Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability - https://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx - Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 92625.

As a regional initiative, Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans (ReLOaD) is implemented in six Western Balkans (WB) IPA beneficiaries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Project duration is from February 2017 until end of 2020**. ReLOaD is financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP.

The IPA beneficiaries are facing complex set of similar development challenges. More specifically, they have been experiencing challenges in ensuring transparent mechanisms for funding of civil society organisations (CSO) and including citizens in decision making processes on a local level. At the same time Albania, BiH Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia invest significant efforts to mainstream the EU accession agenda within their socio-political contexts. An integral part of the EU accession agenda is to promote inclusion of civil society and further development of participatory democracies in the region.

The ReLOaD is addressing the above-mentioned challenges by strengthening partnerships between local governments (LG) and CSOs. ReLOaD in BiH focuses its efforts in 21 partner LGs: Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Bratunac, Brod, Centar Sarajevo, Gradacac, Jablanica, Kakanj, Maglaj, Modrica, Pale, Rudo, Sokolac, Stari Grad Sarajevo, Teslic, Tešanj, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla, Vitez and Vogošca.

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* For the European Union, this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. For UNDP, references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

** Current project duration is from February 2017 until end of August 2020. However, it si expected that the project will be extended until end of 2020.

The need to improve partnership between LGs and CSOs and citizens in general and the upward trend in using Information Communication Technology (ICT) set ground for the ReLOaD project to explore innovative solutions and mechanisms. The concept starts from innovation through development to actuation with the purpose to assist the citizens and local authorities in building effective two-way communication. In that context, ReLOaD organized two ideation processes, ideathons, to gather innovative ideas which can be key to ensure effective cooperation of LGs and citizens/CSOs in October 2019. Young men and women suggested 16 ideas that included tech tools such as mobile apps, web platforms, interactive chats. 8 most striking ideas were chosen to be further developed at a 48-hour Hackathon under the guidance of IT and local governance and social inclusion experts. At the end of the process, a winning solution was selected, namely Go Green application developed by four high-school students (Go Green team), that consists of the following four components:

1. EDUCATIONAL PART - educational material on recycling (text and pictures), including an eco-game "Split by Color".
2. THE ECO MAP WITH THE SCANNER – this section provides a map of all eco containers/bins in respective LG and by using a scanner it would allow to determine what kind of waste the user is having and would provide information in which container this waste should be disposed. An eco-map would open with instructions on how to get to a particular bin. This functionality is to use AI algorithms.
3. GREEN ACTIONS - this section provides a green calendar marked with green events (meetups, workshops, cleaning and cleaning activities, eco competitions from municipalities).
4. APPLICATION (CAMERA) – this is an interactive section where the user can report to the responsible authority the violation of eco-law and unclean areas and responsible authority would need to give feedback on this in terms of the activities conducted to resolve the issue.

For the purpose of developing Go green application, ReLOaD project will engage a Team leader/ National expert on IT application development and delivery (hereinafter: the Team leader) and team of experts. The Team leader will lead, coordinate and monitor team of four experts needed to complete the envisaged task. The team will be consisting of two senior developer and two junior developers (hereinafter: IT team). It is envisaged that vacancies for senior and junior developers will be published in July and the full team will be operational by the end of July 2020.

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide services related to follow-up, coordination and development of winning solution (Go Green) into a viable mobile application product, which includes application testing. Go Green application is currently a prototype developed by the Go Green team from Sarajevo. Thus far, Go Green team has developed a prototype with simple elements and integrated Google map, a calendar and a login camera.

The Go Green application will be developed and tailored for each ReLOaD partner LG that expressed the interest to use it in their local communities (minimum 14[1] ). The Team leader is obliged to provide mentorship and capacity building to Go Green team in all phases of the process of development of functional application.

More specifically, the Team leader is responsible that the following tasks are performed:

• Task 1.  Team guidance and quality assurance
• Task 2. Development of the Go Green application
• Task 3: Mentoring support to LG representatives for administrating the application
• Task 4.  Reporting

Task 1.  Team guidance and quality assurance

In line with the methodological approach and ReLOaD instructions, the Team leader will serve as the main focal point for ReLOaD project and team leader of IT team and Go Green team engaged to develop Go green application. The Team leader will coordinate members of each team and provide direct guidance to them aiming to ensure efficient and effective planning process and the highest possible quality of the customized application for all LGs.

It is important to note that the Team leader will be ultimately responsible for ensuring the overall quality of the tasks related for development of application, improving parts of the application as needed and overall quality assurance.

Under this task, the Team leader t is expected to:

• Attend the initial meeting with the Go Green team and IT team, organized by the ReLOaD project;

• Define a workplan for the IT team and Go green team (outlining concrete tasks, steps, timeframe, resources and responsible parties);
• Develop a precise and detailed plan for including Go Green team in application development and providing mentorship for the Go Green team;
• Lead, coordinate and manage the work of IT team and Go Green team;
• Provide quality assurance for the overall task.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered in the period August– November 2020 and the level of effort will not exceed 10 expert days.

