Antecedentes
In the frameworks of the growing demand for parliamentary openness from civil society in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) and its Administrative Office in particular act more to optimize both the legislative and administrative processes. Nevertheless, these efforts come mostly unnoticed by the broader public. The rates of citizens’ attitude to the Ukrainian Parliament are getting lower since the new convocation of November 2014 and to the lowest scale during five years period, with the least level of trust after the President and Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in December 2015 (Social survey “How the society of the New Ukraine is changing?” by The Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation (DIF) accessed at: http://www.irf.ua/content/files/12_01_16_fin.ppsx (accessed on 15 January 2016).
Based on statement of interest of the Head of Ukrainian Parliament Volodymyr Groysman concerning Ukraine’s acceptance of the Declaration on Parliamentary Openness as well as the current Head of the Administrative Office Volodymyr Slyshynskyy to implement the actions and the general Parliament’s commitment to reform, a working group of Ukrainian MPs and civil society organizations, signatories of the above-mentioned Declaration on the civil society side, was established and started drafting an Action Plan for Ukraine that would boost legislative openness. Furthermore, as the initiative goes in line with the worldwide trend for more transparency of the legislation, UNDP supported these efforts to provide that the wide range of stakeholders is involved and collaborates.
Accordingly, the Open Parliament initiative (OPI) and Open Parliament Action Plan for Ukraine (Annex 1) as its component aim at not only to ensure greater openness of the Parliament, transparency of its performance and active citizens’ engagement into legislative processes, but also to make these transformations more visible. It is important to present these reforms with due coverage – to the broadest audiences nationwide and sub-national level. Likewise, the results of the legislative and administrative reforms of Parliament should be comprehensible for Ukrainian citizens and usable for those interested in parliamentary monitoring, analysis of the Parliament’s performance and public policy making. The success of the abovementioned tasks requires additional coordination of efforts of the involved stakeholders.
Administrative arrangements: Contractor will rent/use at his/her own expense office space, any equipment and materials that may be required for completion of the task.
Deberes y responsabilidades
MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The overall goal of the assignment is to coordinate implementation of the OPI Action Plan, ensuring its visibility and popularization as well as better outreach of the Open Parliament initiative to its target audiences.
DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK
The responsibilities of the OPI Coordinator would include expert support for two major thematic areas:
- Ensuring monthly facilitation of the working group interactions to implement the Open Parliament Action Plan by proactively engaging with both Parliament and civil society;
- Popularizing the achievements within the current Action Plan to ensure use of disclosed information and opened processes by the public at large via conducting awareness raising and outreach activities.
DELIVERABLES AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
The Expert will be responsible to deliver the following:
Deliverable # | Task description | Deadline |
Deliverable #1 | Coordination function - Support for coordination of OPI Action Plan implementation is provided (at meetings, via correspondence, phone and/or online, at least, 2 coordination meetings held/consultations provided).
- The Steering Committee (Working Group) meeting of the Parliament and civil society representatives on access to public information is held. Minutes are prepared with the key decisions and timeline for next steps.
- A mapping of international organizations and projects working with Parliament in Ukraine is conducted, a brief summary is prepared (at least, 2 pages, document Ms Word, font Myriad Pro, 12, single spacing).
Public awareness function - Media Strategy for Open Parliament initiative in 2016 is developed and coordinated with the parties (the Parliament, CSOs, and UNDP) (at least, 10 pages, document Ms Word, font Myriad Pro, 12, single spacing).
- Terms of Reference for a separate web-site for Open Parliament initiative are provided to a developer (in writing, at least, 3 pages).
- Special accounts for OPI in social media are filled with introductory information and regularly updated (at least, on a weekly basis).
- Monthly report of the initiative’s development is prepared and published in related social media communities and pages, disseminated among donors and offered for the VRU’s use.
| By 31/03/ 2016 |
Deliverable #2 | Coordination function - Support for coordination of OPI Action Plan implementation is provided (at meetings, via correspondence, phone and/or online, at least, 2 coordination meetings held/consultations provided).
- The Steering Committee (Working Group) meeting of the Parliament and civil society representatives on citizen participation in the parliamentary processes to the parliamentary processes is held. Minutes are prepared with the key decisions and timeline for next steps.
Public awareness function - Ensure updating of the OPI web-site in line with the Media Strategy and inputs from the parties.
- Public presentation on the issues of the Open Parliament initiative and Action Plan implementation (Component 1 – Access to Information) is held during at least 1 thematic public event on the national level and 1 in UNDP CSOs hubs.
