Background

UNDP Global Mission Statement

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with national counterparts on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

UNDP Afghanistan Mission Statement

UNDP helps countries to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock. In Afghanistan, a country in conflict, UNDP works for development and recovery choices that reduce vulnerability and contribute a development perspective to strengthen humanitarian and peace-building responses, to strengthen the continuum from relief to rehabilitation and development.

UNDP Livelihoods and Resilience Unit:

The focus of the UNDP Livelihoods and Resilience programme in Afghanistan is on reducing poverty and creating mechanisms that help the country to cope with socioeconomic stresses resulting from limited human development, the humanitarian crisis and climate change. The unit provides quality assurance for the Climate-induced Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CDRRP) implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL).

Overall objective of the consultancy:

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Unit and in close consultation with the Project Manager, the Consultant will help ensure quality of reporting and communication of the Climate-induced Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CDRRP). The consultant will train project and L&R Unit staff to utilize reporting and monitoring tools effectively in line with the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. The consultant will also help the project teams produce project visibility material and case stories. The consultancy will result in improved capacity of the project team to monitor and report for results, improved monitoring and evaluation (M&E) planning and production of concept papers for GEF-supported projects. The consultant will be responsible for the preparation of the following reports:

  • Project quarterly reports (UNDP)
  • Project Annual Reports (UNDP)
  • Project Implementation Review (PIR, it is annual report for GEF-Supported Project)
  • Operationalize M&E plan
  • Preparation of project visibility and communication material

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work and Deliverables with required working days and payment percentages:

Deliverable 1: Editing and finalization of CDRRP’s 2020 1st QPR draft prepared by project staff; 12 working days; 6% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 2: Data collection and maintenance for CDRRP in the 2nd quarter of 2020, tracking progress of livelihoods and infrastructure interventions, trainings, awareness raising events, hazard mapping, early warning system setup etc and assessing the results of project interventions; 12 working days; 6% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 3: Formulation and finalisation of CDRRP 2020’s 2ed quarterly report, including the latest progress, lessons learnt, issues, risks, partnerships and gender-specific results, 13 working days; 6.5% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 4: Data collection and maintenance for CDRRP in the 3rd quarter of 2020, tracking progress of livelihoods and infrastructure interventions, trainings, awareness raising events, hazard mapping, early warning system setup etc. and assessing the results of project interventions, 12 working days; 6% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 5: Formulation and finalisation of CDRRP 2020’s 3rd quarterly report, including the latest progress, lessons learnt, issues, risks, partnerships and gender-specific results, 13 working days; 6.5% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 6: Formulation and finalisation of CDRRP 2020 Project Implementation Report (PIR) as required by GEF (the donor), including the latest progress against the logical framework, communication, issues, risks, partnerships and gender-specific results, 15 working days; 7.5% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 7: Data collection and maintenance for CDRRP in the 4th quarter of 2020, tracking progress of livelihoods and infrastructure interventions, trainings, awareness raising events, hazard mapping, early warning system setup etc. and assessing the results of project interventions, 12 working days; 6% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 8: Formulation and finalisation of CDRRP 2020’s Annual Progress Report (APR), including the latest progress, lessons learnt, issues, risks, partnerships and gender-specific results, 13 working days; 6.5% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 9: Data collection and maintenance for CDRRP in the 1st quarter of 2021, tracking progress of livelihoods and infrastructure interventions, trainings, awareness raising events, hazard mapping, early warning system setup etc. and assessing the results of project interventions, 12 working days; 6% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 10: Formulation and finalization of CDRRP’s 2021 1st QPR, collecting monthly updates and sub-project implementation data, gathering lessons learnt and updating risk and issue logs, 13 working days; 6.5% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 11: Trainings for the CDRRP project team on the production of success stories, data entry, conducting surveys, interviews and focus group discussions etc., 15 working days; 7.5% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 12: Managing the production of multi-media visibility materials for online social media campaign in 2020 (such as social media posts and brochures) regarding climate change adaptation measures and policies in collaboration with UN, NGO or government partners, 24 working days; 10% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 13: Dissemination and promotion of visibility materials through online and offline channels in partnership with UN, NGO or government partners, 8 working days; 7% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 14: Managing the recruitment of climate change communication officer, 5 working day; 3% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 15: Managing the production of three success stories (editing and coordination), 15 working days; 6% payment of total contract;

Deliverable 16:  Preparation of CDRRP project board meeting presentation materials, 6 working days; 3% payment of total contract;

Competencies

Competencies

Analytical skills, communications abilities, teamwork.

