Background

The UNDP Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (RPP) is a coordinated system for recovery and peacebuilding interventions in the Eastern Conflict Area, a unifying framework for projects funded by different international partners (e.i. eight projects funded by nine international partners in 2017). RPP is designed in such a way, that its seeks synergies across several thematic fields, while its successful implementation itself contributes most to mitigating mounting risks and managing increasing challenges. Setting a long-term integrated agenda for strengthening the governance capacity at the regional, district and local levels, makes the ongoing recovery interventions more robust, sustainable, inclusive and responsive. It contributes to restoring trust in government, rebuilding legitimacy, which in turn contributes to rebuilding social cohesion, thus reducing the potential for conflict.

RPP target areas are Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, with a significant portion of the activities in Donetsk and Luhansk, the most conflict-affected oblasts of Eastern Ukraine.

The time has now come for a step change in further donor assistance which would look towards the medium to long-term support required for the Donbas to be able to embark upon a real process of economic and social recovery, community security and social cohesion by ensuring that public institutions are more accountable to local communities and by increasing access to justice at the local level.

Through the UNDP and its UN partners the EU will contribute to peace, economic revitalisation and reconciliation in Eastern Ukraine through social and economic recovery, with special focus on Government Controlled Areas (GCAs) of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. 

Sweden, Switzerland and Denmark have committed their further support to the Eastern Ukraine focusing on Governance and Reconciliation, including community security and social cohesion. Furthermore, to address the pressing challenges and continued requests for environmental expertise and support, the new phase of RPP will include interventions aimed at environment protection in Eastern Ukraine.

As a part of the development of a new phase of Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme, UNDP is seeking an expert on recovery programming and RBM to draft and consolidate new programme elements focusing on improving administrative service delivery in the east of Ukraine with a special focus on “grey zone” locations to be funded by multiple donors, including Canada.

Duties and Responsibilities

The main objective of the assignment is to develop a full-fledged project document for the East to improve administrative service delivery in the east of Ukraine with a special focus on “grey zone” locations in line with UNDP’s and donors (Canada) programming quality criteria and related project document templates; ensuring that ongoing and planned project documentation are accurately integrated and consolidated under the new phase of RPP while minimizing potential areas of overlap and duplication.

Scope of work

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator of RPP and oversight of the Head of Business Development and Innovations Unit the Consultant will draft a complete project document on improving administrative service delivery in the east of Ukraine with a special focus on “grey zone” locations. Key members of the RPP and CO team will be assigned to support the consultant in the course of the assignment.

Key responsibilities of the consultant will include:

• Review Government’s priorities in the area and its strategies in addressing the challenges and needs;
• Review and analyze the documents provided by UNDP including project documents, proposals/concepts, studies, assessments, and other publications;
• Review the activities of different development partners in the area;
• Develop a broad understanding of administrative service delivery in the post-conflict areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine, including its potential, challenges, and opportunities;
• Write the project document in line with programming quality criteria and related project document templates;
• Collect, analyze and integrate the feedback and inputs of UNDP colleagues into the project document;
• Incorporate relevant essential and cross-cutting issues into the project document, such as national ownership and capacity development, gender equality and women’s empowerment, youth engagement, environmental sustainability, social cohesion/inclusion, community engagement and empowerment, and strategic partnerships for effective programme implementation and monitoring;
• Finalize the Project Document based on the feedback and comments received from the donors and UNDP colleagues.

Methodology

• The assignment will be home – based, with a possible trip to Kyiv (not exceeding 3 days in total) to gather additional information at local level. The assignment will involve approximate 10 working days for literature review, 15 working days for writing a project document and 5 working days to finalize the formulated documents based on the feedback received.
• Familiarization with materials/documents: UNPF 2018-2022, CPD 2018-2022, Concept Note “Ukraine Peace and Stabilization Programme (UPSP) 2018-2021”, “Extract” Description Action of the EU Support to the East of Ukraine, Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment (RPA), UNDP Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme, Document Area-based development programming, UNDP project documentation and proposals, including results frameworks, work plans and budgets, and other related documentation as may be required and/or provided;
• Consult with and incorporate feedback from key project stakeholders in Ukraine, and hold at least two debriefing sessions (in person or via skype);
• Propose additional methodologies for ensuring the rapid development of a high-quality UNDP Programme/Project Document.

Tasks

The selected Consultant under this assignment shall perform the following tasks and activities:

Task 1 (preparatory): The Consultant under this assignment shall work closely with the Programme Coordinator of RPP and the Head of Strategic Advisory Unit and take the lead in the following:

• Discuss the tasks under this assignment with the Supervisor to confirm understanding of the issues and agree upon the actions to be taken/tasks to be fulfilled;
• Collect, review, and analyse existing UNDP’s experience in the sector, including completed and on-going projects and initiatives, results achieved, bottlenecks and opportunities;
• Familiarize with relevant Government’s policies,
• Develop a broad understanding of administrative service delivery in the post-conflict areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine, including its potential, challenges, and opportunities.

In carrying out the assignment, the Consultant is required to ensure that inputs are obtained from all relevant sources, incl. UNDP materials, best local and international practices and requirements of the Ukrainian legislation in force etc. 

