Background

UNDP is the UN's global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is a founding co-sponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), a partner of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and a co-sponsor of several other international health partnerships. UNDP’s work on HIV, health and development leverages the organization’s core strengths and mandates in human development, governance and capacity development to complement the efforts of specialist health-focused UN agencies.

Following UNDP’s role to ensure sustainable financing for HIV and health and in-line with the 2016 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS[1], it is important that nations invest in NGO social contracting[2] as a key element of sustainable financing. The need for social contracting follows the shift of international funding priorities in the national responses to HIV[3], TB and co-morbidities. Most countries in the Eastern and Central Asia (EECA) region depend on external funding especially for prevention services[4]. The reduction in external funds would mean decreased investments in prevention among KPs. This will lead to increased infections and subsequently higher treatment costs in the medium and long-term.[5] In its role to ensure inclusion of key populations[6] and other excluded groups, UNDP also advocates for social contracting as a means of “leaving no one behind”. Most projects that address key populations are implemented by NGO’s, which are externally funded. Social contracting will ensure that HIV-related services for key populations with a strong focus on vulnerable women are to a large extent sustained regardless of reduced or stopped international funding.

To strengthen national responses to HIV, TB, Hep C and co-morbidities NGO social contracting is an efficient method of service delivery while leaving no one behind and ensuring continued service provision. In order to support and encourage further investments by governments in development of social contracting mechanisms, it will be important to further demonstrate the social and economic benefits of such an approach in relation to ensuring more sustainable services. This is especially compelling argument even more so now amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which is putting a lot of pressure on health systems and health resources.

In light of the above, UNDP is looking to hire an International Consultant responsible to conceptualize and develop a methodology to capture the social and economic benefits of NGO social contracting and develop a Policy Brief. The Brief is to further advocate for strengthened social contracting mechanisms by demonstrating the social and economic benefits of social contracting to countries. The proposed approach towards assessing the social and economic benefits of social contracting is that of assessing the “Social Returns on Investments” (SROI). Social return on investment is a concept of accounting for value created, which includes not only individual profit, but also the benefits for the broader public in the social, economic and environmental sphere

[1] https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2016-political-declaration-HIV-AIDS_en.pdf

[2] NGO Social contracting is understood as public financing of CSO service provision in national HIV responses for the purposes of this document

[3] The Global Fund Sustainability, Transition and Co-financing Policy

[4] Article: Global Health: Science and Practice – The Challenges of transition from donor-funded programs: Results from a theory-driven multi-country comparative case study of programs in EECA supported by the Global Fund

[5] https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/miles-to-go_en.pdf

[6] UNAIDS considers gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex workers and their clients, transgender people, people who inject drugs and prisoners and other incarcerated people as the main key population groups. These populations often suffer from punitive laws or stigmatizing policies, and they are among the most likely to be exposed to HIV. Their engagement is critical to a successful HIV response everywhere—they are key to the epidemic and key to the response (UNAIDS Terminology Guidelines, 2015, https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2015_terminology_guidelines_en.pdf).

[1] WHO report - http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/347976/20170828-h0930-SROI-report-final-web.pdf?ua=1

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES

The consultancy will build on UNDP’s work over the last 3 years on supporting NGO social contracting mechanisms. This includes legal, regulatory and policy frameworks reviews of NGO social contracting frameworks in 10 countries of the EECA region that led to the developed NGO social contracting Factsheets, an NGO social contracting Guidance note with documented key enabling factors for countries and NGOs in transitioning to more sustainable domestic financing mixes. The consultant will use the Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework as the basis for the work focusing on both the efficiency of investment but also accounting for externalities and how the investments advance public good.

The SROI method portrays the relationship between a ‘social investment’ and its social benefits by translating certain aspects of social value into financial values, which result in a SROI coefficient[8]. SROI analysis is mostly expressed in monetary terms as a ratio between benefit value and initial investment. The monetary terms used do not express an actual financial return but should be regarded as a way to express a so-called currency of value[9]. In the context of SROI of social contracting, the analysis should capture the “social value created” when the governments invest by financing civil society organizations to provide essential HIV-related services.

Scope of work:

• Review available information on current NGO social contracting mechanisms for HIV-related services in Eastern Europe and central Asia (up to 10 countries) and with potential gaps filled through additional research;
• Propose a tailored SROI methodology fit for purpose;
• Apply the methodology in selected EECA countries/contexts
• Prepare a Policy Brief on the social and economic benefits of NGO social contracting for the engagement of NGOs/CSOs as service providers of HIV, TB and other health-related services in the Region;
• Deliver webinar presenting the work and Policy Brief to a broad scope of interested partners and stakeholders.

 EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

The consultant is expected to deliver outputs within prescribed timelines

DURATION OF THE WORK:

• The consultancy will start upon signature of both parties and is expected to last for 30 days over a period of 17 weeks.

DUTY STATION:

• This is a home-based assignment

Travel

• No travel is envisaged to deliver this work. If need arises, travel will be arranged according to the UNDP travel policy.

