Overview : Consultancy Title: Individual Consultant | Project Name: Support Tonga. Integration of NCDs into Trade Policy Development | Duty Station: Nuku’alofa, Tonga with travel within Tonga | Duration of the Contract: 25 working days | Date of contract: November 2017 – 31 January 2018 | Application Deadline: 3rd November 2017 |
Proposal should be submitted through etenderbox.pacific@undp.org no later than 3rd November 2017. Objectives: In support to the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation and Labour of Tonga UNDP is recruiting a Consultant to lead a consultative in-country study to identify critical NCD trade-related issues for incorporation into Tonga’s Trade Policy Framework in order to achieve greater policy coherence between health and trade objectives in Tonga. The consultant will support the ministry to: - Identify specific and relevant trade and trade development related issues of relevance and of particular importance to the National response to the NCD epidemic and the high prevalence of NCD risk factors that should be factored into the Tonga’s Trade Policy
Identify, analyze and confirm availability and effectiveness of specific trade related institutional arrangements with relevant stakeholders to address NCD risk factors in Tong |
Background Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) represent the leading causes of premature deaths in Tonga and a major drag on the economy. The World Bank study estimates that up to 12% of the country’s 2010 GDP and 18.5% of the workforce could be wiped out by NCDs by 2040. Tonga is making important investments to address NCDs. The kingdom has established a Health Promotion Foundation, and has developed successive National NCD Strategic Plans to implement and deliver effective interventions. A National coordination mechanism is in place and there is strong political support for addressing NCDs thru a multisectoral approach. Addressing NCDs is explicit in the National Development Strategy which call for “a stronger and more integrated approach by all parts of society, to address communicable and non-communicable disease, significantly cutting the rate of these diseases and the burden they place upon communities and the economy”[1]. Two national NCD STEPS surveys were carried out in 2004 and 2012 (and a third in 2017 yet to be analysed). These surveys show very high prevalence of NCD risk factors but also improvement in the numbers of people physically active and eating adequate amounts of fruit and vegetable. In 2016 Tonga with the SPC organized the first Regional NCD summit. Despite these efforts and recent progress the NCD epidemic continues to outpace the response. In 2015 a mission by the United Nations Pacific Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases found that there is significant technical expertise and commitment for support action against NCDs in sectors such as commerce and labour, education, agriculture and civil society. The mission also found that there was high level political commitment to address NCD across different sector sin Tonga. Research in the region and in Tonga has clearly established that trade and trade policies had significant influence on cost and availability of food and non-food products. It is evident that trade has both positive and negative, potential and actual influence on all key risk factors for NCDs (Tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, poor diet and low levels of physical activity). The Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation and Labour of Tonga recognizes that the tools used in trade development, business licensing, patent protection, entrepreneurship development, tariff administration and investment promotion can have significant impacts both negative or positive on health and the NCD epidemic. The purpose of this work -which will be based on desk review and extensive consultation/interviewing with relevant stakeholders in Tonga- is to support the Trade Policy Framework development process to minimize conflicts, maximize synergies and avoid unintended incoherence between trade and health interests. This approach is consistent with and supports Tonga’s Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 call for more progressive Tonga supporting higher quality of life for all. |
Scope of work/Expected Output Under the guidance of designated official from the Tonga Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation and Labour and in close coordination with UNDP regional adviser on Health & development. The Consultant will have the following specific responsibilities/tasks: - Examination of policy coherence/incoherence between trade and public health sectors (e.g to what extent the objectives of trade and those of health are mutually supportive?) in Tonga. Assess the existing governance mechanisms that could contribute to achieve greater trade-health collaboration (pro-health trade policies and pro trade health policies)
- Investigate the actual and potential effects of NCDs (e.g available data/information both qualitative and quantitative on the burden of disease, health costs, impact on productivity, etc…) on the development of trade and on trade performance in Tonga particularly competitiveness of the private sector; export performance; and investment inflows.
- Assess the availability of and analyze relevant NCD-related trade data and systems to gather/analyze evidence and monitor trends (e.g in-flows of unhealthy products such as fatty meats, trans fat, palm oil, tobacco, alcohol and vice versa: fruits and vegetable, lean meat, fish, sporting equipment, etc…)
- Provide an analysis of existing trade laws, policies, regulations and procedures including WTO TRIPS agreement and IPR and how they may have contributed to a) reducing and b) increasing NCD risk factors in Tonga; provide general and or specific recommendations on ways of increasing the gains and reducing the challenges.
- Investigate the potential impact of free trade agreements (PACER Plus in particular) and investment agreement on health with a focus on NCD and NCD risk factors. Propose recommendations to trade negotiators from Tonga to ensure they develop better knowledge of the trade and health linkages in the context of Tonga and are able to advance the interest of Tongans.
- Assessment of the extent of industry interference in trade policy making and mechanisms to minimize such influence.