- Monthly report of the initiative’s development is prepared and published in related social media communities and pages, disseminated among donors and offered for the VRU’s use; other updates posted to social media accounts at least on a weekly basis.
| By 30/04/ 2016 |
Deliverable #3 | Coordination function - Support for coordination of OPI Action Plan implementation is provided (at meetings, via correspondence, phone and/or online, at least, 2 coordination meetings held/consultations provided).
- The Steering Committee (Working Group) meeting on public accountability of the Parliament is held. Minutes are prepared with the key decisions and timeline for next steps.
Public awareness function - Ensure updating of the OPI web-site in line with the Media Strategy and inputs from the parties.
- Monthly report of the initiative’s development is prepared and published in related social media communities and pages, disseminated among donors and offered for the VRU’s use; other updates posted to social media accounts at least on a weekly basis.
| By 31/05/ 2016 |
Deliverable #4 | Coordination function - Support for coordination of OPI Action Plan implementation is provided (at meetings, via correspondence, phone and/or online, at least, 2 coordination meetings held/consultations provided).
- The Steering Committee (Working Group) meeting of the Parliament and civil society representatives on technology and innovative tools of public engagement into parliamentary processes is held. Minutes are prepared with the key decisions and timeline for next steps.
Public awareness function - Public presentation on the issues of the Open Parliament initiative and Action Plan implementation (Component 2 – Civic Participation in Parliamentary Processes) is held during at least 1 thematic public event on the national level and 1 in UNDP CSOs hubs.
- Ensure updating of the OPI web-site in line with the Media Strategy and inputs from the parties.
- Monthly report of the initiative’s development is prepared and published in related social media communities and pages, disseminated among donors and offered for the VRU’s use; other updates posted to social media accounts at least on a weekly basis.
| By 30/06/ 2016 |
Deliverable #5 | Coordination function - Support for coordination of OPI Action Plan implementation is provided (at meetings, via correspondence, phone and/or online, at least, 2 coordination meetings held/consultations provided).
- A follow-up meeting of the Steering Committee (Working Group) of the Parliament and civil society representatives on access to information is held. Minutes are prepared with the key decisions and timeline for next steps.
Public awareness function - Ensure updating of the OPI web-site in line with the Media Strategy and inputs from the parties.
- Monthly report of the initiative’s development is prepared and published in related social media communities and pages, disseminated among donors and offered for the VRU’s use; other updates posted to social media accounts at least on a weekly basis.
| By 31/07/ 2016 |
Deliverable #6 | Coordination function - Support for coordination of OPI Action Plan implementation is provided (at meetings, via correspondence, phone and/or online, at least, 2 coordination meetings held/consultations provided).
- A follow-up meeting of the Steering Committee (Working Group) of the Parliament and civil society representatives on citizen participation in the parliamentary processes is held. Minutes are prepared with the key decisions and timeline for next steps.
Public awareness function - At least 1 set of training materials for the Open Parliament initiative is developed and distributed for the public (nationwide and in the regions of Ukraine) regarding benefits of the new improvements in legislative openness of the VRU (February-July).
- Presentation of half-year OPI results to international organizations and projects working with Parliament in Ukraine and Reanimation Reforms Package is conducted;
- Ensure updating of the OPI web-site in line with the Media Strategy and inputs from the parties.
- Monthly report of the initiative’s development is prepared and published in related social media communities and pages, disseminated among donors and offered for the VRU’s use; other updates posted to social media accounts at least on a weekly basis.
| By 31/08/ 2016 |
Deliverable #7 | Coordination function - Support for coordination of OPI Action Plan implementation is provided (at meetings, via correspondence, phone and/or online, at least, 2 coordination meetings held/consultations provided).
- A follow-up meeting of the Steering Committee (Working Group) of the Parliament and civil society representatives on public accountability of the Parliament is held. Minutes are prepared with the key decisions and timeline for next steps.
Public awareness function - Public presentation on the issues of the Open Parliament initiative and Action Plan implementation (Component 3 – Public Accountability of Parliament) is held during at least 1 thematic public event on the national level and 1 in UNDP CSOs hubs.
- Ensure updating of the OPI web-site in line with the Media Strategy and inputs from the parties.
- Monthly report of the initiative’s development is prepared and published in related social media communities and pages, disseminated among donors and offered for the VRU’s use; other updates posted to social media accounts at least on a weekly basis.
| By 30/09/ 2016 |
Deliverable #8 | Coordination function - Support for coordination of OPI Action Plan implementation is provided (at meetings, via correspondence, phone and/or online, at least, 2 coordination meetings held/consultations provided).
- A follow-up meeting of the Steering Committee (Working Group) of the Parliament and civil society representatives on technology and innovative tools of public engagement into parliamentary processes is held. Minutes are prepared with the key decisions and timeline for next steps.
Public awareness function - Ensure updating of the OPI web-site in line with the Media Strategy and inputs from the parties.
