Background

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges. In the programme countries, UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners and other partners to help the country to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock.

UNDP has been a trusted development partner of the Maldives for more than 40 years, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities and exclusion in areas such governance, environment protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation. In each of its thematic areas of work, UNDP at the request of its national partners provides relevant policy advisory support, technical assistance, advocacy, and knowledge to help Maldives achieve its global commitment on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). With Maldives’s transition to Middle Income Country Status, Official Development Assistance from traditional donor sources has been on the continuous decline. UNDP is therefore working with its national partners to identify and tap into alternative and innovative financing mechanisms for development. This process involves broadening outreach and forging wide-ranging partnerships with stakeholders - including other UN agencies, the government, the private sector, philanthropic Foundations, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and International Finance Institutions to advance the country’s development strategies and objectives.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges beyond just a health crisis. A prolonged outbreak is expected to have long-term impacts on the economy and also contribute to worsening of existing social issues. With Maldives, amongst the top three countries in the Asia region to be hit hardest by the global crisis over 44% of people surveyed reported a total loss in income according to the Rapid Livelihood Assessment conducted by the Ministry of Economic Development and UNDP. The great need for diversification of the Maldivian economy has become more pronounced than ever, emphasizing the need for more innovative solutions.

As always, the consequent effects of the pandemic are felt greatest by the most vulnerable in the society such as youth, women, persons with disabilities and etc. In Maldives a greater youth population of nearly 47% presents a valuable opportunity to harness the benefits of a demographic dividend towards sustained development and economic prosperity. However, the existing inequalities acts as a barrier to progressive and equitable realization of their potential. Youth in the Maldives is faced with lack of education and employment opportunities as well as limited access to recreation and sports. For instance, more than 20 percent of young men and 26 percent of young women are neither in school nor employed.

Additionally, youth are disproportionally affected by the socioeconomic implications of the COVID 19 crisis as it adds on to the current issues and are faced with added pressure on livelihoods resulting from unemployment and income losses. For instance, over half of the job complaints registered with the government website JobCenter included youth under the age of 30. These factors can contribute to a growing sense of disenfranchisement and exclusion among the young individuals with many turning to drugs, substance abuse and violence.

In recognizing this, UNDP continues to tackle the?challenges young people?face today in the Asia-Pacific region?by?bringing the efforts to?promote youth-led?entrepreneurship?and social innovation to the?national level.

Miyaheli is a social innovation camp hosted by UNDP since 2016 in collaboration with several partners with the aim to empower young individuals to become change-makers by bringing them together to come up with innovative solutions to the existing issues in Maldivian society through social entrepreneurship. To bring together youth, mentors, and ideas?to create both tech based, and non-tech based?social innovations addressing?pressing social issues with the opportunity for participants to win grants for their pitches and pilot these solutions into reality. At present, UNDP Maldives is seeking support of a local consultant to support implementation of Miyaheli 2021.

1) Department of National Planning, 2012, Statistical Yearbook of Maldives - 2012

2) United Nations in the Maldives, 2015, United Nations Development Assistance Framework 2016 - 2020 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of UNDP Maldives, the local consultant will support the implementation of Miyaheli 2021 targeting young girls and boys aged 18 – 30 years.  Based on the theme of Planet, People and Prosperity, the camp is envisioned to go on for 3 days (including weekend) with entrepreneur talks and networking events leading up to it.

Accordingly, the tasks to be undertaken by the consultant under the Terms of Reference include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

1. Coordinate and facilitate meetings with the partner agencies and other relevant stakeholders in the preparation and organization of the event
2. Based on the core concept and methodology developed by UNDP and stakeholder feedback, support formulation and implementation of detailed work plan of Miyaheli
3. Provide full logistics and coordination support required to successfully host 3 networking events, social innovation camp including closing ceremony
4. Support to facilitate  networking events, the social innovation camp including awareness and capacity-building sessions as required
5. Support implementation of communication plan for the event including regular social media content and outreach, development of simple graphics and identifying key messages.
6. Submit a final report highlighting the process, lessons learnt and recommendations

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:

1. Detailed workplan: Based on the core concept and methodology developed by UNDP and feedback from stakeholders, support formulation and implementation of detailed workplan including timeline, session outlines; agenda and any preparatory materials for the event.
2. Networking Events: Provide full logistics and coordination support required to successfully host all events leading up to the camp including coordination with speakers and stakeholders, management of participants, facilitation of sessions and coordination as required. Networking events would adopt a mix of delivery modes (physical and virtual).
3. Social Innovation Camp: Provide full logistics and coordination support required to successfully host a three-day social innovation camp leading up to the camp including coordination with speakers, mentors and stakeholders’, management of participants, facilitation and coordination of awareness and capacity-building sessions along with support to implement the communication plan.
4. Final Report: Submit a consolidated final report on the workshop highlighting the process, results achieved, lessons learnt and recommendations.

Duration of the Assignment

This assignment will approximately take 30 working days (extended over a period of 2 months) and is expected to start in September 2021. The consultant should come up with a clear timeline while submitting the proposal taking into consideration the estimated time durations for each deliverable as stipulated above.

Institutional Arrangement

The local consultant will work under the guidance of UNDP Maldives and will be accountable to the assigned Programme Officer, IGP, for each deliverable as stipulated in the proposal. Meetings will be held with UNDP Programme Manager and senior management as required. 

Duty Station and Expected Places of Travel

The consultant will be home-based with travel to the camp location subject to COVID-19 situation. Any travel must ensure adherence to HPA safety guidelines and standards.

C -PAYMENT TERMS

The method of payment is output-based lump-sum scheme. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive lump sum and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration.

The payments shall be released upon submitting the required deliverables/outputs with satisfactory by the Programme Manager] as per agreement for each report in accordance with a set time schedule to be agreed in the contract.

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in their “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including any professional fee, travel, honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consulting firm. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

Competencies

• Creativity and Innovation 
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 
• Strong Oral and Written Communications 
• Teamwork and Collaboration 
• Professionalism and Work Ethic
• Manages conflict and stress and works effectively as a mediator to resolve problems
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Minimum qualification of Advanced Level Certificate OR Diploma in Mass Communication, Marketing, Business Studies, Event Management, Social Science, Development and/or similar field.
• An additional background in business, law, anthropology, sociology, environment-related, development studies or related social science is highly desirable.   

Experience:

• A minimum of 1 year of relevant experience in community development and youth engagement initiatives in Maldives.
• A minimum of 1 year experience coordinating and arranging logistics for similar workshops/events.
• A minimum of 1 year in facilitating sessions in similar workshops/events
• Experience implementing communication strategies to specified target audiences is an added asset.?
• Fluent in Dhivehi and English.

Language Requirements: English and Dhivehi

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consulting firm whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

• Criteria 1: Minimum qualification of Advanced Level Certificate OR Diploma in Mass Communication, Marketing, Business Studies and/or similar field. (10 points)
• Criteria 2: A minimum of 1 years of relevant experience in community development and youth engagement initiatives in Maldives (30 points)
• Criteria 3: A minimum of 1 year experience coordinating and arranging logistics for workshops/events (20 points)
• Criteria 4: A minimum of 1 year in facilitating sessions in similar workshops/events (10 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) during the desk review/interview are acceptable would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP in Annex II;
2. Production portfolio – if required
3. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
4. Financial proposal that indicates the lump sum rate/fee of the candidate in Maldivian Rufiyya (or USD in the case of international consultant).  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal must include a breakdown of this daily fee (including number of anticipated working days and all foreseeable expenses to carry out the assignment); 

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.  The short-listed candidates may be contacted for interview and the successful candidate will be notified.