UNDP Jobs - 43756- National Consultant for the Preparation of the Ter

National Consultant for the Preparation of the Terms of Reference for the Design and Delivery of a Comprehensive Training Programme on Municipal Investment Planning

Location :

Sarajevo, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

24-Feb-2014

Application Deadline :

04-Mar-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Four working days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The consultancy is planned within the 2nd phase of the Municipal Training System (MTS II) Project, which is aimed at contributing to professional and competent BiH local governments, able to effectively manage development processes and deliver quality services to their citizens. MTS II focuses on further strengthening of the policy and functional capacity of the Training System for Local Self-Government Employees in BiH and supports its affirmation as an effective public mechanism for carrying out the local governments` capacity development agenda country-wide, as defined within the entity training strategies 2011 - 2015. The project also supports the design and delivery of priority and demand-driven training programmes for both local government elected officials and employees.

Local development strategies in Bosnia and Herzegovina identify potential investment needs and place a strong emphasis on undertaking investment planning processes and promotion of investment potentials. While many local governments have conducted socio-economic analysis and identified some of their comparative advantages the vast majority continue to struggle with attracting foreign investments. Previously, the UNDP MTS project provided basic courses on business enabling environment and promotion of investment potentials and their participants expressed strong need for a complex but practical training programme on local investment planning and promotion of investment potentials that would integrate a step-by-step approach with key practical tools.

MTS project is an integral pillar of the UNDP Local Governance Programme, which aims to contribute to improvement of governance, focusing on advancing local government know-how so as to better position local authorities to tackle and overcome development challenges, whilst improving citizens services. The MTS II is a UNDP-managed project, funded primarily by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and implemented in partnership with the BiH Ministry of Justice, the FBiH Ministry of Justice, the RS Ministry of Administration and Local Self-Government, the entity Civil Service Agencies and entity Associations of Municipalities and Cities.

The overall purpose of the consultancy is to provide a detailed Terms of Reference for the Design and Delivery of a Comprehensive Training Programme on Municipal Investment Planning. The terms of reference will enable UNDP MTS II to issue a call for proposals and subsequently select the service provider to prepare and deliver a training programme for local government employees. The assignment is part of the Local Government Training System in Bosnia and Herzegovina and aims at increasing capacities of local governments to prepare solid investments plans.

The primary focus of the consultancy is to provide a detailed Terms of Reference outlining necessary qualifications and experience of potential offerers (companies which would bid for design and delivery of comprehensive training programme) and tasks and deliverables that the selected provider is expected to provide. The comprehensive training programme to be designed and delivered will be organised in BiH in line with the entity Training Strategies for Local Government Employees (The Training Strategy for Local Government Employees for the RS is available at: http://www.undp.ba/index.aspx?PID=36&RID=114 ; The Training Strategy for Local Government Employees for the FBiH is available at: http://www.undp.ba/index.aspx?PID=36&RID=142)

Duties and Responsibilities

Pursuant to achieving strategic priorities within the entity Training Strategies and responding to the priority training needs identified by annual surveys among BiH local governments, this service will focus on the first phase of preparation of a complex and practical training programme on local governments’ investment planning. i.e. preparation of a ToR for a call for proposals.

The consultancy is organised as follows:

Consultations with UNDP MTS II project team Initially, the Consultant shall consult with the UNDP MTS II project team to define the exact requirements of the assignment, meaning the scope of terms of reference for the design and delivery of training programme on local governments’ investment planning. The UNDP MTS II project team shall provide necessary information related to the background of the assignment, methodology to be followed when developing a training programme for local government, target groups, etc. The Consultant may also be asked to discuss the terms of reference with an interested local stakeholder. The consultant’s work will be coordinated and directly supervised by a designated UNDP MTS II project team member.
Preparation and submission of a detailed terms of reference Following consultations with the UNDP MTS II project team, the Consultant shall prepare and deliver the terms of reference for design and delivery of a comprehensive training programme on local governments’ investment planning, detailing the following:

requirements for potential offerers: including type of expertise, number and profile of necessary experts for design and delivery of training, number and type of previous assignments in similar field which would guarantee necessary competence and quality;
background information on the local government needs and tentative areas that the future training should focus on;
description of tasks and deliverables that the selected provider is expected to provide (including but not limited to: needs assessment to identify specific training topics and appropriate methodologies, training curriculum and appropriate materials and practical tools, outline and number of training modules to be delivered etc.)
total number of working days and number of working days necessary for each of the envisaged tasks.

The final terms of reference to be submitted to the UNDP MTS II project team are to be in English language.

Deliverables:

Consultations with the UNDP MTS II project team
Preparation and submission of a detailed terms of reference

Competencies

Core values

Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Core competencies

Demonstrates professional competence to meet responsibilities and post requirements and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
Results-Orientation: Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals, generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
Communication: Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different audiences;
Team work: Ability to interact, establish and maintain effective working relations with a culturally diverse team;
Client orientation: Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with national partners and stakeholders and pro-activeness in identifying of beneficiaries and partners’ needs, and matching them to appropriate solutions.

Required Skills and Experience

University degree in economics, finance, business management, investment management, engineering, or other relevant field.
At least 5 years of relevant experience in the field of investment planning, financial planning, strategic planning, business planning, or similar;
Proven record of theoretical knowledge and practical experience in preparation of investment or business plans;
Proven record of capacity building in related sector. Experience in design of training programme will be considered an advantage;
Knowledge of local governance and local economic development in BiH.
Fluency in English and official languages of BIH.
Excellent computer skills (MS Office applications) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource. I

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative analysis. The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (70%) and financial (30%) criteria specific to the solicitation.

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

Letter of interest;
Completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (downloadable from http://www.ba.undp.org/content/bosnia_and_herzegovina/en/home/operations/jobs.html) detailing past experience in similar projects and actual contact details (e-mail addresses) of three referees that are reachable and willing to provide at short notice their view on applicant;
Financial proposal indicating indicating lump sum fee for the assignment.

All above mentioned documents should be submitted only online through this website as one attachment.

Note:

For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 62 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.