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).

In January 2016, the National Action Plan of Turkmenistan on Human Rights for 2016-2020 was approved by a Decree of the President of Turkmenistan. The objective of the Action Plan is to protect, promote and ensure human rights by defining them in the context of public policy, developing the programs for achieving these goals, further involvement of all relevant government bodies and civil society and allocating sufficient resources for the implementation of these programs.

One of the specific activities of the NRHAP is “Awareness raising on human rights through universal Human Rights education as a part of civil education; improving knowledge in the field of human rights though integration of World Programme for Human Rights Education. Turkmenistan with joint support from UN in Turkmenistan has joint the Global campaign dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights to promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which kicked off in December 2017. A national UDHR campaign with series of awareness raising activities on what the UDHR means for people in their everyday lives has been approved by the Government of Turkmenistan.  Lectures on UDHR at two universities of Turkmenistan with a visiting professor are planned within this campaign. In view of the above, UNDP Turkmenistan is looking for an international consultant to facilitate lectures on UDHR at two universities for students and professional teacher’s training for teachers.

Duties and Responsibilities

In accordance with the overall objective of the project and under the supervision of the Project Manager, International Consultant will develop a programme for lectures on UDHR and human rights with handout reference materials and carry out one mission to Turkmenistan to conduct lectures for students and professional training for teachers.

Scope of work

In line with the above-mentioned purpose of the assignment and under the supervision of the Project Manager, the International Consultant (IC) will have the objective of conducting lectures for students and professional teachers’ training on UDHR and human rights. To achieve the objective, he or she will produce the following:

  • Prepare a programme for two two-day lectures for students on UDHR, relevant handout reference materials, pre-tests and post-tests to evaluate knowledge of participants;
  • Detailed programme for a two-day professional teachers’ training on human rights and UDHR, relevant handout reference materials, pre-tests and post-tests to evaluate knowledge of participants;
  •  Carry out a seven-day mission to Ashgabat, which will include.
  1. Two two-day lectures (each lecture will be half a day) for students on UDHR;
  2. Two-day professional teacher’s training (half a day training) on UDHR;
  3. Consultation meetings with the National Institute of State, Law and Democracy and the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan;
  4. In-house consultations to the UNDP staff on programming human rights capacity building activities in the current projects, i.e. PVE, labour, human rights, etc.;
  5. In-house capacity building session on UDHR for the UNCT Human Rights, Gender and Youth Theme Group.
  • Prepare and submit to UNDP Consultancy report covering the results of the mission with lessons learned and recommendations for development of human rights education in Turkmenistan.

Deliverables and timeframe

Deliverable 1

  • Detailed programme for lectures for students, detailed programme for a two-day professional teachers’ training on human rights and UDHR including training sessions with Power Point Presentations, handout materials, pre-tests and post-tests in Ashgabat;

Location: Home based. Number of days: 5 days.

Deliverable 2

  • Conducted two two-day lectures on UDHR for students at two universities in Ashgabat.
  • Conducted two-day professional teachers’ training on human rights and UDHR in Ashgabat;
  • Held consultations with the National Institute of State, Law and Democracy and the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan

Location: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Number of days: 7 days.

Deliverable 3

  • Consultancy report on mission conducted with recommendations.

Location: Home based. Number of days: 2 days.

 

 Payment Conditions

This is a lump sum contract that should include costs of consultancy required to produce the above deliverables.

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 deliverables 1, 2 and 3 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. In depth knowledge of legal and judicial system;
  • 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 and gender sensitivity;
  • Diplomatic skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

Experience:

  • Professional experience of at least 7 years in the teaching humanitarian law and human rights courses in university or institute;
  • Knowledge and experience of visiting lectureship at international universities;
  • Good knowledge of the UN Treaty Bodies on human rights

Language requirements:

  • Excellent written and spoken English and Russian.

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%.

Technical evaluation (70%, or max 70 points) will take into account the following as per the scoring provided:

  • Advanced university degree in a relevant field, such as human rights, humanitarian law- 20 pts;
  • Professional experience of at least 7 years in the teaching humanitarian law and human rights courses in one of the universities or institutes – 20 pts;
  • Methodology – 10 pt;
  • Good knowledge of the UN Treaty Bodies on human rights – 15 pts;
  • Knowledge and experience of visiting lectureship – 15 pts;
  • Fluency in Russian – 10 pts;
  • Fluency in English – 10 pts.

Financial proposal – 30% of total evaluation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial 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.