Background

The Inclusive Growth portfolio is anchored in the national priority of ‘accelerated growth with inclusion and equity, employment generation, and skill India’, aligned to outcome 1 of the UNDP strategic plan. While the focus of outcome 2 is on decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and reducing inequalities (SDG 10), the UNDP comparative advantage in the sector as a facilitator and knowledge leader is being leveraged to strengthen institutional linkages between enterprise and skills-training providers and to identify synergies between national programmes and missions to assist marginalized groups access to sustainable skills, jobs, livelihoods, and productive assets.

The focus of the portfolio has been primarily women and youth from the marginalized communities across the country.  It takes into consideration that women face significant social and economic barriers in participating in India’s workforce. Under the portfolio, there are several projects being implemented, working towards increased awareness, career guidance and counselling, apprenticeships promotion (with industry clusters), micro-enterprise development,  strengthening of the farm/non-farm and artisanal values chains, and developing second generations managers, enhancing employability and business skills capacity, facilitation of linkages, mentorship support and nurturing the innovation potential of youth and women of rural and urban areas.

UNDP in India is committed to support the efforts of the Government of India towards working with partners and key stakeholders to advocate for an environmentally sensitive response to COVID-19 that resets towards greener pathways for recovery. Focus is to not only move towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient recovery, but also help to strengthen recovery by focusing on emerging and innovative green job opportunities. The COVID 19 global pandemic could potentially threaten to deepen inequalities and undo progress on the SDGs. We are already witnessing the detrimental impact of the pandemic on the economies and the populations especially poor and vulnerable populations. India is no exception to this challenge that can jeopardize India’s gains in reducing poverty, improving access to livelihoods and social protection.

Building on the experience and the partnership base of earlier projects and keeping in view the need for intense work on local livelihoods for green growth and expanding digital capacity and access to social security, PROmoting Inclusive GRowth through Enhanced Access to Local Livelihood Opportunities, Education to Work Transition and Social Protection Schemes (PROGRESS) programme has been initiated in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

The programme is being rolled out in close partnership with the Central and State Governments and aims to leverage partnerships with private sector actors, financial institutions, educational and vocational institutes, training partners, and the community to fill the gaps through innovative approaches and practices. Similarly, it will leverage flagship public schemes.  

Pathways of engagement shall include mobilisation and creation of a cadre of managers/mentors at community level, leveraging career guidance & counselling (secondary schools and colleges/universities) networks based on aspirations of young people, training of trainers, strengthening producer-based ‘value/supply’ chains; micro-enterprise promotion and apprenticeship promotion with industry associations and private sector actors; and strengthening the government’s social protection architecture. The programme will extend support to state and central government on outreach and implementation of flagship schemes and programmes, wherever required. Apart from providing policy and research inputs, UNDP intends to provide a platform for discussion, and sharing of good practices in the spirit of south-south collaboration.

The overall objective of the proposed engagement is to work closely with the Inclusive Growth Unit and extend expert input and support on skilling and employment aspects of the programme implementation. This will include providing research, proposal writing, collating, and verifying data, developing communication collaterals, leading online/offline events.

In this regard, UNDP would like to engage a senior consultant with multi-disciplinary experience and the ability to provide high quality output with focus on employment and entrepreneurship.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of Head, Poverty Unit, UNDP, the Senior Consultant is expected to carry out the following activities:

1. Coordination, Monitoring, and Reporting

• Lead discussion with the MSDE for design and development of specific interventions within “PROGRESS”
• Preparation/ review of detailed MSDE related progress reports (monthly/ quarterly)
• Assist project managers in review and monitoring of all on-field activities including monitoring the activities of the support agency / partners,
• Support identification of appropriate local partner/s, technical support agency/s, government departments etc. and foster partnership for project implementation  

2.Research and Proposal Development

• Conduct desk research as required on skilling ecosystem, jobs and entrepreneurship, and related areas specifically on implementation of flagship schemes of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
• Provide necessary technical assistance and research inputs for the preparation of research papers, and knowledge products
• Identify potential areas for work in this sector and write project proposal including executive summary, technical sections, management and staffing sections, risk assessment

3. Organization of Round Tables, Meetings, Networking Events

• Assist and coordinate the organization of meetings, workshops, conferences, training, and related activities relevant to the implementation of the project (online/offline)
• Initiate dialogues with existing and potential partners and key stakeholders through roundtables, meetings/workshops, training, and capacity building events
• Provide support for organizing consultations with relevant stakeholders, prepare background material/policy briefs and promote knowledge sharing

4. Communication and Outreach

• Develop scripts/drafts for videos and other communication collaterals
• Develop case studies based on field implementation
• Support with developing IEC material as required

Ensure final output is of high quality and, compliant with the requirements and quality standards of UNDP.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates/safeguards ethics and integrity
• Works as a team member

Required Skills and Experience

Recruitment Qualifications 

Educational Qualifications

Postgraduate in Business Management/Development Studies/Social sciences

Experience 

• 10+ years’ experience in the domain of skilling, employment, and entrepreneurship  
• 3+ years’ experience of working with government, bi/multi-lateral agency and/or UN Agency
• Excellent communications and documentation (MS Word, Excel) skills in English

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Overall understanding of entrepreneurship ecosystem in the country and demonstratable Technical Expertise in the thematic areas of Skills & Employments, Women Economic Empowerment, Improving public systems for delivery of services
• Excellent research and technical writing skills with track record of creating compelling, clear, and succinct documents (background note, progress reports and presentation etc.)
• Demonstrable experience in writing large scale competitive proposals,
• Excellent skills on MS office (MS word, excel & PowerPoint)

Communication Skills

• Good communication, interpersonal skills, with an ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Language Requirements  

• Fluency in English is essential

Duration of the Assignment

11 months

Deliverables and Schedule of Payment

Submission of Monthly progress reports along with deliverable and timesheet (to be approved by the Head, Poverty Unit)

Project Location

The assignment will be based in Delhi with a requirement to domestic travel (as per COVID mandate and protocol).

Evaluation Criteria

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant who meets the technical requirements stated above along with the financial offer being evaluated. Technically qualified consultants will be requested to submit their daily fee rate i.e., consultants who score more than 70%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

• Technical Criteria weight – 70%
• Financial Criteria weight – 30 %

 Technical Criteria (70% of total evaluation)

1. Minimum of 10 years of experience in the development sector, especially in areas of skilling, livelihoods – 10%
2. Demonstratable technical expertise in the thematic areas – skills & employment, women economic empowerment, or improving public systems for delivery of services and prior experience of working with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship – 30%
3. Proven demonstrable experience in writing large scale competitive proposals – 30%

Financial Proposal:(30%)

Technically qualified consultants will be requested to submit their lump sum rate i.e. consultants who score more than 70% i.e. 49 marks with respect to the above-mentioned evaluation criteria. Consultant should not specify their consultancy fee on their CV or with the submission. The CV will not be evaluated further in case the consultant submits the same.

Note:

1. Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e., internet, phone, relocation charges etc. would not be reimbursed.
2. Travel, lodging and boarding as per UNDP rules subject to prior approval
3. Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual
4. Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered.