Background

The Social Protection Policy Support (SPPS) Programme responds to institutional weaknesses of the existing national social protection system and a need for system reconfiguration. It will draw on the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS), which provides final entry point for affecting changes in the wider social protection system via better governance and oversight of the system. The programme has two main components: (1) Ensuring better governance of social protection by helping to build coordination, M&E, and reporting functions while strengthening research and analysis capacities in order to build more effective evidence base for effective policy development; and (2) Stronger Social Protection System in place with the purpose of developing a modern social protection infrastructure capable of supporting a nationally integrated delivery system for reliable, transparent, and developmental GoB social transfers and promote linkages to ensure effective coordination.

The NSSS is recognized as a reference point for the social security sector and, as a result, there is an agreed set of objectives across government and development partners. A key aspect of UNDP’s support has been to strengthen coordination across the 38 Ministries engaged in social protection programming in Bangladesh. With support of the SPPS to Cabinet Division, the Central Management Committee (CMC) on Social Protection Programmes in Bangladesh has become recognized as the main management, monitoring and coordination body for the social security sector in Bangladesh, while five social protection thematic clusters as well as sub-national level different coordination committees are also available for bringing better governance in social protection programmes implementation at the field level. A significant achievement has been made drafting the NSSS 2nd phase (2021-2026) Action Plans for each individual Ministry, focused on their implementation of the NSSS guided reforms with approval from the highest body of each individual ministry. It is expected that the NSSS Action Plan 2nd phase strengthened the leadership within the coordination structure and intensifies the coordination mechanisms more functioning. The secretaries are the members of the CMC, therefore while the CMC meets, the secretaries or representatives from line ministries are often engaged with multiple duties and do not have the adequate resources and time to become fully briefed and be the effective contributors and decision-making, especially considering the complex policy nature of social security. The transfer, positing, promotion and retirement are the regular agenda of the government civil service administration. Therefore, when new civil bureaucrats, i.e., secretaries are taking up a role in the CMC, they are not prepared or fully versed in the necessary information to contribute to meaningful decision-making. Decision-making in the coordination structure could be improved through technical and operational support, as identified in the Mid-term Review (MTR). Support to key line ministries, where the most impact can be made, would strengthen the ability of representatives to more meaningful engage in the coordination structure. Technical support has been requested by multiple line ministries, including the Ministry of Social Welfare, which is supposed to become the lead coordination ministry by 2026 for the majority of social security programmes. Technical support units can also strengthen the overall line ministry response to NSSS Action Plan monitoring and implementation, and key proposal development.

The SPPS Programme, through expert, evidence-based support, is working with the government to reconfigure the current social security system so that economic growth is achieved in a more inclusive manner, with economic opportunities reaching the rural and urban poor and the protection of vulnerable groups against shocks. This work includes improving upon the country’s Grievance Redress System to ensure accountability and transparency, develop holistic Monitoring & Evaluation approaches to measuring social protection outcomes, and identifying knowledge gaps and conducting research to fill such gaps to inform evidence-based policy decision-making.

The purpose of this ToR is to provide wider guidelines to the Strategic Support Specialist to provide technical support in strengthening coordination serving as a high-level liaison between the project and GoB. In addition, the consultant will provide advisory support in effective preparation and implementation of the revised M&E Framework and guidance on how to address grievances to support the government for smooth implementation of social protection support especially shock responsive social protection support for addressing COVID19.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Support in preparing briefs/working papers on social protection related issues for Cabinet Division high officials including the Cabinet Secretary and maintain close liaison with the officials of the ministries/divisions under the Central Management Committee (CMC) as member.
2. Coordination support to CRVS and Social Protection Branch of the Cabinet Division in organising the sub-national level (8 administrative division/regional level) capacity building and dialogues with the public officials and civil society.
3. Coordinate to collect social protection related policy decisions, NSSS Thematic Clusters, CMC Focal Points, and CMC meetings between the technical units of Cabinet Division, General Economics Division, and other relevant ministries.
4. Compile the social protection policy decisions and present in the CMC/CMC focal Points/Sub-committee, other meetings.
5. Review the draft reports of sub-national level coordination, capacity building, and dialogues.
6. Provide technical inputs in the SSPS Programme Technical Assistance Project Proposal (TPP).
7. Provide technical inputs in the SSPS Programme mid-term evaluation.
8. Advisory support in effective preparation and implementation of the M&E dashboard.
9. Advisory guidance to the ministries for social benefit transfer information under G2P.
10. Review the draft LNOB workshop reports organised at the sub-national level in collaboration with LNOB Secretariat at BRAC.
11. Provide guidance to the Cabinet Division on Grievance Redress System (GRS) under shock responsive social protection support
12. Review the input factors of LNOB communication strategy and plan.
13. Provide technical inputs in the non-state actors’ national report

    Instalment	Deliverables	Days required	% of the payment
    1st	Prepare briefs/working papers on social protection related issues for Cabinet Division high officials including the Cabinet Secretary	18 days	20%
    2nd	Provide Coordination support to CRVS and Social Protection Branch of the Cabinet Division in organising the sub-national level (8 administrative division/regional level) capacity building and dialogues with the public officials and civil society. Collect social protection related policy decisions, NSSS Thematic Clusters, CMC Focal Points, and CMC meetings between the technical units of Cabinet Division, General Economics Division, and other relevant ministries.	18 days	20%
    3rd	Review the draft reports of sub-national level coordination, capacity building, and dialogues. Provide technical inputs in the SSPS Programme Technical Assistance Project Proposal (TPP).	18 days	20%
    4th	Advisory support in effective preparation and implementation of the M&E dashboard. Advisory guidance to the ministries for social benefit transfer information under G2P.	18 days	20%
    5th	Review the draft LNOB workshop reports organised at the sub-national level in collaboration with LNOB Secretariat at BRAC & input factors of LNOB communication strategy and plan. Provide guidance to the Cabinet Division on Grievance Redress System (GRS) under shock responsive social protection support for addressing COVID19 & technical inputs in the non-state actors’ national report.	18 days	20%
    	Total	90 Days	100%

Competencies

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN System’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation impartiality (UNDP core ethics).
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN system; and displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Teamwork, ability to establish and maintain effective working relations as a team member, in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect.
• 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

Functional Competencies:

• Organises and accurately completes multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions, deadlines, available resources, and multiple reporting relationships
• Plans, coordinates, and organises workload while remaining aware of changing Priorities and competing deadlines
• Establishes, builds, and maintains effective working relationships with staff and clients to facilitate the provision of support
•  

Required Skills and Experience

DEGREE OF EXPERTISE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:        

• Minimum Master’s degree in Business Administration, Social Science, or any other relevant fields

Experience:

• Minimum 15 years of professional experience with at least 5 years of in a senior management role
• At least 2 years of experience at the national level with social protection
• Experience in the area of financial inclusivity, digital payment, Income Generating Activities (IGA), or microcredit
• Demonstratable experience in monitoring and evaluation in a leadership role
• Proven experience working with GRS implementation preferably at national level
• Prior experience liaising with high level Government officials with officials at the Cabinet Division and/or GED
• Demonstratable experience with UN, World Bank, Donor agencies, or Government Projects.

Language Requirement:

• Excellent command over both Bangla and English.

Self-Management

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view
• Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behaviour

Management and Leadership

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills.
• Provides inspiration and leadership to all the implementing partners.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for Financial Evaluation.

TECHNICAL EVALUATION

FINANCIAL EVALUATION 30 marks)

All technical qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula:

                                            p = y (µ/z)

Where:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

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 instalments 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).

TRAVEL & DSA:

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel to a higher class, he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs, including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimburse

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

Interested individuals must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications.

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;

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;

• http://www.bd.undp.org/content/bangladesh/en/home/operations/jobs/

Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment and a methodology on how she/she will approach and complete the assignment.

Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided

• http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

Suppose an organization/company/institution employs an Offeror and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA). In this case, the Offeror must indicate this at this point and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated into the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. 

Note: The individual consultant who does not submit the above documents/requirements shall not be considered for further evaluation.