Bosnia and Herzegovina: International Tourism Development Consultant

Apr 8, 2016 | UNDP
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The purpose of this consultancy is to support strategic planning process in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNK, local acronym) in accordance with the Methodology for Integrated Cantonal Development Planning in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

Objective

The consultancy objective is to provide high-quality tourism development expert support to the Cantonal Development Board of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, which will result in the integrated cantonal development strategy.

The Tourism Development Consultant will closely coordinate with the Team Leader and Development Management Consultant, receiving guidance and support in applying the cantonal planning methodology. Thus, this consultancy is expected to provide expert inputs in the following main segments of the strategy: (i) situation analysis and definition of strategic goals and priorities; (ii) proposed tourism development measures that respond to identified tourism development issues and cover specific tourism niches; (iii) strategy implementation, monitoring and evaluation plan from the tourism development perspective. At the same time, the consultancy will ensure that the planning process is implemented in accordance with the cantonal planning methodology and ILDP guidelines, as well as that all produced products have the highest quality standards.

Background information

The Integrated Local Development Project (ILDP)

The consultancy is planned within the 2nd phase of the ILDP, which aims to support the further consolidation of the strategic planning system in BiH, by enhancing its vertical integration within the higher government strategic and financial planning frameworks and supporting a critical mass of governments to apply a harmonized approach to strategic planning and effectively manage development processes in partnership with their communities. Planned activities are designed around two inter-connected components, as follows: i) support to vertical integration of the local strategic planning system into the strategic planning frameworks of higher government levels; ii) support to integrated and participatory strategic planning and management and strengthening of development partnerships.

In order to support the overall harmonisation of the strategic planning framework in BiH, as well as to enable strategic vertical linkage between various planning levels, particular attention is placed to the cantonal level in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), which is in general the most fragmented and critical building block within the entire emerging planning system of the country. Departing from a point of view that the methodological framework for cantonal planning is now in place, the project supports interested cantonal governments in the process of creation/revision of their integrated development strategies by applying a harmonised approach. This will not only contribute defining a legitimate cantonal development platform but will also contribute to the emerging coherent strategic planning system in the FBiH. In addition, such approach will also affirm structured engagement of constituent local governments and socio-economic partners in the process of cantonal strategic planning and create pre-conditions for defining inter-municipal/regional priorities to be implemented by joint financial resources of cantonal and local governments. In parallel, assistance is offered to cantons in establishing or reinforcing their wider development management function. The ILDP has already supported nine cantons in designing their development strategies and is now redirecting its efforts toward systematic support to meaningful implementation of the newly adopted strategies. In the planning process the ILDP closely collaborates with the FBiH Development Planning Institute.

The ILDP is a joint initiative of the Government of Switzerland and UNDP, implemented in partnership with the BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, the FBiH Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Administration and Local Self-Government of Republika Srpska and both Associations of Municipalities and Cities.

The Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and its development

In early 2016, the HNK Government decided to embark on a participatory strategic planning process meant to result in an Integrated Development Strategy that would define development goals for the Canton as well as immediate priorities to address the complex challenges in social, economic and environmental areas of development. In this respect, the HNK Government is willing to apply the standardized cantonal methodology and sought ILDP technical support in this process.

Currently, the HNK possesses a Strategy for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises and a Tourism Development Strategy document. In addition, the Canton has already initiated efforts to prepare its spatial plan and this process will have to be taken into account during the forthcoming strategic planning process.

When it comes to planning and development management institutional capacities, the Canton does not have institutional structures within its administration that are specifically responsible for these processes. However, the Association LINK Mostar that was previously involved in action planning for implementation of BiH Development Strategy and Social Inclusion Strategy and the Regional Development Agency REDAH, could be useful particularly when it comes to planning and project design and implementation.

Having in mind the above, the ILDP will provide technical assistance to the HNK Government in conducting a participatory strategic planning as per the methodology for integrated cantonal development planning. The process will be based on a sound situation analysis across various sectors and will engage the cantonal administration and all relevant stakeholders, particularly the constituent local governments and socio-economic partners in designing a development vision, strategic goals, priorities and measures with specific development programmes and projects along with the strategy’s financial framework for the period 2017-2020 . Special attention will be placed on voicing out socially excluded groups (people with disabilities, Roma, returnees, internally displaced persons, elderly, etc.) in the strategic planning process.
Having in mind the complexity of the situation in the Canton and unaddressed needs for long-term development, a team of highly qualified consultants will be hired to lead and support the planning process, and ensure quality expertise in relevant development sectors.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work:

Against the previously described background, the Consultant will have the following specific tasks:

Task 1: Analyze and interpret data related to tourism development, review and comment the relevant parts of the socio-economic analysis and the overall strategic platform document from the tourism expert perspective

Based on qualitative and quantitative data provided by the Cantonal Development Board and in close cooperation with the rest of the expert’s team, the Consultant will conduct data analysis so as to identify the current situation, key problems, development potentials, trends and projections in the domain of tourism development. These will be reflected in draft socio-economic analysis in the area of economic development, which will serve as a basis for strategic planning process in this sector. In preparing the socio-economic analysis, the Consultant might need to conduct additional 1-2 focus group meetings with relevant stakeholders and obtain qualitative data required for the analysis.

Also, in preparing the socio-economic analysis, the Consultant will closely work with the Team Leader and the Cantonal Development Board to ensure that all relevant data is collected, obtain feedback and validate findings before moving on to the next stage of the process. Once finalized, the draft analysis will be discussed in details and validated at a workshop with the Cantonal Development Board. It is important to note that is expected that the Cantonal Development Board members should pre-draft all key parts of the document, and the Consultant will be responsible for commenting and improving the document and overall quality assurance of sections related to tourism development. The consultant in this regard will closely coordinate with the Team Leader.

