Background

Signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997 was a major political achievement marking the end of a protracted low intensity conflict in the region. Progress on establishing local institutions outlined in the Peace Accord, the creation of an improved environment for dialogue between communities and an increase in social services have built important foundations for longer term stability and social inclusion in the region. Despite these efforts, the Chittagong Hill Tracts still experiences relatively low levels of development with economic and social progress being held back resulting in increased pressures on scarce resources including land, continued extreme poverty below the national average and a lack of economic development and opportunity in the region. In the Seventh Five Year Plan (FY 2016-20), it has been stated that “CHT is one of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable regions in the country in terms of almost all major development indicators, such as income, employment, poverty, health, water, sanitation, education, women employment, access to infrastructure and national building institutions, inter-community confidence, etc.” (The Seventh five year plan FY2016-FY2020. Accelerating growth, empowering citizens, pg. 637-638. Government of Bangladesh. 2015). In virtually all social and economic indicators the region is disadvantaged with limited access to education, an absence of clear linkages between the capabilities and needs of communities and state institutions as well as a lack of understanding of key challenges (7th FYP page 680).

The prevalence of absolute and extreme poverty among ethnic communities is 65 percent and 44 percent respectively above the national average (7th FYP page 637-638). Skills required to move from subsistence livelihood practices to a market economy are hindered by a clear lack of public policies and investment aimed at sustainable empowerment. Both urban and rural areas are affected adversely by the situation.

One of the key government strategies outlined in the 7th Five-Year Plan for tackling these challenges is to fully implement the provisions of the Peace Accord.  The government also aims at implementing accelerated development activities in the region.

The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MOCHTA), in collaboration with UNDP and other Development Partners has implemented several projects in three Hill Districts during the last decade.  The interventions of these projects mainly strengthened community stability and supported communities build resilience and collective actions. Conducive environment is achieved for long-term stability in the region by empowering communities to be more involved in decisions that affect their lives in a framework for economic and social development. In line with the provisions of the Peace Accord these actions worked towards protecting the diversity of the region and its distinct characteristics by supporting the increased implementation of Peace Accord objectives, building capacity of devolved Regional and Hill District Councils to deliver the subjects transferred from national level and supporting confidence building and social capital strengthening in communities.

Results achieved under the Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in CHT project (2003 – 2016) through empowering communities in the 3,500 para development committees created new forms of support to communities including 1,900 farmer field schools identifying and diffusing innovation and knowledge of productive farming methods and 1,700 rice banks building more resilient and common action orientated communities that identify and resolve challenges collectively in their own interest. They manage easy access and flexible grant schemes aimed to generate income for households and are now able to implement village level projects and manage funds competently with 90 percent of committees establishing sustainable saving schemes. The model of community led decision-making is the central reason behind these successes.

To continue the momentum of development and confidence building successes of the Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in CHT project (2003 – 2016), MoCHTA and UNDP, with assistance from a number of Development Partners, have undertaken a new 5-year project titled Strengthening Inclusive Development in CHT (SID-CHT 2017-21). 

The main objectives of SID-CHT project is ‘’To strengthen the capacity of the population in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to shape and make decisions that impact on their lives”.

Based on the above main objectives following are the specific objectives which will be achieved by implementing the project;

• To strengthen community land, resource and livelihood management.
• To increase participation and influence to shape decision-making.
• To strengthen democratic governance with responsive institutions and effective services.

Consistent with UNDAF Outcomes, the outcome of this project is:

        “Citizen expectations for voice, development and accountability are met by strengthened institutions to progressively deliver universal access to basic services.”

The following three outputs will contribute to the outcome:

Output 1: Strengthened community land, resource and livelihood management.

Output 2: Increased participation and influence to shape decision-making.

Output 3: Democratic governance strengthened with responsive institutions and effective services.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Reponsibilities of the Consultant's (Government Relations Advisor) are given below:

