Procurement Notices

Overview :

The interested offeror must submit the application via the following link

https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=101551

Terms of reference for Individual Contractor

A.Project Description 

As part of the partnership between UNDP and DCO, the objective of the Digital Economy Maturity Index (DEMI) project is to measure the digital economy maturity level of a country. Aiming to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all in line with SDGs goal number eight, the new index with its methodology will build on existing surveys, reports, and international databases to develop a new comprehensive index and fill the data gap of measuring digital economy performance under each country and the contribution to its inclusive economic development.

The new index will set benchmarks, cluster countries based on their digital economy performance levels, and ultimately create a ranking system, with the objective of informing the national strategies of the assessed countries and promoting cross borders experiences exchange.

Furthermore, the project will analyse the final index results to provide an overview of the global digital economy status, and key findings for each countries cluster. As a result, governments decision makers will be informed to further develop policies, initiatives, and actions to advance with their digital economy agenda. It will allow establishing the baseline, identify the strategic priorities for digital economy in the public sector and outlines its main building blocks. The analysis will potentially highlight areas of improvements under each index pillar or sub pillars, and their consequent impact on economy.

In addition to the index, the project will conduct 7 additional assessments inside the member countries, working closely with the government leading agency. Conducted by UNDP team and DCO, the assessments process includes a review of existing digital strategies, action plans, regulatory and policy framework, conducting a survey based on a methodology, organizing a fact-finding (virtual) mission to the target country, and developing the Digital Maturity Index Assessment Report. Such a report will be the laying foundation when developing any future public sector sectoral digital economy roadmaps. This in-depth exercise combined with the index findings of these countries, will provide an analysis of the key challenges and how to exploit opportunities. The output will be recommendations and suggestions for further developments and advance in different world digital rankings.

Finally, the project will produce advanced outreach digital online tools for target audiences, who include governments and policymakers, academia, researchers, civil society, development practitioners from the DCO partners and beyond, and the public from over 220 countries and territories. The website will provide access to digital version of the Report, data visualization system, a library for background, technical and methodology papers and publications, blogs, and the latest news.

To develop the Digital Economy Maturity Index (DEMI), the project team and advisory board will work to develop a methodology, taking into consideration the risks and impact of the digital divide, and will try to identify indicators revealing gender digital exclusion in the context of digital economy. The index might include the following pillars/sub pillars, however the selection of the pillars and indicators will be established at first phase of the project, to ensure that the index reliable and easy to communicate:

As such, the DEMI project is looking to contracting a Senior Expert on Information and Communications Technology as part of the project core team who will work with the project Technical Team members and different stakeholders and be responsible for designing (or revising) the index and the country assessment (in relation to ICT pillar, sub pillars and variables), the required research, consultations, designing the assessment and drafting of the final publication, as well as all associated processes as per the following sections.

B.Scope of Work

While stressing the collective responsibility of the Core Team to produce the Index, the corresponding DCO countries’ assessment, as well as the production of the final publication, however, and for organizational purposes the workload will be distributed among Core Team members. The Core Team Member, senior expert on Information and Communications Technology, is primarily responsible for this thematic area in terms of generating knowledge, setting, and implementing the adequate consultative process in full coordination with the DEMI project technical team. Along with that, and while reporting to the XXX, the Senior Expert on ICT, shall be responsible for the tasks listed hereunder:

• Responsible of the Information and Communications Technology thematic area and its related pillars/sub pillars and variables.
• Review the current model of the Index pillars/sub pillars and variables with the UNDP and DCO designated team.
• Design with the other core team members the pillars/sub pillars and variables related to ICT as part of the DEMI index
• Nominate an international expert to be part of the Index’s Advisors Committee.
• Participate in the preparations of proposed workshops to shape the DEMI index with different international index
• Construct a new model for the Index and reviewing it with the international expert.
• Write the definition of each of the chosen variables in English.
• Write the reason of choosing each variable and its relation to the DEMI Index;
• Draft / co-author in English the final publication report covering the methodology (including the selection process of the indicators), and results of the DEMI Index.
• Participate in organized meetings related to the index design.

The Index Production and Publication Drafting process shall involve:

• Participation in 4 to 5 Core Team meetings at which substantive matters will be discussed.
• Coordination of data sources and data with the Technical Team to ensure consistency.
• Delivery of drafts by the timeline and deadlines agreed upon.
• Participating in relevant review meetings and events (Advisory Board meeting or Readers Group meeting).
• Assisting in the identification of reviewers or Advisory Board members when needed.
• Reviewing and proofreading the printer ready version of the final publication.

Stressing the collective responsibility of each of the Core Team members of the full production of the DEMI Index and the final publication, each Core Team Member shall also be:

• Assuming responsibility along with the other members of the Core Team for ensuring that the deadline of each phase of the process is met- based on the agreed upon work plan and set timelines;
• Maintaining close consultation and coordination with the Chief Digital Advisor on a regular basis to report progress toward deliverables as well as substantive opportunities and challenges.
• Consulting with and advise other Core Team members, and the project Technical Team on the research methodology to be used; and coordinate with the project Technical Team to ensure reliability and consistency of data and data sources;
• Reviewing the work presented by other Core Team members, as well as the work produced collectively (Indicators, Index, Methodology, Conceptual Framework, Publication...) and provide feedback, comments and suggestions;
• Participating with the project Technical Team in organizing and preparing substantively any event or meeting to be conducted about the DEMI Index.

