UNDP Jobs - 79865- National Consultant-Strategic Planner / Writer for

National Consultant-Strategic Planner / Writer for A2I

Location :

Dhaka, BANGLADESH

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

19-Jul-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Expected Duration of Assignment :

242 working days over 11 months

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

A fundamental government responsibility is providing information and services aimed at improving the social and economic welfare of its citizens. During the first phase of the Access to Information (a2i) Programme, fundamental progress was made in improving access to public services through electronic means. However, it is critical to expand the breadth and width of such simplified services and improve the service delivery model to counter the impact of widespread outdated manual processes, resistance to change by civil service staff and a lack of transparency that still frustrates citizens in their attempts to avail of government information and services.

The objective of the 2nd phase of the project is to increase transparency, improve governance, and reduce the time, difficulty and costs of obtaining government services for under-served communities of Bangladesh. This is to be achieved by the following 5 components of the project:

Component 1: Strengthening existing e-services and launching a second generation of integrated, interoperable e-government applications; (e-Service)

Component 2: Sensitizing government officials, training for service providers and expanding digital literacy among the general public; (Capacity and Awareness)

Component 3: Forging strong policy and strategy links to ensure implementation of needed legal and regulatory changes in support of the project; (Enabling Environment) and

Component 4: Promoting innovation in the delivery of e-services. (Innovation)

Component 5: Establishing linkage with public and private sectors and creating awareness among the citizens.

Access to Information (a2i) Programme - II is looking to recruit a ‘National Consultant Strategic Planner/ Writer’ who will be responsible / support the development of a new Strategic Plan for a2i, contribute to and coordinate the composition of a funding proposal to finance the new strategic plan. Moreover, the consultancy will also create and/or provide editorial support to the publication of blogs, articles, briefs, case studies, book chapters as well as other ‘think-pieces’ on a2i’s innovation model, tools, services, platforms and partnerships to popularize the programme internationally, strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ones. It will also review the a2i website content and provide editorial support to ensure it is consistent with a2i’s new identity, branding, strategy and future plans. The expected timeframe for the consultancy is 11 months.

Objectives

The overall objective of the assignment will be the following:

To support a2i in developing strategies that match the present work context, are designed in anticipation of future challenges, and can build on previous successes achieved by the organization.
To provide conceptual, writing and editorial support to the development of proposals aimed at securing funding for a2i’s work.
To assist a2i in engaging and inspiring key partners, stakeholders as well as potential beneficiaries both at home and abroad through the composition of and providing editorial guidance to strategic communication pieces.

Duties and Responsibilities

The assignment will focus on the following areas and activities:

Support a2i in developing strategies that match the present work context, are designed in anticipation of future challenges, and can build on previous successes achieved by the organization.
- Contribute to actions related to strategy development, project design, implementation and operation plan
- Assist for the prioritization of functions and activities from management perspective

Provide conceptual, writing and editorial support to the development of proposals aimed at securing funding for a2i’s work
- Prepare concept notes including rationale behind project design and intervention model.
- Prepare and/or review full-fledged project proposals.
- Prepare and/or support the formulation of project RRF.
- Liaise with donors and fund managers.

Assist a2i in engaging and inspiring key partners, stakeholders as well as potential beneficiaries both at home and abroad through the composition of and providing editorial guidance to strategic communication
- Coordinate with a2i’s in-house communications team for collecting/writing/reviewing human stories of citizen-beneficiaries.
- Author, coordinate and/or co-author with external parties (including consultants and organizations) for publishing case studies, blog posts, think pieces, etc.
- Collaborate and liaise and manage relationships with publishers interested in working with a2i.

Supervision and Performance Evaluation

The Strategic Planner / Writer will be working with the Policy Advisor of Access to Information (a2i) Programme – II. The Policy Advisor will be responsible for reviewing the performance and approve the deliverables.

Timeframe and deadlines:

The assignment will be for 242 working days over 11 months period.

Reporting authority:

The Strategic Planner / Writer will closely work with the Policy Advisor of Access to Information (a2i) Programme – II. Therefore, the activities of the incumbent will be regularly monitored by the Policy Advisor of Access to Information (a2i) Programme – II.

Deliverables:

