Individual Consultant - Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment of Older Persons for the Pacific Humanitarian Protection Cluster

Consultant Human Rights

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Fiji Multi Country Office (MCO) covers 14 Pacific countries, with field offices/presence in 6 countries, and six ‘focus countries’ (Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tonga and Samoa). Each field presence is led by a national Country Programme Coordinator with a Programme Officer in Tonga. UN Women, in partnership with Pacific Islands Governments, regional organizations, CSOs, donors and UN agencies, focuses on delivering within four interlinked programme areas:

• Women’s Political Empowerment and Leadership (WPEL)
• Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)
• Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG)
• Gender and Protection in Humanitarian Action (GPiHA) and Disaster Risk Reduction

UN Women is the IASC-endorsed lead for the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT)’s Pacific Humanitarian Protection Cluster (PHPC). The situation varies by country, with national clusters led by the government, which are typically Women’s Ministries. During disaster response, UN Women leverages its existing programmes to support local development partners to respond to the needs of, for example, older persons, persons with disabilities, GBV survivors, and general provision of psychological first aid and gender and protection integration in key humanitarian sectors. Through the combination of coordinator and responder roles, UN Women works alongside national and international partners to promote gender- and protection-sensitive disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

The Pacific Humanitarian Protection Cluster has identified gaps in understanding whether older persons are adequately supported following disasters. The cluster and its members are interested in knowing which agencies are working with older persons after disasters and what they are providing. It is also an area of interest to assess whether older persons feel that their disaster related needs are being met.

The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002 (MIPAA), along with the Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 and many other international frameworks, emphasize the need to ensure the older persons right of independence, participation, care and dignity, and an enabling environment. The SDGs highlight the need to ensure the well-being of all citizens, including older persons, with the aim of achieving sustainable development. These frameworks guide efforts to protect and empower old persons, while working to ensure that local needs are matched by local services.

Traditionally the care of the older persons, especially in case of vulnerability, disability, and loss of family support, was considered the responsibility of the extended family members. The extended family was regarded as provider of a safe and nurturing environment for all its members throughout their life. However, because of social changes resulting from modernity, migration, urbanization and other emerging trends, people are becoming increasingly less interconnected. The proportion of older people living alone or abandoned has risen, as well as those who are forced to live in care institutions. This is a diverse, yet highly vulnerable population.

Duties and Responsibilities

II. Objectives of the Assignment

UN Women is looking for a consultant to conduct a Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment of Older Persons for target countries. In the first part of the assessment, the consultant will gather information on all local and regional actors who provide services to older persons (e.g., beneficiary demographics, service area, services provided, funding levels, etc).

In the second part, the Consultant will construct a survey to be deployed using Kobo and will work with the local enumerators who will connect with older persons in six communities across Fiji to gauge awareness of and access to services.

The Consultant will work under the supervision of the UN Fiji Multi-Country Office Gender and Resilience Specialist in close coordination with the Humanitarian Team.

III. Scope of Work/Duties and Responsibilities

UN Women is seeking an individual to undertake a protection vulnerability and capacity assessment of older persons in the Pacific. The major activities are listed below:

• In consultation with the PHPC and partners, the consultant will conduct a resource mapping exercise for Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga to establish the local and regional actors providing support to older persons. The exercise should provide details on all actors/activities providing support of any kind (both normative and disaster response) to older persons in the abovementioned countries.

  i. Develop data collection tool for survey (Draft and Final);

  ii. Analyse data on areas of capacity in Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga;

  iii. Written presentation of data to be included in final report.

• In consultation with the PHPC and partners, the consultant will conduct an assessment of older persons’ needs in six communities across Fiji: 2 in Viti Levu (1 urban, 1 informal settlement), 2 in Vanua Levu (1 rural, 1 urban), 1 in Western Division, 1 in Eastern Division. Each of the 6 assessments should include at least 80% of all older persons (60 years old and up) in the community.

  i. Develop data collection tool for survey (Draft and Final);

  vQuantitative section +/- qualitative section depending on time and enumerator constraints.

  ii. Train enumerators on use of assessment and Kobo data collection;

  iii. Analyse needs of older persons in the six communities;

  iv. Written presentation of data to be included in final report;

  v. Final presentation of all findings and a final report.

IV. Duration of the Assignment

The period of this assignment will be up to 35 working days between November 2022 and March 2023 as per the schedule of deliverables.

V. Expected Deliverables

The Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

• Draft older persons services mapping tool (finalize with supervisor)
• Collect and analyse data on services in Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga
• Draft Services Mapping Exercise section of report (finalize with supervisor)
• Draft older persons’ needs assessment tool (finalize with supervisor)
• Train enumerators on use of assessment in Kobo
• Analyze collected data
• Draft Needs Assessment section of report (finalize with supervisor)
• Presentation of results to the PHPC
• Final assessment report incorporating all feedback

No.

