ITT FY22 – 108 Digital Policy & Advocacy Technical Advisor Consultant At Plan International

Invitation to Tender Dossier

(ITT FY22 – 108 Digital Policy & Advocacy Technical Advisor)

Tender Main Facts Table

Tender reference: ITT FY22 – 108 Digital Policy & Advocacy Technical Advisor

Tender launch date: 07/03/2022

Clarifications To be submitted by 11/03/2022 to procurement@plan-International.org

Contract Manager: Adnan Laeeq

Deadline for submission of offers: 21/03/2022

Submissions: Tender submissions are to be submitted with the above reference and to:

procurement@plan-international.org

Estimated date of award of contract(s): 04//04/2022

Duration of Contract: Up to 8 Months

Queries related to this tender must be addressed to: procurement@plan-international.org

Please include the tender reference number above in all correspondence

Table of Content:

1. Introduction : Tender for the Digital Policy & Advocacy Technical Advisor
   1. Background Information on Plan International
   2. ITT Overview and Instructions.

3.1 Overview

3.2 Instructions to Tenderers.

3.3 Proposed Timelines.

1. Specification and Scope of Requirement
2. Selection Criteria.
3. Plan International’s Ethical & Environmental Statement (As Applicable)
4. Evaluation of offers.
5. Contract Payment Terms.
6. Disclaimer
7. Requirements for a Compliant Tender

10.1 Annex Contents List

1. Introduction: Tender for the Digital Policy & Advocacy Technical Advisor

We are calling for interested parties to bid as part of a negotiated tender process for the supply of Digital Policy & Advocacy Technical Advice for Plan International’s Digital Policy & Advocacy Team. This may be on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis depending of the offers evaluated. We are interested in receiving proposals which include all, or part of the following requirements. We strongly advise Bidders to include breakdown options for different elements below, should Plan International decide to proceed with only some of these requirements.

Bids will be assessed by a procurement panel against set criteria, including bid eligibility, the extent to which the Requirements have been met and the overall value for money proposition. Bids should include detailed information on the following technical requirements for each category. Please complete the following tables in your submission and feel free to attach additional information on your product offerings.

Plan International Logistics & Procurement are inviting interested parties to bid as part of a negotiated tender process for the supply of Consultancy services. Successful Tenderers will be expected to enter into a formal contract with Plan International.

Each successful Tenderer is intended to be a Provider, but the contract pertaining to this tender shall not constitute an exclusive contract and Plan International, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to enter into agreement with other suppliers, for the same type of services at any time, whenever it deems it necessary.

If you believe that your company may be in the position to meet any of our specified requirements and would like to be considered as a potential supplier

firstly complete and return Annex A – “Confirmation of Intention to Tender” as soon as possible, and thereafter complete and submit all the required documents as listed in Section 8.

This tender dossier has been issued for the sole purpose of obtaining offers for the supply of goods or services against the specification contained within this document and Annexes. Plan International reserves the right not to enter into or award a contract as a result of this invitation to tender.

Any attempt by the Tenderer to obtain confidential information, enter into unlawful agreements with competitors or influence the evaluation committee or Plan International during the process of examining, clarifying, evaluating and comparing tenders will lead to the rejection of its offers and may result in the termination of a current contract where applicable.

2. Background Information on Plan International Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child, but this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination, and its girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood, and we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.
Read more about Plan International’s Global Strategy: 100 Million Reasons at https://plan-international.org/strategy

3. ITT Overview and Instructions
3.1 Overview

Plan wishes to make a sourcing decision for all of the works involved in this tender, creating an agreement with a single service Consultant.

The successful Tenderers will be expected to enter into a service agreement with Plan International from for a period of up to 8 months. The continuation of the contract, will be subject to project demand.

3.2 Instructions to Tenderers

These instructions are designed to ensure that all Tenderers are given equal and fair consideration. It is important therefore that you provide all the information asked for in the format specified.

