UNDP Jobs - 47590- International Expert on e-services at Local Level

International Expert on e-services at Local Level

Location :

Skopje with travel to four pilot municipalities, Republic of North Macedonia

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

17-Jul-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Estimated 20 experts days for the period from July-September 2014

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 main objective of the “Innovative Solutions for Improved Access to Services at Local Level” project that is implemented by the UNDP in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Self-Government (MLSG) is to enable the MLSG as a coordinator and monitor of the issues related to decentralization and local governance to further advance its efforts in promoting the citizen oriented local governance, starting from the measurement of their satisfaction to proposing concrete measures for better participation at local level and better access to services. This is linked to three major goals set in the Decentralization

Programme:

To increase participatory governance at local level;
To deliver more equitable and improved local services to all citizens;
To more effectively monitor the development and implementation of the policies for decentralization and development of the local self-government.

In the above context, one of the main results expected from the project outputs is a systematic analysis of the gaps in the local service delivery to be prepared as a basis for designing a roadmap for enhancing local service delivery through the e-service concept.

In order to achieve this specific result the UNDP and the Ministry of Local Self-Government have hired a National Expert to undertake in-depth assessment of the e-services at local level and the needs and possibilities for introduction of new e-services. The recruited expert is currently working on the assessment, in cooperation with the project focal point in the Ministry of Local Self-Government.

Complementary to this assignment, UNDP and the Ministry of Local Self-Government intend to hire an international expert who based on the initial assessment and information-sharing with the local expert, will share best practices on local e-services and provide recommendations on priority services that are suitable to be transformed into e-services.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives

Effective e- services at local level can provide many benefits for the citizens including more efficiency and savings for governments and businesses, increased transparency, and greater participation of citizens in policy-making of their communities.

E- Government and e-services are widely promoted by the Government, and in the context of the decentralization process in the country the services that have been transferred to local level will require prioritization and rethinking of the organisations and processes so that they can be delivered more efficiently to people. The automation of some of the critical local services will enable citizens, enterprises and organisations to carry out their business with government more efficiently, at lower cost and in transparent and accountable manner.

Based on the local context and regulations, the aim of the assignment is for the international expert to share best practices on introduction of e-services in municipalities (both urban and rural ones), and assist the project in preparing a list of priority services that can be transformed into e-services. The consultant is also expected to provide his feedback on a consolidated study on local e-services to be prepared by the local expert and the project team by September 2014.
The assignment should be undertaken within the overall context and goals of the Digital Agenda for Europe (2020) to deliver smart and sustainable growth as well as the related EU directives, regulations, experiences on services and e-services, including the European Union's Common List of Basic Public Services.

Tasks (Scope of Work):
Based on the above-described objective of the assignment, the international expert shall perform the following tasks:

Review the necessary legal and other substantive documents relevant for the issue of delivering of e-services at local level;
Review the prepared inventory of all administrative and other local services delivered by the municipal administration and the local institutions and utilities;
Review the assessment of individual procedures for provision of administrative and other local e-services to citizens, governed by separate legislation (lex specialis) and the review of the proposals for new e-services;
Review the justification for the development of new e-services, with a focus on the processes and procedures for new e-services; organizational factors for their realization (exchange of information and data, integrated organization of services and individualized service provision according to the needs of users and required cooperation between institutions within and between different levels of government, rules and regulations that will ensure the delivery of services);
Share best practices of delivering of e-services to be included in comparative analysis related to provision of a new generation of e-services for citizens and businesses and the role of digital technology in providing better public services;
The analysis should be made relevant to the situation assessment of the country and priority focus should be given to introduction of services contained in the European Union's Common List of Basic Public Services, whose implementation is under the jurisdiction of municipalities in the country (applications for building permissions, public libraries, public procurement and environmental permits) and in the context of the Digital Agenda for Europe (2020) to deliver smart and sustainable growth as well as other related EU directives, regulations, experiences on services and e-services;
Undertake two field trips in the country:

During the first mission (July 2014), the consultant will meet the relevant stakeholders/participate in consultative events to receive first hand information about the relevant issues and share his initial assessment and comparative examples of best practices related to provision of e-services at local level.

During the second mission (September 2014), the consultant shall provide inputs/recommendations to defining the priority list of services that can be automated/taken further by the relevant institutions and will more specifically provide input to the Study on the existing e-services at local level and the needs and possibilities for introduction of new e-services (to be prepared by the local expert);

In performing his assignment, the consultant should base his work on desk review of documents to be provided by UNDP and the Ministry of Local Self-Government; two field missions to the country (July and September 2014) to include interviews with the relevant municipal administration and local institutions/utilities staff, consultative events, cooperation with the national IT expert engaged for conduction of the IT assessment of the local e-services and the potential e services as well as coordination and cooperation with the project partners: UNDP and MLSG.

Deliverables

The following deliverables will need to be prepared in English language:

Report on best practices on delivery of e-services and comparative analysis relevant for application to the country based on the situation assessment and discussions with relevant stakeholders (to be delivered after the first mission, but no later than 15 August 2014);
The analysis and recommendations should make clear linkages/reference to the EU digital agenda 2020, the EU directives on e-services and European Union's Common List of Basic Public Services shall be ensured;

Written inputs and recommendations for automation of the local services with prioritization list to be included in the Study on the existing e-services at local level and the needs and possibilities for introduction of new e-services (to be delivered after the second mission, but no later than 30 September 2014).

Duration of the assignment

The overall duration of this assignment is estimated to be not more than 20 working days to be completed within the period 15 July – 30 September 2014, including two in-country fields trips (5 days each field trip) and 10 days of desk work.

Payment schedule

This assignment will be executed in two installments, more specifically:

First installment: 40 % upon submission of the first deliverable and not later than mid-August, 2014; and

Second installment: 60% upon submission and approval of the second and not later than 30 September 2014.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Excellent writing, editing and oral communication skills in English language;
Excellent analytical skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in one of the following fields: law, political sciences, public administration, and economy;
Master of Science or PhD will be considered an asset.

Experience:

At least 5 years of overall professional experience in the policy analyses, formulation and implementation of strategies, programs, plans and projects related to local services including in the area of e-services in the public administration;
Participation in min. 3 assignment/consultancies/projects related to e-services/public administration at local level in EU countries (list to be provided of related assignments with indication of duration, client, scope of work and explanation of relevance);
Knowledge of related EU directives and regulations will be required. Prior eexperience in the region and knowledge will be an asset.

Language:

English language proficiency.

Application procedure

The interested International Expert is expected to provide the following:

CV/United Nations Personnel History (P-11);
Financial offer in USD expressed as lump sum for the delivery of the outputs as per the above description. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount: number of working days, consultancy fee per number of anticipated working days, round trip airfares to and from travel Skopje (economy class tickets serving the most direct route, living allowance (number of days x Unit cost) and any other possible costs).
Reference list of similar work/projects and contact details of the clients.

Evaluation criteria

The consultants will be evaluated based on a combined scoring method principle, which takes into account a combination of the applicants’ qualification and financial proposal (70% technical and 30 % financial offer).

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the 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 and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points (see the qualifications):

Criteria A – At least 5 years of professional experience and excellent knowledge in policy analyses, formulation m and implementation of strategies, programs, plans and projects related to delivery of e-services in the public administration; 30 points max;
Criteria B – Participation in min. 3 assignment/consultancies/projects related to e-services/public administration at local level in EU countries (list to be provided of related assignments with indication of duration, client, scope of work and explanation of relevance). - 30 points max;
Criteria C – Relevant education and training. 10 points max.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation.

Shortlisted candidates may be invited for interview vie telephone or Skype.