International Consultant (Team Leader – Field Support Unit)

Consultant

Contract

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

Background

In July 2019, the Afghanistan Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) endorsed the HCT Compact that set out the key commitments of HCT members towards the Humanitarian Coordinator and one another in order to reinforce collective accountability to people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection in line with the global priorities of the Grand Bargain. The HCT Compact was drafted and adopted as follow-up to the recommendations from a Peer 2 Peer mission conducted in 2019.

The HCT Compact details the interrelated procedural and operational commitments to cross-cutting priorities and mandatory areas of responsibility. These include accountability to affected people (AAP), the centrality of protection, humanitarian access, gender-based violence (GBV), linking relief and development and special consideration to people with specific needs. The HCT Compact also included procedural commitments to ensure that coordination structures are fit for purpose in order to address these critical operational priorities.

To operationalize the commitments in the HCT Compact, in the second half of 2019, OCHA initiated a large-scale multi-stakeholder consultation exercise to better understand challenges to addressing the aforementioned critical issues, at all levels of the response. The intention was to identify and build consensus around potential changes and solutions that would promote coordinated action. A framework of activities to be undertaken at national and subnational levels was subsequently developed that outlined the areas of mutual responsibility in both Kabul and the field. This document, the Mutual Accountability Framework between Kabul and the Field is essentially a roadmap for how to operationalize the commitments of the HCT Compact. Capacitating the field is a central component of the framework.

The Field Support Unit

To operationalise the priorities and commitments outlined in the HCT Compact and Mutual Accountability Framework, the Humanitarian Country Team endorsed the establishment of the Field Support Unit (FSU). Embedded in UNDP, the FSU is a multi-disciplinary team of roving senior specialists that work across Afghanistan to establish systems and capacitate field teams in line with the HCT Compact. As such, the FSU is a common service initiative for all humanitarian and development actors operating in Afghanistan. Through delivering continuous trainings, technical guidance, coaching and other forms of capacity building with continual feedback and evaluation, the FSU team seeks to up-skill the field in the following thematic areas: Area-Based Response, Protection of Civilians, Accountability to Affected People, Triple Nexus, Coordination and Information Management.

As prescribed in the Mutual Accountability Framework, some of the main indicators of success will be the establishment of common AAP mechanisms in the field, field level relief and development planning mechanisms, coordinated information management systems and a number of area-based response pilots. The FSU should provide regular updates to the HCT and coordinate closely with the National AAP Coordinator and AAP Working Group, UNDP, the PSEA Task Force, the Protection Cluster, the ICCT and regional OCHA sub-offices to roll out capacity building initiatives.

The Team Leader

The Team Leader of the FSU is expected to ensure synergy and interconnectedness between the different thematic areas covered by the FSU team. As such, the Team Leader is required to have demonstrable experience in and familiarity with all the hematic areas covered by the FSU. The Team Leader is also to have expertise in Area-Based Response: an approach to the localization of humanitarian assistance that employs targeted Interventions that seek to address the humanitarian, protection and wider developmental problems associated with a specific geographical area. Necessarily, such an approach places a significant emphasis on community and wider stakeholder engagement and integrated service delivery to meet the needs of communities holistically. Area-based response is seen as a potential complement to the Cluster System to promote inter-cluster collaboration between operational partners on the ground. Through integrated co-located services, area-based response can increase uptake of humanitarian services including critical interventions such as essential health services and other life-saving interventions. The approach is being field tested in four locations in-country in 2020 to assess its feasibility in Afghanistan for a potential further roll out in 2021.

This consultancy includes two components. For an estimated 110 working days, the incumbent will act as Team Leader of the FSU, after which, the incumbent will stand-down to be replaced by a new Team Leader, to be recruited. For the remaining 88 working days, the incumbent will focus solely on the evaluation of progress made by the Field Support Unit in all thematic areas.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES

The role of Team Leader will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Provide management and strategic direction to the multi-disciplinary team in the Field Support Unit that consists of a number of senior international consultants with specific expertise in key areas.
2. Lead on the development of ToRs in partnership subject-matter experts (OCHA, UNHCR, UNDP, etc.) and oversee the recruitment of the team.
3. Develop regular progress reports on status of Mutual Accountability Framework activities to the HCT to which the FSU is directly accountable.
4. Collaborate closely with OCHA, ICCT and key working groups including PSEA Task Force and AAP/CWC WG to roll out national level policies in the regions – this includes working with key actors (such as the ProCap, AAP Advisor) to contribute to the development of national strategies for Protection of Civilians, Accountability Affected People and Triple Nexus and to work with the FSU members to outline implementation strategies in the field.
5. Provide strategic and technical advice to partners implementing the area-based response pilots in Herat, Kunduz, Kandahar and Kabul and lead the intersectoral Steering Committee that oversees the pilots.
6. Work closely with the relevant units in WHO to ensure that the area-based response pilot in Kandahar Province works seamlessly with the Polio Eradication Campaign.
7. Build the capacity of teams piloting in the field and monitor, evaluate and report on progress made and challenges encountered.

