Knowledge sharing consultant, Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP's Strategic Plan. BPPS's staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP's Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data-driven including in its programme support efforts.

The demand for Development Minerals is increasing rapidly. This demand is driven by urbanization, infrastructure developments, clean energy production and industrialisation in the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).

Development Minerals are mined, processed, manufactured and used domestically in industries such as construction, manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture. These types of minerals have a different risk profile in contrast to the remainder of the mining sector, particularly to large-scale high-value mining. The sector is also dominated by artisanal, small and medium scale domestic businesses, with a large proportion of informal operators.

Even though the Development Minerals sector is more employment-generating and poverty-reducing, it has a long history of policy neglect. In response to this, Phase I of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, implemented between 2015 and 2019, successfully brought the sector to the forefront of the development agenda. The Programme is financed by the European Commission and UNDP and is implemented by UNDP at the request of the ACP Group of States.

Based on the lessons learned from Phase I of the Programme and the consensus that emerged under the Mosi-oa-Tunya Declaration, Phase II will continue to provide training and capacity development support to Artisanal and Small-Scale Enterprises (ASMEs), processing enterprises, their associations, the public institutions that support and regulate them and the social stakeholders impacted by minerals development. The aim is to achieve better livelihoods for ASMEs through higher employment and incomes. These objectives are met by implementing activities in the following areas: 1) Improving the business environment and formalising the operations of ASMEs; 2) Enhancing their entrepreneurial skills and improving access to finance, technologies and markets; 3) Strengthening social and environmental safeguards in mining and quarrying; 4) Supporting women-owned and/or women-run ASMEs; and 5) Facilitating inter-ACP knowledge exchange on Development Minerals.

The Programme contributes to the achievements of the ACP’s Framework of Action on the Development of the Mineral Resources Sector; the ACP-EU Joint Cooperation Framework for Private Sector Development; the Africa Mining Vision (AMV); the Sustainable Development Goals; the African Union’s Agenda 2063; and to UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2018-2021.

An important part of the Phase II of the programme is peer learning between ACP countries and beyond through knowledge and experience sharing on the above areas of the programme. In this regard, the programme is collaborating with the University of Queensland to support the facilitation of the Delve Exchange network between stakeholders in Development Minerals.

The Delve Exchange is a global online knowledge exchange network by artisanal and small-scale miners and quarry workers to facilitate good practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Delve Exchange will utilise accessible online technologies to facilitate regional and global knowledge exchange, led by recognised ASM leaders. The Delve Exchange will include Delve Exchange Groups for six regions, facilitated through WhatsApp. Members of the Exchange Groups will share good practices and seek peer support through videos or voice recordings, documents, photos or drawings. Each regional network will hold monthly Delve Exchange Forums through Zoom. In addition, the Delve Exchange will seek access to selected training opportunities for its members.

The Delve Exchange partners include the Association of Women in Mining in Africa, The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute, the World Bank, the OECD and the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, implemented by the UNDP. The Delve Exchange was established with funding from the COVID-19 emergency window for the ASM sector from the World Bank’s Extractives Global Programmatic Support (EGPS) Trust Fund. A team from the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute will support six Regional Knowledge Exchange Coordinators who will facilitate the Networks.

 Specifically, the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme will facilitate submissions by the ASM associations that have participated in the Programme and/ or conducted COVID business continuity and pandemic response activities of the Programme (in its focus countries, including Uganda, Guinea, Zambia, Cameroon, Fiji and Jamaica). The Programme is seeking a Knowledge sharing consultant, Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining. The consultant will support the joint activity between the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme implemented by UNDP and the University of Queensland under Delve Exchange network.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Programme Manager, the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme.

Functions/key results expected:

Summary of key functions:

The consultant will undertake the following functions:

1. Mobilise small grant recipients of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Program and small ASM associations working with the UNDP to join the Delve Exchange WhatsApp Network.

The overall objective is to mobilise develop a strategy for formalization of the ASM sector and a structured business acceleration package. Improving the business environment and formalizing the operations of ASMEs is extremely beneficial for a better livelihood. The strategy will lead to policy actions to transform the artisanal mining into a more transparent and well-regulated sector that generates improved incomes to the ASM.