- Monthly report of the initiative’s development is prepared and published in related social media communities and pages, disseminated among donors and offered for the VRU’s use; other updates posted to social media accounts at least on a weekly basis.
| By 31/10/ 2016 |
Deliverable #9 | Coordination function - Support for coordination of OPI Action Plan implementation is provided (at meetings, via correspondence, phone and/or online, at least, 2 coordination meetings held/consultations provided).
- The Steering Committee (Working Group) meeting of the Parliament and civil society representatives on a mutually defined OPI Action Plan component chosen is held. Minutes are prepared with the key decisions and timeline for next steps.
Public awareness function - At least 1 set of training materials for the Open Parliament initiative is developed and distributed for the public (nationwide and in the regions of Ukraine) regarding benefits of the new improvements in legislative openness of the VRU (August-November).
- Ensure updating of the OPI web-site in line with the Media Strategy and inputs from the parties.
- Monthly report of the initiative’s development is prepared and published in related social media communities and pages, disseminated among donors and offered for the VRU’s use; other updates posted to social media accounts at least on a weekly basis.
| By 30/11/ 2016 |
Deliverable #10 | Coordination function - Support for coordination of OPI Action Plan implementation is provided (at meetings, via correspondence, phone and/or online, at least, 2 coordination meetings held/consultations provided).
- A follow-up meeting of the Steering Committee (Working Group) of the Parliament and civil society representatives on a mutually defined OPI Action Plan component chosen is held. Minutes are prepared with the key decisions and timeline for next steps.
Public awareness function - Public presentation on the issues of the Open Parliament initiative and Action Plan implementation (Component 4 – Technology and Innovation) is held during at least 1 thematic public event on the national level and 1 in UNDP CSOs hubs.
- Presentation of OPI results for 2016 to international organizations and projects working with Parliament in Ukraine and Reanimation Reforms Package is conducted;
- Profound analysis of the Open Parliament Action Plan implementation in 2016 is conducted (at least, 10 pages), verified by the parties, and the recommendations for its further development are elaborated.
- Ensure updating of the OPI web-site in line with the Media Strategy and inputs from the parties.
| By 30/12/ 2016 |
MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
UNDP Democratic Governance Expert will supervise the work of the Open Parliament Initiative Coordinator through regular in person and e-mail/or telephone / Skype communication. Upon completion of the task, the final report, in Ukrainian, shall be submitted electronically in addition to documents within deliverables (up to 30 pages, document Ms Word, Myriad Pro, 12, single spacing). UNDP will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. No reports, documents, communications should be published or distributed to third parties without prior approval of UNDP. Should any travel be needed for the assignment which is not envisaged at this stage, the related costs will be covered additionally, therefore, the incumbent should not include this cost in his/her financial proposal.
Competencias
- 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;
- Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Habilidades y experiencia requeridas
Education:
- Master’s / Specialist’s degree in Social Sciences or Humanities.
Experience:
- At least 2 years of experience in CSOs projects and/or engagement with the Ukrainian Parliament, with an extensive experience in communications (as full-time expert or project coordinator);
- Proficient skills of social media management (Facebook, Twitter, blogging as a benefit), preferably with the focus on socially meaningful topics.
Languages:
- Excellent knowledge of Ukrainian/Russian; Working-level of English.
DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS
Applicants shall submit the following documents:
- Letter of interest/proposal;
- Personal CV, including information about past experience in similar projects / assignments and contact details for referees;
- List of social media accounts maintained in the past;
- Financial proposal.
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL
The financial proposal shall specify the cost of professional services of Consultant on the Open Government Data. Payments are made in ten tranches: each made upon completion of the respective Deliverable.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
- Educational background – 20 points max:
20 pts – PhD degree;
10 pts – Specialist/Master’s degree;
- Relevant professional experience – 25 points max:
25 pts – over 2 years of experience in CSOs projects and/or engagement with the Ukrainian Parliament, with an extensive experience in communications (as full-time expert or project coordinator);
20 pts – 2 years of experience in CSOs projects and/or engagement with the Ukrainian Parliament, with an extensive experience in communications (as full-time expert or project coordinator);
- Proficient skills of social media management – 15 points max:
15 pts – a top-quality, innovative, engaging and well-articulated level of social media management, to be checked by the list of experience of social media management;
5 pts – acceptable level of social media management skills, to be checked by the list of experience of social media management
- Language skills – 10 points max:
10 pts – fluent in all three: Ukrainian, Russian, English;
8 pts – fluent Ukrainian, Russian and working level of English.
Maximum available technical score - 70 points.
EVALUATION METHOD:
Cumulative analysis
Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) having received the cumulative 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%
Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
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].
The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.
