Background
Background:
UNDP and UNICEF, together with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, have initiated an innovative programme called “Partnership for Building Urban Resilience in Zimbabwe” in 2018. The overall goal of the programme is to improve urban resilience and strengthen the provision of basic social services and the Local Economic Development (LED) targeting unemployed youths, women, and vulnerable groups in urban and peri-urban areas. The Programme is piloted in a few selected local authorities, targeting Gwanda, Chipinge and Harare (Glen-View and Budiriro). It focuses on evidence generation and knowledge building as well as setting up a model for sustainable WASH and LED interventions. This is a joint initiative of UNDP, UNICEF and Local Government that builds on the experiences of UNICEF from the Small Towns WASH programme and UNDP’s Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZBRF) and the Strengthening Local Government Service Delivery Capacity project.
The Programme approach recognizes the synergistic relationship between WASH, LED and Basic Social Services Sectors. The initial programme will therefore focus on two outcome areas:
Immediate improvements in urban environment to build practical evidence on access to basic public services, employment, livelihoods opportunities for youth and women in unserved/ underserved urban and peri-urban areas improved;
Evidence based framework and strategies for building urban resilience developed.
The programme has also recognized that urban local authorities’ by-laws can have a very strong impact on urban resilience building. By-laws are rules and regulations that govern activities and operations within local authorities. The management of urban areas is administered through the enforcement of by-laws enacted by the respective urban council or local board. These by-laws cover a wide array of issues, such as council operations, property maintenance, construction, traffic, public utilities, and amenities. Part XVII of the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15 empowers Councils to make these by-laws under the final approval of the Local Government Minister.
Problem Statement:
By-laws can play a crucial role in facilitating local economic development and provision of basic social services, which – in their turn – constitute successful urban resilience building. Therefore, it is important to have a good understanding of the current by-laws in place governing the operations of Local Authorities in relation to WASH, LED and Basic Social Services. Such review will help to gain an understanding of what policies are in place at the moment and what works well, it will also help to analyse if there are any internal gaps or inconsistencies, and or any useful by-laws that are missing.
At the same time, By-laws should be relevant and kept up to date with the local context and latest developments. This relevance in the context of urban local authorities in Zimbabwe is somewhat overshadowed by the fact that some of the active local authority by-laws were made prior to independence or before the year 2000. This review of the by-laws, is also necessitated by the fact that a new Constitution of Zimbabwe was adopted in 2013, and since then there have been amendments to various acts which provide over-arching guiding principles to urban local authority by-laws, such as Public Health Act, and proposed amendments to the Urban Council Act and Rural District Council Act, which make provision for the promulgation of by-laws by local authorities. There are also challenges with respect to the interpretation and determination of the by-laws. The capacities of the local authorities to develop by-laws and that of the responsible central authorities to approve should also be analysed to generate possible improvements or solutions, and model by-laws.
Purpose of the Study:
Given the mismatch between the existing by-laws and the developments in the local government sector, this proposed Study seeks to analyse existing urban local authorities’ by-laws, with a particular focus on their relevance to urban resilience. The Study will proffer model by-laws within the context of WASH, LED and Basic Social Services that can be adapted by the local authorities in Zimbabwe.
Objectives:
The objectives of the study are:
To assess the relevance of the existing policy framework (in particular, by-laws), in relationship to Urban Resilience in the context of WASH, LED and Basic Social Services;
Assessment of which by-laws are in existence, the ones that work well, the ones that have gaps, and ones that are missing;
Review the process of by-law making up to approval, with a focus on the effectiveness, efficiency and economy;
Analyze the capacities of the local authorities to design/ draft by-laws;
Assess the capacity of the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to support the approval of by-laws;
Design a draft Model By-Law addressing the WASH, LED and Basic Social Services;
Provide practical suggestions and possible solutions of for each of the objectives above.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope:
The study will be carried out in three pilot local authorities (Gwanda, Chipinge and Harare) and at least one other metropolitan city, one municipality, town council and local board.
Study Methodology:
A mixed-method approach is required for this study including the systematic use of qualitative (e.g., structured interviews and focus groups) and quantitative (e.g. recent survey results, existing routine data) methods. An initial proposal for a more detailed methodology is to be submitted by the applicant (consultant) at the time of submission of the technical proposal which will be used as a basis for proposal assessment by UNDP/UNICEF and Ministry of Local Government Public Works and National Housing.
Thereafter the contracted consultant will be requested to develop a more holistic study plan which must contain a work plan, a detailed description of a specific methodological approach, a design for the study with a list of questionnaires, and information collection and analysis methods and tools including sampling plans, as necessary.
