Background

Purpose:

The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) is seeking to recruit a junior consultant to assist the SEESAC Team in the implementation of project activities in data research and analysis and setting up a regional Armed Violence Monitoring Platform (AVMP).            

Objective:

The objective is to contribute to reducing the threat posed by the widespread accumulation and illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons and their ammunition in and from SEE.

Background Information:

The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) is a joint initiative of the UNDP and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). As such, it is an integral part of UNDP’s work in the Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (ECIS) region and has, since 2002, worked primarily to strengthen the capacities of national and regional stakeholders to control and reduce the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, and thus contribute to enhanced stability, security and development in South East and Eastern Europe. SEESAC also has a distinguished record working closely with ministries to mainstream gender equality and this aspect will remain central to the programme.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to international peace and security by combatting the threat posed by the widespread accumulation and illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons and their ammunition in and from SEE. At the same time, it enhances regional stability by working within the framework of the RCC and in partnership with other relevant initiatives. The project is directly contributing to the implementation of the EU Security Strategy, the EU SALW Strategy, the EU Firearms Strategy, the Arms Trade Treaty, the UN Programme of Action, the International Tracing Instrument, UN Firearms Protocol, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and will specifically enhance regional cooperation in combating the threat posed by the spread of SALW and their ammunition. Specifically, the project is contributing to the implementation of the South East Europe Regional Implementation Plan Combatting the Proliferations and Impact of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024. The project results are also directly contributing to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peaceful and just societies, in particular targets 16.1(Significantly reduce all forms of violence and death rate everywhere) and 16.4 (significantly reduce illicit arms flows). 

SEESAC is implementing the Council Decision 2019/2111 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South-East Europe in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their ammunition, and the Council Decision 2021/2161 amending Decision 2018/1788 in support of the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans. Further, with the support of European Union, represented by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II), SEESAC is implementing the project Support for enhancing the fight against the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans - IPA/2021 - 425/067. In addition to this, SEESAC is implementing the second phase of the Strengthening of Regional Cooperation on Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans project. The project facilitates regional cooperation on gender equality in the military and further strengthen the capacities of the Ministries of Defense and the Armed Forces for implementation of gender responsive policies. These initiatives continue to strengthen safety and security through regional cooperation in South East Europe.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work:

Under the overall guidance of SEESAC Regional Cooperation Specialist, the AVMP Junior Consultant will be expected to perform the following tasks:

• Daily data related to firearms incidents in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia collected through official websites of Ministries of Interior as well as online and printed media.
• Population of SEESAC’s online AVMP with data collected on firearms incidents in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia during the period 1 October 2022 – 30 September 2023.
• Collection and submission to SEESAC of any other relevant information related to Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Control in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia identified through official websites of Ministries of Interior as well as online and printed media.

Deliverables and timelines:

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

All deliverables must be prepared in English language and be quality reviewed and accepted by SEESAC Regional Cooperation Specialist. 

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Proficient in using computer/internet;
• Demonstrate very good oral and written communication skills and attention to details;
• Evidence of ability to work independently and in team;
• Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Graduated or final year of University or MA in social sciences. 

Work Experience:

• Research and analytical skills and previous experience with research or data recording and collection projects (including through university projects) in the areas: arms control, citizen security, arms violence prevention.

Language:

• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English and Bosnia/Montenegrin/Serbian.

Application procedure:

Interested individual consultants must submit, via UNDP Website: UNDP in Serbia under section “Jobs” no later than September 09, 2022, the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• CV in English language containing date of birth, contact information (home address, phone number, e-mail) and timeline of work experience (including description of duties).   
• Offeror’s Letter (only PDF format will be accepted) confirming Interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment. Can be downloaded from the following link: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-07/confirmation.docx.The Offeror’s Letter should include financial proposal specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement with a breakdown of costs. Offeror’s Letter must also include the methodology concept containing a preliminary plan of work (no more than two pages). More specifically the Offeror’ Letter needs to have breakdown of costs in Annex 2, Table A: Breakdown of costs & Table B) Breakdown of costs by deliverables) and must include travel costs, per diems, and number of anticipated working days.
• The Offeror’s letter must also include: Cover letter – Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work.

The shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide copies of diplomas and any other certificates providing evidence of their education and experience in relevant fields.

In order to apply please merge above listed documents into a single PDF file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded.

Any request for clarification must be sent by standard electronic communication to the e-mail vacancy.rs@undp.org. The procuring UNDP entity will respond by standard electronic mail and will send response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

Financial Proposal:

• Lump sum contracts

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 installments 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 (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel

This is a home-based consultancy and travel is not envisaged.

Evaluation

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable in terms of relevant experience and academic background, and

b) Having received the 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 of 49 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Additional Information:

• Individual Contract (IC) will be applicable for individual consultants applying in their own capacity.  If the applicant is employed by any legal entity, IC would be issued upon submission of Consent letter from the employer acknowledging the engagement with UNDP. Template of General Conditions on IC could be found on: Template of General Conditions on IC could be found on: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-07/General_Conditions_for_Individual_Contracts.pdf 
• Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be applicable for applicants employed by any legal entity. Template of RLA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-07/PSU_Individual%20Contract_Model%20Reimbursable%20Loan%20Agreement.docx

In the case of engagement of Civil servants under IC contract modality a no-objection letter should be provided by the Government entity. The ‘no-objection’ letter must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status (if applicable), and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. If the previous is not applicable ‘leave-without-pay’ confirmation should be submitted.

Engagement of Government Officials and Employees

• Government Officials or Employees are civil servants of UN Member States.  As such, if they will be engaged by UNDP under an IC which they will be signing in their individual capacity (i.e., engagement is not done through RLA signed by their government employer), the following conditions must be met prior to the award of contract:

(i)       A “No-objection” letter in respect of the individual is received from the Government employing him/her, and;

(ii)     The individual must provide an official documentation from his/her employer formally certifying his or her status as being on “official leave without pay” for the duration of the IC.

• The above requirements are also applicable to Government-owned and controlled enterprises and well as other semi/partially or fully owned Government entities, whether or not the Government ownership is of majority or minority status.   
• UNDP recognizes the possibility that there are situations when the Government entity employing the individual that UNDP wishes to engage is one that allows its employees to receive external short-term consultancy assignments (including but not limited to research institutions, state-owned colleges/universities, etc.), whereby a status of “on-leave-without-pay” is not required.  Under such circumstance, the individual entering into an IC with UNDP must still provide a “No-objection” letter from the Government employing him/her.  The “no objection” letter required under (i) above must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any.  The said document may be obtained by, and put on record of, UNDP, in lieu of the document (ii) listed above.