Background

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women will lead and coordinate the United Nations system’s efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

In Papua New Guinea, women are half as likely to be employed in formal sector work than men. Most women earn their living from the informal sector where they are unprotected from economic shocks. UN Women has been working with the Government to research the extent of women’s economic contribution to the informal sector as a way of helping the National Government roll out an effective Informal Economy policy that protects workers interests more and recognises their contribution to the national economy.

There are no women in Parliament at the moment and only seven since Independence in 1975. Since the decentralisation agenda has gained strength, there is evidence that there are less women working at provincial and district levels, meaning women’s voice in political and administrative arenas of decision making appears to be reducing. UN Women is engaged at a national level on policy and legislative support to change these dynamics and this Safe and Productive District work will help support women’s leadership in East Sepik, Lae and Buin.

The high rates of violence against women and girls in both domestic and public spaces in PNG has limited their access to opportunities and services. To address these, UN Women partnered with key government authorities and civil society groups over the last six years to implement a Safe City Flagship programme in Port Moresby to promote safe markets and safe public transportation. in the city. Lessons from the programme indicate that appropriate and consultative design of public infrastructure facilitates behaviour change in public spaces and contributes to a safer environment for women and girls, which has the potential to promote women’s economic empowerment. UN Women intends to capitalize on the lessons learned and results achieved, by upscaling and adapting the Safe City model to towns and districts in PNG. This will enable UN Women to provide gender-responsive technical inputs into design and creation of safe and inclusive public spaces to promote the mobility and civic participation of women and girls.

The structural interlinkages between gender equality and urban sustainable development have been recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which emphasizes the role of efficient urbanization as the right path towards sustainable development. While SDG 11 calls for making cities and urban settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and commits to provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, it also makes explicit references to women, and specifically targets eliminating sexual harassment in public spaces.

Context & Rationale

Violent crime in Port Moresby and other parts of Papua New Guinea threatens the safety and security of all citizens, and particularly women and girls, who live in fear of physical and sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence. The constant state of insecurity prevents women from leading the normal lives of free citizens – walking in certain parts of the city, travelling at certain times (especially in the early morning and late afternoon when streets are empty. The high rate of violence further reduces women and girls’ participation in all forms of social, economic and political life.

It is estimated that 85% of employment opportunities in PNG exist in the agriculture sector, providing significant opportunities for women and men to participate in the country’s economic growth. Accordingly, markets provide the spaces for women who grow their own food to sell their surplus agricultural produce and other goods in order to provide income for themselves and their households. Markets are often the only public spaces where women and men can socialize with other members of the community. However, the opportunity that markets provide to communities for socialization and subsistence is undermined by the violence, which is endemic in markets and other public spaces across the country, particularly against women and girls. The absence of public administration and adequate management of these public spaces also diminishes the potential impact that markets could have in the economic development of PNG.

Sexual harassment and other forms of violence against women and girls in public spaces are endemic in PNG, in cities, districts and rural areas, especially in markets; 64% of both male and female respondents in a Safe City scoping study reported witnessing some form of sexual violence against women and girls (SVAWG) in the markets and vicinity. Many women and girls do not enjoy their right to freedom of movement; are not able to pursue educational and economic advancement possibilities; and their access to services and recreational facilities are severely constrained. Freedom of movement is a human right. It is also essential to economic growth.

In Papua New Guinea, gender based violence is closely linked to women’s ability to influence design making in their families and communities. Women’s ability to influence decisions is also closely linked to their ability to earn and control income. Any intervention in one of these domains will influence the other, either positively or negatively. Working in markets and urban development in general, has the potential to leverage outcomes in each of these related domains. UN Women has found this to be true through lessons from Safe Cities in Port Moresby. In addition, markets are one part of the urban environment. They are not stand-alone islands. Markets depend on transport links, agricultural produce, access to other services, information systems and good market administration. A Safe District program should look at markets as part of the social ecosystem and not a stand-alone infrastructure.

This initiative is an effort to translate the gains from our Safe City work in Port Moresby to other towns and districts such as Lae, Buin, and the Sepik region; where there is an increasing demand for gender sensitive urban and district planning and implementation and interest in improving women’s economic empowerment. Development actors who have learnt about the result oriented partnerships that have bought about transformative change in Port Moresby are now beginning to demand for similar support in their own communities.  This is also in line with the SDGs agenda which requires that no one be left behind. This assignment will enable UN Women to appraise available information, conduct further investigation to fill knowledge gaps and inform project design for the next phase of our work on gender sensitive urban development in the new programme locations in both cities and rural districts.

Objectives of the assignment

The key objective of the assignment is to conduct the project scoping study and project design for new Safe and Prosperous Districts Projects, localising the tools and lessons learnt from the Safe City and Safe Public Transport Programmes to rural and peri-urban contexts and improving the focus on economic development.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work/Duties and Responsibilities     

A team of people will be contracted to deliver the design, including a team leader, and an architect. See the section under design team for more information about the skills required by the team. Applicants can apply jointly or as individuals. All applicants will be contracted separately as individuals.

Under overall guidance of the UN Women Country Representative and direct supervision of the UN Women Deputy Country Representative, the consultant team will perform the following tasks in the three target areas:

1. Yangoru Saussia District; including social programming as well as infrastructure inputs, assessment of accessibility (road and river) to markets and other economic opportunities, focusing on women and girls.
2. Buin District in Bougainville: including social programming as well as infrastructure inputs, assessment of accessibility (road and river) to markets and other economic opportunities, focusing on women and girls.
3. Lae City: including social and economic programmes in the markets and public transport.

Activities

• Submit proposed methodology for the scoping study. The study should engage District MPs (and others as appropriate) to assess opportunities for joint funding of a Safe and Prosperous District programme.

The methodology should ensure women and girls who will be beneficiaries of the programme have been consulted and their views included in the design.

Demographics and poverty

1. Demographics, social, political, cultural, economic and other relevant characteristics about the contexts relevant to the program

Safety

1. Participatory consultation about safety issues that women and girls experience in public spaces and recommendations for strategic intervention sites for reducing GBV
2. Identification of public spaces/facilities in targeted districts/town where women experience high levels of SH/GBV e.g. safety mapping
3. Review of the causes, contributory factors and permissive conditions for each form of harassment and violence and document strategies that women and girls employ to cope effectively
4. Assess accessibility and safety issues in the existing public transport system (road and river -- including walking and paddling), discussing how mobility for men and women differ
5. Assess the prevalence of vendors who are members of associations, map linkages of existing associations and the potential and barriers for mobilising more vendors to join/form associations for increased capacity to advocate for their needs and rights (provide sex-disaggregated statistics)
6. Identify potential partners and appraise their capacity to contribute to a Safe Districts program, including a prevention program and managing a District safe house. 

Economic empowerment

1. Understand and identify gaps and opportunities about local laws, policies, existing programmes and services to improve women’s economic empowerment
2. Participatory consultation about how to improve women’s ability to earn and control income
3. Review of the causes, contributory factors and permissive conditions that reduce women’s ability to earn and control income and recommendations about how to overcome these
4. Assess women’s participation in the transport industry and how to increase their access to business opportunities within it (road and river -- including walking and paddling)
5. Assess the prevalence of institutions (government and non-government, development partners and private sector) that support women’s economic empowerment and make recommendations on ways to strengthen benefits to women.

Infrastructure

1. Participatory processes with market and transport users and managers (particularly women) that identify possible designs for appropriate gender sensitive infrastructure relating to markets and transport systems.

Governance

1. Method of engagement to assess District and Provincial capacity building of duty bearers responsible for social policy and planning relating to market and transport infrastructure and systems.

• Submit a Literature Review report, covering the areas listed above, clearly citing references.
• Conduct field design, implementing approved methodology for data collection and stakeholder engagement. Field research to the three tagret areas should include: 
  • Conduct field design, implementing approved methodology for data collection and stakeholder engagement. Field research to the three target areas should include:
  • Implementation of participatory processes outlined in the agreed methodology
  • Mapping of GBV service providers, listing strengths and gaps and identifying potential partners for the Programme
  • Identification of the opportunities and challenges for women’s economic empowerment and increased financial inclusion at local markets
  • Assessing the capacity needs of the District Development Authorities (DDAs) to manage district infrastructure and local economic development opportunities that could be provided through the programme and develop a plan to increase District capacity
  • Mapping of current public transport operators and identify key accessibility challenges for women and girls
  • Develop infrastructure concepts based on public participation processes.

• Consolidate all findings to a design report, clearly describing the gaps and challenges, as well as opportunities and areas for intervention in the report and inclusive of proposed infrastructure.

