Deadline

The purpose of the Call for Expression of Interest is to solicit interest from existing or prospective Implementing Partners that wish to participate in UN-Habitat operation and contribute complementary resources (human resources, knowledge, funds, in-kind contributions, supplies and/or equipment) to achieving common objectives as outlined below and subsequently agreed in an Agreement of Cooperation

Implementing partner for the Project Citizen Culture for Social Cohesion Project in the cities of Bolivia

Size of grant:  Maximum amount USD. 80.0000

Purpose of CFP: The United Nations Program for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat) in Bolivia requests the presentation of expressions of interest to enter into a Cooperation Agreement in the Implementing Partner modality, which will require a technical and an economic proposal for execution of the Project "Citizen Culture for Social Cohesion in the cities of Bolivia".

The execution of the project involves the implementation of at least three Citizen Culture initiatives proposed by civil groups in the cities of Bolivia and which must be developed through the organization of Citizen Laboratories; the articulation of relevant actors in each local space; and the development of a strategy for the continuity and sustainability of each of the initiatives.

Submission Deadline Date and time: March 20th, 2022 by 24:00 hours.

                 

Project Key Information

  • UN-Habitat Project title: Citizen Culture for Social Cohesion Project in the cities of Bolivia
  • Location: Bolivia
  • Cities: The call will be launched in the nine capital cities of the country and the city of El Alto. Initiatives must be carried out in at least two of these cities.
  • Anticipated start date: April 1st, 2022.
  • Estimated duration of project in calendar months: 5 months
  • Maximum proposed value in US$: 80.000
  • Lead Organization Unit: ONU-Habitat Bolivia

 

Brief Background of the Project

(State the purpose, main goal, and specific objectives of the project)

The "Citizen Culture for Social Cohesion in Bolivian Cities" Project is an initiative that seeks to strengthen the conditions of coexistence and social articulation as an element of sustainability in Bolivian cities and is carried out as part of the implementation process of the National Policy for the Integral Development of Cities (PNDIC).

The Project is carried out as an initial experience of a set of initiatives that the Vice Ministry of Urbanism and Housing will carry out in relation to the intervention levels of the PNDIC. These initiatives seek to identify urban problems, propose solutions based on scalable prototypes and support urban development planning.

Objective

To Promote the conception and implementation of proposals from civil society to improve the conditions of harmonious coexistence and social cohesion in the cities of Bolivia.

Specific Objectives

  • To Strengthen the advocacy capacity of local collectives to implement initiatives aimed at improving the conditions of coexistence and social cohesion in Bolivian cities.
  • To Contribute to the solution of problems and difficulties related to the coexistence, use and appropriation of urban space by social collectives through the implementation of at least three citizen culture initiatives in Bolivian cities.
  • To Strengthen the mechanisms of social participation and civic incidence in the treatment and solution of common urban problems.
  • To Generate learning for the management of initiatives by the Vice-Ministry of Housing and Urbanism to contribute to the implementation of the PNDIC guidelines and actions.

Proposed Goal

To design and execute three action/intervention proposals for the resolution of problems related to the conditions of coexistence and social relations in the cities through the establishment of Citizen Laboratories as a methodological process for the conception and implementation of solutions from the citizenry that could become part of public policies of municipal governments.

 

Main activities and outputs

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

  • To develop a contextualized reference framework for the selection and allocation and management of grants to citizen culture initiatives for social cohesion. This should specify the stages of the process, the technical and administrative requirements, the characterization of the stakeholders involved, the work schedule and the design of a methodological and administrative procedure to guide and allow for the monitoring of the process.
  • To select, through a public tender, three local citizen groups initiatives that will make the Project feasible according to the criteria previously established in the call and evaluation procedures.
  • Allocate financial resources to the selected civil groups for the implementation of the citizen culture initiatives according to the regulation specifically elaborated for this purpose.
  • Accompany and supervise the implementation of three Citizen Culture for Social Cohesion initiatives in at least two cities in the country based on the activity of a local group per initiative, through the creation of citizen laboratories (process of articulation of stakeholders, conception and implementation of initiatives) and with the participation and coordination of the municipalities involved.
  • To systematize the experiences implemented in each of the cities, reflecting in detail the processes carried out in each of the cities, the stakeholders involved and the results obtained.
  • To prepare a strategy for the continuity and sustainability of each of the initiatives with the participation of the stakeholders involved and that serves as a reference for the development of the experience in other cities in the country.

 

Products

Product 1

Document of contextualized reference framework for the selection and allocation and managing management of grants to citizen culture initiatives for social cohesion and the methodological and administrative scheme for the monitoring and management the process. To be presented three weeks after the inter-institutional agreement has been signed.

