Background

Tokelau has identified that developing and improving its social protection systems requires improving data and evidence especially given the challenges associated with data/information collection across the remote atolls, as well as limited technical capacity in-country. Strengthening social protection measures requires having in place accurate and up-to-date data/information and statistics to inform policy and programming measures as well as administrative and service delivery mechanisms. The 2022 Review of the Social Protection System in Tokelau shows that this is one of the key priority development areas for improvement in Tokelau. The Review report recommended that Tokelau may consider establishing a single identification (ID) number as part of a civil registry system which will facilitate the monitoring of provisions of social protection as well as various other services on the three atolls.  The Tokelau National Statistics Office is responsible for providing official statistics to the Government. Its goal is to ‘give Tokelau the statistical information it needs to grow and prosper’. While the Office is performing its functional responsibilities of collection, coordinating, integrating, processing, analyzing, and disseminating statistical activities and information in Tokelau, the systems that its uses to collect, capture, analyse and produce statistical information needs development to ensure there is improvement in the standards of statistical information/data and analysis in terms of relevance, accuracy, quality, and value-adding. This includes the provisions of capacity development for office staff as well as improving equipment, hardware, software and other resources. Given this development need, support is being earmarked and provided under the SP-JP to assist Tokelau with the development of a suitable national statistical database for its National Statistics Office.

To assist with the undertaking of this core activity under the SP-JP, the service of a qualified consultant is needed to work with the Government of Tokelau and UNDP to ensure the successful completion of this initiative/activity under the Joint Programme

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of the consultant is to:

• Conduct a complete and comprehensive analysis of the statistical information system needs of the Tokelau National Statistics Office; and
• Based on the findings of the above analysis, develop a relevant and appropriate statistical information database (the ‘Database’) for the Tokelau National Statistics Office.

To achieve the above objectives, the Consultant is expected to ensure the effective and efficient performance and completion of the following tasks:

Phase 1:  Scoping and feasibility

1. Use the findings from the Review of the Social Protection System in Tokelau and other relevant data, information and evidence as the baseline to inform the initial scoping for the development of the requirements for the development and testing of a national Database for the Tokelau National Statistics Office.
2. Take stock and assess the Tokelau National Statistics Office's existing and future statistical information system needs.
3. Take stock of national statistical information systems and databases used around the world, especially those proven to have worked effectively in similar contexts to Tokelau.
4. Carry out additional scoping, feasibility and assessments to determine the needed specification requirements of the National Database. This will involve desktop reviews, literature reviews, stakeholder consultations and engagement and discussions with key counterparts.
5. Assess the capabilities of the Tokelau National Statistics Office for the identification of capacity development gaps, needs and strategies to address gaps and needs.
6. Prepare and submit scoping and feasibility reports to the key stakeholders, in particular the Tokelau National Statistics Office, and other key government agencies and counterparts as represented on the SP-JP Tokelau Technical Committee.

Phase 2:  Design and develop

1. Develop detailed functional and technical specification documentation taking into consideration the scoping, assessment and specification requirements undertaken under Phase 1.
2. Develop, test and present the Database to the key counterparts and clients.
3. Address concerns/inputs from counterparts and clients on the Database, including other expert views/inputs.

Phase 3: Testing and implementation

1. Carry out installation, configuration and deployment of the fully functional Database system.
2. Provision of system test results.
3. Conduct training for identified users.
4. Develop technical system documentation, a training guide for users and administrators, a maintenance guide and licensing requirements.
5. Technical support for the migration of existing data and information
6. Provide data migration and reconciliation reports.

Phase 4: Support and maintenance. 

1. Provide support and maintenance as required to ensure institutionalization of the system/database to ensure full operability of the database and a Service Level Agreement between the consultant/firm and the Government of Tokelau National Statistics Office for a period of 12 months.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES:

In line with the scope of work outlined above, the Consultant is expected to ensure the effective and efficient completion and submission of the outputs and deliverables within the timelines specified in Table 1 below:

Table 1: Outputs, deliverables and timelines

In line with the scope of work outlined above, the Consultant is expected to ensure the effective and efficient completion and submission of the outputs and deliverables within the timelines specified in Table 1 above.

