Background

Background Information on the Project:

The current armed conflict in eastern Ukraine has had a direct and extremely negative impact on social cohesion, community security and the rule of law.

Before the conflict over the last decade, UNDP had been actively represented in eastern Ukraine, with a focus on community development, civil society development and environmental protection. The work to address the specific development challenges occurring from the conflict and the above-mentioned is based on previous work and established partnership relations. It was initiated in 2015 through the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme, which is a multilateral donor framework program jointly implemented by four UN partner agencies in cooperation with the Government of Ukraine.

As a territorial programme designed specifically for conflict-affected areas in eastern Ukraine, the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme is focused on the main priority needs for stabilisation, peace development, economy and governance in eastern Ukraine after the outbreak of the conflict. It takes into account the opportunities provided by the Minsk Protocol dated September 2014 and revival of its cease-fire provisions and is fully adapted to create a link between humanitarian and developmental needs.

The Programme activities are grouped according to the following key components of the Programme, which reflect the priority needs of the region:

Component I: Economic Recovery and Restoration of Critical Infrastructure;

Component II: Local Governance and Decentralisation Reform;

Component III: Community Security and Social Cohesion.

UN RPP recognizes the importance of promoting dialogue mechanisms in the conflict-affected regions in Ukraine. To address the issue, the Programme has been supporting the development of the Geoinformation System for Conflict Analysis and Resolution in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts which helps collecting structured data about community conflicts and provides conflict resolution guidance to local communities. Moreover, in order to strengthen the efforts in creating resilient and sustainable conflict resolution mechanisms in the target communities, the Programme plans to pilot early warning and early response (EWER) mechanisms in the region. Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) systems aim to forecast and prevent conflicts –proactive approach to the management of conflicts. In other words, EWER predicts and calls for the prevention of conflicts that are not yet manifest or seen by all as imminent, as opposed to monitoring conflicts that are already unfolding and evident. To fulfill these goals, the Programme is seeking a qualified expert with a background in conflict analysis, who would collect data on potential conflicts in the communities of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts according to the EWER methodology.

Duties and Responsibilities

Main objectives of the assignment 

The overall objective of this assignment is: 

• Providing regular analysis of existing and potential conflicts in the four selected communities (Volnovakha, Sartana, Popasna, Borivske) according to the existing EWER methodology; gathering and organizing conflict-related data in the selected communities. The data analyzed by the Consultant will be used to forecast and prevent conflicts in the communities and pilot m early warning and early response (EWER) mechanisms in the region.

Description of Responsibilities/Scope of work

The Individual Consultant for Providing Conflict Analysis in the Early Warning System Pilot, will be responsible for:

• Conducting at least 1 focus group consisting of at least 5 community residents (online or offline) and 3 in-depth interviews with local experts (online or offline) in each community to better understand social dynamics and potential conflicts;
• Providing weekly analysis of the conflicts in the selected communities according to the developed methodology and preparing reports on the conflict cases. Analysis should be based on reports from local media, social networks, communication with local authorities and activists;

• Providing weekly analysis of local and regional mass media, official web resources and social networks according to the developed methodology to detect potential conflicts and verifying the information with volunteer conflict monitors;
• Conducting regular monitoring and analysis of relevant surveys which could contribute to better understanding of the conflict dynamics in the region;
• Filling out conflict case analysis forms according to the methodology, at least 2 long-term and 5 short-term conflict cases to be analyzed;
• Facilitating internal expert discussions with members of the Geoinformation system for conflict analysis operated by UN RPP on forecasting short-term and long-term scenarios of conflict development and preparing minutes based on the discussions (at least 4 discussions facilitated).

The Consultant will ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality considerations in all aspects of the assignment, promote a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behaviour, respect differences and accord equal spaces and dignity regardless of personnel’s sex, ethnicity, sexual preference, gender identity, (dis)ability or other markers of identity, and use the principles of gender-responsive communications in line with the UNDP corporate standards.

The timeframe is spanning about 4 months, from September 2021 to December 2021. The requested services will be provided according to the agreed workplan and paid in lump sums according to the following schedule.

Proposed payment schedule

Payments will be made in four stages according to the proposed payment schedule below:

15% - upon submission and approval of report according to Deliverable 1

25% - upon submission and approval of report according to Deliverable 2

25% - upon submission and approval of report according to Deliverable 3

35% - upon submission and approval of report according to Deliverable 4

The payments will be paid out upon the full completion and acceptance of deliverables in accordance with certificate of payments provided by the Community Security and Social Cohesion Coordinator.

Administrative Arrangements

Financial proposals submitted by the candidates for this position should include cost for all logistical, secretarial, personal, travel, communication and other expenses.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The Consultant will work under supervision and directly report to the Community Security and Social Cohesion Coordinator and in close cooperation with National Individual Consultant for Supporting the Network of Conflict Analysts in Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and for Piloting Early Warning Mechanisms in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts according to the abovementioned schedule.  All reports and materials shall be prepared and transmitted electronically (Formats of: * .docx, * .xlsx, * .pptx,  * .pdf, etc.) to the electronic device or in the form of electronic communication with the final product. The materials/reports should be prepared in Ukrainian.

Documents to be Included when Submitting the Proposals

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

Financial Proposal

 Lump sum contract.

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR, according to the abovementioned schedule. 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 hours, logistical expenses, etc).  

The IC will be responsible for all administrative expenses associated with undertaking this assignment including office accommodation, printing, stationery, telephone and electronic communications, and report copies incurred in this assignment.

Travel costs

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.

Evaluation criteria

Relevant education – 10 points max

{7 pts. – at least Specialist’s/Master’s degree in Humanities, Sociology, Economics, Public Affairs or other related field; 10 pts. – PhD in one of the relevant areas};

Proven work experience in conflict resolution, facilitation of dialogue, conflict analysis or related fields – 20 points max

{15 pts. – 2 year of relevant experience; 17 pts. – 3-4 years of relevant experience; 20 pts. – more than 5 years of relevant experience};

Experience in conducting research and preparing analytical reports, examples of at least 2 reports provided – 15 points max

{10 pts. – at least 2 reports provided; 15 pts. – more than 2 reports provided};

At least one certificate in Mediation, Conflict Resolution issued by an accredited Ukrainian or international association – 15 points max

{12 pts. – at least 1 certificate from an accredited Ukrainian or international association; 15 pts. – more than 1 certificate from accredited Ukrainian or international associations};

Prior experience with conflict resolution activities organized by UNDP – 5 points max

{0 pts. – no such an experience; 5 pts. - proved experience in participation in conflict resolution activities organized by UNDP};

Fluency in Russian and Ukrainian, both written and oral – 5 points

{5 pts. – fluence in Ukrainian and Russian, both written and oral}.

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 obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

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].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.

Competencies

• Excellent communication and organization skills;
• Excellent computer skills (including, MS Word);
• Ability to set priorities, meet specific objectives, use political judgment and knowledge;
• Good interpersonal skills, diligence, open mindedness, and dedication;
• Excellent team and networking skills;
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;
• Ensures the mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations in the field of expertise.

Required Skills and Experience

1) At least a Master’s degree or equivalent in Sociology, Economics, Public Affairs or other related field;

2) At least 2 years of proven work experience in conflict resolution, facilitation of dialogue, conflict analysis or related fields;

3) Experience in conducting research and preparing analytical reports, examples of at least 2 reports provided;

4) At least one certificate in Mediation, Conflict Resolution issued by an accredited Ukrainian or international association;

5) Prior experience with conflict resolution activities organized by UNDP would be a strong asset;

6) Fluent of Russian and Ukrainian languages, both written and oral, is necessary.