Background

A.         Project Title

This assignment is implemented within the framework of the Project: “Achieving Kuwait 2035 Vision Towards Persons with Disability Project”. The project is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kuwait office and implemented by the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs of Kuwait.

B.     Project Description             

The project “Achieving Kuwait 2035 Vision Towards Persons with Disability” supports PADA to enhance its human capacities and organizational effectiveness towards achieving its mandate. It supports its efforts at integration of PWDs in schools, employment and social life in partnership with CSOs working for disabilities and supports it to ensure an inclusive physical environment for PWDs. The project will continue until December 2018. It seeks to achieve three outputs:

·       Output 1.1: Enhanced human capacities and institutional effectiveness for prevention, early detection, diagnosis and rehabilitation of disabilities.

·       Output 1.2: Co-ordinated and well organized efficient efforts towards removal of barriers to social, economic and educational inclusion of persons with disability.

·       Output 1.3: Increased technical expertise and organizational capacities for implementation of Universal Design and country wide use of technology enablers.

The Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA)

The Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA)[1] of Kuwait is responsible for all matters related to care and rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities. Its mandate includes, inter alia, setting the disability policy; setting regulations and procedures for care and rehabilitation of PWDs and developing and overseeing an integrated action plan responsible for all aspects of Persons with Disabilities’ welfare in coordination with relevant government entities. Furthermore, care and rehabilitation centers were recently, in 2016, transferred to the responsibility of PADA. PADA was established as per law no.8 for 2010[2] as a governmental entity. The law is concerned with protecting the rights of Persons with Disabilities in Kuwait and covers their inclusion in society, rehabilitation and employment in addition to care and other government services and entitlements. PADA developed a five-year strategy 2014 – 2019, which includes 15 themes and goals and provides a guiding framework for implementation, and has an annual development plan.

Early Intervention (EI) Centers in Kuwait

PADA currently has 3 Early Intervention Centers in 3 locations: 1) One in Surra in Hawalli Governorate 2) One in Al-Sabahiyah South of Kuwait City opened in 2014 3) One in Jahra West of Kuwait City opened in Dec 2015. The Centers receive cases referred by PADA, health care centers and hospitals. They target two groups of children: from birth till the age of 2 years old, and starting age three till Kindergarten age. Additionally, they target non-Kuwaiti children aged 4-6. The centers differ in terms of availability of services and expertise. Services generally include medical, psychological, social, educational, physiotherapy, speech therapy in addition to recreation and inclusion programmes.  However, some centers lack specialized expertise.

Currently, existing buildings were allocated for the Early Intervention Centers and therefore the buildings do not provide the needed built space and physical environment for a “model” Early Intervention Center. PADA plans to build new “model” early intervention centers in new locations and to improve its Early Intervention service to be in line with international best practices, by optimizing its approaches and existing programs (such as Portage), and/or introducing new programmes.   The eventual aim of PADA is to provide early intervention centers in each governorate in Kuwait.

[1] http://www.pada.gov.kw

[2] The law no.10 for 2010 on Disability available at http://www.pada.gov.kw:8000/MainLaw.aspx

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of this assignment is to provide a model for Early Intervention Centers for PADA in Kuwait. The Consultant is expected to develop a concept on early intervention (EI) that clearly defines the “standard” for early intervention services; highlight good international practices of the services; assess the existing early intervention centers in Kuwait and provide a full proposal for a “model” Early Intervention Center in all aspects that PADA can utilize in building its new centers.

The assignment will contribute to Output 1.1 above. It will inform PADA’s work in its provision of Early Intervention services. Specifically, it will comprise of the following:

a)      Explanation of and training on the early intervention (EI) service concept: This includes elaborating the key principles of EI, what EI is and what its benefits for child development are; description of EI goals and target groups (range of ages of children, types of disabilities included); outlining EI services: types of services,  way of functioning, flow of work and coordination among the services and referral system; defining what specialists at a minimum are required for the services and how they should function; underlining the role of families in the process of EI; explanation of “exit plan” and where older children should receive further services. This component will include orientation/training to selected staff at PADA on Early Intervention concepts and practice.

b)      Summary of international best practices of early intervention services/Centers: This should include examples from the United States, Europe and countries of the South (including one from GCC or MENA regions if applicable). It should include:

-  In line with point a) above, a short description of how the service is provided: target groups, types of services and the “flow of services”; which specialists are involved and how they interact among themselves in providing services; role of parents/family in provision of the service; description of “exit” plan for early intervention services and where/ how older children are referred/supported in addressing further development/disability needs.

