The coronavirus disease (COVID19) was officially declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020 as it affected more than 110 countries and territories. As of 15 April 2020, there have been 5,453 confirmed cases of COVID-19 positive individuals in the Philippines.

Although the Philippines has always been identified by the World Risk Index to be one of the most hazard-prone countries in the world, the pandemic was considered as a “new” problem that not everyone was able to prepare for. Government agencies as well as private sector actors have encountered challenges in developing programs and initiatives that will be able to cater to the needs of the people.

Recognizing that the country was under the state of calamity due to a public health emergency, the Philippine government implemented the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the Luzon Region on 16 March 2020 to curb its spread. Initially identified as a health crisis, the COVID19 has shown its socio-economic impacts as the weeks under ECQ progressed. Economic shocks were more evident in the instances of business closures, worker displacement, and interrupted supply chains.

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have directly felt the economic impacts. MSMEs, which form 99.6% registered establishments in the country and contribute 62.6% to the labor force, have always belonged to one of the most vulnerable sectors. Aside from being at risk to natural and human-induced hazards, they now face the unintended consequences of COVID-19 measures. Enterprise owners face the challenges of maintaining their financial resources, sustaining their workforce, and managing the production of goods and delivery of services.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) estimates that around 7,000 individuals may lose jobs within the first half of 2020. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) revised its economic growth outlook for the Philippines this year, from a 6.5-7.5% gross domestic product (GDP) growth registered in late 2019 to a 5.5-6.5% GDP growth, following the pandemic. NEDA cited that there is a huge possibility in the decline of service exports, especially tourism. (https://set.odi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Economic-Vulnerability.pdf)

This project is supporting a local organization in facilitating catalytic funding support for MSME and collective private sector engagement in COVID-19 response and recovery. The Foresight Planning Consultant will be contracted to support the project team and the supported local organization in development of policy briefs related to SME Covid-19 Recovery.

Institutional Arrangments

The Consultant shall report to, and be supervised by, the Programme Analyst of Institutions & Partnerships Team of UNDP Philippines. Outputs will be reviewed within 10 working days of receipt in close consultation with the project supported organization.

To achieve the intended results, the consultant will collaborate with various entities. The consultant will work closely with the UNDP Philippines Programme Teams and Project Supported Organization and partners, and will coordinate with various private sector association, relevant government agencies and SME support organization and other stakeholders.

UNDP Philippines will not provide a workstation, administrative support, transportation or ICT equipment for the consultant.

UNDP Philippines shall be entitled to intellectual property and other proprietary rights over all materials that have direct relation to the project.

Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and declaration of State of Public Health Emergency in the Philippines, all work of the Individual consultant shall be done within the guidelines and protocols set by the local and national government.

During the entire duration of the Community Quarantine, this consultancy shall be performed remotely and will be a home-based assignment. The Consultant is expected to have his/her own equipment, office space, and internet connectivity. The Consultant shall not engage in any meetings or activities outside their homes. Coordination/meetings shall be done through phone or online communication until such time that the quarantine is lifted.

UNDP and the Consultant shall assess, once the Community Quarantine is lifted, if it is safe and necessary to have in-person meetings and collaboration.

Duration of Assignment, Duty Station and Travel

The Contractor will be engaged from August 30, 2020 to December 15 2020 unless revised in a mutually agreed upon timetable by UNDP and the Contractor. Changes in the duration of the contract will be implemented through issuance of a contract amendment. The consultant is expected to render a total of 45 person days spread for 5 months from August to December 2020.

Duty station: UNDP Philippines Country Office, Rockwell Business Center Sheridan, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The Consultant is not required to report daily at the duty station but shall have an agreed reporting schedule with the Resident representative and other relevant UNDP personnel.

Travel: As may be deemed relevant to the assignment, the Consultant may be required to travel within the Philippines or the Asia-Pacific region. Travels will be endorsed by the Team Leader, Management Support Unit, for approval by the Resident representative. Travel expenses, to be covered by UNDP Philippines, will be agreed prior to travel and a travel report is to be submitted after trips are completed.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The Consultant must send a financial proposal based on an all-inclusive lump-sum amount for the delivery of the outputs below. The total amount quoted shall include all cost components required to deliver the goods and services identified above, including professional fees and any other applicable costs (e.g. transportation to and from residence for meetings within Metro Manila, supplies and materials, equipment, reproduction, communications, etc.) to be incurred by the Consultant in completing the assignment.

