Background

The United Nations Action for Cooperation against Trafficking in Persons (UN-ACT) was a regional, UNDP-managed project on human trafficking in Southeast and East Asia, supporting a more coordinated response to trafficking in persons and prioritizing capacity building amongst key stakeholders. It built on its predecessor, the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP), and ran for 6-years, from 2014 until 2020.

A key role of UN-ACT was to support the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking (COMMIT), taking on this function from UNIAP. Established in 2004, COMMIT brings together the six Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries, i.e. Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, in a concerted effort to counter human trafficking in the sub-region.

UN-ACT was established to achieve the following long-term project outcome:

  • Key anti-trafficking stakeholders in the region are working in a more cooperative and mutually supportive manner to effectively combat trafficking in persons

To achieve this outcome, the following four outputs were agreed:

  • Output 1: The COMMIT Process is strengthened to become sustainable and self-reliant

UN-ACT served as the COMMIT Secretariat supporting implementation of the COMMIT Sub-regional Plans of Action. The project also sought to ensure that governments take increasing responsibility for COMMIT, with a view to promoting sustainability and self-reliance.

  • Output 2: COMMIT countries increase their cooperation with other countries and regional actors to effectively counter human trafficking

The project sought to engage with a broader geographical area in order to strengthen anti-trafficking work in COMMIT countries, in recognition of the human trafficking flows and linkages that exist between COMMIT countries and many other countries in the broader region. There was engagement with regional institutional bodies such as ASEAN to bolster cooperation and promote cross-learning.

  • Output 3: Policy makers, academia, non-governmental actors and the public have increased access to evidence-based research and knowledge on human trafficking

UN-ACT produced research reports; facilitated engagement between academia, policy-makers and civil society; contributed to more standardized data collection and analysis efforts; and supported academics and civil society stakeholders in designing and implementing research. These efforts were geared towards increasing quantity, quality and harmonization of research on human trafficking in the sub-region.

  • Output 4: Civil society and other non-governmental actors are able to contribute more effectively to anti-trafficking efforts.

UN-ACT also sought to engage with non-governmental actors such as NGOs and the private sector. These activities were aligned with (sub-)regional priorities, focusing on coordination, cooperation and skills development through a combination of funding, mentoring and platforms for engagement with policy-makers.

Duties and Responsibilities

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

  • Provide an assessment of the project’s performance post-midterm evaluation (MTE), considering the management arrangements, availability of funding and implementation of the management response of the MTE;
  • Conduct a forward-looking project review, drawing upon the experience, strengths and weaknesses of UN-ACT, to inform the ongoing evolution from UN-ACT to a broader UNDP portfolio on migration and displacement in the Asia-Pacific;
  • Assess the role of COMMIT in the context of an evolving regional counter-trafficking architecture, including ASEAN and the Bali Process, and provide recommendations for its further development.
  • Make recommendations on areas for improvement for the new UNDP portfolio on migration and displacement in the Asia-Pacific, including initiatives and interventions for improved engagement of stakeholders and beneficiaries in selected countries.

SCOPE OF WORK

After six years of implementation, UNDP seeks to learn from the achievements and shortcomings of UN-ACT, in order to inform UNDP’s further support of the COMMIT process and to shape the organization’s broader portfolio on migration and displacement in the Asia-Pacific.

Programmatically, the project review will include analysis of UN-ACT efforts to mainstream people-centered, human rights-based approaches and gender sensitivity, and give recommendations on how to transfer and build upon such work in UNDP’s broadened migration and displacement portfolio in the region. Structurally, it will examine UN-ACT’s management and organizational set-up within UNDP’s Bangkok Regional Hub to formulate proposals for a new management structure of UNDP’s migration and displacement portfolio in the Asia-Pacific.

In conducting this forward-looking project review, the consultant is to consider the analysis and recommendations of the UN-ACT’s 2017 mid-term evaluation. S/he will engage a range of stakeholders and work closely with UNDP’s Human Mobility team to access all relevant sources of information. The following activities are expected to be completed as part of the assignment:

