Background

1. Background Information on the Project:

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has had a direct and highly negative impact on social cohesion, resilience, livelihoods, community security, and the rule of law. Recognizing the need to urgently address reconstruction, economic recovery and peacebuilding needs in areas affected both directly and indirectly by the conflict, in late 2014 the government of Ukraine requested technical assistance and financial support from the international community to assess priority recovery needs. In late 2014, the United Nations (UN), the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) conducted a Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment, which was endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in mid-2015.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been present and active in eastern Ukraine for the past decade, prior to the conflict, with a focus on community development, civil society development, and environmental protection. Work on addressing the specific, conflict-related development challenges discussed above started in 2015 through the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (UN RPP), building on this earlier engagement and establishing new partnerships. Today, the UN RPP is being implemented by four United Nations agencies: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The programme is supported by 11 international partners: the European Union, the European Investment Bank and the governments of Canada, Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and UK.

The UN RPP was designed to respond to, and mitigate, the causes and effects of the conflict. It is based on the findings of the Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment (RPA) and is aligned to the State Target Programme for Recovery, as well as to the two oblast development strategies up to 2020. It takes into account the opportunities that have arisen from the Minsk Protocol of September 2014 and the renewal of its cease-fire provisions (the latest cease-fire having been agreed in March 2018) and is also fully adjusted to the humanitarian-development nexus. It is an integral component of the UNDP Country Programme and is therefore fully aligned with the United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPF).

The programme’s interventions are grouped under the following key programme components, which reflect the region’s priority needs:

Component 1: Economic Recovery and Restoration of Critical Infrastructure

Component 2: Local Governance and Decentralisation Reform

Component 3: Community Security and Social Cohesion.

The Programme, which operates on the basis of a pooled funding arrangement, follows a multi-sectoral programme-based approach and is implemented using an area-based methodology. It is a unifying interventions framework for 12 projects funded by 12 international partners and is worth over 80 million USD.

In October 2018, four UN agencies (UNDP, UN Women, FAO and the UNFPA) countersigned a new joint project document, funded by the EU. The overall objective of the project is to restore effective governance and promote reconciliation in the crisis-affected communities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts of Ukraine, thereby enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of local authorities in the government-controlled areas (GCAs) of the oblasts. It will contribute to peace building and prevent further escalation of conflict in Ukraine through achieving effective and accountable decentralization, gender-responsive recovery planning, and equal access to services, as well as enhancing community security and social cohesion.

This will be achieved through the pursuit of the following specific objectives:

The main priorities of the Objective 2 are to foster economic revitalization in eastern Ukraine and, specifically, to stimulate employment and economic growth by providing assistance to micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development in Donetsk (GCA), Lugansk (GCA) and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, on agricultural and non-agricultural targeted value chains through demand-driven business development services, professional skills training, restoration and strengthening of the institutional and educational infrastructure needed for effective functioning of agricultural and non-agricultural sectors of the regional economy.

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis is challenging people, households and businesses in unprecedented ways. While containing the pandemic and protecting people is the top priority, disrupted supply chains, containment measures that are limiting economic and social interactions and falling demand put people’s jobs and income-generation opportunities at risk. According to ILO, the economic and labour crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic could increase global unemployment by almost 25 million people (7.4 million people in middle-income countries) and the overall losses in labour income might reach USD 3.4 trillion (USD 14.8 billion in middle-income countries). According to Ukraine’s leading investment bank, national GDP will decline by up to 9% if the countrywide quarantine measures and limitations due to COVID-19 last up over three months. The crisis especially affects MSMEs that have significantly lower reserves and resilience than large business. Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported that up to 700 000 enterprises, which give employment to 3,5 – 4 million people, had stopped their business activity during the lockdown in March-May. These figures constitute some 25% of all businesses and labour workers active in Ukraine. A long and difficult recovery process is expected in most sectors of economy. An immediate employment and business support is needed, which includes increasing knowledge of MSMEs in the targeted areas on current socio-economic, legal and market conditions that may influence their business activities and sharing information on how to face and resist COVID-19 pandemic challenges for different entrepreneurial activity.

 

UNDP Ukraine expects applications from highly qualified and experienced Ukrainian professionals for the position of the Consultant to support MSMEs with advisory services during the COVID19 quarantine and related limitations to economic activity (hereafter – the Consultant) for the RPP’s Economic Recovery and restoration of Critical Infrastructure Component.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator, Economic Recovery and Restoration of Critical Infrastructure, the Consultant will deliver activities aimed at increaser ability for resilience to COVID-19 challenges among the MSMEs in the targeted areas and sectors of economy.

 

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

This assignment has following overall objectives:

 

The business entities that require advisory support mostly fall under the next prioritized value chains:

- Industry and engineering services

- Textiles & Clothing

- Hospitality

- Ceramics

- Food Processing

- Agriculture (beef and dairy products, grains and oilseed, production of poultry and eggs, growing fruit and vegetables)           

 

The scope of advisory support should be revised and adapted depending on the issues and opportunities arising for MSMEs in each of the targeted value chains mentioned above in the course COVID-19 situation development and changes in respective business conditions in Ukraine.

Duties and Responsibilities

3. DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK

Specifically, the Consultant shall provide following services:

The webinars should cover but not be limited to the following topics:

  • up-to-date restrictions for entrepreneurial activity set at national and regional level;
  • reporting and taxation;
  • limitations and opportunities of labor legislation during and immediately after the quarantine;
  • contractual obligations during the COVID-19 quarantine. Force majeure;
  • rental payments during the quarantine;
  • measures undertaken by the government and local authorities to support MSMEs during the quarantine and in order to address its consequences;
  • available services for MSMEs provided by associations and business support organizations;
  • other legal, accounting and operational aspects of MSME activity in the COVID-19 environment.

Participants should be duly registered and registration lists should be submitted to UN RPP. Webinars should be recorded. Brief summary of each webinar as well as its recording should be shared with UN RPP and with the registered participants via email and should contain links to all relevant resources and documents sounded during the session and contacts of the Consultant for further individual inquiries. UN RPP should be granted full rights for the produced videos;

       4. ensure online registration and conduct at least 3 webinars (up to 2 hours each) on crisis management relevant for the current business environment, market conditions and activity of the MSME owners who registered for the webinars. The webinars should be delivered in Ukrainian language via the widely used interactive platforms for online training and webinars free for participants and approved by UN RPP.

The webinars should cover but not be limited to the following topics:

  • Anatomy of COVID-19 crisis and its influence on MSME sector;
  • Re-assessing business models in the crisis conditions;
  • Fundamental steps to ensure business continuity;
  • Structure, staffing and decision making during and after the crisis;
  • Customer service during the quarantine;
  • Ensuring non-stop operational processes;
  • How to change COVID-19 crisis from being threat to opportunity: ideas and success stories within the prioritized economic sectors.

Participants should be duly registered and registration lists should be submitted to UN RPP. Brief summary of each webinar as well as its recording should be shared with UN RPP and with the registered participants via email and should contain links to all relevant resources and documents sounded during the session and contacts of the Consultant for further individual inquiries. UN RPP should be granted full rights for the produced video;

 

            5. provide at least 120 hours of consultations to MSMEs using the online tool(s), e.g. Skype, email, social networks to the entrepreneurs in the Government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and selected rayons of Zaporizhzhia oblast, namely: Berdiansk, Prymorsk, Pryazovia, Orikhiv, Guliaipole, Yakymivka, Bilmak. Consultations should cover but not be limited to following issues:

  • up-to-date restrictions for entrepreneurial activity set at national and regional level;
  • reporting and taxation;
  • limitations and opportunities of labor legislation during and after the quarantine;
  • contractual obligations during the COVID-19 quarantine. Force majeure;
  • rental payments during the quarantine;
  • measures undertaken by the government and local authorities to support MSMEs during the quarantine and in order to address its consequences;
  • available services for MSMEs provided by associations and business support organizations;
  • other legal, accounting, marketing and operational aspects of MSME activity in the COVID-19 environment.

