National Consultant – Analysis of the legislative framework and practices of effective community-based DRR in LGs and Local communities (Mjesne zajednice) in BiH

Background

In 2015, UNDP launched the implementation of the Strengthening the Role of Local Communities/Mjesne zajednice in Bosnia and Herzegovina Project, which is financed jointly by the Government of Switzerland and the Government of Sweden. The project goal is to improve quality of life of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) through improving local infrastructure and services, increasing democratic accountability and social inclusion. The chosen means to achieve this goal is through encouraging community-led local development and revitalising of mjesne zajednice (MZs) as the places where government comes closest to the people and as grass-roots organisations that serve communities, with the possibility for real participation and joint action.The Project's implementing strategy is to support and drive forward change from bottom-up by engaging citizens and communities and giving them a voice in local governance processes, and by revitalising MZs as spaces where citizens come together to interact and involve, to identify and solve problems, to transmit their concerns to the local government and participate in the ways it makes its plans, spends their money and takes decisions that affect people’s lives. In doing so, the Project places MZs and their communities at the centre of its work, while also relying on a broad range of relevant stakeholders to sustain and expand Project results and increase democratic accountability. The Project works with 24 LGs and 136 MZs country-wide.

PurposeThe purpose of this TORs is to engage qualified National consultant who will lead the analysis of the legislative framework and practices of effective community-based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Local Governments(LG) and Local communities (Mjesne zajednice) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

ObjectiveThe purpose of this assignment is to develop a comprehensive study that will inform introduction of effective community based DRR in LGs and Local communities (Mjesna zajednica) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.To make disaster risk reduction sustainable in communities, many diverse actors must be involved in the process and committed to follow up further actions. The successful use of a community-based disaster risk reduction approach is based on the combination of all capacities, including all strengths and resources available for reducing disaster risk or impact within a community, society or organization. The common process for most communities involves situation analysis, risk mapping, mitigation activities, community training, and risk monitoring and evaluation.In this regard, involvement of MZs in development of local DRR documents and its implementation is of crucial importance for establishment of effective DRR system in local communitiesMoreover, the Study should incorporate the following:

• Overview of current functioning of community based  civil protection in LGs through assessment of existing relevant  LG documents (i.e. Assessment of threats of natural and other disasters, which includes the assessment of fire risk, as a part of a uniform threats assessment; Protection and Rescue Plan against natural/other disasters; Fire Protection Plan of municipality and city; and Development Program of Protection and Rescue against natural/other disasters in the municipality and city; Training plan for all civil protection structures established by the municipality and city and the population) and practices;
• Mapping of stakeholders involved in community based civil protection at the local level;
• Assess current LG financial capacities to deal with DRR and make projection of the necessary budget funds for each LG in order to establish effective community based DRR system;
•  Overview of technical and human capacities required in order to enable MZs to be productively involved in functioning of effective community based DRR system;
• Based on the above develop set of recommendations and concrete steps for mainstreaming community based DRR into local documents and practices.

Duties and Responsibilities

To make disaster risk reduction sustainable in communities, many diverse actors must be involved in the process and committed to follow up further actions. The successful use of a community-based disaster risk reduction approach is based on the combination of all capacities, including all strengths and resources available for reducing disaster risk or impact within a community, society or organization. The common process for most communities involves situation analysis, risk mapping, mitigation activities, community training, and risk monitoring and evaluation. To make disaster risk reduction sustainable in communities, many diverse actors must be involved in the process and committed to follow up further actions. In this context, the scope of work for this consultancy will focus on three key tasks:

Task 1: Assessment of local legislative regulating DRR/DRM in 7 selected  LGs (3 in each entity and BD) desk review of the existing legislation, documents relevant for DRR/DRM at local level (i.e. Assessment of threats of natural and other disasters, which includes the assessment of fire risk, as a part of a uniform threats assessment; Protection and Rescue Plan against natural/other disasters; Fire Protection Plan of municipality and city; and Development Program of Protection and Rescue against natural/other disasters in the municipality and city;Training plan for all civil protection structures established by the municipality and city and the population) including reports produced by other national consultants by the Project as well as close cooperation with them.Expected duration of this assignment should not exceed 7 expert day

Task 2: Analyse current DRR/DRM practices on local level in at least 7 partner LGs (3 in each entity and BD)In consultation with UNDP project staff, upon conclusion of the first task selected consultant will analyse practices in partner municipality related to Civil protection.

The selected consultant should include as part of this task the following:

• Mapping of stakeholders involved in Civil protection including MZs;
• Analyse current technical and human recourses capacities of selected LGs/MZs for service provision and identify potential further capacity building and technical capacities to be improved both at LG and MZ level;
• Analysis of the current community based Civil protection status/ practices and identification of concrete steps for mainstreaming community based DRR in local documents and practices;
• Under this task the Consultant will conduct the series of interviews with different stakeholders (Heads of LG civil protection units, MZ staff, citizens) to get an overview of key steps in creation of local DRR documents, current MZ role in implementation of the adopted documents as well as identification of legal, technical, and human capacities for MZs to be able to be involved in functioning of effective community based DRR system

Expected duration of this assignment should not exceed 14 expert days.

