Background

FUNDING FACILITY FOR ECONOMIC REFORM – KRG (FFER-KRG)

Funding Facility for Economic Reform (FFER) is a programme of support financed by the USAID and implemented by the UNDP to support the Government of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in carrying out their economic reform agenda.

ASSIGNMENT CONTEXT

Investment in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is governed by the Investment Law of 2006 and various other government policies and regulations.  Under the investment law, the Kurdistan Regional Government Board of Investment (KRG BOI) was established as a ministerial-level government entity with the responsibility for implementing the Investment Law and developing investment strategies, plans, and policies.

BOI is also responsible for setting up an investment friendly climate to attract investments and promote economic development in the region. This aspect of BOI’s work entails promoting, facilitating, and regulating investment, and channelling investment into priority sectors to enhance local production and generate job opportunities for the KRI citizens.

The KRG Economic Reform Roadmap 2016 recognizes the importance of domestic and foreign direct investment (FDI) in contributing to growth and employment, and has identified several investment-related priorities, including development of a regional investment policy, establishment of a one-stop investment registration center, and the promotion of investment in the industry, agriculture and tourism sectors.

Acting on the recommendations proposed KRG Economic Reform Roadmap 2016, BOI, supported by the UNDP Funding Facility for Economic Reform – KRG (FFER-KRG), has conducted a thorough analysis on existing legislation, regulation, policies, strategies, institution structure, incentive schemes and promotional techniques to identify current barriers to investment and determine needed reforms. As a result, BOI has developed an Investment Reform Map, which recommends needed reforms to promote investment in KRI, sets up reform priorities, and creates a reform action plan.

To implement the Investment Reform Map, BOI has set up an International Investment team, responsible for setting investment strategies and conduct studies. The Vision of the team is as follows:

1. Development of an economically sound methodology for the strategic 5-years plan for how the FDI unit can most effectively meet its objectives for its strategic sectors.
2. Conducting market segmentation.
3. Conducting research and compiling information required for investors inquiries.
4. Identify opportunities for investment and presenting them.
5. Reaching to targeted international investors.
6. Promoting investment environment in Kurdistan.
7. Connecting domestic and foreign investors.
8. Advocating for policy reforms.

It is under this background that BOI is recruiting a senior investment Specialist to provide technical assistance to the International Investment team on investment strategy and policy. The Specialist will be embedded in BOI office and work with a dedicated team of five junior economists with prior investment experience and is expected to lead an effective capacity building to the team for sustainable project management.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK

The overall objective of this assignment is to provide necessary technical assistance to KRG BOI FDI unit Team to prepare a strategic plan to increase and facilitate international investment in KRI, provide guidance and support with the implementation of the plan and provide capacity building to the relevant staffs of the unit.

For the duration of this assignment, the Senior Investment Specialist will be working in the office of the International Investment unit at Board of Investment office in Iraq - Erbil and will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Team Leader, as well as in coordination with the UNDP FFER-KRG Project Manager.

Key duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

1. Conduct desk review on current state of investment in KRI – The specialist shall prepare an initial baseline report through a desk review of relevant documents, related to KRI investment including but not limited to Investment Law ref 4 of 2006, Draft revised Investment Law 2015, BOI vision and Policy and Investment Reform Map (IRM). This report will then serve as a foundation for more in-depth consultation with International Investment Unit and other BOI offices. This report must include, but is not limited to:

• Solutions need to be implemented to promote investment in Kurdistan Region.
• Matrix that captures best practices examples of research plans and activities.
• Assignment implantation plan and initial list of capacity building activities.

2. Conduct in-depth consultation meetings with KRG BOI International investment Unit – the Specialist is required to conduct extensive consultation with International Investment Unit to understand their requirements and in partnership with the unit develop final action plan for the investment development technical support and capacity building that would be provided during this assignment.

3. Provision of Technical Support and Capacity Building to KRG BOI International Investment Promotion Unit – with the aid of the detailed assessments to be conducted, the specialist is required to conduct the follow tasks. These Tasks are subject to change depending on the action plan that will be developed for the Unit by the expert to ensure the Unit has the required capacity for the implementation of the action plan.  The specialist will:

• Development of roles and responsibility, strategy, action plan and capacity development plan for the Unit.
• Identification of priority sectors and target markets, investment opportunities - countries from which investors interested in certain sectors for investment.
• Provide support to the unit
• Development of a 5-year action plan for International Investment promotion.
• Preparation of investment brief, appropriate promotional materials, and electronic promotion campaigns
• Conduct capacity building activities for International Investment Unit as per the capacity building program endorsed by BOI. This should include the provision of tools and detailed capacity building to the unit on sector analysis, value chain analysis, ,market research, investment opportunities assessment, pre- feasibility study.

