Republic of Moldova

National Consultant to conduct Final Evaluation of the Joint Action to Strengthen Human Rights in the Transnistrian Region of the Republic of Moldova

Vacancy Number: Pr18/01728

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	14 Jun 2018, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	N/A
Starting date:	01 Jul 2018
Reference to the project:	One UN Joint Action Cross-river support to Human Rights
Expected Duration of Assignment:	30 days
Supporting Documents: Individual Consultant Procurement Notice Terms of Reference Offeror's Letter confirming Interest and Availability Personal History Form (P11) UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Background

Joint Action to Strengthen Human Rights in the Transnistrian Region of the Republic of Moldova is grounded in the United Nations human rights-based norms and standards and pursues strengthening of the effective exercise of human rights by people residing in the Transnistrian region through fostering improvement of the regulatory and institutional frameworks in the area of disability, gender based violence and HIV, PWIDs and people in prisons.

The action is funded by Government of Sweden and is being implemented during June 2016-June 2018 through the UN Multi-Donor Trust Fund, being framed around three inter-linked components (rights of persons with disabilities, women in vulnerable situations, and HIV/AIDS) which are led by Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNDP, and UNAIDS. These components have been identified following a series of visits paid by UN professionals in various field in Transnistria and discussion with key stakeholders and region’s de-facto authorities. The proposed three components are also based on the comparative advantages of respective UN agencies, as a result of normative and operational capacities, ready-to-go expertise available as a result of competencies of UNCT Moldova. In addition, the identified components are selected outside any political process, consistent with the mandates of UNDP, OHCHR and UNAIDS. They are aiming to advance Moldova’s progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), 5 (Gender Equality), and 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

 

 The programme is implemented through the following components:

Component 1: Non-discrimination and social inclusion of children and adult persons with disabilities:  

The entire action on the rights of persons with disabilities in the Transnistrian region is implemented in the framework of a broader OHCHR program on promotion of human rights in the Transnistrian region, which is expected to be co-funded by other donors (e.g. European Union).

OHCHR leads a coordination platform of development partners on the rights of persons with disabilities in the Transnistrian region to maximize synergy and combined effect of joint actions. As mentioned above, the major interventions will be:

• Empowerment of the rights-holders – persons with disabilities, their groups and organizations – by their internal capacity development, building relations and partnerships with other organizations and authorities in the region, but also with similar type of organizations across the Nistru-river;
• Capacitation of the duty-bearers – de facto authorities – activities to make them understand, internalize and apply the rights-based understanding of disabilities by developing compliant normative and institutional framework;
• Support in development and piloting of Convention-compliant community services and facilities for persons with disabilities;
• Awareness raising among broader range of opinion and decision-makers and wider society about the rights-based concept of disabilities.    

The five main outputs the project aims to achieve are as follows:

• Organizations of persons with disabilities (women and men with disabilities) empowered to take action in protection and advancement of non-discrimination and their fundamental human rights as per the international standards;
• De facto authorities of central and local level, ombudsperson’s office, other specialized de facto authorities and institutions trained and capacitated on international standards with regard to rights of persons with disabilities; 
• De facto normative framework reviewed and adjusted – to the furthest possible extent – in line with the international standards with regard to rights of persons with disabilities (as amendments to de facto laws, regulations and/or as executive order, operational guides, etc); 
• Convention-compliant community services developed and piloted to provide a successful model to be multiplied and scaled-up at the next stages;
• Raised awareness among broader range of opinion and decision-makers (de facto MPs, local authorities, media, etc) and wider society about the rights-based concept of disability.

 

 Component 2: Enhancing gender equality and combating violence against women:

2.1.     Provide support in the establishment, institutionalization and functioning of a more complex social reintegration/rehabilitation service, including the establishment of a shelter for the victims of violence and human trafficking and two regional hubs

2.2.     Strengthen the capacity of key service delivery partners to promote and protect women's rights to life free from violence and those of the victims of the human trafficking

2.3.     Contribute to a sustainable reintegration/empowerment of vulnerable women, including victims of domestic violence on the labour market, through the regional hubs.

2.4.     Raise public awareness to support prevention and disclosure of DV and HT instances.

 

 Component 3 /Improving prevention, treatment and care services for PLHIV, PWIDs and people in prisons): Ensure universal access to quality and integrated prevention, treatment and care services for people living with HIV, people who inject drugs and people in prisons on both banks, with the focus of the Transnistrian region

3.1. Increase access to a comprehensive package of services for PWIDs, including drug dependency in community

3.2. Improve comprehensive package of service for people living with HIV and people who inject drugs in prisons through addressing normative framework, political commitment of prisons and health authorities

3.3. Support implementation of international standards, pursuing human rights and gender mainstreaming into HIV normative framework

3.4. Increase the access of the most at risk HIV populations to HIV Testing and Counselling through building capacities of NGOs and strengthening the dialogue between NGOs, health, and LEAs on both banks of Nistru river   

3.5. Establish a sustainable dialogue with law enforcement authorities with regards to a communitarian policing approach in working with most at risk populations, such as PLWHIV and PWIDs and ensure referral services from police to harm reduction programmes

Raise public awareness to combat HIV and drug dependency related stigma and discrimination. 