• Facilitate a workshop with stakeholders to validate the draft design.
• Develop a Handbook on the Establishment of District Markets, documenting key steps leading to the final design, including lessons learnt.

Architectural design work

An architect will work with the team to develop a set of architectural images that are able to convey the design intent for Yangoru and Buin markets to the major stakeholders. The architect will document the concept design of Gordons Market, to serve as a basis for design development works to proceed.

The Consultant is required to produce the following outputs in draft: 

• Deliverable Timeframe Digital file for A0 sized, coloured 3D-rendering of perspective drawings of the whole site viewed from:
  • NE end and 
  • SE end of the site
• Digital file for A1 sized, coloured 3D-rendering of:
  • Car park and
  • bus stops
  • local adjoining restaurant
• Digital file for A1 sized, coloured 3D-rendering of perspective drawings of the community centre/container stalls area viewed from:
  • NW end and 
  • SW end of the site
• Digital file for A3 sized, coloured 3D-rendering of details:
  • Toilets and water facilities
  • Fresh food vending area (fruit, vegetables)
  • Fresh food vending area (seasonal vendors)
  • Fresh food vending area (meat, seafood)
  • Eating area
  • Container shops
  • Community centre
  • Clinic 
• Autocad files of plans, elevations, sections and details of concept design
• Summary report of architectural intent for each of the major spaces in the design.

The Consultant is required, but not limited, to perform the following:

• Review relevant guidelines and manuals to ensure the key principles of Universal Access, Women’s Safety and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design underline the proposed design.
• Participate in some of the community consultations to ensure all architectural concepts and design respond to the needs of women users.
• Prepare 3D rendering of concept design drawings as a platform for stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Develop AutoCad files of the concept design in preparation of the draft overall design.
• Conduct briefings on the concept design to major stakeholders so as to instil appreciation for the coherence between guiding principles and the proposed design. 
• Carry out a broad estimate of cost of the proposed concept and support UNW in reconciling the design with the project budget.

Duration of the assignment

The total duration of the contract assignment will be up to 6 months, from 1 July 2018 to 30th October. It is anticipated that the team of consultants will complete part of the assignment remotely, and part of it within Papua New Guinea. The estimated time for field visit for consultations and observations are (ideally, the team of consultants will travel to the provinces as a single group):

Location 1

• Sepik (Yangoru, Maprik, Nuku, Wewak)
• Team members
  • Architect and all other consultants
• Estimated duration
  • 4 days for architect
  • 2 weeks for other consultants

Location 2

• Lae City
• Team members
  • All other consultants (excluding architect)
• Estimated duration
  • 5 days

Location 3

• Buin, Buka
• Team members
  • Architect and all other consultants.
• Estimated duration
  • 4 days for architect
  • 2 weeks for all other consultants

Location 4

• Port Moresby
• Team members
  • All other consultants 
• Estimated duration
  • 5 days

The team leader is estimated to need 2 additional days for each deliverable to consolidate inputs from all consultants.

Expected Deliverables

The consultant team is expected to deliver the following results, noting that overall responsibility for the deliverables will rest with the team leader:

• Final methodology and research plan for the assignment. Due 15 July 2018. Weighs 30% of payment. 
• Literature Review. Due 29 July 2018. Weighs 20% of payment.
• Draft design, with presentation to UN Women (including architectural concepts). Due 06 October 2018. Weights 30% of payment.
• Final Project Document including infrastructure concepts (including final architectural concepts) and District Market Development Handbook. Due 30 October 2018. Weighs 20% of payment.

All the documents, training materials and reports should be submitted in written in English language:

• 1 electronic copy (including architectural drawings as specified below)
• 2 hard copies

Upon receipt of the deliverables and prior to the payment of the instalment, the deliverables, related reports and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women within one week of submission.