Deliverables and Timeline:
This study will be carried out with 50 calendar days. The consultant will provide a detailed timetable in its technical proposal, specifying the distribution of tasks and duration to complete each task.
Other high-level expectations are as follows:
Develop a work plan/roadmap in consultation with Project Manager;
Design data collection instruments, including questionnaires and all data entry processes as well as qualitative tools adapted for different target groups as appropriate;
Develop sampling strategy;
Discuss and coordinate proposed research process with Project Manager;
Produce an inception report;
Coordinate data collection and data entry process;
Analyse data and produce a study report;
Present a draft study report to Project Manager and stakeholders for review and feedback within the agreed timeframe;
Produce and present a final version of the study report in English (including programmatic recommendations) within the specified time frame of the study.
End Products:
Inception report;
Draft Report;
Draft Model By-Law on LED (Soft and hard copy) in English;
Draft Model By-Law on Basic Social Services and WASH (Soft and hard copy) in English;
Final Report in English. Soft copy and two bound hard copies.
Milestone Payment Schedule:
10% upon submission and approval of inception report (within 10 days after the commencement of assignment);
20% upon submission of draft report (within 3 weeks after the inception report);
15% upon submission of draft Model By-Law on LED (Soft and hard copy) in English (within 2 weeks after draft report);
15% upon submission of draft model By-Law on Basic Social Services and WASH (Soft and hard copy) in English (within 2 weeks after draft report);
40% upon submission of soft copy and two bound hard copies of final report in English. Soft copy and two bound hard copies (within 2 weeks after the drafts).
Competencies
Core competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Functional competencies:
- Excellent reporting and communication skills;
- Strong writing skills;
- Strong interpersonal and networking skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Training and experience in one or more of the following fields at Master’s degree level: local government, political and /or social science, science, legal studies, urban planning and resilience.
Experience:
At least 7 years experience in the fields of WASH, Local Economic Development, Basic Social Services and Resilience;
Proven experience in the spheres of local governance with a special focus on by-laws will be an asset;
Ability to work independently.
Language Requirements:
Good communication and report writing skills in English.
Application Procedure
Interested Individuals are requested to submit a proposal on this platform which includes the following:
- CV of Lead Consultant highlighting the relevant experience including a minimum of 3 references;
- A technical proposal responding to the Terms of Reference and request for proposal; value additions in the proposal which enhance the quality of the proposal will be considered an advantage;
- An initial work plan based on methodology outlined, and confirming availability of the applicant;
- Financial proposal and budget breakdown based on expected daily rates and initial work plan.
Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows you to upload one (1) document.
Incomplete applications will not be given consideration.
Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.
Evaluation Criteria
The award of the contract shall be made to the Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the ToR.
- Technical Criteria weight: 70%;
- Financial Criteria weight: 30%.
Selection Criteria
Technical Evaluation: Constitutes 70% of total evaluation:
Criteria A: Education and Experience (maximum 60 points);
At least a master’s degree in: local government, political and /or social science, science, legal studies, urban planning and resilience. PhD will be an added advantage: 10 points;
Analytical and Research (Proven experience in research and analytical skills; Proven experience in quantitative and qualitative research skills; Strong analytical writing skills; Editing skills an advantage): 10 points;
Familiarity with Urban Resilience and Policy contexts (Familiarity with resilience concept; Knowledge of WASH, Local Economic Development, Basic Social Services and Resilience; Proven experience in the spheres of local governance with a special focus on by-laws; Understanding of legislation processes on national/local levels): 20 points;
Prior experience (Experience in similar assignments; References from previous work in related area): 10 points;
Operational effectiveness (Excellent spoken and written English skills; Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; Ability to plan effectively plan, organize and ensure timely delivery of milestones; Ability to work in teams and flexibility to work in a pressured environment with a problem-solving attitude; Excellent interpersonal, cross-cultural and representational skills): 10 points.
Criteria B: Technical Proposal / Methodology (maximum 40 points);
Have the important aspects of the task been addressed in enough detail? 10 points;
Are the different components of the project adequately weighted relative to one another? 5 points;
Is the scope of task well defined and does it correspond to the TOR? 15 points;
Work plan - Is the presentation clear and is the sequence of activities and the planning logical, realistic and promise efficient implementation to the project? 10 points.
Note: Only the highest ranked candidates who have obtained a minimum of 70 points (70%) on the technical evaluation will be considered for the financial evaluation.
Financial Evaluation: Constitutes 30% of total evaluation.
Please submit an all-inclusive lump sum daily fee. Financial proposals must be all inclusive and must be expressed in USD. The term "all inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred in discharging this assignment should be factored into the financial proposal.