National Consultant to Map Data Collection System for Human Rights Reporting and Facilitate Learning Workshops on SDGs (two positions)

Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and availability - https://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx - Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 102131.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Bosnia and Herzegovina[1] (2021-2025), as the framework document delineating the key areas of development cooperation between the United Nations and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), clearly stipulates the commitment to 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the country’s human rights obligations. It clearly denotes that “support to the authorities in BiH to implement accepted recommendations from human rights treaty bodies and mechanisms will help to meet international standards for rule of law, access to justice, and gender equality. It will also contribute to the implementation of all outcomes, and particularly the conditions for sustainable economic growth and opportunities for young people, women and other vulnerable groups. This will help to form stronger links between economic transformation and the exercise of human rights such as to rule of law and nondiscrimination.“

 As a State party to all nine core international human rights treaties, Bosnia and Herzegovina is obliged to regularly report to the United Nations human rights treaty bodies. As a Member State of the United Nations, it also periodically reports under the The Universal Periodic Review (UPR)[2] mechanism of the Human Rights Council. Bosnia and Herzegovina went through its third UPR cycle in November 2019, and the Government accepted 207 out of 214 recommendations issued in February 2020. The submission of mid-term reports is highly encourage to facilitate monitoring of progress in implementing recommendations. 

Moreover, Bosnia and Herzegovina has also committed to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, which also involves reporting. In April 2019, Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted its voluntary national report on the implementation of the SDGs, reaffirming its commitment to human rights. On 30 June 2021, Bosnia and Herzegovina was among  Members States that signed the “Sustainable Recovery Pledge: Building a better future for all, with human rights at its heart”, reaffirming its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, the implementation of the SDGs and the strengthening of good governance and the rule of law.  Furthermore, it has transpired the national human rights institution and civil society organizations  have limited knowledge and understanding of the 2030 Agenda, its human rights dimensions, and the related reporting and strategy documents and processes.

BiH does not have a National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up (NMRF)[3] nor a National Recommendation Tracking Database (NRTD). In a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs dated 13 May 2020 in follow-up to the review, the High Commissioner for Human Rights highlighted recommendations, offering assistance for follow-up. Due to the complex administrative structure of the State, the coordination, collection and processing of relevant data tends to be complicated and time-consuming,  involving multiple actors at the State and entities levels.

Rationalizing and simplifying data collection, analysis, reporting, and monitoring of implementation related to both human rights and SDGs would facilitate the work of the Government and counterparts and would foster synergies between the implementation of the State’s human rights obligations and the SDGs. This would also be a means to enhance the effective and meaningful participation of civil society actors in the process, including in monitoring implementation.

In view of the above, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have launched a project on “Supporting the integration of human rights reporting data into SDG planning frameworks in Bosnia and Herzegovina“. The objective is to strengthen the authorities’ data collection process on human rights and SDGs for the purpose of improved analysis, reporting to human rights mechanisms, and monitoring implementation, and with the goal of  reinforcing collaboration between the authorities, relevant institutions, including the Human Rights Ombudsmen Institution and the statistical institute, and civil society organizations, on the one hand, and between human rights entities and the SDG council, on the other hand.  

The outcome of this exercise could serve to inform a follow-on intervention to establish a National Reporting and Follow-Up Mechanism and a National Tracking Database in order to improve the collection and tracking of data on both human rights and SDGs implementation and to facilitate monitoring of progress in implementing the recommendations of all United Nations human rights mechanisms and of SDGs by all relevant actors. 

The purpose of this consultancy is the provision of technical services for specific activities under this project.

[1] Full text is available here: https://bosniaherzegovina.un.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/Sustainable%20development_WEB.pdf

[2] The UPR involves the review, every four years of the human rights record of each United Nations Member State by other Member States, with the ultimate goal of improving the human rights situation in every country. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/BasicFacts.aspx

[3] A national mechanism for reporting and follow-up is a national public mechanism or structure mandated to coordinate and prepare reports to, and engage with international and regional human rights mechanisms (including the United Nations treaty bodies, UPR, and the special procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council), and to coordinate and track follow-up and implementation of treaty obligations and the recommendations emanating from these mechanisms. It may be ministerial, interministerial or institutionally separate.