-  Brief description of the legislative/regulatory basis for provision of early intervention service

-  Impact of the service on children/families, including the evidence in the countries that is in line with the expected impact as per international standards: what the changes (results) that the service provided were; differences in results between early intervention services and “alternative” services (effectiveness) and how they achieved those results; what is the cost of the service compared to alternative services (efficiency); how and why the service was developed to replace more “medical”/ traditional approaches.

-  Comparison of the different programmes of early intervention utilized in these countries and why such programmes were chosen and for which disabilities, highlighting strengths and weaknesses.

-  Contact information of key persons responsible for EI in these countries

c)       Assessment of the Early Intervention Centers in Kuwait: This will be a comprehensive assessment of the centers including identifying the strengths, challenges, gaps and areas of improvements for the Early Intervention Centers. The assessment should provide a baseline based on which to build an improved service: i.e. capitalizing on strengths, addressing challenges and gaps, etc. It should utilize the international concept, standards and best practices in assessing the 3 Centers and include the views of the PADA staff responsible for the Centers at various levels. It should cover:

-  In line with point a) above, a short description of how the 3 Centers operate highlighting similarities and differences: groups of children served (ages, gender, types of disabilities, regions); how children are referred to the centers (referral system); what assessment standards are used; which programmes are used; which specialists are involved, how they interact among themselves in providing the services, how these specialists have acquired the expertise; coordination among the services and work flow; role of parents/family in provision of the service, if any; the “exit plan” of it exists.

-  Highlight how the Centers were developed and how they evolved

-  Brief description of the legislative/regulatory basis for provision of early intervention services

-  The strengths, challenges and gaps in providing the service in the Centers, considering all relevant parameters including awareness and outreach, access, equity and quality.  The identified or proposed solutions in addressing these challenges, if any.

-  The results that the Centers’ services provide

-  Innovations of the Centers

d)      A comprehensive full proposal for a “Model” Early Intervention Center in Kuwait: This should be informed by all the points above (the conceptual standards, best practices and situation analysis/assessment) and cover all aspects of the Centers and Service; i.e. it should advise at least on:

a.       Target groups (range of ages of children, types of disabilities to be included);

b.       Early Intervention services: recommended types and way of functioning, providing a specific description of the recommended types and the “flow of services” – i.e. how a client is referred, and coordination among services;

c.       Proposing what specialists are required for the service (minimum and optimum) and how they should function independently and together;

d.       Proposing the training needs and requirements of existing staff

e.       Proposing the role of families in the process of EI and how that fits into the flow;

f.        Recommending the cutting edge programmes that are most suitable for the different types of disabilities (Portage, Makaton, other) and all the age groups the Centers target.

g.       Proposing of an optimum “exit plan” and where older children should ideally receive further services. 

h.       Furthermore, it should include the minimum and optimum physical space (indoor and outdoor environment) requirements that an Early Intervention Center building should accommodate.

Specific tasks include:

1.       Develop a methodology and work Plan for the assignment in consultation with PADA and UNDP including proposed activities and timeframe.

In response to the terms of reference and in line with the initial proposal, the consultant should provide a brief description of how the work will be conducted: Proposed countries for the desk review and rationale; methodology used in the assessment of the Early Intervention Centers in Kuwait and timeframe envisioned for this work. The consultant is expected to finalize this plan with PADA and UNDP during the first week of the assignment.

2.       Develop the component of the Early Intervention Concept:

Review of international standards/guidelines to derive a commonly agreed upon Early Intervention service concept (Point a above)

Consolidate information and analysis in a report on the Early Intervention Concept and submit to PADA and UNDP for approval

Conduct 2-day orientation/training sessions to selected staff at PADA

3.       Desk review of 3-4 best practice countries with a good variety

Conduct a review of best practices, based on the selected countries in the methodology (e.g. 2 from the North and 2 from the South that have good early intervention practices) covering all the information under point b above.

