UNDP Jobs - 48519- A consultancy to Assist the National Institute o

A consultancy to Assist the National Institute of Strategic Planning to Develop a Road Map/ Plan to Develop the Next Interim National 2017- 2020 Strategic Plan for Turkmenistan

Location :

Home-based with 1 mission to Ashgabat, TURKMENISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

08-Sep-2014

Application Deadline :

14-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 working days with 7 working days in country

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 working days with 7 working days in country

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 Strategic Planning and Economic Development Institute was formed upon the Turkmenistan President Decree issued on October 11th, 2007. The Institute is mainly involved in complex analysis of current processes in branches of country’s economy and of the country’s economy as whole, as well as scientific research for designing national economic development programs, determination of direction of social-economic reforms conducted in the country, research for middle-term and long-term planning and prognosis, determination of priority braches of the country economy to be developed.

The Institute represents itself as unique scientific research center of Turkmenistan which conducts studies of economic development and social-economic problems of the country. It has the responsible for developing national strategies. Developing contextualized strategies and policies requires strong domestic capacity of policy research and development.

Turkmenistan has been experiencing rapid economic growth in recent years, mainly energized by hydrocarbon-led export and surge in public investments. The country’s GDP per capita has tripled since 2005 and was classified as an Upper Middle Income Status by World Bank in 2012.

The Government recognizes the importance of ensuring high living standards for its population and understands the developmental challenges facing the country going forward. This is evidenced by the adoption of two major national programmes aimed at improving the living conditions of the population. The National Programme of President of Turkmenistan aims at improving the social and living conditions of the population of villages, towns, cities in etrap, and etrap 2007- 2020 (adopted in 2007) and the National Programme for Socioeconomic Development (NPSD) 2011-2030
Aims at improving the socio economic development of the country from 2011-2030.

The principal objectives of National Programme for Socioeconomic Development (NPSD) 2011-2030 are:

To diversify economy by fostering private sector development or non-hydrocarbon sector;
To promote gradual transition to more market-based economy;
To achieve sustainable, inclusive development.

The government decided to develop an interim development programme derived from the National Programme 2011-2016. The first interim programme 2012 – 2016 is currently being implemented. It was adopted in January 2012.

In addition to the above the Government has also produced a number of other strategies and Programmes. The key ones area as follows:

Strategy of economic, political and cultural development of Turkmenistan till 2020 (15 august 2003;
State Health Programme (adopted in 1995);
State Programme for Healthcare Sphere Development for 2012-2016 (approved in April 2012);
National Programme of Support and development of Physical Culture and Sports in Turkmenistan (21 January 2011);
State Programme of Tourism Development in Turkmenistan for 2012-2016 (April 2012);
National Climate Change Strategy (June 2012);
National HIV Strategy 2012-2016 (April 2012);
Early Childhood Development Programme (2011).

The United Nations assisted the Government to develop some of these strategies. The government would now like to develop the next interim national programme for the period 2017- 2022 and has requested the UNDP for assistance in this process.

Duties and Responsibilities

This consultancy is to assist the National Institute of Strategic Planning to develop a Road Map/ Plan on how to develop the next interim National 2017- 2020 Strategic Plan for Turkmenistan. The consultant would carry out the following activities:

Review National Programme for Socioeconomic Development (NPSD) 2011-2030, the National Programme of President of Turkmenistan aims at improving the social and living conditions of the population of villages, towns, cities in etrap and etrap 2007- 2020 (adopted in 2007) and the interim national programme 2012- 2016;
Review the relevant key legislations;

Conduct several extensive discussions with the Director of the Institute, his deputy and their senior staff and other relevant stakeholders as deemed necessary by the Director, on the following topics:

Current analysis of the status of the implementation of the current 2012- 2016 interim national Programme, success and challenges encountered, lesson learnt during design and implementation;
Priorities that the Government wish to incorporate and focus on in the next four year plan 2017- 2022;
Possibilities for integrating the proposed post 2015 global goals and targets.

