Recruitment of Consultant to conduct research and prepare a report on Informal MSMEs and AfCFTA

Contract

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

Background

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories supporting partner countries to achieve the eradication of poverty, the reduction of inequalities and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More specifically, UNDP supports partner countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and building resilience to sustain development results.

UNDP's Regional Service Centre for Africa (RSCA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (serving 46 Country Offices in sub-Saharan Africa) develops high quality knowledge and policy products, and is the organisation’s main interface with regional and continental bodies such as the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities. The RSCA also implements a newly launched, continent-wide Regional Programme supporting Africa’s transformational agenda in the following priority areas, namely:

• Priority 1 – People. African citizens (especially women and youth), in a context of reinvigorated social contracts, have a stronger voice and influence in African Union, regional economic communities and regional mechanisms policymaking and implementation processes.
• Priority 2 – Prosperity. African citizens (especially women and youth) benefit from a regionally integrated, structurally transformed, and inclusive economy.
• Priority 3 – Planet. African citizens (especially women and youth), supported by the African Union and regional economic communities and regional mechanisms, build a resilient Africa.
• Priority 4 – Peace. African citizens (especially women and youth), supported by the African Union and regional economic communities and regional mechanisms, achieve measurable progress towards sustainable peace.

The Regional Programme for Africa is firmly aligned with addressing the multidimensional challenges faced with a strong emphasis on the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities by accelerating the structural transformation of economies. These priorities are being strongly integrated into the focus areas of the UNDP RSCA Inclusive Growth (IG) Team, which, under priority 2 above, increasingly supports regional development that is inclusive and transformational, but also sustainable and resilient in eradicating poverty and reducing inequalities over time.

For detail infpormation,please refer to the Terms of Reference..

Instruction To Bidders/Vendors

Procurement Notice Ref No. ETH3605-R,

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently implementing a project Exploring the prospects for better integration of Informal MSMEs in value chains under the AfCFTA that requires the services of an individual international consultant to conduct research and prepare a report on Informal MSMEs and AfCFTA as described in the corresponding TORs.

Proposal should be submitted through the online eTendering system https://etendering.partneragencies.org (search for Event ID ETH3605-R) as per the deadline indicated in the system itself. Detailed user guide on how to register in the system and submit the proposal are attached to this notice.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication through info.procurementet@undp.org. UNDP will provide responses by uploading them in the system. In consideration of your qualifications, we are hereby inviting you to submit an offer for this particular assignment. To assist you in understanding the requirements of this assignment, we have attached hereto the following:

a) The Terms of Reference for the assignment described above.

b) The standard Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability, which you must accomplish and submit to UNDP; and

c) Breakdown of Costs template, to be filled to show the detail cost breakdown.

d) P11 templet to be filled by the individual applicant.

e) The Individual Contract and its General Terms and Conditions, which you would be expected to sign in the event you are the selected Offeror in this procurement process.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Letter of presentation highlighting main qualifications and experience relevant to this TOR.

• CV.

• Copy of education certificate.

• Completed financial proposal.

Proposal submission date and time is as indicated in the eTendering system.

In the course of preparing and submitting your Proposal, it shall remain your responsibility to ensure that it is submitted into the system by the deadline. The system will automatically block and not accept any bid after the deadline. In case of any discrepancies deadline indicated in the eTendering system shall prevail.

Kindly ensure that supporting documents required are in the .pdf format, and free from any virus or corrupted files and Quotations. NOTE! The File name should contain only Latin characters (No Cyrillic or other alphabets).

If you have not registered in the system before, you can register now by logging in using:

• username: event.guest

• password: why2change

The step-by-step instructions for registration of bidders and quotation submission through the UNDP ATLAS e-Tendering system is available in the “Instructions Manual for the Bidders”, attached. Should you require any training on the UNDP ATLAS e-Tendering system or face with any difficulties when registering your company or submitting your quotation, please send an email: [email protected].

Please note that ATLAS has following minimum requirements for password:

• Minimum length of 8 characters.

• At least on capital letter.

• At least one number.

New bidder registering for first time, system will not accept any password that does not meet the above requirements and thus registration cannot be completed.

For already existing bidders whose current password does not meet the criteria, when signing in, system will prompt you to change the password, and it will not accept a new password that does not meet requirement.

Online video guidelines available on the following link: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/procurement/business/procurementnotices/resources/.

The bidders are advised to use Internet Explorer (Version 10 or above) to avoid any compatibility issues with the e-tendering system.

No hard copy or email submissions will be accepted by UNDP. This procurement Notice is not for Firms

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Policy Advisors on Informality and Trade, IG Team UNDP RSCA, and in close collaboration with the IG Team Economic Analyst, the select consultant will develop a research report on prospects for better integration and benefits to informal MSMEs in AfCFTA, by undertaking the following tasks:

1. Hold consultative sessions with IG Team and other potential collaborators and gain a good understanding of the task at hand.
2. Develop a draft annotated outline for the research report to be shared with the IG Team for feedback and approval.
3. Conduct a review of existing literature, sex- and age- disaggregated data and analysis to identify initial ‘areas’ (sectoral and/or geographical) with significant potential for inclusion of informal MSMEs into regional trade value-chains, through the lens of three angles (production, trade and infrastructure). Literature review to be complemented by consultations.
4. Compile the findings into a draft zero report, that points to how informal producers and traders can be readily integrated and achieve high impact within the identified areas, including considering how infrastructure can serve to boost both trade and inclusion. Share the report with the IG Team for review.
5. In further consultation with the IG Team select the priority areas that will be the subject of further research of the specific challenges and gaps that need to be addressed for facilitation of integrating informal MSMEs in regional trade/AfCFTA. Develop a first draft of the report.
6. Hold follow-up meeting with the IG Team Policy Advisors and Economic Analyst and share the analysis and findings from research into specific themes/areas for an interactive review of the report, and ways to further hone-in on key issues, especially the identification of entry points for UNDP support.
7. Through further research into IG programmatic document and service offers as well as consultations with IG Team and broader set of expertise (where required), develop specific recommendations for UNDP in terms of identifying specific entry-points where follow-up support is required.
8. Share the second draft of the report with IG Team for review and feedback.
9. Finalize the research report and present to the IG Team and selected stakeholders for validation.

Competencies

• Knowledge of the diverse development constraints, challenges and opportunities related to the informal economy and trade in Africa;
• Hands-on research experience with informal economy actors, civil society, local communities and/or vulnerable groups will be considered an asset;
• Capacity to work in multicultural settings and engage with a diverse set of stakeholders;
• Strong communications, networking and teamwork skills;
• Ability to work with flexibility and deliver on a tight deadlines schedule are also assets;
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.;
• Demonstrated experience in delivering innovative, solutions-driven research analysis to inform development support;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master's degree in development studies, economics, public policy, international relations or a related area;

b. Experience:

• A 7 solid years of research experience in topics related to trade, informal MSMEs and entrepreneurship, value-chains, etc. in African country or regional context;

c. Language****:

• Excellent knowledge of English, including the ability to set out coherent and compelling descriptions and arguments;
• Capacity to communicate fluently with thematic and programmatic experts in the relevant fields;
• Proficiency in French will be considered a strong asset;