Background

Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to assist and support implementation of the economic development component activities in the framework of D4D project.

Objective

The objective of this consultancy is to ensure the implementation and quality assurance of the interventions related to skills and knowledge transfer within the Project; diaspora investment in BIH through established Investment Fund; and networking between the private sector in BIH and diaspora (B2B events linking diaspora businesses and professionals with BIH private sector);

Background Information

The consultancy is planned within D4D (2016-2020), a joint project by the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BIH (MHRR) and the Government of Switzerland, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in BiH. Official estimates show that the total number of people originating from BIH in the world (including their offspring) is approximately 2 million. Most of them retain a strong emotional, financial, and familial connection with BIH. They are also well integrated and better off than other migrant communities in their host countries, with potential and willingness to contribute to development of their homeland. However, the interaction with them is often sporadic and unstructured. Hence, the valuable intellectual capital and other potential contribution of diaspora, which can help addressing country challenges or promoting BIH globally, remains largely untapped. Project has a goal to increase socio-economic opportunities and perspectives for women and men in BIH, and to improve their livelihoods through increased diaspora engagement. The overall goal of the D4D Project will be attained through achieving three specific outcomes:

  • BIH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees and BIH Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with government institutions at different levels, use and further develop their instruments to actively connect, exchange, and engage with diaspora members and organizations.
  • Local governments align their development strategies to the diaspora policy framework at higher government levels, provide more and better services to diaspora members, and encourage community initiatives to attract diaspora know-how and investment.
  • Diaspora partners transfer know-how and skills and make joint investments with private sector actors in BIH, thus creating new jobs.

This consultancy will take place within the Project’s third component focused on supporting the partnering of diaspora and private sector actors in BIH via transferring know-how, making joint investments and creating new jobs to the benefit of BIH population. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will assist the Project in the implementation of the activities under economic component, identification of new cooperation opportunities and facilitation f the exchange between private sector in BIH and diaspora.

More specifically, the Consultants will undertake the following main tasks:

Task 1. Assisting in implementation and quality assurance of the interventions related to skills and knowledge transfer within the Project:

? Assist the Economic Development Officer in implementation of awarded grants;

  • Prepare and organize monitoring visits in line with the applicant workplans that set objectives, timelines and activities;
  • Conducts intensive field visits, to monitor the implementation progress and effects of skills and knowledge transfer;
  • Support to designing the assistance related to business-to-business skills and knowledge transfer from diaspora to BIH;
  • Contribute to monitoring effects of the knowledge and skills transfer assistance, to capture economic effects for beneficiaries and positive developments following the interaction with the diaspora businesses;
  • Assist in promotion of cooperation initiatives and their results both in BIH and diaspora;
  • Reporting on the implementation of relevant activities on monthly basis, in line with the Project logical framework and progress indicators.

The effort under this task will require 20 expert days.

Task 2. Supporting the Project initiatives to contribute to diaspora investment in BIH:

  • Assist in managing investment support schemes through established Investment Fund to facilitate business investments in cooperation with diaspora in BIH including the communication with the implementing partner;
  • Interact with diaspora, their organisations and networks as well as businesses and business organisations in BIH, contributing to sharing information about funding opportunities and facilitating business-to-business matching;
  • Conducts intensive field visits, to monitor the implementation progress and effects of the investment support scheme, ensuring their promotion both in BIH and diaspora.

The effort under this task will require 10 expert days.

Task 3. Contributing to interaction and networking between the private sector in BIH and diaspora:

  • Contribute to capturing relevant Project experiences and lessons learned;
  • Assist in identifying and facilitating business-to-business connections and interaction between diaspora businesses and organisations, and businesses in BIH (including via business-to-business events, design and distribution of tools and materials supporting investment opportunities for diaspora, mapping of potentials for expanding exports, as well as identification of funding opportunities for diaspora businesses in countries of destinations, linking diaspora business organisations with BIH associations, etc.);
  • Assists in organising trainings, workshops, technical assistance sessions, and other events, prepares relevant materials and minutes.

The effort under this task will require 5 expert days.

Deliverables and Timeline

Consultants are responsible for the following deliverables:

Task 1: Assisting in implementation and quality assuring the interventions related to skills and knowledge transfer within the Project:

  • Developed monitoring reports on the implementation of relevant activities including all supporting documentation; Report on the implementation of relevant activities, in line with the Project logical framework and progress indicators - Up to 20 expert days in total, 31 March 2019, 57%;

Task 2: Supporting the Project initiatives to contribute to diaspora investment in BIH:

  • Developed monitoring reports on the implementation progress and effects of the investment support scheme; Report on the implementation of relevant activities, in line with the Project logical framework and progress indicators - Up to 10 expert days in total, 28 February 2019, 28%;

Task 3: Contributing to interaction and networking between the private sector in BIH and diaspora:

  • Track record of the activities undertaken and supported events - Up to 5 expert days in total,  30 April 2019, 14%;

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

  • Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
  • Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
  • Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
  • Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives.

People Skills:

  • Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
  • Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
  • Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behaviour;
  • Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
  • Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

Partnering and Networking:

  • Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
  • Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously;
  • Results-Orientation;
  • Plans and procedures quality results to meet established goals.

Communication:

  • Technical writing skills formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
  • Strong communication skills;
  • Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
  • Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

  • Strong analytical skills;
  • Knowledge in strategic planning and methodology development;
  • Demonstrates substantive knowledge on security issues and activities with an emphasis on local communities;
  • Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently;
  • Initiative and sound judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

  • Secondary education;
  • BA degree in economics or another relevant field would be an asset.

Experience:

  • Five years of general working experience out of which at least two years of experience in the area of economic development;
  • Experience in working with grant schemes and monitoring of the implemented activities against the set of indicators;
  • Understanding of economic development trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina and knowledge of private sector;
  • Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and clearly.

Languages Requirements:

  • Fluency in the official languages of BIH and English.

Other Requirements:

  • Excellent computer skills (MS Office applications) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 point would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical criteria:

  • Criteria A: Secondary education; BA degree in economics or another relevant field would be an asset - Weight: 20%, Maximum points: 15;
  • Criteria B: Five years of general working experience out of which at least two years of experience in the area of economic development; Experience in working with grant schemes and monitoring of the implemented activities against the set of indicators - Weioght: 30%, Maximum points: 20;
  • Criteria C: Understanding of economic development trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina and knowledge of private sector; Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and clearly - Weight: 20%, Maximum points: 15;
  • Criteria D: Empty sample of the monitoring report - Weight: 30%, Maximum points: 20;

Financial  criteria: Price offer from candidate (lump sum offer in BAM) - Weight: 30%, Maximum points: 30

EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

  • * Technical Criteria weight-70%
  • * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

  1. Proposal:

Travel

  • It is envisaged there will be up to 10 field visits within BIH during the assignment, thus all envisaged travel, accommodation or any other cost related to this assignment must be included in the financial proposal.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

  • For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
  • Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.