KEY DELIVERABLES

The major outputs of this contract will include:

LOCATION, TIMEFRAME FOR THE ASSIGNMENT

The Specialist is required to work at BOI office in Erbil – Iraq during the missions to Erbil Iraq for the implementation of the assignment. The assignment is for 80 Working days over 7 months duration (65 Working days on the field and 15 homebased).

MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS

The assignment is commissioned by UNDP Iraq’s Funding Facility for Economic Reform-KRG (FFER-KRG). The main UNDP Focal Point will be the FFER-KRG Project manager. The Project Manager will serve as the focal point to provide both substantive and logistical support to the Specialist. Assistance will be provided by the PM to make any refinements to the tasks of the selected Specialist (i.e. coordination with target entities, access to relevant documents, survey coordination and organization of interviews). This TOR shall be the basis upon which compliance with assignment requirements and overall quality of services provided by the Specialist will be assessed by UNDP.

METHOD OF PAYMENTS

• An IC Time Sheet must be submitted by the Specialist, duly approved by the FFER-KRG Project Manager, which shall serve as the basis for the payment of fees
• The Specialist’s report and deliverables will be certified by the project manager. The Specialist will be paid based on the submitted deliverable as outlined in section 4 and submission of certification of payment.

TRAVEL PLAN

Competencies

Competencies Required:

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• High analytical skills oriented towards problem-solve;
• Leadership and self-management;
• Focus on results and respond positively to feedback;
• Consistently approach work with energy and a positive attitude;
• Demonstrate openness for approaches to manage complexity;
• Team spirit and excellent interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP and the UN; and
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Languages Required:

• Fluent in English written and oral and Knowledge of Arabic/Kurdish is a distinct asset.

Required Skills and Experience

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS 

The Specialist will require the following qualifications, experience, competencies and language skills. Only applicants who meet these criteria will be short-listed and will be contacted.

Education and Professional Qualifications Required:

• Master’s Degree in Economic, Finance, public administration or related field.

Experience Required:

• At least 8 years of relevant working experience in investment Promotion planning and implementation.
• Expertise in working with other investment promotional agencies.
• Expertise in conducting situation analyses and needs assessments related to investment promotion in developing countries.
• Experience in provision of capacity building to investment management institutions

PRICE PROPOSALS

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.  The consultant shall then submit a price proposal when requested by UNDP, in accordance with the below:

1. Daily Fee – The contract will be payable based on lumpsum – deliverables.   The lumpsum proposed by the applicant shall consist of a breakdown demonstrating his/her daily fee, which should be inclusive of his professional fee, local communication cost and insurance (inclusive of medical health insurance and evacuation).
2. Travel – The Consultant shall include  Economy Airfare costs per trip for Home-Erbil-Home (estimated 4 trips) in the Financial Proposal.
3. DSA/Living Allowance – The Consultant shall quote separately for Living allowance/DSA not to exceed applicable UNDP rate for stay in Erbil as per actual number of nights spent in Erbil or other locations.
4. Travel & Visa – The contractor shall propose an estimated lump-sum for home-Erbil-home travel (economy most direct route) and Kurdistan visa expenses.
5. The total professional fee shall be converted into a lump-sum contract and payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of deliverables under the contract in accordance with the schedule of payment linked with deliverables and at the end of assignment.

UNDP reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

1. 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 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 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Technical Criteria – Maximum 70 points

Technical Proposal (30 marks)

• Technical Approach & Methodology (20 marks) – Explain the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the degree of detail of such output. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach.
•  
• Work Plan (10 marks) – The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan.

Required Experience (40 marks) [evaluation of CV]:

• At least 8 years of relevant working experience in investment Promotion planning and implementation. (15 Marks)
• Expertise in working with other investment promotional agencies. (10 Marks)
• Expertise in conducting situation analyses and needs assessments related to investment promotion in developing countries. (10 Marks)
• Experience in provision of capacity building to investment management institutions. (5 Marks)

Financial Evaluation (30%):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

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

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested international Consultant must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
• Technical Proposal (can be attached with CV or response can be provided to mandatory question on jobs site):
  • Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
  • A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment and work plan as indicated above.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

• Annex 1 - IC Contract Template (for information);
• Annex 2 - Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (to be completed at later stage upon request by UNDP);
• Annex 2 – IC General Terms and Conditions (for information);
• Annex 3 – RLA Template (if consultant wishes to be recruited through an employer) - (for information).

Note: Incomplete application will result in automatic disqualification of candidate.