Jul 14, 2019
Contract
Background
The UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, with support from the Australian Government, is implementing a pilot project to trial a new approach to the implementation of a Pacific Network of Women MPs and initiatives related to development of a mentoring programme for Pacific Women MPs. The specific goal of the pilot project is to provide support to Pacific Women MPs to be more effective in their role as parliamentarians and leaders.
The project activities will be implemented between June 2019 and March 2020 (known as the initiation phase) and would trial activities in two specific areas: firstly, the creation of a sustainable network or forum for Pacific Women MPs and, secondly, the creation of a sustainable and cost-effective Woman MPs mentoring programme relevant to the Pacific context. The lessons learnt during the initiation phase will feed into the design and development of a full four-year project proposal to support Pacific Women MPs.
An Advisory Group/Panel, comprised of selected Women MPs from across the Pacific from the three regions – Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, is being established to provide guidance, strategic direction and support throughout the project’s implementation phase to ensure that the project meets the needs and remains relevant in its approach to supporting pacific women MPs.
In this regard, the UNDP Pacific Office is seeking to recruit a Coordinator, who will be responsible for the day-to-day running and implementation of Activity 1 of the “ Supporting Pacific Women Members of Parliamen t” pilot Project.
Activity 1 - Creating a Sustainable network for Pacific Women MPs
Following the implementation of the Pacific Women in Power Forum organized by the UNDP Pacific Office in March 2019 bringing together women MPs from Pacific Island Countries and Territories, under the new pilot project, UNDP will organize a 2nd network meeting for Pacific Women MPs in either Q3 or Q4 of 2019. The format and focus will be finalized taking into account the feedback received at the March Pacific Women in Power Forum and feedback received from the Advisory Group made up of selected women MPs. However initial considerations include the need for the Network / Forum to:
Provide a space for Women MPs from the Pacific Islands Countries to discuss common issues;
Provide for a space for Pacific Women MPs to interact with Women MPs from the Australia Federal and State Parliaments and the New Zealand House of Representatives, where the percentage of women MPs in Parliament tend to be higher and cultural considerations may be different;
Allow for Pacific Women MPs to utilize the Forum to receive capacity building / personal professional development opportunities as well as to be exposed to parliamentary practice in a different jurisdiction.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work
The Consultant will provide significant input into organizing this conference including through:
Developing and finalizing the agenda;
Liaising with UNDP, Women MPs, DFAT Gender Programme, Parliaments of New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific and other relevant stakeholders on event preparation;
Organising meetings, including logistics arrangements to ensure full attendance and participation of Advisory Group members;
Making available to the Advisory Group any information relevant for the exercise of the Group’s role in a timely manner;
Take note of the Advisory Group feedback and recommendations and integrate those changes into the project activities design and implementation;
Act as a secretariat for the Advisory Group;
Identifying relevant international and regional resource people for the sessions, liaising with them to confirm their participation in their respective sessions;
Preparing speaker’s / chair / facilitator briefing notes for each session / resource person;
Facilitating sessions and arranging for others to facilitate sessions;
Advice on attendees list (countries / people);
Drafting attendee invitation letters;
Leading on discussion / decision on possible outcome statement;
Writing a report on the event capturing the main events undertaken and the issue raised;
Expected Outputs and Deliverables
TA into the organizing of a regional conference
Conference report
Institutional Arrangement
The Consultant will be reporting to the Parliamentary Development Specialist (P4) and Deputy Team Leader & Programme Manager (Parliamentary Development and Women in Politics);
All reports and documents relating to the assignment will be submitted to the UNDP Pacific Office based in Fiji.
In undertaking the assignment, UNDP will provide some logistical support to the consultant when in duty station.
Duration of the Work
The duration of the consultancy period is 60 working days, broken down into the following components:
20 days home based to undertake the preparatory work;
30 days based in Suva, Fiji;
6days in Conference location (TBC) in the lead up and during the regional conference;
4 days, home based to write final conference report.
Duty Station
The expert will be home based with required travel to the Fiji;
UNDP will also provide Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) to the Consultant for the duration of his/her stay at the respective duty station at UN approved DSA rates.
At the end of the consultancy, the consultant is expected to debrief with UNDP and provide a brief summary report of work undertaken in-country. A debrief can be undertaken via skype, teleconference or on email.
Competencies
COMPETENCIES
Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research;
Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
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
Educational Qualifications:
Post Graduate degree or equivalent in political science, elections, gender studies, human rights, international relations or other social science fields is required;
A first-level university degree in combination with five additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience
Substantive knowledge of and experience in women’s political participation, elections and campaign planning, local government, and women’s leadership generally.
At least 5 years progressively responsible experience in designing and managing programmes related to political participation;
Proven experience in designing, developing and implementing international conferences related to political empowerment;
Previous experience in in the pacific an asset;
Cultural and political awareness, diplomatic skills, ability to adapt and ability to work independently and take responsibility for delivering results.
Functional Competency
Capacity to interact with senior officials and elected Members and credibly influence senior decision makers;
Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products;
Demonstrated practical knowledge and experience in the field of political participation;
Effective and timely delivery of agreed outputs in a high-pressure work environment.
Language requirements
Fluency of English language is required;
Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments
Consultant shall quote an all-inclusive Daily Fee for the contract period. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment are already factored into the daily fee submitted in the proposal. If applicable, travel or daily allowance cost (if any work is to be done outside the IC’s duty station) should be identified separately. Payments shall be done on a monthly basis based on actual days worked, upon verification of completion of deliverables and approval by the IC’s supervisor of a Time Sheet indicating the days worked in the period.
In general, UNDP shall 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 event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.
Evaluation Method and Criteria
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology;
Cumulative analysis
The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.
Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)
Criteria 1 (Minimum requirement) Post Graduate degree or equivalent in political science, elections, gender studies, human rights, international relations or other social science fields is required; 10 pts
Criteria 2: Substantive knowledge of and experience in women’s political participation, elections and campaign planning, local government, and women’s leadership generally. 20 pts
Criteria 3: At least 5 years progressively responsible experience in designing and managing programmes related to political participation; 10pts
Criteria 4: Proven experience in designing, developing and implementing international conferences related to political empowerment; 10pts
Criteria 5: Previous experience in advocating for women’s empowerment and leadership in the pacific an asset; 10pts
Criteria 6: Cultural and political awareness, diplomatic skills, ability to adapt and ability to work independently and take responsibility for delivering results . 10pts
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Documentation required
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:
Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II.
Personal CV or , 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.
Technical proposal , including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and b) a methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
Financial proposal , as per template provided in Annex II. Note: National consultants must quote prices in United States Dollars (USD).
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
Proposal Submission
All applications must be clearly marked with the title of the consultancy and submitted by 5.00pm, 19th July 2019 (Fiji Time) electronically to etenderbox.pacific@undp.org .
For further information concerning this Terms of Reference, please contact: Luisa Senibulu, Programme Analyst, Effective Governance Project, UNDP Pacific Office Fiji, Suva, on e-mail luisa.senibulu@undp.org / telephone (679) 3227515.
Incomplete applications will not be considered, and only candidates for whom there is further interest will be contacted.
Women applicants are encouraged to apply
Application procedure:
Please combine all your documents (Signed P11/CV, Technical Proposal, Confirmation of Interest a and submission of financial proposal form, etc into one (1) single PDF document as this system only allows to upload maximum one document, failure to combine all document in one will be considered as incomplete and proposal will not be accepted”. You can email etenderbox.pacific@undp.org to request for these templates.