Deliverable

Approx. No of working days

Percentage

1

Draft older persons services mapping tool

Up to 1 working day - November 2022

2

Finalized version of older persons services mapping tool

Up to 1 working day -November 2022

Deliverable # 1 - PAYMENT 30%

30%

3

Collect data on services in Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga.

Up to 6 working days -December 2022

4

Draft report on mapping of services to older persons in Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga

Up to 2 working days - January 2023

5

Draft older persons need assessment tool

Up to 3 working days - January 2023

6

Finalized version of the older persons needs assessment tool

Up to 3 working days - January 2023

7

Train guideline for enumerators on use of assessment; completion report

Up to 2 working days - January 2023

Deliverable # 2 PAYMENT 30%

30%

8

Enumerators will speak with older persons from six communities: 2 in Viti Levu (1 urban, 1 informal settlement), 2 in Vanua Levu (1 rural, 1 urban), 1 in Western Division, 1 in Eastern Division

Up to 10 working days - February 2023

9

Data analysis and draft report

Up to 5 working days - February 2023

10

Presentation of results to PHPC

Up to 2 working days - March 2023

11

Final report on the results of the older persons needs assessment for Fiji incorporating feedback

Up to 2 working days - March 2023

Deliverable # 3 FINAL PAYMENT – 40%

40%

35 working days within 4 months period

100%

The assignment should be carried out with the incumbent being responsible for delivering the following outputs as listed from monthly deliverables 1 to 11 as in accordance with the above table.

Upon receipt of the final deliverables and prior to the payment of the instalment, the deliverables, related reports and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women within one week.

All the deliverables should be agreed with UN Women and be provided in English hard and electronic copy.

VI. Inputs

• UN Women will provide the Consultant with background materials.
• UN Women will cover Consultant’s travel outside of Suva should the need arise to accompany enumerators and upon prior approval by UN Women.
• UN Women will not cover consultant’s travel to Fiji.

Management Arrangements:

The Consultant will work under the guidance and supervision of the UN Women Gender and Resilience Specialist who will provide overall management and supervision. The Gender and Resilience Specialist in consultation with the Consultant will review and approve all outputs and shall work in close coordination with the Humanitarian & Resilience Team.

VII. Performance evaluation

The Consultant’s performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

VIII. Financial Arrangements

Payments will be disbursed to the consultant in instalments, upon submission and approval of deliverables set forth in the section “Expected Outputs and Deliverables” above, and certification by the UN Women Gender & Resilience Specialist that the services have been satisfactorily performed.

No relocation costs will be provided for the position.

IX. Travel

Travel to Fiji is desired, but not required.

No outside duty station i.e. Suva, Fiji - travels are envisaged under the current assignment.

If there is any agreed travel, this will be pre-approved by UN Women and paid / arranged for by UN Women in accordance with the existing UN Women Travel Policies and Procedures.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Functional Competencies:

• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills

• Good knowledge of Results Based Management

• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations
• Good analytical skills

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Planning, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change, Humanitarian Response, Economics, Public Health, Geography, Sociology, Data Science, Social Science, or other related field is required.
• A first-level University Degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience and Skills:

• At least 5 years (Masters Degree) or 7 years (Bachelors Degree) of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction and protection preferably in the Pacific.
• Proven knowledge and skills in gender, disability and social inclusion in areas pertaining to disaster risk reduction (including women’s and persons with disabilities leadership in DRR, DRR policies, and systems, data and knowledge) in the Fijian context.
• Proven knowledge and skills pertaining to protection of vulnerable groups, ideally related to older persons.
• Strong understanding of Pacific context with a focus on Fiji and sub-population vulnerability.
• Strong skills in quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Proven record of assessment tool development and implementation
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Strong research experience.

Language and other skills:

• Fluency in command of written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency in local / national languages of target countries is an asset.
• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, Kobo, ability to use internet and email.

I. Evaluation

Initially, individual consultants will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Planning, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change, Humanitarian Response, Economics, Public Health, Geography, Sociology, Data Science, Social Science, or other related field is required.
• A first-level University Degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least 5 years (Masters Degree) or 7 years (Bachelors Degree) of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction and protection preferably in the Pacific.

The short-listed individual consultants will be further evaluated based on a cumulative analysis scheme, with a total score being obtained upon the combination of weighted technical and financial attributes. Cost under this method of analysis is rendered as an award criterion, which will be 30% out of a total score of 100 points.

Evaluation of submitted offers will be done based on the following formula:

,

where:

T

is the total technical score awarded to the evaluated proposal (only to those proposals that pass 70% of 70 points obtainable under technical evaluation);

C

is the price of the evaluated proposal;

Clow

is the lowest of all evaluated proposal prices among responsive proposals; and

X

is the maximum financial points obtainable (30 points)

Technical evaluation will be represented through desk review of applications. Interviews and/or written tests will be organized if needed only, depending on the short-listed candidates’ qualifications.

a). Technical Qualification Evaluation Criteria: The technical part is evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR).

