Background

Efficient, resilient, and well-planned road networks ensure that no one is left behind in the drive for inclusive growth. This is why roads are considered as an important foundation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and a prerequisite for bringing communities together.

At present, only 24.6% of all provincial roads in the Philippines are of acceptable quality. Of the 12,726km of provincial core roads, 57.2% are unpaved and in need of upgrading, while 20.2% are in poor condition and in need of rehabilitation. The situation is similarly dire for the 19,098 km of non-core roads, with 67% needing upgrading and 7% in need of rehabilitation.

To address this situation, the Department for the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has launched the Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces (CMGP) initiative to improve the quality of the local road network across the country, by providing both financial investment for capital outlay, as well as strengthening the governance processes so that provincial governments are themselves able to effectively plan, design, implement and maintain their road networks. The Program addresses the underinvestment in local roads, and improvement of national-local roads connectivity to increase economic activity, and improve public access to facilities and services in the provinces. 

For FY 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the Program has a total budget of P18.03 Billion under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF). Aside from this, the DILG budget also has an allocation of P564.256 Million for FY 2017 intended to support the governance reform, quality assurance, and monitoring of road projects of the PLGUs.

The Program, however, is not only a road engineering intervention, it is also a governance reform program in local roads management (LRM) and public financial management (PFM). Thus, in partnership with DILG, UNDP has launched a project “Paving the Roads to SDGs through Good Governance (Roads2SDGs)” which aims to provide support to the governance reform and quality assurance components of CMGP through the ‘Road to SDGs’ framework. This framework will anchor the prioritization, planning, design, implementation, and maintenance of infrastructure projects to the achievement of the SDGs, incorporating the elements of partnership building, climate change and disaster risk reduction, gender mainstreaming, and citizen participation for transparency and accountability.

At the onset of the project implementation, it was found that provincial local government units (PLGUs) have to improve their governance systems in road asset management and maintenance. Data has shown that not all provincial roads and bridges are booked as assets, and life cycle management of roads is generally not evident. This situation also has direct implication on the weak financial management of PLGUs related to local roads. Thus, an integral component of the governance reform on local road management is on road asset management. UNDP recognizes its role to deliver capacity development interventions, through knowledge products and training activities that will ultimately result to a better system of PLGUs’ governance in relation to road asset management.

It is in this light that the Roads2SDGs project proposes the hiring of a Road Asset Management Specialist, who will be the focal person to deliver capacity development interventions on road asset management. It will be a short-term engagement with possibility for extension depending on the results of the interventions.

Outcome

It is desired that at the end of five (5) months, provincial local government units shall have increased knowledge and skills on road asset management. This will help pave for the PLGUs to determine priorities, craft policies and pursue strategic actions in line with maintaining and managing their roads.

Objectives

To achieve the foregoing, the engagement of a UNDP road asset management specialist shall seek to achieve the following:

  • Address knowledge gaps on road asset management among CMGP provincial engineers and road specialists of PLGUs through the conduct of training activities and workshops;

  • Build capabilities and cascade learning through the development and distribution of knowledge products, such as the Road Asset Management Manual for LGUs and road asset management training modules and tools; and,

  • Develop capacities of implementers through other interventions necessary towards adoption by PLGUs of road asset management principles and practices.

Expected Outputs

  • Road Asset Management Manual for Local Government Units

  • Conduct of training, workshops and related activities towards increasing knowledge and skills of CMGP provincial engineers and roads specialists of PLGUs on road asset management

  • Training modules and tools for PLGUs on Road Asset Management

  • Pilot-test and workshop towards the enhancement of the road asset management manual, modules and tools

Duties and Responsibilities

The Roads2SDGs Project Manager and the Roads Manager shall have direct supervision of the Road Asset Management Specialist.  They may assign a focal person who shall coordinate with the Vendor.  The Vendor shall undertake the following:

  • Conduct a survey/research of road asset management policies, guidelines and practices published locally or internationally, and which may be relevant in designing a road asset management framework for provincial local government units;

  • Conduct technical meetings and focus group discussions among UNDP, DILG-CMGP Project Management Office and other relevant government agencies and institutions such as the Commission on Audit, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Public Works and Highways, League of Provinces, among others;

  • Draft a road asset management manual for LGUs, preceded by a draft road asset management framework;

  • Organize the conduct of trainings and related activities to build capacities on road asset management to be participated by CMGP provincial engineers and other identified participants;

  • Draft and pilot-test the road asset management manual, training modules and tools on road asset management for PLGUs;

  • Organize the conduct of workshops and related activities to consolidate learning, suggestions and proposed enhancements on the manual, modules and tools on road asset management; and,

  • When necessary, engage in fieldwork to identify capacity development needs of stakeholders on road asset management.

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;
  • Expertise in data collection and analysis
  • Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
  • Strong analytical and research skills; and
  • Excellent organizational, and communication skills;

Required Skills and Experience

                                              Qualifications

Points Obtainable (100 points)

Education and Qualification

with University or Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Social Development,  Business Administration, Law, Finance and other relevant Courses. Masters Degree in Development Studies, Public Administration and local governance.

 

             25

Experience and relevant training

  • With 10 years progressive relevant international and local experience asset management and at least 5 years of experience in asset valuation, inventory, M&E, management or similar assignment

             (75)

              25

  • With experience in writing manuals, policy papers, training modules and/or other technical writing work

              10

  • Has demonstrated capacities in providing and facilitating capacity building interventions and technical assistance on road asset management

             10

  • Has been engaged in work, program, agenda and initiatives in the areas of governance, public administration, and service delivery

             10

  • Has demonstrated flexibility and ability to operate in different cultural settings and with a variety of stakeholders

             10

Language

  • Can speak and write English and Filipino fluently

              10

Total Points

            100

 

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

To select the best offer for this post, the combined scoring method will be used where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a maximum of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a maximum of 30%.

 

Recommended Presentation of Offer

To ensure the use of the same criteria for all the offers, the applicants are requested to present the following documents for uniformity:

  • Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP as shown in the Annex;

  • Personal CV or P11, 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;

  • Brief description of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for this assignment;

  • Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive 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 under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

Complete and detailed TOR along with the application requirements can be accessed thru this link: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=50677

Kindly email your application to: procurement.ph@undp.org

“In view of the volume of applications UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified.”