Conduct a seminar with the Director, Deputy Director and senior staff on the best practices and global standards on developing national strategies and interim plans.
Based on the information on 1-4 above prepare a Road Map/ Plan setting out in detail how the 2017- 2022 plan will be developed.

The Road Map will need to include the following:

The key priorities areas that the government wish to focus on over the years 2017- 2022, and an indication of possible targets;
The key stakeholders that will participate in developing each of the key priorities and dates for their development;
The linkages between the current 2012-2016 plan and the 2017-2022 plan;
The research/analysis /that needs to be conducted for each priority before the priorities are finalized and by whom;
The expertise that will be required ( type and days) to write the different sections of the interim plan and edit the final document (National and International consultants);
The process for developing a monitoring plan for the implementation of the 2017- 2022 plan;
The process for developing the budget the 2017- 2022 plan;
The process of Cabinet of Ministers inputs and approval process

Develop the Terms of References for the required National and International Consultants that will be need to write the interim plan.

In accordance with the overall scope of works of this assignment the consultant is expected to work on a daily basis with the Director of the Institute of Strategic Planning, his deputy and senior staff. He will be located at the Institute for the duration of the visit. The consultant is overall accountability to the UNDP Resident Representative, the International Consultant is expected to carry out each of the activities listed in the scope of works above . The International Consultant is expected to deliver the following major products:

A presentation on the best practices and global standards on developing national strategies and interim plans;
A detailed Road/ Map covering all the items listed in item 5 under Scope of Works;
Detailed Terms of References for all agreed National and International consultants that are required to draft and edit the national programme 2017-2022.

Deliverables and timeframe:

A presentation on the best practices and global standards on developing national strategies and interim plans, Home based, 2 days TBA;
A detailed Road/ Map covering all the items listed in item 5 under Scope of Works, Field work, 7 days mission days TBA;
Detailed Terms of References for all agreed National and International consultants that are required to draft and edit the national programme 2017-2022, Home based, 3 days TBA.

Payment Conditions:

This is a lump sum contract that should include costs of consultancy required to produce the above deliverables. The final schedule will be agreed upon in the beginning of consultancy.

Payment will be released in two installments: 70% (deliverables 1 and 2) and 30 % (deliverable 3) – upon timely submission of respective deliverables and their acceptance by UNDP Turkmenistan.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

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

Functional Competencies

Good knowledge of and experience working with national government at policy level;
Excellent training, facilitation, presentation and communication skills;
Results driven, ability to work under pressure and to meet required deadlines;
Good understanding and practice of capacity development;
Diplomatic skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced academic background in social or economic sciences, or any other relevant field;

Experience:

At least 15 years of relevant working experience;Knowledge and experience of work in the CIS or Central Asia is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

Excellent written and spoken English;
Knowledge of Russian is a strong asset.

Submission of applications:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Cover letter explaining why they are the most suitable candidate for the assignment;
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
Financial proposal: All applicants shall submit a detailed, carefully considered and justified financial statement based on a lump sum specifying (1) a daily fee for the tasks and an estimated duration as specified in this announcement and (2) any other possible costs (including vaccinations, travel to and from the mission, dwelling, etc.).

Evaluation Criteria

The consultant will be evaluated against a combination of technical and financial criteria. Maximum score is 100.Out of the maximum score, the score for technical criteria equals 70% - maximum 70 points, and for financial criteria 30% - maximum 30 points.

The technical evaluation (70%, or max 70 points) will take into account the following as per the scoring provided:

Education – 10 points;
Experience of working with national governments – 20 points;
The experience in preparing national strategies– 20 points;Knowledge and experience of work in the CIS or Central Asia – 5 points;
Fluency in English – 5 points;
Fluency in Russian – 10 points.

Financial proposal – 30% of total evaluation - max 30 points.

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

Additional requirements for recommended contractor.

Recommended contractors, if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.