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Title: “Improving Tenure Security of Smallholder Farmers in Select Areas in Lao PDR”

Purpose of CFP: To implement a project in LAO PDR to improve land and natural resources tenure security for rural poor smallholder farmers, including women, youth and vulnerable groups in select areas in the Provinces of Luang Prabang and Xiengkouang.

Submission Start Date: 12 July 2018

Submission Deadline Date and time: 31 July 2018, 5PM Nairobi time

Project Key Information

  • UN-Habitat Project Title : Secure Access to Land and Ressources (SALaR)
  • Locations
    • Uganda, Laos and Philippines
  • Specific Location Site for this Call for Proposal
    • Provinces of Luang Prabang and Xiengkouang
  • Anticipated start date: 15 August 2018
  • Maximum proposed value in US$: 250,000
  • Estimated duration of project in calendar months: Fifteen (15) months
  • Lead Organization Unit: Land and Global Land Tool Network Unit, ULLG Branch


Brief Background of the Project

The Global Land Tool Network, as facilitated by UN-Habitat, is an alliance of international, regional and national partners working together to “securing land and property rights for all” through the development of pro-poor and gender responsive land tools and approaches within the continuum of land rights framework. It supports the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Forests and Fisheries (VGGTs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda.

Recently, the Global Land Tool Network has received funding from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to implement a Project called “Secure Access to Land and Resources (SALaR). The Project aims to improve land and natural resources tenure security for rural poor smallholder farmers, including women, youth and vulnerable groups, in Uganda, the Philippines and Laos.

The Programme has three Outcome Statements as indicated below:

Outcome 1: Increased uptake of land tools, approaches, frameworks and policy guidelines that are pro-poor, fit-for-purpose, and gender responsive.

Ouctome 2: Strengthened capacity of change agents including rural poor women, men and vulnerable groups to implement pro-poor, fit-for-purpose and gender responsive land tools and approaches. 

Outcome 3: Improved awareness among stakeholders on issues and measures for improving land and natural resource tenure security for poor women, men and vulnerable groups.

The scope of work aims to implement a project in Lao PDR to improve land and natural resources tenure security for rural poor smallholder farmers, including women, youth and vulnerable groups.  These rural smallholder farmers can be within the communities of Indigenous Peoples, community/communal lands, agrarian reform beneficiaries and forest dwellers/users. A combination of situations or project areas is preferred. This specific project aims to customize and implement GLTN’s pro-poor and gender sensitive land tools to improve tenure security of the smallholder farmers. As per above, the Project also aims to strengthen capacity of change agents and influence policy changes as appropriate towards achieving the objective. The implementing partner is expected to forge partnerships with the relevant government authorities, UN Agencies, provincial and district authorities and target communities. Also, the Project is expected to increase tenure security of at least 1,200 farmer-households as a minimum target.


Main activities and outputs

The Implementing Partner will be undertaking main activities as follows (but not limited to):

  • To mobilize local communities to be project partners in addressing tenure insecurity issues.
  • To identify and work with change agents in improving tenure security of smallholder farmers in select areas in the two provinces of Lao PDR.
  • To implement select GLTN land tools and approaches.
  • To strengthen existing governance mechanisms, practices, partnerships and community based initiatives towards securing land and natural resources rights.
  • To organize training and related events to implement land tools and disseminate good practices.
  • To organize consultation workshops, learning exchanges and related events to improve knowledge and awareness on issues and measures for improving tenure security of target groups and influence policy and practice.
  • To document key interventions and disseminate lessons learned.
  • To ensure effectively working arrangements with government authorities at national, provincial and district levels and other relevant land stakeholders and institutions.
  • To develop and implement a communications strategy and risk management plan.
  • To prepare progress and monitoring reports including financial reports
  • To document the experience, good practices and lessons learned. 


Risk Analysis

The following potential risks may occur so the suggested mitigation factors need to be considered. Constant monitoring is also essential. 

Risk Assessment

Mitigating Factors

Inadequate commitment by government authorities, and key local partners and communities

Sensitization process and dialogues with government authorities, local partners and communities.

Inadequate interest and/or capacity  of partners and key stakeholders to pilot and  implement pro-poor land tools

GLTN and implementing partner to build awareness, knowledge and capacity of change agents and key partners to pilot and implement pro-poor land tools.

Inability to sustain the multi-stakeholder partnership and platform engagement

GLTN and implementing partner to support the development of a strategy and its implementation. Also to build and strengthen existing platforms or multi-stakeholder committees.

Potential security issues or inaccessibility of project sites

Implementing partner to closely monitor security situation in government. Selection of project sites must consider this aspect.


Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Submission Details/ Documents Required

Legal Status

·      Certificate of registration/incorporation i.e.,

·      Proof of registration in Country of Origin.

·      Proof of registration of Country of operation

·      Proof of country operational presence

Organization profile and details

·      Clear organization profile and structure of the organization indicating :

    • Organization’s vision, mission and objectives
    • Management structure
    • Members of the Governing Board and their Designations duly certified by the Corporate Secretary, or its equivalent document
    • Proof of membership to professional associations if any.

