The ASEAN region is one of the largest economic zones in the world. But at the same time, corruption and weak governance are also of concern in the region. According to the 2017 ASEAN Business Outlook Survey conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 65% of businesses in the region listed corruption, unfair and inefficient law enforcement practices as a major challenge of doing business in the ASEAN countries. Engagement of businesses in formulating new laws, policies and regulatory frameworks is limited. This hinders trust and collaboration between governments and businesses. Lack of compliance by businesses to established standards and regulations impacts all sectors – from health to emerging information and communication technologies (ICTs), to protection of protected areas.

Addressing corruption and strengthening governance systems requires a more active role of the private sector – both in developing and complying with the spirit and letter of laws and regulations, and ensuring that business practices promote values of fairness, inclusiveness, integrity, transparency, accountability and contribute to the principle of “leaving no one behind” of Agenda 2030. This vital role of the private sector in promoting overall business integrity and contributing to the sustainable development agenda is widely recognized. The agility and innovativeness of the private sector are considered essential factors for developing and financing interlinked solutions for achieving SDGs.

In 2018, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UK Government launched a Regional Project called ‘Promoting a Fair Business Environment in ASEAN” (FairBiz) for South East Asia under the new Prosperity Fund. The project aims to lead the way for a multi-stakeholder effort to promote an enabling environment for the private sector, minimise corruption risks and shape sustainable business practices in ASEAN. Specifically, the project prioritises areas that include: (1) forging stronger partnerships between government and the private sector; (2) reforming procurement and infrastructure; (3) promoting sustainable business practices; and (4) strengthening anti-corruption, accountability and judicial mechanisms. The UNDP Bureau Regional Hub (BRH), as part of the regional project under output 3, “Strenghtening Business Integrity and Corporate Governance Practices in the Private Sector” aimed at supporting private sector collective action and responsible business conduct initiatives among six target countries in ASEAN.

The Philippines’ private sector component is entitiled Business Integrity PACTS (Partners for Accountable, Clean and Transparent Sustainable enterprise), which aims to address unethical business practices prevalent in the Philippines’ private sector and minimise leakages in private to private business contracts. The specific objectives of the initiative are as follows:

• Effectively monitor the compliance of enterprises operating within the Philippines by having them adopt standard business integrity practices for doing business;
• Have companies invest more in their anti-bribery/corruption, ethics and compliance as well as sustainability programs, in pursuit of competitiveness and a level playing field;
• Integrate UN Sustainable Development goals in the company’s core business model and align their policies, processes, systems and practices with globally accepted corporate governance principles;
• Enable partnerships and collaboration among the Philippines’ business community and develop co-created strategies in addressing unethical business practices in the value chain; and
• Help in the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by providing a platform for the sharing of business integrity and sustainability success stories, best practices and innovative solutions.

The Business Integrity PACTS project requires the services of an individual consultant who will develop the SME integrity indicators, a self-assessment tool, and conducting SME pilot training workshops on existing business integrity practices in the local value chain, particularly SME business partners of Philippine conglomerates and/or multinational enterprises (MNEs).  The outputs of this engagement will constitute inputs for developing a set of best practices for adoption by SMEs as well as other interventions and relevant capacity building activities in the Philippines in the context of the project.

Institutional Arrangements

The Individual Consultant shall directly report to the Business Integrity PACTS Project Coordinator and to the Team Leader of Institution and Partnerships Programme Team of UNDP Philippines.  Deliverables will be reviewed by the Institution & Partnerships Programme Team, in coordination with the UNDP Philippines Senior Management Team. 

The Consultant shall render intermittent service, equivalent to 75 person days spread over 4 months, to execute the scope of the tasks and deliverables indicated in this terms of reference.

Duration of Assignment & Duty Station 

The assignment is 75 working days spread over 4 months, unless revised in a mutually agreed upon timetable between the Coordinator and the Institution & Partnerships Programeme Team Leader and subject to performance and availability of funds.

Duty station: UNDP Philippines Country Office, Rockwell Business Center Sheridan, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. The Consultant is not required to report on a daily basis at the duty station, but shall have an agreed weekly reporting schedule with the Institution & Partnerships Unit Team Leader.

Scope of Plan of Proposal and Schedule of payment

The Consultant must send a financial proposal based on a lump-sum amount for the delivery of the outputs identified below. The total amount quoted shall include all costs components required to deliver the goods and services identified above, including professional fees and any other applicable costs (i.e., such as transportation/travel to and from residence for meetings within Metro Manila, supplies and materials, equipment, reproduction, communications, etc.) to be incurred by the Consultant in completing the assignment.

