International Consultant on CSOs and social service delivery

Background

UNDP contributes to strengthening the democratic principles in Turkmenistan by providing support to development of responsive national institutions, human capacity and fostering inclusive participation of civil society. 

In May 2018, UNDP launched a new project “Empowering Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to participate in policy making and social service delivery”. The main objective of the project is to promote enabling environment at the national level and building capacity of CSOs to engage effectively in social service delivery in Turkmenistan.

Creating enabling environment for development of civil society was identified as an activity in the National Human Rights Action Plan of Turkmenistan for 2016-2020. Development of public sector and wider engagement of the civil society into provision of inclusive quality community-based support services is identified as one of the priorities in the Partnership Framework for Development PFD for 2016-2020 between the Government of Turkmenistan and UN. UNDP Country Program Action Plan (CPAP) for 2016-2020 signed between the Government of Turkmenistan and UNDP, under all Priority Areas directly envisages development of the civil society in Turkmenistan. Development of social services is also central to the attainment of all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to benefit all vulnerable children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

CSOs make essential contributions to the realization and development of inclusive democratic societies. As key actors in promoting development at the local and national level, CSOs roles are pivotal in policy formulation, safeguarding rights, articulating interest, and delivering social services. The CSOs contribution to service delivery as well as policy advocacy/reform and national/local development in Turkmenistan is very minimal.

CSOs in Turkmenistan are still in a nascent stage and facing a number of challenges. There are also limited opportunities for CSOs to generate income to ensure their financial sustainability and independence. Despite those challenges CSOs put their efforts into participating in policy making, community work and promoting social inclusiveness, however their cooperation with the Government is constrained by lack of access to decision makers and absence of platforms for dialogue. At the same time, most of the CSOs work in the area of social services for vulnerable groups (disabilities, single-parenting etc.) Currently, the Government is considered as the main social service provider in the country, whose services are poor and not sufficient to meet the demand. Therefore, social services can be one of the areas where CSOs can play a role and fill in the existing gap and lack of social services.

To address the above, the project aims at creating a strong dialogue between the governmental bodies and CSOs and to remove legal and regulatory barriers for CSOs participation in social service sector, increase knowledge of legislators and government on international practices in social service delivery, and strengthen capacity of CSOs on social work and social service provision.

 Code on Social Protection of Population of Turkmenistan (2012) has provisions on social services in the Section IV, mainly Article 96. The provision describes directions and types of social services, as following:

 “Social services are the provision of social amenities, social and medical services to persons who need outside assistance due to a partial or complete loss of the opportunity to satisfy their basic life needs on their own because of the limitation of their ability to self-service and / or movement, and also on the implementation of measures for their social adaptation and rehabilitation”.

According to the Code, social services can be provided by state and non-state social service institutions. By-laws on social service institutions are developed and approved by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan also provides methodological assistance and monitoring of non-governmental institutions engaged in provision of social services.

In view of the above, the UNDP project is planning to increase knowledge and establish a dialogue between CSOs and state institutions about social service provision and social contracting. Therefore, UNDP is looking for a consultant to provide high level technical expertise and share knowledge about best practices and possibilities to engage CSOs in social service provisions.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of the assignment is to help CSOs and other providers of social services better understand the overall system of social service delivery in Turkmenistan; identify the improvements needed related to their own capacities and the improvements needed in the overall systems of service delivery; and in advocating for improvement. The assignment is also expected to support the Government of Turkmenistan in reforming the social service delivery system and introducing mechanisms for contracting non-state entities to provide social services.

In accordance with the above-mentioned objective of the assignment and under the supervision of the Project Manager, the International Consultant (IC) will work to produce the following:

• Desk review examining the current laws in Turkmenistan, available regulations and other documents related to social service delivery and social contracting;
• Field visit to Turkmenistan to hold:
• Individual meetings with national authorities (Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, Ministry of Education, etc.), state social providers (rehabilitation centers, social service centers, etc.), CSO representatives, and other stakeholders (UNDP, ICNL and other);
• One roundtable meeting organized with the government, CSO representatives and stakeholders to discuss the merits, weaknesses and gaps in the existing social service system and recommendations on how to improve the system of social service delivery by including CSOs;
• Capacity development workshop for CSOs to raise their awareness about the overall system of social service delivery and identify the improvements needed related to their own capacities and the improvements needed in the overall systems of service delivery; and in advocating for improvement.The workshop should focus on the following aspects, but not limited:
• Overview of the concept of social services;
• Overview of international social service good practice models, with examples from the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region;
• Overview of recent legislative trends and reforms in social service programs and policies.
• Examine the role of social services in the context of community capacity building, social capital, and civil society.
• Overview of mechanisms of partnerships between government ministries and CSOs engaged in providing social services.
• Overview of quality assurance of social services provided by CSOs.
• Prepare and submit to UNDP a final report that will provide a brief description of the situation in Turkmenistan with regard to social contracting, including analysis of CSOs role in social service delivery, and recommendations for further improvement of the social service delivery system by including CSOs through social contracting mechanisms. The report should also include suggestions for UNDP for designing future interventions to develop CSOs capacity in social work and support Government of Turkmenistan to reform the national system of social servise delivery.

Deliverables and timeframe:

Deliverable 1:

• Desk review examining the current laws in Turkmenistan, available regulations and other documents related to social service delivery and social contracting.

Location: Home based. Number of days: 4 days.

Deliverable 2:

• six-day mission, which will include:
• Individual meetings with the national partners, service providers, CSOs and other;
• One-day roundtable on social service delivery and social contracting with government and CSOs;
• Three-day workshop on social service delivery for representatives of local CSOs.
• Meeting consultations with UNDP, UN Country Team and partners.

Location: Mission to Turkmenistan. Number of days:  6 days.

Deliverable 3:

• Submit to UNDP final report on conducted mission with recommendations and suggestions on improvement of the social service delivery system, including CSOs.

Location: Home based. Number of days: 4 days.

The expert will work with UNDP daily. He/she will report directly to the Project Manager.

Duration of work:

14 working days in August-September (tbc) of the service with a six-day mission to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Payment conditions:

This is an installment-based contract that should cover the costs of consultancy required to produce the above deliverables. The final schedule of payments will be agreed upon in the beginning of consultancy. Payment will be released in 2 installments: 1st installment: 50% (for completion of the deliverable 1 and 2), and 2nd installment 50% (for 3) – upon timely submission of respective deliverables and their acceptance by UNDP Turkmenistan.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge of and extensive experience working in social services, social work; and non-for-profit management;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Results driven, ability to work under pressure and to meet required deadlines;
• Good understanding and practice of capacity development of adults;
• Cultural sensitivity;
• Diplomatic skills.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree in social work, non-profit management, public administration.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of working experience and expertise in social service delivery, social work, and capacity building of NGOs, with solid experience of facilitating relevant trainings and workshops;
• Experience with adult learning and participatory training methods;
• Good understanding of the UN mandate in the area of democratic governance and human rights.

Language requirements:

• Excellent written and spoken Russian.

Submission of applications:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. All experts applying for this position are required to provide:

• Methodology: All applicants shall submit a detailed methodology indicating phases, tasks, methods, techniques, time, resources, accessibility and tools to be applied for successful completion of assignment;
• Financial Proposal with the references to (1) the daily rate for the assignment and within the timing scale indicated in the present TOR, and (2) any other expenses (including transportation costs, accommodation costs, the possibility of vaccination and etc.). Template of the form can be found at: http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operations/jobs. The UNDP will enter into an Individual Contract based on a lump sum amounts. The financial proposal shall represent a detailed, justified and “all inclusive” amount.  In order to assist UNDP in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount, including: a daily fee for the tasks and an estimated duration as specified in this announcement, travel (to and from the missions), per diems, any other possible costs (including vaccinations, dwelling, communication etc.);
• Cover letter explaining why they are the most suitable candidate for the assignment;
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc.

Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on the combined scoring methodology. When using this method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/Compliant and having received the highest score – out of 100 points;
• Out of the maximum score, the score for technical criteria equals 70% - maximum 70 points, and for financial criteria 30%.

The technical evaluation will take into account the following as per the scoring provided:

• Advanced university degree in social work, non-profit management, public administration – 20 pts;
• At least 7 years of working experience and expertise in social service delivery, social work, and capacity building of NGOs, with solid experience of facilitating relevant trainings and workshops – 20 pts;
• Methodology– 20 pts;
• Results of Interview – 25 pts;
• Good understanding of the UN mandate in the area of democratic governance – 5 pts;
• Fluency in Russian -10 pts.

Financial proposal – 30%.

Additional requirements for recommended contractor:

Recommended contractors aged 62 and older, and if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.