Human Interest Story for ‘Public Service = 2030 – Making the SDGs Happen’ publication (jointly by UNDP’s Global Centre for Public Service Excellence in Singapore and the Government of Singapore) - 22 days
Reviewe of a2i website content to ensure it is consistent with a2i’s new identity, branding, strategy and future plans - 22 days
Joint publication with UNDP’s Global Centre for Public Service Excellence in Singapore (GCPSE) on a2i's 'empathy triggered public service innovation toolkit featuring Empathy Training, TCV and SPS’ - 22 days
Joint publication with World Bank on ‘Bangladesh’s Digital Centres: Re-inventing Service Delivery, Ensuring Citizens’ Access’ - 22 days
Post on Gates Foundation’s ‘Impatient Optimist’ blog featuring the partnership between a2i and the Foundation and the ‘AIM’ DFS architecture - 22 days
Design of monthly / bi-monthly e-newsletter for SSN4PSI hosted by UNOSSC - 22 days
Article on ‘Govpreneurship’ co-authored with a2i’s Policy Advisor and Mr. NC Saxena (former Singaporean Civil Servant and author of ‘Virtuous Cycle’) - 22 days
Post on the LSE South Asia Blog about a2i’s ‘Assisted Rural E-Commerce’ model - 22 days
Post on ILO’s ‘Work in Progress’ blog about ‘Muktopaath’ - 22 days
Post on the CGAP Blog focusing on the regulatory and bureaucratic breakthroughs that a2i is facilitating to unleash the full potential of DFS in Bangladesh - 22 days
Complete Project Document for A2I-Phase III - 22 days

Tentative Payment Schedule:

The incumbent will be paid on deliverable basis.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Knowledge in working with governance issues will be get advantages;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Familiar with and shares the vision of human development as laid out in the flagship HDR series.

Functional Competencies:

Encourages Knowledge Sharing and Learning;
Disseminates specialized knowledge and experience;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to perform a variety of standard specialized and non-specialized tasks and work processes that are fully documented, researched, recorded and reported;
Ability to review a variety of data, identify and adjust discrepancies, identify and resolve operational problems;
Ability to perform work of a confidential nature and handle a large volume of work;
Has good knowledge of financial rules and regulations;
Ability to provide input to business process re-engineering, implementation of the new system.

Leadership and Self-Management:

Focuses on result for the client;
Has demonstrable leadership skill;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
Demonstrates openness to change;
Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view.

Language Required: Fluency in speaking and writing in English

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

University degree in Development Studies/Social Welfare/Social Work/Sociology/Anthropology/ Statistics/ Economics/Public Administration or any other relevant discipline of the Social Sciences.

Years of experience:

Minimum of 7 years’ experience in strategic planning, proposal writing and English content editing including within a non-governmental context; Experience with programme design, development and implementation, results management frameworks using both quantitative and qualitative techniques.
Previous work experience with UN/Donor agencies

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

Cumulative analysis-

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant up on Cumulative Analysis/evaluation and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% mark in technical evaluation will be considered eligible for financial evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks)

Work experience in development sector (25 marks)
Experience in composing strategy papers and grant proposals (20 marks)
Articles and international publications (25 marks)

Financial Evaluation (Total 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.

Financial Milestone:

1st Installemnt: 9.09% will be paid - Human Interest Story for ‘Public Service = 2030 – Making the SDGs Happen’ publication (jointly by UNDP’s Global Centre for Public Service Excellence in Singapore and the Government of Singapore). 9.09 %
2nd Installemnt: 9.09% will be paid -Reviewed of a2i website content to ensure it is consistent with a2i’s new identity, branding, strategy and future plans. 9.09 %
3rd Installemnt: 9.09% will be paid - Joint publication with UNDP’s Global Centre for Public Service Excellence in Singapore (GCPSE) on a2i's 'empathy triggered public service innovation toolkit featuring Empathy Training, TCV and SPS’. 9.09 %
4th Installemnt: 9.09% will be paid - Joint publication with World Bank on ‘Bangladesh’s Digital Centres: Re-inventing Service Delivery, Ensuring Citizens’ Access’. 9.09 %
5th Installemnt: 9.09% will be paid -Post on Gates Foundation’s ‘Impatient Optimist’ blog featuring the partnership between a2i and the Foundation and the ‘AIM’ DFS architecture. 9.09 %
6th Installemnt: 9.09% will be paid - Design of monthly / bi-monthly e-newsletter for SSN4PSI hosted by UNOSSC 9.09 %
7th Installemnt: 9.09% will be paid - Article on ‘Govpreneurship’ co-authored with a2i’s Policy Advisor and Mr. NC Saxena (former Singaporean Civil Servant and author of ‘Virtuous Cycle’) 9.09 %
8th Installemnt: 9.09% will be paid - Post on the LSE South Asia Blog about a2i’s ‘Assisted Rural E-Commerce’ model. 9.09 %
9th Installemnt: 9.09% will be paid - Post on ILO’s ‘Work in Progress’ blog about ‘Muktopaath’. 9.09 %
10th Installemnt: 9.09% will be paid - Post on the CGAP Blog focusing on the regulatory and bureaucratic breakthroughs that a2i is facilitating to unleash the full potential of DFS in Bangladesh. 9.09 %
Final Installemnt: 9.10% will be paid - Complete Project Document for A2I-Phase III. 9.10 %

Recommended Presentation of Offer

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Proposers who shall not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation.

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; P11 can be downloaded from the link below: http://www.bd.undp.org/content/bangladesh/en/home/operations/jobs/
Sample of work (articles and international publications)
Financial Proposal: Financial Proposal has to be submitted through a standard interest and availability template which can be downloaded from the link below:

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

Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Travel

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 reimbursed.