Product 2

Detailed report on the selection process of the local citizen groups that will lead the implementation of the Project. To be submitted six weeks after the signing of the inter-institutional agreement.

Product 3

Detailed report on the implementation process of the three Citizen Culture for Social Cohesion initiatives. The report must specify the mechanisms and amounts of financial resources allocated to the civil groups, the work processes of the Citizen Laboratories, the participation of the stakeholders involved and a description of the activities carried out. This product must be presented twenty weeks after the signing of the inter-institutional agreement.

Product 4

Evaluation report and strategy for the continuity and sustainability of each of the initiatives carried out. This product must be submitted twenty-two weeks after the inter-institutional work agreement has been signed.

 

Risk Analysis

Factors that could jeopardize the implementation of this project include:

  • Social conflicts arising from political disputes or claims of specific social sectors. These types of events usually paralyze the activities of one or more cities because they force the suspension of the activities of all sectors of society.
  • Climatic events and/or environmental disasters that could make it impossible to carry out planned activities.
  • Significant resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic or other urgent health conditions in the intervention cities.
  • Failure or withdrawal of one or more collaborating partners for the implementation of the project in the defined cities.

The mitigation measures that have been planned to address these potential risks are as follows:

  • Planning of activities related to the project after analyzing the climate of social conflict and establishing alternatives that could be applied to achieve the planned goal in the event of a conflict scenario.
  • Planning of activities that will consider climatic seasonality and forecast of possible natural events.
  • All activities to be carried out will comply with strict biosafety measures to minimize health risks. The possibility of carrying out the planned activities remotely and through virtual connection will also be foreseen.
  • Alternative planning of activities that considers criteria for the replacement or substitution of actors associated with the initiatives.

 

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

Any institution interested in participating in the competitive process must create its profile and register in UN Partner Portal (UNPP) at: https://www.unpartnerportal.org, and attach evidence of registration of its proposal. In case of difficulty when creating your profile in UNPP, it is possible to request assistance in the UNPP helpdesk at: https://unpartnerportalcso.zendesk.com. Proposals from institutions that have not registered as potential partners will not be considered.

 

Selection Criteria

Criteria

Submission Details/ Documents Required

Weight

1.   Technical capacity

 

25%

1.1 Does the organization have the relevant experience and proven track record in implementing activities in the areas of the project (Citizen culture, projects with civil organizations, empowerment and citizen participation)?

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).
  • Demonstrate how the experiences in past projects are relevant in the execution of the current proposal.
  • References from past donors.

 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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 / Organigram.
  • External audit reports for the last two years.

 

 

2.3 Does the organization have the capacity to procure goods and services on a transparent and competitive basis? (if applicable) check for procurement unit with experienced staff
  • Copies of procurement policies and procedures. The procedures should show how you procure locally and internationally.

 

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)

 

 

3.   Financial Proposal

 

30%

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%

 

NOTES:

1. Electronic submission:

  • Format: Only PDF files. UN-Habitat will NOT be responsible if the attached files are in different formats that cannot be opened without additional software.
  • Maximum file size: 5MG per transmission. There are no restrictions on the number of files sent, but each transmission must be tagged, for example: 1 of 2.
  • Proposals MUST be sent to: bolivia@onuhabitat.org. Proposals sent to other UN-Habitat email accounts will NOT be accepted.

2. Only proposals from non-profit organizations (non-governmental organizations, foundations, etc.) will be accepted.

3. Interested organizations must provide information indicating that they are qualified to develop the project activities (brochure, brochures, description of similar tasks, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among their staff, etc.

4. Proposals and supporting documents must be submitted according to the instructions provided. Proposals sent to different email accounts will NOT be considered.

5. Proposals that do not provide complete information and requirements to meet the basic eligibility criteria will not be considered.

6. Proposals received after the deadline date and time will NOT be considered.

7. Organizations will be selected in accordance with the procedure established in the UN-Habitat Intellectual Property Management Policy and Standard Operating Procedures.

8. This call does NOT imply any commitment on the part of UN-Habitat, financial or otherwise. UN-Habitat reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals without incurring any obligation to inform the proponent(s).

9. All costs must be expressed in dollars of the United States of America.

All submissiones mLas propuestas acompañadas de todos los documentos de respaldo y respetando los formatos proporcionados (mandatorio) deberán ser enviadas antes del domingo 20 de marzo de 2022 a horas 24:00, a la siguiente dirección de correo electrónico:

bolivia@onuhabitat.org

The reference must indicate: IP PROPOSAL CITIZEN CULTURE PROJECT – “NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION” 1 of XX