Institutional Arrangements:

• The Consultant will be home based;
• The Consultant S/he will work closely on a daily basis with the Regional HHD Programme Specialist and report to the Regional Team lead.
• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop
• Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring that they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org –
• Statement of Good health Is required for the selected consultant.

[8] Krlev G, Münscher R, Mülbert K. Social return on investment (SROI): state-of-the-art and perspectives. Heidelberg: Centre for Social Investment of Heidelberg University; 2013 (https:// www.csi.uni-heidelberg.de/downloads/CSI_SROI_Meta_Analysis_2013.pdf, accessed 31 July 2017).

[9] Hujo K, Braumann H, Esquivel V, van Griethuysen P, Krause D, Utting P, et al. Policy innovations for transformative change : implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Geneva: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development; 2016 (http://www.unrisd. org/80256B42004CCC77/(httpInfoFiles)/2D9B6E61A43A7E87C125804F003285F5/$file/ Flagship2016_FullReport.pdf, accessed 31 July 2017

Competencies

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 without favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional competencies:

• Commitment to the principles set forth in the UN High Level Declarations on HIV and AIDS;
• Very good understanding of the legal and practical aspects of HIV and co-infections in the region;
• Familiarity with national healthcare systems and legal, social and financing aspects of financing of HIV and health responses;
• Familiarity with the social determinants of health and health inequities;
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to work independently, strict adherence to completing assigned tasks in a timely manner;
• Quality-oriented professional, constructive approach to obstacles and delays in planned performance;
• Excellent research and drafting skills;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, oral and written;
• Advanced user of virtual communication tools.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualification:

• An advanced degree (masters or higher) in public health, health economics or other relevant field.

Experience

• Eight or more years of relevant experience in the field of health economics and/or public health assessments; of which at least three years of experience in working with financial, social and sustainability aspects of HIV and health responses in the EECA region and beyond;
• Extensive experience with developing and presenting flagship knowledge products such as publications, reports and policy briefs
• Experience with conducting social, economic, return on investments (ROI) or other relevant assessments in the context of health;
• At least three recent relevant publications (as author or co-author) in the field of HIV, sustainable financing of HIV and health responses in English;

Language Requirements

• Fluency and ability to communicate and write complex research in English and Russian

SCOPE OF PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

All proposals must be expressed in a lump sum amount. This amount must be “all-inclusive”. Please note that the terms “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal.

The contractor will be paid an all-inclusive Deliverables/Outputs based lump sum amounts over the assignment period, subject to the submission of Certification of Payment (CoP) duly certified and confirmation of satisfactory performance of achieved work (deliverables/outputs) in line with the schedule of payments table hereunder:

RECOMMENDED PRESENTATION OF OFFER

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Candidates that fail to submit the required information will not be considered.

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP; See document on UNDP procurement site Job ID 67100 https://procurement-notices.undp.org/
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, including references to how she/he will approach and complete the assignment. (max. 1 page);
4. 3 or more samples of relevant publications in the field of HIV, sustainable financing of HIV and health responses in English
5. Brief description of proposed approach and methodology for implementation and delivery of the outlined tasks (1 page)
6. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.  The terms “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF THE BEST OFFERS

• Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%; using the following evaluation criteria:

Step I: Screening and desk review:

Applications will be first screened and only candidates meeting the following minimum requirements will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

• Master or equivalent in in public health, health economics or other relevant field;

• Eight or more years of relevant experience in the field of health economics and/or public health assessments; of which at least three years of experience in working with financial, social and sustainability aspects of HIV and health responses in the EECA region and beyond;

• Fluency and ability to communicate and write complex research in English and Russian.

Shortlisted Candidates will be then assessed and scored against the following evaluation criteria.

Step II: Technical evaluation Criteria (including interview) max 100 points (Weighted 70):

• An advanced degree (masters or higher) in public health, health economics or other relevant field (10 points)
• Eight or more years of relevant experience in the field of health economics and public health / Of which at least three years of experience in working with financial, social and sustainability aspects of HIV and health response (35 points)
• Experience with conducting social, economic, return on investments (ROI) or other relevant assessments in the context of health (25 points)
• Extensive experience with developing and presenting flagship knowledge products such publications, reports, policy briefs and other (15 points)
• At least three recent relevant publications (as author or co-author) in the field of HIV, sustainable financing of HIV and health responses in English (10 points)
• Fluency and ability to communicate in English and Russian (5 points)

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation

For those offers considered in the financial evaluation, the lowest price offer will receive 30 points. The other offers will receive points in relation to the lowest offer, based on the following formula:

(PI / Pn)* 30 where Pn is the financial offer being evaluated and Pl is the lowest financial offer received.

Step III: Final evaluation

The final evaluation will combine the scores of the desk review and the financial proposal with the following weights assigned to each:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis methodology (weighted scoring method), where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; 
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
• Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% will b econsidered technically compliant