Background

The socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened the challenges faced by SMEs. Necessary measures to contain the virus through quarantines, travel restrictions, and cities’ lockdown have resulted in a significant reduction in demand and supply. SMEs provide work for more than 4 million people in Ukraine and generate about 20% of GDP. Nevertheless, since the lockdown, the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimated that 700,000 SMEs have closed. One-third of business owners (mainly micro-entrepreneurs) have claimed a 90-100% drop in revenue since quarantine and have laid off up to 50% of staff.

According to UNDP’s socio-economic impact assessment (SEIA) in Ukraine, women who are the owners of a business were more likely to indicate that they had experienced “significant changes” in their business during the pandemic than men owners (64% vs 53%). The pandemic severely impacted women and entrepreneurs who are younger than 40 years old: 79% of women entrepreneurs reported negative effects of the crisis vs 68% of men, and 80% of young entrepreneurs vs 68% of older ones. In 2019, women-owned enterprises had a lower annual financial turnover than men-owned ones: 66% of enterprises owned by women had an annual turnover of less than UAH 1 million compared to 48% of men owners. During the pandemic, women owners indicated a decrease in their enterprise’s monthly turnover more often than men owners (84% vs 78% male). The smaller the enterprise, the more likely it was owned by a woman. Micro and small enterprises were most affected as they depended on self-financing to mitigate the crisis.

Amongst the various MSME sectors that may be given priority support under the auspices of this Project, agricultural MSMEs, especially ones owned or led by women, stand out. FAO conducted a rapid survey to assess COVID-19 impacts on the agriculture sector in April 2020. The survey investigated the functioning of food supply chains by interviewing key actors – farmers, processors, wholesalers and retailers. The survey showed that the most affected food supply chains are fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy. Their main problems are related to transportation, storage and at the retail level. Besides, access to imported inputs remains a concern.

The Project will target MSMEs in the agri-food and adjacent sectors with a focus towards women-owned or women-managed businesses: both family-operated and larger producers that have potential for development and guide their business towards better resilience and sustainability.

Duties and Responsibilities

2. SCOPE OF WORK

The main objective of this assignment is to coordinate the activities on SDG related impact investment development in Ukraine. Specifically, under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the National Lead Expert shall support the implementation of the following tasks:

• Provide local expertise for the development of an SDG Investor Map for Ukraine;
• Facilitate identification of Ukraine’s SDG-enabling investment opportunities;
• Support the development of investment projects of Ukraine’s impact-oriented MSMEs;
• Support the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine and the Investment Promotion Office in the operationalization of the impact investment policy framework;
• Contribute to the organization of an SDG investment facilitation event.

3. DELIVERABLES

It is expected that the Consultant’s services will be required for a eight-months period, between May 2021 and December 2021. Detail of the deliverables and schedule is given below:

4. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

UNDP will pay the negotiated amount in seven tranches according to the following payment schedule:

• the first payment (25% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 1 and approval of the Interim Report #1;
• the second payment (25% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 2 and approval of the Interim Report #2;
• the third payment (25% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 3 and approval of the Interim Report #3.
• the fourth payment (25% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 4 and approval of the Final Report).

The payments will be processed upon the full completion and acceptance of contractual obligations whereupon the Project Manager (Supervisor) signs the certification of acceptance.

5. MONITORING & REPORTING

The National Consultant will work under general leadership and direct supervision of the Project Manager (the Supervisor). He/she will receive necessary guidance, clarification that may be needed for this task. He/she will duly inform the Supervisor of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

The National Consultant will report to the Supervisor on the progress of the work performance according to the developed time schedule.  The Final Report will be in English and to be accepted by the Supervisor at the end of the assignment.

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.

Required Skills and Experience

6. EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

Education

• At least Master’s degree in Economics, Business Administration, Public Administration, other Social Sciences or related fields.

Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in delivery of advisory services in the areas of entrepreneurship development, impact investment development, social enterprises, start-up businesses, development of business idea/plan and evaluation, delivery of business mentoring services, including in the field of medium and large-scale digital communications tools, online marketplaces, social media or other digital platforms;
• At least 5 years of proven experience in developing national and regional level strategic policy papers on private sector engagement including social entrepreneurship, impact investment, SME and export strategies or other related area.
• Excellent writing skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize inputs and relevant findings (proven with samples of at least two (2) prepared or co-authored strategic policy papers or analytical documents related to this assignment)
• Working experience with UN funded programmes or other international technical assistance projects would be an asset

Languages

• Fluency in Ukrainian and English is required. 

7. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

UNDP documents templates can be downloaded from the following link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/297e72t7i3v2969/AADDRyUo2uoNrYjuD8NLmdl0a?dl=0  

Please combine your CV, financial proposal and other necessary information in one PDF file and upload the document when submitting the application.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

8. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

 Lump sum contract

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount.

Travel costs

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP should 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.

As assignment is home based, travel is not envisaged, but if the need arises it will be by mutual agreement. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Logistics arrangements for the events, where participation of the Consultant is requested by UNDP as per this TOR, to be provided by UNDP and shall not be included in the financial proposal

9. Evaluation Criteria

Technical evaluation – Total 70% (max 70 points)

Educational background – 10 points max

At least Master’s degree in Information Technology, IT management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related fields.

{8 pts – Specialist/Master’s degree in the relevant field; 10 pts – PhD degree in the relevant field}

Work experience - 34 points max

1. At least 10 years of experience in delivery of advisory services in the areas of entrepreneurship development, impact investment development, social enterprises, start-up businesses, development of business idea/plan and evaluation, delivery of business mentoring services, including in the field of medium and large-scale digital communications tools, online marketplaces, social media or other digital platforms – 16 points max

{10 pts – 10 years; 13 pts – 11-14 years; 16 pts – 15 years and more);

1. At least 5 years of proven experience in developing national and regional level strategic policy papers on private sector engagement including social entrepreneurship, impact investment, SME and export strategies or other related area – 24 points max

{10 pts – 5-7 years; 13 pts – 8-9 years; 16 pts – 10 years and more);

1. Working experience with UN funded programmes or other international technical assistance projects as an asset:

{0 pts – no, 2 pts – yes}

Writing skills - 16 points max:

Excellent writing skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize inputs and relevant findings (proven with at least two (2) prepared or co-authored strategic policy papers or analytical documents related to this assignment)

{11 pts – 2 analytical papers, 16 pts – 3 and more analytical papers provided}

Language Skills – 10 points max:

Fluency in Ukrainian and English is required.

{10 pts – fluent Ukrainian and English}

Maximum available technical score - 70 points.

Evaluation method

 Cumulative analysis

Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the cumulative highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight: 70%

* Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.

Additional requirements for recommended contractor:

Recommended contractors aged 62 and older shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination shall be paid by the consultant.

The BSAFE online security training course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of contract.