The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Malaysia, creating tremendous health and socio-economic impacts. The Government of Malaysia has implemented measures to prevent further virus spread, including a movement control order (MCO), quarantine centres, and a wide range of relief and recovery efforts.

UNDP in Malaysia provides policy and technical advisory support to the Government of Malaysia. In line with this, UNDP is developing a General Observers Report (GOR) on the COVID-19 response in Malaysia for the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) in the Prime Minister’s Department. The GOR will draw on observations from quarantine centres around Malaysia and other inputs from the COVID-19 response undertaken by UNDP and its partners. Given the above, UNDP is recruiting national consultants to undertake research and write the GOR. 

Objectives of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to produce a GOR covering the immediate relief and response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. Three main areas will be covered in the report: (1) assessment of Government and societal response to COVID-19; (2) investigation of gaps and impact of COVID-19 to vulnerable groups; and (3) development of lessons for better crisis preparedness planning.

The report will evaluate the successes and gaps in these actions to identify current needs and strengthen future crisis responses. To achieve this goal, the report should reflect the perspectives and experiences of the range of stakeholders, including both providers and beneficiaries of immediate relief and response efforts.

Scope of Work

The consultant will work closely with GOR project team members under the oversight of UNDP and the direct supervision of designated UNDP personnel. The consultant will work in collaboration with Government officials, UN Agencies, development partners, technical advisors and experts, civil society, and the private sector, where necessary to advance the understanding of the COVID relief and response.

The scope of work for this assignment will include the following key functions:

• Writing up of the report, drawing from primary and secondary data sources of COVID-19 relief and response efforts in Malaysia;
• Supporting the team’s gathering of additional observers’ perspectives if and where necessary, e.g., from grassroots and local communities;
• Consult with identified subject matter experts and stakeholders to validate research findings, identify disaster relief and response needs, and provide recommendations for strengthening future crisis response.

Methodology

The methodology for the assignment will include:

1. Analysis and writing based on interviews, focus groups, ethnography and other mixed-method rapid information gathering for observers’ perspectives and to fill in gaps in knowledge;
2. Desk review, as well as review and analysis of primary and secondary data and related information such as policy documents on COVID-19 relief and response efforts.

UNDP will support information gathering by facilitating interactions with NADMA and other key agencies, and making available pertinent data being generated by the UN through its response and recovery actions.

Specific Task Assignments, Expected Results and Qualifications

Draft report:

• Develop a draft GOR with evaluation of relief and response efforts to improve future crisis response, and recommendations needed in light of present outcomes;
  1. The report should address government relief and response efforts, and coordination with non-government relief and response efforts including the private sector and civil society;
  2. The report should reflect the perspectives and experiences of both providers and beneficiaries, and should link these together where possible;
  3. The report should highlight successes and lessons learnt, identify gaps in response, and recommend resources, practices, institutional linkages, and flows of information that would improve future crisis responses;
• Present the draft report and recommendations to UNDP and other key stakeholders to validate the findings;

Final report:

• Finalized GOR based on feedback and input from UN and other stakeholders.

Deliverables

The contract and payments will be performance-based and assessed by UNDP Malaysia. For payment in instalments, certification of satisfactory performance at each phase of key deliverable is required. Timing of specific activities will be discussed and agreed between UNDP and the consultant.

1. Upon award of contract (20%);
2. Upon satisfactory submission and acceptance of draft General Observers Report including key findings and recommendations (60%);
3. Upon satisfactory submission and acceptance of final General Observers Report incorporating UNDP/other stakeholder feedback (20%).

Corporate

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s vision, mission, and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, age sensitivity, and adaptability;
• Demonstrates/safeguards ethics and integrity; and
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Technical

• Capable of working efficiently, dependable, and strong attention to detail;
• Familiarity with economics and development terminology and concepts, is an advantage;
• Demonstrated commitment to the timely delivery of projects; and
• Ability to maintain high-quality of work while meeting tight deadlines and short turn-around times.

Functional

• Strong listening and communication skills;
• Capable of working in a high-pressure environment with short deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
• Exercise the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in social science, humanities, science, development, or a related area (background in Anthropology, Language, Literature, History, Media and/or Cultural Studies will be an advantage); and

Experience 

• At least 1 year of experience (3 years or more will be an advantage) in research or journalism, demonstrating competency in qualitative research methodologies and publication of public- and community-oriented articles, papers, reports or equivalent publications;
• Evidence of writing for a general, non-expert readership will be an advantage (e.g., blogging, journalism, creative writing and rapporteuring);
• Knowledge of and/or experience in humanitarian work, community work, disaster risk reduction, and/or emergency relief and response programmes will be an advantage;
• Experience in community/grassroots engagement will be an advantage;
• Excellent discursive writing and general written communication skills;
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Malay; and
• Ability to write high-quality reports;
• Strong motivation and ability to work and deliver under short deadlines.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

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

1. Document 1 : Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability at        http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Letter%20of%20Interest%20_Annex%201.docx?download;
2. Document 2: Cover page (max. 2 pages) how candidate’s qualification and experience makes them suitable for the work and can lead towards the successful deliverable of the objectives of this consultancy within the required timeframe.
3. Document 3: Please provide a maximum of 3 samples of written work recently undertaken
4. Document 4: Personal CV / P11 including areas of expertise and past experiences in similar area of work and at least 3 referees at http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/P11%20for%20SC%20&%20IC.doc?download 
5. Document 5: Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.  If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution and expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. The consultant should also indicate any travel and related costs for meetings etc. at http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Financial Proposal- GOR Ethnographer.docx 
6. Please submit this information in one file as Document 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Kindly note that the system will only accept one attachment , please merge all documents and submit as one file.
7. Candidates who fail to submit all the information requested above will be disqualified.

How to Apply:

• Kindly download the Letter of Confirmation of interest and availability, Financial Proposal Template and General Terms & Conditions mentioned below;
• Read and agree to the General Terms & Conditions;
• Click the ‘apply’ icon and complete what is required;
• Scan all documents into 1 pdf file and then upload;
• For clarification question, please email to procurement.my@undp.org. The clarification question deadline is three (3) days before the closing. When emailing for clarification questions, please put "MyIC/2020/076" as the subject matter.

General terms & conditions to be downloaded:

• The General Terms & Conditions for Individual contract is available at: http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/General%20Conditions%20of%20Contract%20for%20IC.pdf?download

           Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA): A legal instrument between UNDP and a Company/institution, according to which, the latter     makes available the services of an individual delivering time-bound and quantifiable outputs that are directly linked to payments

• The General Terms & Conditions for Reimbursement Loan Agreement is available at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Reimbursable%20Loan%20Agreement%20_%20Terms%20&%20Conditions.pdf?download 

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF THE BEST OFFER

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
2. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight 50%

* Financial Criteria weight 30%

* Interview 20%

Technical Evaluation (50%)

Qualification, Experience and Technical Proposal (50 marks):

1. General Qualification (15 marks);
2. Relevant Experience and Knowledge  (35 marks);

Financial Evaluation (30%):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Interview (20%):

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview (virtual) to ascertain suitability and areas of interest.

Note:

1. Incomplete applications will not be considered for shortlisting.  Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview. The interview date will be informed to the shortlisted candidates directly.
2. UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, aboriginal groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.