INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT PROCUREMENT NOTICE 2018/UNDP-MMR/PN/061 Date: 13 July 2018 Country: Description of the assignment: Duty Station: Period of assignment/services: Myanmar Lead Researcher Rakhine Joint Assessment Yangon and Naypyitaw (with possible travel in Rakhine State) 33 working days Proposal should be submitted to the Procurement Unit, UNDP Myanmar, No. 6 Natmauk Road, Tamwe, Yangon or by email to bids.mm@undp.org; no later than 17:00 PM, Sunday, 22 July 2018. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to the address or e-mail indicated above. Procurement Unit will respond in writing or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants. BACKGROUND Rakhine is one of the poorest and most densely populated states in Myanmar. It has a history of ethno-political conflict, chronic poverty, social exclusion and low resilience to climate change impacts and natural disasters. The Government of Myanmar (GoM) is strengthening its efforts to achieve socio economic development of the Rakhine State. At the Union level, the State Counsellor has established the Rakhine State Committee for Peace and Development. The Government of Myanmar together with the Kofi Annan Foundation established on the 5th of September 2016 the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State. The Commission was mandated to analyse the present situation of all communities in Rakhine and seek to identify the factors that have resulted in violence, displacement and under-development. The Commission released its preliminary recommendations in March 2017. One of the key findings was the need for adoption and implementation of the Socio-Economic Development Plan for Rakhine State. The Union Minster of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement on the 14th of March 2017 formally requested the Resident Coordinator for the UN to support the Government of Myanmar(GoM) represented by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in its effort to conduct an assessment of households basic needs in the state. It was envisaged that the assessment initially would be piloted in certain areas of Rakhine with the possibility of
expanding it to cover the entire state later on. The Resident Coordinator delegated the UNDP to lead this exercise in close collaboration with the other members of the UN Country Team (UNCT). The UN Technical Support Group will be composed of international and local technical experts in the areas of conflict prevention, livelihoods, survey design/implementation and communication. This TOR is for the Lead Researcher who will be responsible for conducting the desk review, qualitative and quantitative survey analysis and writing up the research results and recommendations. The current work plan includes the start of the qualitative assessment in June 2018, to be followed by quantitative assessment in August 2018. The field work is expected to be completed by September 2018, while the analysis and results will be ready by end of October 2018. The survey operations covered under this TOR are focused on three townships of Rakhine (Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbyaw) and will need to deliver representative estimates of the major ethnic communities living there. The topics/themes to be covered by the assessment include basic needs in the areas of livelihoods, health, education, food security, housing, as well as perceptions of intercommunal dynamics, etc. The survey methodology, tools and implementation plan will be designed and led by the survey expert. A Survey Implementation Firm which will be responsible for the overall design of the survey including, sampling strategy, questionnaire design, field staff training and survey implementation. The researcher takes the lead in analyzing, interpreting and writing up the data.
2. SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK For detailed information, please refer to Annex-1 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS Please see Terms of Reference 4. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS. Interested individual Consultant must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications: a) Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP; (Please see Template attached at Annex- 3) b) Personal CV or P11, indicating the past experience relevant to the assignment, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references; (Please see Template attached at Annex- 4) c) Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how he/she will approach and complete the assignment; Financial Proposal ** Consultant/Contractor whose assignment require travel and who are over 62 years of age are required, at their own expense, to undergo a full medical examination, including x-rays after they are selected. 5. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL Fees Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. Travels All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to
join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP will not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses will be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. (Please see Template attached at Annex- 4) 6. EVALUATION Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis of the technical evaluation (weight: 70%) and financial criteria (weight: 30%). Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points from the technical evaluation would be considered for the financial evaluation. Experience in conducting research based on quantitative and qualitative survey results and comprehensive desk reviews: 50 points Demonstrated experience in writing up research in the subject areas of basic needs assessments or similarly: 30 points Prior experience of working in a Least Developed Country, Myanmar, Rakhine State, conflict-affected/post-conflict environment: 20 points Financial Evaluation of Proposals: The financial proposals of all the applicants who pass the technical evaluation will be scored. The maximum 30 points will be allotted to the lowest financial bid, and all other bids shall receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest fee e.g. [30 Points] x [USD lowest] / [USD other] = points for other proposer s fees The contract shall be awarded to the applicant who receives the highest cumulative score. ANNEX ANNEX 1- TERMS OF REFERENCES (TOR) ANNEX 2 -GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT ANNEX 3 - P 11 for ICs ANNEX 4 - OFFEROR S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR (IC) ASSIGNMENT
TERMS OF REFERENCE Title of Consultancy: Type of Contract: Duration of the Assignment: Location: Lead Researcher Rakhine Joint Assessment Individual Contract 1 August 31 October, 2018 (33 working days) Yangon and NPT (with possible travel in Rakhine State) A. Background Rakhine is one of the poorest and most densely populated states in Myanmar. It has a history of ethno-political conflict, chronic poverty, social exclusion and low resilience to climate change impacts and natural disasters. The Government of Myanmar (GoM) is strengthening its efforts to achieve socio economic development of the Rakhine State. At the Union level, the State Counsellor has established the Rakhine State Committee for Peace and Development. The Government of Myanmar together with the Kofi Annan Foundation established on the 5th of September 2016 the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State. The Commission was mandated to analyse the present situation of all communities in Rakhine and seek to identify the factors that have resulted in violence, displacement and under-development. The Commission released its preliminary recommendations in March 2017. One of the key findings was the need for adoption and implementation of the Socio-Economic Development Plan for Rakhine State. The Union Minster of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement on the 14th of March 2017 formally requested the Resident Coordinator for the UN to support the Government of Myanmar(GoM) represented by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in its effort to conduct an assessment of households basic needs in the state. It was envisaged that the assessment initially would be piloted in certain areas of Rakhine with the possibility of expanding it to cover the entire state later on. The Resident Coordinator delegated the UNDP to lead this exercise in close collaboration with the other members of the UN Country Team (UNCT). The UN Technical Support Group will be composed of international and local technical experts in the areas of conflict prevention, livelihoods, survey design/implementation and communication. This TOR is for the Lead Researcher who will be responsible for conducting the desk review, qualitative and quantitative survey analysis and writing up the research results and recommendations. The current work plan includes the start of the qualitative assessment in June 2018, to be followed by quantitative assessment in August 2018. The field work is expected to be completed by September 2018, while the analysis and results will be ready by end of October 2018. The survey operations covered under this TOR are focused on three townships of Rakhine (Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbyaw) and will need to deliver representative estimates of the major ethnic communities living there. The topics/themes to be covered by the assessment include basic needs in the areas of livelihoods, health, education, food security, housing, as well as perceptions UNDP in Myanmar 6 Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon 11211 Tel: +95 1 542910 to 19 Fax: +95 1 545634 www.mm.undp.org
