Back Individual Consultant – Self-help Group & Institution Building Expert

Background

UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience. UNDP’s programmes are designed to integrate a global vision for catalytic change with India’s national priorities. Today, UNDP India works to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by transforming traditional models to do development differently.

UNDP India in collaboration with Coca Cola India Foundation have designed a project on Plastic Waste Recycling Management & Livelihood (PWML) to be implemented in close partnership with the Urban Local Bodies in select cities of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. This initiative is designed to minimize the impacts and risks to environment and human health, by enhancing sustainable Plastic Waste Management practices, through a socio-technical model (segregation/collection/ recycling).

The socio-technical model while being economically sustainable also ensures compliance with regulations, to improve use of resources with a circular economy approach and in line with Swachh Bharat Mission of India; and Government of India Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016.

The PWML project’s main objective is to establish a sustainable community led approach for integrated plastic waste management and efficient recycling. The systematic approach will address better social security measures, job creation and impact livelihoods for the informal sector engagements. Mainstreaming Waste Pickers (Safai-Sathis), will open new opportunities and lead to more sustainable ways of collection, segregation, processing and recycling of plastics.

Safai-Sathis are mostly self-employed having no legally tenable employer-employee relationship either with the municipalities or the with scrap traders. They are not paid by the municipalities while with the waste traders the relationship is a sale-purchase transaction, at most a patron-client relationship built on years of dealing with the same scrap trader. Waste-pickers suffer from occupation related health issues, face regular harassment and extortion from both the police and the municipal authorities, and no social security benefits are available to workers in this sector.

In order to address the above challenges, the PWML project includes a key component on livelihoods that aims to:

The above initiatives intend to support mainstream Safai- Sathis through access to social entitlements, improved livelihood capabilities, improved incomes, and capacity built of the second-generation through career guidance and counselling. These interventions would be built around strengthening institutionalized and formalized benefits and entitlements framework for Safai-Sathis as a means of bringing dignity to their profession. By empowering the Safai-Sathis through alternative livelihood options and more institutionalized benefits, the project will not only strengthen the improved social conditions envisaged for them in the larger partnership, but also enable improved livelihood generation possibilities and income enhancement.

To complement and strengthen the livelihood component of the project, UNDP is seeking to hire a Self-help Group (SHG) and Institution Building (IB) expert to mentor and strengthen Safai-Sathi community institutions. The objective of the assignment is to provide technical leadership to program activities related to SHG building and institution building activities. This would result in robust SHG groups and community institutions deriving from best practices in the field of community engagement and financial linkages and further build capacities of the Safai-Sathis leading to entrepreneurship development.

Duties and Responsibilities

A - Formation & Working with Self-Help Groups

i. Draft standard MOA of group formation;

ii. Foster SHG groups (Conduct regular meeting and maintain book of accounts) as per NULM guidelines

iii. Register the self-help groups in NULM MIS portal

B - Capacity Building of Self-Help Groups

Review and customize SHG & Institution Building modules.

Conduct institution building trainings with the self-help groups, which should include:

i. Trainings on importance of group formation, regular meeting, regular savings, book-keeping, inter-lending, repayment.

ii. Develop slides/training materials in local language (Hindi/Punjabi/Bengali- with the help of UNDP field staff) on importance of group formation, regular meeting, regular savings, book-keeping, inter-lending, repayment

C - Ensure Financial Inclusion for the Safai-Sathis and Self-Help Groups

Open bank accounts of self-help groups with nearby bank branches

D - Promote Entrepreneurship amongst Self-Help Groups

Mobilize and conduct entrepreneurship awareness campaigns/ workshops for Safai-Sathis on entrepreneurship opportunities to supplement their household income.

Handhold Self-help Groups to take up business activities and ensure development of a business plan.

Payment terms

S.N

Deliverable

Duration from signing of the contract

% Payment

1.

Submission of work plan including SHG activity calendar and finalization of training modules.

Within 15 days of signing of the contract

20%

2.

Formation of 10 Safai-Sathi self-help groups, Institution Building trainings for the 10 Safai-Sathi help groups formed and submission of training report

Within 01 month of signing of the contract

20%

3.

