Concept Paper for the Research Study on

SAARC Development Goals Achievements, Gaps and Way Forward (2007-2012)

Introduction
Recognizing the imperative to address the wide spread poverty of the SAARC region and to suggest
strategies and measures, the Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA), on
directive of SAARC leaders, formulated SAARC Development Goals (SDGs) 2007-12. ISACPA, in their
report entitled An Engagement with Hope elaborated the SDGs which encompasses 22 goals in the
four broad categories of Livelihood (8), Health (4), Education (4) and Environment (6). Each SAARC
country was supposed to mainstream the SDGs in their respective planning processes with a sense of
priority and urgency and designed to strengthen the national efforts for achieving Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

According to the UNDP MDGs Report 2012, the number of people living in extreme poverty has
fallen. A particular area of concern includes the slow decrease in levels of vulnerable
employment, defined as the share of unpaid family workers and own-account workers in total
employment. Besides, hunger (a global challenge), natural disasters and global financial, food
crises have slowed progress and inequality remains. The most recent FAO estimate of
undernourishment set the mark at 850 million living in hunger in the world in the 2006/08
period, 15.5 per cent of the world population. Additionally, progress has also been slow in
reducing child under-nutrition, with close to one third of children in Southern Asia deemed
underweight in 2010.
The mid-term review reports of SDGs have witnessed progress in reducing the poverty and achieving
desirable progress in education health, and other indicators but still lagged behind in many areas.
Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in the areas of primary schooling, gender parity in
primary and secondary level education, lowering the infant and under-five mortality rate etc. Bhutan
has achieved gender parity at both primary and gross enrolment ratio has exceeded 100 % with 117 % in
2010. Nepal has succeeded in reducing poverty but facing problems in environmental sustainability. Sri
Lanka showed continued development progress, but disparities persist within the country in terms of
traditional human development indicators and more advanced measures of development.

Similarly India and Pakistan have been succeeded in reducing poverty and achieved progress in other
indicators. Reducing poverty is a key element in Indias inclusive growth and Pakistans new sustainable
growth strategy. But these achievements do not commensurate to enormous development potential of
the region. Income and non-income poverty still a major problem. Youth unemployment, public health
specially, infant and maternal mortality, gender inequality, hunger, food insecurity, and climate change
are all aspects of being poor and are major problems to be tackled in the short-to-medium term. SAARC
countries are not increasing required national spending on social sectors, or not meeting the demand
1

for it. Moreover, population growth in the SAARC region is putting increased pressure on the resource
allocation and nullifying all efforts. Controlling the population growth simultaneously educating and
skilling the youth through enhancing the budgetary allocations for, strengthening social safety nets
should be dealt on priority basis. Demographic structure of the SAARC region may pay the dividends, if
harnessed through proper planning. The study will also analyze as to what extent the objectives of
attaining MDGs through SDGs have been obtained and what specific initiatives, future course of action
will be required by the SAARC Member States to achieve MDGs by 2015 after completion of SDGs in
2012.

The research study will respond to the various issues as SDGs period has been completed in 2012. It is
necessary to modify the SDGs, plus or minus to achieve MDGs by 2015. The other framework may be
more of the same, better or faster. It may focus on contextualised SDGs rather than generalised SDGs
because conditions differ across space and over time. There may be something different to replace SDGs
as a framework even if a new approach is difficult to construct and a changed paradigm is too ambitious.
As the SDGs, focus on a comparison between an undesirable to a desirable state, but what could be the
transition path, from one state to another? There is an explicit recognition that poverty reduction and
economic development must rest on the foundations of democratic governance, human rights but
consideration of peace and security and different crises also matters. In terms of design, there are some
serious limitations. There is a multiplicity of objectives. Some indicators are inappropriate and could be
misleading. An evaluation of SDGs as a framework for monitoring progress in development highlights
shortcomings. It is therefore, indispensable to tackle the issues through an in-depth research to find the
right path for the well being of the poor of the SAARC region and to achieve MDGs by 2015

The proposed research study will be awarded to the Reputed Research Firms, Research Institutions and
Universities having ample research experience by inviting Expression of Interest (EOI) from the SAARC
Member States. The EOI may follow with complete research protocol / Synopsis i.e. Introduction,
Objectives, Methodology, Review of literature, Questionnaire, Work plan, Analysis Plan (dummy tables),
Budget, Organization Profile, CVs of the Research Team etc of the SAARC Member States. The study will
be conducted for all eight SAARC countries, country specific or research of less than eight countries will
not be entertained. The Research proposals should be submitted to SAARC Secretariat through Ministry
of Foreign/ External Affairs of the respective Member States. In order to avoid technical and financial
implications the study will not be awarded to any individual Consultant or Researchers of the Member
States. The study will be awarded on MERIT. The decision of the SHRDC Research Committee will be the
final to accept or reject the research Proposal/ Report and its decision cannot be challenged in any court
of law, or liable to any legal action.

