Procurement Notices

Background Information and Rationale, Project Description

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. UNCDF’s financing models work through two channels: financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; and by showing how localized investments — through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance and structured project finance — can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1 on eradicating poverty and Goal 17 on the means of implementation. UNCDF also contributes to other SDGs by identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access.  To achieve these goals, UNCDF is providing financial support and technical expertise to the public and the private sector. It provides capital financing – in the form of grants, soft loans and credit enhancement products – and the technical expertise to unleash sustainable financing at the local level. 

UNCDF in Uganda

With the support of the Sweden Development Agency (SIDA) UNCDF launched the “Leaving No One Behind in the Digital Era” programme in Uganda. The Programme aims at empowering rural community members in Uganda to lead productive and healthy lives, by expanding access and usage of digital services. The programme has a specific focus on the regions Northern Uganda and West Nile. The main expected outcomes are:

• Rural community members in Uganda (women, migrants, smallholder farmers, agri-businesses & refugees) have the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to access and use digital services. They have better access to training and education through digital channels.
• New business models and technologies for delivering services are scaled for rural communities in the finance, agriculture, energy, education and health sectors.
• Rural community members have improved access to and increasingly use digital payment accounts.
• The Government of Uganda implements policies that enable access and usage of digital services.

Specific Objectives

The main objective of the assessment is to understand the key positive and negative gender dynamics (factors, enablers, barriers, impediments, institutions, frameworks) which impact women’s participation in their communities, decision making (ability to make decisions free of coercions at household and community level), access to/usability of digital products, women’s  agency  within a market systems approach with a focus  on their participation in the digital economy..

Specific Objectives of the assessment will:

• Explore the gender dynamics and market constraints per sector and which solutions can be developed and implemented to solve the challenge; examine the extent to which Gender is mainstreamed in the UNCDF IDE programme work streams, UNCDF IDE Governance structures and level of alignment to the National Gender Policy 2007.

• Carry out a detailed analysis on the extent of gender mainstreaming/gender intentionality in IDE design documents, project reports and work plans.
• Generate specific targeted recommendations to inform and strengthen gender intentionality within IDE programme implementation
• Identify and document good practices on gender mainstreaming within the project areas (Health, Education, Agriculture and clean energy) with the end goal of increasing women’s economic empowerment and decreasing the digital gender gap for replication and scale up.
• Assess partners’ capacity for gender transformative programming (i.e., challenging and changing gender norms that are barriers to gender equality and contribute to the digital gender gap) with specific focus on planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Identify possible topics of interest at community and National level for advocacy for Women Empowerment that could leverage digital tools/services/platforms to improve the quality-of-life outcomes for Ugandan women.
• Identify possible synergies with other UN agencies and line Ministries for women empowerment through inclusive digital economies.

Scope

a). The assessment will cover all the work streams as follows;

• Policy and Regulations (Explore existing constraints and/or gaps at policy level relating to access and use of digital services among women and establish recommendations to address this)
•  Digital infrastructure (Explore constraints to women’s’ access and usage of digital infrastructure)
•  Inclusive Innovations (How can Innovations in Health, Education, Agriculture and Energy products address market constraints to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment)
• Customer empowerment (Probe whether existing training curricula for enhancing soft and hard skills among last mile used addresses gender needs and/or what hybrid training models (digital and in-person) can be used to accelerate the closing of the digital and financial capacity gender gap)

b). Programme reports, design documents and relevant policies.

c). Field based primary research will be conducted in selected programme implementation areas preferably a refugee settlement and host community in West Nile and rural community in Lango region (the programme is in the refugee settlements and host communities in Yumbe, Adjumani, Koboko and Kiryandongo districts and in the rural communities of Lira, Oyam, Dokolo, Alebtong, Masindi, Apac, Arua, Nebbi, Zombo and Maracha) and key partners (these will be selected by UNCDF).

Key Task

The study will apply a mixed method drawing from quantitative and qualitative data. The assignment includes the following elements:

• Collect and conduct a desk review of relevant documents and literature to provide a basis for conducting the assessments.
• Develop an inception report and propose a research approach that brings together the different conceptual frameworks including details of data collection and sampling methods for qualitative and quantitative data, tools and a clear timeline for conducting the gender assessments.
• Assemble a competent and diverse assessment team with extensive gender, agriculture, education, health, clean energy knowledge and/or skills, to conduct the assessment.
• Train the assessment team and provide sufficient supervision during data collection.
• Conduct fieldwork in a timely manner ensuring “do no harm” principles are respected.
• Collect, clean and analyse data, and also write a quality report.
• Prepare and present drafts and the final report as required in Microsoft word (docx/doc.
• Submit a copy of the final electronic report (docx and pdf) to UNCDF in Uganda as well as a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the findings.
• Submit a publication of the findings for internal and external use.