of intercommunal dynamics, etc. The survey methodology, tools and implementation plan will be designed and led by the survey expert. A Survey Implementation Firm which will be responsible for the overall design of the survey including, sampling strategy, questionnaire design, field staff training and survey implementation. The researcher takes the lead in analyzing, interpreting and writing up the data. B. Objectives of the Assignment Under the overall guidance of the Head of office, UNDP, the Lead Researcher will work closely with the UNDP team based in Sittwe and UN Technical Support Group. The Lead Researcher will be responsible for the following key tasks: 1) Lead UN support to the GoM in the analysis of the survey findings, both qualitative and quantitative; 2) Develop research reports based on the findings of the Rakhine Joint Assessment. C. Scope of Work and anticipated outputs As outlined above, UNDP Myanmar wishes to engage an international consultant with extensive experience in designing, conducting and writing up research results based on quantitative and qualitative surveys, to carry out the tasks listed below. The tasks of the Lead Researcher will be to: 1. Lead in the analysis of the collected data, drafting of reports and recommendations in partnership with the Government of Myanmar, more specifically: 1) Lead analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data from three township research areas. 2) Lead in drafting reports presenting research findings with recommendations, including a report on the qualitative findings, a report of both qualitative and quantitative findings. D. Institutional Arrangements and Quality Assurance Under overall guidance of the UNDP Head of office based in Rakhine the Lead Researcher will: 1. Draft the preliminary findings based on the qualitative and quantitative survey (homebased). 2. Assist jointly with government counterparts in the drafting and editing of the report on the research results ensuring all relevant findings and results from both the qualitative and quantitative research (1 week Nay Pyi Taw). 3. Ensure that the draft report is circulated for comments and input among relevant stakeholders and counterparts 4. Deliver a brief lessons learned report (max. 3 pages, following the UNDP template). UNDP in Myanmar 6 Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon 11211 Tel: +95 1 542910 to 19 Fax: +95 1 545634 www.mm.undp.org
D. Expected Deliverables The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following output: # Deliverables Deadline Estimated working days 1 Preliminary findings of the Rakhine Joint Assessment report (Qualitative and quantitative research) 2 First Draft of Rakhine Joint Assessment Research Report (Qualitative and Quantitative research) 3 Submit final draft of Draft Rakhine Joint Assessment and Lessons Learnt report By 25 September By 10 October By 31 October Expected location/ travel 10 Homebased 15 NPT or Yangon 8 Homebased, NPT or Yangon (TBD) Payment installments (%) 40 30 30 *1 trip to Myanmar is anticipated for this assignment. *Reimbursement for travel costs will be provided as follows: - International economy-class airfares to and from Myanmar (if consultant s place of residence is outside Myanmar), based on actual receipted cost, not to exceed UNDP reference airfare for travelled route (most economical option). - Living allowance per night spent in Myanmar (if outside the consultant s place of residence). Living allowance in Myanmar to be set in accordance with UNDP Daily Subsistence Allowance rate for that location. - Terminal allowance (lump-sum): USD 90 per round trip - Visa expenses if applicable, based on actual receipted cost *UNDP will arrange all in-country travel. *UNDP will provide administrative and logistical support *UNDP will provide translators and interpreters as required. E. Institutional Arrangements The Lead Researcher will report to the UNDP CO Director as well as the UNDP Economic Advisor. UNDP s Statistics Specialist will provide technical backstopping. F. Duration of the Assignment 1 August 31 October, 2018 UNDP in Myanmar 6 Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon 11211 Tel: +95 1 542910 to 19 Fax: +95 1 545634 www.mm.undp.org
G. Duty Station Yangon and NPT (with possible travel in Rakhine State) H. Qualifications and competencies - Master s degree preferably in political science, international development or other relevant social science studies. - At least 7 years experience in international development and humanitarian response. - Ability to create a robust research design based on concrete hypotheses (essential). - Strong understanding of qualitative and quantitative survey methodologies and able to process and synthesize results (essential). - Prior experience of working in Myanmar or another Least Developed Country (desirable). Prior experience of working in Rakhine State or another conflictaffected or post-conflict environment would be a significant advantage. - Proven ability to write research papers based on qualitative and qualitative research. - Excellent communication and writing skills (essential). - Fluency in English language (essential). I. Selection Criteria Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis of the technical evaluation (weight: 70%) and financial criteria (weight: 30%). Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points from the technical evaluation would be considered for the financial evaluation. Criteria Total points Technical 100 Experience in conducting research based on quantitative and 50 qualitative survey results and comprehensive desk reviews. Demonstrated experience in writing up research in the subject areas of 30 basic needs assessments or similarly Prior experience of working in a Least Developed Country, Myanmar, 20 Rakhine State, conflict-affected/post-conflict environment Financial 100 UNDP in Myanmar 6 Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon 11211 Tel: +95 1 542910 to 19 Fax: +95 1 545634 www.mm.undp.org