International Consultancy Service to support the development of a strategic plan for the South Sudan Human Rights Commission

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Contract

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

Background

The South Sudan Human Rights Commission (SSHRC) was established as an independent body by an Act in 2009 just before the country achieved its independence in 2011. The commission performs functions such as monitoring the application and enforcement of human rights and freedoms, receiving and investigating complaints against violations of human rights, offering advice to government organs on issues relating to human rights, and formulating, implementing and overseeing programmes of research, education and awareness of citizens’ media rights and obligations to enhance respect for human rights. Consisting of several departments, the Commission is centralized in Juba, Central Equatorial State with nationwide functions.

Since the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) in February 2020, the President of the Republic of South Sudan has appointed state governors and deputy governors completing the formation of the transitional government as stipulated in the Revitalized Peace Agreement. In turn, state ministers have been appointed while some states have established state level human rights commission that aim to better serve the population in close collaboration with the SSHRC. Other structural reforms in the Revitalized Peace Agreement are slowly moving forward. The permanent constitution making was launched at the end of May. A technical committee to facilitate the development of the law on the Commission on Truth Reconciliation and Healing was established by Ministerial Order in April 2021. The Commission can play an important role in shaping such reforms and ensuring respect for human rights and their protection in post-conflict South Sudan. situations.

To enhance its capacities to act in these situations, the Commission now seeks to develop its three-year Strategic Plan for 2022-2024. The Strategic Plan will constitute a robust blueprint to enhance the Commission’s leadership implementation on human rights goals including the ratified regional and international human rights instruments over the three years. The plan will help to further advance the Commission’s mandate and strategic themes of monitoring human rights, investigating human rights violations, increasing human rights awareness, provision of advice, as well as increasing the capacity of the Commission to discharge its role during the transitional period in which structural reforms will be undertaken under the R-ARCSS and influence national policy to promote human rights respect and accountability.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective

The objective of the consultancy is to support the South Sudan Human Rights Commission to develop its strategic plan for the period 2022 to 2024 in line with the South Sudan Human Rights Commission Act and the Paris Principles which provide the international minimum standards for effective, credible National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and outline institutional arrangements, specific activities, proposed programmes, timelines, targets and a detailed costing – through a technically grounded, consultative and participatory planning process, to include extensive consultations with national and state government actors, civil society organizations, the media and international community.

Scope of Work

The consultant will work with the Commission under the guidance of the Ag. Chairperson. The Commission has already undertaken considerable groundwork through the carrying out of an assessment. The consultant will lead and guide the process of developing the full three-year strategic plan. This will include:

  • A review of existing Commission’s plans, policy frameworks, laws, R-ARCSS, national implementation plans, the Paris Principles on NHRIs and other relevant documents;
  • Development of an economically sound methodology for the strategic plan for how the Commission can most effectively meet its objectives;
  • Needs assessment of the Commission covering its budget, geographical presence, staffing levels, equipment and tools;
  • Stakeholder mapping and consultation;
  • Situation analysis, including identification of constraints and opportunities for human rights promotion and protection, engagement with national policy, peace and development processes, work force enhancement and coordination with human rights stakeholders;
  • Plans for new programmes and engagement on different sector strategies that address the constraints and create the needed support systems and incentives for human rights promotion and protection;
  • Development of a vision and mission statement;
  • Development, validation, finalization and costing of a strategic plan 2022-2024 including a log frame, and a detailed implementation plan for 2022 and general activities for 2023-2024.
  • Monitoring and evaluation strategy and communications plan.

Specific Tasks

The Consultant will:

  • Carry out a desk review of documents relevant to an understanding of the mandate, legal framework, work and context of the Commission. These will include the existing policy frameworks, action plans, legislation governing the Commission, national legislation relevant to human rights promotion and protection, the National Development Strategy, the R-ARCSS and existing assessments of the Commission or reports on the country’s human rights situation.
  • Review other current relevant policy frameworks, laws, approaches and national implementation plans on human rights related issues as well as relevant international documents such as the Paris Principles on NHRIs.
  • Develop an understanding of the current situation of human rights in South Sudan, paying special attention to issues of sustaining peace, human development, the rule of law, constitutional development, law reform, human rights promotion, among others.
  • Hold discussions with the management and staff of the Commission to build a common approach to the assignment.
  • Conduct a needs assessment of the Commission, which will include a review of its existing structure and institutional arrangements with a view to developing a “strategy for expansion”. This will be a component of the final plan.
  • Develop a methodology and work plan for a participatory process of the development of the Commission’s strategic plan with a view to achieving both support, concrete co-operation and engagement with state human rights commissions, relevant sectors and other institutions such as the justice, health, education sectors, the Ministry of Finance, other relevant agencies, and international partners including the UN and donors.
  • Hold consultations and facilitate interviews with relevant stakeholders including but not limited to: relevant government departments, civil society/NGOs, private sector, UN Agencies in South Sudan and the donor community. At all stages, the Commission will be closely involved with the process.
  • Develop an advanced draft strategic plan for discussion with staff and the methodology for a wider consultation process which will closely include the Commission’s staff.
  • Together with the Commission, lead a thorough programme of consultations to receive feedback on the draft strategic plan.
  • Finalize the strategic plan, including a log frame and a detailed implementation plan for 2022-2024. The plan should include jointly developed vision and mission statements, priority programmes and sector sub-strategies, baselines and targets, timelines and resource allocations and a monitoring plan and communications plan.
  • Ensure that the strategic plan is professionally costed and includes a plan for how to integrate the strategic plans of sub-sectors and subvention agencies of the Commission.

