Local Consultant to develop HRCM’s 5-year Action Plan

Background

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges. In the programme countries, UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners and other partners to help the country to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock.

UNDP has been a trusted development partner of the Maldives for more than 40 years, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities and exclusion in areas such governance, environment protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation. In each of its thematic areas of work, UNDP at the request of its national partners provides relevant policy advisory support, technical assistance, advocacy, and knowledge to help Maldives achieve its global commitment on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). With Maldives’s transition to Middle Income Country Status, Official Development Assistance from traditional donor sources has been on the continuous decline. UNDP is therefore working with its national partners to identify and tap into alternative and innovative financing mechanisms for development. This process involves broadening outreach and forging wide-ranging partnerships with stakeholders - including other UN agencies, the government, the private sector, philanthropic Foundations, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and International Finance Institutions to advance the country’s development strategies and objectives.

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) is an independent statutory institution, established on 10 December 2003 in accordance with the Human Rights Commission Act 6/2006. It is mandated to protect, promote, and sustain human rights in the Maldives, assist and support non-governmental organization working in the human rights area. The Human rights Commission of the Maldives is an independent and autonomous statutory institution that came into force on 10th December 2003. In accordance with the Human Rights Commission’s Act (Act No. 6/2006), which determines powers, duties and responsibilities with a broad mandate based on universal human rights standards, it is mandated to continuously work to strive for a culture of respect for human rights in the Maldives.

The commission strives to promote human rights in the country by working with the government in identifying and revising the existing laws and regulations to protect and preserve human rights for everyone residing in the country while creating awareness among citizens on the relevant laws, regulations or administrative rules. This also contributes to HRCM fulfilling the advisory role of the state on making recommendations as necessary, in relation to the ratification of regional and international human rights instruments. The Commission is also mandated to investigate and take appropriate actions against any violations or negligence of human rights in the country.

UNDP Maldives through its Integrated Governance Programme II (IGP) works with various government partners, including HRCM, in providing relevant support to strengthen the rule of law and human rights for sustaining peace and fostering development. In this regard, UNDP Maldives together with HRCM is seeking the support of a qualified local consultant to formulate HRCM’s 5-year Action Plan in accordance with HRCM’s Strategic Plan 2021-2025.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Under the guidance of HRCM, the consultant is expected to develop HRCM’s 5-year Action Plan in accordance with its Strategic Plan that is currently in place. The tasks to be undertaken by the consultant under the Terms of Reference include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following.

Conduct working sessions with HRCM Strategic Plan Steering Committee as well as HRCM staff and undertake a mapping exercise to identify objectives and outcome areas for HRCM’s 5-year Action Plan.
Streamline HRCM’s 5-year Action Plan with the Government’s Strategic Action Plan 2019-2023 and HRCM’s Capacity Assessment Recommendations.
Incorporate gender mainstreaming into the mapping exercise and formulate gender conscious outcomes and action points.
Undertake a series of Focus Group discussions with CSOs, women, elderly, PWDs and other vulnerable populations nationwide to ensure that the action plan development is an inclusive and participatory process.
Undertake working sessions with relevant stakeholders to share findings from the mapping exercise and consolidate their input into the action plan.
Prepare HRCM’s 5-year Action Plan in-line with HRCM’s Strategic Plan 2021-2025. The Action Plan should have a narrative section followed by a Results and Resources Framework. The Action Plan should also contain a Monitoring & Evaluation element for the respective results columns (outcomes/outputs) identified through indicators with baselines and targets column, means of verification and source column. In addition to that, develop an M&E section in the document which stresses on the need for M&E, M&E principles to establish, along with higher level M&E requirements stated such as a mid-term and end-term evaluation. The action plan should also detail gender sensitive success criteria in tandem with proposed indicators.
Conduct and facilitate a validation workshop and incorporate feedback from the stakeholders.
Submit HRCM’s 5-year Action Plan for endorsement from HRCM and UNDP

