Background

UNDP Global Mission Statement:

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with national counterparts on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

Organizational context:

The new Pakatan Harapan government’s comprehensive governance reform agenda with strong anticorruption focus has highlighted the need for corporate governance reforms for government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs), looking into patterns of ownership and control and how these are laid open to much higher risks of corruption.  It has been noted that in accordance with key guidelines of OECD on the governance of state-owned enterprises, there is a need to strengthen corporate governance and transparency in Malaysian GLCs.

The role of GLCs is undeniable in the Malaysian economy and they also play a key role in delivering services at the national and sub national levels. However, transparency, accountability and oversight are major issues. This is further exacerbated by often overlapping and largely uncoordinated roles of various players in this arena such as the Securities Commission, the Companies Commission, the stock exchange (Bursa Malaysia), Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. This lack of clear mapping of the relevant players’ responsibilities and mandate in strengthening corporate governance through oversight and regulation, and concrete actionable recommendations is keenly felt.

In the recently launched Malaysian National Anticorruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023, strengthening corporate governance is listed among the six priority thrust areas for the coming years. The focus will be on achieving greater transparency on who owns and controls corporate entities and ensuring greater resilience of corporate entities against the threat of corruption. Although the NACP makes macro level implementation suggestions, there is a need to flesh out actionable details, particularly as it pertains to mapping out the players and the roles of these various institutions.

In this context, UNDP Malaysia is seeking a national expert on corporate governance to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the corporate governance landscape in Malaysia - key players, roles and responsibilities - with specific recommendations for corporate governance strengthening initiatives. The assessment should lay out recommendations from relatively straightforward ones like identifying all GLCs publicly to detailed ones such as setting up a monitoring system, composition of boards particularly female representation, conflicts of interest etc. From a gender perspective, the assessment would also identify initiatives and rapid measures that can be undertaken to accelerate the participation of women within the senior management ranks. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UNDP Governance and Institutional Reform Specialist and the overall guidance of the Resident Representative, the national consultant will:

1. Conduct a comprehensive landscape assessment of corporate governance in Malaysia, including key players, roles and responsibilities, and incorporating a gender perspective;
2. Provide specific recommendations for corporate governance strengthening; and
3. Design and organize workshop and discussion session with key stakeholders (such as Securities Commission, Companies Commission, Bursa Malaysia, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption) to finalize recommendations and report.

Working Arrangements:

The national consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNDP Governance and Institutional Reform Specialist and the overall guidance of the Resident Representative in Malaysia.

Duration of the Work and Duty Station:                                         

The whole assignment is foreseen for a period of approximately 5 months, with possible travel to Putrajaya or other locations in Malaysia as necessary.

Expected Timeline and Deliverables:

The timeline for the work is expected to be from June – October 2019.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables. The financial proposal should include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including all related costs such as travel costs, per diem etc).

Payments are subject to submission of deliverables duly approved by the UNDP Governance and Institutional Reform Specialist, which shall serve as the basis for the payment of services

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent writing and communication skills;
• Excellent knowledge of policy, development, governance, anti-corruption or related fields;
• Prior background or expert on the Malaysia country context (particularly the social and political climate) is required.

Corporate Competencies:

• 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;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent in development, public policy, public administration, communications, journalism or related fields. Bachelor’s degree with more than 7 years of experience is accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience at the national or international levels on policy, development, governance, anti-corruption or related fields.
• Experience in political-economy and corporate governance analysis and provision of high level policy advice is an asset.

Language:

• Proficient in English and Bahasa Malaysia (spoken and written).

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual applicants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability';
2.  Proposal on how your qualifications and experience can lead towards the successful deliverable of this assignment within the required timeframe, and provide a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the assignment;
3. The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables.
4. Personal CV including areas of expertise and experience in similar projects and at least three (3) references in the format of UN Personal History Form (P11 form). The UN Personal History Form (P11); 

How to Apply:

• Kindly download the Letter of Confirmation of interest and availability, Financial Proposal Template, P11 form and General Terms & Conditions mentioned below;
• Read and agree to the General Terms & Conditions;
• Click the ‘apply’ icon and complete what is required;
• Scan all documents into 1 pdf folder and then upload;
• For clarification question, please email to procurement.my@undp.org. The clarification question deadline is three (3) days before the closing. When emailing for clarification questions, please put "MyIC/2019/025" as the subject matter.

Forms and General terms & conditions to be downloaded:

• The UN Personal History Form (P11) is available at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/P11%20for%20SC%20&%20IC.doc?download
• The Letter of Confirmation of Interest at: http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Letter%20of%20Interest%20_Annex%201.docx?download
• The Financial Proposal Template at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Financial%20Proposal%20Template.doc?download 
• The General Terms & Conditions for Individual contract is available at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/General%20Conditions%20of%20Contract%20for%20IC.pdf?download
• The General Terms & Conditions for Reimbursement Loan Agreement is available at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Reimbursable%20Loan%20Agreement%20_%20Terms%20&%20Conditions.pdf?download

Evaluation:

Individuals will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individuals 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%]

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that will take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.