Background

UNDP Global Mission Statement:

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with national counterparts on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

UNDP Afghanistan Mission Statement:

UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in Afghanistan. UNDP support, in partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, has contributed to institutional development efforts leading to positive impact on the lives of Afghan citizens. Over the years UNDP support has spanned such milestone efforts as the adoption of the Constitution; Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council elections; institutional development through capacity-building to the legislative, the judicial and executive arms of the state, and key ministries, Government agencies and commissions at the national and subnational levels. UNDP has played a key role in the management of the Law and Order Trust Fund, which supports the Government in developing and maintaining the national police force and in efforts to stabilize the internal security environment. Major demobilization, disarmament and rehabilitation and area-based livelihoods and reconstruction programmes have taken place nationwide. UNDP Programmes in Afghanistan have benefited from the very active support of donors. UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the UN system as a whole to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Organizational context:

UNDP Afghanistan’s Rule of Law and Human Security Unit (ROLHS) Programme Unit supports the Afghan Government in implementing its strategies for Rule of Law, developing its institutional capacity and providing services to the Afghan population. This includes supporting the implementation of the Afghanistan National Strategy for Combatting Corruption.

UNDP has developed a Project Initiation Plan (PIP) for Anti-Corruption, “Development Plan for a Nation-Wide Anti-Corruption Project”. The PIP started implementation in January 2018. The PIP is an instrument for UNDP to initiate programmatic engagement on anti-corruption, while developing a full-fledged multi-year Anti-Corruption Project. The programmatic engagement includes technical and logistical support to the Anti-Corruption Justice Centre (ACJC) and the establishment of a grants mechanism for civil society.

The PIP has the following three outputs:

• Evidence-base established to inform UNDP’s anti-corruption programming in Afghanistan in the security and justice sectors;

• Implementation strategies developed for prioritized anti-corruption measures with a focus on supporting the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy in consultation with relevant stakeholders (institutions, media, civil society, communities, religious leaders, etc) and on supporting the Anti-Corruption Center;

• Advocacy, public-outreach, awareness-raising campaigns developed and implemented in target areas, including through the initiation of a small grants facility for the implementation of community outreach initiatives, to increase ownership and support for anti-corruption measures.

Each output of the PIP will lay the necessary foundation to build the output of the subsequent Anti-Corruption Project. The activities of the PIP will establish the evidence-base, partnerships and related implementations strategies and modalities that are required for effective implementation of the broader Anti-Corruption Project and its successful implementation. It is anticipated that the upcoming broader Anti-Corruption Project will be focused around two main pillars namely support the Government in its implementation of the newly adopted National Strategy for Combatting Corruption; and contribute to building more demand from communities, civil society and media for increased transparency and accountability.

The PIP contributes directly to the targets of the broader Rule of Law and Human Security portfolio, and works in close coordination with other projects in this cluster and other development actors.

Objective of the Assignment:

In order to inform new programming opportunities in anti-corruption, UNDP seeks to recruit an international consultant to compile and produce a full-fledge situational analysis and needs assessments report with clearly defined entry points for UNDP and lead the design of an evidence-based anti-corruption programming.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work and Deliverables:

The specific deliverables of this assignment are as follows:

• Provide a review of existing literature and studies on corruption in Afghanistan;

• Provide a gap analysis of the legal and policy framework to combat corruption in Afghanistan;

• Provide a comparative review of the best practices to combat corruption applicable to the context of Afghanistan;

• Design and lead the conduct of community consultations and focus group discussions with security and justice instistutions; and produce reports on the key findings to refine the initial scoping into implementation strategies;

• Produce a project document for UNDP anti-corruption programming.

Deliverables; Timeframe and Payment Percentage:

First Deliverable: 22 days (30%)

• Provide a report on initial scoping: Strategic analysis of the mapping of anti-corruption activities implemented by all relevant partners, stock take and review of existing literature and studies on corruption in Afghanistan, gap analysis of the legal and policy framework to combat corruption in Afghanistan with a view to produce a comprehensive report on situational analysis and need assessment on corruption issues with defined entry points for UNDP’s support;

• Provide a report on the useful comparative anti-corruption activities and practices: Conduct a desk review of comparative studies on anti-corruption including lessons learned, best practices, innovative solutions and experiences from UNDP’s engagement on supporting anti-corruption.

