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Introduction

 Background

UNDP has been working across Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience challenges, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and the rule of law. Under the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies and international and national partners, UNDP supports the Afghan people's aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainability.

 The Area Based Approach for Development Emergency Initiatives (ABADEI) is a flagship programmed that brings UN agencies and many national and international non-governmental organizations (I/NGOs) and Civil Society Organization (CSO) partners together through a coherent approach and funding platform to enable joined-up programming, wide geographic coverage, and results at scale. ABADEI's focus is to help meet basic human needs and services by revitalizing local markets and helping local communities rebuild their own lives and livelihoods. Enhancing human security and reducing the humanitarian caseload is fundamental to its approach. ABADEI interventions provide an integrated response to the socioeconomic crisis in the country through 1) the provision of essential services (infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, and energy), 2) investments in community livelihoods and local economic activities, 3) strengthening resilience to climate and disaster Risk and 4) building community ownership, engagement, and social cohesion.

The goal of the present assignment is to undertake assurance activities (e.g., random assignment, data collection), and to verify the achievement of the results required to make performance payments. The Independent Assessor will be responsible for testing and finalizing detailed Validation Methodology that will be agreed/adopted by the contracting organization (UNDP) and validate the terms of the Performance-Based Payment Agreement. In this context UNDP is looking for a firm[1] to act as Independent Assessor, referred to in this document as “Independent Assessor” or “IA”, for WE-lead project.

 

1.       Objective of the assignment

The objective for this assignment is to:

·         Provide a “neutral, impartial and independent” assessment of whether the agreed results have been achieved, and related recommendations to UNDP, prior to UNDP issuing the performance-based payments to the Implementing Party.

2.       Detailed tasks

The objective described above requires at least the following tasks to be carried out. 

2.1.   Periodic Review of two Microfinance Institution’s reports on Subsidized Loan and matching grant.

2.2.   Conduct sampling based physical verification of beneficiaries, their financial profile, loans received, transactions and utilization based on the core audit principles. The Independent Assessor must triangulate the reporting from the implementing partner and collect primary and secondary data used to report on performance. This may include (but is not limited to) random sample surveys, beneficiary feedback, georeferenced photographs, interviews, and 3rd party stakeholders, as appropriate. The method of data collection should provide assurance to UNDP that the results have been achieved as per the agreed indicator. The assessment must provide evidence-based information that is credible, reliable and useful.

2.3.   Prepare and present to UNDP and MFIs (briefing and de-briefing) and provide assessment report. This report should include at least (i) a quantification of the results achieved, (ii) a financial audit opinion as to whether the assessment criteria have been met, (iii) a quantification of the extent to which criteria have not been met, should this be necessary, (iv) a recommendation to UNDP regarding the level of payment deemed relevant according to results confirmed, taking into account the minimum progress threshold and the payment terms defined, and [(v) additional recommendations regarding potential areas of improvement for the Responsible Party in terms of implementation of the activities for results to qualify or in the way to document them more adequately]. 

The IA should propose additional important tasks considered left out, if any.

The Independent Assessor is expected to follow a participatory and gender-responsive approach ensuring close engagement with counterparts, in particular UNDP Country Office, the project team, UNDP ABADEI Programme team and key stakeholders. 

3.       Overall roll-out of the assignment

3.1.   Aimed at periodically verifying the achievement of milestones and targets reported by the Implementing Party to validate that agreed levels of quantity, quality and sustainability were delivered. This phase will start once the PBPA is signed between UNDP and the Responsible Party.

It is envisaged that, as a general rule, the four-month verification should be carried over a period that is no longer than fifteen (15) days. Each time the  independent assessment process will be activated (i.e. when the Responsible Party communicates to UNDP its intention to submit a payment request, which is expected to be for each four month.),

Documents :

Negotiation Document(s) (Before Accessing other negotiations Document(s), please click on this link)