Task 3: Develop review on findings and final report: Selected consultant is expecting to compile findings of the assessments conducted under the tasks 1 and 2 into comprehensive report that will be structured around topics assessed under task 1 and 2 and with section on main findings and recommendations for identification of mainstreaming of community based DRR in local documents and practices.Timeframe envisaged for this task should not exceed 4 expert days.

Deliverables and timelinesThe Consultant is expected to provide the following three key deliverables:

Deliverables/outputs

#	Deliverables / outputs	# of days per task	Due date	Percentage
1	Deliverable 1: Desk review of the current legislative framework related to DRR in LGs with particular focus on MZ role in the process.	7	May 2019	28.00%
2	Deliverable 2: Assessment of current practices in at least seven (7) partner LGs related to community based DRR /DRM should include: Mapping of stakeholders involved in Civil protection including MZs Analyse current technical and human recourses capacities of selected LGs/MZs for service provision and identify potential further capacity building and technical capacities to be improved both at LG and MZ level Analysis of the current community based Civil protection status/ practices and identification of concrete steps for mainstreaming community based DRR in local documents and practices Under this task the Consultant will conduct the series of interviews with different stakeholders (Heads of LG civil protection units, MZ staff, citizens) to get an overview of key steps in creation of local DRR documents, current MZ role in implementation of the adopted documents as well as identification of legal, technical, and human capacities for MZs to be able to be involved in functioning of effective community based DRR system	14	June 2019	56.00%
	Deliverable 3: Final report with findings and recommendations (the report should be structured around following topics): Overview of the legislative framework. Assessment of the local practices in each partner LG and its alignment with. Identification of concrete steps for mainstreaming community based DRR in local documents and practices	4	July 2019	16.00 %

It is envisaged that the level of effort will not exceed 25 expert days.

Competencies

Core values

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Core competences

• Demonstrates professional competence to meet responsibilities and post requirements and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Results-Orientation: Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals, generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Communication: Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different audiences;
• Team work: Ability to interact, establish and maintain effective working relations with a culturally diverse team;
• Client orientation: Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with national partners and stakeholders and pro-activeness in identifying of beneficiaries and partners’ needs and matching them to appropriate solutions.
• Strong analytical and reporting abilities; Excellent organizational and facilitation skills; Excellent public presentation and moderation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education

• Advanced University degree in law, public administration, political sciences, social sciences or related field.

Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Previous professional experience of relevance to disaster risk reduction/ rescue and protection, strategic planning and management.
• Proven ability to undertake professional research using both quantitative and qualitative methods;
• Proven skills and previous experience in facilitation of public consultative policy development processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, engaging a diverse set of public, non-governmental and civic participants;
• Proven communication and advocacy skills, and ability to work in an environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors including government representatives, donors and other stakeholders;
• Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualize and write concisely and clearly;
• Previous work for UN agencies or concrete work at local government level in the country is considered as unique asset.

Languages Requirements

• Fluency in languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina (excellent writing, editing and communication skills). Fluency in English is an asset.

Other Requirements

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

Award Criteria: The consultancy will be awarded to the highest qualified applicant through the combination of technical qualifications and financial offer.

Evaluation

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, andb) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• * Technical Criteria weight-70%
• * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Documents to Be Included When Submitting the Proposals

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

• Personal CV; Completed and signed the Offeror’s template Confirming Interest and Availability (please follow the link: https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx&action=default);
• Reference to past experience in similar projects
• Brief methodology for this assignment, with the focus on research methods to be used and approach to stakeholder engagement
• Financial offer

Financial Proposal

Contracts based on the lump sum

The financial proposal will specify total lump sum amount for the assignment with the breakdown of the costs per deliverable and travel costs.Travel:All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.

Long/Shortlisting CriteriaCriteria Weight  Max Points

• University degree in law, public administration, political sciences, social sciences or related field, 30% 30;
• Relevant experience in similar assignments  30% 30;
• Methodological approach to the assignment and stakeholder’s involvement 30% 30;
• Previous experience with UNDP or international UN Agencies 10% 10

Total 100% 100Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points would be considered for an interview.

Technical Evaluation CriteriaCriteria Weight  Max. Point

• Qualification Score 50% 50
• Interview 50% 50
• Total 100% 100

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points would be considered for the Final Evaluation

Final EvaluationThe final evaluation score will be based on Combined Scoring Method where technical evaluation will be weighted a maximum of 70% and combined with the financial offer which will be weighted a maximum of 30%.

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

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 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.