project on ‘’Improving Municipal Governance” which is funded by the European Union (EU). The project aims to improve people’s lives by helping municipal governments to secure the funds and develop the skills they need to deliver high-quality public services to residents of local communities, with an emphasis on inclusion and equal opportunities.

Objective                

One component of the project covers the preparation of local development plans for 32 small and rural municipalities and, as part of this planning process, the selection and design of one high-priority local project worth up to EUR 25,000 that each of the 32 municipalities will implement with UNDP support.

To carry out this component, UNDP is currently seeking an international expert with experience in local development planning and municipal-level project prioritization, design and implementation.

The selected expert will lead and guide the national consultant in a team of two to:

a) develop a methodology for integrated and inclusive local-development planning, building on an existing model developed by the Ecorys consultancy as part of an earlier EU-funded project, “Building Effective and Democratic Local Government”; the revised methodology needs to put greater emphasis on inclusiveness and citizen participation to ensure that local development plans address the needs of all vulnerable groups;

b) provide guidance and work directly with the staff of 32 municipalities to prepare integrated and inclusive development plans (or, where development plans already exist, to improve, update and enrich them, in line with the agreed methodology);

c) provide feedback to improve and validate the 32-local integrated and inclusive development plans;

d) assist the 32 municipalities in selecting and designing one high-priority project worth up to EUR 25,000, which will be implemented by the municipality with project-management and procurement support from UNDP.

The municipalities[1] covered are the 32 that fit both the designation “small” (under 20,000 residents) and “rural” (where the seat of the municipality is a village).

[1] List of rural and small municipalities, within the scope of work under this ToR:

Chucer Sandevo; Staro Nagorichane; Rankovci; Arachinovo; Jagunovce; Ilinden; Petrovec; Brvenica; Sopishte; Studenichani; Zelenikovo; Lozovo; Chesinovo-Obleshevo; Zrnovci; Karbinci; Chaska; Gradsko; Rosoman; Konche; Vasilevo; Bosilovo; Dojran; Dolneni; Krivogashtani; Novaci; Mogila; Plasnica; Debarca; Centar Zhupa; Mavrovo i Rostuha; Vevchani; Novo Selo.

Duties and Responsibilities

Working as team leader, together with the national consultant, the international expert is expected to:

1. Contribute to the design of a methodology and plan for the creation of integrated and inclusive local development plans for 32 municipalities;

• In coordination with the national consultant, the international consultant will: i) analize the Ecorys methodology developed previously; ii) analyze the recommendations from the comprehensive assessment of social services delivery developed earlier in the implementation of the UNDP project; iii) based on the recommendations and lessons learned, modify the methodology prepared by Ecorys for the preparation of integrated local development plans and expand this model to make it more inclusive and participatory.
• Upgrade the training materials on local integrated planning developed by the Ecorys project;
• Identify appropriate staff at the municipal level to participate in preparing development plans;
• Identify a checklist of criteria that each municipal plan is expected to meet.

1.Provide training and hands-on guidance on integrated and inclusive local development planning to the staff of the 32 municipalities covered by the program

• Provide training on the concept of integrated and inclusive local development to municipal staff;
• Provide hands-on guidance in the development of integrated and inclusive local development plans by municipal staff;
• Review and propose improvements to the development plans from each municipality;
• Validate the final development plans from each muncipality. 

2.Support the development of one project proposal for each municipality, based on the priorities selected within the Integrated   and Inclusive Local Development Plans

• Based on UNDP-developed criteria, select and design one project proposal per municipality (in line with the priorities of the Integrated and Inclusive Local Development Plans) for financing and implementation together with UNDP under the secondary procurement scheme.

3. Together with the national consultant, prepare a short report (maximum 20 pages) containing lessons learned and recommendations on the preparation of Integrated and Inclusive Local Development Plans and how other municipalities might use the methodology

Deliverab;es

1. Detailed work plan submitted for approval to UNDP, 7 days after signing of the contract;
2. Upgraded methodology, training materials and criteria prepared, by 21 May 2018;
3. Training delivered on integrated and inclusive local development to selected staff from 32 municipalities, by 8 June 2018;
4. 32 integrated and inclusive local development plans drafted by municipalities for first review, by 1 September 2018;
5. 32 integrated and inclusive local development plans finalized by 30 September 2018;
6. 32 priority projects identified and designed for implementation together with UNDP by 31 October 2018;
7. Final mission report, latest by 12 November 2018.