The contract price will be fixed output-based price. Any deviations from the outputs and timelines, as well will need to be agreed on between the between the Consultant and the Management Support Team Leader.  Travel, as deemed relevant by UNDP, will be covered and arranged by UNDP, following UNDP Financial Rules and Regulations.

Payments will be done upon satisfactory completion of the deliverables by target due dates. Outputs will be certified by the Team Leader of Institution and Partnmerships Unit prior to payments.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Team Leader of Institution & Partnerships Programme Team the Individual Consultant will report directly to the Coordinator of Integrity PACTs and the Programme Analyst of the Institution & Partnerships Programme Team. The work will also be closely coordinated with the Country Office’s project for Output 3 of the Regional Project, entitled “Mitigating Integrity Risks in Public Procurement in the Philippines”.

The proposed engagement for the development of integrity indicators, self-assessment tool, and training modules on SME Business Integrity Practices of the Business Integrity PACTS project will identify indicators of best practices in local supply chains, and how those practices help supply chains gain competitive advantage in the Philippine market.

The UNDP Philippines Country Office and the Integrity Initiative, Inc. (II, Inc.), a Philippine non-profit organisation that promotes common ethical and acceptable integrity standards will engage the services of an independent Consultant to lead the delivery of the following key tasks and outputs:

Output 1: Workplan development

Activity 1.1 Development of initial detailed work plan draft with timelines

Activity 1.2 Review and finalization of initial detailed work plan draft

Output 2: Creation of business integrity / anti-corruption indicators for SMEs and Business Partners

Activity 2.1 Review of indicators from Business Integrity PACTS baseline study and Integrity Initiative indicators.

Activity 2.2 Research on common local indicators and global standards/practices

Activity 2.3 Analysis, Summary and Interpretation

Activity 2.4 Stakeholder FGDs (reporting and consulting)

Activity 2.5 Finalisation of indicators

Output 3: Development and pre-testing of self-assessment tool

Activity 3.1 Design of self-assessment tool

Activity 3.2 Development of self-assessment tool

Activity 3.3 Internal testing and quality control of self-assessment tool

Activity 3.3 Deployment of self-assessment tool to pilot companies

Activity 3.4 Consolidation of user comments and recommendations

Activity 3.5 Revision and finalisation of self-assessment tool

Output 4: Development and pre-testing of training module, including conduct of pilot training workshops for SME vendors/business partners

Activity 4.1 Revisiting and updating AIM RVR Center for Corporate Responsibility’s Anti-Corruption Manual for SMEs

Activity 4.2 Development and pre-testing of training module

Activity 4.3 Roll-out of pilot trainings

Activity 4.4 Conduct of Post-training Evaluation and Future Needs Identification

Output 5: Conduct of knowledge sharing / roundtable conference

Activity 5.1 Conceptualization of knowledge sharing session

Activity 5.2 Identification of needs and requirements for knowledge sharing session

Activity 5.3 Preparations for knowledge sharing session

Activity 5.4 Conduct of knowledge sharing session

Activity 5.5 Solicitation of feedback from participants

Activity 5.6 Creation of detailed analysis and report

Activity 5.7 Incorporation of comments and suggestions into SME business integrity indicators

A forum where large companies and conglomerates with good business integrity practices ("big brothers") are called on to speak about their practices to SMEs and provide some ideas on how the latter can do the same in their organization, as well as test out and gauge audience feedback on principles to be espoused by the Business Integrity PACTS project

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN mission, vision, values and ethical standards
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Promotes UNDP’s agenda in meetings

Other Competencies

• Ability to work in close collaboration with a group of national and international experts, to meet strict deadlines and plan the work according to priorities
• Initiative, good analytical skills, mature judgment and ability to work under tight schedule while respecting deadlines achievement, ethics and honesty
• Strong initiative and desire to succeed, accountable and willingness to be pro-active in identifying suitable companies and engaging in appropriate business opportunities
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Builds strong relationships with internal and external clients
• Demonstrates capacity to plan, organize and execute effectively
• Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation
• Demonstrated ability to function in a multicultural team environment & to deal with complex multi-stakeholder environment
• Good ability to use information and communication technologies as tools and resources
• Excellent written communication and presentation/public speaking skills, focus on results, ability to interact productively in a teamwork environment
• Proven experience in dialoguing with senior level government and private sector executives

Required Skills and Experience

Offers will be evaluated based on combined scoring method :

• Technical qualifications = 70%
• Financial Proposal =    30%

For the evaluation of the Technical Proposal, the selection of the successful consultant must be based in the following qualifications (with the appropriate obtainable points):