Terms of Reference for reviewing and developing HR Policies and Strategy of
UCEP, Bangladesh
Project / Program
: UCEP (Underprivileged Children’s Educational Programs) Technical Assistance
Project
Consultant Name
: To be decided through a competitive process
Location
: Dhaka
Duration
: Maximum 30 working days after signing the contract (within 3 months period)
Introduction:
UCEP is the single largest NGO in Bangladesh providing basic education integrated with technical and
vocational education with subsequent employment support to children and young people from under
privileged families. Since its inception in 1972, a total of 187,490 underprivileged children (50% girls)
were admitted in UCEP IGVE schools and The Technical Schools since their establishment in 1983, have
produced 47,215 graduates in different trades and 43,408 of them are placed in jobs (40% girls). These
schools are also one of the most successful TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training)
institutes in the country. The main objective of UCEP is to improve the socio-economic status of the
urban poor and support industrial growth by generating skilled manpower. UCEP’s programmes are
designed for hard-core urban poor, mostly migrants from rural areas, who step into their youth when
they graduate from UCEP schools. The socio-cultural relevance and sustainability of UCEP’s work in
Bangladesh has been demonstrated over the last 36 years. The design of the program, its impact on the
lives of young people it have led many external actors to identify it as being effective and worthy of
replication and larger scale implementation.
UCEP’s reputation, the network with employers and the high demand for the skilled and semi-skilled
workers make positive impact to UCEP graduates in acquiring skilled job. UCEP has a global reputation
for its unique model of human resource development, and has been listed twice in the UN ESCAP’s
“Compendium of Centers of Excellence in HRD Research and Training”. UCEP currently delivers a
comprehensive programme through 53 general (IGVE) schools and 10 Technical schools located in Dhaka,
Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal and Rangpur Division and Gazipur District. They have sizable
management and governing structure to support the whole programme and functional operation. This
includes a 7 member Board of Governors (BoG), a 13 member Senior Management team, 4 Directorates,
1,827 staff including 1,287 teachers and 10 regional offices. The 1,827 staff also makes up a number of
other units and functions of UCEP such as ESS (Employment Support Service), MER (Monitoring,
Evaluation and Research), FA (Finance & Accounts), HR (Human Resource) and BD (Business
Development). A wide range of policy documents including a Gender Policy, HR Manual, Procurement
Policy, Internal Audit Manual, Health & Safety and the Environment Policy, Fraud and Corruption Policy,
Prevention of Discrimination, Harassment and Abuse of Authority and Prevention of Sexual Harassment
Policy guide the entire operations and way of working.
UCEP programmes have grown significantly in size and complexity since its establishment, it is
increasingly important to develop a robust institutional systems and deliver its mandate. This is especially
important given the potential for UCEP to grow further and to gain influence outside of the organization.
Program Background:
Over the last two years, several studies and consultations have been commissioned to assess the gaps
and find ways to strengthen UCEP. The “UCEP Annual Review – 2011” (HDRC, Muriel, Morshed)
conducted by DFID suggested to retain a strong governance and management structure which, in turn,
make available the human, financial and physical resources to be able to deliver UCEP’s objectives in the
required quality & volume. An “Action Plan for Change Management (hereinafter APCM 2012)” was
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developed and agreed, following the study “UCEP Technical Assistance for Intuitional Capacity
Strengthening 2012” ( R F Ward) also commissioned by DFID. DFID’s Annual Review 2013 found that
although actions were taken against the strategic issues of sustainability, quality of education, growth
and expansion, gender equity and diversity, but the strategic issues around Board-Management
governance, adapting best management practice, decentralization, career succession and people
development, access to impact evidence and strategic financial projections have only been partially
initiated.
This “Technical Assistance Project” was identified to support UCEP in carrying out recommendations and
further system improvements. This project has been developed focusing on identifying priority gap
areas, challenges and collaboration opportunities to address the needs identified through review and
reflection of donors, the Board of Governance and senior management, finally annual review 2013.
Purpose of the Work:
UCEP has grown considerably in both size and complexity over the last forty years. The 2013 Annual
Review strongly recommends strengthening the second tier of management. Managers would benefit
from more in-service training and a systematic process of performance based promotion and award.
Although policy papers have been prepared in many key areas and some in-service training opportunities
have been made available to staff but it is not clear how these have been rolled out or followed up upon.
Improvement is needed in policies being shared, understood and implemented across the whole
organization. Clearer performance framework is required for tracking consistency and accountability to
improve management responsibility and systems across the organization. This is in line with the
recommendation from the APCM 2012 to build performance management systems that are robust
enough to reach across UCEP’s geography.
Being a long standing technical partner Save the Children will assist UCEP in carrying out
recommendations through acquiring HR policies, procedures and HR strategy aligned with business
strategy.
Justification for Hiring Consultant:
The consultant will review and develop recruitment, on boarding, promotion, annual performance
assessment system, staff development, separation polices and procedures including generic job
competencies, and a 3 year Staff Development Strategy through in-depth analysis of UCEP’s present and
future business need.
The tasks will be carried out by a consultant who got required expertise and experience, especially hands
on experience in the areas of HR Strategy Formulation. S/he should have experience in working with
Governing Bodies and very senior level staff. Save the Children does not have such internal resource at
this moment to deliver such task.
Required Qualifications:
The consultant should have:
 proven expertise and experiences in HR strategy, policy, procedure formulation/development for
renowned organizations
 hands on experience is developing and implementing performance management system for large
organizations
 strong academic background from top notch institutes/ organization
The consultant’s proposal for the consultancy should provide a description of the consultant/firm
including an outline of the consultant’s/firm’s recent experience on similar consultancies. The proposal
should list itemized details of costs associated with the study. The proposal will be assessed technically
and financially.
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Reporting To: Rosalind Hawlader, Director of HR & Admin., Save the Children.
Deliverables:
 HR review report
 Human Resources Development strategy for 3 years
Remuneration: To be decided later
Confidentiality:
All papers shared with the consultant are confidential to, and where prepared internally comprise the
intellectual property of SCiB and should not be used or shared externally without SCiB’s express written
permission. Information received by the Consultant from SCiB in field offices should be treated as
confidential.
Contract:
A contract will be drawn up after sharing this ToR where skills and costs of potential consultants will be
assessed and evaluated by the Director of HR & Admin. at SCiB. The contract will be a formal consultancy
contract between SCiB and the consultant. A consultant will be selected in accordance with SCiB
procurement policy guidelines.
Contact person:
Md. Hafiz Imtiaj, Manager – HR & OD, UCEP TA Project, Save the Children in Bangladesh. E-mail:
[email protected]
Apply Instruction:
Interested individuals or organizations meeting required expertise and experiences are requested to send
proposal (Technical & Financial including Tax & VAT as per GOB rule) along with following documents to
The Director of HR and Administration, Save the Children, Bangladesh Country Office, House # CWN (A)
35, Road- 43, Gulshan-2, Dhaka – 1212 or E-mail to: [email protected]
1) Resume/ organizational profile
2) Proven experience of similar work including names of organizations and period (minimum two)
3) Team details, and
4) Consultancy fee history (minimum last two)
Application Deadline: December 24, 2014.
End of the document
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