UNDP Jobs - 73573- National Consultant- Empirical Reserch to Identify

National Consultant- Empirical Reserch to Identify Linkages between Couurption and Violent Extremism in Asis-Pacific Region

Location :

Dhaka, BANGLADESH

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

10-Aug-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 Days over a periods of 2 months

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

Project Title

UNDP Anti-Corruption for Peaceful and Inclusive Societies Project (ACPIS), Global Project

Background

In recent years, the world has witnessed new waves of violent extremism that have taken the lives of many innocent people. While security and law enforcement approaches are necessary to manage and respond to the threat of violent extremism, these measures will not be sufficient in and of themselves to reduce the prevalence and potential impact of violent extremism over the long-term.

The prevention of violent extremism requires security measures to be complemented with additional measures based on socio-economic causes and solutions, anchored in robust analysis of the diverse local drivers of violent extremism. UNDP’s conceptual framework consists of 11 interlinked building blocks forming a theory of change that explains how development can help prevent violent extremism. Enhancing the fight against corruption and widespread impunity is an important component of that strategy. Countries or local communities that make a solid effort to reduce the petty and grand corruption that fuel people’s perceptions of injustice provide a visible sign that causes of inequality and marginalization are being addressed. UNDP strategies at the national level aim to design new initiatives (including fast track projects to address immediate challenges) and also include an analysis and adaptation of UNDP and other major existing portfolio of projects, examining how they may positively or negatively influence the drivers of radicalization and violent extremism.

The Anti-Corruption for Peaceful and Inclusive Societies (ACPIS) project is guided by the strong link between governance, peace-building and development. This link is the focus of UNDP’s global strategy on ‘Preventing Violent Extremism through Inclusive Development and the Promotion of Tolerance and Respect for Diversity’, which advocates a comprehensive development response to addressing radicalization and violent extremism. The strategy acknowledges that the prevention of violent extremism needs to go beyond reactive security concerns and that it will not be possible to deliver peaceful, just and inclusive societies when corruption continues to deprive many people of important development dividends. This global strategy calls for action to address the development related causes of this threat, such as perceptions of injustice, human rights violations, social-political exclusion, widespread corruption and the sustained mistreatment of certain groups.

Corruption is arguably one of several factors that, over the long-term, contribute to an enabling environment for violent extremism either acting as an enabler or a driver of violent extremism. While little empirical evidence exists about this dynamic, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, anecdotal evidence indicates that corruption contributes to an enabling environment for violent extremism in at least two ways:

Weakening law enforcement efforts by undermining the capacity and integrity of law enforcement agencies, including police, border protection, prosecutors, courts and prisons (see, e.g. Louise Shelley, Dirty Entanglements: Corruption, Crime, and Terrorism, 2014); and
Stoking anger towards the state and other groups by perpetuating citizens’ marginalization, offending their sense of justice and undermining their dignity (e.g. Sarah Chayes, Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security, 2015).

Duties and Responsibilities

Description of the assignment

The Consultancy, to be carried out by an organization, research institute or an individual lead consultant to collect and analyze empirical data at the country level, draft a country case study and a human interest story as part of a larger, regional flagship study on the links between corruption and violent extremism in the Asia-Pacific.

Overall objective

The objective of this consultancy is to collect/analyse data at the country level, elaborate country specific case study and human interest story. This will contribute to the finalization of the regional flagship research on the links between corruption and violent extremism. With financial support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia, UNDP’s ACPIS intends to elaborate a regional flagship empirical research on the linkages between violent extremism and corruption in the Asia Pacific region.

Specific objectives

Five countries from the Asia-Pacific Region will contribute to the study and feature in the final flagship research. The study will contain three components:

an analysis of the applicability of existing literature on the links between corruption and violent extremism to the Asia-Pacific region;
the generation and analysis of new empirical data on the links between corruption and violent extremism from 5 countries in the Asia-Pacific region; and
identification of entry points for action by the UNDP and relevant partners at the local, country, regional and global levels to address the issue of corruption and violent extremism.

