Background

UNDP Global Mission Statement:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network - an organization connecting people around the world to knowledge, experience and resources to help build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in 166 countries, working with national counterparts to develop in-country solutions to national and global development challenges.

UNDP Afghanistan Mission Statement:

UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in Afghanistan. UNDP support, in partnership with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIROA), other UN agencies, the donor community and other development stakeholders, has contributed to institutional development designed to impact the daily lives of Afghan citizens. Over the years UNDP support has impacted milestone efforts, including the adoption of the Afghanistan Constitution, Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council elections, and capacity-building for the legislative, judicial and executive arms of the State, including Ministries, Government agencies and commissions at the national and sub-national levels. Major demobilization, disarmament, rehabilitation and area-based livelihoods and reconstruction programmes have been implemented nationwide. UNDP Programmes in Afghanistan have benefited from the very active support of donors. UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN system to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Based on consultations conducted between UNDP, the GIROA and donors during 2017, a growing view emerged that the scope of LOTFA should be expanded to include the entire justice chain (police, courts and prisons) and cover all institutions across the entire Rule of Law sector, with an increased focus on anti-corruption. Simultaneously, the LOTFA structure has been revised to bring it more in line with international standards and best practices on Trust Fund management and administration. The LOTFA Steering Committee approved the new Trust Fund Terms of Reference (TOR) and Strategic Framework in November 2018. As the revised LOTFA TOR becomes effective, management arrangements for the Trust Fund will also be finalized.

Organizational context of the position:

UNDP is currently designing new projects under the Security Window of the LOTFA Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF).  These projects include a mix of policing and police-service delivery project as well as technical advisory support to the public administration and support functions of the MOIA.  UNDP’s support to the latter will be programmed under the “Institutional Support to MOIA” (ISM) project and will provide support to key functions in the MOIA including, public financial management, civil service reform, procurement and supply chain management and IT/systems development.  In this regard, UNDP seeks to recruit a Senior Public Administration Reform Advisor to provide strategic-level advisory support to key MOIA leadership. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the assignment:

  • Provide strategic and policy-level advisory support to MOIA’s core public administration and support services, identifying key opportunities for advancing key reforms in these areas;

  • Advise UNDP on programmatic entry points and strategies to support public administration reform and organizational development in MOIA including development of new project areas;

  • Build key partnerships with other government institutions, international partners to MOIA, donors and other UN agencies in advancing strategic reform/development agendas within the MOIA.

  • Assess the need and utility for change management/project management capabilities in the ministry as a means for facilitating priority reform projects.

Activities:

  • Gain an understanding of emerging issues/trends in the political and policy space that may create new opportunities and/or risks for advancing specific reform agendas;

  • Undertake a desk review of existing MOIA strategies, policies, plans and budgets to gain an understanding of stated priorities;

  • Conduct stakeholder consultations with MOIA (at different levels and organizational units) UNDP, international partners and donors to assess key reform/development priorities for the MOIA and understand the “space” for these reforms;

  • Establish effective and collaborative working relationships with all stakeholders including MOIA, international partners (NATO, EU Police, German Police Project Team, etc.), LOTFA donors and other national institutions in support of priority reform/development areas;

  • Advise on efforts to improve organizational performance and capabilities in priority MOIA functions and directorates;

  • Participate in and support in MOIA’s planning processes, providing strategic advisory support across the public financial management cycle (budget formulation, aid coordination/alignment, accenting and reporting);

  • Identify opportunities for ERP/systems development and ICT-enablement to improve business efficiency and transparency within the MOIA and targeted Police Headquarters;

  • Provide strategic guidance to MOIA on options and strategies to advance efforts on civil service reform;

  • Review current “change management” capacities within the MOIA and propose additional efforts to improve these as a tool for advancing priority reform efforts;

  • Work collaboratively with UNDP’s programme/project development team in support of developing the new ISM project including drafting of the Project Document, Annual Work Plans, job descriptions, risks log, etc.

  • Regularly update UNDP ROLHS team and UNDP senior management on key developments and advice on how best to engage on strategic reform areas within MOIA.

  • Draft concept notes, briefing notes, options papers, presentations and other technical documents to inform and advance new areas of work; and

  • Identify and advise on the design of new baseline studies, feasibility assessments and targeted surveys/research to be undertaken through the LOTFA M&E team to inform new/potential areas of UNDP’s support.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS and DELIVERABLES

The Consultant will submit monthly progress report and any other documentation as required by UNDP. The monthly progress report shall report on activities conducted during the month for the scope of work described above and include specific deliverables completed during the month.

The reports should outline: priority areas for reform/development in ministry functions as well as potential political/policy considerations that may expand or contract the enabling environment; potential areas for inclusion under the new ISM project; and new/additional surveys, assessments and feasibility studies to be conducted; and other documentation (concept notes, presentation, briefing notes, etc) as may be required by the Chief of the Rule of Law Unit (or his/her designate). The reports should focus on the review of the MOIA’s “change management” capacities and recommendations for further support under UNDP; and any other documentation as may be required by the Chief of the Rule of Law Unit (or his/her designate). Further, the consultant shall submit any other documentation (concept notes, presentation, briefing notes, etc) as may be required by the Chief of the Rule of Law Unit (or his/her designate).