2. Share their progress with other ASM associations globally through Practice Stories on the Delve Exchange WhatsApp Network.

‘Practice Stories’ are short stories by members of the Network that share knowledge or experience about a particular topic or practice. The Stories:

•  may be submitted in video or audio format using WhatsApp’s simple video and audio record functions (5 min maximum) or as a short document (2 pages) (further information on format is to be provided)

•  can range from informal and conversational to formal and professionally produced.

•  will be based on templates and examples provided by the UQ support team (in English, Spanish and French).

•  will cover a range of relevant topics related to ASM, including but not limited to mine and quarry management; health, safety and environmental management; women’s employment; technical skills and technology, etc.

3.  In addition to the open Delve Exchange Knowledge Network, contribute to a parallel, curated WhatsApp group where only the Regional Knowledge Exchange Coordinator will post announcements and selected contributions.

4.  Provide input into Delve Exchange plans.

Intellectual Property:

All information pertaining to this programme as well as outputs produced under this contract shall remain the property of the UNDP who shall have exclusive rights over their use. Except for purposes of this assignment, the products shall not be disclosed to the public nor used in whatever format without written permission of UNDP in line with the national and International Copyright Laws applicable.

Deliverables/Milestones	Target     timeline	Estimated           duration
At least 30 representatives or members of ASMEs/ cooperatives from 6 focus countries of the Development Minerals programme joined the Delve Exchange network, including a minimum of 5 from Jamaica.	15 November 2021	4 days
At least 20 ‘Practice stories’ produced, at least three per focus country, and shared by the members of the network mobilized by the consultant	Three practice stories per month from October’25 to February’22 created by self or by others through coaching by the consultant.	8 days
Participation in and contribution to the Delve Exchange facilitators’ network and Delve Exchange events	Throughout the duration of the contract (until April 2022)	3 days
Total:		15 working days

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
• Act as a team player while also taking individual initiatives to complete duties and responsibilities; and
• A culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Functional Competencies:

• In-depth skills and knowledge of the development minerals sector.
• Advanced skills in training materials development and training delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to lead the organization of training and outreach events.
• Strong competence in leading the organization of training and outreach events.
• Excellent skills in policy advisory and technical support.
• Strong communication skills.
• Excellent report writing and data management skills.
• Ability to work as a member of a team as well as independently.
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Initiative and sound judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in social science, business administration, economics, and other related fields

Experience

• Minimum 4 years' experience working with formal and informal women ASMEs
• Experience working with ASM mining Associations and small grants beneficiaries, preferably in ACP countries
• Participated in training programmes under the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme is an asset.
• Digital / social media engagement skills and experience in report writing, on topics related to ASM.

Language

• Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; 

Application Submission Process:

The application submission is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications:

Step 1: Interested individual consultants must include the following documents when submitting the applications in UNDP job shop (Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded therefore please include all docs in one file):

• Personal History Form (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 (the template can be downloaded from this link: http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc
• An updated curriculum vitae.

Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal

Applicants are instructed to submit their financial proposals in US Dollars or EURO for this consultancy to procurement.be@undp.org using the financial proposal template available here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=45780. The proposals should be sent via email with the following subject heading: “Financial Proposal/Knowledge sharing consultant/LVMM by latest October 17th, 2021. Proposals to be received after the deadline will be rejected. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal should be all-inclusive and include a breakdown. The term ‘all-inclusive” implies that all costs (monthly professional fees, travel-related expenses if applicable, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the financial proposal. 

Application Evaluation Process

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis methodology (weighted scoring method), where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

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

Technical Criteria weight: [70%]

Financial Criteria weight:  [30%]

Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 70% on the Technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 100 points:

• Minimum 4 years experience working with formal and  informal women ASMEs (30 points);
• Experience working in the field with ASM mining Associations (20 points);
• Digital / social media engagement skills and experience in report writing, on topics related to ASM (20 points);
• Experience working in the field with ASM mining Associations and small grants beneficiaries (15 points).
• Fluency in English, both written and oral (15 points).

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

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

UNDP is applying fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their price proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores. Please go the following link for the General Conditions of Individual Contracts: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=201288

UNDP retains the right to contact references directly.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when traveling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org 

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.