Scope of work

Attend preparatory regional workshop to be held in mid-August, 2017 to agree on research elements of the consultancy.
Draft country case study and human interest story and revise, as needed
Finalize country case study plans in consultation with the lead international consultant, UNDP staff and other experts designated by UNDP
Gather country level data and carry out initial analysis of the data per study plans
Carry out interviews, surveys, focus groups discussions per study plans
Consolidate all the information and submit to UNDP in a timely manner

Expected outputs / deliverables

Participate regional workshop to agree reaserch elements - 3 working days;
Develop draft country case study and human interest story - 5 working days;
Develop and finalize country case study plans in consultation with the lead international consultant, UNDP staff and other experts - 6 working days;
Develop country level data, carry out initial analysis of the data and conduct interviews, surveys, focus groups discussions - 6 working days;
Combine all information and submit final report - 10 working days.

Supervision and Performance Evaluation

Under the direct supervision of UNDP Country Office focal point and the ACPIS team based in Singapore and in close coordination with the lead International Consultant, the incumbent will be contracted to carry out the tasks as described above.

Timeframe and deadlines

The assignment will be for 30 working days over a perod of 2 months.

Reporting authority

The Consultant will directly report UNDP Country Office focal point and the ACPIS team based in Singapor. The incumbent will be paid on deliverables basis.

Competencies

General knowledge and good understanding of issues related to governance, anti-corruption and preventing violent extremism;
Track record of conducting country level research;
Ability to gather, analyze and present data and evidence in a clear and understandable format;
Strong analytical, research and English written skills;
Ability to work independently, against tight deadlines;
A sound knowledge of country’s political and socio-economic context, ongoing reforms particularly as they relate to the fight against corruption and preventing violent extremism;
Excellent English communication, writing and editing skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications

At least a Master’s degree in development studies, public administration, law, political science, journalism, international relations, or related field.

Experience

At least 7 years of experience in policy analysis or relevant research at national level;
Experience of working at the regional level or contributing to the regional level research;
Track record in data collection and analysis using software such as STATA, SPSS, SAS etc, especially as it relates to development and/or governance with a specific focus on anti-corruption, preventing violent extremism or related area;
Experience in different data collection methodologies, including conducting focus group discussions, surveys, interviews, etc.

Evaluation of the Candidates

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology

Cumulative analysis

The candidates will be evaluated through Cumulative Analysis method. 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 and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for Financial Evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks)

Educational qualifications in development studies, public administration, law, political science, journalism, international relations, or related - 10 marks;
At least 7 years of experience in policy analysis or relevant research at national level - 15 marks;
Track record in data collection and analysis using software such as STATA, SPSS, SAS etc, especially as it relates to development and/or governance with a specific focus on anti-corruption, preventing violent extremism or related area - 20 marks;
Experience in different data collection methodologies including conducting focus group discussions, surveys, interviews, etc. - 15 marks;
Proven sound knowledge of country’s political and socio-economic context, ongoing reforms particularly as they relate to the fight against corruption and preventing violent extremism - 10 marks.

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks)

All technical qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula:

p = y (µ/z)

where:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Financial Milestone

1st installment: 15% of the total contract amount will be paid after successfully Participate regional workshop to agree reaserch elements and upon acceptance by the contract administrator;
2nd installmentL 20% of the total contract amount will be paid after Develop draft country case study and human interest story and upon acceptance by the contract administrator;
3rd installment: 20% of the total contract amount will be paid after Develop and finalize country case study plans in consultation with the lead international consultant, UNDP staff and other experts and upon acceptance by the contract administrator;
4th installment: 20% of the total contract amount will be paid after Develop country level data, carry out initial analysis of the data and conduct interviews, surveys, focus groups discussions and upon acceptance by the contract administrator;
Final installment: 25% of the total contract amount will be paid after Combine all information and submit final report and upon acceptance by the contract administrator.

Candidates are requested to submit their financial proposal using the template from the below link;

http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

Documents to be included when submitting the Proposals

Personal P-11 form (including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references)
Financial Proposal (link above)

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel to a higher class, he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs, including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.