Sampling Methodology

The gender assessment will employ a multi-stage quota sampling method, to ensure a fair and more equitable representation of beneficiaries and actors in the different workstreams. The methodology to be adopted will be guided by;

1. UNCDF’s diagnostic tool called: Participation of Women in the Economy Realized (PoWER) framework, Women’s Inclusiveness Score within the UNCDF Inclusive Digital Economy Score and 
2. World Bank CGAP Social and Cultural Norms Diagnostic tool.

The sampling methodology will comprise of:

1. Desk review of activities including reviewing existing literature (collecting and analysing secondary data relating to the IDE programme).
2. Primary data. Focus will be on individual interviews, focus group discussion and key informant interviews to help grasp the context specific factors that affect/lead to exclusion of some segments in the communities and how this can be addressed. This will focus on digital beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries in the programme areas. The sample will also include key informant interviews at district level and national level.

For the primary data, quotas will be allocated by workstream, partners of UNCDF, depending on the number of registered beneficiaries. For registered beneficiaries a purposeful sampling criteria will be adopted. The gender protocol on data collection will be followed ensuring representation of both women and men.

In the event that non digital beneficiaries are sampled, a random selection criteria will be applied to obtain the required number of respondents for the allocated quota. The company will work closely with the respective local leaders of the area to generate a list of respondents that will participate in the assessment while ensuring an equal representation of both male and female.

The company should also take into consideration the social influencing factors such as age, disability, income levels, rural/urban settings.

Deliverables and Schedules/Expected Outputs

The table below outlines the key activities, deliverables and estimated timeline.

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

Key Performance Indicators and Service Level

• A kick-off meeting will be conducted at the beginning of the assessment to agree on the minimum standard of services acceptable. UNCDF must be informed and be part of decision-making if there are any deviations from the sampling protocol, tool change or any other augmentation. Changes to the team much be requested in writing.
• At least two progress meetings will be required per phase. The first meeting will be to discuss the planning and the second meeting will be to approve the deliverables.
• Monitoring of progress shall be measured both per the activities of the contractor as well as the performance of the UNCDF partners involved in the assessment.
• The contractor will be asked to organize progress calls with UNCDF weekly.
• Payments will be linked to the approval of deliverables. Should a deliverable not meet the standard agreed, UNCDF will withhold payment and discuss remedial actions with the contractor.

Institutional Arrangement

• The contractor will be supervised by UNCDF’s Gender Analyst in Uganda.
• Approval and acceptance of deliverables will require the agreement of both UNCDF’s Gender Analyst in Uganda and UNCDF’s Global Gender Advisor.
• Weekly progress call will be held.
• Payments will be made based on the successful completion of each deliverable as set out by UNCDF and upon certification of satisfactory performance, and acceptance of the output by the Digital Country Lead and/or their designate.
• Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultants.

Duration of the Work

• The duration of the study is 3 months.
• The target date of commencement is 2 May 2022, and the expected completion date is 2 August 2022.
• The average turn around for output revision by UNCDF will be one week.

Duty Station

• At Contractor’s location with travel to the West Nile and Northern Uganda regions specifically in Yumbe, Adjumani, Koboko, Kiryandongo,Lira,Oyam,Dokolo, Alebtong, Masindi, Apac, Arua, Nebbi, Zombo and Maracha. 

Facilities to be provided by UNCDF

• No facilities will be provided by UNCDF
• All costs needed to achieve the deliverables set forth in this RFP are to be included in the financial proposals from the applicant/bidding entity (travel (to and from Yumbe, Adjumani, Koboko, Kiryandongo, Lira, Oyam, Dokolo, Alebtong, Masindi, Apac, Arua, Nebbi, Zombo and Maracha), professional fees, software, hardware, communication, consumables, etc.)

REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIENCE, COMPETENCE, AND QUALIFICATIONS

Requirements of the Successful Consulting Firm

• Successfully conducted similar study assignments in Uganda with proven excellent results.
• Experience of undertaking quantitative studies where survey sample exceeded 1000 respondents, with at least three such assignments in last five years, with evidence of working in the thematic areas of Gender mainstreaming/integration, Education, Health, Digital, Finance and Agriculture
• Extensive work experience in Uganda.
• Ability to mobilize a team of experts in various disciplines relevant to the scope of the study.
• Presence in Uganda is required either through an established branch or partner.  If the presence in Uganda is through a partner, the offeror must comply with the joint venture requirements and rules

Requirements of the Team leader

• 15 years of experience in designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative research in areas of Gender, Economic development, Market systems development, and/or (digital) financial inclusion
• 5 years’ experience working on or implementing gender mainstreaming/integration
• 10 years of experience in large evaluation and survey management
• 10 years of experience in conducting research in Uganda in similar thematic areas; Oral and written proficiency in English. Significant experience in writing/editing reports for large organizations, especially within the UN system.
• Proven knowledge and verifiable experience (with sample reports and referees) in conducting gender assessments in both humanitarian and development contexts.
• Well-grounded understanding of the practical challenges pertaining to the development and use of gender assessment tools.
• Solid grounding in gender responsive methods and frameworks
• PhD in Gender, Agriculture economics, Economics, Finance, Evaluation, Statistics or related fiel

Requirements of the Team members

• 8 years of experience in designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative research in areas of economic development, market systems development, and/or (digital) financial inclusion
• 5 years of experience in large Evaluation and Survey management
• 5 years of experience in conducting research in Uganda in similar thematic areas
• Good knowledge of the Gender, Finance, Agriculture, Health, and Education sectors in Uganda
• Oral and written proficiency in English.
• Ability to speak Uganda Local Languages spoken in Northern Uganda and West Nile is desirable especially for data collectors
• Masters in Gender, Agriculture economics, Economics, Finance, Evaluation, Statistics or related field

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to the UN’s mission, vision and values.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; and
• Ability to maintain effective rapport with different kinds of people.

Language requirements

  Fluency in written and spoken English.

PRICE PROPOSAL

The applicants are expected to quote a lumpsum which shall be paid in regular instalments upon successful completion and certification of tasks and deliverables as indicated in this Terms of Reference.  Payment will be based on the approval of submitted detailed reports or other deliverables against an agreed work plan

PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

Travel:

• Travel is required to the West Nile and Northern Uganda regions Specifically in Yumbe, Adjumani, Koboko, Kiryandongo,Lira, Oyam,Dokolo, Alebtong, Masindi, Apac, Arua, Nebbi, Zombo and Maracha. 

Provision of Monitoring, Progress Controls & Payments:

The contract price is a fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specific duration of the assignment.

The financial proposal must include:

• Budget quotation for the entire project, with detailed line items
• Planning and foreseen timings
• A detailed price breakdown for each functional grouping or category.

EVALUATION METHOD AND CRITERIA

Cumulative analysis:

The award of the contract shall be made to the firm 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. Example 70%-30%.

* Technical Criteria weight; 70%

* Financial Criteria weight; 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

Criteria                                                                                  

Management structure and qualification of key personnel: (20 points)

• Key personnel 1 – Team Leader: Should have at least 15 years of experience in designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative research in areas of economic development, market systems development, and/or (digital) financial inclusion, 10 years of experience in large Evaluation and Survey management and a Masters in Gender, Agriculture economics, economics, finance, evaluation, statistics or related field
• Key Personnel 2 -Team Members - Should have at least 8 years of experience in designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative research in areas of economic development, market systems development, and/or (digital) financial inclusion, 5 years of experience in large Evaluation and Survey management and a Masters in Gender, Agriculture economics, economics, finance, evaluation, statistics or related field

Expertise of the Consulting Firm: (15 points)

• The firm should have successfully conducted similar study assignments in Uganda with proven excellent results. Should have experience of undertaking quantitative studies where survey sample exceeded 1000 respondents, with at least three such assignments in last five years, with evidence of working in the thematic areas of Gender, Education, Health, Digital, Finance and Agriculture. Extensive work experience in Uganda. Ability to mobilize a team of experts in various disciplines relevant to the scope of the study. 

Description of approach/methodology and its appropriateness to the implementation plan/assignment- (35 points)

Gender mainstreaming here refers to process of integrating a gender lens into all aspects of an organization’s strategies and initiatives, and into its culture, systems and operations.

Proposal should be submitted at the following email uncdf.procurement@uncdf.org  no later than 19/04/2022

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to the address or email indicated above. UNCDF will respond in writing or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

A detailed RFP document providing additional information and Annexes is attached for reference.