Background

UNDP and the State of Kuwait, represented by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development (GSSCPD), strive to enhance institutional capacities at various government Ministries and agencies by providing necessary technical support and advisory services to strengthen their capacities and skills to perform their expected duties and targets within the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set for the country in the Medium-Term Development plan (2016/2017-2019-2020). ?

Under the framework of the Institutional Capacity Development for Implementation of the Kuwait National Development Plan (ICDI/KNDP) project, UNDP and GSSCPD aim to create an enabling environment for KNDP results, through enhancing institutional and technical capacities for evidence-based policy making and development planning. In this context, the ICDI/KNDP project provides technical support to developing a new organizational structure for GSSCPD, the new structure includes four new centres to support the GSSCPD to deliver on its mandate, including Kuwait Public Policy Centre, Kuwait Knowledge Economy Centre, Sustainable Development and Future Foresight Observatory, and National Centre for Development Researches and Studies NCDRS.

The NCDRS’ main objective is to support the formulation of strategic studies on development alternatives, research national development challenges, its economic impact on achieving development objectives, and monitor and study Kuwait development performance through KPIs of the KNDP Pillars.

Within this context, on behalf of the General Secretariat for the Supreme Council for Planning and Development (GSSCPD) the UNDP is seeking to recruit a Development Statistics Specialist to provide technical advisory services to the National Centre for Development Researches and Studies (NCDRS) of GSSCPD in support to the implementation of the centers Strategy and implement targeted researches and studies. The specialist will be simultaneously working with various units within the center but mainly supporting the Statistical Data Unit on technical work. The Development Statistics Specialist will also focus on capacity building and transfer of knowledge to staff of the Statistical Data unit to support the implementation of the center's strategy. 

The main purpose of the consultancy is to support the enhancement of institutional capacities, effectiveness and efficiency of National Centre for Development Research and Studies, to achieve the objectives of the center’s strategy through formulating and supporting the implementation of the Statistics Action Plan. Subsequently by making available required data for the targeted studies, conducting analysis for all Key Performance Indicators for Kuwait National Development Plan (KPIs) during the past five years, and implementation needs-assessment-based training plan to the staff at the center in the area of Development Statistics. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the National Centre for Development Research and Studies of GSSCPD, and in close coordination with the ICDI Project Team and International Cooperation Department at GSSCPD, the Development Statistics Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

Review the strategy of the NCDRS and formulate an Action Plan for the Statistical Data Unit to support achieving the objectives. This is expected to be achieved by implementing the following tasks:

• Conduct a desk review of the KNDP documents, to get acquainted with its pillars, themes, strategic directions, KPIs, and projects, including progress, completion dates, limitations, and challenges.
• Conduct meetings with NCDRS Department/Unit heads and necessary GSSCPD departments, Central Statistical Bureau and other national institutions relevant to the research and studies.
• Review the strategy for the NCDRS, including target researches and studies to be implemented by the center, and the availability of data and statistics.
• Identify data sources, analyze data gap, suggest methods to obtain required unavailable data.
• Provide guidance on the classification of data, and technical advice on statistical aspects of establishing a database for development statistics.
• Provide technical support to development statistics database design by identifying specifications of regular reports to be extracted from the database based on the requirements of NCDRS.
• Develop Statistics Action Plan to support the Implementation of the Strategy for National Centre for Development Researches and Studies. 

1. Conduct an analysis for all Key Performance Indicators of Kuwait National Development Plan during the past five years, including sub-indicators and measurement units:

• Analyze all indicators of KNDP Indices, how they are constructed, their units of measure, and data sources.
• Compare KNDP indices based on national and international data (where applicable) and identify any divergence.
• Explore the correlation between trends for different indicators where exists.
• Include comparison to other (4) countries for benchmarking purposes, countries to be identified during the inception phase based on consultation with GSSCPD.  
• Use appropriate charts to outline analysis ideas and findings.
• Classify indicators in terms of their priority (weight/status) to the improvement of overall index ranking.
• Outline indicators at the level of “units of measure” that require immediate action.
• Identify the correlation between KNDP and SDGs Indicators.

