Background

Bangladesh has made significant progress in disaster risk management, but the country is still at risk of growing loss and damage due to disaster and climate stresses. The evidence shows that the current and likely future impacts of disaster and climatic stresses on the economy, livelihoods and assets of the country has been pointedly increased in the past decades. However, the country has earned global reputation in many areas of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA), and currently development agenda is highly focused in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Paris Climate Agreement and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). 

National Resilience Progamme (NRP) is joint programme being implemented by four GoB agencies – Department of Disaster Management (DMD), Programming Division of Bangladesh Planning Commission, Department of Women’s Affairs and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). With the financial support from FCDO (UK), SIDA (Sweden)and from the Government of Bangladesh. The main goal of NRP is to contribute for sustaining economic growth through risk informed development, assisting resilience efforts to the community, and making the development planning-gender responsive and inclusive. NRP-Programming Division Part Project is designed to contribute for institutionalization of disaster and climate risk screening in planning process, promote resilience in public and private sector investment and enhance the knowledge base on disaster resilience among the business community.  The NRP also considers emerging issues like pandemic as a component of resilience and human induced hazard is also emphasized to minimize economic loss.

As part of NRP efforts for promoting resilience in business, developing guideline and piloting multi-hazard Business Continuity Plans (BCP) in economic zones and industries are identified as one of the key interventions. Considering the contribution of Economic Zones (EZs) managed by the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) to the economy of Bangladesh economy, the NRP will work with BEZA for implementing area specific and enterprise level BCP in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN) to support businesses for continuing and/or rapidly restoring their critical business functions in the event of a disruption to normal operations. Note that BSMSN is located at the adjoining Upazilas of Chattogram and Feni with an area of 30000 acres of land aiming to develop a planned Industrial City and employment for 1.5 million people within next 15 years.

Under above-mentioned context, as a technical partner of NRP- Programming Division, UNDP Bangladesh is soliciting technical and financial proposals from an experienced individual in documentation and research for developing BCP guidelines and piloting in BSMSN and MIEZ and an enterprise level BCP in a selected industry located in any of the selected EZs.

Objective of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to closely support the Team Leader in carrying out research, coordination, and implementation of the planned activities in relation to develop and pilot area-specific BCP in BSMSN economic zone and an enterprise-wide BCP in an enterprise at BSMSN. Note that the junior consultant will work under the direct supervision of team leader.

Scope of Work 

1. Provide technical and logistical support in organizing sharing & learning events, webinars, consultations, workshops/meetings, and trainings.
2. Participate in meeting with different stakeholders and prepare notes/meeting minutes/report/summary of proceedings.
3. Undertake literature review and prepare summary of findings on relevant topics, conduct background research, and summarize data in user friendly formats (charts, tables, etc.) for the implementation of BCP, as needed and suggested by the team leader.
4. Assist in collecting data and information from secondary sources as required, and conduct data analysis, report and presentation preparation.
5. Support in formulating and piloting BCPs, drafting and finalising reports as well as manage everyday administrative tasks.
6. Provide coordination & on-site event support, and/or undertake field visits
7. Collate and develop a knowledge repository and annotated bibliography on BCP and private sector resilience.
8. Any other tasks, duties or specific assignments that may arise as directed by the Regional Director or the GCA’s authority

Duties and Responsibilities

Deliverables and required days

The consultant will carry out the following tasks in close collaboration with the Team Leader and other team of experts, and under the guidance of Project Manager (NRP-PD). The expected tasks may be adjusted in consultation with the parties concerned from time to time. Expected deliverables are as follow:

 Supervision and performance evaluation

The consultant will work with close collaboration of NRP-Programming Division team including the Project Director, NRP-PD, BEZA, UNDP and team leader.  Project Manager of NRP-PD and a focal point of BEZA will act as key contact persons for this assignment.

Documents

The Consultant will prepare and submit the documents mentioned above at the assignment deadline dates. Further work, or revision of the documents, may be required if it is considered that the report does not meet the UNDP and GoB standards, and any deviations from TOR, or any factual errors found, or the document is incomplete.

Inputs

The NRP-Programming Division Part will provide office space for desk works if needed. The consultant needs to arrange own computer/laptop in performing works. The Consultant is expected to have own laptop and mobile phone.  Cost of communication should be included in the financial proposal.

 Duty Station and Field Visit

The consultant’s duty station will be in Dhaka. The NRP- Programming Division Part will provide office space for desk works, if needed. The consultant needs to arrange own computer/laptop in performing works. The consultant will arrange their field visits (for a total of 03 times field visits) to the selected Economic Zones (BSMSN, Mirsharai, Chattogram & MIEZ, Sonargaon, Narayangonj) for data collections and consultation with relevant stakeholders having coordination with the team leader. The consultant should take all safety measures related to COVID-19 during the field visit or any other activity of the consultancy.

Competencies

• Excellent oral and written English and Bangla communication skills, and exceptional technical writing and presentation capabilities;
• Ability to engage with high-ranking Government Officials and provide policy advisory support services;
• Innovativeness and effectiveness capability under varying work assignments, conditions, and time pressures;
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure;
• Ability to work independently and participate in team-based environment; and

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards

Required Skills and Experience

Qualification of the Junior consultant

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering/Urban and Regional Planning/Human Geography/ Environment and any other related fields.
• Overall, 01 year of professional experience part or full-time, paid or volunteer in the programme/project implementation.
• At least 06 months of experiences in conducting research and data collection.
• Good knowledge of disaster risk governance in the private sector.

Financial proposal

Lump sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify daily fees, travel cost, and total fees, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e., whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Travel Costs for 3 times visit to 2 selected economic zones (Bangabandhu Shaikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar in Mirshari, Chattogram and Meghna Economic Zone, Sonargaon, Narayangonj) need to be mentioned in the proposal. Payments will be on two installments (one installment in April/2022 and another one is in June/2022) for the number of days worked and based on accepted delivery Outputs, which will be certified by Project Manager, NRP-PD and National Consultant: Team Leader prior to the release of payments.

Evaluation

Individual Consultant will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative Analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. Responsive/ compliant/ acceptable, and
2. 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%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49% point in technical criteria would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Evaluation: (Total obtainable score – 30)

All technically qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals receive points according to the following formula:

p = y (µ/z)             

Where:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated
y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal
µ = price of the lowest priced proposal
z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Recommended Presentation of Offer

Interested individuals must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications.

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;

3. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided   http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

4. Suppose an organization/company/institution employs an Offeror and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA). In this case, the Offeror must indicate this at this point and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated into the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.  

   Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows you to upload a maximum of one document.

   Note: The individual consultant who does not submit the above documents/requirements shall not be considered for further evaluation.

   For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to ebidbox@undp.org.

Note:  that no DSA and travel cost will be paid at the duty station. Also, no DSA cost will be provided for field visits & consultations for data collection purpose. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel to a higher class, he/she should do so using their own resources. However, if unforeseen travel outside the duty station and field visit & consultation not required by the Terms of Reference is requested by UNDP, and upon prior agreement/approval, such travel shall be UNDP’s expenses and the individual contractor shall receive a per-diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate in such other location(s).