Deliverables

Inception Report within 1 month of contract signature: This report should include:

  • A comprehensive desk review of documents relevant to an understanding and execution of the assignment
  • An elaboration of a methodology, work plan, list and contacts of key stakeholders to be engaged.

Draft Strategic Plan within 3 months of contract signature: The draft Plan should be at an advanced stage of completion including all relevant sections outlined in Section 3 of this ToR. It will be availed to reviewers for feedback and additional consultations to address the gaps identified during the review.

Final Draft Strategic Plan within 4 months of contract signature: The final product of the process will be a final draft of the 2022-2024 strategic plan for the Commission. Features of the final draft will include, among other things:

  • An executive summary;
  • A succinct review of the context of human rights promotion and protection in South Sudan;
  • An overview of the mandate of the Commission and the implications for its organization and relation with human rights actors and other partner entities;
  • A needs assessment and strategic analysis for the Commission;
  • A succinct Vision Statement (should be easy to remember);
  • A succinct Mission Statement;
  • Key Strategic Priorities;
  • A detailed implementation plan which will include all implementable strategic priority activities that balance the short-term quick results and long term strategic work that deliver the most results within the capacities and resources and time frames for 2022-2024;
  • Summary analysis of principal partners for the successful implementation of the Commission’s programme and detailed priorities;
  • Logical Framework for the implementation of the Strategic Plan including objectives, baselines and targets, defined timelines and resource allocations, in both financial and human terms, as well as relevant indicators and regular evaluations of their results and impact;
  • Detailed cost estimation for the implementation of the Strategic Plan, mapped to possible funding options including central Government and funding cycles of development partners/donors.
  • Timeframe for the delivery of each year’s strategic objectives
  • Monitoring and Evaluation strategy

Commitment to Quality Work

The consultant shall use an evidence-based approach and ensure the highest standard of work and timely deliverables at every stage of this assignment. In particular, the consultant shall ensure clarity of objectives and process during the wider consultations; countercheck all facts and figures cited; ensure that the content and format of the Draft Strategic Plan meets the highest standard for such documents; and ensure proper editing and clarity.

Qualifications and experience

The following qualifications and experience are required:

  • Master’s degree in law, human rights, development studies or social sciences;
  • Sound knowledge and understanding of public policy formulation, strategic planning and public sector planning and funding cycle.
  • Experience working for or with developing country governments, especially those emerging from conflict;
  • Proven understanding of human rights issues with reference to policy research and development;
  • Experience in leading strategic planning processes and good group facilitation skills;
  • Excellent communication and writing skills in English;
  • Experience and understanding of South Sudan is an added advantage.

Duration

This assignment is for a total of 30 working days with effect from 30 July 2021 and must be completed by 30 October 2021 or before.

Competencies

  • Proven ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines, delivers on time and within cost and quality standards
  • Excellent communication and reporting skills.
  • Proficiency and proven experience in the use of Microsoft Office suite (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required.
  • Proficiency in English and Arabic is a must.?
  • Excellent communication and writing skills in English;

Required Skills and Experience

Education

  • Master’s degree in law, human rights, development studies or social sciences.

Experience

  • At least 7 years of proven experience working in the human rights area
  • A minimum of 10 years in the area of public policy formulation and strategic planning. Understanding of government public sector planning and funding cycle is required.
  • A recent example of facilitating a government department to develop its strategic plan is required. An experience of this support in South Sudan is an added advantage.
  • Strong working knowledge of developing country governments, especially those emerging from conflict. Local working experience in South Sudan is preferred.
  • Excellent knowledge in gender mainstreaming is desirable

Language

  • Proficiency in English and Arabic is a must.

Institutional arrangements

  • The consultant will be contracted for 30 working days.
  • The consultant will be supervised by the Ag. Chairperson of the Commission or his designated technical lead.

Payment Schedule

  • Upon submission of a satisfactory Inception Report, within 10 days of signing of the contract 20%
  • Upon submission of the draft Strategic Plan, within 1½ months of signing of the contract 30%
  • Upon submission of the Final Strategic Plan, within 3 months of signing of contract 50%

Technical proposal shall comprise of the following:

  • Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP
  • Personal CV or P11, indicating all prior experience with similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and three (3) professional references

Offers received will be evaluated using a Combined Scoring method, where the qualifications and Required Skills and Experience will be weighted 70%, and combined with the price offer, which will be weighted 30%.

Technical evaluation criteria The criteria to be used for rating the qualifications and Required Skills and Experience is outlined below:

  • Relevant Educational Experience (20%)
  • Relevant Work Experience as per TOR Requirements (50%).
  • Competencies, Skills & language (30%)

NOTE: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Evaluation will be requested to submit financial proposals and considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial evaluation (total 30 points) All technically qualified candidates will be scored up to 30 based on the formula provided below.

The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals receive points according to the following formula: p = y (x/z) Where: p = Financial score of the financial proposal being evaluated

x = Cost of the lowest priced proposal y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal price of the lowest priced proposal z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Annex 1 - IC Contract Template

Annex 2 - IC General Terms and Conditions

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org