National Consultant on creation the group purchasing organizations (GPOs)

Contract

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Background

BACKGROUND

Micro-, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) provide work for more than 4 million people in Ukraine. The Government of Ukraine has been increasing its efforts to undertake economic reforma and create business enabling environment for enterprises, strengthen the position of MSMEs in the economy. Business membership organzations (BMOs) - an essential component of the business support infrastructure faces several challenges which are due weaknesses of the BMO sector and low capacity, sustainability and maturity of BMOs in terms of service provision strantegy alignment and low level of awareness and understanding of existing and/or potential benefits of BMOs among current and potential member businesses.

During the peiod 2015-2018, in cooperation with Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and with the financial support from Switzerland (the Donor), UNDP supported BMOs throughv the "Strengthening SME Business Membership Organizations" project.

The Project aims to expand BMO coverage throughout Ukraine ans is expected to positively impact on their ability to attract members, promote constructive cooperation with governmental structures and to contribute to policy development leading MSMEs sector growth.

The Partner BMOs have been selectec as a result of competitive process based on clear and transparent criteria and will be delivered tailores support to improve their institutional, organizational, financial, as well as communication capacities to represent the interests of the private sector. The group of Partner BMOs includes 20 organizations of different profiles and geographic coverage: National CCI, five regional CCIs and nine industry associations. In addition, the Project will provide follow-up support to 7 partner BMOs engaged under Project Phase I, which will be additionally trained to serve as hubs or platforms for cooperation of wider BMO community, thus spreading further the experience and knowledge obtained in the Phase I and contributing to MSME sector consolidation.

During the impementation of the Project Phase I, a close partnership was established with the project "Kupuimo Razom!" (http://kupuimorazom.org.ua/ ), whcih was launched by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and financed by the program Polish Aid in the period from 2015 to 2018 in Ukraine. Three out of seven partner Business Associations of the Project Phase I took part in the educational events of "Kupuimo Razom!" project in 2017-2018.

As a result of this cooperation, one of BMOs, the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers, successfully created a pilot purchaising group in Ukraine. This gave an outstanding effect for the organization: it allowed to receive additional income of more than 1 million dollars of export earnings for the procurement group members, attracted several dozens of new members, and positively influenced the image of both the Ukrainian Association of Firniture Manufacturers and the entire sector of industry business associations.

The Project Phase II envisages to support the creationof procurement groups as one of priority areas for the period up to 2023. For this purpose, the Project plans to support several pilot projects and a long-term educationsl campaign for all business associations in Ukraine to foster innovative cooperative forms among organisations' members and raise awareness on the procedure for creating, developing and implementing of purchaising groups. The incumbemt will promote UNDP's , mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolarance to any kind of discrimiatory and abusive bahaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual expoitation and abuse.

The preliminary collaboration Consultant with 10 BMOs on the group purchasing organizations (hereinafter referred to as the "GPOs") establishing results are developed and proposed basic models of cooperation within the GPO. Zaporizhzhia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Western Ukrainian Fashion Industry Cluster, Vinnytsia Regional Organization "Union of Entrepreneurs "Stina", "Ukrainian platform "Women in business", League of Business and Professional Women of Ukraine formulated a request for the formalization and legalization of the CPO activities and demonstrated their readiness to create and support functioning of these GPOs.

Duties and Responsibilities

DESCIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the Project Team, the Consultant will perform the below activities focusing on the achievement of the mentioned objectives. The Consultant is expected to work in close collaboration with the Project Team.

1. Develop a detailed work plan on each GPO selected for consulting support after reviewing the current state of GPO's creation process based on meetings and interviews with BMOs where the GPO creation process was initiated in 2022.

2. Creation of five GPOs. Creation of GPO must be confirmed by (i) Agreement of Joint Purchase or (ii) Memorandum of Intent of GPO creation is signed by participants of GPOs or (iii) Other document(s) that proves GPO creation in obedience to the Ukrainian law.

3. Develop the guidelines on the GPOs creation based on the lessons learned (at least 50 pages, A4, 11 pts). Consultants should prepare Preface, Part 1. "GPOs' Business Models", Part 2. "GPOs Legal Documentation" (this part should include procedures on creation of all reasonable types of GPOs that eligible in obedience to the Ukrainian law, Conclusion and Annexes with templates of the typical documents. Draft of the Structure of Part 1 and Part 2 must be approved by UNDP. Draft of the Preface, Conclusion and Part 1 and Part 2 must be approved by UNDP.

4. Prepare information packages which will include the stories (up to 2 pages, A4, 11pts) on each created GPO for dissemination through various communication channels.

5. Prepare final technical report, including five (5) briefs to capture the outcomes for each facilitated GPO (up to 20 pages, A4, 11pts). The report shall be prepared in Ukrainian.

Competencies

Competencies:

Core competencies

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP's mission, vision, and values
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Knowledge of gender equality and women's empowerment issues and ability to apply it to strategic and/or practical situations, e.g. inegrating into project/programme cycle, including design, planning, and implemantation

Competencies

• Demonstrates high level of professionalism and ethics
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Demonstrates excellent planning and organizational skills and able to produce high-quality products on tight deadlines
• Able to work on location without any other supervision except for liason with UNDP
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to present information logically, clearly and concisely
• Able to think creatively, to develop and implement innovative solutions in a challenging environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational background:

• At least a Master/Specialist's degree in Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Marketing, Management, Economics, Business Administration, Finance, International Relations and other relevant areas. A PhD or higher degree is an asset.

Professional Experience:

• At least 4 (four) years of previous experience of working as Consultant with enterpreneurs, start-ups or advisory supporting the development and/or scale up of micro, cmall or medium businesses.
• At least 3 (three) years of practical experience in economic analysis and/or assessment of economic potential or financial returns, conducting business needs assessment and analysis, assessing purchasing/sales power of the indicidual businesses and/or groups of enterpreneurs, or similar fiels proven with at least two (2) samples of analytic reports on the above fields.
• Prior experience working with BMOs, knowledge and understanding of BMO services and MSMEs needs proven with at least two (2) samples of consulting products for BMOs would be a strong asset.
• Previous experience of working with UN agencies or donor-funded programmes would be an asset.

Communication skills:

• Excellent writing skills, with demonstrated experience of having undertaken similar assignments (proven with samples of at least two (2) prepared or co-authored briefs, studies, manuals or presentations related to economic or market analysis or other relevant analytical documents).

Language skills:

• Fluency in Ukrainian and working knowledge of English are essential.