Procurement Notices

Location

Homebased with travel to Solomon Islands is required.

Application deadline

12th April 2019

Type of Contract

Firm

Consultancy Title

Scaling of the Financial Education programme with the Anglican church of Melanesia (ACOM), Solomon Islands

Languages required:

English

Duration of Initial Contract:

65 working days (10 days home based and 55 days in Solomon Islands)

UNCDF-PFIP has been involved with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) since 2011 around the introduction of Financial Education within the education system.  A scoping mission was undertaken through the joint efforts of the MEHRD, CBSI and UNCDF-PFIP to ascertain the best form for the introduction of Financial Education within the Solomon Islands school curriculum and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions [commonly known as Rural Training Centers (RTCs) in the Solomon Islands], together with assisting MEHRD to identify ways to achieve this goal through the development of a detailed implementation plan.  Due to a restructure of MEHRD, Financial Education was put on the back-burner for some time.

In May 2017, the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM), which is an approved education authority under the Solomon Islands Education Act, was identified as the Financial Education pilot partner for piloting Financial Education at the TVET/RTC level. Through a partnership between UNCDF-PFIP and ACOM, financial education was integrated into the TVET curriculum as part of a pilot at three ACOM’s six RTCs. The full pilot involved financial education resource and assessment development, in-depth teacher training and in-school implementation of financial education at Garanga RTC in Isabel Province, Pamua RTC in Makira Province and Airahu RTC in Malaita Province.

After a six month in-school pilot across all three RTCs, it was noted that students improved their attitude and behavior towards proper financial management, and were able to demonstrate saving, budgeting and setting financial goals. Because of the pilot programme, Financial Education will further be scaled to the remaining three RTCs. These include Kholaero in Isabel Province, Bishop Koete in Central Province and Luesale in Temotu Province. Given the success of the pilot programme, Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme and ACOM are in a process of signing a second Letter of Exchange for the scaling of Financial Education to the remaining three RTCs. This agreement will be endorsed prior to the commencement of work under these Terms of Reference.

Scope of Work

• The consultant will carry out regular reporting over the duration of the scaling, which is to be undertaken during the 2019 teaching year.
• S/he is expected to liaise directly with the relevant ACOM personnel and provide regular updates to UNCDF-PFIP together with a mid-term and a final report.
• S/he must prepare the development and in-person delivery of a one-block model for a two-week long teacher training workshop. The workshop must include a minimum of 12 full training days and provide a support mechanism for teachers during their implementation of financial education during the 2019 teaching year.
• S/he will carry out monitoring and evaluation on an ongoing basis of both the project and the student impact.
• For optimal scaling design, the following must be seriously considered, and appropriate strategies designed to enhance opportunities and to mitigate risks:
  • To make available Financial Education learning to as many students as possible (regardless of subject streaming) over a sustained period;
  • The existing human capacities and institutional structures within the three RTCs and available to the three RTCs;
  • Ensure sustainability;
  • Optimize ownership and buy-in by the three RTCs staff members, provincial administration, students, parents, the private sector, and other key stakeholders; and address national financial competency areas of weakness.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

It is envisaged that three disbursements will be made on this activity to the successful bidder on the receipt of a:

Institutional Arrangement

• The successful bidder will report to the Country Technical Specialist, Solomon Islands (with technical support from the FinEd Regional Technical Specialist, based in Suva) for the duration of the contract.
• The successful bidder will provide their own work equipment, computers, computer programmes, printing, telephone and internet connectivity for this activity.

Duration of the Work

• The suggested level of effort of the assignment will, entail an estimated 65 working days, for teacher training, implementation and monitoring across the three Rural Training Centers. These estimated working days are not necessarily consecutive. The estimates level of effort for this activity has been represented below.

• The actual level of effort will be subject to periodic review by the UNCDF-Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme during the activity.
• The suggested timeframe of the assignment is not expected to entail more than 65 days.

Duty Station

• The successful bidder will be Home-based with travel to Kholaero in Isabel Province, Bishop Koete in Central Province and Luesale in Temotu Province, all of which are in the Solomon Islands, as required by UNCDF-PFIP.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Comprehensive knowledge of Financial Education and curriculum development;
• Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research;
• Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Educational Qualifications:

• The scope of work will require a team effort comprising a minimum of two specialists with relevant expertise in Financial Education, implementation and monitoring over the period of the assignment.

• Additionally, at least one specialist must have strong strategic planning and project management experience. The successful bid will be expected to manage the scope of the programme with minimal project oversight.

• A proven track record of similar work in other similar task environment relating to Financial Education institutions, with specific focus on countries with low levels of financial literacy, such as the Pacific, is considered a prerequisite.

• The desired working style must be empowering to national partners and foster optimal application of local knowledge and capacities in delivering the recommended framework and detailed learning outcomes across all levels.

Experience

• A proven track record demonstrating over 5 years of similar work in other similar task environment relating to Financial Education institutions, with specific focus on countries with low level of financial literacy, such as the Pacific, is considered a prerequisite.
• The desired working style must be empowering to national partners and foster optimal application of local knowledge and capacities in delivering the recommended framework and detailed learning outcomes across all levels.

Language requirements

• Fluency of English language is required;

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The bidders must send a financial proposal based on lump sum payment at the completion of the deliverables.

The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the successful bidder in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration.

Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

In general, UNCDF shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the bidder wish to travel on a higher class she/he should do so using their own resources.

In the event of an unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the related bidder, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Bids will be evaluated based on cumulative analysis. The award of the contract shall be made to the bidder whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%) and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNCDF for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in 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, including:

 a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and

 b) A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.

• Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II. Note: National consultants must quote prices in United States Dollars (USD).

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

Annexes

• Annex I - Individual IC General Terms and Conditions
• Annex II – Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC, including Financial Proposal Template

Proposal Submission

All applications must be clearly marked with the title of the consultancy and submitted by 5.00pm, 12th April 2019 (Fiji Time) electronically to etenderbox.pacific@undp.org .

For further information concerning this Terms of Reference, please contact Abigail Chang, Regional G2P/P2G & FinEd Technical Specialist - PFIP, UNDP Pacific Office on email abigail.chang@undp.org