1. Contribute to strengthening the institutional capacities of the NCDSRto effectively implement their role to achieve the institution’s overall mission

• Conduct a training needs assessment for relevant department’s employees on areas related to Development Statistics including but not limited to (data collection method, survey sampling and design of questionnaires, data quality verification, basic statistical analysis, indicators and indices calculation, etc…) 
• Formulate and implement a training programme based on the capacity assessment exercise, and conduct at least 15 training sessions/workshops, in addition to on-the-job training for staff on topics related to development statistics;
• Develop detailed technical guidelines and SOPs for Statistics Data Unit on the steps to be undertaken for providing statistical support to development researches and studies and organize at least 2 training sessions (part of the above 15 sessions) on the Developed Technical Guidelines and SOPs.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables 

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:

• Institutional Arrangement

The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Head of National Centre for Development Researches and Studies, in close coordination with the GSSCPD International Cooperation Department and the UNDP Project Officer. The National Centre for Development Researches and Studies will provide access to any related information and facilitate smooth and timely liaison and meeting for the consultant with relevant counterparts that is essential to complete the assignment. The consultant will be based at GSSCPDand shall be provided with working space and access to the internet.

• Duration of the Work

The overall duration of this consultancy will be 3 months.

• Duty Station

In order to achieve the deliverables of the assignment, the consultant will be required to be present in the State of Kuwait during the entire duration of the assignment. 

• Scope of Technical and Financial Proposals and Schedule of Payments

The Technical Proposal should explain the Service Provider qualifications and experience and reasons why he/she see himself/herself fit for the assignment. The Service provider should explain in the technical proposal and his/her understanding of the assignment, his/her approach to achieving the deliverables and explaining his/her competencies to achieve the required tasks and achieve deliverables on time (3 pages maximum). The Service provider should attach to his/her technical proposal his/her detailed Curriculum vitae.

The financial proposal submitted 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. The financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, living allowance, and a number of anticipated working days).

Travel: All envisaged travel and other related costs must be included in the financial proposal; one return travel ticket is to be covered for the entire assignment from the place of residence of the consultant  

• EVALUATION

Cumulative analysis

Total score=Technical Score + Financial Score. 

Technical Criteria weight - 70%, 700 scores maximum 

Financial Criteria weight - 30%. 300 scores maximum

• The selection of candidates will be done in 3 stages:

1st stage: Prior to detailed evaluation, all applications will be thoroughly screened against eligibility criteria (minimum qualification requirements) as set in the TOR in order to determine whether they are compliant/non-compliant.

2nd stage: Evaluation of technical proposals 

Short-listed candidates will be evaluated based on the following criteria. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 490 points (70%) at the Technical Evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

3rd stage: Financial evaluation

Cumulative analysis will be used based on the following methodology: All the offers of individual consultants who scored 490 (70% from 700) and more points during the desk review are acceptable for financial evaluation. The lowest financial qualified proposal receives 300 points and all the other technically qualified proposals receive points in inverse proportion per the formula:

The candidate achieving the highest cumulative score for both Technical and Financial evaluations will be recommended by the Evaluation Committee for contracting.

• DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies innovative approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
• Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise?

• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of Development Statistics and applies it in work assignments.
• Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for development research;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in the area of organizational development and design within international organizations and seeks to develop him/herself professionally.

Core Competencies:

• Provides helpful feedback and advice;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Required Skills and Experience

I. Academic Qualifications:

• Minimum requirement is a Masters’ degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, or any other related fields. A PhD degree in a related field is an advantage.

II. Years of experience:

• 10 years of professional experience in Development Statistics, Economic Development, or Development research.
• Previous experience in providing or contributing to statistical support to development research.
• 2 years of professional experience in in Development Statistics, Economic Development, or Development research in the MENA region is an advantage;
• 2 years of experience in a senior managerial or advisory position related to Development Statistics, Economic Development, or Development Research is an advantage.
• Experience in working with Development Planning Ministries/Institutions is an advantage.
• Previous experience in in using Data Analysis and Statistical Software Applications (STATA, SPSS, Eviews, Etc…) . 

III. Languages

• Fluency in Arabic language is a must; Fluency in English is an advantage.