Submit a “International Best Practice” Report to PADA and UNDP for approval

4.          Assessment of the early intervention centers in Kuwait

Conduct interviews and meetings with relevant PADA staff at management and technical levels, beneficiaries and other stakeholders deemed necessary for conducting the assignmentConducts visits to the 3 above-mentioned Early Intervention Centers in Kuwait as necessary

Conduct the detailed situation analysis of the early intervention centers based on clear criteria.

Submit the report for approval by UNDP and PADA in line with point c above

5.          A comprehensive full proposal for a “Model” Early Intervention Center in Kuwait

Based on all the above develop the proposal comprising of the information provided in point d. above.

Present the proposal to UNDP and relevant staff at PADA

Finalize the proposal and submit to UNDP and PADA 

Indicative Approaches

·       Gender approach: the consultant should ensure gender analysis is conducted based on the differentiated needs of girls and boys, men and women and it should be taken into account and explicit in all the components, especially the situation analysis and proposal.

·       Participation and ownership: the consultant should ensure participation of PADA staff in the process of analysis and ensure their views and feedback is incorporated.

·       Capacity Development approach: the consultant should work closely with project staff to enable the transfer of know-how as well as through the direct training component of the assignment

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will report on a day to day basis to the UNDP Project Manager. Approval of submissions will be by PADA focal point and UNDP Project Manager. Regular meetings will be set for updates on progress in line with the agreed work plan (e.g. bi-weekly).

The consultant is expected to meet with PADA senior management, the Care and Early Intervention Centers; the 3 Centers managers and staff as well as a sample of the beneficiaries and their parents.

PADA management will facilitate access to the 3 Centers; coordinate the first introductions and visits to the Centers and provide any available documents at the outset of the assignment. PADA can provide a car to take the consultant to visit each center.

Duration of the Work

The expected duration of the work is 10 weeks and the expected start date of the assignment is 1 June and therefore expected to end by 07 August.

Duty Station

The consultant is expected to be mostly in Kuwait for the duration of the assignment especially for the training and situation analysis of the 3 Early Intervention Centers with flexibility in conducting certain tasks remotely.

Competencies

Competencies:

·       Cultural and political sensitivity

·       Communication skills

·       Flexibility

·       Sensitivity to disabilities issues

·       Conviction of the full rights of Persons with Disabilities and alignment with the values of human rights

Note: Kuwaiti nationals whose qualifications are assessed equivalently with another offer based on the required criteria will be given priority over the other.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in medicine, public health, child development, early childhood intervention, disability or related field Or Bachelor degree in the mentioned fields with additional 3 years of experience to what is indicated below would be considered in lieu. 

Experience:

·       5 years’ experience in early intervention services for disabilities, early childhood development, monitoring, screening, and assessment tools, such as the International Guide for Monitoring Child Development or related field

·       Fluency in English (speaking, writing, reading) required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

·       International experience in the abovementioned areas (at least one country)

Criteria for the selection of the best offer

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on cumulative analysis. The technical evaluation will be based on a desk review and an interview.

Total score=Technical Score + Financial Score.

Technical Criteria weight - 70%, 70 scores maximum 

Financial Criteria weight - 30%. 30 scores maximum

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 from 70 point in the Technical Evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

The lowest qualified financial proposal receives 30 points and all the other financially qualified proposals receive points in inverse proportion, according to the formula:

P=Y*(L/Z), where

P=points for the financial proposal being evaluated

Y=maximum number of points for the financial proposal

L= price of the lowest price proposal

Z=price of the proposal being evaluated

The award of a contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as both:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) offering the best value for money

“responsive/compliant/acceptable” can be defined as fully meeting the TOR provided.

Eligibility:

·       English language proficiency

Schedule of Payments

The following is the proposed schedule of payments as a percentage of total contract

Required Documents 

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document

a)       Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;

b)      Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects that shows how the candidate meets the above requirements, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional referees;

c)       A methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment within the timeline.

d)      Financial Proposal that indicates an all-inclusive Lump Sum Amount with a fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.  If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP, the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.  Consultant should be aware that the contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components

Annexes

Annex I - TOR

Annex II- General Condition of Contract

Annex III - Financial proposal and Offeror's Letter To UNDP Confirming Interest and Avail for IC

All documents can be downloaded at : http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=37613