Financial Capacity

·      Audited company financial statements (balance sheet and income statement) and auditors report for the last two years

Exclusive bank account

·      Is the organization willing and able to have a separate bank account for the funds provided by UN-Habitat?

Integrity and Governance

·      The organization should complete and submit a signed Partner Declaration Form (Form to be provided upon request)

·      Provide the profiles of the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Head of the Organization and Chief of Finance


Submission of Technical and Financial Proposal

A technical proposal should be submitted presenting a detailed discussion of land issues in Lao PDR, existing policies and programmes, proposed methodology to address the issues, suggested project sites, description and justifications, key milestones, outputs, activities and timelines for delivery (10 pages max). A template is available as a guide is available upon request.

A budget proposal should accompany the technical proposal which include the proposed budget per output/activity per different expense class or budget categories and estimated cash and/or in-kind contribution from implementing partners. A template is available as a guide upon request.


Selection Criteria

Criteria

Submission Details/ Documents Required

Weight

1.   Technical capacity

 

40%

1.1 Does the organization have the relevant experience and proven track record in implementing activities in the areas of the project?

Has it managed in the past projects of similar technical complexities and financial size?

Is the project linked with the core business of the IP?

·      List of projects executed in the last 2 years (value, location, donors, nature of projects, execution stage – completed or ongoing) particularly in Lao PDR.

·      Demonstrate how the experiences in past projects in Lao PDR are relevant in the execution of the current proposal

·      References from past donors (if available)

1.2 Does the organization have qualified technical staff with the experience and the technical skills required by the project?

What is the staff size, type, qualification and education background?

·      CVs of key management staff, technical and non-technical staff that will be involved on the project

·      How many technical staff do you have in the concerned Country for implementing the project? Is there reasonable assurance that such technical staff required by the project will continue to be available as needed in the Project? Will there be plans to recruit more technical staff? What would be the qualifications?

1.3 Does the organization have a clear and strong link with an identifiable constituency relevant to the targeted population of the project?

Does it have the ability to impact on the targeted population and on the issues?

Does it have strong presence in the field and for how long?

Does it have adequate capacity to work in key areas/regions where the proposed field activities will be implemented?

·      Demonstrate, describe and provide proof of local operational presence, including link and ability to impact the targeted population.

·      If applicable, name local partner organizations in the proposed project sites

1.4 Does the organization possess adequate physical facilities, office equipment, transport, etc. to implement the activities?

·      Provide location and list of office facilities, vehicles and office equipment locally available to implement the project.

·      If applicable, provide plans  to secure additional office facilities, vehicles and office equipment

1.5 Does the organization have formal procedures to monitor project execution (e.g. milestones, outputs, expenditures…)

·      Provide formal project monitoring policies and procedures

·      Provide a description on how the IP will monitor and document project activities

2.   Financial and administrative capacity

 

15%

2.1 Has the organization been in operation over a period of at least 2 years to demonstrate its financial sustainability and relevance?

·      State the years of operation

·      Financial statements for the last 2 years

2.2 Does the organization have qualified staff in Finance? Is the current accounting system computerized and does have the capacity to collect and provide separate financial reports on the activities executed under the Agreement of Cooperation?

Does it have systems and practices to monitor and report whether the project deliverables and expenditures are within agreed time and budget?

Does it have minimum segregation of duties in place (separation between project management, finance/accounting and executive office)

·      CVs of key finance and accounting staff

·      Description and key features and controls of the accounting system used

·      Organization structure/ Organogram

2.3 Does the organization have the capacity to procure goods and services on a transparent and competitive basis?

·      Copies of procurement policies and procedures. The procedures should show how you procure locally and internationally.

·      Describe how to procure goods and services on a transparent and competitive basis

2.4 Does the organization have formal procedures and controls to mitigate fraud such as multiple signature signatories on bank accounts, reporting and prosecution of incidences of fraud?

·      Describe anti-fraud controls and provide formal procedures

2.5 Does the organization have capacity to provide in-kind, financial, personnel contribution as UN-Habitat Implementing Partner in this present project? Please give details of contribution nature and size.

·      Describe nature and value of contribution (in-kind or cash)

·      Describe this in the budget proposal

3.   Financial Proposal

15%

3.1 Is the budget for each component of the activity to be performed by the Implementing Partner

(i) cost-effective (i.e. the cost should be economical and prudently estimated to avoid any under/over estimation)

(ii) justifiable/well supported and

(iii) accurate and complete

 

Budget Proposal

·      BOQ (if applicable)

·      Other supporting documents

 

4.   Technical Proposal

30%

4.1 The technical proposal is sound and responds adequately to the specifications and requirements?

Technical Proposal document

 

 

Cumulative score for ratios

 

100%

Expression of Interest must be delivered in electronic format no later than 25 July 2018 to Danilo Antonio at the following email address: danilo.antonio@un.org, All related questions or clarifications must also be coursed through this email address. Upon request to this email address, all related forms and templates will also be shared.

Disclaimer: Please note that this notice does not constitute a solicitation and UN‐Habitat reserves the right to change or cancel this project at any time in the process. Submitting a reply to an EOI does not guarantee that the submitting organization will be selected to carry out the implementation of the project