Second deliverable:  44 working days (40%)

• Develop methodology and rapid tool-kit/handbook on conducting participatory community consultation methodologies, also involving civil society, media, religious leaders and community leaders, in line with effective best practices and lessons learned on Afghanistan, with a view to inform the development of effective implementation strategies and modalities for addressing corruption in Afghanistan;

• Develop methodology for conducting Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and relevant tools with security and justice service providers (women and male national and local government officials, police officers, judges, prison staff, etc.);

• Develop a results framework for these pilot initiatives that takes into account the following elements: feasibility, effectiveness, impact, coordination, efficiency and sustainability; and identify political and operational risks;

• Provide a report from the consultations and FGDs’ key findings with defined entry points for programming for UNDP, areas of engagements with relevant stakeholders together with defined implementation strategies and modalities.

Third deliverable: 22 days (30%)

• Taking stock of the first two deliverables, produce a final report including: a project document for a full-fledge anti-corruption multi-year programme and associated result-based framework and annual work-plan, recommendations for partnerships and risk log;

• Provide recommendations to mainstream anti-corruption approaches to security and justice portfolio of the Rule of Law and Human Security Team unit.

Payment Modality: 

Payments under the contract shall be delivery based and be made on receipt of the specific milestone reports indicated above, and including a timesheet according to UNDP procurement formats for individual contractors. Upon receipt of final comments on the last report and successful completion of all deliverables, the consultant shall submit a final report for formal acceptance by UNDP at which point the final payment shall be released.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
• Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations.

Management and Leadership:

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from a recognized university in any of the following areas or related field: Law, International development, political science or related social science.

Years of experience:

• At least 7 years of experience in anti-corruption, justice-related project, rule of law and international development programming required;

• Extensive international expertise on anti-corruption is required;

• Experience in developing project document and associated document is required;

• Previous work experience in post conflict settings in desired;

• Knowledge of the socio-political context of Afghanistan is desired;

• Previous experience within UNDP is desired.

Language:

• Excellent written and oral English skills is required;

• Competence in Dari and/or Pashtu is an asset.

Working Arrangement

Institutional Arrangements:

• The international consultant will work under the overall supervision of UNDP Afghanistan’s Chief of the Rule of Law and Human Security (ROLHS) Unit and/or his designate(s) and direct supervision of the Project Management Analyst of the Anti-Corruption PIP in close collaboration with the Programme Unit;

• UNDP will provide office space and internet facility, logistical and other support service including transport and security applicable to UNDP international personnel. The consultant however is expected to bring his/her own laptop and mobile phone and meet local communications costs (UNDP will provide a local pre-paid SIM card). Costs to arrange meetings, workshops, travel costs to and DSA during field visits (if any), etc shall be covered by UNDP.

Duration of the Work:

• The performance under the contract shall take place over total contract duration of 88 working days excluding joining and repatriation travel days. The target date for the start of work will be around August 2018 depending on the availability of the appropriate consultant.

Duty Station:

• The duty station for the contractor is Kabul, Afghanistan for the entire duration of the contract, with mission to other locations in Afghanistan if required. The contractor will follow the working hours and weekends as applicable to UNDP project staff. Contractor’s movement for meetings and consultations shall be coordinated by UNDP ROLHS Unit and relevant project focal points. The contractor is at all times required to observe UNDP security rules and regulations.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The contractor shall submit a price proposal as below:

• Daily Fee – The contractor shall propose a daily fee which should be inclusive of his professional fee, local communication cost and insurance (inclusive of medical evacuation). The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract is 88 Working days;

• Living Allowance, LA – The contractor shall propose a LA at the Kabul applicable rate of USD 162 per day for his stay at the duty station. The maximum number of days for which the LA shall be payable under the contract is 123 nights. The contractor is NOT allowed to stay in a place of his choice other than the UNDSS approved places. UNDP will provide MORSS compliant accommodation in a UN approved location;

• Travel & Visa – The contractor shall propose an estimated lumpsum for home-Kabul-home travel and Afghanistan visa expenses;

• R&R - The contractor shall be entitled for R&R - 7 calendar days (USD 2,170) for every six weeks during the course of the assignment. After the last R&R, the contract should mandatorily stay in country for minimum of 30 calendar days. 

The total professional fee, shall be converted into a lumpsum contract and payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of deliverables under the contract in accordance with the abovementioned schedule of payment.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

• Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall 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.

* Technical Criteria weight 70%

* Financial Criteria weight 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria 70 points

Technical Proposal (40 marks)

• Technical Approach & Methodology (25 marks) – This explain the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the degree of detail of such output. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach;

• Work Plan (15 marks) – The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan.

Qualification and Experience (30 marks) [evaluation of CVs for shortlisting]

• General Qualification (10 marks);

• Experience relevant to the assignment (15 marks);

• Previous experience with UNDP Projects (5 points).

Documents to be included when submitting proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

• Duly accomplished Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II);
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

Technical proposal:

• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable candidate for the assignment;
• A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment and work plan as indicated above.