Formation of additional 10 Safai-Sathi self-help groups, Institution Building trainings for the additional 10 Safai-Sathi help groups formed and submission of training report

Within 02 months of signing of the contract

20%

4.

Formation of additional 10 Safai-Sathi self-help groups, Institution Building trainings for the additional 10 Safai-Sathi help groups formed and submission of training report

Within 03 months of signing of the contract

20%

5.

Registration of atleast 30 Self-Help Groups with NULM and bank account opening of the 30 self-help groups

Within 06 months of signing of the contract

20%

(Kindly note: Prior approved travel, boarding & lodging expense will be reimbursed as per actuals in line with UNDP rules.)

Competencies

Functional Competencies

Job Knowledge/ Technical Expertise

• Overall understanding of collective formation, working with self-help groups and promoting financial and market for self-help groups.
• Knowledge of various Government departments such as NULM, Financial Institutions etc would be preferred.
• High level of proficiency in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PPT etc.) 

Communication skills

• Sound communication, interpersonal skills, with an ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent analytical, interviewing and writing skills.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates/safeguards ethics and integrity.
• Works as a team member.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure.
• Travel extensively.

Language Requirements

Fluency in English is essential and working knowledge of at least one regional language ( Hindi/ Punjabi/ Bengali) would be preferred. 

Required Skills and Experience

Evaluation Method

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as Responsive to the requirement. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation;

•             Technical Criteria weight - 70%;

•             Financial Criteria weight – 30 %

Technical Criteria (70% of the total evaluation)

• Minimum Masters Degree in Social Sciences preferably in Social Work, Public Policy, Governance, Environmental Science, Solid Waste Management or related discipline

• At least 03 years of experience of forming and registeringSelf-Help Groups/Collectives with Government institutionalized benefits - 20 Marks.

• At least 03 years of experience of promoting financial and market linkages for self-help groups-30 Marks

Minimum Masters Degree in Social Sciences preferably in Social Work, Public Policy, Governance, Environmental Science, Solid Waste Management or related discipline

At least 03 years of experience of forming and registeringSelf-Help Groups/Collectives with Government institutionalized benefits - 20 Marks.

At least 03 years of experience of promoting financial and market linkages for self-help groups-30 Marks

Financial Criteria: (30% of the total evaluation) based on the total all-inclusive lump sum amount for the professional fee for tasks specified in this announcement

Financial Proposal:

Technically qualified consultants will be requested to submit their daily fee rate i.e. consultants who score more than 70% i.e. 49 marks with respect to the above-mentioned evaluation criteria. Consultant should not specify their consultancy fee on their CV or with the submission. The CV will not be evaluated further in case the consultant submits the same.

Criterial for Contract Award

Highest Combined Score (based on the 70% technical offer and 30% price weight distribution), where minimum score to pass in technical evaluation is 70%.

Documents to be submitted by Consultants:

• Updated CV with contact details of 3 references;
• Proof of experience;

• No Financials ( Daily Fee) to be submitted at this stage

No Financials ( Daily Fee) to be submitted at this stage

Note:

Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone, relocation charges etc. would not be reimbursed.

Travel, lodging and boarding as per UNDP rules subject to prior approval

Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual

Recruitment Qualifications:

Educational - Masters Degree in Social Sciences preferably in Social Work, Public Policy, Governance, Environmental Science, Solid Waste Management or related discipline with relevant professional qualification and necessary knowledge to undertake the assignment is essential

Experience

• At least 03 years of experience of working with self-help groups and implementing self-help group based livelihood projects.

• At least 03 years of experience of working with collectives and promoting financial and market linkages for self-help groups

• Experience managing staff and partner organizations as well as managing relationships and interactions between government officials, SHG members and other stakeholders.

At least 03 years of experience of working with self-help groups and implementing self-help group based livelihood projects.

At least 03 years of experience of working with collectives and promoting financial and market linkages for self-help groups

• Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual Contractor Assignment
• Detailed personal CV and P11 indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) and at least three (3) professional references;

Note:

Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone, relocation charges etc. will not be reimbursed;

Travel, lodging and boarding as per UNDP rules subject to prior approval

Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered.

General Conditions for Individual Contract-
http://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india /docs/procurement/UNDP%20General%20Conditions%20for%20Individual%20Contracts.pdf

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.