Background

UNDP is the development arm of the United Nations system, with offices in 180 countries. Globally, the organization employs 17,000 people and manages a budget of USD 5 billion each year. The UNDP office in Skopje employs a team of 71 and currently manages a portfolio of projects in social inclusion, environmental protection and good governance worth USD 15 million per year.

In early 2021 the national institutions in North Macedonia started the preparations to formulate 2021-2041 National Development Strategy (hereinafter: NDS), supported by a project implemented by the UNDP in coordination with UN Resident Coordination Office (RCO) North Macedonia. UK GGF funding was secured to prepare a methodology for the process, the background baseline data and assessment of strategic documents and processes, proposals for the institutional structure to manage and implement the project, as well as the communications and engagement strategy. All these products and processes were finalized in the first phase of the NDS process completed by the end of July 2021. 

The Phase II marks the actual process of formulating the NDS, supported by a governance structure in charge of monitoring of the implementation, embedding the NDS priorities within the national strategic plans and the future planning documents, and leveraging the EU accession reforms and Agenda2030 for sustainable development. The objective of the Project is to support the key national stakeholders to formulate and potentially roll-out the North Macedonia National Development Strategy for the period 2021-2041 and embed an inclusive system for implementation and monitoring of the NDS within the national administrative framework.

National institutions, as the stakeholders in the NDS process, will be the principal beneficiary of the expert support engaged for the analysis of the baseline data in each of the NDS thematic areas and the final outline of the NDS that integrates inputs from the stakeholders.  Baseline data needs to be prepared and presented in such a way that enables the wider public to understand the current situation and the consequences of not taking action. Data collection is not just a one-time activity at the beginning of the process, but an ongoing process to ensure timely, accurate and comparable information in support of the vision and the strategic goals agreed within the NDS. During these processes, close coordination will be maintained with the main institutions responsible for the NDS, including the data holders, as well as wider public (including civil society, business sector, academia, general public including vulnerable and marginalized groups).

Duties and Responsibilities

The leading consultant is expected to coordinate the whole process of identyfing the baseline data for NDS thematic areas drafting the NDS outline from systematized inputs of the public consultation processes and assuring quality of the final draft. The Lead National Consultant will perform as Team Leader that guides, supports and coordinates the team of national consultants within the respective thematic areas of NDS.

Tasks and responsibilities:

1.Get familiarized with the methodology for developing the NDS prepared in the first phase of this project

2. Lead and coordinate the work of the team of national experts for preparation of the NDS outline

3. Provide quality control of the prepared documents

4. Draft the final outline of NDS

The Lead Consultant will work individually and in cooperation with the team of national consultants to accomplish these tasks:

1.  Get familiarized with the methodology for developing the NDS prepared in the first phase of this project byGet familiarized with the methodology for developing the NDS prepared in the first phase of this project by:

• Conducting a desk review of all relevant documentation and materials prepared in the first phase of the process (Methodological approach and institutional structure, mapping of strategies and stakeholders etc.)
• Participating in the trainings on the methodological approach designed for the process of preparation of the NDS 2021 – 2041;

2. Lead and coordinate the work of the team of national experts for preparation of the NDS outline by:

• Translating the methodological approach into ‘step by step’ guidelines with minimum requirements for conducting the thematic analysis and consultations and drafting thematic inputs (e.g. templates, work plan and time frame that the other experts should follow for their scope of work). This should be prepared in close coordination with the UNDP international consultants.
• In cooperation with the team of national consultants, developing a questionnaire to identify and address the barriers (physical, social, cultural, attitudinal, economic, etc) that prevents the marginalized and vulnerable groups Coordinating the team of national experts responsible for preparation of the inputs/analysis including the baseline data for thematic areas for the NDS;
• Participating at public debates/dream labs, consultations and other forms of consultative processes in the project.

3. Provide quality control of the prepared documents by:

• Ensuring adherence to the minimum requirements from the Guidelines.
• Ensuring that the identified baseline data are relevant, accurate, comprehensive, (gender) disaggregated;
• Ensuring that the wider public opinion is effectively considered within relevant thematic areas (collected through digital platform, dream labs, public debates etc);
• Ensuring that women and vulnerable groups are consulted within the process in meaningful way.

