Background

1. BACKGROUND:

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has had a direct and highly negative impact on social cohesion, resilience, livelihoods, community security, and the rule of law. Recognizing the need to urgently address reconstruction, economic recovery and peacebuilding needs in areas affected both directly and indirectly by the conflict, in late 2014 the Government of Ukraine requested technical assistance and financial support from the international community to assess priority recovery needs. In late 2014, the United Nations (UN), the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) conducted a Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment, which was endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in mid-2015.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been active and present in eastern Ukraine for the past decade, prior to the conflict, with a focus on community development, civil society development, and environmental protection. Work on addressing the specific conflict-related development challenges discussed above built on this earlier engagement, established partnerships, and started in 2015 through the Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (RPP). The RPP is a multi-donor funded framework programme formulated and led by the UNDP in collaboration with the Government of Ukraine and in cooperation with a number of partnering UN agencies (UN Women, FAO, UNFPA).

The RPP was designed to respond to, and mitigate, the causes and effects of the conflict. It is based on findings of the Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment (RPA) and is aligned to the State Target Programme for Recovery as well as to the two oblast development strategies up to 2020. It takes into account, the opportunities that have arisen from the Minsk Protocol of September 2014 and the renewal of its cease-fire provisions (the latest cease-fire having been agreed in March 2018) and is also fully adjusted to the humanitarian-development nexus. It is an integral component of the UNDP Country Programme and is, therefore, fully aligned with the United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPF). It is closely interlinked with the Democratic Governance and Reform Programme, operating nationally and in all of Ukraine’s regions, and is consistent with the SDGs, in particular SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong institutions).

The Programme’s interventions are grouped under the following key Programme components, which reflect the region’s priority needs:

Component 1: Economic Recovery and Restoration of Critical Infrastructure

Component 2: Local Governance and Decentralization Reform

Component 3: Community Security and Social Cohesion.

The Programme, which operates on the basis of a pooled funding arrangement, follows a multi-sectoral programme-based approach and is implemented using an area-based methodology. It is a unifying interventions framework for 16 projects funded by 10 international partners and is worth about 52 million USD.

In October 2018, four UN agencies (UNDP, UN Women, FAO and the UNFPA) have countersigned a new joint project document, funded by the EU. The overall objective of the project is to restore effective governance and promote reconciliation in the crisis-affected communities of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, thereby enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of local governments in the government-controlled areas (GCAs) of the regions. It will contribute to peace build and prevent further escalation of conflict in Ukraine through effective and accountable decentralization, gender-responsive recovery planning and equal access to services, as well as enhanced community security and social cohesion.

This endeavour will be achieved through the pursuit of the following specific objectives

1. To enhance local capacity for gender-responsive decentralisation and administrative reforms to improve governance, local development and the delivery of services.
2. To stimulate employment and economic growth by providing assistance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development through demand-driven business development services and professional skills training.
3. To enhance social cohesion and reconciliation through promotion of civic initiatives.
4. To support sector reforms and structural adjustments in health, education and critical public infrastructure to mitigate direct impacts of the conflict.

One of the priorities of the objective 1 is to enhance local capacity for gender-responsive decentralization and administrative reforms to improve governance, local development and the delivery of services. Anti-corruption efforts are framed in the principles of good governance, including transparency, accountability, and participation of all stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient local governance for all people, including internally displaced persons. This will include a series of training sessions, elaboration of strategic anti-corruption plans and a small grants program.

Regarding training sessions, Project Phase 1 “Restoration of governance and reconciliation in crises-affected communities of Ukraine” has indicated the need to create a pool of trainers to conduct follow-up trainings and consulting activities related to transparency and corruption-free hromadas' administration practices.

Duties and Responsibilities

2. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

With the support of the UNDP, the Training of Trainers (ToT) program and curriculum will be elaborated. A typical 3-day ToT agenda will introduce participants to group learning and facilitation techniques, teach skills in handling problem participants, and provide practical exercises for teaching anti-corruption to the local population (including the application of anti-corruption assessment tools and methodology) in a simple, understandable way.

With respect to the above stated, the UNDP is seeking to contract National Consultant to develop the Training of Trainers (ToT) program and curriculum on anti-corruption fundamentals with contract duration up to 6 months. The program and curriculum should be designed for a three-day training course in anti-corruption fundamentals to create a pool of trainers to conduct follow-up trainings and consulting activities to transfer received knowledge to other members of their community and even outside the communities.

The target groups are representatives from amalgamated hromadas and representatives of civil organizations in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (government controlled area). Local officials and citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts will be the main beneficiaries of the ToT in the medium and long term.

The program and curriculum must adopt the best international approaches, be practically oriented and be complemented with assessment tools.

3. DUTIES AND ESPONSOBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Anti-corruption Specialist, the National Consultant will be responsible for the following key tasks:

• Develop a workplan with a timeline and submit to the Anti-corruption Specialist for approval.
• Elaborate the Training of Trainers (ToT) program on anti-corruption fundamentals comprised of (but not limited to) the following subjects:

• Introduction to the anti-corruption legislature in Ukraine. Anti-corruption institutions in Ukraine: Structure and functions of the institutions. The international legal framework on corruption prevention: Conventions and case law. Practical exercises regarding mastering anti-corruption legal framework;
• Conflict of interests: Definition, identification and steps to be taken to deal with. Practical exercises regarding conflict of interests;
• Corruption-risk assessment tools and methodologies. Practical exercises regarding corruption-risk assessments implementation;
• Group learning and facilitation techniques. Skills in handling problem participants. Practice for teaching anti-corruption at the local level.