• Maintain liaison with MoCHTA and other agencies of Government.
• Prepare briefing papers and reports for the Government of Bangladesh (Ministry of CHT Affairs, Planning Commission, IMED, ERD, Accounts Office etc.) on SID-CHT progress and achievements.
• Attend monthly ADP review meetings and provide project implementation status in the monthly coordination meeting held in MoCHTA.
• Prepare briefing papers for SID-CHT senior management on Government systems, policies and initiatives, relevant to the CHT and/or SID-CHT project.
• Advise SID-CHT senior management on responses to Government policies and initiatives.
• Advise SID-CHT senior management on Government institutional arrangements and issues of protocol.
• Alert SID-CHT senior management of emerging political issues.
• Prepare physical and financial reports (monthly, quarterly and annually) in Government of Bangladesh formats for submission to different ministries (MoCHTA, IMED, Planning Commission).
• Provide support to SID-CHT Project Management and MoCHTA on facilitation of National Steering Committee, Project Implementation Committee (PIC) and Inter-Ministerial meetings.
• Supporting SID-CHT Project Management, NPD/MOCHTA, liaison with Planning Commission, ERD for revision of TAPP.
• Supporting SID-CHT Project Management, NPD/MOCHTA in respect of Parliamentary Standing committee on CHT meetings.
• Facilitate revision of TAPP and PRODOC and its approval by ERD and Planning Commission subject to decision of MoCHTA and SID-CHT management.
• Prepare proposal for Revised Project Aid (RPA) requirement of the project 2018-19 in consultation with SMT, SID-CHT project management for MoCHTA and ERD.
• Prepare proposal for Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) of the project for 2018-19 in consultation with SID-CHT management for sharing with MoCHTA and Planning Commission.

SUPERVISION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:

The IC Government Relations Advisor will work closely with the Programme Staffs and he/she will directly report SID-CHT National Project Manager.

TIME FRAME AND DEADLINES:

The assignment is for a total of 120 days over a period of 12 months from 01 January to 31 December 2019.

DOCUMENTS:

The Consultant will prepare and submit the above-mentioned documents during the assignment period. The format should be agreed on at the beginning of the assignment and cleared by the task force. Further work or revision of the documents may be required if it is considered that the documents do not meet the ToR, errors of fact or the documents are incomplete or not of an acceptable standard.

INPUTS:

UNDP will provide office space for the consultant and email communication. UNDP also pay living allowances as per Policy if any Filed Visit Travel occurs outside Dhaka during the assignment. The Consultant will arrange meetings, consultations and interviews necessary for the assignment but the cost will be borne by project.  

From CHTDF:

The consultant will be provided with office space and computer for work. For official travels transport and allowance as per UNDP  rules and regulations will be provided.

From the Consultant:

All other inputs to complete the deliverables will be taken care of by the consultant.

Duration of the Work: Not more than 120 days over the period of 12 (twelve) months.

Duty Station: Dhaka

Competencies

Competencies -

• Build strong relationships with GoB officials.
• Ability to focus on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
• Experience liaising with MoCHTA and other agencies of Government.
• Experience on in depth knowledge of Government Planning and Reporting Systems (including financial).
• Excellent communication, reporting and writing skills in both English and Bangla
• Knowledge of UNDP practices and procedures is desirable.
• Computer literacy, in particular Word, Excel and emailing is required.
• Creative and innovative in producing the desired outputs.
• Ability to work with a multicultural environment and a multidisciplinary team.
• Willingness to travel to project sites.
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications -

• At least Master’s Degree in Social Science or any relevant field from a reputed university is required.

Expereinces -

• The consultant must have at least 15 of years of relevant GoB experience is required.
• The consultant must have working experience in CHT and with UN agencies and projects.
• The consultant must have experience in advising the project management on the implementation activities of Development Partners aided project(s).
• Experience of Government planning and reporting systems (including financial) is required.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Lump sum contracts

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 will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Deliverables are linked with the payment schedule:

EVALUATION

Individual Consultant will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Preliminary Evaluation:

Prior to the technical evaluation all proposals will be screened based on the eligibility criteria mentioned in the table below. To be eligible for technical evaluation a proposal must meet both the criteria. Any proposal not meeting either of these criteria will be rejected from the evaluation. There is no scoring in this stage and screening will be done pass/fail basis.

Eligibility Criteria

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:

1. responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
2. 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 70% point in technical criteria would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Evaluation: (Total obtainable score – 30)

All technically 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 receive 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

Recommended Presentation of Offer

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

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. 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;
3. Technical Proposal/Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment and a workplan on how he/she will approach and complete the assignment.
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. Note: National Consultants must quote prices in BDT.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

Annexes

• Annex I –   Individual IC General Terms and Conditions
• Annex II –  Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC, including Financial Proposal Template
• Annex III – P11 format

Applicants are requested to submit their financial proposal using the template from the below link;

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

This contract does not carry any expectation of any future engagement by UNDP.