The contract price will be a fixed output-based price. Any deviations from the outputs and timelines will need to be agreed on between the Consultant and the Resident representative effected through a contract amendment. Travel, as deemed relevant by UNDP, will be covered and arranged by UNDP following UNDP Financial Rules and Regulations.

Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion of the deliverables by target due dates. Outputs will be certified by the Programme Analyst of Institutions and Partnerships, prior to payments.

DELIVERABLE

Target Due Dates

Percentage

Upon submission and approval of the detailed Work Plan

September 10, 2020

20%

Upon submission and approval of the Draft Foresight Plan for MSME recovery post COVID19

November 10, 2020

30%

Final Foresight Plan for MSME recovery post COVID19 and End of Engagement Report

December 15, 2020

50%

TOTAL

100%

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Programme Analyst of Institutions and Partnerships Unit and close coordination with the project supported organization, the Policy Development Consultant shall the deliver the following scope of work:

Support the program of research that examines the future of work as it relates to MSME recovery post COVID19
Apply strategic foresight methods and practices to research generation and to the development of innovative strategies and anticipatory solutions
Lead the coordination and conduct of strategic foresight planning sessions,
Contribute to knowledge transfer and exchange outputs, including the development of future-focused recommendations for a range of knowledge users,
Lead the development of Recovery and Strategic Foresight Toolkit for SMEs

The Individual Contractor is expected to accomplish the following activities with corresponding deliverables:

-

Estimated Duration to Complete

Target Due Dates

Review and Approvals Required

Detailed Work Plan

5 person days

September 10, 2020

Program Analyst (Institutions and Partnerships)

and focal of project supported organization

Report detailing work on listed under scope of work

15 person days

October 10, 2020

Draft Recovery and Strategic Foresight Toolkit for SMEs

15 person days

November 10, 2020

Final Recovery and Strategic Foresight Toolkit for SMEs and End of Engagement Report

10 person days

December 15, 2020

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN mission, vision, values, and ethical standards
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Promotes UNDP’s agenda in meetings

Other Competencies

Passion for bringing the voice of entrepreneurs and investors to the national economic policy debate.
Self-motivated, creative, organized, and deeply committed to personal and organizational excellence
Ability to work in close collaboration with a group of national and international experts, to meet strict deadlines and plan the work according to priorities;
The initiative, good analytical skills, mature judgment and ability to work under tight schedule while respecting deadlines achievement, ethics and honesty;
Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment
Strong initiative and desire to succeed, accountable and willing to be pro-active in identifying suitable companies and engaging in appropriate business opportunities
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Builds strong relationships with internal and external clients
Demonstrates capacity to plan, organize and execute effectively
Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation
Demonstrated ability to function in a team environment and to deal with the complex multi-stakeholder environment
Willingness to be pro-active in identifying suitable companies for collaboration;
Good ability to use information and communication technologies as tools and resources.
Excellent written communication and presentation/public speaking skills focus on results, ability to interact productively in a teamwork environment;
Proven experience in communicating with senior-level private sector executives and government officials

Required Skills and Experience

Candidates will be evaluated based on the Combined Rating methodology:

Technical qualifications = 70%
Financial Proposal = 30%

For the evaluation of the Technical Proposal, the selection of the successful consultant must be based on the following qualifications (with the appropriate obtainable points):

Criteria

Max points

Technical criteria

Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Business Economics, Business Management, Social/Political Sciences or a related field (minimum 21 points for Bachelor’s degree, additional points to additional degree, max of 30 points)
Minimum 7 years’ experience in conducting research related work and foresight planning related works. (minimum 21 points for 7 years’ experience, additional points for additional years, maximum of 30 points)
At least 5 years of professional and relevant work experience in MSME work, resilience and recovery work, or experience in development work; (minimum 21 points for 5 years’ experience, additional points for additional years, maximum of 30 points)
Submission of 2 relevant sample work to assess proficiency in English and Filipino language (minimum 7 points, max 10 points)

30 points

10 points

Financial Proposal

30%

Total

100%

Applicants who will only receive 49 points out of the total 70 points from the assessment of the CV will be qualified for the assessment of the Financial Proposal.

Recommended Presentation of Offer

Interested applicants 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.

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
Personal CV or P11, 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;
Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
At least 2 relevant Sample work
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.

Interested applicants to note that personal Medical/health insurance (to be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense) is mandatory for the issuance of contracts. Upon award of the contract, the consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during the contract duration.

The following templates / Annexes and IC General Terms & Conditions can be downloaded from http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU: