TERMS OF REFERENCE Assignment Title: Consultancy: Support CEMA to review and identify the communes and villages of extremely difficulty to be subjected under investment of Program 135, period 2012-2016. 02 National Consultants Locality of Assignment: Vietnam (Ha Noi and selected provinces) 1) General background The Project Support the implementation of Resolution No. 80/NQ-CP on directions for sustainable poverty reduction (2011-2020) and the National Targeted Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction (2012-2015) (hereafter referred as PRPP), which is funded by UNDP and cofunded by Irish Aid, aims at supporting Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) the National implementing partner (NIP) and other Co-implementing partners (CIPs) to monitor the management and implementation of Resolution No. 80 of the Government of Vietnam and National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction (NTP-SPR 2012-2015). The Project contributes to accelerate poverty reduction in the poorest ethnic minority, mountainous and coastal areas through achievement of the specific outputs: (i) the poverty reduction policies under the responsibility of line ministries are streamlined, and poverty reduction is mainstreamed into line ministries plans and policies;(ii) National Targeted Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction 2012-2015 (NTP-SPR) is designed and implemented effectively, contributing to rapid poverty reduction in the poorest district, communes and village, and groups of ethnic minority people through the application of innovative and gender sensitive modalities and approaches;(iii) System for monitoring and analysis of multi-dimensional poverty and vulnerability and high level policy dialogues on poverty and vulnerability contribute to inclusive, equitable and pro-poor development outcomes. The project is implemented in close cooperation and coordination with other UN and development partner agencies within the One UN Initiative and the Joint GOVN-Development Partners Partnership to Support the implementation of Resolution 80 and NTP-SPR. With the objective to implement effectively general poverty reduction policies and specific poverty reduction policies under Resolution No.80/NQ-CP to synchronize and focus the resource poverty reduction in over the country, the National Targeted Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction Program 2012-2015 focuses on the following 4 projects : 1. Project to support construction of infrastructures in the poor district, the extremely difficult communes in coastal areas and islands. 1
2. Project to support construction of infrastructures in the extremely difficult communes, frontier communes, safety zone areas and the extremely difficult villages. 3. Project to develop and replicate poverty reduction model. 4. Project to strengthen the capacity for poverty reduction, communication and monitoring and evaluation of the implementation. On the 4 th April 2013, the Prime Minister had issued Decision No 551/QĐ-TTg approved Programme 135 on infrastructure investment support and production support for the communes of extremely difficulties, frontier communes, safety zones areas, and villages of extremely difficult condition, in which, CEMA has been assigned to preside and coordinate with relevant ministries and provinces for management and implementation of the Programme 135 in the period 2012-2016 including the task to review and identify the communes and villages of extremely difficulty to be subjected under investment of the Program in the new period; the list of communes and villages will be submitted for approval by the Prime Minister. To support CEMA to fulfill the above tasks, Sub PRPP Project of CEMA needs to recruit 02 National Consultants to do the work: Review and identify the list of communes and villages of extremely difficulty to be subjected under investment of Program 135, period 2012-2016. This will support CEMA in identification of communes, villages of extremely difficulty under investment of P135 to be in accordance with the local actual conditions and the balance of state budget for investment for extremely difficult areas, period 2012-2016. 2) Objectives and main tasks of consultancy Support CEMA in researching, reviewing and synthesizing to identify the list of communes and villages of extremely difficulty to be subjected under investment of Program 135, period 2012-2016, on the basis of enhancing empowerment, participation and encouragement to apply the innovative approach, the lessons learned from program 135 in the second phase, 2006-2010, in harmonization with the existing management document and the general guidelines of the NTP-SPR under Resolution 80/NQ-CP. The main consultancy tasks include: - Research and reviewing the decisions: (i) Decision 164/2006/QD-TTg dated 11/7/2006 of the Prime Minister approving the list of communes with extremely difficulties, communes of borderlines, safety zones to be subject under investment of Program 135 Phase II, (ii) Decision 113/2007/QD-TTg dated 20/7/2007 of the Prime Minister, approving additional communes and villages to be covered by Program 135 Phase II, Decision No. 69/2008/QD-TTg dated 28/05/2008, Decision 1105/QD-TTg dated 28/07/2009 of the Prime Minister approving the additional list of extremely difficulties, communes of borderlines, safety zones to be subject under investment of 2
Program 135 Phase II and the list of communes that exited/got out off Program 135-II investment. On the basis of the criteria for identification of communes under investment of program 135- II, period 2006-2010, review and determine the list of communes that had completed and those had not completed/achieved the goals of P135 -II until 2012; - Identify the communes of extremely difficulties of Region III, border communes, communes of safety zones, the villages of extremely difficulties in Region II after having the results of classification of 3 areas/regions according to their development levels, period 2011-2015. - Pursuant to Decision 551/QD-TTg dated 04.04.2013 of the Prime Minister and the results of above reviewing/researching, summarize and determine the list of communes and villages to be subject under investment of P135, period 2012-2016 and support CEMA in the consultation process with related ministries and stakeholders for finalization the list of P135-II communes to be submitted to Primer Minister for consideration and approval. 3) Scope of work To support CEMA to fulfill the above tasks, Sub PRPP Project of CEMA needs to recruit 02 National Consultants to do the work: Review and identify the list of communes and villages of extremely difficulty to be subjected under investment of Program 135, period 2012-2016. The consultants will work closely with Sub-PMU, P 135 Office, EM Policy Department of CEMA and UNDP official to clarify the requirement and tasks of the consultancy; discuss and agree on implementation plans, methodologies, tools as well as the time frame of the services; establish mechanism for information exchange and report between the consultants, Sub-PMU and related stakeholders. The draft research and proposal of the list of communes to be subject under investment of P135, 2012-2016 will be finalized and submitted after thorough consultation and comments by specialists and policy makers form P 135 Office and related ministries, provinces and development partners. The draft and final reports will be product of CEMA s ownership and will be presented by CEM at the meeting/ consultant workshops. 4) Duration of the assignment Total of 12-15 working days for each consultant to accomplish the required tasks, tentatively from the middle of August 2013 and to be completed in 3 months from the date of signing contract. The cost for researching and field trip in provinces will be supported by Sub-PMU PRPP as UN-EU 2012 cost norm. 3
5) Required Products:: a) Final product: - Technical report enclosed with proposed list of communes and villages to be subject under investment of P135, period 2012-2016 ; - Summary of research report/executive summary (maximum 3 pages) consolidating the research results of the above report b) Intermediary products: - Research outline/plan/proposal; - Presentation at technical meeting and consultation workshop. Consultants are expected to deliver final and intermediary products in soft and hard copies in both Vietnamese and English with above requirements. 6) Consultant monitoring and control: The Team Leader will work frequently and closely with Sub-PMU, P 135 Office, EM Policy Department (CEMA) and UNDP, Irish Aid to ensure consultancy outputs are met according to planned objectives and requirements of the Sub-PMU/UNDP, CEMA. National Consultants will implement the assignment under the direct supervision of recruiting agency Sub-PMU PRPP and UNDP. National consultants will report to the Sub-PMU in documents on assignment progress as expectation below: No. Activity Product and time schedules 1. There should be a technical meeting on working requirement, research detail and time schedule to submit the output product between the consultants, Sub PMU-PRPP and UNDP. Complete the detailed plan for working implementation 2 - Research and reviewing the decisions: (i) Decision 164/2006/QD-TTg dated 11/7/2006; (ii) Decision 113/2007/QD- TTg dated 20/7/2007; Decision No. 69/2008/QD-TTg dated 28/05/2008; Decision 1105/QD-TTg dated 28/07/2009 of the Prime Minister; On the basis of the criteria for identification of communes under investment of program 135-II, period 2006-2010, review and determine the list of communes that had completed and those had not completed/achieved the goals of P135 -II until 2012; - Basing on the results of classification of 3 areas/regions according to development levels, period 2011-2015, identify the communes of extremely difficulties of Region III, border communes, communes of safety zones, the villages of extremely difficulties in Region II to be subject under investment of P135, 2012-2016. - Pursuant to Decision 551/QD-TTg dated 04.04.2013 of the Prime Minister and the results of above reviewing/researching, summarize and determine the list of communes and villages to be subject under investment of P135, period 2012-2016. The detailed plan for working implementation will be submit to Sub-PMU in 01 week from the date of signing contract. Draft list of communes and villages of extremely difficulties submitted to Sub PRPP, CEMA (Tentatively at the end of 9/2013) 4
3 Support CEMA in the consultation process with related ministries, provinces and stakeholders for finalization of the list of P135-II communes and villages 4. Complete Final report with the final proposed list of communes and villages of extremely difficulties, period 2012-2016 to be submitted to CEMA for further approval by Prime Minister. List of communes and villages to be invested under P135 for consultation (Tentatively in 10/2013) Tentatively in 11/2013. A group of technical advisers from CEMA, UNDP and other technical experts will participate in developing the research activity. The consultants should share the working results/progress and the draft report/product with Sub-PRPP, CEMA and UNDP thought out the assignment process. 7) Required qualification for consultants: - Master degree or above on public policy management, economic development or other related fields; - Knowledgeable in qualitative research with using sociology methodology ; - At least 5 years of experience in related field in term of policy researching, developing research, in which practical experience on policies, program, project related to poverty reduction for ethnic minorities and mountainous areas especially Program 135 is of advantages; - Experience in working with Government Agencies (CEMA, MOLISA, MoF, MPI etc); Experiences and skills in consultation and working with the central and local officials; Experience in working with development partner on poverty reduction in Viet Nam. - Ability of analysis and critical thinking, skills of support, good skills of Vietnamese and English communication; - Sound researching and common computer skills. 8) Support The Project will provide necessary support for the recruited consultants to fulfill this assignment including provision of related materials such as followed: 1. The summarized and evaluated report of Program 135, phase II and poverty reduction policy for ethnic minorities period 2006-2012; 2. NTP-SPR Document; 3. Resolution No.80 on directions for sustainable poverty reduction from 2011-2020; 4. Implementation program for Resolution No.80; 5. P 135 Document, period 2012-2015 (Project 2-NTP-SPR); 6. Decision 164/2006/QD-TTg dated 11/7/2006; (ii) Decision 113/2007/QD-TTg dated 20/7/2007; Decision No. 69/2008/QD-TTg dated 28/05/2008; Decision 1105/QD-TTg dated 28/07/2009 of the Prime Minister and Decision No.551/QD-TTg approved Programme 135 on infrastructure investment support and production support for the communes of extremely difficulties, border lines, safety zones, and villages of extremely difficult condition; 7. Other related materials. 5
9) Payment terms Payment for consultants will be made based on workday under UNDP cost norms and the completion of assignment and the delivery of qualified and on-time products according to following three main installments: - First installment: 30% of the contract value once the consultant submit assignment implementation proposal; - Second installment: 40% of the contract value upon submission of all drafts of research report and proposal of Circular for Guidelines on implementing P 135, period 2012-2015; - Third installment: Remaining 30% of the contract value on submission of all final product (revised drafts with comments in documents or form meetings), endorsed by the Sub-PMU of PRPP and CEMA. 10) Working types of consultants NONE PARTIAL INTERMITTENT FULL-TIME 6