National Consultant to lead the Digital Delivery Unit activities under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry.

Vacancy Number: Qu23/02736

Location:Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline: 07 Jun 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
14 Jun 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
21 Jun 2023, 16:00 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
27 Jun 2023, 16:00 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
04 Jul 2023, 16:00 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
11 Jul 2023, 16:00 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
18 Jul 2023, 16:00 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
25 Jul 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
01 Aug 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
08 Aug 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
15 Aug 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
22 Aug 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
29 Aug 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
05 Sep 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
12 Sep 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
19 Sep 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
27 Sep 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
04 Oct 2023, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:Individual Contract
Starting date: 15 Jun 2023
Reference to the project: Accelerating Digital Transformation in Public Sector in the Republic of Moldova
Expected Duration of Assignment:240 working days, in the period of June 2023 – June 2024
Submission Instructions:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently implementing a project “Accelerating Digital Transformation in Public Sector” that requires the services of an individual to lead the Digital Delivery Unit activities under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry.

In consideration of your qualifications, we are hereby inviting you to submit an offer for this particular assignment.  To assist you in understanding the requirements of this assignment, we have attached hereto the following: 

  • The Terms of Reference for the assignment described above;
  • The standard Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability, which you must accomplish and submit to UNDP;
  • The Individual Contract and its General Terms and Conditions, which you would be expected to sign in the event you are the selected Offeror in this procurement process.  

Should you be interested and decide to submit an offer for this assignment, kindly submit directly in the online supplier portal no later than the deadline indicated in the system.

Offers must be submitted directly in the Quantum Supplier Portal following this link: http://supplier.quantum.partneragencies.org  using the profile you may have in the portal (please log in using your username and password).

Follow the instructions in the user guide to search for the competition using search filters, namely Negotiation ID: UNDP-MDA-00165 and subscribe to the competition in order to get notifications in case of amendments of the competition document and requirements.

In case you have never registered before, follow this link to register a profile: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/fscmUI/faces/PrcPosRegisterSupplier?prcBuId=300000127714247 based on the instructions in guides available in UNDP website: https://www.undp.org/procurement/business/resources-for-bidders.

Please note that the access link to the Supplier registered profile is sent from Oracle within up to 3 days. In case you have not received the access link after 3 days since registration, you should address for support to UNDP at the email address: sc.md@undp.org. In case you encounter errors with registration (e.g. system states Supplier already is registered), you should address for support to UNDP at the email address: sc.md@undp.org.

Computer firewall could block oracle or undp.org extension and Suppliers might not receive the Oracle notifications. Please turn down any firewalls on your computers to ensure receipt of email notification.

Do not create a new profile if you already have one. Use the forgotten password feature in case you do not remember the password or the username from previous registration.

Should you require further clarifications on the application through the Quantum online portal, kindly contact the Procurement Unit at sc.md@undp.org. Please pay attention that the proposal shall be submitted online through the Quantum system and any proposal sent to the above email shall be disqualified.

Should you require further clarifications on the Notice, Terms of Reference or other requirements, kindly communicate using the messaging functionality in the portal.

Deadline for Submission of Offers (Date and Time), which is visible in the online supplier portal will be final. The portal will not accept submission of any offer after that date and time. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that the offer is submitted prior to this deadline for submission.

Applicants are advised to upload offer documents and to submit their offer a day prior or well before the date and time indicated under the deadline for submission of Offers. Do not wait until last minute. If Applicant faces any issue during submitting offers at the last minutes prior to the deadline for submission, UNDP may not be able to assist on such a short notice and will not be held liable in such instance. UNDP will not accept any offer that is not submitted directly through the System.

If any discrepancy between deadline in the system and in deadline indicated elsewhere, deadline in the system prevails.

We look forward to your favourable response and thank you in advance for your interest in working with UNDP.  

Sincerely,

UNDP Moldova

Supporting Documents:
19475076_Terms of Reference
19470340_UNDP General Terms and Conditions for Individual Contractors
19470342_UNDP Quantum - User Guide for Suppliers - English
19470344_UNDP Quantum - User Guide for Suppliers - Russian
19470346_IC_Statement of Health_Individual Contractors
19470347_IC_Offerors_Letter_to_UNDP_Confirming_Interest_and_Availability
UN_Supplier_Negotiation_UNDP-MDA-00165_English

Contacts:

Mr. Serghei Botezatu.

serghei.botezatu@undp.org


Background

With Accelerating Digital Transformation in Public Sector Project (Digital Transformation Project or Project), UNDP Moldova aims to improve access to and quality of public services and business conditions through accelerated digital transformation of government processes and business model(s) and additionally, to promote innovation, as well as collaborative experimentation within the Government, in the private sector, internally in UNDP Moldova, and in collaboration with external partners.

