Deadline

The purpose of the Call for Expression of Interest is to solicit interest from national non-profit civil society organizations or University as Implementing Partner with capacity 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

Title: “Supporting land reform activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) including the  organization of multi-stakeholder stakeholders consultations on the new land law and providing technical support in the finalization of land policy and land law and other related reform activities”

Purpose of CFP: To provide policy, technical and organizational support in the finalization of the land policy and land law, including the organization of multi-stakeholder meetings/workshops and other related reform activities.  

Submission Deadline Date and time: 01 February 2022, 5 P.M. Nairobi Time

Project Key Information

  • Project Title: Programme to Support Land reform and Strengthen the Capacity of Land Administration in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
    • Location: DRC
  • Specific Location Site for this Call for Proposal
    • Kinshasa, and project sites
  • Anticipated start date:  21 February 2021
  • Maximum proposed value in US$: 260,000
  • Estimated duration of project in calendar months: Seven (7) months
  • Lead Organization Unit: Land, Housing and Shelter Section

 

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), the Framework and Guidelines for Land Policy in Africa, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda.

Since 2012, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) launched a process of land reform with the support of UN-Habitat/GLTN and other technical and financial partners.  UN-Habitat/GLTN is implementing a Programme to “support land reform and strengthen the capacity of land administration in the Democratic Republic of Congo (2017-2021)’’ which aims at operationalizing CONAREF for the implementation and preparation of land reform with funding from Fonds National REDD+ (FONAREDD) supported by the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI). An expected outcome of the programme is to develop methodological guides to support communities and to strengthen land/forest registries, and to capitalize on lessons learned from pilot experiments. The programme also supported the development and validation in a participatory way of the DRC’s Land Policy which constitutes the basis for a comprehensive adaptation of the current land law to new context in DRC.

Despite the delay due to COVID-19 and some implementation challenges, a national workshop was organized to allow all stakeholders from all DRC provinces  and representing all categories of actors to validate the land policy developed by the programme. A nine-month extension was accorded to UN-Habitat to finalize the other expected outcomes of the programme, including the land law and the finalization of methodological guides.  The present call for proposal is part of the process of the development in support of the land reform process in DRC. It is expected to contribute to the finalization of the land policy and land law, including organization of consultation meetings and workshops, and support to other reform activities. For this project, the implementing partner will work closely with UN-Habitat, CONAREF and other key partners to implement the agreed land reform activities. In close consultation with UN-Habitat and partners,  the partner-organization shall prepare an implementation plan for the consultations and mobilization of national experts, as needed.

 

Main Outputs and Activities

In close collaboration with UN-Habitat (regional and country offices), Land, Housing and Shelter Section/GLTN Secretariat, CONAREF, national government and provincial authorities, and other land stakeholders, the Implementing Partner (IP) will provide the necessary policy, technical and organization support to land reform processes in DRC, to include, but not limited to, the following outputs and activities:

organize consultation workshops on the land law  based on the consultation strategy agreed with the above actors. In particular, the IP will:

  1. Support to Finalization of Land Policy and Land Law
  • Support to finalization of land policy, including dissemination
  • Support to finalization of land law
    • Provide technical and logistical support to the retreat of experts for land law
    • Provide technical and logistical support to the multi-stakeholder consultation meetings/workshops
    • Mobilization of local experts, including for the land law, and technical documentation of the land policy and law law development.
  1. Support land reform activities in the field
  • Provide technical and documentation support to land-related activities in Mai-Ndombe project site, including on land  information system, and other related land tools.
  • Provide the necessary technical and logistical support in the construction of a land administration office in Mai-Ndombe, as maybe needed.
  • Provide the necessary technical documentation and monitoring mechanism in the implementation and finalization of field-level policy reform activities, including on land tools implementation and capacity development
  1. Programme Coordination and Management
  • Undertake over-all coordination of the project activities with stakeholders
  • Conduct of project monitoring activities and provision of technical support
  • Mobilize and manage land-reform experts, as needed
  • Prepare progress narrative and financial reports, including audit requirements
  • Ensure timely and effective delivery of the activities

 

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

Potential resurgence of COVID-19 in DRC, preventing local travels and the mass gathering of citizens.

Reduced format of workshops; postponement of activities until restriction measures are lifted.

Inability to sustain the multi-stakeholder partnership and platform engagement

UN-Habitat, 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 some provinces

Implementing partner to closely monitor security situation in the country particularly in project site.

Envision distance consultation process or one-site gathering of all actors.

 Political instability that might delay or hamper the smooth implementation of the Project.

UN-Habitat, GLTN and Implementing partner to closely monitor political situation in the country.

 

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
  •  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 information about the structure or the organizations (HR, Organogram)
  • 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 (10 pages maximum) should be submitted presenting:

  • An overview of land reform process in DRC, especially the participatory approach to  stakeholders’ consultation towards the adoption of the land law;
  • Proposed methodology on the conduct of land law consultations;
  • Description and justifications of the proposed interventions based on the requirements;
  • Key milestones, outputs, activities and timelines for delivery;
  • Proposed plan for mobilizing land reform experts, including expected outputs and contributions;
  • A list of project already implemented and related evaluation.

A template is available as a guide 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).
  • Demonstrate how the experiences in past projects 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?

Can it 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

  • Bill of quantities (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 01 February 2022 to Mr. Danilo Antonio at the following email address: danilo.antonio@un.org copying Solomon Njogu, at solomon.njogu@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.

 

Notes:

  • Interested Organizations must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochure, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.).
  • The Technical Proposal and accompanying documents must be received in accordance with instructions provided. Technical Proposal submitted to a different email address other than the specified one will not be considered.
  • Technical Proposal from applicants failing to provide the complete information to fulfill the basic eligibility criteria will be considered non-responsive.
  • Technical Proposal received after the above deadline will not be considered
  • Organizations will be selected in accordance with the procedure set out in the UN-Habitat IP Management policy and Standard Operating Procedures.
  • Technical Proposal from applicants failing to provide the requested information will be disregarded.
  • This Technical Proposal does not entail any commitment on the part of UN-Habitat, either financial or otherwise. UN-Habitat reserves the right to accept or reject any or all Proposals without incurring any obligation to inform the affected applicant(s) of the grounds.
  • All budget estimates must be in USD.