The private sector is widely acknowledged as a key driver of the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) across countries and regions. Over the past couple of decades, the private sector is increasingly being acknowledged and recognized for its potential to developing innovative, market-based solutions to address SDG gaps and development challenges in a sustainable manner.

Myanmar has demonstrated a strong political will for moving on the SDGs. The recently launched Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP, 2018-2030) for instance, explicitly recognizes a central role for the private sector alongside public entities and the development partners in the achievement of its SDGs. The MSDP specifically mentions the dependence on the ‘entrepreneurial and ever-resilient spirit of our people and the participation of our private sector, a main driving force of inclusive and sustainable development’ for the achievement of SDGs.

With its political, economic, and administrative reforms initiated in 2011, the government fostered growth by introducing market-oriented economic principles and attracting foreign direct investment and foreign businesses. Between 2010 and 2015, foreign direct investment quadrupled, and corporate governance, transparency and business integrity have started to improve. The private sector became an essential player in the democratic and market-oriented transition in Myanmar. In addition, as Myanmar continues to liberalize, investors and market players reward good corporate governance, transparency, and business integrity as they reduce the risk of investing in Myanmar.

In line, UNDP Myanmar is also concretely exploring how to work differently to scale up its impact on the SDGs by supporting to create an enabling environment for private sector engagement in ADG financing and forging of new private sector partnerships in areas of innovation, economic empowerment, natural resource management, disaster risk reduction, and building resilience to shocks and crises.

As Myanmar rapidly transitions from a relatively closed to an open economy attracting regional and global foreign investments, the role of the private sector both domestic and international with significant investments and presence in Myanmar, is set to be enhanced further. 

SCOPE OF WORK, OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

In order to operationalize the CPD’s approach vis-a-vis strategic engagement with the private sector, the country office recently embarked on developing its first private sector partnership strategy. As a next step, the Country Office would like to initiate implementation of this strategy starting January 2021. The international consultant will support some priority activities:

Expected Deliverables:

Provide expert advisory support in operationalizing UNDP Myanmar’s private sector engagement strategy through:

• Drive forward UNDP’s soon-to-be launched Digital Innovation Challenge
• Provide expert advisory support on engaging private sector in SDG financing and investor mapping
• Prioritize and engage with private sector players, foundation and other stakeholders to identify partnership entry points for 2021.
• Discuss and move forward partnership opportunities with UMFCCI in line with the new private sector engagement strategy.
• Develop papers and/or concept notes for advanced partnership discussions. 
• Organize 1 multi-stakeholder roundtable and 2 discussion sessions on topics to be determined by UNDP

MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS

• The International Consultant will report to the Head of Unit, Strategic Management Unit of the UNDP Country Office in Myanmar for technical matters
• The consultant is also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under http://dss.un.org
• The consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The consultant will be responsible to bring his/her own laptop computer for use during this assignment; the consultant must have access to reliable internet connection

Duration of the Work and Payment

• The assignment will take place from December 2020 to May 2021
• Monthly payment will be paid, based on actual days- up to 55 days in total over the December to May duration. Monthly report will be provided based on the tasks accomplished. Final payment will depend on having completed 1 roundtable and 2 discussion sessions.

Duty Station

The assignment is based in Yangon

RECOMMENDED PRESENTATION OF OFFER

Interested persons are requested to submit the following documents as part of their application:

1. Brief description/ cover letter of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.  Please paste the letter into the ‘Resume and Motivation’ section of the electronic application
2. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP
3. P11 Form indicating all relevant experience as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references.  Please use the P11 form provided by UNDP
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the daily fees as per the template provided by UNDP

B.CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF THE BEST OFFER

The following criteria shall serve as basis for evaluating offers:

Combined Scoring Method: 

Where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a maximum of 70% and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a maximum of 30%

Technical Evaluation of Proposals: 

All applications comprising the information/documentation provided will be evaluated to ascertain the suitability of the applicants to carry out the assignment. Candidates who obtain the minimum of 49 points of the full mark (70 points) will be considered technically compliant and their financial evaluations will be evaluated thereafter. Applications will be scored as per the following breakdown (Total 70 points):

Educational background:  10 points

• Master’s degree in economics, business administration or in any other related field

Relevant Experience:  60 points

• Around 7-10 years of relevant work experience particularly in the ASEAN region with a demonstrated track record of successful engagement with the private sector, CSR vis-a-vis SDGs and financing issues (15 point)
• A solid understanding of the SDGs and ongoing innovative programming and financing in partnership with the private sector with special reference to UN agencies; (15 point)
• Prior work experience with UNDP (10 points)
• Prior experience of working on the private sector in Myanmar would be an asset; (10 points)
• Advanced IT skills, excellent analytical, report writing and presentation skills (10 points)

Financial Evaluation of Proposals: 

The financial proposals of all the applicants who pass the technical evaluation will be scored.

The maximum 30 points will be allotted to the lowest financial bid, and all other bids shall receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest fee e.g. [30 Points] x [USD lowest] / [USD other] = points for other proposer’s fees

The contract shall be awarded to the applicant who receives the highest cumulative score.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of
• Conduct for international civil servants;
• Advocates and 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.

Functional Competencies:

• Good knowledge of the natural resource management particularly lake and watershed management, the concept of sustainability and sustainable development in the region and developing countries;
• Ability to quickly grasp and synthesize inputs from a range of disciplines related to sustainable financial mechanism for environmental conservation;
• Ability to advocate and provide technical advice on the relevant sector/theme;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision;
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
• Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, respectful and helpful relations with all UN/UNDP staff;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage.

Academic Qualifications/Education: 

Master’s degree in economics, business administration or in any other related field

Experience: 

• Around 7-10 years of relevant work experience particularly in the ASEAN region with a demonstrated track record of successful engagement with the private sector, CSR vis-a-vis SDGs and financing issues
• A solid understanding of the SDGs and ongoing innovative programming and financing in partnership with the private sector with special reference to UN agencies; Prior working experience with UNDP will be an asset
• Prior experience of working on the private sector in Myanmar would be an asset;
• Advanced IT skills, excellent analytical, report writing and presentation skills

Language skills: 

• Fluency in written and spoken English

Proposal should be submitted to (either bids.mm@undp.org or UNDP Jobs website http://jobs.undp.org) no later than 17:00 (Myanmar Time), 2 December 2020. Email submission should state procurement notice number (2020/UNDP-MMR/PN/135) in the subject line.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to the address or e-mail mmr.procurement@undp.org, (3) days before the deadline for submission of proposal. Procurement Unit will response in written or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.   

Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Annexes – Please visit   

https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=73134