Provided consultations should be duly registered and summary on their volume should be reported to UN RPP on a weekly basis throughout the contract period. Information on availability of such consultations shall be disseminated by UN RPP, though the Consultant is encouraged to share announcements posted at UNDP official resources through the relevant channels. The consultations should be provided in Ukrainian language during office hours (Monday to Friday from 9 am till 6 pm);

          6. compose and disseminate at least four digests (biweekly, .pdf, up to 5 pages each without annexes, single spacing, Myriad Pro font, size 11, Ukrainian language) on recent developments and changes of business environment and regulations, relevant to MSMEs in the abovementioned regions. Digests should be submitted to UN RPP for clearance and design prior to sharing. At least 5 relevant online channels should be used to disseminate digests (e. g. MSME-related regional groups in social media). Materials should include but not be limited to following topics:

  • up-to-date restrictions for entrepreneurial activity set at national and regional level;
  • recent changes in reporting and taxation;
  • new measures undertaken by the government and local authorities to support MSMEs during the quarantine and in order to address its consequences;
  • new services for MSMEs provided by associations and business support organizations
  • answers to frequently asked questions;
  • other relevant legal, accounting, marketing and operational aspects of MSME activity in the COVID-19 environment.
  • other legal, accounting, marketing and operational aspects of MSME activity in the COVID-19 environment.    

 

                7. develop and record 2 video lessons on MSME response to COVID-19 crisis in Ukraine up to 1.5 hours each. Determine contents of video lessons’, draft a script and agree it with the direct supervisor. The content should:

  • be in Ukrainian and have a simple language, not overburdened with specific terminology and complex words. If a specific terminology or abbreviation is used, it should be explained;
  • introduction to each video lesson should contain the title of the lecture, topics to be covered in the lecture, the speaker’s name and professional position;
  • each topic, subtopic covered in the video lesson should have several main messages which should be visualized on the screen;
  • video content for each course should be split into short videos no longer than 15 minutes each;
  • images, graphics, schemes should be used in the videos to facilitate the perception of the learning material;
  • video should be filmed from at least two professional cameras (for example, Panasonic Lumix GH5), have good quality sound (for example, Zoom H1 or Tascam DR-10L microphone) and should have minimum resolution: 1280x720 px;
  • videos must be compressed down to the MP4, audio into MP3 files;
  • each video should be accompanied by text brief in material summarizing the lessons’ content. They should not exceed 1 page (single spacing, Myriad Pro font, size 11, Ukrainian language) and be in pdf downloadable format;
  • video content produced must be appropriate for adult learners;
  • video lessons should be filmed in accordance with UN visibility guidelines and in consultation with the Programme;
  • UN RPP should be granted full rights for the produced video lessons;

 

            8. provide, upon the request of the Programme staff, all the required information regarding the implementation of activities (specifically to inform stakeholders about progress and results);

 

            9. prepare, submit and get approval by the direct supervisor a comprehensive report (up to 20 pages without annexes, single spacing, Myriad Pro font, size 11, Ukrainian language) on results of activities performed that includes, but is not limited to the following components:

  • Scope of work and objectives of the assignment
  • Description of the approach and methods used
  • Recommendations and lessons learned
  • Annexes: registration lists of webinars, registry log of remote consultations, webinar recordings, text of brief summaries shared with participants of webinars with a contact list, biweekly digests, etc.

 

4. DELIVERABLES AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

Deliverable #

Task description

Deadline

Deliverable #1

- a work plan is developed and agreed with the direct supervisor;

- brief overview of key issues and opportunities for MSMEs’ life cycle caused by COVID-19 pandemic prepared and agreed with the direct supervisor.