Special skills requirements

  • Demonstrated knowledge of climate change related challenges in Afghanistan;
  • Strong analytical skills, particularly applied to environment, climate change, or livelihoods profiling;
  • Experience in editing and publishing, preferably in the field of climate change and agriculture

Functional Competencies:

  • Building Strategic Partnerships;
  • Ability to identify needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners.

Results Orientation

  • Ability to take responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved.

Team Work and Communication skills

  • Excellent time management skills;
  • Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
  • Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 

Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

  • Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
  • Knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

  • Master’s Degree in International Development, communications, journalism or other relevant fields.
  • This assignment requires the services of a consultant that can demonstrate analytical capacity relevant gender analysis, adequate reporting skills and English editing and ability to use RBM language; collection and analysis of gender disaggregated data in the areas of livelihoods and resilience to climate change.

Years of experience:

  • Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience;
  • Experience in gender disaggregated data collection and analysis, including RBM approaches and language;
  • Good understanding of challenges related to gender mainstreaming; climate change adaptation; and climate induced risks in Afghanistan;
  • Strong analytical skills, meticulous attention to details particularly applied to project development and reporting; combination of creativity and excellent organization;
  • Working experience with the United Nations or similar organization in Afghanistan would be an asset.

Language requirements:

  • Fluency written and oral and English required;
  • Superior English drafting skills.

Work Arrangement:

Institutional Arrangements

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Unit, the Consultant will provide assistance to the Livelihoods and Resilience Unit in developing project documents and reports for the “Climate-Induced Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CDRRP)”.

UNDP will provide office space and internet facility, logistical and other support service. The Consultant however is expected to bring his/her own laptop and mobile phone and meet local communications costs (UNDP will provide a local pre-paid SIM card). Costs to arrange meetings, workshops, travel costs to and DSA during field visits (if any), etc. shall be covered by UNDP.

Duration of the Work

The original duration of the assignment is 12 months from 30/03/2020 until 29/03/2021 (with maximum 200 working days) with four missions to Afghanistan and each mission 15 calendar days

Duty Station

Home based and Kabul (Four missions to Afghanistan and each mission 15 calendar days)

PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.  The consultant shall then submit a price proposal when requested by UNDP, in accordance with the below:

  1. Daily Fee – The contractor shall propose a daily fee, which should be inclusive of his professional fee, local communication cost and insurance (inclusive of medical health insurance and evacuation). The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract of 200 working days.

  2. DSA/Living Allowance – The Consultant shall be separately paid the Living allowance/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.

  3. 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 Afghanistan in UNDSS approved places. Deductions in this regard shall be made from DSA payment as per applicable UNDP Policy.

  1. Travel & Visa – The contractor shall propose 4 estimated lump-sum for home-kabul-home travel (economy most direct route) and Afghanistan visa expenses.

  2. The total professional fee shall be converted into a lump-sum contract and payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of deliverables under the contract in accordance with the schedule of payment linked with deliverables and at the end of assignment.

UNDP reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Qualification, Experience and Technical Proposal (70 marks):.

* Technical Criteria weight 70%

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (70 points)

  • Criteria 1: Technical Approach and Methodology (Max 20 points). This explain 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;

  • Criteria 2: Work plan (Max 10 Points). The incumbent should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan;

  • Criteria 3: Relevant experiences in area of specialization (climate change and project monitoring) (Max 10 points);

  • Criteria 4: Relevant experiences with GEF projects (Max 20 points);

  • Criteria 5: Interview (Max 10 Points).

Financial Evaluation (30%):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

  z = price of the proposal being evaluated

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

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

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

  1. 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.

  2. Technical Proposal (can be attached with CV or response can be provided to mandatory question on jobs site):

    1. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;

    2. A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment and work plan as indicated above.

All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNDP Afghanistan.  UNDP Afghanistan will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

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

Note: Incomplete application will result in automatic disqualification of candidate.