Timeframe

Within the timelines specified in Table 1 above, the Consultant is expected to commence this consultancy in October 2022 and complete it by December 2022.

Payment schedule 

The Consultant will be paid in accordance with the effective completion and submission of the required deliverables within the timelines of the required timelines in Table 1. The payment schedule will be processed in accordance with the payment schedule given in Table 2:

Table 2: Payment schedule

The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified, including professional fee and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The assignment will be for 40 working days from the effective date of the contract. S/he has to perform all the activities in about 8 weeks of this consultancy timeframe.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

1.Counterparts and line of reporting

The key counterpart is the Tokelau National Statistics Office. The Consultant is required to work closely with the Tokelau National Statistics Office and with backstopping and quality assurance from the SP-JP Tokelau Technical Committee, UNDP GPRU (Governance and Poverty Reduction Unit) and the Social Protection Programme Management Unit) in the performance of the assignment.

2.Inputs by stakeholders, UN agencies and other development partners

The Tokelau National Statistics Office and all other key stakeholders, UN agencies and other development partners will make available to the consultant all relevant data/information which may assist the consultant in carrying out and completing the Terms of Reference.

3.Duty station 

The contractor will be home-based but virtual participation in all aspects of the assignment is required.

Competencies

1.    Functional Competencies

• Strong technical understanding of ICT and its use in national statistical offices.
• Strong technical knowledge about ICT and information management systems, databases, interfaces, and applications.
• Strong analytical skills and critical thinking skills.
• Strong policy, planning and programming knowledge and skills.  
• Excellent research and evaluative skills.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Excellent inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking skills, and proven ability to work well in multicultural environments.
• Excellent facilitation and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with various partners including government, civil society, the private sector, UN agencies, development partners, and communities.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills and ability to foster relationships with key stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure, effectively coordinate others and meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of work.

2.    Corporate Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment. 

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in information communication and technology (ICT) areas.
• At least 10 years of work experience in the application of information communication and technology preferably with experience in national statistics offices and with proven understanding at theoretical and practical levels in the field.
• Proven experience in providing policy and programming advice in the area related to ICT and its application in social protection, social security, social welfare and labour market social protection are preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working in the interface between ICT and social protection systems, including involvement in developmental and strengthening work in that interface.
• Substantial experience in ICT and social protection research or similar areas such as poverty reduction, analyzing poverty and vulnerability, etc.
• Relevant work experience in the Pacific Islands is desirable.
• Relevant work experience in developing countries in a multi-stakeholder environment with a development organization, Government, civil society, private sector, or a research/academic institution.
• Sound understanding of project results-based management would be an asset.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English required.

Assessment of Proposals:

The assessment of individual consultants will be in accordance with the evaluation criteria below:

• 70% for Technical; and
• 30% for Financial.

Technical Evaluation Criteria will be based on the information provided in the CV and relevant documents that are to be submitted as evidence to support the above-required criteria.

Only the candidates that have achieved a minimum of 49 points (70% of 100 points) will be deemed technically compliant and considered for the interview assessment.

The technical competencies will be assessed as per the criteria and scoring outlined in Table 3:

Table 3: Evaluative criteria for the consultancy

RECOMMENDED SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Given below is the recommended format for submitting your proposal. Proposals must include:

• Letter of interest and availability specifying the available date to start and other details (Annex I)
• CV or P11 form addressing the evaluation criteria and why you consider yourself the most suitable for this assignment. The selected candidate must submit a signed P11 prior to the contract award. (Annex II)
• All-inclusive Financial Proposal specifying the daily rate and other expenses, if any (Annex III)
• A brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (Annex VI)

Download the annexes and the full TOR from link https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=96301. Use the forms to submit your proposal.