Background

UNDP and the State of Kuwait, represented by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development (GSSCPD), strive to enhance institutional capacities at various government agencies by providing them with necessary technical support to strengthen their capacities and skills to perform their expected duties. 

 

Under the framework of the Institutional and Technical support for the establishment of Kuwait Public Policy Centre (KPPC) project, UNDP collaborates closely with GSSCPD to support the establishment of a pioneer KPPC to address policy making gaps and mainstream policy research, analysis and studies in the policy making process. 

 

The KPPC seeks to be a reliable resource that will influence national policies and strategies. The project builds on UNDP's mandate and strategic vision and aims to promote efficient governance and institutional management. This project provides a framework of how UNDP accompany the GSSCPD in its ambition to improve the quality of policy making in Kuwait and in particular on how the KPPC can contribute to that, while operating under the umbrella of GSSCPD.

 

Within this context, KPPC is seeking to recruit a Socio-Economic Policy Advisor to support the project on the redesign and restructuring of the Kuwait Government and provide technical advice. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Secretary General of GSSCPD and close coordination with the KPPC project team, the Socio-Economic Policy Advisor will assume the following tasks:

 

  • Provide technical advice related to the public administration and economic pillars, specifically the social and economic related policies and strategies;
  • Review and advise on policies related to economic reforms;
  • Review the white policy paper with the new government structure design highlighting the policy framework for the transformation with the recommended policy options;
  • Review the suggested implementation plan and roadmap that will guide the transition into the new structure;
  • Present the recommendations and technical review to the project team from GSSCPD/ KPPC;

Conduct a training session to the KPPC and GSSCPD staff as well as relevant stakeholders on socio-economic policies and reforms as well as the effects of rentier states. 

1.     Expected Outputs and Deliverables 

 

 

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:

 

Deliverables/ Outputs

Target Due Dates

Payment schedule in percentage

Review and Approvals Required (Indicate designation of person who will review output and confirm acceptance)

Deliverable 1 – A report with thorough review of the white paper with the new government structure design highlighting the policy framework for the transformation with the recommended policy option, as well as the suggested implementation plan and roadmap that will guide the transition into the new structure. Technical advice related to the social and economic policies and reforms.

1 month after the start of the contract.

 

50%

 

 

GSSCPD, UNDP

Deliverable 2 – Presentation to the Steering Committee of the project the review of the reports. Training workshop to KPPC and GSSCPD staff on socio-economic policies and reforms as well as the effects of rentier states.

3 months after the start of the contract 

50%

GSSCPD, UNDP 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Institutional Arrangement

 

The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Secretary General of GSSCPD and closely coordinate with the KPPC Project Team. The latter will be responsible to provide the existing information and the access to any related information that is essential to complete the assignment. The consultant will closely coordinate with the Project Coordinator of the KPPC project.

 

 

  1.                   Duration of the Work

 

The overall duration of this consultancy will be 3 months.  

 

 

4.     Duty Station

 

In order to achieve the deliverables of the assignment, the consultant will be required to be present in the State of Kuwait during the entire duration of the assignment. 

 

 

  1. Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

 

 

Please choose one of the below options

 

 

 

OPTION A: 

 

? Lump Sum Amount 

 

 

  1. lump sum amount must be “all-inclusive”; 
  2. contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components;

 

OPTION B: 

 

? Daily Fee–

 

 this option is only suited when the duration of engagement is definitive and the possibility of any extension is either very low/minimal, or manageable, if at all expected.  This approach must be re-considered if the assignment has a high likelihood of extension or prolonged engagement, as it can create serious cost implications, and may undermine value-for-money.   

 

When the daily fee option is used, the TOR must clearly specify that :

 

  1. The Daily fee must be “all-inclusive”; and 
  2. an IC Time Sheet must be submitted by the Contractor, duly approved by the Individual Contractor’s supervisor, which shall serve as the basis for the payment of fees.  

