Background

In 2018 the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a joint project with the Institute of Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan entitled “Assistance in implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan for 2016-2020”.  The project is focused on engaging the Government of Turkmenistan on its duty and capacity to comply with its international human rights obligations and implementing recommendations of human rights treaty bodies, including the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan (TNIDHR) is the main implementing partner of the project and coordinating agency for the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP).

TNIDHR chairs the work of the Interdepartmental Commission for Treaty Bodies and International Humanitarian Law (IC) that was established on the basis of a Presidential Decree in 2007. The mandate of the Interdepartmental Commission (IC), that includes the representatives of 20 national ministries and agencies, is to coordinate the Government’s efforts aimed at implementing international legal obligations of Turkmenistan in the area of human rights, including implementation, monitoring and reporting under any international human rights instrument signed by Turkmenistan.

One of the objectives of the current project with TNIDHR is to provide technical consultancy on reporting to the UN human rights treaty bodies.

Turkmenistan ratified the Covenant in 1997, and in 2011 presented the first periodic report along with the written replies to its list of issues. Turkmenistan submitted its 2nd periodic report to CESCR in December 2016 and received a list of issues from the Committee in October 2017. Turkmenistan government delegation will take part in the CESCR constructive dialogue on the second national report in early October 2018.

UNDP is planning to organize a mock session workshop on the Q&A reporting process to the Committee on CESCR for the Turkmenistan government delegation. Therefore, UNDP is looking for a consultant with the hands-on experience on CESCR to conduct a mock session workshop on CESCR to prepare the Turkmen delegation for a constructive dialogue at the Committee. An international expert shall carry out one three-day mission to Turkmenistan to facilitate a two-day workshop to provide methodological support and advise to the national counterparts to prepare for the constructive dialogue on CESCR.

Duties and Responsibilities

In accordance with the above-mentioned objective of the assignment and under the supervision of the Project Manager, the International Consultant (IC) will have the objective to conduct a two-day training/mock session aimed to help the Government delegation to prepare to attend the CESCR session, present its report, and engage in a constructive dialogue with the CESCR Committee. To achieve the objective, he or she will work to produce the following:

1. Conduct an in-depth desk review of the concluding observations provided to Turkmenistan by the CESCR Committee in 2011, 2nd national report of CESCR 2016, list of issues of 2017 and UPR in 2018; Based on the review of above mentioned documents, prepare a list of questions with regard to the 2nd national report and list of issues published by the CESCR Committee;
2. Hold technical consultations with the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan (TNIDHR);
3. Conduct a two-day mock session workshop for the members of the Turkmen delegation covering the list of issued raised by the Committee; during the session present good practices related to the dialogue on CESCR Committee; and advise the members of the delegation on the strengths and weaknesses of their performance and on measures that should be taken to ensure successful upcoming dialogue with the Committee.
4. Prepare and submit to UNDP the final consultancy report that will cover the results of the mission and the recommendations/suggestions for strengthening capacity of Turkmen national counterparts on UN Treaty Body reporting.

Deliverables and timeframe:

Deliverable 1:

• Desk review examining Turkmenistan’s reports on CESCR and UPR;
• Three-day mission to Turkmenistan, technical consultations with TNIDHR, two-day mock session workshop on CESCR for Turkmenistan government delegation.

Location: Home-based, 3-day mission to Turkmenistan. Number of days: 4 days.

Deliverable 2:

• Final Consultancy report with results of the mission and recommendations.

Location: home-based.Number of days: 1 day.

Payment conditions:

This is a lump sum contract that should include all costs required to produce the above deliverables. The payment shall be released via a bank transfer in one installment. 100% upon submission and UNDP formal acceptance of the deliverable 1 mentioned above.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge of and extensive experience working with UN human rights mechanisms;
• Excellent training, facilitation and communication skills;
• Results driven, ability to work under pressure and to meet required deadlines;
• Good understanding and practice of capacity development;
• Cultural sensitivity;
• Diplomatic skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree in a relevant field, such as international humanitarian law, human rights, political science, international relations.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of working experience in capacity and institution building in the area of human rights, UN treaty body reporting mechanisms;
• Experience in capacity and institution building in the area of UN treaty body reporting, in particular in relation to ICESCR, CESCR and its reporting procedures;
• Knowledge and experience  of work in the CIS or Central Asia is an advantage;
• Good knowledge of the UN mandate in the area of democratic governance is an asset.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English; fluency in Russian is desirable.

Submission of applications:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

All experts applying for this position are required to provide:

• Brief (1-2 pages) description of the methodology for the assignment;
• Financial Proposal with the references to (1) the daily rate for the assignment and within the timing scale indicated in the present TOR, and (2) any other expenses (including transportation costs, accommodation costs, the possibility of vaccination and etc.). Template of the form can be found at: http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/procurement.html . The UNDP will enter into an Individual Contract based on a lump sum amounts. The financial proposal shall represent a detailed, justified and “all inclusive” amount.  In order to assist UNDP in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount, including: a daily fee for the tasks and an estimated duration as specified in this announcement, travel (to and from the missions), per diems, any other possible costs (including vaccinations, dwelling, communication etc.);
• Cover letter explaining why they are the most suitable candidate for the assignment;
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/procurement.html .

Evaluation of proposals:

Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on the combined scoring methodology. When using this method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant and having received the highest score – out of 100 points;
• Out of the maximum score, the score for technical criteria equals 70% - maximum 70 points, and for financial criteria 30%.

The technical evaluation will take into account the following as per the scoring provided:

• Advanced university degree in a relevant field, such as international humanitarian law, human rights, political science, international relations – 15 pts;
• At least 7 years of working experience in capacity and institution building in the area of human rights, UN treaty body reporting mechanisms – 15 pts;
• Experience in capacity and institution building in the area of human rights, in particular in relation to ICESCR, CESCR and its reporting procedures – 10 pts;
• Methodology – 10 pt;
• Interview – 15 pt;
• Good knowledge of the UN mandate in the area of democratic governance – 10 pts;
• Knowledge and experience of work in the CIS or Central Asia – 10 pts;
• Fluency in English – 10 pts
• Fluency in Russian – 5 pts;

Financial proposal – 30% of total evaluation.

Additional requirements for recommended contractor:

Recommended contractors aged 62 and older, and if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.