4. Draft the final outline of the NDS by:

• Integrating inputs from thematic experts in a consolidated manner.
• Part-taking in the presentations of the final outline of the Strategy in the regions, governmental institutions etc.
• Preparing of Final Report with conclusion/recommendation and further steps regrading NDS processes.

Note: During this assignment, the consultant will ensure to apply:

• Evidence-based approach, the highest standard of work and timely deliverables at every stage of this assignment;

Clarity of objectives and process during different types of consultations, including countercheck of all facts and figures; The consultant is expected to take part in workshops and meetings, and all costs related to the organization of the workshops (venue, lunch, translation costs etc.) will be covered by UNDP.

The work will be seen as final only after it is approved by the UNDP.

I.EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES:

The consultancy is expected to deliver the following outputs:

Payment Schedule

The payment will be done on lump-sum basis, upon successful completion of deliverables in three instalments:

• First payment: 35% of the total amount after succesful aubmission of deliverable 1;
• Second payment: 35% of the total amount after successful submission of deliverable 2;
• Third and final payment: 30 % of the total amount after successful submission of deliverable 3;

Institutional arrangements

The consultant will work under direct supervision by the Project Manager, and under the overall guidance of the Programme Officer/Head of Democratic Governance Unit and will be leading a team of experts. He/she will be in regular communication with the supervisor through e-mail and will provide regular progress reports on weekly basis. All communication and documents will need to be prepared in Macedonian language. The final narrative report will need to be prepared in English language. All prepared materials will be property of UNDP.

In the course of performing his/her job, the consultant will need to work with the established structure for the NDS development process. The UNDP office will assist with scheduling the meetings.

Duration of the assignment

The duration of the assignment is estimated 60 working days in the period December 2021 to March 2022.  

Duty station and travel

The duty station will be in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. Preapproved travel out of duty station will be additionally covered based on UNDP rules.

Competencies

• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, teamwork ability.
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
• Good time management, meeting deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education: MA degree or higher in fields relevant to the project (e.g., social science, law, business, economics, or similar field appropriate to this position).

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in preparation of strategic, programming and planning documents as well as analytical studies;
• Minimum of two project lead position on a process focused on governance reforms or public policymaking in the past three years
• Experience in managing at least of one multidisciplinary team for preparation of a strategic documents on national level

Language skills:

• Excellent language proficiency in both written and oral English.
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CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF THE BEST OFFER

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

a) Being responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score based on the following weight of technical and financial criteria for solicitation as per the schedule below:

* Technical criteria weight: 70%

* Financial criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70%) in the technical evaluation shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

For the considered offers in the financial evaluation only, the lowest price offer will receive 30 points. The other offers will receive points in relation to the lowest offer, based on the following formula: (Pn / Pl) * 30 where Pn is the financial offer being evaluated and Pl is the lowest financial offer received.

Technical Criteria:

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED

        Interested offerors are invited submit the following documents/information to be considered:

1. Offeror’s letter, as per the following form LINK
2. Most updated CV with focus on required qualification as well as the contact details of at least three (3) professional references;
3. Financial Proposal The financial proposal must be expressed in the form of a lumpsum all-inclusive cost, supported by breakdown of costs as per template provided in MKD for this consultancy.

The financial proposal must take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel out of duty station (if required); communications, any other expenses related to this assignment.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Step 1

1. Click on the "Apply now" button

2. Input your information in the appropriate sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume, and motivation (cover letter). You can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box.

3. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload other required documents listed in the step 2.

Step 2

Interested individual consultants must submit the documents/information listed in the “Documents to submit section” above.

The system will allow only one attachment. Therefore, please upload all required documents as one file.

Failing to submit any of these documents may result in disqualification of the application.

Please note that shortlisted candidates might be interviewed.

If the deliverables are not produced and delivered by the consultant to the satisfaction of UNDP as approved by the responsible Portfolio Manager, no payment will be made even if the consultant has invested man/days to produce and deliver such deliverables.