 

 Component 4 (cross-cutting): Platform for Human Rights - Coordination and Monitoring

Under this component the establishment of coordination and monitoring platforms is envisaged so that there is a better chance that implementation will be successful and sustainable. UN implementing agencies shall actively engage with and co-opt participation of civil society organisations to encourage human rights advocates and emergent initiative groups to lead in promoting human rights oriented reforms. 

4.1. Coordinate effectively all the regional stakeholders in the process of implementing the present project and in advancement of Thomas Hammarberg’s recommendations;

4.2. Coordinate the efforts of the development partners in advancement of Thomas Hammarberg’s recommendations.

This Component has a cross-cutting nature contributing to successful achievement of substantial objectives and targets under the above three Components.

Scope of work

As the project ends in June 2018, the purpose of this evaluation is to learn from the experience of the Joint Action to Strengthen Human Rights in the Transnistrian Region of the Republic of Moldova, with a forward-looking approach. The Evaluation is expected to clarify underlying factors affecting the situation, highlight unintended consequences (positive and negative) and better design UN-supported interventions at the next stage. The Country Offices of involved UN agencies accordingly plan to make use of the exercise as a learning opportunity not only for the offices but also for key partners and stakeholders, as inclusively and as practically possible.

One International and One National Consultants will conduct the Final Evaluation of the Joint Action to Strengthen Human Rights in the Transnistrian Region of the Republic of Moldova.

The purpose of the Evaluation is twofold:

• review the progress made by the Joint Action to Strengthen Human Rights in the Transnistrian Region of the Republic of Moldova in fulfilling its agreed outcome and outputs through the planned activities. Assess how successful the HRBA was applied and the efficiency and effectiveness with which resources have been used to generate results and achieve project objectives with special emphasis on impact and sustainability.
• Develop recommendations for the expansion of the project interventions beyond 2018, which UN Moldova can offer as support for the strengthening of the effective exercise of human rights by people residing in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.

 

The overall objectives of the evaluation are the following:

1. Provide an objective assessment of the progress towards the achievement of the project objectives and outcomes as specified in the Project Document and the impact produced so far under the area of intervention.
2. Generate lessons from experiences in the project respective interventions to inform current and future programming at the country level, especially in the context of Moldova progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), 10 (Reduced Inequality), 5 (Gender Equality), and 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
3. Provide clear and forward-looking recommendations to suggest effective and realistic strategies by UNCT.

UN agencies involved in the implementation will make use of the exercise as a learning opportunity for their country offices and key partners and stakeholders, as inclusively and practically possible. The findings and recommendations generated by the evaluation should inform the implementation and targeting of activities planned for the next stage of the project development.

The scope of the evaluation should incorporate the following categories of analysis: 

• Relevance: the degree to which the purpose of the Joint Action to Strengthen Human Rights in the Transnistrian Region of the Republic of Moldova remains valid and pertinent.
• Efficiency: the productivity of the implementation process - how good and how cost efficient the process of transforming inputs into outputs and outcomes was.
• Effectiveness: a measure of the extent to which the Joint Action to Strengthen Human Rights in the Transnistrian Region of the Republic of Moldova has contributed to achieve its results through an effective use of their resources.
• Capacity development: as a key to development effectiveness, the achievement of the SDGs and sustainable local development.
• Sustainability – to what extent are the Joint Action to Strengthen Human Rights in the Transnistrian Region of the Republic of Moldova results sustainable, i.e. rights-holders are empowered to claim their rights, taking into consideration the existing capacity, structures and political context in the country.

For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1 – Terms of Reference.

Requirements for experience

The National Consultant must possess the following qualifications:

 I. Academic Qualifications:

• University degree in Management, Human rights, Development Studies and/or other relevant fields;

 II. Experience and skills:

• At least 5 years of professional experience/technical knowledge in providing management or consultancy services in post conflict development, local development, participatory planning for sustainable development, including participatory monitoring and evaluation;
• At least 3 years of experience in conducting evaluation of projects in the human rights field;
• Professional experience with Transnistria region will represent a strong advantage
• Experience in managing, monitoring and evaluating projects for UN or other international development agencies in the region will be an asset;

 III. Language requirements:

• Fluent in English and Romanian both written and spoken;
• Knowledge of Russian is an advantage.

UNDP Moldova is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Documents to be included

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

 1. Proposal:

• Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
• Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work (if applicable);

 2. Financial proposal (fee per day and total amount);

 3. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments 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 fees, taxes, travel costs, accommodation costs, communication, and number of anticipated working days).  

The financial proposal will specify the daily fee, travel expenses and per diems quoted in separate line items, and payments are made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked.

Travel

 All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

 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.

 

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