Background

Background Information on the Project:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been active and present in eastern Ukraine for the past decade, prior to the conflict, with a focus on community development, civil society development, and environmental protection. Work on addressing the specific conflict-related development challenges built on this earlier engagement, established partnerships, and started in 2015 through the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (UN RPP). UN RPP is a multi-donor funded framework programme formulated and led by the UNDP in collaboration with the Government of Ukraine and in cooperation with a number of partnering UN agencies (UN Women, FAO, UNFPA). UN RPP was designed to respond to, and mitigate, the causes and effects of the conflict in the east of Ukraine. It is an integral component of the UNDP Country Programme and is therefore fully aligned with the United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPF).

In October 2018, four UN agencies (UNDP, UN Women, FAO and the UNFPA) have countersigned a new joint project document, funded by the EU. The overall objective of the project is to restore effective governance, support economic recovery and promote reconciliation in the crisis-affected communities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts in Ukraine, thereby enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of local governments in the government-controlled areas of the regions. It will contribute to peacebuilding and prevent further escalation of the conflict in Ukraine through effective and accountable decentralization, gender-responsive recovery planning and equal access to services, as well as enhanced economic recovery and development.

Component ??? of UN RPP “Community Security and Social Cohesion” aims to reach some of its goals through small grants and mini-initiatives fund establishment. This includes implementation support of the projects strengthening community security and social cohesion through testing innovative legal aid, access to justice, conflict resolution and peacebuilding mechanisms at local level.

UN RPP recognizes the importance of promoting dialogue mechanisms in the conflict-affected regions in Ukraine. To address the issue, the Programme has been supporting the development of the Geoinformation System for Conflict Analysis and Resolution in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts which helps collecting structured data about community conflicts and provides conflict resolution guidance to local communities. Moreover, in order to strengthen the efforts in creating resilient and sustainable conflict resolution mechanisms in the target communities, the Programme has been piloting early warning and early response (EWER) mechanisms in four communities of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) mechanism aims to forecast and prevent conflicts on the community level – a proactive approach to the management of conflicts. To expand the pilot and fulfill these goals, the Programme is seeking a qualified expert with a background in conflict analysis, conflict resolution and prevention to coordinate EWER mechanisms in 12 communities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Main objectives of the assignment 

The overall objectives of this assignment are: 

• Supporting and overseeing proper functioning of the analytical block of the Geoinformation system for conflict analysis and resolution.
• Expanding the pilot of the early warning and early response (EWER) mechanism to 12 already selected communities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhhia oblasts (4 in each oblast), establishing a functioning system of conflict monitors and analysts on the local level.

Duties and Responsibilities

Description of Responsibilities/Scope of work

The Individual Consultant for Supporting Analytical Block of Geoinformation System for Conflict Analysis and Developing the Early Warning and Early Response Mechanisms in Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, will be responsible for:

a) Supporting and overseeing proper functioning of the analytical block of the Geoinformation system for conflict analysis and resolution in Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts:

• Adding conflict cases on the online map on the Geoinformation system’s website and removing outdated or resolved conflicts upon Supervisor’s approval. At least 60 conflict cases in three oblasts should be analyzed during the course of the contract and added to the database.
• Preparing monthly reports on the conflict cases added to the system by conflict analysts with analytical notes prepared on each conflict according to the template. Providing analytical insight into the conflicts according to existing methodology.
• Preparing recommendations for improving existing methodology of conflict analysis in the Geoinformation system, in particular preparing recommendations on improving instruments for data collection, methods of conflict analysis, early response system, etc.

b) Piloting conflict early warning mechanisms in twelve communities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts

• Selecting and training 36 local conflict monitors (3 persons in each community) and 1 conflict analyst for the pilot. Online trainings (at least 3 days) for the conflict monitors should include the following topics: basics of conflict analysis, methods of collecting primary data about conflicts, methods of data verification, using tools to add the conflicts to the database. Online trainings (at least 3 days) for the conflict analyst should include the following topics: methods of conflict analysis, conflict dynamics, conflict prediction and prevention.
• Using conflict early warning and early response mechanisms in the selected communities based on the developed methodology for at least 4 months. Piloting should include a full cycle of monitoring and analysis of potential conflict cases (at least 2 long-term and 5 short-term cases in each community). Reports on the activities should be submitted to Supervisor every two weeks.
• Prepare and hold presentations of the project results in the communities (online). Presentations should include description of the mechanism, key findings, positive cases and recommendations for further use.