Within this Project, UNDP Moldova is strategically positioned as an integrator of programmatic solutions with innovative mindset, including bringing forward digital components in supporting accelerated delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Project objectives are the following:

  • Support transformative changes in the organizational and innovation culture in the public and private sectors for accelerated achievement of the Sustainable Development Agenda and national targets;
  • Contribute towards streamlining innovation through engaging with the ongoing and prospective projects and seeking ways to maximize and to measure their social impact. Support Digitalization of Moldova that will contribute to improved governance by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of government processes, increasing transparency and public access to governmental information – therefore promoting accountability and public participation, and improving the innovative delivery of public services, as well as impact evaluation and strategic support to scaling-up successful solutions.

Digital transformation is already visible in Moldova, as the country has begun to transfer legal, social, and civil services delivery on online platforms. Accelerated digitalization can be expected to create new business models and opportunities for digital leapfrogging in traditional industries and governance.

COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need for significant support and investments in digital transformation and effective digital governance, particularly to ensure the continuity and delivery of core government functions.

The pandemic has revealed a lack of preparedness of the public sector to quickly adapt policies and tools due to lack and low quality of data; to work remotely and online, including in delivery of social services in education, health, mobility, and other sectors for specific population groups; and to adapt the performance of services for the economic sectors to the conditions induced by the crisis. 

In the past months, business continuity was severely hampered, and many government officials and staff had to continue working in their physical offices not only due to infrastructure issues, but most importantly, due to the fact that information is kept on offline hard copy files.

While there has been much emphasis on digital tools and technologies in Moldova, digital transformation areas like policy, institutional coordination, and trainings, as well as leadership remain a significant challenge and continue to constrain effective digital transformation and economic growth.

Moldova is at a tipping point where the emerging refugee, food, energy and public security crises will derail the trajectory of development, and drastically increase human suffering of people in Moldova, whether Ukrainian refugees, third country nationals, or Moldovan citizens (including those from minority ethnic groups). There are risks of massive outmigration and brain drain, as an immediate impact of the worsening of the socio-economic situation, depleting the country of its major asset: human capital. To prevent this, there is a strong need to implement integrated responses to address a broad range of complex issues requiring holistic inputs from UNDP with the humanitarian-development-peacebuilding (HDP) nexus approach.

 

Digital Delivery Unit

To achieve a complete and transparent picture of the entire portfolio of digital transformation and data governance of the country, with UNDP Moldova support a Digital Delivery Unit (DDU) will be established under the office of the Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Economy and Digitalization. The DDU will have Implementation, Monitoring and Strategic Assessment functions to strengthen the coordination capacity of the office of the DPM in digitalization of line ministries.

The DDU will be responsible for operationalization of the 2023-2030 Digital Transformation Strategy and implementation of core initiatives under the strategy. Being in proximity to the DPM, DDU will facilitate short and efficient escalation paths and mechanisms to quickly remove operational roadblocks. The DDU will also support development of the new Data Governance Strategy for Moldova and implement specific use cases in line with the emergency needs of the government to support its efforts in ensuring the country's security and development.

The immediate step of DDU will be to embed a dedicated specialist to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, to be responsible for the digitalization of the institution.

The Ministry of Agriculture is the key line ministry of the Government and a central body empowered to promote and implement new information technology methods to strengthen the local agricultural system and improve productivity, to spur digitalization and innovative technology adoption among Moldova’s agribusinesses, therefore the Digital Transformation of this Ministry is one of the priorities for the Government in advancing the agenda in this area.

