Antecedentes

Leaving no one behind (LNOB) is the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It represents the unequivocal commitment of all UN Member States to eradicate poverty in all its forms, end discrimination and exclusion, and reduce the inequalities and vulnerabilities that leave people behind and undermine the potential of individuals and of humanity as a whole.

Member States have explicitly called on the UN to implement the LNOB principle. The UN System has responded by making this a priority in UN support for Member States in SDG implementation. UN Country Teams (UNCTs) have a key role to play in supporting Member States to operationalize the LNOB pledge in their development planning.

The UN approach to “leaving no one behind” not only entails reaching the poorest of the poor, but also seeks to combat discrimination and rising inequalities within and amongst countries, and their root causes. This is grounded in the UN’s normative standards, including principles of equality and non-discrimination - foundational principles of the UN Charter, international human rights law, national legal systems in the world.

The 2030 Agenda, which was the result of an inclusive and participatory process, calls for the meaningful and active participation of people and stakeholders at all stages of development interventions, from SDG integration into national strategies, to implementation, and national monitoring and review. It highlights the importance of participatory approaches for sustainable development. It also places the most vulnerable and silenced people as central to leaving no one behind.

Initial UNCT analysis on the LNOB is available in the UN Socio-Economic COVID Impact Assessment (SEIA), as well as in the UN Common Country Analysis 2021. Based on this, a more systematic approach is needed to analyze the drivers of exclusion/vulnerability for groups at risk of being left behind, expanding the root causes of vulnerability, as well as the intersectionality among different groups. Considering the above, the UN in Ukraine is launching a consultancy to conduct a LNOB analysis of the most vulnerable groups in Ukraine.

The LNOB analysis (study) will inform the UNCT’s approach in addressing patterns of exclusion and structural constraints. Results of the analysis will inform the update of the Common Country Analysis in Q3 2021 and identification of vulnerable groups in preparation of the next Ukraine - UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027.

Deberes y responsabilidades

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Using the UNSDG operational guidance on the LNOB methodology, the Consultant will conduct a LNOB analysis of vulnerable groups in Ukraine and produce recommendations that would help UNCT and partners to operationalize the LNOB approach in Ukraine.

The analysis will identify and focus on who is left behind, who is being excluded or discriminated against, how and why, as well as who is experiencing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and inequalities. It shall capture the multidimensional vulnerability of those left behind, identify those left the furthest behind and produce recommendations of approaches/policy options at different levels to address those challenges and their prioritization, making innovative proposals to include non-traditional stakeholders (including private sector) in operationalization of LNOB.

The analysis report shall include infographics and data visualization to support main findings and recommendations.

The work of the Consultant will be closely coordinated with the UN RCO, OHCHR Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, as well as the UN Working Group on Human Rights that will provide available information for desk review and liaise with partners and stakeholders in case additional collection of information and interviews would be required.

Applying the UN LNOB Methodology Guide, the Consultant will perform the assignment and produce the report by analyzing the following data:

• Information revealing gaps and trends in SDG implementation between sub-populations and/or geographic localities, using and seeking, if required, diverse feedback and inputs from stakeholders, including groups and populations left behind;
• Information from a range of sources, including national statistics, national human rights institutions, international human rights mechanisms, ILO supervisory bodies, civil society organizations, including women’s organizations and/or community-level data;
• Relevant national data and UN development, human rights, conflict, inequalities, political, risk and humanitarian analysis to ensure more joined up assessment of who is left behind and why with a view to identifying the furthest behind.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK

The Consultant is expected in cooperation and coordination with UN RCO and OHCHR Human Rights Monitoring Mission hold a desk review of available documents and reports, hold (if required) interviews with relevant stakeholders and produce maximum 50-page report in English with infographics and data visualization elements highlighting main report findings and recommendations, which will be used to present analysis results to the UN, stakeholders and partners.

The report should include the following elements:

• Brief outline of methodology and criteria of identification of vulnerable groups, intersectionality between different groups with the reference to the UN Guidance Note on LNOB Methodology;
• Analysis and prioritization of populations, communities and groups of individuals left behind, and visual dashboard based on five factors of LNOB Guide (discrimination, geography, vulnerability to shocks, governance and socio-economic status), identification of those left the furthest behind, references to relevant SDGs and national indicators, baselines and targets;
• Analysis of vulnerability root cause that would help identify responses and address the root and underlying causes of inequalities, including gender inequalities, vulnerability, deprivation, discrimination, displacement and exclusion; identification of data and knowledge gaps (no more than four pages per group)
• List of recommended national policy level actions for operationalization of the LNOB approach in Ukraine and interventions to address identified vulnerability root causes, challenges, barriers and capacity gaps.
• List of recommended focus areas and entry points for UN support in LNOB operationalization based on current UN programming targeting vulnerable groups and recommended specific innovative solutions and actions (for instance engagement of private sector in LNOB operationalization, etc). 

DELIVERABLES

In fulfilling the responsibilities specified above, the Consultant will deliver main outputs per indicative timeline:

MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Consultant will report to the Head of the RCO that will approve deliverables and authorize payment. The consultant will work under technical guidance from the RCO Economist, in close coordination with OHCHR HRMMU and UN Human Rights WG. 

Competencias

CORPORATE COMPETENCIES
•  Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism.
•  Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS  DELIVERABLES

• At least Master’s degree or equivalent in n Economics, Sustainable Development, International Relations, Human Rights or other social science fields.
• At least 7 years of practical working experience in analytical research and monitoring in economic and sustainable development, poverty, social policy, human rights. 
• Solid experience and proven examples of analytical research of country level and groups’ vulnerabilities, discrimination and social exclusion, including using leaving no-one behind approach, application of human rights-based approach and gender mainstreaming, proven by at least 2 examples of relevant analytic reports.
• Proven excellent command of spoken and written English, Ukrainian and/or Russian.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Lump sum contract

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). 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 travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).  

Payments are made in 3 tranches, each made upon completion of the respective deliverable.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The cumulative analysis will be applied for the evaluation of proposals. Under the cumulative analysis scheme, a total score is obtained upon the combination of weighted technical (70) and financial attributes (30).

A) Technical

Educational background (10 points max):

10 pts – PhD in Economics, Sustainable Development, International Relations, Human Rights or other social science fields

5 pts - Master’s/Specialist’s degree in Economics, Sustainable Development, International Relations, Human Rights or other social science fields

Relevant professional experience in monitoring and analytical research in economic and sustainable development, social policy, human rights (25 points max)

25 pts –8 and more years of practical working experience in monitoring and analytical research in economic and sustainable development, social policy, human rights

20 pts – at least 7 years

Proven examples of application of technical knowledge and analytical research of country level vulnerabilities and vulnerabilities of specific groups, discrimination and social exclusion (25 points max)

25 pts – 6 and more carried analysis of vulnerabilities, discrimination, social exclusion

20 pts – between 2 and 5 carried analysis

Language Skills (10 points max)

10 pts – fluent English, Ukrainian, Russian

5 pts - basic English language, fluent Ukrainian, Russian

Maximum available technical score - 70 points.

* Only candidates obtaining a minimum 49 points under technical evaluation would be considered for Financial Evaluation. 

B) Financial

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula: 30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

Evaluation method:

The award of the contract will be made to the consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as having received the highest combined score of the technical and financial scores.

• Technical Criteria weight: 70%
• Financial Criteria weight: 30%