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.

In line with the agenda to push for governance reforms on road projects, an integral component of the DILG-CMGP and Roads2SDGs is the provision of technical assistance to provincial local governments. This includes upholding minimum design criteria in road engineering based on DPWH standards. Hence, CMGP provincial engineers who provide technical assistance to the provincial LGUs in the preparation and submission of detailed engineering designs (DEDs) of proposed road projects should have the technical know-how on road designs. In addition, capacities of provincial local governments themselves in the aspect of road engineering should also be enhanced. The need for a training intervention on road design engineering was expressed by the CMGP provincial engineers during the Quality Assurance training in September 2018. This need for capacity development was jointly discussed and recognized by the UNDP Roads Team and the CMGP Project Management Office.

It is in this light that the Roads2SDGs project proposes the hiring of a Road Design Engineer, who will be the focal person to deliver capacity development interventions on road design. 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 Six (6) months, CMGP provincial engineers and road design engineers of provincial local governments shall have increased knowledge and skills on road design engineering.

Objectives

To achieve the foregoing, the engagement of a UNDP road design engineer shall seek to achieve the following:

1. Address the training gaps on road design engineering among CMGP provincial engineers;

2. Increase knowledge of provincial local governments on road design engineering through technical modules, which discusses design standards that adhere to CMGP Minimum Design Requirements, DPWH Standards and other recognized technical standards in road design; and,

3. Develop capacities of implementers through other interventions necessary towards relevant and responsive provision of technical assistance on road design engineering to provincial local governments.

Expected Outputs

1. Conduct of Training of Trainors on Road Design Engineering

2. Provision of technical assistance to CMGP PMO and provincial engineers related to the submission of the provincial local governments’ Detailed Engineering Designs (DEDs)

3. Technical Modules for provincial local governments on Road Design Engineering

4. Work Plan on the roll-out and proposed activities for capacity development of local government units on road design engineering.

Duties and Responsibilities

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

1. Organize/attend technical meetings between UNDP and DILG-CMGP Project Management Office

2. Serve as key resource person; Organize the conduct of a Training of Trainors (ToT) on road design engineering to be participated by CMGP PMO, Regional and Provincial engineers and other identified participants

3. Provide technical assistance to field implementers related to the submission of Detailed Engineering Designs (DEDs) of the provincial local governments

4. Draft technical modules which will serve as reference of provincial engineers on road design engineering

5. Pilot the use of technical modules to a select sample among provincial local government units

6. When necessary, engage in fieldwork to identify capacity development needs of stakeholders on road design engineering

7. Draft a work plan for the roll-out of capacity building interventions among provincial local governments

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

Application Requirements:

Applicants are requested to upload the following documents in one file:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability that indicates the all-inclusive lumpsum 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.
2. 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; 
3. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.

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=51509

The following documents are requested and kindly submit it at procurement.ph@undp.org

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