National Consultant for Digital Centre Management

Background

A fundamental government responsibility is providing information and services aimed at improving the social and economic welfare of its citizens. During the first phase of the Access to Information (A2I) programme, fundamental progress was made in improving access to public services through electronic means. However, it is critical to expand the breadth and width of such simplified services and improve the service delivery model to counter the impact of widespread outdated manual processes, resistance to change by civil service staff and a lack of transparency that still frustrates citizens in their attempts to avail of government information and services.

The objective of the project is to increase transparency, improve governance, and reduce the time, difficulty and costs of obtaining government services for underserved communities of Bangladesh. This is to be achieved by the following 4 components of the project:

Component 1: Strengthening existing e-services and launching a second generation of integrated, inter-operable e/m-government applications; (e-Service)

Component 2: Sensitizing government officials, training for service providers and expanding digital literacy among the general public; (Capacity and Awareness)

Component 3: Forging strong policy and strategy links to ensure implementation of needed legal and regulatory changes in support of the project; (Enabling Environment) and

Component 4: Promoting innovation in the delivery of e-services. (Innovation)

‘Access to Information-II is looking to recruit a National Consultant for Digital Centre Management who will be responsible for doing the ground work, event management and domain knowledge sharing and assist the team leader for the management of the Digital Centre, Digital Financial Services and Assisted e-Commerce initiative of the project.

The project is funded by the Government of Bangladesh, UNDP and other development partners, and is implemented by PMO and Cabinet Division.

Objectives

The overall objective of the assignment will be the following:

• To Assist implementing business model for the e-service outlets at various tiers of local government institutions and ensure financial sustainability of the Centres.
• Aid ensuring specific Policy Guideline for the operation of Digital Centres.
• Directly Correspond with Field Administration to ensure strong monitoring and evaluating system by co ordinating with field administration and local Govt. bodies.
• Arrange Capacity Development Training for the Urban Digital Centres in Pourashava and City Corporation with clearly defined performance targets.
• Providing necessary support for Digital Financial Services at the Digital Centres for under-served citizen.
•  Co-ordinate with the e commerce cluster for establishing a vibrant assisted e-commerce environment for Digital Centres.
• To make effective correspondence with the communication team as the focal point of Digital Access team.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as and when required assigned by the team leader.

Duties and Responsibilities

The assignment will focus on the following areas and activities:

• Implementation of Business Model for the e-service outlets at various tiers of Local Government Institutions.
• Ensure Financial Sustainability of the Digital Centre.
• Activate the Urban Digital Centres in Pourashava and City Corporation.
• Ensure integration of business viable public and private services with the Urban Digital Centres.
• Establish a vibrant partnership with Department of Post for the adoption of Post e-Centres within the network of Digital Centre.
• Coordination with the Cabinet Division, Local Government Division, Divisional Commissioner Office and District Administration to ensure trouble-shooting support to the Digital Centre entrepreneurs.
• Exploring partnership with different public and private organizations to enable their services from Digital Centre.
• Development of Eksheba service locator system for the enhanced monitoring of the digital centres
• Enable Digital Financial Services at the Digital Centre for under-served citizens.
• Implementation of assisted e-commerce initiative partnering with different public and private organizations
• Develop and implement Promotional plan, in collaboration with the communication team to ensure Proper promotion of the digital centres.

Supervision and Performance Evaluation

The Consultant for Digital Centre management will report to the Local Development Specialist. The Local Development Specialist will be responsible for reviewing the performance and approve the deliverables of the Consultant.

Timeframe and deadlines

The Assignment will be 242 days over 11 months.

Reports

The National Consultant for Digital centre Management will be working with the Digital Access team of the Access to Information Programme - II. Therefore, the activities of the incumbent will be regularly monitored by the Local Development Specialist.