The Consultant will ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality considerations in all aspects of the assignment, promote a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behaviour, respect differences and accord equal spaces and dignity regardless of personnel’s sex, ethnicity, sexual preference, gender identity, (dis)ability or other markers of identity, and use the principles of gender-responsive communications in line with the UNDP corporate standards.

The timeframe is spanning about 5 months, from March 2022 to June 2022. The requested services will be provided according to the agreed workplan and paid in lump sums according to the following schedule.

Proposed payment schedule

Payments will be made in 5 stages according to the proposed payment schedule below:

20% - upon submission and approval of report according to Deliverables 1

20% - upon submission and approval of report according to Deliverable 2

20% - upon submission and approval of report according to Deliverable 3

20% - upon submission and approval of report according to Deliverable 4

20% - upon submission and approval of report according to Deliverable 5

The payments will be paid out upon the full completion and acceptance of deliverables in accordance with certificate of payments provided by the Community Security and Social Cohesion Specialist.

Administrative Arrangements

Financial proposals submitted by the candidates for this position should include cost for all logistical, secretarial, personal, travel, communication and other expenses. All expenses related to organization of the events and trainings are covered by UN RPP.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The Consultant will work under supervision and directly report to the Community Security and Social Cohesion Specialist according to the abovementioned schedule.  Monthly and final reports, presentations and materials shall be prepared and transmitted electronically (Formats of: * .docx, * .xlsx, * .pptx,  * .pdf, etc.) to the electronic device or in the form of electronic communication with the final product. The materials/reports/presentations should be prepared in Ukrainian.

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. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR, according to the abovementioned schedule. 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 number of anticipated working hours, logistical expenses, etc).  

The IC will be responsible for all administrative expenses associated with undertaking this assignment including office accommodation, printing, stationery, telephone and electronic communications, and report copies incurred in this assignment.

Travel costs

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.

Evaluation criteria

Relevant education – 10 points max - {6 pts. – at least Specialist’s/Master’s degree in Humanities, Sociology, Economics, Public Affairs or other related field; 10 pts. – PhD in one of the relevant areas};

At least 2 years of experience in conflict resolution, facilitation of dialogue, providing conflict analysis on the community level, including using the Geoinformation system for conflict analysis and resolution – 20 points max {14 pts. – 2 years of experience; 17 pts. –3 years of experience; 20 pts. – more than 3 years of experience};

At least one certificate in Mediation, Conflict Resolution issued by an accredited Ukrainian or international association – 20 points max {14 pts. – at least 1 certificate from an accredited Ukrainian or international association; 17 pts. – 2-3 certificates provided; 20 pts. – more than 3 certificates provided};

Experience in conducting trainings on conflict analysis, conflict resolution, facilitation of dialogue and related topics - 15 points max {10 pts. – 4 trainings held; 12 pts. – 5-9 trainings held; 15 pts. – more than 9 trainings held};

Fluent in Russian and Ukrainian, both written and oral – 5 points max {5 pts. – professional fluence in Ukrainian and Russian, both written and oral}.

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.

Competencies

• Excellent communication and organization skills;
• Excellent computer skills (including, MS Word);
• Ability to set priorities, meet specific objectives, use political judgment and knowledge;
• Good interpersonal skills, diligence, open mindedness, and dedication;
• Excellent team and networking skills;
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• 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;
• Ensures the mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations in the field of expertise.

Required Skills and Experience

1) At least a Master’s degree or equivalent in Sociology, Economics, Public Affairs or other related field;

2) At least 2 years of experience in conflict resolution, facilitation of dialogue, providing conflict analysis on the community level, including using the Geoinformation system for conflict analysis and resolution;

3) At least one certificate in Mediation, Conflict Resolution issued by an accredited Ukrainian or international association;

4) Experience in conducting trainings on conflict analysis, conflict resolution, facilitation of dialogue and related topics, at least 4 trainings held;

5) Fluent knowledge of Russian and Ukrainian languages, both written and oral, is necessary.