National Consultant - Comprehensive Drug Strategy Mapping and Assessing Prevention and Treatment Activities in Sri Lanka – Ref No. IC/UNODCROSA/2022/41 - For Sri Lankans only

Consultant

Contract

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Background

Substance use and dependence is a public health, developmental and security problem both in industrialized and developing countries. It is associated with health problems, poverty, violence, criminal behaviour and social exclusion. Prevention and treatment of drug dependence are essential demand reduction strategies of significant public health importance; therefore, the implementation of adequate programmes is key in ensuring an appropriate balance between the need for evidence-based prevention and treatment interventions and the need of people at risk or affected by drug use disorders. Drug prevention and treatment programmes should lead to the development of innovative and efficient responses to the individual, community, and society at large.

UNODC and WHO are mandated to support Members States in their efforts to improve their technical capacity to provide diversified and effective drug treatment and rehabilitation services for people suffering from drug use disorders, including their capacity to reduce the burden caused by the negative health and social consequences associated with drug use. In 2009, UNODC launched a joint programme with the World Health organization with the goal of increasing the level of awareness on addiction as a treatable multi-factorial disease and support implementation of effective drug dependence treatment services based on international experience. In practice, this UNODC–WHO initiative aims to promote and support, with a particular focus on low-and middle-income countries, and in 2020 UNODC-WHO launched International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Programme Office in Sri Lanka (POLKA) and UNODC’s Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS) in headquarters (Vienna), in coordination with Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) in India, is delivering technical assistance to South Asia including Sri Lanka to provide technical assistance and support to address the drug problem. UNODC POLKA is currently implementing activities under ‘Regular Programme for Technical Cooperation (RPTC)’ to address drug demand reduction issues in the country and UNODC PTRS has provided technical assistance in the framework of project GLOK32 so far.

The Indian Ocean Region is at the nexus of global trade and commerce and is also confronting a myriad of security challenges, including terrorism, transnational crime, trafficking-in-persons and illicit drugs. Sri Lanka with a coastline is 1,340km and geographic location adjacent to major Indian Ocean shipping routes makes it a favourable transit point for drug trafficking, which evidentially have increased during the recent years. Particularly, a spike in large-scale cocaine seizures (a drug previously uncommon in Sri Lanka) is a clear indication that the country is emerging as a key transit point for drug-smugglers. Counter-narcotics operations had traditionally focused their efforts on heroin and synthetic drugs.

Since 2020 with funding support from the Government of Japan, UNODC PTRS and POLKA have been providing technical assistance on drug demand reduction to support the Government of Sri Lanka to enhance drug demand reduction policy, systems and services that are based on science and human rights in line with the International Standards and the national context. In 2021, assessment was conducted on drug using patterns, drug policy, prevention and treatment systems, and services as well as systematic challenges that based on available literatures and interviews with key informants. Building on the findings from the assessment reports, UNODC organized an online drug demand reduction coordination meeting in December 2021 and policy makers training on the nature of drug use, drug use prevention and treatment of drug use disorders in February 2022 with government counterparts and partners. Through its technical assistance, UNODC will explore to further strengthen drug use prevention, treatment and recovery interventions at policy, system and service levels to support those affected by drug use and drug use disorders in community and criminal justice settings.

Overall objective of assignment:

Under the overall objective to strengthen national strategies and policies on drug demand reduction, the aim of this assignment is to conduct a mapping exercise in close coordination and under the technical leadership of an international consultant as well as with relevant entities engaged in drug use prevention, treatment and care, as a base to assist the Government of Sri Lanka in its effort to develop comprehensive and evidence-based national drug demand reduction strategy, policy and action plan in an age- and gender-responsive manner. UNODC will liaise with relevant counterparts and organize a workshop to present mapping results and their relevance for the development of an outline for a comprehensive drugs strategy and action plan.

An international consultant will be also recruited to guide the mapping exercise thorough the development of methodology, data collection tools and development of a mapping report and will be working closely with the national consultant.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific Tasks:

Under the overall guidance from Programme Officer of UNODC PTRS, Officer in Charge of UNODC POLKA, as well as in coordination with Deputy Regional Representative of UNODC ROSA, the consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

1. Complete the mapping exercise on drug demand reduction strategies, policies, services including drug prevention and treatment actors, roles, initiatives and services in Sri Lanka, in coordination with the UNODC and international consultant. To this end, the consultant will, in close coordination with the international consultant:

• Identify and review relevant literatures and resources available on drug demand reduction strategies, action plans, polices, guidelines and other framework documents from governmental and civil society as well as academic resources;
• Collect information from stakeholders on actors, roles, budgets, initiatives and services available in Sri Lanka for prevention and treatment of drug use disorders in line with the methodology and tools designed by the UNODC and international consultant;
• Translate those literatures and resources, responses available in local languages and summarize them with a draft mapping in English to share with the UNODC and international consultant;
• Assist the development of one mapping report with the UNODC and international consultant and present jointly with UNODC to relevant counterparts for feedback.

2. Support the Government of Sri Lanka in their efforts to develop an outline for a comprehensive drug demand reduction strategy and action plan through remote communication or potential participation to the policy workshop organized in person. The consultant will:

• Provide input to the Government, relevant partners and UNODC in the development of an outline for drug demand reduction strategy and action plan as requested in close coordination with the international consultant;
• Assist the development of a draft outline on comprehensive drug demand reduction strategy and action plan, in coordination with the UNODC and international consultant.

UNODC programme teams based in Sri Lanka, Vienna and India will assist the consultant in identifying relevant respondents in Sri Lanka.

