Background
Pacific Islands countries (PICs) boast “big ocean” economies, with young and mobile populations and highly resilient and adaptative societies. Past and recent investments have however fallen short of developing diverse economies offering inclusive services and opportunities, resilient to external shocks and the increasing pace of climate disasters. While the scale of Pacific economies does not allow them to respond to all these challenges alone, public investment and revenues would gain from empowered officials accountable to keep basic service delivery and development priorities in mind while driving fiscal decisions.
For this reason, the “Accountable Public Finances to serve Pacific people – Vaka Pasifika” project (hereafter Vaka Pasifika project) builds on the results of the “Strengthening Public Finance Management and Governance in the Pacific” (PFM) project implemented between 2018 and 2022. The proposed overarching goal of this project is to strengthen the governance mechanisms enabling Pacific countries to deliver public services that are better calibrated to meet specific needs of the people. Its specific focus will be to ensure scarce Pacific resources are better managed and the resource base available for achieving national development goals will be increased. To achieve this goal, PIC economies require stable and reliable institutions (both formal and informal) implementing the right mix of creativity and rigor informed by on the ground realities. The Project will contribute to this vision by (a) supporting oversight institutions and decision makers (broadly understood) to define and implement their priorities through leadership, institutional capacity strengthening, lessons sharing and trialing locally-led innovations and (b) enhancing responsiveness of service delivery and public finance management by developing institutional mechanisms for engagement and openness and strengthening civil society capacity.
This Project recognizes that across the region there is an increasing web of independent accountability institutions and actors which have some role to play in ensuring that PFM processes are accountable, transparent and people-centred. A number of PICs have Ombudsman, and a growing number have set up Independent Commissions Against Corruption. Fiji and Samoa have stand-alone national human rights institution, Palau has a Special Prosecutor with a specific anti-corruption mandate and Solomon Islands, PNG and Tuvalu have Leadership Code Commissions. All of these institutions can play a role in promoting accountability for public money, to different extents. Also relevant are civil society organisations, the media, the Church and religious groups, as well as customary institutions in holding leaders to account.
Starting from this acknowledgement, the project seeks a consultant/team of consultants to 1) explore different local understandings, meanings and practices of accountability, oversight and related concepts; 2) map the various national institutions and actors that are involved in promoting PFM accountability, their roles, interests and relationships, how they currently coordinate their efforts; and 3) what can be done to support them to collaborate to promote accountability, and as appropriate, to address corruption in a politically savvy manner. The assessments will include recommendations for consideration linked to the outcome of the research, notably on the actors which might benefit from engaging on project activities. This first set of research will then shape a partnership to ensure that the project’s work on coalitions and networks is documented – following action research or other sets of methodologies.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work
Reporting to the UNDP Vaka Pasifika PFM Project Manager, the Accountability Ecosystem consultant will be in charge of mapping the actors, relationships and power at play in the accountability and oversight sector in 6 countries in the Pacific. Specific responsibilities will include:
- Design of the methodology for the study; undertake a literature review
- Implement the methodology
- Draft and get 6 country reports validated by stakeholders
- Draft and present on a final synthesis report
- Support the project team in analysis and learning from the research
Expected Outputs and Deliverables
Deliverables | Indicative No. of days / due date | |
1 | Design of the methodology. The methodology should help answer the following questions which will be refined in agreement with the project team:
The methodology is expected to be informed but not limited by political economy and systems thinking tools focusing on sector analysis. The contractor will work with the project team to identify: the countries (based on the 10 priority countries of the project), refine understanding of project objectives and activities to align methodology. | 5 / End October |
2 | Literature review mapping the accountability and oversight space in the Pacific, noting relevant institutions, actors and decision makers for the country reports to explore in greater depth. This will provide a broad scoping that will ensure the country reports are consistent in how they conceive of and approach the accountability/oversight space. | 12 / End January |
3 | Country reports. Full report for 2 countries and modification to methodology as required from learnings. Inputs and early learnings for the design of the fellowship scheme (temporary name given to the learning network support by the project under activity 1.1). | 40 / End March 2023 |
4 | Remaining 4 country reports. Engage with project team and wider network to ensure that the reports inform and are fully integrate in the design and pilot of the fellowship activity (1.1. of the project document). | 100 days/ July 2023 |
5 | Final synthesis report and workshop. Final report will include a regional overview analysing the trends (if any) emerging regionally from the research, as well as a summary of country-specific key findings answering the selection questions, as well as recommendations. The consultant(s) are also expected to facilitate a workshop with the project team to help them make sense of the results and integrate into the workplan. | 7 days/August 2023 |
6 | Action research (or alternative methodology) aimed at ensuring the results and process of the network/fellowship work is documented and benefits a wider audience. The precise methodology and content will be finalised over deliverable 5 and will depend on the final design of the fellowship activity. | 66 days / August 25 |
Institutional Arrangement
The Consultant will report to the UNDP Vaka Pasifika PFM Project Manager.
The Consultant to provide their own IT equipment and access (computer and internet connection).
Duration of the Work
The consultant will be required to work for a period of up to 230 days between August 2023 and August 2025.
Duty Station
This assignment is home based. Travel might occur if absolutely necessary as per research methodology but is not anticipated.
Competencies
Corporate competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
- Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
- Display cultural, gender, nationality, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Functional Competencies:
- Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment;
- Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team and to work under pressure;
- Excellent relationship management;
- Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation and reporting skills;
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Masters Degree in Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Development or related field. PhD in similar field an advantage.
Experience
- 15 years of experience in research and notably methodologies and approaches related to Political Economy Analysis.
- Evidence of understanding of the Pacific context – governance, institutions, civil society, oversight and accountability sector or related would be an advantage, existing networks and relationships in the Pacific a strong advantage;
- Evidence of publications and research in English.
Language requirements
- Fluency of English language is required;
Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments
Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:
- Upon reception and clearance of deliverable 1: 25% of the total contract value
- Upon reception and clearance of deliverable 2: 50% of the total contract value
- Upon reception and final clearance of deliverable 3: 25% of total value of the contract
Evaluation Method and Criteria
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology Cumulative analysis
The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.
Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)
Criteria 1. Relevance of education (political, social science, development) | 5points |
Criteria 2. Relevance of experience in research (PE) | 15 points |
Criteria 3. Understanding of Pacific context | 20 points |
Criteria 4. Experience with research and publications in English | 20 points |
UNDP may interview the technically qualified candidates as a means to validate the technical evaluation.
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Documentation required
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications to the link provided .
- Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability for the duration of the assignment using the template provided in Annex II.
- CV 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.
- Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II (in USD)
- Proposal on approach and methodology (2-pages max).
Note: Successful individual will be required to provide proof of medical insurance coverage before commencement of contract for the duration of the assignment.
Incomplete, joint proposals and proposals sent to the wrong mailing address will not be accepted and only candidates for whom there is further interest will be contacted.
Individuals interested in this consultancy should apply and will be reviewed based on their own individual capacity. The successful individual may sign an Individual Contract with UNDP or request his/her employer to sign a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) on their behalf by indicating this in the Offerors letter to Confirming Interest and Availability using Annex II.
Annexes
- Annex I - Individual IC General Terms and Conditions
- Annex II – Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC, including Financial Proposal Template
- For further information concerning this Terms of Reference, please contact UNDP Pacific Office by email: procurement.fj@undp.org.
Women applicants are encouraged to apply