 

  1. EVALUATION

 

 

 

 

? Option B:

 

Cumulative analysis

 

This option is ideal for intellectual services where the methodology or approach to the work may differ from one individual to another and directly impacts the quality of the result.  Option 

 

When using this method, the award of a contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as both:

 

  1. responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
  2. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 

Total score=Technical Score + Financial Score. 

Technical Criteria weight - 70%, 700 scores maximum  

Financial Criteria weight - 30%. 300 scores maximum

 

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 490 from 700 point in the Technical part of evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

 

The selection of candidates will be done in 3 stages:

 

1st stage: Prior to detailed evaluation, all applications will be thoroughly screened against eligibility criteria (minimum qualification requirements) as set in the TOR in order to determine whether they are compliant/non-compliant.

 

Shortlisting criteria   

1

Minimum Masters’ Degree in Economics, Public Administration, Public Policy or any other related field.

2

Minimum 8 years of professional experience in strategic policymaking, public administration, economic development reform, national planning or any related field.

3

Fluency in English.

 

2nd  stage: Evaluation of technical proposals 

Short-listed candidates will be evaluated based on the following criteria. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 490 points (70%) at the Technical Evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

 

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Desk review and Interview based)

Maximum obtainable points – 700;  Threshold – 490 points

  • Criteria A: Years of professional experience in strategic policymaking, public administration, economic development reform, national planning or any related field

100 Points:

8 Years: 60 points

For each additional year of experience – 5 points, but no more than 40 points in total

  • Criteria B: Experience working in Kuwait and specifically for the Kuwait Government.
  • Familiarity with the New Kuwait Vision and its development plans. 

200 points:

100 points for previous experience working in Kuwait. 

50 additional points for working for the Kuwait government 

50 additional points for familiarity with the Kuwait Vision and its development plans. 

  • Criteria C: Interview & Methodology presentation

400 points

  • Financial Evaluation Criteria

Maximum obtainable points – 300 (30%)

 

3rd stage: Financial evaluation

Cumulative analysis will be used based on the following methodology: All the offers of individual consultants who scored 490 (70% from 700) and more points during the desk review are acceptable for financial evaluation. The lowest financial qualified proposal receives 300 points and all the other technically qualified proposals receive points in inverse proportion per the formula:

 

Formula applied 

P=y(µ/z)

P=points for the financial proposal being evaluated

 

y=maximum number of points for the financial proposal equal to 300

 

µ=the lowest priced proposal

 

z=price of the proposal being evaluated

 

 

The candidate achieving the highest cumulative score for both Technical and Financial evaluations will be recommended by the Evaluation Committee for contracting.

 

 

  1. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

 

 

For purposes of generating Offers whose contents are uniformly presented and to facilitate their comparative analysis, it is best to recommend the preferred contents and presentation of the Offer to be submitted, as well as the format/sequencing of their presentation.  The following documents may be requested:

 

  1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
  2. 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;
  3. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment. A methodology is recommended for intellectual services, but may be omitted for support services [Note: this is optional for support services];  
  4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per 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.  

 

 

Competencies

The Policy Advisor in Socio-Economics should be able to demonstrate the following competencies: 

Functional competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

 

  • Understands more advanced aspects of social development as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines ?
  • Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for social planning.
  • Keeps abreast of new developments in area of public policy development and international organisations and seeks to develop him/herself professionally.

Core Competencies:

  • Provides helpful feedback and advice;
  • Strong analytical and strategic planning skills;
  • Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
  • Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Required Skills and Experience

I. Academic Qualifications:

  • Minimum Masters’ Degree in Economics, Public Administration, Public Policy or any other related field. 

II. Years of experience:

  • Minimum 8 years of professional experience in strategic policymaking, public administration, economic development reform, national planning or any related field;
  • Experience working in Kuwait and specifically for the Kuwait Government is a high advantage;
  • Familiarity with the New Kuwait Vision and its development plans is a high advantage.

 

III. Languages

  • Fluency in English is a must.