Background

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

Project Management Specialist for the Participatory Governance Cluster Secretariat (DBM)

Individual Consultant (National)

PROJECT TITLE: Paving the Road to SDGs through Good Local Governance

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

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.

In partnership with DILG, UNDP has launched a project “Paving the Road to SDGs through Good Governance” (Roads2SDGs) which aims to provide support to quality assurance and the governance reform components of CMGP through the ‘Road to SDGs’ framework in all Provinces in the Philippines. 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, citizen participation for transparency and accountability, guided by SDGs principle of “leaving no one behind”.

In order to efficiently and effectively lead provincial roads projects to impact on sustainable development, Citizen participation is a prerequisite. In recognition of this, the Government of the Philippines, through Executive Order No. 24, created the Participatory Governance Cabinet Cluster (PGC). The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) serves as the Chair of the PGC while the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as Co-Chair and Cluster Secretariat. Specifically, the PGC is mandated to:

1. Enable public to understand, rationalize and implement national government programs and projects based on area-specific realities;
2. Strengthen consultation mechanisms to ensure effective implementation of programs and projects; and
3. Propose policies, programs and projects that would foster participatory governance and build the capacities of local government units for such purpose.

A key reform area of participatory governance is citizen engagement in the budget process.  Currently, the PGC and Open Government Partnership Secretariat within DBM have aligned efforts with the Fiscal Discipline and Fiscal Openness program of the DBM, which also requires additional technical assistance.

This falls in line with the UNDP Country Programme Document 2019-2023, with participatory governance being emboldened in the first outcome area. To this end, UNDP is currently supporting DBM to strengthen the public procurement system to promote citizen participation, integrity and value for money in the delivery of services. This involves the imminent creation of a Steering Committee on Mitigating Procurement Integrity Risks amongst DBM, DILG, DepEd, DOH and GPPB-TSO. This steering committee is mandated to oversee 1) technical assistance to procurement internal control framework, 2) mobilisation of CSOs to monitor PFM processes, and 3) enhancement of the APCPI.

Furthermore, UNDP is supporting a number of mechanisms that foster citizen participation in local governance processes, including the Governance Hub network with DILG, and Citizens Participating in Governance (CPAG) with the Department of Education, and Development LIVE with a number of line agencies.

In line with this support, UNDP will provide a Senior Project Management Specialist that will be lodged in the PGC and PH-OGP Secretariat to assist in mainstreaming participatory governance related policies, mechanisms, and programmes across the whole of government.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK

The Senior Project Management Specialist shall have the following key functions:

1) Facilitation of project activities and the achievement of project targets and results, by focusing on the following results: 

• In close coordination with the PGC and PH-OGP Secretariat, plan and develop Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and establish Annual Targets according to set timelines. Design project budget. Ensure that AWP activities suggested are in line with the overall Cluster direction towards the fulfilment of the OGP goals and PGC mandates.
• Assist in development and formulation of detailed implementation plans, procurement and human resources, communication and risk management plans for the Project. Coordinate and ensure timely updates of all planning instruments in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders. 
• Assist PGC and PH-OGP Secretariat in implementation of activities as per AWP and agreed deadlines as well as according to detailed implementation, procurement and HR plans. Identify bottlenecks and develop solutions. Regularly meet with key government actors and other project counterparts. 
• Facilitate assessment of project impact and oversee the appropriateness and accuracy of methods used to verify progress and results. 
• Support establishment of adequate monitoring procedures and systems throughout project activities. Ensure that adequate systems are in place to gather data and information for project monitoring and that systematic monitoring of project progress against targets is undertaken, including regular field trips for monitoring purposes. Develop innovative improvements to enhance performance of the project.
• Assist in coordinating and preparation of ad hoc thematic and substantive reports/analysis/briefs. 
• Implement project communications activities in close collaboration with DBM, DILG and UNDP.
• Assist in organizing and participate in project level coordination meetings and/or technical working groups as per project document and AWP. Share information on technical project-related issues with donors, other partners and stakeholders.
• Implement project governance arrangements. Help oversee organization of meetings and ensure timely preparation of agenda, background materials to agenda items and minutes. 

2) Effective day-to-day coordination of the project, by focusing on the following results: 

• Facilitate compliance of all actions and activities with organizational rules, regulations, policies, strategies and internal control mechanisms.
• Develop project budgets. Monitor budget implementation and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of project expenditure. Coordinate preparation of financial reports, as required.
• Manage and monitor project risks. In collaboration with the technical project staff, and donors identify new risks and update risk frameworks for consideration of the PH-OGP and PGC Secretariat for consideration and decision on possible actions if required. Update the status of these risks by maintaining the project risks log.
• Ensure appropriate management of project assets, attendance records, filing system. 
• Perform other activities as determined by the supervisor.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

1. Regular monthly meetings on the PGC and Open Government Review of the Philippines facilitated.
2. Technical assistance in drafting of issuance on an organizational  institutionalization of the Philippine Open Government Partnership and its Steering Committee.
3. Technical assistance in the development and execution of the PGC and OGP Star Awards
4. Technical assistance in crafting of Cluster targets and updating of PGC Performance and Projects Roadmap 2017-2022
5. Technical assistance in drafting and issuance of a policy and operational framework on strengthening citizen participation in national and local governance, specifically in the planning and budgeting process

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

The Consultant shall directly report in matrix fashion to DBM, specifically the Assistant Secretary and Officer-In-Charge of the Fiscal Planning and Reforms Bureau and the Lead PGC and PH-OGP Secretariat,  as well as the UNDP Democratic Governance leader.

DURATION

The consultant shall work from 11 March – 31 December 2019.

DUTY STATION

The Consultant will be required to report to DBM, with meetings held at UNDP every two weeks (Manila). 

Competencies

CORPORATE COMPETENCIES

• Maintains objectivity and impartiality in handling evaluation processes

• Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision, values and ethical standards
• Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age differences
• Treat all stakeholders fairly and without prejudice

Required Skills and Experience

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum passing score is 70 out of 100 points. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

SCOPE OF PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

The Consultant shall be paid in tranches. Shown below is the breakdown of tranches & deliverables:

Recommended Presentation of Offer

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. Personal CV or P11 (UNDP template), 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. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price (inclusive of daily professional fees, taxes, transportation to and from duty station, etc.) supported by a breakdown of costs, as per UNDP 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. 

   Aforementioned templates may be accessed through the following link:

   http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=53557

K.     Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and interview will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%;

Technical Proposal (70%)

        - Qualifications- 60%

        - Interview- 40%

Financial Proposal (30%)

Kindly email your CV, Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability, and Financial Proposal (use attached templates) to

procurement.ph@undp.org by 11 March 2019, 5:00PM, Manila Time.

Please make sure your email does not exceed 10MB per message, and application is uploaded in one file. Incomplete applications may result in disqualification. 

In view of the volume of applications we receive, please note that only shortlisted applicants will be notified.