Procurement Notices

The United Nations Development Programme in Zimbabwe (UNDP Zimbabwe) invites proposals from qualified Consutancy Firms to participate in the following Call for Proposals

Prospective bidders are required to submit their proposals on or before 12 June 2022 to bidstechnical.zw@undp.org Requests for any clarifications on the position should be submitted to procurement.zw@undp.org Deadline for submitting clarification requests is 9 June 2022. Clarification requests submitted to any other email address will not be responded to.

Project Description/Overwiew

The UNCT is currently implementing the United Nations Partnership on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) Multi Partnership Fund (MTPF) Round 4 (2022 to 2023) on “Strengthening Disability Rights Accountability, Governance and Coordination in Zimbabwe”. This joint UN initiative is implemented by UNDP, UNESCO, and UNFPA and with technical partners UNWOMEN and UNICEF, under the overall coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. The initiative is also implemented in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe, civil society (Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, Disability Service Organizations, non-governmental organizations), Human Rights Commissions, and Academia among others. The main thrust of this initiative is to support the country accelerate its implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by the country in 2013.

From 2018-2021 Zimbabwe has been implementing the UNPRPD Round 3 project in Zimbabwe on “Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities in Zimbabwe”, and Extension Phase (June to December 2021) on “Systematizing the Disability Rights and Inclusion in COVID-19 response”. Through the UNPRPD Round 3, the Government of Zimbabwe was provided technical support to finalize the CRPD State party Report.

Background: CRPD Reporting Processes

The CRPD is an international human rights treaty that reaffirms that all persons with disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It clarifies that all persons with disabilities have the right to participate in civil, political, economic, social, and cultural life of the community just as anyone else. The CRPD clearly stipulates what public and private authorities must do to ensure and promote the full enjoyment of these rights by all people with disabilities.

The practice of periodic reporting to the CRPD Committee provides a means of systematically monitoring how State parties are meeting their obligations under the Convention. Reporting under the CRPD is an important tool with which governments, national human rights institutions and civil society can take stock of the degree of progress in enjoyment of human rights of persons with disabilities in a particular Member State. Article 35 of the CRPD requires States Parties to submit to the CRPD Committee, within two years of ratification, an initial comprehensive report on measures taken to implement the treaty and progress to date. After submission of the initial report, the State Party is expected to submit subsequent reports at least every four years or whenever the Committee so requests.

On the other hand, non-governmental organizations such as Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) play an essential role in providing both reliable and independent information to the CRPD Committee. A principal method for providing information to the CRPD Committee is through the submission of parallel reports (also referred to as “shadow reports” or “alternative reports”), which supplement or "shadow" an official governmental report. The additional information is often very useful for helping treaty bodies develop a full understanding of the situation for persons with disabilities in a particular country as they review the official government report. For OPDs, preparing a shadow report gives a unique opportunity to bring their concerns to the international legal body responsible for monitoring the implementation of the CRPD. It empowers national OPDs by offering them a legitimate external source to which disability issues can be raised and addressed.

Zimbabwe Reporting to the CRPD Committee

Zimbabwe is set to submit the initial State Party report in 2022  since the ratification of the CRPD and its Optional protocol in 2013. The initial report was developed through a consultative and inclusive process, by the government’s specialised arm, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (IMC-IHL). On 12 April 2022, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, presented to cabinet the State Party Report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and after the presentation, the report was approved by cabinet for submission to the committee.

The CRPD State Party Report provides an overview of the progress Zimbabwe has made in respect of promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities through constitutional, legislative, administrative, and other measures taken to implement the CRPD. Further, the report highlights the challenges Government has and continues to encounter in giving effect to the provisions of the Convention and strategies currently in place to address some of the challenges.

In terms of shadow reporting, NGOs/DSOs/OPDs have not yet initiated the process of developing a parallel report to the committee. Since the ratification of the CRPD, the OPDs in Zimbabwe are still yet to engage in this reporting process, however, they continue to play a vital role in monitoring the implementation of the CRPD in Zimbabwe. The approval of the CRPD state party report by cabinet and the commencement of submission processes, proffer an opportunity for OPDs in Zimbabwe to initiate the development of a shadow report through a consultative, inclusive, and participatory manner.

It is within this background that, UNDP under the ambit of the UNPRPD Round 4 project is seeking to engage an OPD to develop the shadow report to the CRPD Committee. The OPD is encouraged to work with a technical expert on human rights and treaty body reporting.

Scope of Work

In line with the highlighted project background, the OPDs is expected to develop and submit a shadow report to the CRPD Committee. The comprehensive parallel report should cover all the articles of the CRPD, identify gaps, highlight key areas of concern, and make concrete recommendations for change. The development of the report should be consultative, participatory, and inclusive in nature, allowing the lead DPO and expert to reach out or include other civil society organizations/DPOs and Chapter 12 institutions working on issues covered by the CRPD.

Specific tasks include:

• Design and implement a reporting framework, stakeholder engagement plan and roadmap to solicit national inputs to the shadow report,
• Undertake consultations with OPDs/civil society organizations, persons with disabilities, Chapter 12 institutions, and disability experts to inform the development of the report,
• Draft the CRPD Shadow Report, informed by CRPD Committee’s reporting guidelines and procedures,
• Convene final validation of the shadow report by National OPDs,
• Undertake necessary steps towards the submission of the report to the committee,
• Submit the final activity report, highlighting steps undertaken in the development of the report,

After submission of the report, the OPD will remain available to respond to any further questions or request for clarification from the CRPD Committee.

