Module Development - Project Management - Public Service Academy

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Sunday 12 Dec 2021 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

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

Background

The National Development Strategy (NDS 1), provides the basis for spearheading high-impact national projects in the quest to achieve Vision 2030, epitomized by a transformed quality of life for the citizenry in an upper middle-income economy. The Public Service Commission (PSC) as the constitutional arm of the Executive responsible for presiding over planning and management of the institutional and human capital of the State is designed to guide, support, and enable line Ministries, their Departments and Agencies to plan and execute their respective mandates. The PSC has also, in keeping with the same trajectory, undertaken to direct the formation of an efficient and capable Public Service that meets the expectations of all citizens. In launching the PSC Strategic Plan [2018-2020], His Excellency, the President encouraged the Public Service Commission to impart new sets of skills, competencies and work culture that are relevant to the new economic growth and development thrust needed to catapult the country to an Upper Middle-Income Class as espoused in the country’s Vision 2030 policy framework. In May 2020 Cabinet approved the principles for the establishment of the Public Service Academy (PSA), an Agency within the PSC with an overarching mandate of providing advanced professional training and capacity development for all public service employees.

Pursuant to this, the Public Service Academy is in the process of consulting for the development of training modules for certain identified core areas for training and equipping public service employees with requisite skills to enable them to discharge their duties effectively, competently, efficiently, and professionally. Public Sector Project Management is one of the priority modules identified for expedited development, as an initial part of a package of nine (9) modules covering identified thematic areas. This is being done with support from Development Partners and other government agencies.

Governments usually embark on different projects with the aim of creating new service or improving efficiency of the existing ones. All these projects require appropriate skills and techniques that go beyond technical expertise only but encompass good and sound skills to manage limited budgets, while at the same time dealing with people and organizational issues. Project Management is a core area in the public sector which equips cutting-edge employees with the relevant soft skills in the creation of good quality service products that are fit for their purpose. This is particularly important for public servants, who have a mandate to deliver the best possible results for the public. One such pursuit is the area of planning and controlling finances, including management of resources, especially in an environment where Government is seeking to operationalise best practices to achieve the best outcomes for the public. Project management has been identified as an entry point for public sector employees to be able to analyse and manage risks and opportunities throughout the implementation of projects, while also encouraging innovative approaches to work.

UNDP is providing support to the Public Service Commission under the ongoing public sector transformation programme currently being implemented by the Government in its quest to modernise the public service for improved efficiency and economic recovery. Towards this end, UNDP seeks the services of a consultancy firm/individual consultant (s) to support the Public Service Academy with the development of the Public Sector Project Management training module to be used by the Academy in training and equipping the public service employees with requisite skills set to enable them to discharge their duties effectively, competently, efficiently, and professionally.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives

Project Management has become a core skill in the make-up of all public managers. There is adequate evidence that there are unique variables associated with public sector projects. As government projects continue to grow and become more complex, the need for standards specific to the unique characteristics of public sector projects become more apparent. Training service providers should make adequate provision for these differences to equip current and prospective public managers as effective project managers in the public sector. The Project Management approach and tools in the public sector play a key role for project success, showing transparency, accountability, efficient and effective usage of public resources. Project managers in the public sector must always operate within the confinements of national legislation and departmental policies. When designing and planning projects, public sector project managers must consider, not only the views of project beneficiaries and stakeholders, but also government policies,

Project management is an integral aspect of administration and management, delivery of projects in a time and cost-effective manner. It is highly dependent upon the managerial skills and project related proficiency of project managers including non-technical overseeing officials on the Planning and Implementation Phase and Project Risk Management. The focus of the module will be to equip Government Officials with the requisite skills and competencies in public sector project management.

The module development should provide participants with skills to:

  • Understand conceptual framework for project management and its significance for economic development,
  • Develop an understanding of the tools and techniques for effective management of financial and human management in project implementation,
  • Understand the cycle of project management specifically for infrastructure projects,
  • Provide an insight into the network-based project monitoring system such as Work breakdown Schedule & Network Analysis, project uncertainty and risk management,
  • Discuss various aspects related to contract management, project social cost and benefit analysis, budgeting and other related topics,
  • Understand innovative means to finance infrastructure projects using Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Approaches,
  • Familiarize participants with usage and application of Microsoft Project Software,
  • Work with institutions and development banks involved in infrastructure projects,
  • Improve the management and implementation of investment projects signed with international organisations.

Scope of Work

In developing the training module in the thematic area highlighted above, the consultant/s will liaise with the Public Service Academy for guidance. Other stakeholders to be consulted in the process of developing the module include Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, independent commissions, relevant UN Agencies, and any other identified relevant stakeholders,

The consultant/s will ensure that the materials developed are consistent with the capacity needs requirements identified by the Academy. Any supporting materials identified as necessary for the achievement of training module development will be availed to the consultants. The draft module will be reviewed by the Academy experts and thereafter the consultant/s will incorporate and revise the modules to the required acceptable standards of the PSA. A draft course outline will be provided by the Academy for each thematic area to guide the consultant/s.

