The unprecedented spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines has resulted in a shortage of medical personal protective equipment (PPE) across the healthcare system. Hospitals have begun publicly requesting for donations to help solve this problem. While several individuals and organizations have responded to the call to help, there is a pressing need to coordinate these actions to ensure that the supplies are delivered to the right hospital at the right time, quantity, and quality.

UNDP Philippines, in line with UNDP’s global offer on COVID-19 response, has partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to create a digital solution called “Enhanced Manufacturing of Protective Wear and Equipment for COVID19 Response in the Philippines” (EMPOWER PH). The initiative provides a collaborative platform between various stakeholders to facilitate and accelerate production and distribution of essential items in order to meet increasing demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), ensure product quality standards, democratize knowledge and resources, provide livelihood opportunities, and facilitate an effective supply chain.

The UNDP will be handing over the EMPOWER PH platform to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and this initiative will create a database of both medical and non-medical grade manufacturers and suppliers that will go through vetting process to ensure quality goods that can be accessed by consumers and hospital beneficiaries.

Moreover, equipped with the platform and the learnings from the pilot in Metro Manila, UNDP Philippines will work with local ministries and agencies in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to localize the EMPOWER PH platform, equip the regional agencies with technical capabilities to operationalize the platform, and address the supply chain infrastructure gaps of the local garments industry in order to enable the region to facilitate local production and trade.

The engagement of a Project Coordinator is needed to provide management and oversight support the EMPOWER PH platform handover technical assistance to the DTI and alignment with the EMPOWER BARMM project team.

Institutional Arrangements

1. The consultant will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Programme Team Leader of Institutions and Partnerships.
2. S/he will closely coordinate  with the Programme Analyst of Institutions and Partnerships Programme, Programme Analyst of Peace Team, Programme Analyst of Pintig Lab, EMPOWER PH Technical and Quality Assessment Consultant, EMPOWER PH Data Platform Consultant, EMPOWER BARMM Project Coordinator and other stakeholders in the project
3. UNDP Philippines shall be entitled to intellectual property and other proprietary rights over all materials that have direct relation to the project.
4. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and declaration of State of Public Health Emergency in the Philippines, all work of the Individual consultant shall be done within the guidelines and protocols set by the local and national government.
5. During the entire duration of the Community Quarantine, this consultancy shall be performed remotely and will be a home-based assignment. The Consultant is expected to have his/her own equipment, office space, and internet connectivity. The Consultant shall not engage in any meetings or activities outside their homes. Coordination/meetings shall be done through phone or online communication until such time that the quarantine is lifted.
6. UNDP and the Consultant shall assess, once the Community Quarantine is lifted, if it is safe and necessary to have in-person meetings and collaboration.

Duration of Work

The Contractor will be engaged from November  2020 to February2021 unless revised in a mutually agreed upon timetable by UNDP and the Contractor. The consultant is expected to render a total of 40 person days spread for 3 months.

Duty Station

The duty station is in Manila. The Consultant can work remotely during the contract, but is required to attend meetings, if needed and as scheduled.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

               The financial proposals from possible candidates should be expressed in lump sum amount inclusive of all financial costs related to this engagement (i.e., such as transportation/travel to and from residence for meetings within Metro Manila, laptop, communications including internet, etc.).

               Medical/health insurance must be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense, and upon award of contract, the consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during contract duration.

               Payments will be made after submission and acceptance of  specific outputs as outlined below:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Programme Analyst of Institutions and Partnerships and in close coordination with the Programme Analyst of Peace Team, Programme Analyst of Pintig Lab, EMPOWER PH Technical and Quality Assessment Consultant, EMPOWER PH Data Platform Consultant, EMPOWER BARMM Project Coordinator and other stakeholders in the project, the Consultant shall deliver the following scope of work:

1. Provide oversight to the preparation for and implementation of the EMPOWER PH platform launch ceremony in partnership with the DTI;
2. Facilitate the coordination between EMPOWER PH and EMPOWER BARMM teams to ensure transfer of knowledge and learnings from the pilot, as well as alignment of project activities with the broader goals of the EMPOWER initiative;
3. Assist the EMPOWER BARMM Project Coordinator with onboarding and set-up of the EMPOWER BARMM project design to ensure that learnings from the EMPOWER PH pilot are incorporated in the work plan;
4. Coordinate with EMPOWER BARMM Project Coordinator in developing the project continuity, sustainability and institutionalization recommendations for the broader EMPOWER PH and localized EMPOWER BARMM initiatives;
5. Facilitate discussion and knowledge transfer between EMPOWER PH Local Supply Development Specialist and EMPOWER BARMM Local Supply Chain Research Consultant to ensure adherence to standard data points for the EMPOWER BARMM Work Stream 2 research;
6. Coordinate with the Programme Analyst of Pintig Lab and counterparts within the DTI in the creation of the data sharing agreement between UNDP Philippines and the DTI in line with the UNDP’s socioeconomic analysis support;
7. Facilitate the training and handover of various platform components to DTI counterpart stakeholders;
8. Assist the DTI in the development of the internal team to manage the platform, as well as the creation of the charter for the Technical Working Group with different agencies concerned in the design of guidelines and standards for the medical use and non-medical medical products for COVID-19 response;
9. Collaborate with the DTI in addressing potential areas and components for improvement and/or expansion for the EMPOWER PH platform as part of the second stage of updates;
10. Coordinate with the Data Platform and Technical and Quality Assessment Consultants to ensure the completion of assigned tasks and deliverables;
11. Consolidate project documentation and develop the EMPOWER PH project manual detailing the components of the platform and the activities undertaken and workflows, to be turned over to the DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group’s Competitiveness Bureau;
12. Provide guidance and general direction in the documentation and communication of project lessons learned and best practices for project advocacy and visibility, and sustainability of the project.

The Individual Contractor is expected to accomplish the following activities with corresponding deliverables:

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Other Competencies

• Demonstrates strong analytical skills and mature judgement;
• Ability to work in close collaboration with a group of national and international experts; self-motivated and ability to work under pressure and to meet strict and competing deadlines and plan the work according to priorities;
• Demonstrates capacity to plan, organize, and execute effectively;
• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multi-cultural team environment;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team and with stakeholders;
• Excellent written communication and presentation/public speaking skills
• Displays analytical judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Qualifications of the Successful Individual Contractor

The IC should meet the following minimum qualification:

Education

• Bachelor’s  degree  in business, management, information management, supply chain management, sustainable development, or related area

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of consultancy or work experience in project management
• Minimum 2 years of experience in projects related to any of the following: community development, health, market research, supply chain development and management, and/or sustainable development
• Minimum 2 years of experience in handling effective partnership development with national counterparts, development partners and civil society is required

Language

• Proficiency in English

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

The Combined Scoring Method shall serve as basis for evaluating offers. The technical qualifications will be weighted a max. of 70% and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.

The CV will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Recommended Presentation of Offer

The following documents may be requested:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate
3. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
4.  Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.  Medical/health insurance must be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense, and upon award of contract, the consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during contract duration.

Interested applicants to note that personal Medical/health insurance (to be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense) is mandatory for the issuance of contracts. Upon award of the contract, the consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during the contract duration.

The following templates / Annexes and IC General Terms & Conditions can be downloaded from http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU:

• General Terms and Conditions for Individual Contract
• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability
• P-11 form

In view of the volume of applications, UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified