UNDP Jobs - 75797- National Consultant for mapping Business Developme

National Consultant for mapping Business Development Services (BDSs) and Business Development Services Providers (BDSPs), North-West cluster

Location :

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

29-Nov-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

November - December 2017

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Up to 15 working days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to support priority industries and local governments (LGs) in facilitating market system development and supporting the competitiveness of local businesses. The first step in this process is to conduct mapping of Business Development Services (BDS) and Business Development Service Providers (BDSP) available to businesses and companies from MEG partner LGs, which will be used as the baseline for designing future economic development assistance.

Objective

The objective of this assignment is to provide analytical and expert assistance in the process of mapping relevant BDSs and BDSPs in MEG partner LGs in the North-West Cluster (Bihac, Bosanska Krupa, Cazin, Gradiska, Kostajnica, Kozarska Dubica, Prijedor, Sanski Most and Velika Kladusa). The final product will be an analysis of the general market availability of business development services, demand and supply (type of services, frequency of service delivery, location and mobility of the BDSP, capacities of the BDSP, specific requests of the companies, etc.) as well as to identify key gaps, specifically related to identified priority economic industry sectors: wood processing, metal processing, food processing, textile, plastic processing and tourism.

Background Information

Financed by the Government of Switzerland, and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Municipal Environmental and Economic Governance (MEG) Project is a newly-launched 12-year intervention in the domain of local governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Project’s overall goal is defined as follows: Local governments, assigned with appropriate competences and finances, have improved their democratic governance, apply sound public policy and performance management systems, and provide public services in an inclusive, effective and efficient manner, particularly those related to economic and environmental sectors.

The expected concrete improvements the Project will contribute to are clustered in three outcomes, as follows:

Outcome 1: Supported local governments apply effective development management systems characterised by stronger oversight of the legislative and greater accountability towards the citizens;
Outcome 2: Citizens and businesses in target localities benefit from good quality services provided by LGs in the economic and environmental sectors;
Outcome 3: Improved regulatory framework at higher and local government levels.

The Project’s territorial focus is on the North-West part of the country (including Una-Sana Canton and Prijedor region) and the North-East region (the wider Doboj-Tuzla area), covering 18 partner local governments: Bihac, Bosanska Krupa, Cazin, Doboj, Gracanica, Gradacac, Gradiška, Kalesija, Kostajnica, Kozarska Dubica, Prijedor, Prnjavor, Sanski Most, Tešanj, Teslic, Tuzla, Velika Kladuša and Žepce.

The Project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the FBiH Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, the Ministry for Administration and Local Self-Government of Republika Srpska (RS), the RS Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and both entity Associations of Municipalities and Cities (AMCs).

This activity will take place within the economic development component, with the aim to strengthen local business environment and facilitate development and growth of the companies in MEG partner localities in the North-West cluster.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant is expected to conduct mapping of available BDS / BDSPs in target LGs. The focus has to be on priority economic industry sectors: wood processing, metal processing, food processing, textile, plastic processing and tourism.

More concretely, the Consultant will be expected to perform the following tasks:

Task 1: Identification of existing BDSs and BDSPs in target LGs

The Consultant will conduct mapping of the existing BDSPs and BDSs and analyse their availability by:

Location and mobility of BDSPs;
Current capacities of BDSPs (staff, premises, equipment, certificates, etc);
Type of BDS – general vs. specific industry focused BDSs;
Availability and frequency of delivery of BDSs – regular vs. on demand , and
Pricing of BDSs.

The Consultant will present the findings for each LG in a short written report. It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by December 11, 2017 and the level of effort will not exceed 9 expert days.

Task 2: Business services needs analysis

The Consultant will collect and analyze inputs on needs for BDSs, which will include:

Interviews (electronic mail or phonecalls) with at least 4 companies from different industries, but with focus on priority industries, per each LG;
Identification of the most frequently used business services (type, the frequency of purchase, price, provider, etc.);
Identification of main obstacles to using BDSs.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by the December 17, 2017 and the level of effort will not exceed 4 expert days.

Task 3: Identification of main gaps between demand and supply of BDSs and reporting

Under this task, the Consultant will:

Identify main gaps between the present demand for BDSs with the existing supply (per each LG) and provide recommendations for future activities on strengthening of BDSs/BDSPs;
Develop the Report structure and submit it to the MEG team for approval;
Prepare final Report in line with approved structure.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by the December 20, 2017 and the level of effort will not exceed 2 expert days.

The entire service, all produced reports will be delivered in the languages of BiH peoples.

Deliverables and timelines

The Consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

Task 1: Identification of existing BDSs and BDSPs in target LGs

Prepared the mapping report which will include, but not be limited to: List of BDSPs (per LG) with the description of current capacities (staff, premises, equipment, certificates, etc), type of available BDSs, frequency of delivery of BDSs, pricing of BDSs and all other relevant data - December 11, 2017 (9 days);

Task 2: Business services needs analysis

Prepared the analysis report on conducted BDS needs assessment, with a focus on identification of the most frequently used business services (type, the frequency of purchase, price, provider,etc.) and main obstacles to using BDS. List of interviewed companies and the form of questionnaire will need to be attached - December 18, 2017 (4 days);

Task 3: Identification of main gaps between demand and supply of BDSs and reporting

Prepared a structure of the final report and upon its approval by the MEG team, prepared the final Report on findings per each LG and recommendations for future activities on the strengthening of BDSs/BDSPs - December 20, 2017(2 days);

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives.

People Skills:

Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior;
Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

Partnering and Networking:

Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously.

Results-Orientation:

Plans and ensures quality results to meet established goals.

Communication:

Formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

Progressive knowledge of BDSs;
Knowledge on issues and challenges related to growth and development of BH SMEs;
Knowledge on issues and challenges related to the business enabling environment (focus on the competitiveness);
Strong analytical skills;
Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently;
Initiative and sound judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in economics, law, engineering, or another relevant field.

Experience:

At least 7 years of relevant experience;
At least 5 years experience in work with SMEs in the field of competitiveness;

Language Requirements:

Fluency in the official languages in BiH and in English.

EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis
When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the 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 of 49 points for technical criteria assessment would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

Completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (downloadable from http://www.ba.undp.org/content/bosnia_and_herzegovina/en/home/operations/jobs.html);
Financial proposal which will separately specify professional fee, indicating number of anticipated working days, travel costs (air-ticket or use of private vehicle), living allowance, and all other applicable costs.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 62 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.

Technical criteria:

Progressive knowledge of and experience with BDSs; Weight: 25%, Maximum point: 25;
Knowledge on issues and challenges related to growth and development of BH SMEs; Weight: 25%, Maximum points: 25;
Knowledge on and experience with issues and challenges related to the business enabling environment (focus on the competitiveness); Weight: 20%, Maximum points: 20;

Financial criteria: Weight:30%, Maximum points:30;