Evaluation of the Field Support Unit:

1. In consultation with the other members of the FSU, produce an analysis of progress made in each of the thematic areas of the FSU. This should include opportunities to incorporate lessons learned into future programming in Afghanistan as well as in other contexts and policy development.
2. Lead a number (to be determined) of workshops both in Afghanistan and internationally to present the initiatives and lessons learned.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

• Submission of monthly progress report and any other documentation as required by WHO Health Cluster Coordinator at the end of each month.

Deliverables/ Outputs

Estimated Duration

Target Due Dates

Review and Approvals Required

A final evaluation report summarising key achievements, lessons and recommendations for future programming and policy development both in Afghanistan and globally

198 working days

01 March 2021 to 31 March 2022

WHO Health Cluster Coordinator

Payment Modality:

Payments under the contract shall be made monthly based on actual days worked with an attached timesheet, after the delivery of outputs above following completion and acceptance of a progress report and submission of invoice. This report will be reviewed and approved by the WHO Health Cluster Coordinator.

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

Institutional Arrangements:

Under the direct administrative supervision of the WHO Health Cluster Coordinator, the International Consultant will work closely with a wide range of actors including the WHO project teams, UN agencies and NGOs.

UNDP will provide office space and internet facility, logistical and other support services including transport and security, as needed. As an inter-agency resource, the consultant may also work from other agencies locations in direct coordination with those agencies. The consultant is expected to bring his/her own laptop and mobile phone - UNDP will provide a local SIM card and cover communications costs. Travel costs within Afghanistan including DSA during field visits shall be covered by the UNDP.

Duration of the Work:

Performance of the work under this contract shall be completed within 13 months (with maximum of 198 working days) after signing the contract. The target date for the start of the works will be 01 March 2021.

Duty Station

Kabul, Afghanistan with frequent travel to regions. While in Afghanistan, the consultant will be expected to travel 70-80% of the time. The consultant will also be expected to conduct missions and workshops overseas including, but not restricted to, Geneva and Oslo.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Required Competencies
• Team building
• Managing relationships across units and health partners
• Self-awareness
• Interpersonal skills
• Stress tolerance
• Planning and organizing
• Proactive problem solving
• Operational decision-making

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field is required.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in humanitarian preparedness, and development in complex emergency settings.
• Demonstrate experience in at least 3 of the technical areas of the Field Support Unit.
• Experience in programme design, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, including SPHERE standards, gender, donor relations and protection considerations.
• Demonstrate experience in policy development and operationalization processes
• Previous experience and knowledge in Afghanistan is essential

Other skills:

• Excellent training, coaching and mentoring skills.
• High level of writing and communication skills.
• Willingness to spend high proportion of time travelling to the field.
• Language skills: Good command of English.

Language:

• Excellent written and oral English

PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal. The consultant shall then submit a price proposal when requested by UNDP, in accordance with the below:

• Daily Fee – The contractor shall propose a daily fee which should be inclusive of his/her professional fee and insurance (inclusive of medical health and medical evacuation and etc). The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract is 198 working days.
• DSA/Living Allowance – The Consultant shall be separately paid the Living allowance/DSA as per applicable UNDP rate for stay in Kabul and travel to other locations as per actual number of nights spent in Kabul or other locations. Deductions from DSA shall be made as per applicable UNDP policy when accommodation and other facilities are provided by UNDP. An estimated provision in this regard shall be included in the contract. The consultant need not quote for DSA in Financial Proposal.
• Accommodation in Kabul - The Consultants are NOT allowed to stay in a place of their choice other than the UNDSS approved places in Kabul, Afghanistan. UNDP will provide accommodation to the Consultant for the duration of the stay in Afghanistan in UNDSS approved places. Deductions in this regard shall be made from DSA payment as per applicable UNDP Policy.
• Travel & Visa – The contractor shall propose an estimated lump-sum for home-Kabul-home travel (economy most direct route) and Afghanistan visa expenses.
• The total professional fee, shall be converted into a lump sum contract and payment under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of a certified timesheet in accordance with the abovementioned schedule of payment and the timeline proposed.

EVALUATION METHOD AND CRITERIA

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology

Cumulative analysis. The award of the contract shall 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%

* Financial Criteria weight 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

TECHNICAL CRITERIA (70 POINTS)

1. General Qualifications and Experience relevant to the assignment (20 marks)
2. ****Technical Proposal (20 marks)****
   1. Technical Approach & Methodology (10 marks) - This explains the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the degree of detail of such output. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach.
   2. Work Plan (10 marks) - The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan.
3. Interview (30 marks)

Financial Evaluation (30%):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Documents to be included when submitting proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

1. 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.
2. Technical Proposal (can be attached with CV or response can be provided to mandatory question on jobs site):

• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
• A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment and work plan as indicated above.

All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNDP Afghanistan. UNDP Afghanistan will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

• Annex 1 - IC Contract Template (for information);

• Annex 2 - Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (to be completed at later stage upon request by UNDP);

• Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions (for information);
• Annex 4 – RLA Template (if consultant wishes to be recruited through an employer) - (for information).

Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be disqualified automatically.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org