• Submit the draft Training of Trainers (ToT) program to the Anti-corruption Specialist for approval.
• Elaborate ToT curriculum on anti-corruption fundamentals comprised of (but not limited to) the abovementioned subjects.
• Submit the Training of Trainers (ToT) curriculum to the Anti-corruption Specialist for approval.
• Draft step-by-step Guideline for trainers with a methodological part, all respective annexes, handouts, slides, practical tools/exercises for group work, pre- and post-training assessment forms, equipment lists, a template of trainers’ report and M&E tools to track the progress.
• Submit Guideline for trainers to the Anti-corruption Specialist for approval.
• Draft training Guideline for participants with all any necessary working materials.
• Submit Guideline for participants to the Anti-corruption Specialist for approval.
• Draft any additional materials describing/explaining the reasons and goals of activities.
• Submit all additional materials to the Anti-corruption Specialist for consideration and approval.
• Present two guidelines to experts (designated by the UNDP) for feedback and make any required alterations to the guidelines.
• Test the Training of Trainers (ToT) program and curriculum by delivering a Pilot ToT for participants (designated by the UNDP).
• Prepare the Report about Pilot ToT with main observations and recommendations on the training process, its successes and challenges, bottlenecks, lessons learned etc.
• Submit the Report about Pilot ToT outputs to the Anti-corruption Specialist for approval.
• Prepare a Final Report.
• Submit final versions of the Training of Trainers (ToT) program and curriculum on anti-corruption fundamentals, Guideline for trainers, Guideline for participants with all additional materials and a Final Report to Anti-corruption Specialist for approval.

4. DELIVERABLES

In view of the above, the Consultant’s responsibilities will be to provide the following deliverables:

5. MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Consultant will directly report to UNDP Anti-corruption Specialist and Programme Coordinator on weekly or any other agreed basis. The Consultant will participate in the Project meetings (by Skype) and will share his/her work progress.

The Consultant should adhere to the system of monitoring, evaluation and quality control implemented by the UNDP and provide the necessary information, reports and statistics according to the present schedule or as soon as possible (within a reasonable time).

All reports and studies UNDP shall be transmitted electronically (Formats of: * .docx, * .xlsx, * .pptx, * .pdf) on electronic source or in the form of electronic communication. The studies/research/reports should be written in Ukrainian.

6. PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

20% - upon completion of Deliverables 1-3;

30% - upon completion of Deliverables 4-6;

20% - upon completion of Deliverables 7-8;

30% - upon completion of Deliverables 9-10;

The payments will be processed upon full completion and acceptance of corresponding contractual obligations whereupon Anti-corruption Specialist signs the certification of acceptance.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Functional competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations
• Strong analytical, facilitation, reporting and writing skills
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills
• Ability to deliver outputs in a timely manner
• Strong user of computers and office software packages

Competencies:

• Ability for desk research and analytical work;
• Sound knowledge and proved experience in training guideline development;
• Familiarity with national legislation in anticorruption sphere;
• Deliver outputs in a timely manner;
• Good interpersonal communication skills;
• Ability to handle politically sensitive issues with authorities, CSO’s, and within UNDP;
• Sound judgment and maturity to foster a positive work environment;
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team;
• Demonstrated strong analytical, coordination and facilitation skills;
• Strong user of computers and office software packages.

Required Skills and Experience

7. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• University degree (at least Specialist/Master degree or higher) in Social Sciences, preferably in Law, Public Administration or other related field is required;
• At least 5 years of professional experience in the field of governance, anticorruption policy analysis or the equivalent is required;
• At least 3 years of experience in facilitating and delivering trainings and workshops, carrying out analytical work, research, guidelines and programs development, designing curriculum, reporting and contributing to reports is required;
• Fluency in verbal and written Ukrainian is required, knowledge of English will be an asset.

8. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

9. 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 on 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).

The Consultant will be responsible for all personal administrative expenses associated with undertaking this assignment including office accommodation, printing, stationary, telephone and electronic communications, and report copies incurred in this assignment.

Travel costs

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, the 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.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

10. EVALUATION OF APPLICANTS

• University degree (at least Specialist/Master degree or higher) in Social Sciences, preferably in Law, Public Administration or other related field: Specialist/Master degree -14 points, PhD – 17 points;
• At least 5 years of professional experience in the field of governance, anticorruption policy analysis or the equivalent: 5 years - 12 points, 6-7 years – 15 points, 8-9 years – 18 points, 10 and more years – 20 points;
• At least 3 years of proven experience in facilitating and delivering trainings and workshops, carrying out analytical work, research, guidelines and programs development, designing curriculum, reporting and contributing to reports: 3 years – 18 points, 4-5 years – 21 points, 6 and more years - 26 points;
• Fluency in verbal and written Ukrainian is required, knowledge of English will be an asset: Ukrainian – 5 points, Ukrainian/English – 7 points.

Maximum available technical score - 70 points.

11. 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) will 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.