Inputs

• The consultants are expected to submit financial proposal exclusive of cost of living (CoL) in Port Moresby. Any other costs related with travelling from the consultants’ home country to Port Moresby (E.g. visa, air tickets) shall be included in the lump sum of the Financial Proposal, clearly stating daily consultancy fee. All travel expenses within PNG, inclusive of Consultant daily subsistence allowances while in PNG, will be computed based on standard UN daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rate and should not be included in Financial Proposal.
• Assignment-related travels at the duty station will be facilitated by UN Women who will provide a driver on a pick-up and drop-off basis.
• The consultants are expected to work either at the UN Women office or other relevant location, using her/his own computer, but may access the UN Women office for printing of relevant documents should he/she be required to work on-site at any point during the assignment.
• The consultants will be required to provide their own local communications such as SIM cards and mobile phone. 
• The consultants will be provided with a UN security briefing and will be required to follow UN security rules and guidance.
• The Consultants will arrange private insurance and the cost of which will be included in the financial proposal.
• The Consultants will be required to provide a Statement of Good Health, endorsed by a certified Medical Practitioner.

Performance evaluation

The Consultants’ performance will be evaluated based on: relevant experience, timeliness, quality of deliverables, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

Required experience and qualifications

There will be 3 to 4 team members selected. The team leader should demonstrate team leadership skills as well as skills and knowledge relevant to at least of the technical areas mentioned below under the first dot point of “Experience and skills” (e.g. gender responsive social planning, working with local Governments, etc.)

UN Women will arrange additional team members:

• two Papua New Guinea staff full time from the UN Women office who will be able to use UN Women processes to engage with local communities in the local language.
• a member of the Senior Management Team of UN Women on an as needs basis.
• a member of the relevant Government authorities as necessary.

The design team members that will be selected through this current tender should have a mix of the following skills:

Education

• The team leader should have as a minimum, a Master Degree with 10 years of experience in gender and development/inclusive social planning processes
• The architect should have demonstrated experience in successfully designing infrastructure that meets the specific needs of women and girls
• Other team members need a relevant degree with at least 8 years demonstrated experience in delivering similar programs of work.

Experience and skills

• Strong analytical, research and practical skills with a mixed background:
  • Gender-responsive social planning
  • Working with local Governments
  • Women’s economic empowerment and rural development
  • Governance and political practice
  • Community Development
  • Design and architectural expertise that reflects the needs of women
• Familiarity with development context in PNG especially in gender and development issues
• Experience in conducting participatory consultations
• Demonstrated architectural design experience that meets the needs of women and girls and reflects developing country contexts
• Demonstrated ability to generate well written, well researched and high-quality reports and architectural plans and proposals (including 3D concepts)
• Ability to deliver results in a high pressure, political environment
• Ability to collaborate in a team to achieve results.

The team leader will also need to demonstrate the ability to manage a team of professionals and local staff delivering such a program.

Language and other skills

• Good command of English both written and oral

Submission of application

Interested candidates are requested to submit electronic application to UNDP website at the following link not later than 15 July 2018 COB (PNG time). Applicants can apply jointly or as individuals. All applicants will be contracted separately as individuals.

Submission package

• Personal CV or P11 form, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
• Letter of Interest containing the statement on candidate’s experience in the field.
• Financial proposal. The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount breaking down a daily professional fee, international travel expenses (from the country of origin to Port Moresby and back) and other related costs. Proposal should not include costs for travels and stay within PNG.
• 1 sample of recent work, demonstrating competency in consolidating and presenting qualitative information in ENGLISH.

All applications must include (as one pdf attachment) the CV and the financial proposal. Applications without financial proposal will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Evaluation

Applications will be evaluated based on the Cumulative analysis.

• Technical Qualification (100 points) weight; [70%]
• Financial Proposal (100 points) weight; [30%]

A two-stage procedure is utilised in evaluating the proposals, with evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to any price proposal being compared. Only the price proposal of the candidates who passed the minimum technical score of 70% of the obtainable score of 100 points in the technical qualification evaluation will be evaluated.

Technical qualification evaluation criteria:

The total number of points allocated for the technical qualification component is 100. The technical qualification of the individual is evaluated based on following technical qualification evaluation criteria:

• Relevant education with an obtainable score of 20 marks.
• Experience in relevant design processes of similar scale and subject with an obtainable score of 40 marks.
• Knowledge of the PNG or other developing country context (particularly on women’s empowerment and development) with an obtainable score of 20 marks.
• Quality of sample writing with an obtainable score of 20 marks.

Only the candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% of total points will be considered as technically-qualified candidate.

Financial proposal evaluation

• Only the financial proposal of candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation will be considered and evaluated.
• The total number of points allocated for the price component is 100.
• The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened/ evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.
• The candidates with the highest combined score (technical and financial) will be considered for the position.