Unless stated otherwise, all communications from Tenderers during the period of this procurement exercise must be directed to procurement@plan-international.org and must include the ITT reference number: ITT FY22 – 108 Digital Policy & Advocacy Technical Advisor

3.2.1 Submission of Tender Tenderers must indicate their intention to submit a proposal by completing Annex A and sending to the email address provided by 21/03/2022**.** The ITT comprises of the documents listed below which must be considered in conjunction with each other. Failure to provide all information required by the tender documents or to submit a tender not substantially responsive to the tender documents in every respect will be at the tenderers risk and may result in the rejection of its tender.

ITT FY22 – 108 Digital Policy & Advocacy Technical Advisor, Plan Tender Dossier (Instructions to tenderers)
ANNEX A – Confirmation to Intention to Tender
ANNEX B – Supplier Questionnaire
ANNEX C -Tenderer’s Declaration
Non-Staff Code of Conduct

Tenderers are required to submit their proposal (inclusive of all required annexes) via email to procurement@plan-international.org. Offers must be received by the deadline specified in the “Tender Main Fact Table’’

The offer and all correspondence and documents related to the tender must be written in English.
Each Tenderer or member of consortium or sub-contractor may submit only one offer.

3.2.3 Period Validity

On submitting tender responses, tenders will remain open for acceptance by Plan for a maximum period of 90 days after the tender return deadline.

3.2.3 Confidentiality

The contents of this document are confidential and have been disclosed to you in strict confidence. Tenderers must not disclose the contents of this document to any third party except to those of your team (including staff members, consultants and advisers) who need to see the information on a need to know basis in order to assist you with your submission. Tenderers are responsible for any breaches of confidentiality by your team.

3.2.4 Termination and Transfer (applicable to Incumbent Suppliers)

By submitting a proposal return, your Company agrees that should you be unsuccessful in gaining our Source Decision(s), no fees would be payable by Plan as a result of the termination of any existing contracts and/or agreements.

As an incumbent supplier to any of the contracts under tender, should you be unsuccessful in gaining our sourcing decision, Plan expects your support to de-mobilise the existing contract to minimise the effects. As part of this de-mobilisation process, all outstanding issues, including (but not limited to) the provision of any reports, outstanding agreed works, certification and statutory obligations must be completed in line with existing contractual obligation.

Activity and Deadline

Activity: Launch of tender – 07/03/2022

Activity: Deadline for supplier submission of clarifications questions – 11/03/2022

Activity: Deadline for Plan to respond to clarification questions – 14/03/2022

Activity: Deadline for submission of offers (Tender Deadline) – 21/03/2022

Activity: Plan Review of Offers – 22/03/2022 – 25/03/2022

Activity: Supplier short-list notification – 25/03/2022

Activity: Supplier presentations / interviews – 29-30th March 2022

Activity: Contract Award – 04/04/2022

Please send any questions relating to the tender via procurement@plan-international.org and by the date indicated above. These will be consolidated and responded to in a consistent and fair manner to all tenderers by the deadline.

4. Specification and Scope of Requirement

Purpose of the consultancy Working collaboratively with key internal stakeholders, the contractor will be expected to lead and deliver on the following workstreams:

1. Reporting on Plan International’s Commitments to UN Women Generation Equality. In July 2021, Plan International made a set of 30 commitments to Generation Equality Forum across all six Action Coalitions (AC). Our commitments under Action Coalition 5 | Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality, include: Commitment 1: Online GBV and Discrimination
Plan International will amplify the voices and experiences of girls, and in particular adolescent girls, in relation to online gender-based violence and discrimination in global and national policy fora, including through Plan International’s global Girls Get Equal campaign, mobilising support across 40 countries where we have a presence. Commitment 2: Feminist Innovation and Technology
Plan International in partnership with Samsung Electronics Nordic will advocate for the creation of technology that challenges harmful gender norms and stereotypes through the engagement of girls, and in particular adolescent girls, as innovators of technology.

2. Development of a Digital Gender Divide Policy Brief

· Drive policy and advocacy efforts internally on girls’ digital empowerment by leading the production of and evidence-based policy brief and positions and working with internal partners to strengthen and coordinate Plan International’s digital influencing across the global organization.