No.

Criteria

Maximum points

1. • Master’s degree or equivalent in Planning, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change, Humanitarian Response, Economics, Public Health, Geography, Sociology, Data Science, Social Science, or other related field is required.
   • A first-level University Degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A first-level University Degree – 10pts, Masters or equivalent – 15pts

15

2.

• At least 5 years (Masters Degree) or 7 years (Bachelors Degree) of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction and protection preferably in the Pacific.

(Masters) or (Bachelors) – 7pts,

Each year over 5 (or 7) yrs – 1pts up to a max 10pts

10

3.

• Proven knowledge and skills pertaining to protection of vulnerable groups, ideally related to older persons.

8

4.

• Strong understanding of Pacific context with a focus on Fiji and sub-population vulnerability.

8

5.

• Strong skills in quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

7

6.

• Proven record of assessment tool development and implementation.

7

7.

• Excellent report writing skills.

5

8.

• Strong research experience.

5

9.

• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, Kobo, ability to use internet and email.

10.

• Fluency in command of written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency in local / national languages of target countries is an asset.

5

Maximum Total Technical Scoring

70

b). Financial Evaluation Criteria: In this Second Stage, the financial proposal of candidates, who have attained minimum 70% score in the technical evaluation (at least 49 points), will be compared.

WINNING CANDIDATE

The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring + financial scoring).

XI. Submission of Application

Interested candidates are requested to submit fully completed application on the UNDP Vacancy Site.

Submission Package:

• Cover letter explaining the suitability of the consultant: applicants are encouraged to address experience and qualifications listed in the ‘criteria for technical evaluation’.
• Duly filled Personal History Form (P11) and/or Curriculum Vitae (CV) of consultant including records of experience in similar assignments and specific outputs obtained; P11 can be downloaded at: https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment
• Financial proposal – specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (daily rate and number of anticipate working days and any other possible costs).
• Please read, use and complete ANNEX I and ANNEX II below to provide your financial proposal.

Applications without a complete financial proposal will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment. UN Women reserves the right to accept or reject any bid.

The consultancy recruitment process will be governed by the rules and regulations of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

UN Women Statement on Diversity and Inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check).

Deadline of all submission: 16th November 2022

Annex I

Price Proposal Guideline and Template

The prospective Individual Consultant should take the following explanations into account during submission of his/her price proposal.

Daily fee

The daily price proposal should indicate a "lump sum amount" which is "all-inclusive". All costs (professional fees, communications, consumables during field related missions, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor needs to be factored into the proposed price.

UN Women will not withhold any amount of the payments for tax and/or social security related payments. UN Women shall have no liability for taxes, duties or other similar charges payable by the Individual Contractor in respect of any amounts paid to the Individual Contractor under this Contract, and the Contractor acknowledges that UN Women will not issue any statements of earnings to the Individual contractor in respect of any such payments.

Travel costs

All travel costs in relation to the assignments must be included in the total contract amount of the contractor. UN Women will not cover transportation cost within Suva, Fiji.

Daily Subsistence Allowance

Not applicable.

Currency of the price proposal

The applicants are requested to submit their price proposals in Fiji Dollars (FJD$)

In case of proposals in other currency, these shall be converted into the national currency using the official UN exchange rate for currency conversion to FJD at the date of applications’ submission deadline.

Annex II

Price Proposal Submission Form

[ Mandatory document for the Consultant to complete and submit]

To: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Ref: Individual Consultant - Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment of Older Persons for the Pacific Humanitarian Protection Cluster, UN Women, Fiji MCO

Dear Sir / Madam,

I, the undersigned, offer to provide professional consulting services to UN Women within the scope of the referred Assignment. Having examined, understood, and agreed to the Terms of Reference and its annexes, the receipt of which are hereby duly acknowledged, I, the undersigned, offer to deliver professional services, in conformity with the Terms of Reference.

My maximum total price proposal for the assignment is given below:

Estimated Costs (in FJD$)

Description of Activity

Unit of Measure (e.g., Day, Month, etc)

Unit Price

($FJD)

No. of Units

Total Price ($FJD)

Deliverable 1

Lumpsum

$

Deliverable 2

Lumpsum

Deliverable 3

Lumpsum

$

Total FJD$

$

*** Please be informed that for shorter assignments than a full day, the daily rate will be pro-rated into hourly rate.

I confirm that my financial proposal will remain unchanged. I also confirm that the price that I quote is gross, and is inclusive of all legal expenses, including but not limited to social security, income tax, pension, etc., which shall be required applicable laws.

I agree that my proposal shall remain binding upon me for 90 days.

I understand that you are not bound to accept any proposal you may receive.

[ Signature]

Date:

Name:

Address:

Telephone / Fax:

Email:

Apply now

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org