Consultants Team for the Development of National Human Development Report (NHDR)s

Background

About the Human Development Report (HDR)

Global Human Development Report has been produced for the last 26 years while three National Human Development Reports has been produced in Namibia. These reports have focused on diverse topics related to human development and development of nations with the central theme being that “Development is about people”. The HDRs have highlighted the fact that nations that have attained and sustained high levels of development have all focused on development of their people. The reports have argued that human development is about people expanding their choices and being able to live full and creative lives, with freedom and dignity.

Purpose of the HDR

The main objective of the HDR is to help generate national debate and dialogue around policies and actions needed to accelerate human development. While economic growth; increased trade and investments; and technological advancement are all important considerations in promoting development, they are, nonetheless merely a means to an end. The end result should be the realization of human development, which is about expanding the range of opportunities available to people and the choices that they can make. People are considered to have experienced human development if they live long and healthy lives; are educated; have a decent standard of living; and enjoy political and civil freedom to participate in the life of their communities. Thus, an HDR is an important tool in driving the evolution of the concept of human development by advocating that people should be put at the centre of development, and emphasising that development is for the people and should be carried out by the people.

HDR Activities in Namibia

To date only three NHDRs on the following themes: Alcohol and Human Development in Namibia (1999); Gender Violence in Namibia (2001); and My Future, My Nation: Investing in Youth and Human Development (2009/2010), have been produced. In keeping up with the principles guiding the production of HDRs, to take ownership of the HDR process as a country, based on the stated principles, the 2018 NHDR will be produced by the National Planning Commission (NPC) in partnership with the UNDP.

Choice of the Theme of the Fourth NHDR

A number of studies have been conducted in Namibia especially on poverty levels and its main drivers. However, the same level of analysis has never been extended to inequality and disparities apart from highlighting inequality levels. The theme for the 2018 NHDR is, Addressing Inequality and Disparities: Towards a New Dignified life for All Namibians.

While poverty has been reducing significantly since independence, the same cannot be said about inequality especially in the more recent past. It is thus crucial to understand the dynamics of income inequality and disparities in Namibia and propose possible policy interventions to arrest the current status. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The NHDR Consultant Team is expected to consist of 3-5 team members with relevant national experience and expertise. The NHDR Consultant Team is led by Lead Author, who reports to Technical team. The team leader provides guidance and technical services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. The NHDR Lead Author works in close collaboration with UNDP Namibia and National Planning Commission.

Summary of key functions

The objectives of the NHDR Consultant Team are as follows:

•  Coordinate the process of preparing the Namibia NHDR 2018 on Addressing Inequality and Disparities: Towards a New Dignified life for All Namibians.
• Contribute substantively to the preparation of the report.
• Promote a participatory approach to the preparation of the report, and participate in its promotion and dissemination.

The team leader coordinate’s the NHDR team ensuring that:

• A smooth communication among all team members takes place in all phases of the process
• An efficient and effective division of labour allows all team members to focus on their discipline, and the specific approach required by the various sectors, while facilitating cross fertilisation through brainstorming, joint reviews and collaboration.

All team members respect standards and procedures as codified by the NHDR Concept Note and the NHDR Toolkit 

Contribute to the preparation of the report in terms of:

•  Undertaking quantitative analysis with the objective of developing a country specific metric to measure inequality.
•  Drafting the various chapters or sections including the conclusions and recommendations emanating from the analysis.
• Provide on-going guidance, advice and substantive comments to the contributions at defined stages in the process, and ensures adequate reviews and consultations with stakeholders.
• Edit the various drafts of the NHDR to ensure consistency throughout the report and to include comments and suggestions received during the consultation process to the possible extent.

Ensure a participatory approach and the promotion of the report by:

• Ensuring that all members of the NHDR team consult relevant stakeholders during the preparation of their contributions
• Actively participating in the consultation process organised throughout the preparation of the report.
• In close collaboration with the NPC and UNDP office, the NHDR team leader briefs counterparts on process and findings as they emerge.
• Participating at the launch of the NHDR and other follow up events.

Summary of Deliverables

• Inception Report highlighting the proposed methodological approach and the timelines, to be provided within 2 weeks from the start of the contract
• Draft NHDR Report to be provided within 2 months from the start of the contract, to be shared with stakeholders for inputs
• Final Draft Report to be presented to stakeholders through a validation meeting by the Consultant Team by the end of contract
• Final report that includes comments received during the validation meeting.

Competencies

• Demonstrates leadership, team building and coordinating skills;
• Demonstrates commitment to human development principles and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Provides helpful feedback and advice;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:      

Lead Author:

• Recognized degree (preferably PHD level) in social sciences, with focus on inequality and disparities.

Team Members:

• Recognized degree (preferably master’s level) in social sciences, with focus on inequality and disparities.

Experience:

Lead Author:

• At least 15 years of relevant experience in the Academia or research institutions, with a focus on socio-economic analysis;
• Experience with gendered analysis and the development of composite indices, and social impact assessment;
•  Experience in conducting research Sub Saharan Africa, Southern Africa and Namibia in particular is required;
• Experience with international organisations is considered to be an asset.

Team Members:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in the Academia or research institutions, with a focus on socio-economic analysis;
• Experience with gendered analysis and the development of composite indices, and social impact assessment;
• Experience in conducting research in Namibia and demonstration of the previous (quality) outputs is required.

Language:

• Excellent command of English.

Criteria for selection:   

Technical Proposal (70%)

•  Expertise of the Firm [20%]
• Methodology, Its Appropriateness to the Condition and Timeliness of the Implementation Plan [40%]
• Management Structure and Qualification of Key Personnel [10%]

Financial Proposal (30%)

• To be computed as a ratio of the Proposal’s offer to the lowest price among the proposals received by UNDP.

Recommended Presentation of Proposals and Application process. 

Download the following documents from UNDP Procurement Notice website Link  below,

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=46381

• Request For Proposal
• Terms of Reference
• General terms of Conditions 

The selection will be based on a competitive basis and will comply with UNDP procurement regulations.

Interested bidders are invited to submit sealed Technical and Financial proposal as indicated in the RFP document  hand delivered to:

United Nations Development Programme

UNDP Reception, 1st Floor UN House,

38 Stein Street, Klein Windhoek, Private Bag 13329, Windhoek.

or upload RFP documents  opon appliacation as one attachement only on this platform.

Note: Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into one single file.

E-mail enquerires: - registry.na@undp.org