United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgia through its Country Investment Facility funded project “Sustainable Cities”, aims to develop a solution-oriented national platform for sustainable cities to kickstart a country-wide transformation of good governance sector – and particularly cities and towns in Georgia, towards greater sustainability and resilience in line with the 2030 development agenda. The platform intends to bring together engaged citizens, technology providers, local authorities, service providers and private sector to co-design, test and co-implement solutions to the persisting governance and urban challenges and gaps such as pollution, Greenhouse gas emissions, municipal waste, under-developed modes of mobility (public transit, walking, cycling, car-sharing), lack of green spaces for people and unsustainable urban planning practices etc.  The platform will use the formula of “Start, Seed and Scale” and will provide space for a diverse range of stakeholders to experiment and help implement practical solutions for people-centric, participatory, climate-proof and ecologically safe urban planning practices, urban mobility, energy efficient technologies, waste management and employment generation. The proposal will bring together existing innovation platforms operating in Georgia such as Public Service Development Agency Innovation ServiceLab, Innovation Hub of Rustavi City Hall, Georgia’s Innovation and Technology Agency, Techno park of Georgia, Impact Hub Tbilisi, City Institute Georgia (urban planning company), eSpace (company dedicated to popularization of e-mobility in Georgia), tech and scientific communities from academia, private sector etc. In doing so, the initiative will contribute directly and indirectly to localizing national SDGs related to urban development.

At the national level UNDP Georgia is supporting the development of the cutting-edge expertise in policy development and implementation in line with the country’s development agenda. The current initiative focuses on the creation of the sustainable stream of local expertise in applied behavioral research and experimentation for policy decision-making to serve diverse policy areas in line with Czech-UNDP Partnership for SGDs’ mission and objectives, which is to contribute to socio-economic development in the partner countries through transfer of Czech expertise and innovative solutions for SDGs.

The prosed engagement of data expert will contribute to the establishment of a sustainable facility for behavioral research and experimentation by bringing together development actors, academia, government and think tanks at the local level will unfold against the ongoing initiatives targeting two policy areas, but not confined to:

• Piloting effective intervention mechanism to counter gender-based violence (GBV) by application of Behavioural Insights as well as support identification of innovative solutions to this problem, which may be replicable elsewhere. The assignment focuses on understanding the role of bystanders in perpetuating GBV, constraining factors and pro-offer methods and tools that can be potentially integrated in the cultural norms to address GBV.
• Improving performance of National Food Safety Agency (NFSA) in delivering of the pests’ management services through applying behavioral insights (BI) approach, through re-designing of the Brown Marmorated Stink bug management service on the bases of behavioral analysis of the affected population; targeting engagement of the population in the service delivery process that is critical for the efficiency of the fight against this type of pests, harmfully affecting the Georgian agriculture. 

These two initiatives form the first wave of experimentation in the Georgian public service when multi-stakeholder engagement for addressing persistent societal problems is driven by the results of the behavioral study findings and randomized control trials (RCTs).

At the national level UNDP Georgia is supporting the development of the cutting edge expertise in policy development and implementation in line with the country’s development agenda. The current initiative focuses on the creation of the sustainable stream of local expertise in applied data research and experimentation for policy decision-making to serve diverse policy areas in line with Czech-UNDP Partnership for SGDs’s mission and objectives, which is to contribute to socio-economic development in the partner countries through transfer of Czech expertise and innovative solutions for SDGs.

In parallel to building national ecosystem cutting edge capacities, the CO is building its own interface for fostering quick exploration, learning and adaptation by setting up an in-house innovation team with the new generation of agile professionals.

With the above objective, UNDP Georgia in cooperation with the Czech-UNDP for Partnership for SDGs is seeking an International Data Expert to contribute to the work of the UNDP Georgia  Innovation Team led activities presented above and under the overall guidance of UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, direct supervision of the CO Innovation Specialist and in close coordination with the local Behavioral Science Specialist, Data Specialist and Social Entrepreneurship Specialist of the Innovation Team.

• Mapping of the existing resources, capacities or the skillset existing in the innovation outlets in Georgia (approx 10) – ServiceLab, Rustavi Hub, Administration Innovation Planning Unit, UNDP Internal Innovation Facility which can be channeled for the establishment of sustainable model for data collection and analysis for public administration and development fields; [ 5 days]
• Mapping of the existing institutions and experts in governance, academic institutions, think tanks and other relevant organizations (approx. 30 contacts with details and context) to identify the relevant entry point for establishing/fostering a sustainable model for applied data studies for public administration and development fields; [ 5 days]
• Report in English (with approx. 20 standard pages) outlining the likely model of the data facility bringing together the existing academic institutions, think tanks, private sector research outlets that can potentially play role in the establishment of the sustainable stream of local expertise of applied data scientists and data analytics for policy design, implementation for the diverse platform of actors; [ 5 days]
• Provide mentorship to UNDP Georgia Innovation Team member – Local Data Specialist by engaging in the process of the work and subsequent handover of the implementation upon finalizing the assignment; [throughout the assignment]
• Review the ongoing initiatives fostering good governance in Georgia, select one of the initiatives [ e.g. behavioral insights for combating GBV or landscape mapping of the people’s perceptions on urban inequality, responsible consumption, etc ] and  through hands on approach, in collaboration with the CO Innovation Team and external partners co-design UNDP Georgia in-house system for regular collection, analysis and visualization of quantitative and qualitative data for real-time landscape mapping, monitoring, impact assessment to feed into development programmatic interventions; [ identify approach combining both quantitative and qualitative analysis, produce the report of approx 20 standard pages including visualization, process description, analysis and recommendations]  [ 25 days]
• In the process of co-designing UNDP Georgia in house system for data analysis, provide hands on training of the selected group of UNDP Georgia staff and that of national partners [ between 5-10 persons] in the latest method of applied real time quantitative and qualitative data analyses for better governance and policy making, by implementing a full cycle of data collection, analysis and visualization addressing one of the programmatic priorities (e.g. the landscape mapping of the people’s perceptions on urban inequality); [ 4 days]
• The consultant will widely promote the work via social media networks (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr), web platforms and in media. At the end of the contract, he/she will write an article (at least 2000 words in English) about the initiative.
• The consultant is expected to initiate and conduct at least two (2) meeting at the Czech Embassy in Tbilisi – at the beginning of the first mission and at the end of the last one. [ 6 days]