Activities

  • Review relevant materials, including the UN-ACT Project Document, the 2017 UN-ACT mid-term evaluation, project reports, communications and policy materials and other project- and COMMIT-related resources, as well as project/programme documents on UNDP’s evolving migration and displacement portfolio in the Asia-Pacific, among others;
  • Develop a project review strategy and data collection plan, including both quantitative and qualitative data as feasible, to be agreed with UNDP’s Human Mobility team;
  • Set up a data collection schedule in collaboration with relevant UNDP regional and country office staff ensuring all relevant stakeholders are engaged in the review process;
  • Conduct data collection through interviews/surveys with former project staff, project partners, project beneficiaries and other relevant stakeholders in three of the six countries and regionally, determined in discussion with UNDP’s Human Mobility team. Where possible, all data should be disaggregated by sex and other relevant parameters;
  • Analyze the collected data and draft the project review report, with a focus on:
    • Providing an assessment of the project’s performance post-midterm evaluation (MTE), considering the management arrangements, availability of funding and implementation of the management response of the MTE;
    • Identifying how engagement with marginalized communities in the context of migration and displacement, including women, youth, people with disabilities and other at-risk communities can be improved and make recommendations as necessary;
    • Reviewing BRH’s management structures related to the UN-ACT project to inform those of the new migration and displacement portfolio;
  • Finalize the project review report, based on feedback received from UNDP and others as applicable. The project review report may also include relevant project templates, data collection tools and other guidance for the new portfolio on migration and displacement.

Deliverables

  • Project review strategy, data collection plan and schedule;
  • Draft evidence-based project review report with proposed tools, templates and structures as applicable;
  • Finalized project review report with recommendations.

 

Expected Deliverables

 Deliverables/ Outputs

 Target Due Dates

 

Review and Approvals Required

Project review strategy, data collection plan and schedule (up to 5 days)

14 May 2021

UNDP Regional Advisor, Recovery, Livelihoods & Human Mobility in Asia-Pacific

Data collection with partners in 3 of the 6 COMMIT member countries and regionally (up to 14 days)

4 June 2021

Data analysis and drafting report (up to 14 days)

25 June 2021

Finalized project review report with recommendations

(up to 3 days)[1]

9 July 2021

[1] Multiple iterations of the report may be needed before the final report is approved.

Institutional Arrangements:

The consultant will report directly to the Regional Advisor, Recovery, Livelihoods & Human Mobility in Asia-Pacific and keep updated relevant members of the Human Mobility team in the Bangkok Regional Hub.

Review time required: The review and approval of payments will be made by the assigned supervisor(s) within 7 days of submission.

 

Duration of Work:

1 May 2021 - 15 July 2021

 

Duty Station:

Home-based. Telecommunication with UNDP staff, project partners and other relevant stakeholders is required. No travel.

 

Competencies

  • Demonstrates commitment to the UN’s mission, vision and values;
  • Demonstrates sound judgment, diplomacy and sensitivity to confidential matters;
  • Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure;
  • Innovative forward thinking, good coordination and organizational skills, teamwork;
  • Participate effectively in team-based, information sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications of the Successful Individual Contractor

The consultant should possess the following expertise and qualifications:

Education:

  • Minimum Master’s degree in international relations, development, social work, law, or related social sciences disciplines.

Experience:

  • At least 5 years of experience in project monitoring, review, evaluation and/or strategy development;
  • Professional experience related/relevant to anti-human trafficking, migration and displacement;
  • At least 2 years of direct professional experience in Southeast/East Asia;
  • Excellent analysis and report writing skills.

Language

  • Excellent written and spoken skills in English.

 

PAYMENT TERMS:

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

Payments shall be done on a lumpsum basis, upon verification of satisfactory delivery and of completion of deliverables and approval by the supervisor.

 

Deliverables/ Outputs

Payment Term

Project review strategy, data collection plan and schedule (Deliverable 1)

14%

Draft project review report (Deliverable 2 and 3)

78%

Approved final project review report with recommendations (Deliverable 4)

8%

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Travel costs shall be reimbursed at actual but not exceeding the quotation from UNDP approved travel agent.

 

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

 

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

Candidates will be evaluated based on cumulative analysis. The award of the contract shall be made to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of a set of weighted technical criteria (70%) and financial criteria (30%). The financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 100 points)

Evaluation criteria

Max points

Criteria 1

Relevance of education

10

Criteria 2

Experience in project monitoring, review, evaluation and/or strategy development

30

Criteria 3

Professional experience related/relevant to anti-human trafficking, migration and displacement

30

Criteria 4

Professional experience in Southeast/East Asia

10

Criteria 5

Excellent analysis and report writing skills

20

 

Total points:

100

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the total technical points shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score and has accepted UNDP's General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract

 

Documentation required:

  1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
  2. P11 or CVs, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
  3. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided (in USD currency)
  4. Sample of a written project review or evaluation report.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered. The short listed candidates may be contacted and the successful candidate will be notified.

 

Annexes:

Annex I - TORs_UNACT_Final_Project_Review_Consultant
Annex II - General_Terms_and_Conditions_for_Contracts_Individual_Consultants
Annex III - Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and financial proposal
Annex IV - P11 Form_for_ICs_optional
Annex V - Procurement Notice

***All documents can be downloaded at: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=77429

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to procurement.th@undp.org under Subject: JobAds 98377 Project Review Consultant- International Consultant