Background

Micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) provide work for over 4 million people in Ukraine and generate about 20% of the country’s GDP. The Government of Ukraine has been increasing its efforts to undertake economic reforms and create an enabling business environment for enterprises, strengthen the position of MSMEs in the economy. Business membership organizations (BMOs), an essential component of the business support infrastructure, face several challenges due to the weaknesses of the BMO sector and low capacity, sustainability, and maturity of BMOs in terms of the service provision strategy alignment and low level of awareness and understanding of existing and/or potential benefits of BMOs among current and potential member businesses.

During the period 2015-2018, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and with the financial support from Switzerland, UNDP supported BMOs through the Strengthening SME Business Membership Organizations project.

Building on the experience and lessons learned, a key focus of the Project’s Phase II is to ensure the sustainability and scaling-up of the positive results achieved during Phase I, in particular to enhance the growth and competitiveness and strengthen the voice of MSMEs in Ukraine through more professional, demand-driven, and client-oriented Business Membership Organizations. The Project aims to expand BMO coverage throughout Ukraine and is expected to positively impact their ability to attract members, to promote constructive cooperation with governmental structures, and to contribute to the policy development leading to the MSMEs sector’s growth.

The partner BMOs have been selected as a result of a competitive process based on clear and transparent criteria and will be delivered tailored support to improve their institutional, organizational, financial, as well as communications capacities to represent the interests of the private sector.

In addition to 20 selected partner BMOs, the Project is providing follow-up support to 7 partner BMOs engaged under Project Phase I, which are being additionally trained to serve as hubs or platforms for the cooperation of the wider BMO community, thus spreading further the experience and knowledge obtained in Phase I and contributing to MSME sector consolidation.

Developing, establishing, and implementing voluntary industry and business conduct standards is one of the important functions of MSME BMOs. Due to poor entrepreneurship culture, low representation of MSMEs in BMOs, and lack of proper regulatory frameworks, this BMO function almost does not exist in Ukraine. Taking into account the lack of relevant local expertise, the Projects seeks to hire International Consultant to support BMOs in establishing voluntary industry and business conduct standards.

The incumbent will promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Duties and Responsibilities

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The main objective of the assignment is to support the selected partner BMOs, mostly sectoral, but not limited to, in developing and establishing the voluntary industry and business conduct standards, and support the selected BMOs in promoting the concept of self-regulation organizations (further – SROs). This activity will involve supporting the establishment of 7 standards by selected BMOs through developing standards’ requirements and streamlining accreditation procedures. The BMOs should be selected for participation in this assignment after interviewing the leaders of the BMOs and the final list of the BMOs should be approved by the Project.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Consultant will perform the below activities focusing on the achievement of the following objectives:

1. Review the background documents including:
2. Documents provided by UNDP to obtain better understanding of the project goals, context and profiles of targeted BMOs in Ukraine, as well as any available assessments in order to tailor the methodology to BMO priorities;
3. Assess and analyse existing developments of the selected BMOs (up to 7 BMOs) in establishing their own business standards and SROs.
4. Develop the participatory methodology of voluntary industry and business conduct standards establishment for the selected industries and regions.
5. Prepare an action plan for supporting the BMOs in implementing the methodology of voluntary industry and business conduct standards establishment.
6. Facilitate the working group meetings (can possibly be conducted online subject to Project’s approval if the COVID-related restrictions do not allow for travel or in-person meetings) for standards development. Then number of the meetings and the related logistical arrangements should be agreed with the Project.
7. Finalize the standards description reflected in the BMO documents (codes of ethics, regulations, instructions etc.).
8. Develop the guidelines on the next steps for the standards implementation and establishing certification processes, support branding, promoting and advocating the standards.
9. Prepare the case-studies describing at least three successful cases of BMOs developing and establishing voluntary industry or business conduct standards and present them to the stakeholders (presentation will be organized by the project).
10. Prepare the report for UNDP on the standards developed and established, working groups facilitated, and support delivered to BMOs.

To ensure the delivery of the above tasks, the Consultant will:

• Liaise and ensure constant communication/coordination with the UNDP project team regarding all aspects of the assignment.
• Submit all the deliverables for review, comments, and approval to the UNDP project team as requested.
• Hold consultations with the UNDP project team as requested.
• Ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations in activities, promote a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behaviour, and use the principles of gender-responsive communications in line with the UNDP corporate standards.

DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAME

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

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

• the first payment (40% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverables 1-3 and approval of the Interim Report;
• the second payment (30% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 4);
• final payment (30% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverables 5-6 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 Project Manager (Supervisor) signs the certification of acceptance.

MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the Project staff.

Work-progress reporting/monitoring meetings will be held with the Consultant on a regular basis.

The consultant will interact with UNDP to receive any clarifications and guidance that may be needed. He/she will also receive all necessary informational and logistical support from the Project. The Consultant will duly inform UNDP of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

UNDP will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. The satisfactory completion of each of the deliverables shall be subject to the endorsement of the Project Manager. Each deliverable will be delivered in a draft for comments and feedback before finalization. No reports or documents should be published or distributed to third parties without the approval of UNDP.