Scope of work and expected outputs/ deliverables:

As a part of the project activities in Sri Lanka, UNODC would like to commission a consultant for following activities under ‘Regular Programme for Technical Cooperation (RPTC)’ to address drug issues.

The comprehensive mapping exercise on policies, strategies, drug use prevention and treatment programmes/services available in Sri Lanka will be a key document for outlining a comprehensive drug strategy. The consultant is expected to carry out a comprehensive mapping exercise based on the information collected through desk research and contacting stakeholders, and prepare a well-written, comprehensive review document.

The overarching scope of work and expected outputs/deliverables will be:

The comprehensive mapping exercise:

• Identify relevant literatures and materials on drug demand reduction strategies, action plans, polices, guidelines and other framework documents in Sri Lanka;
• Collect information through phone/email/Skype and where possible, direct contact with key stakeholders engaged in drug demand reduction, such as government functionaries, UN agencies, NGOs, NDDCB, academia, service providers, service users, and other experts etc;
• Summarize relevant points of literatures, resources, and responses available in local languages into English and develop draft mapping on actors, roles, initiatives and services available on drug demand reduction in Sri Lanka for the finalization with the UNODC and international consultant.

UNODC’s support for comprehensive drug strategy development:

• Attend and provide input in a policy workshop online or in-person (TBC);
• Assist drafting of an outline for a comprehensive drug demand reduction strategy and action plan in coordination with the UNODC and international consultant.

Specific deliverables and payment terms:

Deliverable

Percentage payment

Submission of identified literatures and resources on drug demand reduction strategies, action plans, polices, guidelines and other framework documents from various sources (government, civil society, academia) in Sri Lanka with summary of key points in English

75%

Submission of summarized responses from stakeholders on drug demand reduction actors, roles, initiatives, and services available and a draft mapping for the finalization with the UNODC and international consultant

Submission of a finalized mapping report with the international consultant, incorporating feedback from the UNODC

Attendance to a policy workshop and provision of input and recommendations from the mapping exercise as requested

25%

Provision of input and submission of a finalized outline for a comprehensive drug demand reduction strategy and action plan in coordination with the UNODC and international consultant

Note:

• If the consultant anticipates some absolutely necessary field travel, it should be budgeted in the proposal;
• Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed;
• Please note proposals without the financial proposal will not be considered;

Time-frame:

The Contract will be for a period of 40 days from 10 September 2022 to 30 November 2022.

Reporting and communication:

The consultant will work under the overall guidance from Programme Officer of UNODC PTRS, Officer in Charge of UNODC POLKA, as well as in coordination with Deputy Regional Representative of UNODC ROSA, in coordination with the international consultant.

Competencies

• Knowledge on illicit drugs and precursors, drivers, solutions to and key stakeholder roles
• Knowledge of emerging issues/ trends and policy
• Proven experience in conducting analysis in the thematic area within Sri Lanka or in the Asian region is required
• Ability to interact with governmental agencies and other relevant stakeholders to operate effectively; establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations is essential.
• Proven ability to produce high quality reports of publishable standard, including the use of visual presentation of data/ analysis is required.
• Ability to access the main sources of information is required.
• Strong analytical, writing, editing and presentation skills are required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power-point etc.).
• Ability to operate effectively in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender is essential.
• Familiarity with the United Nations system and procedures is desirable.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English. Fluency in one of the local languages (Sinhala/Tamil) is required.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in conducting research in drug surveys, assessments, age- and gender-responsive policy development and/or development of action plans;
• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public health, psychology, medicine, psychiatry, drug demand reduction, epidemiology, or other relevant fields. A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Excellent understanding of the emerging issues related to drug laws and policies and including of the online/cyber dimensions.
• Experience of interview with senior government officers, community members including people with drug use, education, health and/or social service providers for exercise purpose is advantage
• Experience of having worked within the criminal justice or health department is desirable.
• Knowledge of and practical experience in conducting mapping exercises and strategy development.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power-point etc.).
• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English.

Award of the contract:

The contract shall be awarded to the individual whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive to the criterion outlined in the TOR.
• Having received the highest score of a predetermined set of technical and financial criterion specific to the solicitation and based on cumulative criterion.

Technical Criteria weight - 70 marks

• Educational Qualification - 10 points
• Experience in project implementation in drug demand reduction and/or the rule of law and criminal justice field - 20 points
• Experience in relevant research/assessments - 20 points
• Experience of South Asian development context and working with the government and development partners in the region (in particular within Sri Lanka) - 20 points.

Financial Criteria weight - 30 marks

Technical and Financial Proposals to be submitted separately.

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

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org.

The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work;
• Updated CV to include qualifications/competencies and relevant past experience in similar projects and contact details of 3 professional referees who can certify your competencies, professionalism, quality of writing, presentation and overall suitability to this TOR;

• Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a combination of factors including cover letter, the credentials on offer and brief interview (optional) and the offer which gives the best value for money for the UNDP;

• Please send the Financial Proposal separately to the following e-mail address: consultants.lk@undp.org stating the vacancy number/position in the subject line using the annex II given below.

Failing to provide correct vacancy number & Position would be a disqualification.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

All Inclusive Lump Sum amount: LKR (_____________________________________)

Amount in words: (Rs._______________________________________________________________)

Annexes

• Annex I - Individual IC General Terms and Conditions
• Annex II – Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC, including Financial Proposal Template

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e., upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including his/her consultancy and professional fee, travel (economy class flights is required to and from the Duty Station) honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is 65 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided. Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts.

Contact information for queries related to the Request for Proposals:

For any clarification please contact anusha.munasinghe@un.org

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workplace, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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