The “Strengthening the Community Resilience in Kherson Oblast” (phase II) project.

Ukraine’s vision of its strategic development may be defined by the provisions and aspirations enshrined in the EU Association Agreement as well as the 2030 Agenda. Reform processes are ongoing in several government domains and policy areas to give thrust to the country’s development priorities, including a comprehensive decentralization reform that serves to bring more fiscal resources and executive powers to the oblast administrations.

The location of the Kherson region in the southern part of Ukraine gives the territory a strategic position. The border with the Crimean Peninsula makes its geography unique in terms of bridging the temporary occupied Crimea with Ukraine’s mainland, and for more than six years the region has effectively served as a territorial gateway for accessing government institutions and authorities among Ukrainian citizens living in Crimea. The region´s diversity of natural and territorial resources is harbouring untapped opportunities for economic activity, especially in agriculture and tourism-related fields. However, despite potential for investment in sectors and infrastructure that may create significant opportunities in terms of income generation and sustainable growth, the level of socio-economic development as well as the living standards of the population remain relatively low compared to other parts of Ukraine.

For more than 10 years, UNDP has a long-standing partnership with the Kherson Oblast State Administration and the Kherson Oblast Council, renewed in 2020 with the purpose of fostering local sustainable development and SDGs acceleration at the sub-national level.

The “Strengthening the Community Resilience in Kherson Oblast” (phase II) project aims at strengthening the community resilience and promoting citizens’ trust towards authorities by building respective capacities to provide high quality public services and creating enabling conditions for socio-economic development.  It builds on the achievements of the pilot phase of the Strengthening the  Community Resilience in Kherson Oblast funded by British Government and implemented by UNDP to provide support to local authorities in a) building institutional capacity; b) strengthening public administration management of COVID-19 response and recovery measures; c) ensure better access to the public services, that the public authorities have highlighted as strategically pertinent to increase people´s access to quality public services, including for Ukrainian citizen living in Crimea.

The project envisages a photo production to capture the project’s progress, and achievements supplemented and showcased with related human stories. To fulfil the task, UNDP is looking for a qualified national expert in the photography area.

The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Together with the Project, develop a photo shooting plan for each location in Kherson Oblast.
• Take high-resolution photographs (and provide basic info on where and when photos are taken).
• Together with the Project select the best photographs related to each location listed below (no less than 30 per each).
• Edit photos into a complete high-quality product.
• Deliver a report.

Note:

• Photographs shall be provided in high-quality resolution to UNDP on an external memory medium or via file transfer service.
• Photographs must be provided in high quality suitable for printing, processing or publishing on web. Photo products are to cover villages and cities supported by the Project in Kherson Oblast, namely: Beryslavska TC, Novorayska TC, Kostiantynivska TC, Novovorotsovskaya TC and Kherson Oblast. National Consultant will be provided with the lists of pre-selected beneficiaries and contact of the UNDP Regional Coordinator.

DELIVERABLES

It is expected that Consultant’s services are required for a period of three months, between September 2021 and November 2021. Details of the deliverables and schedule is given below:

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

UNDP will pay the negotiated amount in four tranches according to the following payment schedule:

• the first payment (25% of the initial contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 1 and approval of the Interim Report #1;
• the second payment (25% of the initial contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 2 and approval of the Interim Report #2.
• the third payment (25% of the initial contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 3 and approval of the Interim Report #3.
• the fourth payment (25% of the initial contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 4 and approval of the Final Report and indicated tasks.

The payments will be processed upon the full completion and acceptance of contractual obligations whereupon the National Consultant signs the certification of acceptance.

MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The National Consultant Photographer will work under the general leadership of direct supervision of the Regional Development Programme Manager (the Supervisor) and overall supervision of the Communication and Monitoring Associate of the Project. He/she will receive necessary guidance, clarification, information/materials that may be needed for this task. He/she will duly inform the Supervisor of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of the assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

The National Consultant to Photographer will report to the Supervisor on the progress of the work performed according to the developed time schedule. The Final Report will be in English and to be accepted by the Supervisor at the end of the assignment.

• Demonstrate/safeguard ethics and integrity;  

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;

• Self-development, initiative-taking;

• Act as a team player;

• Encourage and participate in open communication in the team, communicate effectively;

• Create synergies through self-control;

• Manage conflict;

• Informed and transparent decision-making.

The following criteria will be rated as indicated below:

• Relevant secondary education and/or photography and/or video certificate – 10 points max.
  • 5 points for secondary education and/or certificate;
  • 10 points for relevant Bachelor’s degree and/or and/or photography and/or video certificate.
• Relevant professional experience in making documentary photos – up to 30 points.
  • 25 points – 3-4 years;
  • 30 points – 5 years and more.
• Track record of producing documentary photography (four sample works provided) – up to 15 points
  • 7 points – for at least 2 samples related to communities’ development or relevant areas.
  • 8 points – for the quality of 4 samples.
• Experience working in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom or other relevant programmes – 10 points.
• Experience in working with international organizations, particularly in the development field – up to 5 points:
  • 3 points – 1 assignment;
  • 5 points – 2 assignments and more.

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

EVALUATION METHOD

Cumulative analysis

Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the cumulative 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 meeting the minimum requirements and obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation. The maximum points obtainable for the technical evaluation is 70.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS 

Applicants shall submit the following documents: 

Required 

• Letter of interest, explaining why they are the most suitable for the work including relevant experience;
• Personal CV, including information about experience in similar projects/assignments and contact details for referees;
• At least three sample photo portfolios/field photo reports provided;
• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP (includes financial proposal with fees and all other expenses foreseen for the delivery of the assignment).

 FINANCIAL PROPOSAL 

Lump sum contract 

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 instalments 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 number of anticipated working days). 

Travel costs

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. It is assumed that there will be at least one trip with respective visit to two Ukrainian cities. Exact destinations will be defined later. Expected locations to be visited are following: Beryslavska TC, Novorayska TC, Kostiantynivska TC, Novovorotsovskaya TC and Kherson Oblast (final list of locations could be changed during the discussion with the Project team).