UNDP Jobs - 86566- National Consultant for Assessing the Development

National Consultant for Assessing the Development Management System in Canton Sarajevo

Location :

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

14-Aug-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

20 working days in period September –October 2019

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The consultancy is planned within the ILDP, a joint project of the Government of Switzerland and UNDP, aimed at strengthening development through introduction of a systematic approach to strategic planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategy realization and harmonisation of planning system at the local level with those at the higher levels of government. The project is implemented in partnership with the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, the FBiH Ministry of Justice, the RS Ministry of Administration and Local Self-Government and both Associations of Municipalities and Cities (AMCs).

Back in 2014 the ILDP supported the participatory creation of a standardised development planning methodology that was successfully applied in all 10 cantons, which have designed their integrated development strategies by 2020. Following the adoption of their development strategies, the ILDP partner cantons received support in preparing and adopting three-years strategy implementation plans and annual development reports.

Within its support package, the ILDP assisted Canton Sarajevo to prepare its development strategy in line with the standardised approach and secondly and strengthen its implementation capacities.

The purpose of this consultancy is to contribute to strengthening of the development management system in Canton Sarajevo.

The main objective of this consultancy is to provide expert assistance in conducting a participatory analysis of the existing development management functions in Canton Sarajevo with focus on access to external funding for projects’ implementation, followed by recommendations for improvement where necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities

More concretely, the Consultant will be expected to perform the following tasks:

Task 1 – Preparatory activities and design of work plan

As part of the preparatory work, the Consultant is first to familiarize herself/himself with relevant legal and methodological framework for development planning and management in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the existing practices in Canton Sarajevo.
In addition to reviewing the processes and functions related to development planning, implementation monitoring and evaluation, the Consultant is to pay particular attention to reviewing institutional capacities for project identification (in line with the cantonal development strategies and action plan), project design, implementation, monitoring and reporting.

This will include obtaining required information from relevant documents, such as: (i) the cantonal development strategy (relevant parts related to organizational aspects of strategy implementation and monitoring and related action plans and reports), (ii) existing legal framework and rulebooks on internal organization; existing legal framework and rulebooks on internal organization; (iii) other formal decisions and acts that Sarajevo Canton may provide for this purpose, such are public investment procedures and plans, annual cantonal budgets and reports, etc.
In conducting the review, the Consultant should also look into best practices in the European Union, the neighboring countries as well as in other cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that have advanced in regard to systemic implementation of development strategies, including institutional arrangements for overall coordination of projects’ implementation.

Based on the initial review, the Consultant will prepare a detailed work plan for the validation by the Cantonal Planning Institute and the ILDP, including a proposed structure of the assessment document.

Reference materials and guidance documents will be shared with the Consultant by the ILDP and the counterparts from the Development Planning Institute of Canton Sarajevo.

Task 2: Assessment of the existing development management system in Canton Sarajevo with focus on project identification, preparation and implementation

Based on preparatory work described under Task 1, the Consultant will prepare the assessment tools and brief notes/initial findings to be used during the participatory assessment.

The assessment report will include, inter alia, the following key chapters:

Overview of the existing development management system in Canton Sarajevo and assessment of its functionality in terms of planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting on development priorities and projects. The overview will also include current institutional arrangements, vertical and horizontal coordination, key challenges and specific institutional capacity gaps, if relevant.
Overview of existing project management arrangements and project identification, design and implementation functions, including key challenges and specific institutional capacity gaps, if relevant.
Recommendations to strengthen overall development management system in Canton Sarajevo and improve project management performance.

In conducting the assessment, the Consultant will review relevant documents, including annual reports on the cantonal development strategy’s implementation, reports on execution of cantonal budget, implementation of the Public Investment Programme, the report on the work of the cantonal government, etc. Particular focus will be directed towards:

determining to what extent projects financed from the cantonal budget originate from and contribute to the attainment of the cantonal development strategy and its action plan.
determining to what extent cantonal institutions use external source of funding to finance their development priorities (i.e. EU funds, public calls for projects by other bilateral or multilateral organizations, etc.)
determining to what extent cantonal institutions engage in development partnerships for project implementation with constituent local governments or other cantons.

In addition to the desk work, in conducting the assessment the Consultant is obtain additional information from interviews with a number of stakeholders in Canton Sarajevo, such as the Planning Institute, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance, SERDA and members of the Cantonal Development Board, including representatives of constituent local governments. The meetings should be structured in a way that the Consultant firstly explains the purpose, steps and expected results of technical assistance.