Scope of work

The main objective of the current assignment is to lead the activity of the DDU under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and provide technical support to the digitization of the MAFI, as Chief Digital Officer. The outputs refer to the following priorities:

  • Conduct rapid digital readiness assessments focused on identification and exploration of major opportunities and gaps for digital transformation of the ministry and digitalization of services, as well for providing rapid technical support in terms of preparing the grounds for development and implementation of new digital solutions.
  • Lead MAFI effort in establishing the digital National Farmers Registry as a first step towards IACS implementation.
  • Lead the activities related to operationalization of the National Digital Transformation Strategy 2023-2030 under the MAFI responsibility.
  • Define and improve the data infrastructure of the MAFI for improving collaborative initiatives. Build new concepts and support in the initial stages of the implementation and design of specific use cases for data collaborative initiatives for evidence based decision making process.

The consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

  • Support MAFI in their activities to better understand and get familiar with the benefits of the digital transformation;
  • Analyze MAFI current level of digitalization and define Digital Transformation Strategy for the institution, in line with the National Digital Transformation Strategy 2023-2030. Elaboration of a digital transformation strategy roadmaps as distinct programmatic documents for MAFI;
  • Creation a robust governance and coordination structure for the implementation of the digital transformation strategy within MAFI that will include:
    • governance and coordination structure, with clear roles, distribution and responsibilities, and
    • comprehensive monitoring and reporting mechanism, with inclusive tracking and effective risk management,
  • Develop detailed implementation plans for MAFI systems and registries digitalization, with definition of the developments, institutional framework and operational responsibility, software platform, hardware, data population, maintenance of the Registry with data, personnel, training needs, estimated budget, etc. Enhancement of the following MAFI specifically related digital system and products to be considered:
    • Support in implementation of digital National Farmers Registry;
    • Support in next steps planning for the implementation of IACS system;
    • Support in implementation of the Intranet Portal of the Ministry;
    • Support in development of a digital institutional education and training program for Ministry;
    • Perform a GAP analysis of the existing Agricultural registries in Moldova, including under ANSA and AIPA (Wine and Vine Registry, Animal Registry, Phytosanitary registry, etc.) regarding compliance to the IACS requirements.
  • Support in reengineering business processes to improve MAFI services and operational efficiency;
  • Support in improving the MAFI ability to respond to cybersecurity threats, including operationalization of a Cyber Security Operation Center (CSOC) at the MIA level;
  • Support MAFI in effective identification and prioritization of IT solutions that would potentially have the highest return on improving the state of digitization;
  • Provide comprehensive advice on further decision-making process to the MAFI digital transformation on building new systems or updating the existing one, as well as other complementary subjects related to digital transformation of the Ministry;
  • Monitoring and evaluation, progress measurement, carry out the assessment of investment efficiency and identify areas for improvement for the further development of the digital transformation at MAFI;
  • Build a reliable and constructive partnership with eGov, and other institutions for ensuring the successful digital transformation of the institution;
  • Perform other emerging tasks that relates to the MAFI Digital Transformation.

Requirements for experience

Education:

  • University degree in IT, engineering, product management, economy or another relevant area.

Experience:

  • At least 7 years of proven experience in management, consultancy, or technical advisory in economic services;
  • Proven experience in developing digital transformation programs and products for public sector;
  • Excellent understanding of digital transformation methodologies and tools;
  • Excellent analytical skills and able to decompose needs into tangible and efficient solutions;
  • Proven experience and knowledge in information systems on data management will be an advantage;
  • Knowledge on the national legislation (of several EU countries comparable with the Republic of Moldova) in the software development and security standards;
  • Previous experience of working with international organizations, including UN Agencies.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in oral and written English, Romanian and

 Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritisms;
  • Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;
  • Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, teamwork ability;
  • Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
  • Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
  • Good time management, meeting deadlines.

Personal qualities:

  • Resourcefulness and creativity;
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

The UNDP Moldova is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other noncitizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply. Please specify in CV, in case you belong to the group(s) under-represented in the UN Moldova and/or the area of assignment.

Documents to be included

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/ information to demonstrate their qualifications:

  • CV, including information about past experience in similar assignments and contact details for at least 3 referees;
  • Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
  • Offeror's Letter confirming Interest and Availability with financial proposal (in USD, specifying the total lump sum amount). Financial proposal template prepared in compliance with the template in Annex 2.

Important notice: The applicants who have the statute of Government Official / Public Servant prior to appointmentwill be asked to submit the following documentation:

  • a no-objection letter in respect of the applicant received from the Government, and;
  • the applicant is certified in writing by the Government to be on official leave without pay for the entire duration of the Individual Contract.

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including the daily fee, taxes, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel

No travel envisaged during the assignment. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.