UNDP Consultant for exploring the best method for organization of the Local Economic Development (LED) Practitioners Network 153 views

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability – https://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx – Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx – to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 92052.

Financed by the Government of Switzerland and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Municipal Environmental and Economic Governance (MEG) Project is an intervention in the domain of local governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Project’s overall goal is defined as follows: Local governments (LGs), assigned with appropriate competences and finances, have improved their democratic governance, apply sound public policy and performance management systems, and provide public services in an inclusive, effective and efficient manner, particularly those related to economic and environmental sectors. The expected concrete improvements the Project will contribute to are clustered in three outcomes, as follows:

• Outcome 1: Supported local governments apply effective development management systems characterized by stronger oversight of the legislative and greater accountability towards the citizens.
• Outcome 2: Citizens and businesses in target localities benefit from good quality services provided by LGs in the economic and environmental sectors.
• Outcome 3: Improved regulatory framework at higher and local government levels and pro-active networking accelerate sector-specific reforms and enable more effective local public service delivery.

The Project’s territorial focus is on the North-West part of the country (including Una-Sana Canton and Prijedor region) and the North-East region (the wider Doboj-Tuzla area), covering 18 partner LGs: Bihac, Bosanska Krupa, Cazin, Doboj, Gracanica, Gradacac, Gradiška, Kalesija, Kostajnica, Kozarska Dubica, Prijedor, Prnjavor, Sanski Most, Tešanj, Teslic, Tuzla, Velika Kladuša and Žepce.

The Project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the FBiH Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, the Ministry for Administration and Local Self-Government of Republika Srpska (RS), the RS Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and both entity Associations of Municipalities and Cities (AMCs).

With the support and technical assistance of the MEG Project, the Network of Local Economic Development Practitioners (the Network) was established in November 2017, with the goal to create a platform that will facilitate exchange of knowledge and experience, continuous improvement of skills, but also serve as an instrument for professional influence and articulated communication with higher levels of government when it comes to challenges important for the local economic development. The Network initially included all 18 partner LGs of MEG Project, while 8 more LGs have joined the Network since.

The Project currently performs the function of the Network’s secretariat and assists in organization of regular meetings. The plan is to incrementally transfer all the Project’s responsibilities to the Network in order to ensure its sustainability. To that end, different options for the Network’s future work and organization will be explored and presented to members, so that they can decide on its further operations beyond the MEG Project lifespan. In order to facilitate the process and make it as comprehensive as possible, the Project plans to engage a Consultant for exploring the best method for organization of the LED Network (the Consultant).

The purpose of this consultancy is engagement of an expert support for the Project and the Network in achieving its goal of finding optimal model for the Network’s future functioning and sustainability.

The objective of this consultancy is to prepare a thorough analysis and recommendations as a basis for making a well-thought-out decision on the best model for the Network’s future operations.

As a first task, the consultant will undertake research of comparative practices, analysis of all relevant documents, as well as consultations with relevant stakeholders and the MEG project team. Based on that, the Consultant will make a report containing findings, conclusions and suggestions, and finally present these conclusions and recommendations to all members on the thematic Network meeting and actively participate in the discussion on the best model for the future organization of the Network.

The entire service will be delivered in the languages of BiH peoples. The expected timeframe for delivery of the service is July – October 2020.

More specifically, the Consultant will be expected to perform the following tasks:

Task 1 – Desk review and analysis

As a first task, the Consultant will perform all the necessary research and analysis in order to be able to create sound, realistic and well-thought-out recommendations when it comes to the best way to organize and operate the Network. The Consultant will have to become closely acquainted with the work of the Project and the Network thus far. The Consultant will study in detail all activities the Network has done so far and analyze documents that have emerged as a result of these activities. During this process, the Consultant is expected to conduct necessary detailed discussions with the Project staff, as well as managers and members of the Network to gain insight into their expectations, proposals for the future and goals that need to be realized in terms of achieving the sustainability of the Network.

The Consultant is expected to perform a comparative analysis of similar organizations in the region and beyond, as well as to identify good practices in this area from which useful lessons and recommendations for future work and functioning of the Network could be drawn. The Consultant will also conduct research and analysis of all legally possible ways and forms of organization of such an institution, and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses considering the nature, goals and needs of the Network.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by the July 17, 2020 and the level of effort will not exceed 5 expert days.

Task 2 – Preparation of the draft report

Based on the research, analysis and consultations carried out under the Task 1, the Consultant will prepare a draft report that will cover all the findings that he/she has collected. As a minimum, but not limited to, the draft report will include the following:

• A brief description of activities and methodology applied during the research and analysis phases;
• Results of comparative analysis and description of good practices;
• Results and findings of analysis of possible organizational forms and pros and cons of each of them, followed by recommendations of the best form and organizational model, having in mind the nature and objectives of the Network;
• Recommendations for achieving the Network’s self-sustainability, including the model of financing, staffing, set of eventually new activities and services, expanding objectives, changing the vision, relations between members, potential online platform for information exchange and depository of best practices, and the like;
• The report should include a model/draft of the memorandum/articles of incorporation consistent with the recommended form of organization and the nature of the Network and its functioning.

If necessary, the Consultant may include additional elements in the draft report. The indicative structure and content of the draft report will be defined in agreement with the MEG Project, after the completion of the Task 1.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by August 3, 2020 and the level of effort will not exceed 7 expert days.

Task 3 – Presentation and participation at the discussion and the final report

The Consultant will present the draft report to the Project and incorporate therein all comments/remarks agreed upon. The Consultant will then present the draft report at the first following regular meeting of the Network and take part in the discussion about the best model for future organization and functioning of the Network. If certain comments and suggestions that get raised and agreed upon during the presentation, and which may affect the contents of the final report, the Consultant will duly review all of them and prepare a final version of the report incorporating these remarks. Final report will be subject to the approval by the MEG Project.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by the end of October 2020, and the level of effort will not exceed 5 expert days.

Deliverables/outputs

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
• Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
• Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
• Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives.

People Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
• Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior;
• Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
• Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

Partnering and Networking:

• Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
• Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously.

Results-Orientation:

• Plans and ensures quality results to meet established goals.

Communication:

• Formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
• Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
• Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

• Excellent knowledge of matters related to local economic development, practices, challenges and processes;
• Knowledge of matters related to networking of development professionals;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Advanced presentation skills;
• Advanced writing skills;
• Initiative and sound judgment.

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• University degree in economics, public administration, development studies, law or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of extensive experience in economic development, local development, business development, capacity development or delivery of technical assistance to public and/or private sector;
• Professional experience in the field of establishing, functioning and/or capacity building professional network organizations will be considered as an advantage;
• Experience and knowledge of public policies and relevant regulatory framework in BiH on local self-government;
• Proven analytical and presentation skills and ability to conceptualize and write concisely and clearly.

Languages Requirements:

• Fluency in official Bosnia and Herzegovina languages, and in English.

Other Requirements:

• Excellent computer skills (MS Office applications) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation

Individual will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) 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%

Interested candidated must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Proposal:
  • Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
  • Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work; or sample of previous document/strategy/paper done by the consultant.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.