Expert on drug abuse and consumption

Contract

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Background

The particular structural conditions of the illicit economy in Guinea-Bissau will benefit from a drive to achieve greater openness and debate on the factors underlying the illicit economy, in parallel with any attempt to reinforce state institutional and regulatory responses. To achieve this, the UNDP in Guinea-Bissau has partnered with the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime to create a civil-society observatory of the illicit economy in Guinea-Bissau. The observatory is expected to link local communities and the proponents of political reform, by providing objective research and analysis, sourced from community and civil-society networks, which focuses on the nature and damaging impact of the illicit economy in Guinea-Bissau.

The ultimate objective of the Observatory is to enhance community resilience against organized crime in Guinea-Bissau, by directly support and incubating an independent civil society capacity for regular and public reporting on the extent, nature and impact of the illicit economy in Guinea-Bissau. The project specifically focuses on the empowerment of civil society to improve national and international responses to organized crime, in particular through producing and sharing better data and analysis and promoting engagement and trust-building dialogue.

Civil society can play an important counterpoint to elite capture of illicit activities. In particular, success is greater if the approach is linked with attempts to strengthen and build partnerships and strong communication and information sharing, with law enforcement. This is at a nascent stage in Guinea-Bissau where there are growing ties between some prominent civil society activist and widely respected individuals in the law enforcement sector. It is clear that civil society is committed to the rule of law in the country, and with the necessary tools can observe and analyse the activities of the judiciary and would make public any abuses.

Although the sector remains weak and itself subject to politicization independent civil society organizations in Guinea-Bissau are already playing an important role. Civil society provides an opportunity to support both the building of a broader alliance to help highlight the illicit economy (also in areas such as forestry and fisheries crimes) and provide independent sources of objective information, ideally that after should be checked and validated by the competent authorities.

Through a joint UNDP/GI-TOC project, the partners are pioneering the development of regular reporting on organised crime and illicit market trends in Guinea-Bissau. The project experience in regular reporting and analysis allows to influence decision makers about the nature, extent and priorities in the organised crime debate. It is also expected to provide support to key stakeholders and field networks and analysts to remain on top of unfolding developments, shaping the writing of more targeted and better analysed longer-term reports. High quality analysis and reporting which is sourced from Guinea-Bissau is therefore a crucial addition to the current regional debate, providing new insights into developments.

The Project aims to limit the harms of illicit economies by working with vulnerable populations to enhance awareness and mitigate the risks of increasing drug use and the borderland areas identified constitute key transit areas on international drug trafficking routes. As has been tracked across Africa, local distribution markets target marginalized and socio-economically excluded populations, compounding their vulnerabilities so interventions are urgently required to hamper the growth of significant domestic consumption markets, in line with patterns repeated by other transit states.

Currently data on drug use in the sub-region is scarce. Governments are extremely sensitive to scrutiny of drug use within the country and leveraging data to adjust national policies in drug consumption prevention can therefore be a powerful tool to state actors.

Duties and Responsibilities

In the context of the UNDP / GI-TOC project, the UNDP is recruiting an international expert with the following main responsibilities: 1. Conduct and coordinate a baseline study on the consumption of illicit drugs; 2. Conduct the baseline assessment according to the guidelines provided. 3. Analyze the data using the proposed analytical framework. 4. Suggest in detail how sample size will be identified/selected in the selected sites. 5. Analyze secondary data, if any and prepare summary findings of the data analysis and consultations with steering committee. 6. Prepare a report outlining the research design, including sampling framework, methodology (quantitative and qualitative), tools, and ethical considerations. 7. Prepare written reports of the results of the study. Principal researcher has to consider who would participate in the research team in close coordination with national counterparts according to guidance of UNDP team.

Expected output 1: The national policies on drugs prevention are adapted based on results from qualitative baseline study on illicit drugs consumption conducted in Guinea-Bissau. Deliverables: Deliverable 1 • Summary report capturing the inputs provided by the advisory and monitoring committee on the definition of the baseline study • Protocol to be submitted to the Bissau-Guinean Ethics Committee with assessment design, including sampling framework, methodology and the information collection tools • Terms of reference to carry out the training of surveyors Delivered after 6 weeks Deliverable 2 • First report on data entry and data analysis Delivered after 18 weeks Deliverable 3 • Final report with the baseline assessment Upon conclusion of the consultancy

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Head of Governance Cluster and in direct collaboration with the CS Observatory of Illicit Economies in Guinea-Bissau Project Manager.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Sound knowledge of and exposure to a range of development assistance issues, including on development programmes design and management for borderland areas; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Corporate competencies • Demonstrated integrity by upholding the United Nations' values and ethical standards; • Appreciate differences in values and learning from cultural diversities; • Promotes UNDP vision, mission and strategic goals; • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age-based sensitivity and adaptability; • Demonstrates diplomacy and tact in dealing with sensitive and complex situations.

Required Skills and Experience

I. Academic Qualifications: Advanced University degree in medicine, public health, international development, sociology, or similar field with training in research and data analysis in the field of public health.

II. Years of experience: • Demonstrate proven experience (at least 5 years) in program design and implementation including relevant experience in the design of quantitative and qualitative evaluation studies or baseline or completion studies. • Demonstrate proved experience (at least 3 years) working in this domain with at least three similar exercises. • Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct qualitative study as well as computer and data analysis skills, including proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office software and statistical software. • Prior professional experience with International Organizations in multi-cultural settings and multi-stakeholder processes, preferably in Africa is mandatory;

III. Language: • Advance knowledge in oral and written English, including a proven ability to prepare reports and proposals in a clear, concise manner.

The consultant will be paid in four tranches. First payment (20% of the contract) upon deliverable 1. Second payment (20%) upon deliverable 2. Third (40% of the contract) upon submission of deliverable 3. Fourth payment (20% of the contract) upon submission of deliverable 4.

Evaluation: Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

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:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• 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 points;
• Financial Criteria weight – 30 points.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Evaluation criteria:

• Education background - 10 points;
• Experience as defined in the ToR - 15 points;
• Competences as defined in the ToR - 10 points;
• Understating of the ToR - 15 points;
• Methodology and overall approach - 30 points;
• Overall quality of the proposal (comprehensiveness, structure, language and clarity) - 20 points.

Required documents:

• A personal CV including past experiences in similar projects and at least 3 professional references.
• A brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the tasks, describing the tools and workplan proposed for this assignment
• A financial proposal