The Consultant will co-facilitate at least one workshop with the Cantonal Development Board members and/or other relevant stakeholders that will result in identification of strategic focuses and priorities.
It is envisaged that this task will be delivered in the period April – mid-July 2016 and the level of effort will not exceed 5 expert days.

Task 2: Support the design of Programming part of the Strategy from tourism perspective

Within this task the Consultant is expected to ensure a high quality process and technical support to the Cantonal Development Board and the sectoral working group for tourism development in the programming stage of the process. This entails provision of guidance and advice to the sectoral working group in defining priorities (and its indicators), measures and projects for achieving strategic development goals identified within the strategic platform phase. The task also entails commenting, improving and if and when required re-drafting of relevant segments of the programming part of the Strategy based on inputs and validation by both the sectoral working group and the Cantonal Development Board.

Concretely, the support will include:

  • Oversight and facilitation of definition of focuses and priorities for tourism development;
  • Oversight and facilitation of definition of projects and measures in the area of tourism, including indicators, financial perspective and compatibly with relevant higher planning frameworks;
  • Provision of guidance and specific advice to the sectoral working group on inputs required for the specific planning stage;
  • Provide concrete expert inputs and draft relevant parts from the monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan, including development indicators from the viewpoint of the tourism development.

The Consultant will, together with the other consultants, facilitate at least two workshops that will enable creation of the programming part of the strategy document, including all elements that are relevant for tourism development sphere. Particular focus will be placed on ensuring linkages and coherence between measures and projects with relevant priorities and goals.

The consultant in this regard will closely coordinate and collaborate with the Team Leader and Development Management Consultant.

It is envisaged that this task will be delivered in the period June – October 2016 and the level of effort will not exceed 5 expert days.

Organizational issues

It is important to note that the entire process of strategic planning will be supported by a team of consultants, where each sector and sub-sectors, if relevant (economic, social and environmental) will be supported by relevant consultants. The Team Leader will be responsible for overall coordination and quality assurance of the process and products from the viewpoint of the content. It is expected that the Development Management Consultant will closely coordinate and collaborate with all engaged consultants and cantonal partners.

Consultants will support the process of analysis and re-drafting of relevant segments of the strategy, which will be based on inputs and data from the Development Planning Team and relevant stakeholders, and consequently validated by the identified counterparts. The team of consultants will be led by the Team Leader, who will coordinate the assignments within the team, compile their inputs, quality assure the overall emerging strategy draft and serve as the main contact point between the Development Planning Team, ILDPP and the team of consultants.

The consultant will be responsible for quality delivery of tourism development specific tasks. Under the general guidance of the Team Leader, individual consultants engaged for specific sectors will be required to closely work together, agree on practical modalities of work, division of responsibilities as well as coordination and communication channels.

The all management and methodological issues will be closely coordinated and monitored by the ILDP. The organization and logistics of the workshops delivery will be carried out by the Cantonal Development Board.

The entire service will be delivered in the languages of peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Competencies
  • Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and clearly;
  • Proven communication and advocacy skills, and ability to work in an environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors including government representatives and other stakeholders;
  • Ability to work as a team player in a complex working environment.
Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

  • Advanced university degree in economics or related field.

Experience:

  • 7 years of progressive experience in design of tourism development documents at regional or national level, in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western-Balkans region;
  • Strong experience in regional and international tourism development;
  • Proven skills and experience in facilitation of public consultative policy development processes.

Language:

  • Fluency in languages of BiH and excellent command of English.

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

  • Financial proposal
  • Completed P11 form including past experience in similar projects with contact details of at least 3 references

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR as follows:

Task 1: Analyze and interpret data related to tourism development, review and comment the relevant parts of the socio-economic analysis and the overall strategic platform document from the tourism expert perspective - (5 expert days)

  • At least 1 focus group meeting with relevant stakeholders co-facilitated;
  • At least 1 workshop on the subject of drafting strategic platform with the Development Planning Team and/or relevant stakeholders co-facilitated;
  • Overall draft socio-economic analysis, from the viewpoint of tourism development, quality assured and validated by the Cantonal Development Board and ILDP;
  • Strategic platform, from the viewpoint of tourism development, quality assured validated and approved by the Cantonal Development Board and ILDP. Mid- April – July 2016

Task 2: Support the design of Programming part of the Strategy from tourism perspective - (5 expert days)

  • Tourism focuses and priorities reviewed, commented and quality assured;
  • At least 1 workshops with the members of sectoral working group facilitated on the subject of tourism sectoral focuses and priorities, projects and measures and their linkages with the development goals;
  • Tourism development projects and measures, including indicators and financial perspective drafted, validated and approved the Cantonal Development Board and the ILDP;
  • Relevant parts from the monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan, including development indicators from the viewpoint of the Tourism development drafted. June to October 2016

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 fees, travel costs, per diems, etc.).

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
  • Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (70%) and financial (30%) criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 50 point would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Criteria

Technical 70%

  • 7 years of progressive experience in design of tourism development documents at regional or national level, in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western-Balkans region - 20%;
  • Previous experience in conducing analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data - 15%;
  • Strong experience in regional and international tourism development - 15%;
  • Proven skills and experience in facilitation of public consultative policy development processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina - 10%;
  • Proven communication and advocacy skills and ability to work in an environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors including government representatives and other stakeholders - 10%.

Financial 30 %.

Note:

  • For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 62 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to ork to engage in the consultancy;
  • Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.