Background

A.   Title of the Project: “Achieving Kuwait 2035 Vision Towards Persons with Disability Project”

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.    Background of the project

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: Coordinatedand 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 countrywideuse 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, vocational 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 including economic empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Inclusive Employment

Within the scope of the project “Achieving Kuwait 2035 Vision Towards Persons with Disability” , PADA promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. PADA is welling to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 8) focusing on target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.

Currently, PADA has a solid organizational structure including separate units for vocational training, employment support and market analysis. However, the current projects and programs focus on the sheltered workshop, beside few initiatives aims to create employment opportunities within the private sector for persons with disabilities.

C.   Scope of Work

The assignment will contribute to Output 1.2 of the project above to improve the organizational and technical capacities of PADA to facilitate work and employment of persons with disabilities. The assignment will cover on all work and employment options with specific focus on competitive and supported employment.

Specific tasks include:

1.     In response to the terms of reference and in line with the initial proposal, the consultant should submit  an inception report includes updated and adjusted methodology, timeframe and detailed Work Plan.

2.     In cooperation with PADA team, conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current policy, model of intervention, practices and capacitiesof PADA in field of work and employment of person with disabilities in comparison to international and national laws and policies.

2.1.   Analysis of the current Kuwait and PADA legal and policy framework that regulates the work and employment of person with disabilities in with international laws and best international labor practices.

2.2.   Analysis of the suggested model employment model and process proposed by the new PADA organizational development process. 

2.3.   Identifying and review model of intervention, current practices and capacities within PADA - in cooperation with other stockholders-  to achieve the above framework.

2.4.   Develop good practices principals includes best recommended practices based on international and national legal instruments and policy initiatives concerning the right to work of persons with disabilities. 

2.5.   Based on the above, produce situation analysis include gaps analysis, areas of strength and areas for improvement in consultation with relevant PADA staff at management and technical levels, beneficiaries and any other stakeholders.

2.6.   Share and present the main findings and initial recommendations with PADA and UNDP (1 roundtable). 

3.     Support PADA to develop a strategy of engagement and model of intervention in the field of work and employment of person with disability in line with the new PADA organizational development process and includes but not limited to:

3.1.   Coordination and cooperation with different stakeholders to promote access to decent work for persons with disabilities including different work and employment options (competitive employment; self-employment; sheltered employment; supported employment).

3.2.   Promote and support employability of person with disability including employment readiness

3.3.   Promote and support inclusive employment and labor market

3.4.   Promote and support enabling environments to achieve equal livelihood opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.

3.5.   Different model of intervention and measures to facilitate work and employment for persons with disabilities

3.6.   Support PADA to develop an internal action plan based on the above strategy and the new PADA organizational structure focusing on competitive and supported employment options.

3.7.   Share and present the main outputs and recommendations with PADA and UNDP (1 roundtable). 

4.     Capacity building of relevant PADA staff at management and technical levels: Propose and conduct a training plan for PADA staff on applying the proposed model of intervention and measures to facilitate work and employment for persons with disabilities in line with the new PADA organizational structure.

5.     Final report on the assignment including an executive summary of the whole mission, main findings, description of the intervention, summary of all the above deliverables, and final recommendations.

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 considered 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
• Innovation and cultural: sensitivity the consultants should select contents and utilize techniques that are innovative and culturally appropriate and effective.  

[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

A.   Expected Outputs and Deliverables 

All final deliverables must be submittedin hard copy and electronic format.

B.    Institutional Arrangement

1. The consultant will report on a day to day basis to the UNDP Project Manager. 
2. All submitted deliverables, reports, developed papers (reports, framework, strategy, training plan, etc.) are subject to PADA, GSSCPD and UNDP Programme Analyst approval. These documents will serve as a justificationof payments. 
3. Regular meetings will be set for updates on progress in line with the agreed work plan with UNDP and PADA teams.
4. The consultant will be provided with access to printer, internet and work space in PADA.  

C.    Duration of the Work 

The duration of this consultancy is expected to be 16 weeks.  Expected start date of the assignment is 15thApril 2018.

D.   Duty Station

The consultant is expected to be in Kuwait for the duration of the consultancy and will be based at PADA office. Only one round trip will be covered under this assignment. 

A.   Scope of Price Proposal 

The financial proposal submitted 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. The financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, living allowance, and the numberof anticipated working days).

Travel: All envisaged travel and other related costs must be included in the financial proposal. 

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

B.    Evaluation 

Cumulative analysis

Total score=Technical Score + Financial Score. 

Technical Criteria weight - 70%, 700 scores maximum  

Financial Criteria weight - 30%. 300 scores maximum

The selection of candidates will be done in 3 stages:

1st stage: Prior to detailed evaluation, all applications will be thoroughly screened against eligibility criteria (minimum qualification requirements) as set in the TOR to determine whether they are compliant/non-compliant.

2ndstage: Evaluation of technical proposals 

Short-listed candidates will be evaluated based on the following criteria. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 490 points (70%) at the Technical Evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

3rd stage: Financial evaluation

The cumulativeanalysis will be used based on the following methodology:All the offers of individual consultants who scored 490 (70% from 700) and more points during the desk review are acceptable for financial evaluation. The lowest financial qualified proposal receives 300 points and all the other technically qualified proposals receive points in inverse proportion per the formula:

The candidate achieving the highest cumulative score for both Technical and Financial evaluations will be recommended by the Evaluation Committee for contracting.

1. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Applicants are requested to compile and submit as one PDF file the below-requesteddocuments: 

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability;
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects that showhow 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;
3. Technical Proposalincludes:
   1. One page thathighlightsyour track record of work experience that demonstrates your practical skills and abilities in these areas and how you’ve been involved in these tasks in the past and explaining why you are the most suitable for this assignment. 
   2. Proposed Methodology, Approach and Implementation Plan – this section should demonstrate the Proposer’s response to the Terms of Reference by identifying the specific components proposed, how the requirements shall be addressed, as specified, point by point; providing a detailed description of the essential performance characteristics proposed; and demonstrating how the proposed methodology meets or exceeds the specifications.

Financial Proposalthat 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.  The consultantshould be aware that the contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components.

Competencies

Competencies:

• Flexibility and adaptability to uncertain environments
• Political and cultural sensitivity
• Promoting ethics and integrity
• Gender sensitivity 
• Teamworkand cooperation with colleagues 
• Creating and promoting an enabling environment for open communication;
• Sharing knowledge and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.
• Conviction of the full rights of Persons with Disabilities and alignment with the values of human rights 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree in business, social services, economy, inclusion or related fields.
• or
• Bachelor degree in the mentioned fields with additional 5 years of experience in the same fields.  

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in inclusive employment, inclusive vocational training, livelihood support for persons with disabilities. 
• Proven experience in supporting national and local programs of inclusive employment.
• Fluency in English (speaking, writing, reading) required. Knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable.