Deadline

The purpose of the Call for Expression of Interest is to solicit interest from intermational or national not for profit rural civil society organizations, as 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

Purpose of CFP: To implement a project in LAO PDR to mainstream land tools, strengthen the technical guidelines on land use and collective land registration and implement advocacy and awareness building towards integration of lessons learned on the use of pro-poor and fit-for-purpose land tools and approaches in the policy level discussions.

 

Submission Deadline Date and time: 30 December 2020, 5:00 P.M. (Nairobi time)

 

Project Key Information

  • UN-Habitat Project Title : Secure Access to Land and Ressources (SALaR)
  • Locations
    • Laos
  • Specific Location Site for this Call for Proposal
    • Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Xiengkouang
  • Anticipated start date: 25 January 2021
  • Maximum proposed value in US$: 50,000
  • Estimated duration of project in calendar months: Five (5) months
  • Lead Organization Unit: Land, Housing and Shelter Section, Urban Practices Branch, Global Solutions Division

 

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.

UN-Habitat/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 enhance land and natural resources tenure security and increase awareness and capacities of rural poor smallholder farmers, including women, youth, and vulnerable groups in the 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.

Outcome 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.

For this project, the intention is to strengthen the awareness and capacities of target provincial and district level partners and other land stakeholders in the use of fit-for-purpose land tools and approaches, develop and disseminate relevant land use and collective land registration guidelines, and provide continuous technical assistance to the local partners. The Project also aims to consolidate the lessons learned, document the achievements and emerging outcomes and disseminate such learning and experience at national level and through existing national/local platforms with a view to influence policy discussions and dialogues. These new interventions shall build from other interventions of SALaR Project in the Laos.

 

Main Outputs and Activities

In consultation with UN-Habitat, GLTN Secretariat, government authorities at national and local levels, the Implementing Partner (IP) will be undertaking the main activities below to include, but not limited to, the following:

  1. Mainstreaming Use of Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM) Tool and other Fit-For-Purpose Land Tools
  • Conduct technical orientation workshops or training on the use of customized land tools and approaches to change agents and other key stakeholders.
  • Provide technical assistance and coaching on the use and practical applications of STDM and other land tools at the district level
  • Conduct awareness and capacity building activities
  • Strengthen or improve the technical documentation of the processes and methodologies on the use and application of STDM and other tools for collective land registration and land use planning.
  1. Develop Integrated Technical Guidelines on Customary Land Use Management and Registration
  • Develop and/or improve the technical guidelines on customary land use management and customary land registration.
  • Promote the adoption and integration of the developed land use and land registration guidelines at the national level and other land stakeholders.
  • Conduct workshops to popularize and disseminate land use and land registration guidelines.
  • As necessary, organize stakeholder meetings, focus group discussions, interviews, etc.
  • Print and disseminate the final guidelines.
  1. Advocacy and Awareness Raising at Policy Level
  • Conduct policy advocacy workshops with relevant stakeholders at the national level.
  • Conduct training and demonstration on the customized fit-for-purpose land tools at national level.
  • Disseminate lessons learnt and emerging outcomes on the use of fit-for-purpose land tools and approaches and among local networks and platforms.
  • Produce the necessary reports including workshop/training reports, policy and technical briefs, etc.
  • Document the involved processes and prepare the necessary reports.
  1. Programme Management and Coordination
  • Provide the necessary monitoring and reporting requirements including preparation of narrative and financial reports.
  • Provide the necessary coordination and technical support to project implementation.
  • Provide support on communications and dissemination of lessons learned and project reports, including the guidelines.
  • Contribute to the SALaR project learning exchange and end-of-project assessment.

It is expected that UN-Habitat/GLTN and the Implementing Partner shall agree on the specific outputs/deliverables of the Project guided by the above interventions and 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

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

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

Potential delays due to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic

Monitoring of the situation and undertake activities as early as possible and anticipate alternative actions (e.g. virtual meetings)

Inadequate interest and/or capacity of partners and key stakeholders implementing pro-poor land tools

GLTN and implementing partner to enhance awareness, knowledge and capacity of change agents and key partners in using GLTN land tools

Inability to sustain the multi-stakeholder partnership and platform engagement at national and local levels

GLTN and implementing partner to provide capacity development and awareness building interventions to strengthen and sustain multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Potential security issues or inaccessibility of project sites

Implementing partner to closely monitor security situation with government authority.

 

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

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 the Laos, 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 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).
  • 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?

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  30 December 2020 to Mr. Danilo Antonio at the following email address: danilo.antonio@un.org, copying Mr. Solomon Njogu solomon.njogu1@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 prices must be in USD