Task 2 (substantive): Draft a project document for the East to improve administrative service delivery in the east of Ukraine with a special focus on “grey zone” locations, in line with UNDP’s and donors (Canada) programming quality criteria and related project document templates; ensuring that ongoing and planned project documentation are accurately integrated and consolidated under the new phase of RPP while minimizing potential areas of overlap and duplication, including:

• Results Framework of the Project
• Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
• Multi-year work plan
• Project Quality Assurance Report
• Risk Analysis
• Project Board Terms of Reference and TORs of key management positions.

Task 3 (substantive, finalization): Work with and receive feedback from the Programme Coordinator of RPP and his team and revise draft project document to incorporate feedback and prepare final project document.

Task 4 (advisory support): The Consultant shall provide extensive advisory support to the RPP on the project document content and best practices for boosting entrepreneurship in the post-conflict areas.

Important note: The scope limitation should not be a reason for non-performance under the assignment. The scope of the Prodoc formulation shall not in any way restrict the methodology / inputs / tasks / procedures the Consultant may wish to apply / use / perform / describe to produce the deliverables due under this assignment. The Prodoc shall be in line with the UNDP RPP efforts taken so far and shall be viewed as a follow-up project idea to be used to tap multiple funding sources (Donor agencies).

DELIVERABLES 

All deliverables under the assignment shall be submitted in English language in electronic (MS Word format):

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payment will be made in two installments as follows:

• 50% of Total Contract Amount upon completion of Deliverables 1 and 2.
• 50% of Total Contract Amount upon completion of Deliverables 3.

monitoring/REPORTING requirements

Any copyrights and other kinds of intellectual property emerging in the course of contract implementation and produced by the Consultant under the assignment shall be retained by UNDP; the Consultant shall not be entitled for any intellectual property in this regard.

At UNDP side the contract implementation will be coordinated and supervised by the RPP Programme Coordinator and with direct reporting to the Head of Business Development and Innovations Unit the Consultant on weekly basis. The Consultant will be responsible to obtain his/her clearance of the drafted/revised document before its finalization. Upon request from the immediate supervisor under this assignment, the Consultant shall revise or correct the drafted documents and address all his/her comments.

Competencies

• Sound knowledge of the project development and management cycle;
• Strong analytical skills, including in the identification of key issues and how they relate;
• Ability to focus on impact and results for the client.
• Ability to work independently, organize work and being flexible;
• Excellent writing skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Minimum Bachelor Degree in Economics, Management, Business studies, Development studies or other discipline relevant to the assignment.

Skills and experience

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in local development, including at least some experience related to administrative service delivery (in CIS countries, preferably in Ukraine).
• Proven experience (at least 5 years) of developing and managing international development projects, including formulation of programme/project related documentation for multilateral organizations, International Donors, etc., including the design of projects concepts, implementation strategies, elaborating project ideas, planning, coordination and advisory support for delivery of specific results;
• Deep understanding of the national context and administrative service delivery challenges in Ukraine and in the conflict or disaster affected areas, in particular, proven experience of leading or development of at least 2 development support projects/ researches / assessments implemented in CIS countries;
• Fluent English (both verbal and written). Knowledge of Ukrainian/Russian languages could be considered as advantage;
• Prior engagement with UNDP programme or project formulation and implementation is an asset.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSAL

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Lump sum contract

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 installments 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 shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount per number of deliverables.  

Travel costs

All travel costs will be reimbursed by the Project additionally and should not be included in the financial proposal.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on 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

EVALUATION CRITERIA

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Management, Business studies, Development studies or other discipline relevant to the assignment - 10 points max

{5 pts. - Bachelor Degree; 10 pts. – Specialist/Master’s degree};

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in local development, including at least some experience related to administrative service delivery (in CIS countries, preferably in Ukraine) – 15 points max

{12 pts. – 7 years; 13 pts – 7-10 years; 15 pts – more than 10 years};

• Proven experience (at least 5 years) of developing and managing international development projects, including formulation of programme/project related documentation for multilateral organizations, International Donors, etc., including the design of projects concepts, implementation strategies, elaborating project ideas, planning, coordination and advisory support for delivery of specific results – 15 points max

{12 pts. – 5 years; 13 pts – 5-7 years; 15 pts – more than 7 years};

• Deep understanding of the national context and administrative service delivery challenges in Ukraine and in the conflict or disaster affected areas, in particular, proven experience of leading or development of at least 2 development support projects/ researches / assessments implemented in CIS countries – 15 points max

{10 pts. – 2 development support projects/ researches / assessments implemented in CIS countries; 12 pts. – 3-4 development support projects/ researches / assessments implemented in CIS countries, 15 pts. - more than 4 development support projects/ researches / assessments implemented in CIS countries) };

• Fluent English (both verbal and written). Knowledge of Ukrainian/Russian languages could be considered as advantage – 10 points max.

{7 pts. – Fluent English (both verbal and written); 10 pts. - Fluent English (both verbal and written) and Knowledge of Ukrainian/Russian languages};

• Prior engagement with UNDP programme or project formulation and implementation (an asset) –
  5 points max.

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.