All reports and results are to be submitted to the UNDP in electronic form (*.docx, *.xlsx, *.pptx, and *.pdf or other formats accepted by UNDP). The Interim and Final reports should be submitted in English.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

•     Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision, and values

•     Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

•     Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Competencies:

•     Demonstrates high level of professionalism and ethics

•     Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback

•     Demonstrates excellent planning and organizational skills and able to produce high-quality products on tight deadlines

•     Able to work on location without any other supervision except for liaison with UNDP

•     Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to present information logically, clearly, and concisely

•     Able to think creatively, to develop and implement innovative solutions in a challenging environment

•     Knowledge of gender equality issues and ability to incorporate them in capacity building activities

Required Skills and Experience

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

The Consultant should possess the following qualifications, experience and skills:

Educational background:

• At least Master's degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Economics, Management, Marketing, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Political Science or other relevant area;

Professional Experience:

• At least 7 years of practical experience in consulting of NGO/BMO on self-regulation, developing and following the voluntary business standards, establishing certification process, development of internal policies of BMOs;
• Experience in developing the methodologies and/or guidelines, recommendations on voluntary industry and business conduct standards proved by provided brief description of the approach to the assignment;
• Excellent written skills with demonstrable experience of having undertaken similar assignments in Ukraine proved by at least 1 previously accomplished reports or studies based on work with BMOs/NGOs;
• Working experience with the UN funded programmes or other international technical assistance projects would be an asset.

Language Skills:

• Working Ukrainian and/or Russian and fluency in English is required, fluency in Ukrainian and/or Russian would be an asset.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS:

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

UNDP documents templates can be downloaded from the following link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/297e72t7i3v2969/AADDRyUo2uoNrYjuD8NLmdl0a?dl=0  

Please combine your CV, financial proposal and other necessary information in one PDF file and upload the document. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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 travel, per diems, number of anticipated working days and reference daily fee).  

 Contracts based on daily fee

The financial proposal will specify the daily fee, travel expenses and per diems quoted in separate line items, and payments are made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked.

Travel costs

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

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.

Logistics arrangements for the events, where participation of the Consultant is requested by UNDP as per this TOR, to be provided by UNDP and shall not be included in the financial proposal. 

Evaluation criteria

Technical evaluation – Total 70% (max 70 points)

Criteria A:

Education – 7 points max

At least Master's degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Economics, Management, Marketing, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Political Science or other relevant area

{5 pts – Specialist/Master’s degree in the relevant field; 7 pts – PhD degree in the relevant field};

Criteria B:

Work Experience – 50 points max

At least 7 years of practical experience in consulting of NGO/BMO on self-regulation, developing and following the voluntary business standards, establishing certification process, development of internal policies of BMOs – 20 pts max

{12 pts – 7 years; 16 pts – 8-9 years; 20 pts – 10 years and more};

Experience in developing the methodologies and/or guidelines, recommendations on voluntary industry and business conduct standards proved by provided brief description of the approach to the assignment – 20 pts max

{12 points – Basic methodology developed with an understanding of the nature and scope of tasks, the approach logically describes a sequence of works and addresses the important aspects of tasks in sufficient detail; 20 points – Advanced methodology developed which includes additional thorough criteria and demonstrates that the chosen approach will ensure effective implementation of tasks}

Excellent written and oral communication skills with demonstrable experience of having undertaken similar assignments in Ukraine or abroad proved by at least 1 previously accomplished reports or studies based on work with BMOs/NGOs – 8 pts max

{0 pts – Provided samples are not relevant and do not demonstrate understanding of the subject and expertise of the applicant. The text requires considerable adjustment. The applicant cannot be considered as compliant; 4 pts – Samples/documents contain irrelevant or inapplicable pieces of information, and show a general understanding of the subject. The text requires acceptable level of adjustment and clarification; 8 pts – Samples/documents are concise but rich in content, demonstrates the expertise of the candidate; proposed presentation of the material is relevant and shows Expert’s understanding of the ultimate need of the exercise}

Working experience with UN funded programmes or other international technical assistance projects would be an asset – 2 pts max

{0 pts – no, 2 pts – yes}

Criteria C:

Language Skills – 3 points max:

Working Ukrainian and/or Russian and fluency in English is required, fluency in Ukrainian and/or Russian would be an asset..

{2 pts – working Ukrainian and/or Russian and fluent English, 3 pts – fluent Ukrainian and/or Russian and English}

Criteria D: Interview

Interview – 10 points max

Only those candidates obtaining minimum 42 points for Criteria A-C will be invited to the interview. During the interview the applicant will be requested to provide the relevant practical and well-elaborated examples proving their experience.

Criteria 1 – max 4 points:

Relevant examples confirming prior experience and expertise of the candidate in executing similar assignments, including in consulting of NGO/BMO on self-regulation, developing and following the voluntary business standards, establishing certification process, development of internal policies of BMOs.

Criteria 2 – max 3 points:

Relevant knowledge and expertise in best practices and legislative framework on self-regulation, development, and implementation of voluntary business standards in the European Union.

Criteria 3 – max 3 points:

Understanding of Ukrainian context in the sphere of self-regulation and development of voluntary business standards, and proper vision for the application of the EU best practices in Ukraine within the current assignment.

Maximum available technical score - 70 points.

Evaluation method

 Lowest price and technically compliant offer

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

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable (fully meeting the TOR provided), and

b) offering the lowest price/cost.

 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.

Additional requirements for recommended contractor:

Recommended contractors aged 62 and older shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination shall be paid by the consultant.

The BSAFE online security training course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of contract.