Deliverables:

Data Expert is expected to provide the deliverables outline below. The payments will be made upon the satisfactory completion/submission and approval of the deliverables by the supervisor.

1st Payment – 25%;  End of February 2019

• Report on Mapping of the existing resources, capacities or the skillset existing in the innovation outlets in Georgia ( approx 10) – ServiceLab, Rustavi Hub, Administration Innovation Planning Unit, UNDP Internal Innovation Facility which can be channeled for the establishment of sustainable model for data collection and analysis for public administration and development fields; [ 5 days]
• Report on the mapping of the existing resources, capacities or the skillset existing in the innovation outlets in Georgia ( approx 10) – ServiceLab, Rustavi Hub, Administration Innovation Planning Unit, UNDP Internal Innovation Facility which can be channeled for the establishment of sustainable model for data collection and analysis for public administration and development fields; [ 5 days]

2nd  payment – 25%;  April 2019

• Report in English (with approx. 20 standard pages) outlining the likely model of the data facility bringing together the existing academic institutions, think tanks, private sector research outlets that can potentially play role in the establishment of the sustainable stream of local expertise of applied data scientists and data analytics for policy design, implementation for the diverse platform of actors; [ 5 days]
• Handover report for UNDP Georgia Innovation Team member – Local Data Specialist as a result of engaging in the process of the work and subsequent handover of the implementation upon finalizing the assignment; [throughout the assignment]

3rd payment – 30%;  May 2019

• Report on the review of the ongoing initiatives fostering good governance in Georgia, and selection of one of the initiatives, as well as of the selected approach combining both quantitative and qualitative analysis, approx 20 standard pages including visualization, process description, analysis and recommendations]  including the report on the hands on co-designing workshop  in collaboration with the CO Innovation Team and external partners to  outline UNDP Georgia in-house system for regular collection, analysis and visualization of quantitative and qualitative data for real-time landscape mapping, monitoring, impact assessment to feed into development programmatic interventions;  [ 25 days]
• Report outlining the training pilot - in the process of co-designing UNDP Georgia in house system for data analysis, provide hands on training of the selected group of UNDP Georgia staff and that of national partners [ between 5-10 persons] in the latest method of applied real time quantitative and qualitative data analyses for better governance and policy making, by implementing a full cycle of data collection, analysis and visualization addressing one of the programmatic priorities (e.g. the landscape mapping of the people’s perceptions on urban inequality); [ 4 days]

4th -final payment – 20% June 2019

• Social media outreach products -promoting the work via social media networks (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr), web platforms and in media. At the end of the contract, he/she will write an article (at least 2000 words in English) about the initiative.
• Report on conducting at least two (2) meeting at the Czech Embassy in Tbilisi – at the beginning of the first mission and at the end of the last one. [6 days]

Financial arrangements:

The payments will be made upon the confirmation by UNDP of high quality performance  and the submission of deliverable reports. 

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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.

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision;
• Effective in quality assurance, working with teams, and time management;
• Ability to think strategically while focusing on details and delivery process;
• Ability to deal with pressure and overcome obstacles in start-up like environment.
• Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, focuses on impact and result and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
• Demonstrates strong written communication skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills;
• Exceptional communication skills, in order to explain technical concepts and the implications clearly to a wide and non-technical audience and to translate policy objectives into actionable analyses;
• Self-motivation and resourcefulness.

Education:

• Minimum Master’s degree in   social science, statistics, public administration, international studies, economics, or a related field, is required (minimum requirement: Master's degree: 8 points; PhD in the same disciplines - additional 2 points).

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of progressively experience in applied research and engagement with public administration, academia, development, or other related area, is required (minimum requirement: 3 years - 10 points; more than 3 years - additional 4 points);
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience at the international level is required.
• Experience in applied data science, big data, or open data, or combined real-time quantitative and qualitative data analysis for development interventions in good governance area is required (minimum requirement: 10 points);
• Experience with at least of 3 projects or research activities in good governance area would be an asset; Experience from Czech Republic would be an asset.
• Prior experience in mentorship and conducting training programs (6 points).

Language Requirements:

• Excellent written and spoken English; working or higher level of Georgian or Russian is an asset.

Evaluation:

Offerors will be evaluated against a combination of technical and financial criteria provided in the below table. Technical criteria consist of a desk review (40 points) and an interview (30 points). fferors obtaining minimum 28 points as a result of the desk review (criteria 1, 2 and 3) will be short listed and invited for an interview. Offerors obtaining minimum of 21 points as a result of the interview (i.e. minimum of 49 points in the technical criteria) will be considered qualified and requested to provide financial proposal for the assignment.

Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the ToR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount. Maximum 30 points will be assigned to the lowest price offer. All other price offers will be scored using the formula (inverse proportion):  Financial score X = 30* the lowest price offer/suggested price offer. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal as well. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.