National Consultant for improvement of processes and procedures associated with issuing construction related permits on local level (North-West Cluster)

Background

Financed by the Government of Switzerland and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Municipal Environmental and Economic Governance (MEG) Project is a newly-launched 12-year intervention in the domain of local governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Project’s overall goal is defined as follows: Local governments, assigned with appropriate competences and finances, have improved their democratic governance, apply sound public policy and performance management systems, and provide public services in an inclusive, effective and efficient manner, particularly those related to economic and environmental sectorsThe expected concrete improvements the Project will contribute to are clustered in three outcomes, as follows:

• Outcome 1: Supported local governments apply effective development management systems characterized by stronger oversight of the legislative and greater accountability towards the citizens;
• Outcome 2: Citizens and businesses in target localities benefit from good quality services provided by LGs in the economic and environmental sectors;
• Outcome 3: Improved regulatory framework at higher and local government levels and pro-active.

The Project’s territorial focus is on the North-West part of the country (including Una-Sana Canton and Prijedor region) and the North-East region (the wider Doboj-Tuzla area), covering 18 partner local governments (LGs): Bihac, Bosanska Krupa, Cazin, Doboj, Gracanica, Gradacac, Gradiška, Kalesija, Kostajnica, Kozarska Dubica, Prijedor, Prnjavor, Sanski Most, Tešanj, Teslic, Tuzla, Velika Kladuša and Žepce.The Project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the FBiH Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, the Ministry for Administration and Local Self-Government of Republika Srpska (RS), the RS Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and both entity Associations of Municipalities and Cities (AMCs).This consultancy will take place within the Project’s economic development component, seeking to contribute to improvements in local business environment and economic governance in partner LGs. The purpose of the consultancy is to improve selected  LGs’ procedures and practices of issuing construction-related permits, addressing issues that may hinder new investments and economic growth. The objective of the assignment will be to provide analytical and expert assistance (TA) to the selected partner LGs on:

• Implementation of “Model for monitoring efficiency” and continuous improvement of processes related to issuing construction-related permits (hereinafter – the Monitoring model);
• Implementation of recommendations for improvement that were made during the technical assistance provided in 2017, with specific focus on establishing/improvement of one-stop shops. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The activities under this ToR continue to support partner LGs in upgrading processes and procedures for issuing construction-related permits. Implementation of the developed Monitoring model and MEG project’s previously provided recommendations will be supported through TA provided by the Consultant.The consultancy will provide support to LGs to:

• Identify the most efficient One-stop shops model, or to improve existing ones;
• Solve all local level administrative challenges related to establishment of One-stop shops;
• Establish/improve functions of One-stop shops;
• Implement agreed recommendations for improvements, and
• Implement the Monitoring model.

The Consultant is expected to visit each target LG at least once.

More specifically, the Consultant will have to complete the following tasks: 

Task 1: Support implementation of the Monitoring modelAs the basis for his/her work, the Consultant will become familiar with the developed Monitoring model. The MEG project team will provide the relevant inputs.The Consultant is expected to:

• Conduct consultancy with relevant representatives of selected LGs to identify progress made during the implementation of the Monitoring model and recognize main challenges;
• Provide TA during the implementation of the Monitoring model, and
• Provide a report on offered TA.

The submitted Report will contain the following information:

• Methodology for providing technical assistance (TA) (approach and tools);
• Description of provided TA and achieved progress/results;
• Recommendations for future improvements (for each LG).

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by September 2018 and the level of effort will not exceed 9 expert days. 

Task 2: Deliver TA on implementation of recommendations from 2017 and establishment/improvement of One-stop shops

As the basis for his/her work, the Consultant will become familiar with the relevant findings, recommendations and results of the TA provided on improvement of processes and procedures for issuing construction related permits, as well as the progress made in 2017. All these inputs will be provided by the MEG project team.

The Consultant is expected to:

• Provide TA during the implementation of recommendations from 2017;
• Support identification of the most suitable model of One-stop shop, or improvement of the existing ones;
• Provide TA in process of overcoming local level administrative challenges related to establishing the One-stop shop;
• Work on establishment/improvement of functions of the One-stop shop.

The Consultant will provide two reports, the mid-term report on tailored TA and the final report on tailored TA provided to the selected LGs.These Reports will contain following information:

• Description of provided TA and achieved progress/results,
• Recommendations for future improvements (for each LG).

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by mid-December 2018 and the level of effort will not exceed 15 expert days.

Deliverables/outputs

Deliverables-outputs/ # of days per task/Due date/Percentage

• Report on TA provided under Task 1 to the selected LGs (the structure previously agreed) submitted and approved by the MEG team. 9 September 30, 2018 37.5;
• The mid-term report on tailored TA provided under Task 2 to the selected LG (the structure previously agreed) submitted and approved by the MEG team.   7 September 30, 2018 29.2;
• The final report on tailored TA provided under Task 2 to the selected LG (the structure previously agreed) submitted and approved by the MEG team. 8 December 20, 2018 33.3.

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
• Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
• Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
• Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives.

People Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
• Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior;
• Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
• Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

Partnering and Networking:

• Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
• Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously.

Results-Orientation:

• Plans and procedures quality results to meet established goals.

Communication:

• Technical writing skills, formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
• Strong communication skills;
• Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
• Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

• Strong analytical skills;
• Knowledge in processes and procedures related to issuing of urban, construction and permits for use;
• Demonstrates substantive knowledge on administrative procedures and processes with an emphasis on local communities;
• Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently;
• Initiative and sound judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education

• University degree in law, economics, public administration or other relevant field. Advanced degree will be an asset.

Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant experience;
• Previous experience, practical work and delivery of technical assistance to local and other governments in the field of policy reform is required;
• Practical experience in providing technical assistance to the LGs on improvement of the processes related to the issuing construction, urban and permit for use;

Languages Requirements

• Fluency in official Bosnia and Herzegovina languages, and in English.

Other Requirements

• Excellent computer skills (MS Office applications) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource

Lump sum contractsThe financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diem, and number of anticipated working days).Travel: All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.

Criteria Weight  Max. PointTechnical  

• Demonstrates substantive knowledge on local level administrative procedures and processes related to the issuing construction, urban and permit for use, based on the evaluation of sample of previous documents relevant for engagement done by the consultant  20% 20;
• Previous experience, practical work and delivery of technical assistance to local and other governments in the field of policy reform is required 20% 20;
• Practical experience in providing technical assistance to the LGs on improvement of the processes related to the issuing construction, urban and permit for use.  30% 30

Financial 30% 30

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

• Completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (downloadable from http://www.ba.undp.org/content/bosnia_and_herzegovina/en/home/operations/jobs.html), including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references;
• Proposal:

o Cover Letter;o A sample of previous documents relevant for engagement done by the consultant.

• Financial proposal which will separately specify professional fee, indicating number of anticipated working days, travel costs (air-ticket or use of private vehicle), living allowance, and all other applicable costs.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 62 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.