Objectives

How far goals of SDG have been achieved or lagged behind by the SAARC Member
States. Review policies, programs, commitments, extra efforts done by them to achieve
these goals. Also elaborate supply and demand side requirements taken care.
An evaluation of design of SDG framework and monitoring mechanisms for identifying
the weaknesses and factors responsible.
The possibility of adoption of another framework or transformational agenda after 2012
for reducing poverty, based on social inclusion, social justice, equity, empowerment of
people, sustained and inclusive economic growth at the local, national and regional
level.
Identify all external and internal influences like security, inequality, hunger, food
insecurity, climate change, population explosion and any type of global crises could be
incorporated in the post-2012framework, plan or development agenda.

Terms of Reference

To review policies and programs, commitments, achievements and failures of the SAARC
Member States.
To identify emerging development challenges that has become more pressing since,
2007 in the current context, and ways to incorporate them into the SAARC economic
development efforts after 2012.
To propose areas of collaboration among SAARC Member States, within SDG
framework, in building a SAARC Regional Bloc of sustainable economic development
after 2012.

To evaluate the design of SDG framework, in terms of goals targets and indicators
adopted by the SAARC Member States

Identify successes or failures and best practices for their maximum replication in other
SAARC countries after 2012.

To work out the flaws or perfections in the SDGs design and monitoring mechanisms of
the SAARC Member States.

To explore possibilities of financing of future framework/plan within the SAARC Member

States or other international donors
How far the objective of mainstreaming SDGs in the planning process with a sense of
priority and urgency and to strengthen the national efforts for achieving MDGs has been
attained.
Propose another framework/plan after lessons learnt from the existing one, including
the ignored and excluding the unimportant areas, having a built in space to change the
targets according to the prevailing internal or external affecting factors.

Technical proposal
The SAARC Human Resource Development Centre invites the technical proposals from the consultants
from the SAARC region. The proposals must be submitted to the respective Ministries of
External/Foreign Affairs (SAARC sections) of the SAARC Member States. The proposals must include
detailed organization profile, approach, short literature review, methodology, primary data collection
procedure, budget, research team, and work plan. The proposal should also state clearly that how the
study will help SAARC to achieve its goals and promote regionalism.
Research Methodology
The following research methodology will be adopted for the study

i.

ii.

iii.

Data Collection
In line with the objectives and terms of references of the study, the consultant will
collect the primary and secondary data/information through a questionnaire survey
and case studies. The consultant has to collect the data/information through
structured questionnaire survey from all eight SAARC Member States with the
approval of the Director SHRDC.
Comprehensive Literature Review
A comprehensive literature review will be carried out to assess the SDGs
achievements, all aspects of its design, existing gaps its impact on poverty reduction
HRD and on sustainable economic development and concrete proposals for another
improved framework, bridging the gaps. For this purpose, available publications,
articles, policy documents, research studies etc. may be consulted.
Focus Group Discussions/Case Studies
The consultant will also use focus group discussion and case study approach to
carryout in depth information/data collection and its analysis to enhance the
reliability and validity of the research.

Consultant/Organization Profile
Research team of the consultant firm must be post-graduate in multidisciplinary fields of social sciences
with extensive research experience. Preference will be given to the PhD holders in the relevant field.
Strong analytical skill is also required. Consultant firm must ensure value for money to ensure that the
budget has been used effectively to achieve the concert outcomes.
Implementation Schedule
The study will be completed within six months beginning from the date of signing the contract.
However, in any case the study must be completed by the first week of December, 2013.
Budget
A total amount of US$ 23,500.00 has been allocated for all consultancy services. The amount will be
disbursed as per following schedule:
Payment of first tranche 25% of the total cost
on submission of the first draft of the study

US$

5,875.00

Payment of the 2nd tranche 25% of the total cost

on submission of the 2nd draft of the study

US$

5,875.00

Final payment on submission of 300 printed report

US$

11,750.00

US$

23,500.00

Total:
Work Plan
The work plan of the study is as under:
Functions
Announcement of study
Receiving/evaluation of proposals
Short listing of proposals and
award of study
Collection of data, analysis and
report writing by consultant
Submission of first draft in the
first week of September
Submission of 2nd draft in the
first week of October
Submission of final draft in the
first week of November
Incorporation of comments and
resubmission of drafts
Approval of the report
Circulation of the study by SHRDC

Apr.

May

Jun.

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The consultant will be required to keep Director SHRDC updated with the progress made in the study.
Director SHRDC will evaluate the drafts jointly with the SHRDC research team. The Director SHRDC will
approve the final draft of the research study.