- Establish the extent of awareness, among the business community in Tonga, of NCD risk factors. To what extent business community in Tonga is concerned/ sensitive to health/ NCDs? what are the demands and opportunities from the business community in relation to health/NCDs if any at all?
- Identify businesses that are sensitive to NCDs/ NCD risk factors in their core business activity (e.g health conscious businesses, health promoting businesses, physical activity related businesses, healthy foods, etc…) and explore further opportunities for NCD-sensitive investments in private sector development e.g. restaurants serving healthy meals, sporting and physical activity facilities, wellness oriented infrastructure, experts/ motivation speakers.
- Assess current institutional capacity (including interventions by business associations) to deal with NCD risk factors if any. Assessment should identify (a) how satisfactorily are these working? (b) How these services (if any) are delivered in the small islands? (c) to what extent monitoring, evaluation and other quality assurance measures are in place and working? (d) What problems have been experienced? (e) what solutions have been recommended and implemented successfully
- Establish how consumers rights are protected e.g. existence of consumer associations/councils; the effectiveness of services provided by the Consumer Protection division at MCCTIL with specific reference to NCD risk factors/ health promotion.
- Evaluate the current approach to investment attraction, promotion and competitiveness with a view to identifying investment attraction and promotion activities that are aimed at attracting/encouraging business ventures that support reduction of NCD risk factors/ promoting health and wellbeing e.g. tax exemptions, special zones, subsidies, other incentive measures.
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Resources Provided - The Consultant will be based in Tonga (Nuku’alofa) with required travel within Tonga for stakeholders consultations
- Since travel will be on Adhoc basis, UNDP will purchase air tickets for the Consultant based on the most direct route and cost effective route as per UNDP Travel Guideline.
- UNDP will also provide Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) to the Consultant for the duration of his/her stay at outside of Nuku’alofa as per approved travel plan within Tonga.
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Supervision/Reporting - The Consultant will work under the close instructions of the designated Official from the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation and Labour in Tonga
- The Consultant is expected to also report directly to the UNDP
- All reports and documents relating to the assignment will be submitted to the UNDP Pacific Office based in Fiji.
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Requirement for Qualifications & Experience - At least a bachelor’s degree with extensive coverage of trade and business-related subjects. Master degree an asset.
- Extensive (5 or more years) experience in business or a trade development environment including conducting various types of evaluation including qualitative and quantitative data collection and consultative process with wide range of stakeholders;
- Sound knowledge of the NCD situation in Tonga and understanding of social and structural determinants of NCD epidemic in Tonga;
- Demonstrated experience in managing and coordinating evaluation/research exercises, delivering agreed outputs on time;
- A proven policy and advisory experience, including engagement with a broad range of stakeholders and partners in government, private sector and civil society
- Experience working with the UN will be an asset.
Competencies: - Good representational and liaison skills;
- Ability to work as a part of a multi-cultural and international team;
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and networking skills with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships;
- Ability to meet deadlines; and
- Excellent English writing and communication skills.
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Payment Schedule (if required): Consultancy Schedule Deliverable | Amount (USD) | Upon acceptance by UNDP and verified by an inception report outlining the methodology/approach for the study and timelines that will be adhered to. | 30% | Upon acceptance by UNDP and verified by UNDP official in coordination with designated official from Ministry: - Present regular activity reports on progress of activities. These can be delivered fortnightly.
- Provide a draft Report combining desk and key stakeholders information/consultation findings related to the activities;
- Prepare Power Point slides for each activity.
- Present the findings of study to stakeholders in Tongatapu, Vavau and Haipai and collate feedback
| 20% | - Submit draft report to UNDP inclusive of feedback from stakeholders clearly covering the 2 key objectives and presenting results pertaining to all activities.
- Incorporate comments/ feedback from UNDP wiyhin a week after they are provided and submit final report.
| 25% | Submission of final report summarizing TA provided as per ToR, during the contract period. | 25% |
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Evaluation Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document: - Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II).
- 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.
- Technical proposal:
- Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment
- A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
- Financial proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided (Annex II)
Evaluation Method and Criteria: Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis methodology. The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation: Technical Criteria 70% (as indicated above in Experience and Qualifications section) and Financial Criteria 30%. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Technical Criteria – Maximum 70 points Technical Evaluation based on technical proposal (70%) | 70% | Competence evaluated thru examples of previous work | 30% | Qualifications | 10% | Response to ToR/ proposed approach and methodology | 30% | Financial evaluation (30%) | 30% |
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Annexes Proposal Submission All applications must be clearly marked with the title of the consultancy and submitted by 2.00pm, 3rd November 2017 (Fiji Time) electronically to etenderbox.pacific@undp.org . For further information concerning this Terms of Reference, please contact Ferdinand J. Strobel, Health & Development Specialist, UNDP Pacific Office on email ferdinand.strobel@undp.org. Incomplete applications will not be considered, and only candidates for whom there is further interest will be contacted. |
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[1] Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 |