Duties and Responsibilities

Task 1. Identify gaps and needs in collection of data for human rights reporting at national level

Under this activity the National Consultant[1] is expected to map the current human rights data collection system, identify gaps and inefficiencies, and propose actionable ways to improve the system, including through digitalization.

The National Consultant will undertake the following activities:

1.1 Familiarize himself/herself with the relevant key United Nations and BiH documents

1.2 Conduct desk research on the data collection process

1.3 Meet with relevant stakeholders in BiH to validate desk research findings

1.4 Prepare recommendations to improve data collection related to human rights and SDGs, including on methodologies and technological tools 

The timeframe for this activity will not exceed 15 expert days.

Task 2. Build capacity of human rights institutions and civil society organizations in monitoring implementation of SDGs

Under this activity the National Consultant is expected to:

2.1 Identify relevant stakeholders that would benefit from capacity-building

2.2 Facilitate two capacity building workshops[2]

2.3 Prepare a lesson learned report based on post-workshop feedback forms

The timeframe for this activity will not exceed 15 expert days.

Task 3.  Support learning on international human rights obligations within SDG council

Under this activity the National Consultant shall undertake the following main tasks:

3.1 Identify relevant stakeholders that would benefit from a learning workshop

3.2 Facilitate a learning workshop

3.3. Prepare a “lessons learned” report based on post-workshop feedback forms

The timeframe for this activity will not exceed 10 expert days.

Deliverables/outputs

#	Deliverables / Outputs	# of Days per Task	Due Date	Percentage
1.	Gap analysis report with recommendations, no longer than 15 pages, in English and BHS version prepared and approved by the project team (UNDP and UNHCHR)	15	12 November  2021	35%
2.	Concept for two capacity building workshops developed, and approved by the project team, and a written report on facilitation of two workshops for HR institutions and civil society approved by the project team.	15	14 December  2021.	35%
3.	Concept for one learning workshop for SDG council developed, and approved by the project team, and a written report of facilitation of the workshop cleared by the project team.	10	22 January  2022	10%

[1] Prospective applicants should note that work will be organized in a team of two consultants, to be selected against an identical ToR.

[2] The organization of the workshops in physical or digital format will be subject to government issued Covid-19 protocol in force at that time. If possible, three workshops in total will be organized in Sarajevo and Banja Luka.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the United Nations values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of United Nations;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;

Functional competencies:

Professionalism:

• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; 
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; 
• Motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Planning and Organizing:

• Undertakes professional research using both quantitative and qualitative methods;
• Able to analyse information, conceptualize and write concisely and clearly; 
• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
• Identifies priority activities and assignments;
• Adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; uses time efficiently;
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.

Client Orientation:

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view;
• Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
• Monitors on-going developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
• Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• University degree in the area of human rights, law, business administration, sustainable development, social sciences or another relevant field

Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in the area of human rights or relevant experience with human rights institutions or national/international organizations working in the human rights field. 
• Extensive professional experience dealing with data collection. 
• General knowledge of the human rights institutions and actors in BiH. 
• Very good understanding of and familiarity with the SDG Agenda and BiH Sustainable Development Framework
• Proven ability to undertake professional research using both quantitative and qualitative methods;
• Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualize and write concisely and clearly;
• Previous work with United Nations agencies in BiH is considered as an asset.

Languages Requirements:

• Fluency in Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian and English, with excellent drafting and presentation skills.

Other Requirements:

• Excellent computer skills (MS Office applications) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Criteria:	Points
Relevant Education	max 10 points5 points allocated for BA/BSc degree+ 5 points for MSc/MA
Relevant professional experience	max 70 points
Prior work experience with UNDP/UN Agencies	max 5 points
Knowledge of English	max 15 points

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Criteria:	Points
Rating based on Qualifications	30%
Previous experience in human rights field, including in facilitation of workshops around human rights and/or SDGs	35%
Submitted methodology detailing approach to mapping human rights data collection system: comprehesive outline detailing all relevant actors to be included in the mapping exercise, outline of mapping report;	35%

Evaluation

Individual  will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, andb) Having received the 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%

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

• Personal CV/P11, including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references;
• Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
• Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work; or sample of previous document/strategy/paper done by the consultant;

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.