Inputs

The final Products of the assignment will be the following:

• Draft Inception Report - 22 days of contract signing
• Report on Enabling & Strengthening Digital Financial Services at UDCs for under-served citizens. - 44 days of contract signing
• Completion Report on holding Workshops with Recommendations from Workshops - 66 days of contract signing
• Completion Report on Integrating API for 10 services - 88 days of contract signing
• Completion Report on 4 Events for Capacity Development of Urban Digital Centers - 110 days of contract signing
• Completion Report on 4 Events for Capacity Development of Urban Digital Centres - 132 days of contract signing
• Completion Report on Instituting e-commerce system at the UDCs - 154 days of contract signing
• Delivery of Promotional Plan - 176 days of contract signing
• Delivery of UDC Locator service - 198 days of contract signing
• Report on Enabling & Strengthening Digital Financial Services at UDCs for under-served citizens - 220 days of contract signing
• Completion Report on holding Workshops for policy development with Recommendations from Workshops - 242 days of contract signing

Tentative Payment Schedule

• The incumbent will be paid on deliverable basis.

Competencies

Corporate

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Familiar with and shares the vision of human development as laid out in the flagship HDR series

Functional

• Encourages Knowledge Sharing and Learning
• Disseminates specialized knowledge and experience
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Able to perform a variety of standard specialized and non-specialized tasks and work processes that are fully documented, researched, recorded and reported
• Able to review a variety of data, identify and adjust discrepancies, identify and resolve operational problems
• Able to perform work of confidential nature and handle a large volume of work
• Has good knowledge of financial rules and regulations.
• Able to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system.

Leadership and Self-Management

• Focuses on result for the client
• Has demonstrable leadership skill.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure
• Demonstrates openness to change
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view

Language Required: Fluency in speaking and writing in English

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications

• Masters in Any Discipline preferably in Public Administration/ English/Media& Communication

Years of experience

• At least 6 years experiences     
• At least 4 years’ experience to work with filed administration/ Local Government initiatives.
• At least 1 year experience in Media and Communication sector.

Evaluation of the Candidates:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

Cumulative analysis-

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant up on Cumulative Analysis/evaluation and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% mark in technical evaluation will be considered eligible for financial evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks)

• Year of experience in Civil service, filed administration. (20 marks)
• Experience in implementing local government initiatives. (20 marks)
• Experience in implementing donor funded project. (10 marks)
• Experience in managing and developing promotion and media. (20 marks)

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks)

All technical qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below.

The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula:

p = y (µ/z)

Where:

• p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
• y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
• µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

Financial Milestone:

• 1st Payment- 9.09 % of the total contract amoutn: Draft Inception Report Submitted;
• 2nd Payment- 9.09 % of the total contract amoutn: Report submitted on Enabling & Strengthening Digital Financial Services at UDCs for under-served citizens;
• 3rd Payment- 9.09 % of the total contract amoutn: Completion Report on holding Workshops with Recommendations from Workshops;
• 4th Payment- 9.09 % of the total contract amoutn: Completion Report on Integrating API for 10 services;
• 5th Payment- 9.09 % of the total contract amoutn: Completion Report on 4 Events for Capacity Development of Urban Digital Centres;
• 6th Payment- 9.09 % of the total contract amoutn: Completion Report on 4 Events for Capacity Development of Urban Digital Centres;
• 7th Payment- 9.09 % of the total contract amoutn: Completion Report on Instituting e-commerce system at the UDCs;
• 8th Payment- 9.09 % of the total contract amoutn: Delivery of Promotional Plan;
• 9th Payment- 9.09 % of the total contract amoutn: Delivery of Eksheba mobile App (Beta version);
• 10th Payment- 9.09 % of the total contract amoutn: Delivery of Eksheba mobile App (Final version);
• Final Payment- 9.09 % of the total contract amoutn: Delivery of UDC Locator service (Beta version).

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Proposers who shall not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation.

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references; P11 can be downloaded from the link below: http://www.bd.undp.org/content/bangladesh/en/home/operations/jobs/
• Financial Proposal: Financial Proposal has to be submitted through a standard interest and availability template which can be downloaded from the link below:

http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.