The assessment meetings will be scheduled in close collaboration with the Cantonal Planning Institute and coordination with ILDP. The meetings venues and dates will depend on Sarajevo Canton representatives’ availability and will be timely communicated by all included parties.
After conducting the assessments, the Consultant will analyze findings and, if necessary, seek further information or clarifications through electronic means (email, telephone). The assessment findings reflected in the assessment tool (evaluation matrix) together with a proposal of development management institutional improvements most suitable for needs and specifics of Canton Sarajevo will be electronically shared with the Development Planning Institute of Canton Sarajevo and the ILDP for validation. Based on the assessment findings feedback received from the Development Planning Institute of Canton Sarajevo and the ILDP, the Consultant will prepare draft Assessment Report. Draft Report will follow the structure prepared and agreed under Task 1. The maximum number of pages should not exceed 20 pages (excluding annexes).

Task 3: Presentation of the Draft Assessment Report and finalization

Following the validation of the Draft Assessment Report by the ILDP, the Consultant will present the document to key cantonal institutions and decision makers, where the presentation will focus on main findings and recommendations. The presentation will be conducted in an interactive manner and will encourage representatives of Canton Sarajevo to provide critical observations, particularly in relation to the proposed model and its applicability in light of existing human resources and readiness of leadership to pursue formal changes in the internal organization. More specifically, changes and amendments to the legal framework, including relevant regulatory framework, rulebook on internal organization, as a formal step to embrace the development management improvements in administrative set-up are likely to be needed, which may require new employments or internal transfers of staff. Moreover, the Consultant will initiate preparation of a draft action plan, which should reflect envisaged activities and timelines for formalization and operationalization of the proposed recommendations. The presentation meetings will be organized by the Development Planning Institute in close coordination with ILDP.

Upon the presentation of Draft Assessment Report, the Consultant will leave at least one week for the stakeholders from Canton Sarajevo to submit their additional feedback and suggestions, which will be incorporated in the final report. The final report section elaborating development management and project identification, preparation and implementation functions and specific jobs descriptions (in central development management unit and/or other departments), should be prepared as much as possible as ready-made inputs for subsequent changes and amendments of the relevant legal framework and rulebooks on internal organization.

The final report, including the final action plan will be validated by the Development Planning Institute of Canton Sarajevo and the ILDP.

Deliverables/outputs

Task 1: Preparatory activities and design of work plan - 5 work days by 15 September 2019

Work plan developed and validated by ILDP

Task 2: Assessment of the existing development management system in Canton Sarajevo with focus on project identification, preparation and implementation -12 work days by 15 October 2019

Assessment tools and brief notes/initial finding prepared and approved;
Draft assessment report with recommendations prepared and validated by the Development Planning Institute of Canton Sarajevo and the ILDP;

Task 3: Presentation of the Draft Assessment Report and finalization - 3 work days by 30 October 2019

Draft Assessment Report presented to a wider number of cantonal institutions and feedback obtained.
Final report and recommendations, including the action plan validated by the Development Planning Institute of Canton Sarajevo and the ILDP.

Competencies

Core values

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives.

People Skills:

Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior;
Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

Partnering and Networking:

Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously.

Results-Orientation:

Plans and ensures quality results to meet established goals.

Communication:

Formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

Strong analytical skills;
Advanced writing skills,
Progressive knowledge of strategic planning at local and higher levels and the related methodologies;
Strong facilitation and coordination skills;
Substantive knowledge on security issues and activities with an emphasis on local communities;
Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently;
Initiative and sound judgment

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education

University degree in public administration, economics, law, or related field. Advanced degree will be considered as an asset;

Experience

At least 7 years of relevant experience in the field of development planning and management in Bosnia and Herzegovina or European Union countries;
Previous experience in provision of technical assistance and training to public institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina or European Union countries in the area of development management and/or project design and implementation;
Previous experience in provision of technical support to cantons in FBiH;
Previous experience in working as part of public administration in BiH is a distinct asset.

Language

Fluency in languages of peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina and excellent command of English.

Instructions for Applicants:

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references – to be submitted online through this website.
Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability – http://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Job ID 86566 as a reference.

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables 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 fee, travel expenses and all other applicable fees).

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative analysis. The award of the contract will be made to the individual 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 (70%) and financial (30%) criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical evaluation criteria:

Rating based on Qualifications - max 30 points
Previous experience in provision of technical assistance and training to public institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina or European Union countries in the area of development management and/or project design and implementation - max 35 points
Previous experience in provision of technical support to cantons in FBiH max 35 points