At the start of the assignment, the Consultant shall prepare and agree with Rule of Law Unit a work plan for the assignment.

Payment Modality:

Payments under the contract shall be time-based. Payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of monthly progress report including specific deliverables completed during the month and a timesheet for the month as per UNDP procurement formats for individual contractors

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

Institutional Arrangements:

The International Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Chief, ROLHS Unit or his/her designate and the TSM Project Manager and direct supervision of the International Project Development Specialist. The Consultant shall also work in close collaboration with other members of the UNDP ROLHS Unit and other Programme/Thematic Units within the UNDP Country Office.

The TSM PIP will provide office space, internet, and logistical and other support services including transport and security for UNDP international personnel. However, the consultant is expected to bring his/her own laptop and mobile phone and meet local communications costs (TSM PIP will provide a local pre-paid SIM card). Costs to arrange meetings, workshops, travel costs and DSA during field visits (if any), etc. shall be covered by the TSM PIP.

Duration of the Work:

The deliverables under this contract shall be completed within 7 months (with maximum 132 working days) after the signing of the contract, including all preparation work and on-site visits.

Duty Station

Work will be carried out in country. The duty station for the contractor is Kabul, Afghanistan although some field visits outside Kabul may be necessary. Before planning field visits, the Consultant shall provide their details for approval. When in Kabul, the Consultant will be based at the TSM PIP office at MOIA and report regularly to the ROLHS Unit (UNOCA) during working hours, security conditions permitting. The Consultant will follow the working hours and weekends applicable to UNDP CO staff. The Consultant's movement for meetings and consultations shall be coordinated by the TSM PIP. The Consultant is at all times required observing UNDP security rules and regulations.

Competencies

Core competencies:

  • Promotes ethics and integrity and creates organizational precedents;

  • Builds support and political acumen;

  • Builds staff competence and creates an environment of creativity and innovation;

  • Builds and promotes effective teams;

  • Creates and promotes environment for open communications;

  • Leverages conflict in the interest of UNDP and sets standards;

  • Shares knowledge across the organization and builds a culture of knowledge sharing and learning

Required Skills and Experience

Required expertise and experience:      

  • Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, International Development, or related field.

  • At least 10 years of experience in advising senior public officials on public administration reform at the strategic and policy-level.

  • At least 7 years of advisory support in the areas of public financial management and ERP/systems development is required.

  • Previous experience with rule of law and/or security institutions is preferred.

  • Excellent coordination and communications skills with ability to convince, convey and advocate;

  • Previous experience with UN/specialized agencies and/or international development organizations preferred.

  • Experience working in fragile or conflict-affected states.

Language:

  • Excellent written and oral English

  • Dari/ Pashto languages are an asset.

The Consultant shall submit a price proposal as below:

  • Daily Fee –. The Consultant shall propose a daily fee which should be inclusive of his/her professional fee, local communication cost, insurance (inclusive of medical health and medical evacuation etc.), equipment, and other costs required for performance of the contract but excluding travel, visa and DSA. The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract is 132 working days over a contract duration of 7 months.

  •  The Consultant shall be separately paid the DSA as per applicable UNDP rate for stay in Kabul and travel to other locations as per actual number of nights spent in Kabul or other locations. Deductions from DSA shall be made as per applicable UNDP policy when accommodation and other facilities are provided by UNDP. An estimated provision in this regard shall be included in the contract. The consultant need not quote for DSA in Financial Proposal.

    Accommodation in Kabul - The Consultants are NOT allowed to stay in a place of their choice other than the UNDSS approved places in Kabul, Afghanistan. UNDP will provide accommodation to the Consultant for the duration of the stay in duty station (Kabul) in UNDSS approved places. Deductions in this regard shall be made from DSA payment as per applicable UNDP Policy.

  • The Consultant shall include lumpsum cost of travel per trip for Home-Kabul-Home (estimated 3 trips) in the Financial Proposal. Any other travel for work, originating from Kabul shall be payable by UNDP separately as per applicable Policy.< > – UNDP shall facilitate visa requirements and reimburse the visa cost, if any.
  • Payment schedule - Payments towards fee shall be time-based and shall be made upon submission and acceptance of monthly report and certified timesheet. Payment towards travel shall be made on an instance of actual travel and shall be cost-reimbursable limited to the amount quoted in Financial Proposal. Payments towards DSA, Visa, etc. shall be cost-reimbursable, as specified above.

EVALUATION METHOD AND CRITERIA

Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

  • Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

  • 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%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria and Interview 70 points:

Technical Proposal (20 marks)

  • Technical Approach & Methodology – This explains the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the degree of detail of such output. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach.

Interview (20 marks)

Qualification and Experience (30 marks) [evaluation of CVs for shortlisting]

  • General Qualification (10 marks);
  • Experience relevant to the assignment (20 marks);

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual Consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

  • Duly accomplished confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II) as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
  • Personal CV indicating all experience from similar assignment relevant to the assignment;
  • Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable candidate for the assignment;
  • A methodology and approach on how they will approach and complete the assignment

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):