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Inception report – Under this deliverable, the consultant will review the HRCM’s Strategic Plan 2021-2025, review the mandated roles of HRCM under the National Strategic Action Plan 2018-2023, and other necessary documents. The consultant will conduct working sessions with HRCM staff members and the Strategic Plan Steering Committee and draft a plan for the mapping exercise. The Inception report will contain a preliminary review of HRCM’s planned and visioned activities for the upcoming years and will contain a detailed plan for the Action Planning exercise including the mapping exercise. The Inception report will also highlight how gender mainstreaming will be applied throughout the action planning exercise.
Mapping Exercise – Under this deliverable, the consultant will conduct 4 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for women, elderly, PWDs and other vulnerable populations in 4 geographical regions. The FGDs can be done virtually or using hybrid method. The 4 geographical regions should be in greater Male’ area, north, central and south of the country.The consultant will then conduct a thorough mapping exercise to identify gaps and opportunities in the commission’s Strategic Plan, to map actions that makes linkages between actions contributing to HRCM’s different strategic objectives, and deliver a comprehensive draft of the Action Plan with clearly defined outcomes, outputs, activities, success criteria, relevant indicators and an M&E section. This draft will then be presented in a working session with relevant stakeholders and HRCM representatives.
Final Action Plan – Under this deliverable, the consultant will incorporate feedback from the working sessions into the draft Action Plan, and submit a final draft of the Action Plan for a final review. Consecutively, the consultant will present the draft Action Plan in a validation workshop to gather feedback from relevant stakeholders, including civil society and state agencies, and HRCM representatives. After that, the consultant will submit a finalized Action Plan to UNDP and HRCM.

Duration of the Assignment

December to January 13th (08 weeks)

Institutional Arrangement

The Consultant will closely coordinate with HRCM and will be accountable to HRCM and the UNDP Programme Officer assigned to this consultancy. Quarterly meetings will be held with Programme Officer of UNDP Maldives. A briefing and debriefing meeting will be organized with UNDP at the beginning and end of assignment.

Duty Station and Expected Places of Travel

This consultancy is a home-based exercise. However, some physical meetings are expected to be arranged at HRCM or conferencing facilities in Male’, Maldives.

C -PAYMENT TERMS

The method of payment is output-based lump-sum scheme. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive lump sum and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the firm in completing the assignment. The contract price will be a fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the specified duration herein.

The payments shall be released upon submitting the required deliverables/outputs with satisfactory by the Programme Manager/Focal Point as per agreement for each report in accordance with a set time schedule to be agreed in the contract.

Deliverable

Target due date

Percentage

Review and Approvals Required

Deliverable 1 – Inception Report

10 December 2021

20%

Review and Approval of draft Inception report from HRCM and UNDP.

Deliverable 2 – Mapping Exercise

28 December 2021

30%

Review and Approval of the first draft of the Action Plan from HRCM and UNDP.

Deliverable 31 – Final Action Plan

10 January 2022

50%

Review and Approval of the finalized Action Plan from HRCM and UNDP.

* Deliverables dates will be adjusted.

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e., upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in their “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including any professional fee, travel, honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consulting firm. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on an actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily per diems and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is 62 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided. Such medical examination costs must be factored into the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts.

Competencies

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Familiar with gender mainstreaming and gender sensitive planning.
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting.
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills.
Ability to request and take input from others, be flexible, receptive, and adaptable to the different needs or changes in the process.
Ability to take lead and responsibility for planning and delivering key actions to complete the process
Strong communication skills, and ability to liaise with various stakeholders, including government officials.
Ability to focus on impact, result for the stakeholders, and responds positively to critical feedback
Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution

Required Skills and Experience

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in business administration, strategic planning, project management, human rights, gender and development studies, or related social science field.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of experience in strategic planning, development planning, roadmap development, research, and monitoring & evaluation in social science related fields.
Minimum 3 years of experience working with government institutions and international or non-governmental organizations supporting community and development work in the specific area.
Minimum of 1 year of experience in facilitating similar strategic exercises, particularly in the area of human rights, gender and development.
Good analytical, writing, and presentation skills and fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English and Dhivehi with extensive knowledge in developing frameworks and other related materials (such as publications, reports and related documentation).

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English and Dhivehi is required.