3. Embedding Digital Influencing in the Global Advocacy Strategy Refresh

Represent the Digital & Innovation Team in the Global Advocacy Strategy refresh process to ensure that digital influencing is built into global advocacy ambitions, processes and agendas, as well as the Global Advocacy M&E Framework.

4. Provision of Digital Policy expertise to support the delivery of #FreeToBeOnline Campaign Phase II

In October 2020, Plan International launched the #FreeToBeOnline campaign as part of our Girls Get Equal campaign and released a global report bringing together the voices and experiences of over 14,000 girls across 31 countries to understand their experiences of being online on social media platforms. In October 2021, we launched the second phase in our campaigning on #FreeToBeOnline, where we continued to explore how the digital environment is utilised for young people’s political participation and activism. We transitioned from gender-based violence as a barrier to girls’ freedom online, and instead, begin to unpack how young people, particularly girls and young women, are accessing and navigating information.

5. Support Plan International’s Participation at Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 67^th Session

Working closely with Plan International’s New York Liaison Office team, to ensure that digital empowerment messaging is reflected in the policy brief and advocacy strategy being developed for the event.

Key Deliverables

During the tenure of this consultancy, the incumbent is expected to produce the following key deliverables:

UN Women Generation Equality – Action Coalition 5 Commitment Report

Digital Gender Divide Policy Brief

Digital Influencing Narratives for Global Advocacy Strategy and Consultation Report

#FreeToBeOnline Phase II Campaign Report

Digital Empowerment narrative, key messages, and talking points relating to Plan International’s participation in CSW67

For these key deliverables to be achieved, certain activities need to be performed. Each of these activities have a set of tasks that need to be undertaken and completed diligently.

Below is the workstreams, breakdown of tasks and the expected outputs/deliverables:

Workstream

Reporting on Plan International’s Commitments to UN Women Generation Equality

Tasks

Technical Advisory Support to support advocacy activities at Country Office, Liaison Office and National Organisation Levels. Technical Advisory Support to the World Economic Forum TWG on Online Digital Safety Internal coordination with relevant stakeholders to collate activity reports against commitments and draft final report.

Outputs/ Deliverables

Digital Influencing messages to support organisation-wide activities relating to the commitments. Generation Equality Commitment Report

Duration (days) Up to: 10 days

Workstream

Development of a Digital Gender Divide Policy Brief

Tasks

Consultations with Regional Hubs, and Liaison Offices. Youth Consultations in conjunction with Country Teams

Develop Concept Note for Policy Brief. Develop TORs for Steering Group. Establishment of Steering Group. Policy Brief Drafting.

Outputs /Deliverables

Concept Note for Policy Brief. Notes from Consultations. TORs for Steering Group. Digital Gender Divide Policy Brief

Duration: Up to: 90 Days

Workstream

Embedding Digital Influencing in the Global Advocacy Strategy Refresh

Tasks

Develop methodology for consultation with digital networks. Consultations with networks. Drafting digital influencing narrative. Developing digital influencing M&E framework & change goals.

Outputs /Deliverables

Notes from consultation. Digital influencing narrative for GLAS. Digital influencing change goals and KPIs

Duration: Up to: 20 Days

Workstream

Provision of Digital Policy expertise to support the delivery of #FreeToBeOnline Campaign Phase II

Duration: Up to: 10 Days

Workstream

Support Plan International’s Participation at Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 67^th Session

Duration: Up to: 20 Days

Total Days: Up to: 150 Days

Selection Criteria

Tenderers response to the questions contained in the technical questions (Annex E) and their response to the specification and other information as requested in this ITT, will be evaluated against the selection criteria below.

We will assess your tender based on:

· Compliance

· Technical Competence (65%)

· Financials (30%)

· Gender Responsiveness (5%)

Criteria

Gender – Sensitive Practices and Policies

Weight: Gender Responsive (5%)

Tenderers must demonstrate……

Supplier meet any of the criteria below:

· If headed up by a woman

· If supplier is a women-owned business: A legal entity in any field that is more than 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women.