C.Expected Outputs and Deliverables

D.Institutional Arrangement

• The individual is required to exhibit his or her full-time commitment with UNDP.
• S/He shall perform tasks under the general guidance of the Chief Digital Advisor and the direct supervision of Chief Digital Advisor. The supervision of Chief Digital Advisor will include approvals/acceptance of the outputs as identified in the previous section. The individual is expected to liaise and collaborate in the course of performing the work with other consultants, suppliers, and UN colleagues.
• The individual is required to maintain close communication with the UNDP on regular and needed basis at any period throughout the assignment in order to monitor progress. In the event of any delay, S/he will inform UNDP promptly so that decisions and remedial action may be taken accordingly.
• Should UNDP deem it necessary, it reserves the right to commission additional inputs, reviews, or revisions, as needed to ensure the quality and relevance of the work.

E.Duration of the Work

The expected duration of the work is up to 85 working days over a period of 5 months from contract signature date. [1]

F.Duty Station

• This is a home-based assignment.
• Part of this assignment may require the individual to travel to DCO countries. In such cases, unforeseen travel will be arranged and covered in accordance with corporate regulations and rules.

• Any change to the preliminary travel plan/schedule hereunder, in such cases, UNDP will cover travel costs in accordance with corporate regulations and rules.
• If unforeseen travel outside the consultant home based city is requested by UNDP and not required by the Terms of References (ToR), such travel shall be covered by UNDP in line with applicable rules and regulations and upon prior written agreement. In such cases, the consultant shall receive living allowances not exceeding the United Nations (UN) Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate for such other location(s).

• Note: A written approval from UNDP and relevant authorities will be required to facilitate consultant's travel to other location than Riyadh on official missions where necessary.

G.Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

All proposals must be expressed in a lump sum amount. This amount must be “all-inclusive”. Please note that the terms “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal.

Payment shall be made as a deliverables-based lump sum payment, to be paid in four installments. The schedule of payment will be distributed upon satisfactory submission of the deliverables listed in the table hereunder:

H.Qualifications of the Successful Individual Contractor

1. Academic qualification:

Master’s degree in computer science, ICT Management, or another related field.

1.  
2. Work Experience
3. Minimum 10 years of experience in the field of ICT including relevant experience in Digital Economy aspects such as e-government, e-commerce, etc. at international level, as well as relevant experience in designing and implementing research consultations.
4. Extensive experience in the thematic area to be covered, including the following:

• ICT for sustainable human development (ICT in health, in humanitarian relief…).
• ICT at international level: Policies, infrastructure, and networks.
• ICT and innovation at international level.
• ICT in education.
• ICT and doing business in the region.

1. Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an asset.

1. Key Competencies

• Corporate

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
  • Functional
• Background knowledge about the SDGs, United Nations and UNDP.
• Extensive knowledge of the region and its knowledge-related challenges and priorities.
• Excellent drafting skills with a sound publishing record (in English.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills.
• Ability to work independently and achieve quality results with limited supervision and within tight schedules.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills.
• Experience in reports production.
• Experience in the thematic area of ICT.
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner.
• Good teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Flexibility and ability to handle multiple tasks and work under pressure.
• Excellent computer skills especially Word, Excel, and Power Point.

• Leadership

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to provide credible leadership.
• Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic overview and corporate vision.
• Demonstrated flexibility in leadership by performing and/or overseeing the analysis/resolution of complex issues.
• Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience.

• Managing Relationships

• Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational management skills.
• Excellent negotiating and networking skills with strong partnerships in academia, technical organizations and as a recognized expert in the practice area.

• Managing Complexity

• Ability to address global development issues.
• Demonstrated substantive leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives.

• Knowledge Management and Learning

• Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products.
• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example.
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP.
• Provides constructive coaching and feedback.
• Demonstrates a strong capacity for innovation and creativity in providing strategic policy advice and direction.

• Judgment/Decision-Making

• Mature judgment and initiative.
• Proven ability to provide strategic direction to the project implementation process.
• Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges, uses diplomacy and tact to achieve result.

I.Recommended Presentation of Offer

For purposes of generating Offers whose contents are uniformly presented and to facilitate their comparative analysis, it is best to recommend the preferred contents and presentation of the Offer to be submitted, as well as the format/sequencing of their presentation. The following documents may be requested:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP.
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
3. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. The terms “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

J.EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Step I: Screening and desk review:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

Technical Criteria (CV review and Desk Review / Interview) – maximum 70 points. Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the CV desk review (who will score at least 49 points) will be considered for the next stage of evaluation, i.e. financial evaluation.

Applications will be first screened and only candidates meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

• Educational qualifications
• Minimum of 5 years as experienced
• Work experience.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate the 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

Interested applicants are advised to carefully review this advertisement and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described.