Reporting

Throughout the assignment, the international consultant shall report for the team (the international and the national consultant) to the UNDP Project Manager. The detailed work plan with methodology and time-table of activities will be agreed with the selected contractor, upon finalization of the procurement process. The questionnaires, reports from municipality visits and the training evaluations should be submitted to the UNDP Project Manager.

Duration of assignment

Tentatively, all the tasks should be completed in the period from May to November 2018. The exact start of the assignment will be agreed with the selected contractor upon finalization of the procurement process.

The overall duration of the tasks covered by this ToR has been estimated to not exceed 85 days, including desk-work, field work for obtaining and analysing data, preparation of the local development plans and training days.

Travel

The consultant is expected to work from home and travel throughout the country and will receive assistance for his/her travel arrangements by the National Consultant. The international consultant is expected to have three in-country missions (45 days in total). Per diem is paid for overnight stay only. Overnight stay will be reimbursed upon previous approval from UNDP Project Manager at UNDP standard fee.

Payment schedule

The payment of the Consultant on this project will be done in three instalments:

• First payment (30%) after submitting Deliverables 1, 2, and 3
• Second payment (40%) after completion of Deliverable 4
• Third payment (30%) after submitting Deliverables 5 and 6
• Forth payment (10%) after submitting Deliverable 7

Competencies

Competences

• Shows strong analytical skills;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent facilitation skills;
• Demonstrates excellent organizational skills and proven ability to deliver consultancy products; within deadlines;
• Ability to synthesize research and draw conclusions on the related subject;
• Writes clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences;
• Experience of working with ministries and local self-governance structures;

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• A Master’s Degree in Public or Business Administration, Political Sciences, Economics, Urban and Regional Planning or other relevant field is required. A PhD is a strong asset.

Experience

• At least 8 years of relevant practical experience in local strategic development planning, rural and regional development, local governance policy research and analysis, and decentralization projects.
• At least 5 years of practical working experience as a consultant and advisor in international context in the field of local self-government and/or 7 years as a management level official in sub-national/local government public administration

Languages

• Excellent language proficiency in both written and oral English.

Other Qualifications

• Proven record of at least 3 similar assignments carried out in the field of strategic local development planning;

• Thorough understanding/knowledge of national and local administrative system and the policy context within which government and municipalities operate.

Application Procedure

Step 1

1. Click on the "Apply now" button
2. Input your information in the appropriate sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume, and motivation (cover letter). You can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box.
3. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload other required documents listed in the step 2.

Step 2

1. Interested individual consultants must submit the documents/information listed below to demonstrate their qualifications. The system will allow only one attachment. Therefore, please upload all required documents as one file.
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experiences from similar projects and contact details of the clients;
3. Technical proposal, a max. 2-page document explaining the approach and the methodology to be utilized for delivering the expected results within the indicated timeframe and if applicable;
4. Reference list of relevant work/projects, position held and contact details of the clients. Please clearly indicate at least 3 similar assignments carried out in the field of strategic local development planning;
5. All-inclusive* financial offer – specifying a total lump sum in USD for the deliverables specified in the TOR including number of working days per deliverable

Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and implies that all expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (professional fee, communication, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Consultant are already factored in the financial proposal.

Failing to submit any of these documents may result in disqualification of the application.

Please note that shortlisted candidates might be interviewed.

Expected local travel

For the purposes of the implementation of this assignment, the Consultant is expected to travel to all selected local government units in the country. 

Please note that the organization of local travel inside the country will be done by the National Consultant and UNDP.

EVALUATION OF OFFERS

Only candidates who will obtain at least 49 points and will score at least 70% of the maximum points obtainable for the technical criteria (1-7) will be considered for financial evaluation.

 Financial Evaluation (30% of total evaluation – maximum 30 points):

The offer with the lowest price will receive the maximum of 30 points. Other offers with higher prices will receive their respective scores according the following formula:

Lowest Bid

               ------------------- x 30

Proposed Bid

The contract will be awarded to the candidate that will obtain the highest aggregate score based on the technical and financial evaluation.