Expected Deliverables:

The expected deliverables for the consultancy are:

• Inception report
• Reporting framework, Engagement Plan, and roadmap
• National Consultative workshops undertaken and workshop minutes
• Final CRPD Shadow report submitted to the CRPD Committee.
• Final validation meeting minutes
• End of assignment report.

Institutional Arrangement / Reporting Relationships

The contractor will be under the direct supervision of the UNDP Governance and Peace Building Team Leader in close liaison with the UNPRPD project officer. The consultant will also work closely with the UN Resident Coordinators Office Gender and Disability Advisor and the UNPRPD technical team.

Duration of Assignment:

The duration of the consultancy will be for 40 Days.

Payment Terms:

Note that all payments to the contractor are dependent on the satisfactory completion of deliverables.

Payment is linked to deliverables as per below:

Inception Report-5 Days- 20%,

Desk Review and Submission of draft report-15 Days-40%,

Consultation on and review of the first draf and Submission of final Shadow Report- 20 Days -40%.

Qualilifications and Experience

• Members of the OPD should have relevant degress in social and Human Sciences, Human Rights, Law and any other related fields,
• Demonstrated experience in advancing disability policies and disability inclusion at the national level in line with the CRPD (at least 5 years of experience),
• Demostrated capacity and experinece in engaging and participating in treaty body monitoring and reporting processes,
• Demonstrated experience in implementing and supporting the monitoring of the CRPD implementation in Zimbabwe,
• Experience in programme management; planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting,
• Experience coordinating and liaising with other DPOs, CSOs, DSOs FBOs, and chapter 12 institutions in Zimbabwe,
• Demonstrated ability to draft reports and analyses data from multiple resources,
• Excellent communication skills,
• Experience working with the UN is an asset.

NB Only fully registered OPDs can apply.

Qualification and Experience of the Team Leader:

• The team leader should have a master’s degree in social & Human Sciences, Human Rights, Law, or any other related fields,
• At least 5 years of professional experience as a researcher in Disability Rights, Law, Human Rights, inclusive development, governance, Gender Equality, or any other relevant field,
• Demonstrated capacity and experience in engaging and participating in treaty body monitoring and reporting processes,
• Experience in conducting research, carrying out reviews of laws and policies and document research results,
• Demonstrated experiences and skills in facilitating stakeholder/working group consultations,
• Excellent command of English.

Language Requirements:

• Knowledge of English and local languages Shona or Ndebele (or both),
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.

Core Competencies:

Contractors/OPD Personnel should have the following key competencies and values:

• Respect for Diversity,
• Integrity,
• Professionalism,
• Accountability,
• Creative Problem Solving,
• Effective Communication,
• Inclusive Collaboration,
• Stakeholder Engagement,

Evaluation Criteria

Upon the advertisement of the Procurement Notice, the Consultants Firm is expected to submit both the Technical and Financial Proposals. Accordingly, the firm will be evaluated based on Cumulative Analysis as per the following conditions:

• Responsive / compliant / acceptable as per the Instruction to Bidders (ITB) and TORs.
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. In this regard, the respective weight of the proposals is:
•  -Technical Criteria weight is 70%
•  -Financial Criteria weight is 30%

Rcommended Presentation of Technical Proposal 

For purposes of generating proposals whose contents are uniformly presented and to facilitate their comparative review, OPDs are required to follow the Table of Contents as set out below. Accordingly, the Technical Proposal from the document must have at least the preferred content as outlined below;

Proposed Table of Contents                                                                                                                          

Technical Proposal Cover Pages

•  Cover Page,
•  Cover Letter,
•  Statement of Declaration,
•  Statement of Full Disclosure,

Section I. Expertise of OPD/ Firm / Organisation

• Brief Description of Proposer as an Entity,
• Financial Capacity and / or Standing,
• Track Record and Experiences,

Section II. Approach and Implementation Plan

• Approach to the Assignment,
• Technical Quality Assurance Review Mechanism,
• Implementation Timelines,
• Subcontracting (if any),
• Risks and Mitigation Measures,
• Reporting and Monitoring,
• Anti-corruption Strategy,
• Partnerships (if any),
• Other

Section III. Personnel

• Management Structure,
• Staff Time Allocation,
• Summary of Key Personnel Qualifications,

OPD/firm/contractor should ensure they attach the following:

• Registration Certificate,
• Tax / VAT Certificate if Applicable,
• OPD/ Firm Profile,
• CV of Key Expert 1 / Team Lead,er
• CV of Other Staff,
• Any other Pertinent Certificates worth to be noted
• Cover letter of Expression of Interest (EOI)
• Organizational Profile
• CV/Resume or completed P-11 for members of the team.
• Technical proposal,
•  Financial proposal showing fees and breakdown of required materials.

Kindly note that applications without the above cited attachments will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

The contractor is expected to work from their own premises and liaise with, UNDP, and the UNPRD RUNOs as necessary.

For the entire period of this project/contract all travel (if necessary) (within Zimbabwe) related to any contract emerging from this RFP, including all travel for consultations and discussions, meetings for planning and execution of potential works etc. will have to be borne by the Contractor and must be included in the Financial Proposal submitted. The Contractor is responsible to make all relevant travel arrangements, including hotel, transportation, and other relevant costs,

UNDP may, as a courtesy, facilitate through the provision of a letter of certification that travel is related to this project/contract, provide/indicate names of hotels/guest houses used by UN, but all arrangements are the responsibility of the Contractor, both financially and action‐wise.

Policy both parties should be aware of:

• UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse,
• Members of the contracting company are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement,
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNDP and the Contractor,
• The data and information collected during this data is sole and full ownership of the UNPRPD Project,
• No member of the contracting company may travel prior to contract signature,
• Members of the contracting company will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNDP budget.