Task 2. Development of the Go Green application

Under this Task, the Team leader will be responsible for developing application, its testing and customizing it for at least 14 ReLOaD partner LGs. ReLOaD project will provide contacts of LG representatives to the Team leader and initiate the first contact between LG representatives and Team leader. Further communication with LG representatives will be solely responsibility of the Team leader. Under this task, the team leader is expected to:

• Ensure the application development - software and hardware support to be provided to the development of the Go Green mobile application and desktop version of the application;
• Ensure application testing, including organizing at least two focus groups to gather user feedback. Organisational, logistical and financial aspects of focus groups will be carried out the Team leader. Location of the focus group meetings as well as profile of focus group participants will be agreed between ReLOaD and Team leader;
• Based on the focus group feedback and once all the information for the necessary adjustments are gathered, the Team leader will coordinate the IT team in order to ensure that all the adjustments to the application are applied;
• Identify similar applications and ensure information exchange between them and the team;
• Develop and use AI algorithms for the eco map with scanner of the application.

After the initial development of the Go Green application, the Team leader will lead the development of this version into customized version for minimum of 14 LGs. The development will be done in close cooperation with partner LGs that will make available all necessary information for modifying the application in accordance with their needs and specifics. Go Green team will be in charge of collecting information related to LG specifics (map of eco containers, calendars etc) and share it with Team leader. If needed, the Team leader will contact the LGs for additional clarification. Based on inputs from LG representatives responsible for maintaining the application, the Team leader will ensure compilation and addressing of inputs and preparation of the final application. The Team leader will familiarise the ReLOaD project with all aspects or the application (functionalities and design) and based on the feedback provided will adjust the application. All stages of application development as well as final product need to be approved by ReLOaD team. Prior to the ReLOaD approval, LG representatives will be asked to provide written feedback on the application functioning and ensure that the application is in accordance with the needs in each community.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered in the period August – November 2020 and the level of effort will not exceed 31 expert days.

Task 3.  Mentoring support to LG representatives for administrating the application

Once developed and tested and upon the approval from ReLOaD project, the application will be handed over to LGs. Therefore, the Team leader will in the initial phase organize provision of the mentorship to the LG representatives. This includes a one-day training and further on-the-job mentoring for LG representatives. To that end, the Team leader will develop an interactive training program that needs to be approved by ReLOaD, prior to delivering it. Training location will be agreed with ReLOaD project. Team leader will need to ensure that all LG representatives attend the training. At least 80% LG representatives will need participate in training in person while 20% of training participants can be present using online communication tools (zoom or similar). Logistical, organisational and financial aspects of training (e.g. meals and refreshment for participants) will be carried out by the Team leader. No transportation cost will be provided to training participants.

Within this task, the Team leader will develop a manual for LG representatives with instruction and information how the application will be used and administered. The Team leader will be at the disposal for inquiries and online support and mentoring to LG representatives for upcoming period of six months after the application development. This service will be free of charge.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered in the period October – November 2020 and the level of effort will not exceed 10 expert days.

Task 4.  Reporting

The Team leader must provide a regular bi-weekly progress updates including critical reflections on issues and challenges faced as well as suggestions on how to overcome challenges occurred (e.g. delays etc). The short overview of IT team members progress and performance on the application development as well as the implementation of the mentorship plan for Go Green team as indicated in Task 1 will be provided. Team leader will reflect on the experiences working with all LGs and on eventual challenges in communication and implementation of the activities. The ReLOaD project withholds the right to request periodical updates/reports on particular issues. The Team leader will prior to receiving the next tranche in accordance with the Contract to be signed, submit a report to ReLOaD team and present the progress of the application development making sure that all application functionalities and design are at the highest possible quality.

Upon the completion of an assignment, the Team leader will prepare a draft report that will include, but will not be limited to, a number of participants in training, event performance evaluation, lessons learned and recommendations. All data should be segregated by age and gender. The draft report should be submitted to the ReLOaD project in English (MS Word electronic version). Final report must take in consideration all comments provided by ReLOaD project and should be approved by the ReLOaD project before final payment.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered in the period beginning of December 2020 and the level of effort will not exceed 4 expert days.

Organizational issues

The Team leader is required to organize his/her own travel and/or accommodation arrangements to different locations in which the visits will be carried out if applicable.  

All management and methodological issues will be closely coordinated and monitored by the ReLOaD.

The entire service will be delivered in one of the languages of BiH people. 

Deliverables/outputs

[1] LGs that are: Bijeljina, Brod, Centar Sarajevo, Jablanica, Kakanj, Maglaj, Modrica, Rudo, Sokolac, Tešanj, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla and Vitez

Competencies

CORPORATE COMPETENCIES

•  Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrates professional competence to meet responsibilities and post requirements and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Result-oriented and ability to produce quality results to meet established goals, generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Communication: strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match target audiences;
• Teamwork: ability to interact, establish and maintain effective working relations with a culturally diverse team;
• Plans and delivers quality results to meet established goals;
• Presents information in a clear and articulate manner;
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work under pressure and in stressful situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• University degree in computer sciences, or other relevant field.
• Advanced degree will be considered as an asset.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in the field of computer science or similar;
• Previous experience in performing similar tasks;
• Proven experience in developing applications and management of development teams; 
• Extensive experience in participating in ideathons and hackathon as both mentor and judge;
• Proven knowledge and experience in Computer Graphics and developing AI algorithms;
• Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and clearly.

Languages Requirements:

• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in the languages of BiH people and in English.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation

Individual  will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, 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%

Interested candidated must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Proposal:

  • Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work; 

  • Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work; or sample of previous document/strategy/paper done by the consultant;

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.