Methodology

The consultant/s will develop the detailed methodology for undertaking this assignment which shall be shared with Public Service Commission for approval at the inception meeting.

Deliverables

The Consultant/s are expected to produce the following key deliverables:

  • An inception report including a detailed work plan and timelines, detailed methodology, a report format of the modules to be submitted within 7 days from the commencement of the assignment,
  • Conduct consultations with the Public Service Academy trainers and other relevant stakeholders,
  • Draft module on project management,
  • Facilitating workshops for reviewing the content of the draft modules,
  • Produce Write shops reports,
  • Final training modules (Hard and soft copies- the soft copies should be in both editable and PDF versions),
  • Develop Training guidelines with clear content and tools for all the respective training modules,
  • Conduct Training of Trainers.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards,
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability,
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Judgement/Decision-making

  • Strong technical skills and analytical capacities, sound judgment;
  • Strong technical problem-solving skills;
  • Ability to understand and establish priorities and work by objectives.

Teamwork

  • Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relationships with people from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds;

Ability to work under stress and work overtime when required.

  • Excellent knowledge of the UN system and UN joint country programming processes (CCA/UNDAF),
  • Good knowledge and experience with the national development frameworks, especially Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) PRSP, SWAP, key legislation, etc.
  • Specialised technical knowledge, including in conducting external programme evaluations, data collection and analytical skills, mainstreaming the HRBA to programming and gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations, and transition contexts.
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork and adept at working with people of diverse cultural and social backgrounds,
  • An understanding of and ability to abide by the core values of the United Nations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

A post-graduate or equivalent qualification/ degree in project management or other relevant discipline,

Experience

  • At least 5-7 years of prior work experience in the field of training,
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in conducting need assessments and developing training modules/curriculum, training materials especially in public sector institutions,
  • Demonstrated experiences and skills in facilitating stakeholder/working group consultations and training,
  • Relevant regional and international experience will be an added advantage,
  • Expertise and professional experience in designing educational or professional training materials in the relevant thematic areas identified for module development,

Langauge

  • Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English.

Application procedure:

Applicants are requested to upload copies of:

  • Latest CV highlighting the relevant experience;
  • Updated P11 Form template of which can be downloaded from this website http://www.sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.
  • A detailed technical proposal on undertaking the tasks and evidence of previous work;
  • Financial proposal (All-inclusive daily fee): Interested individuals are kindly requested to submit an all-inclusive daily consultancy fee using the template which can be downloaded from: https://www.dropbox.com/s/789q1hvdrdgwqqc/PPG_Cons_Letter%20of%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx?dl=0

Please group all your documents (CV, P11, Technical Proposal, Financial Proposal and Certificates) into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document. Incomplete applications will not be given consideration.

Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.

Evaluation criteria:

The Consultant will be evaluated based on qualifications and the years of experience, as outlined in the qualifications/requirements section of the ToR. In addition, the Consultant will also be evaluated on the following methodology:

Technical Criteria weight: 70%; Financial Criteria weight: 30%;

The award of the contract shall be made to the 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 Terms of Reference.

Payment Terms:

Note that all payments to a contractor are dependent on the satisfactory completion of deliverables. Payment is linked to deliverables as per the below:

1st Instalment - 7days - 20%

  • Background Research which sets out the consultant’s understanding of the assignment,
  • Preparation and submission of an Inception Report including a detailed work plan and timelines, detailed methodology, a report format of the modules to be submitted within 7 days from the commencement of the assignment.

2nd Instalment - 14days- 40%

  • Conduct consultations with the Public Service Academy trainers and other relevant stakeholders,
  • Draft module on project management for public servants,
  • Facilitating workshops for reviewing the content of the draft modules,
  • Write shops reports.

3rd Instalment - 9days - 40%

  • Final training modules (Hard and soft copies- the soft copies should be in both editable and PDF versions) incorporating inputs from the write shops,
  • Training guidelines with clear content and tools for all the respective training module,
  • Conduct Training of Trainers,
  • End of activity report.

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

The consultant is expected to work from their own premises and liaise with UNDP and its technical partner as necessary. The consultant is obliged to pay sensitivities to Covid 19 Statutory and other health requirements.

For the entire period of this project/contract all travel (if necessary) related to any contract emerging from this RFP, including all travel for consultations and discussions, meetings for planning and execution of potential works etc. will have to be borne by the Contractor and must be included in the Financial Proposal submitted. The Contractor is responsible to make all relevant travel arrangements, including hotel, transportation, and other relevant costs. All arrangements are the responsibility of the Contractor, both financially and action-wise.

Policy both parties should be aware of:

  • UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse,
  • Members of the contracting company are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement,
  • No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNDP and the Contractor,
  • The data and information collected during this data is sole and full ownership of the Spotlight Initiative,
  • No member of the contracting company may travel prior to contract signature,
  • Members of the contracting company will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNDP budget.

UNDP is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Well qualified candidates, particularly women and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply”.

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