Up to 10 calendar days after the starting date of the assignment

Deliverable #2

- at least 3 webinars on COVID-19-specific changes in legislation and regulations relevant for MSMEs delivered, recorded and accepted by the direct supervisor;

- at least 3 webinars on crisis management relevant for the current business environment, market conditions and activity of the MSME owners delivered, recorded and accepted by the direct supervisor.

Up to 30 calendar days after the starting date of the assignment

Deliverable #3

- 2 video lessons on MSME response to COVID-19 crisis in Ukraine developed, recorded and approved by the direct supervisor.

Up to 50 calendar days after the starting date of the assignment

Deliverable #4

- at least 60 hours of remote consultations to MSMEs provided in the legal, accounting, marketing and operational aspects of their activity in the COVID-19 environment. The consultations log approved by the direct supervisor;

- two digests on recent developments and changes of business environment and regulations, relevant to MSMEs in the abovementioned regions composed and approved by the direct supervisor.

up to 70 calendar days after the starting date of the assignment

Deliverable #5

- overall at least 120 hours of remote consultations to MSMEs provided in the legal, accounting, marketing and operational aspects of their activity in the COVID-19 environment. The consultations log approved by the direct supervisor;

- overall four digests on recent developments and changes of business environment and regulations, relevant to MSMEs in the abovementioned regions composed and approved by the direct supervisor.

- a comprehensive report on provided services developed and approved by the direct supervisor.

up to 90 calendar days after the starting date of the assignment

 

5. PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

UNDP will pay the negotiated amount in 5 tranches as per delivery of the outputs outlined above.  

10% of total contract amount upon completion of Deliverable 1

25% of total contract amount upon completion of Deliverable 2

25% of total contract amount upon completion of Deliverable 3

20% of total contract amount upon completion of Deliverable 4

20% of total contract amount upon completion of Deliverable 5

 

6. MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The detailed schedule and the length of the assignment will be discussed with the direct supervisor prior to the assignment. The estimated duration of the assignment is up to 90 calendar days (during the period of July 2020 – September 2020 tentatively).

As a quality assurance measure, the UNDP reserves the right to initiate remote spot checks of the people who have received consultations to conduct interviews and obtain comments and suggestions regarding the quality of the services.

Competencies

7. EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

 

8. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Applicants should submit the following documents:

  • Professional Resume CV, including the information about past experience in similar projects/assignments;
  • At least two reference letters from previous employers and/or customers.  
  • Financial proposal (according to defined deliverables) using UNDP template available here: 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/297e72t7i3v2969/AADDRyUo2uoNrYjuD8NLmdl0a?dl=0 ;

 

9. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

 Lump sum contract

The financial proposal should specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel

 

Travel is not stipulated by the scope of assignment. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the Consultant wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

Required Skills and Experience

10. EVALUATION CRITERIA

The breakdown scores for qualifications and experience are as follows:

  • Educational background – 15 points max [15 pts – PhD degree; 8 pts – Master’s degree or equivalent];
  • Proven experience in the field in business consulting and/or legal advisory support to MSMEs - 25 points max [25 pts – 5 or more years; 18 pts – 3 or more years];
  • Proven experience in remote consultations and webinar delivery - 25 points max [25 pts – 5 or more years; 18 pts – 3 or more years];
  • Language skills - 5 points max [5 pts – fluent knowledge of Ukrainian and Russian languages]

 

 Evaluation method:

 Cumulative analysis

Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the cumulative highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight: 70%

* Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.

 

UNDP documents templates are available following the link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/297e72t7i3v2969/AADDRyUo2uoNrYjuD8NLmdl0a?dl=0

 

NB: Please note that online system does not recognise Russian or Ukrainian language, information you provide in on-line application should be in English.


This vacancy is archived.

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