· If the % of women in management positions is over 35%

· If % of women workers is 55% or above

· If robust gender equality initiatives are in place and active. E.g. WEPs signed, gender equality procurement policy, any additional gender-sensitive program implemented.

The contract will be awarded to the Tenderer who, in the opinion of Plan, having regard to the selection criteria set out in the table above, offers the best approach to minimising risk and value for money tender. Plan reserves the right not to accept the lowest, or any, tender.

Award of the contract will be through written notification and a subsequent service agreement put in place.

Expected qualifications of Consultant

Proven experience in international work environments and intercultural communication, including an understanding of NGO structures, the girls and women’s equality movement and the UN human rights and humanitarian system

Experience in policy & influencing design, monitoring & evaluation, learning and knowledge management

Experience in international development, including demonstrable experience in policy and advocacy with regard to the gender digital divide

Strong communication, representational and inter-personal skills

Coordination and network chairing skills

Sound diplomatic and networking skills and experience in the effective use of soft power

Ability to frame issues and identify routes to influence

Contact

For clarity regarding this ITT, please contact:

procurement@plan-international.org

Procurement Officer: Tuvola Koroma

List of documents to be submitted with the ITT

The interested applicants are required to provide a proposal covering the following aspects:

• Detailed response to the ITT
• Proposed methodology
• Ethics and child safeguarding approaches, including any identified risks and associated mitigation strategies
• Proposed timelines
• CV(s)
• Example of previous work
• Reference
• Detailed budget, including daily fee rates, expenses, etc.

  All consultants/applicants are required to agree and adhere to Plan International’s Non-Staff Code of Conduct

Plan International’s Ethical & Environmental Statement (As Applicable)

The organisation should establish environmental standards and good practices that follow the principles of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, and in particular to ensure compliance with environmental legislation

The organisation should seek to set reduction targets in areas where the organisation’s activities lead to significant environmental impacts

Evaluation of offers

Plan International, at its sole discretion, will select the winner of this tender.

Plan international shall be free to:

Accept the whole, or part only, of any tender

Accept none of the proposals tenders

Republish this request for tenders

Plan International will not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred in the preparation of the tender.

Plan International reserves the right to keep confidential the circumstances that have been considered for the selection of the offers.

Part of the evaluation process may include a presentation from the Tenderer and a site visit by Plan International staff.

Women-owned businesses and companies actively engaged or advancing gender equality and women empowerment in the workplace are especially encouraged to apply

Value for money is very important to Plan International, as every additional £ saved is money that we can use on our humanitarian and development work throughout the world. Tenders are therefore encouraged to explore and propose innovative ways for achieving the required performance measures in more cost effective ways.

Contract Payment Terms: Tenderers are invited to note that, if awarded the contract, Plan International’s standard terms of payment will be 30 days after the end of the month of receipt of invoice or, if later, after acceptance of the Goods / Services / Works.

Disclaimer

Plan International reserves the right to alter the schedule of tender and contract awarding.

Plan International reserves the right to cancel this tender process at any time and not to award any contract.

Plan International reserves the right not to enter into or award a contract as a result of this invitation to tender.

Plan International does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender.

Plan International shall not be liable in respect of any costs incurred by the Tenderer in the preparation of the offer nor any associated work effort, including the production of presentation materials, brochures, product specifications or manuals for evaluation.

Requirements for a Compliant Tender The onus is on the Tenderer to ensure that its offer is complete and meets Plan International’s requirements. Failure to comply may lead to the offer being rejected. Please therefore ensure that you read this document carefully and answer fully all questions asked.

Tenderers are invited to note that, if awarded the contract, Plan International’s standard terms of payment will be 30 days after the end of the month of receipt of invoice or, if later, after acceptance of the Goods / Services / Works.

Annex Contents List

Annex A – Confirmation to Intention to Tender – All tenderers to complete

Annex B – Supplier Questionnaire (As Applicable) – All tenderers to complete unless previously completed in last 12 months

Annex C – Tenderer’s Declaration – All tenderers to complete