UNDP Jobs - 103464- Consultant: South Sudan Diagnostic Trade Integrati

Consultant: South Sudan Diagnostic Trade Integration Study Update (DTISU)

Location :

Juba and Home Based, SOUTH SUDAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

07-Dec-2021

Application Deadline :

02-Dec-21 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

60 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

60 working days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

A new National Development Strategy (2018-21) was launched in November 2018, with the overall objective of consolidating peace and stabilizing the economy. The development strategy commits the Government into bringing South Sudan into the global economy through regional and international integration, speeding up economic recovery and management of inflation as well as economic diversification.

South Sudan has been a beneficiary of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) since 2012. In 2014, the DTIS assessed South Sudan’s economy, identified key trade sectors, outlined constraints to trade, and presented an Action Plan (Action Matrix). The diagnostic study provided key analytical foundation for policy recommendations and interventions for Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) and capacity building for greater trade and market integration of South Sudan into regional and the global trading systems. DTIS informed the design of Tier 1 project. Tier 1 is tailored towards supporting the implementation of Trade Policy Framework (TPF) for South Sudan and National Development Strategy (2018-21). The key objective of the Tier 1 Project is to enable South Sudan to use trade as an effective instrument for human development by strengthening trade institutions, enhancing capacities for mainstreaming trade, and increasing aid for trade and its effectiveness.

In line with the work plan of the Tier 1 project approved by the EIF Board, an update of the DTIS ought to be undertaken in order to provide further analytical assessment of the progress to-date of South Sudan’s trade regime and capacity. The DTIS Update will take stock of the 2014 DTIS, measure progress to date, and identify key strategies and activities to address supply- side constraints to trade and contribute to remedy challenges affecting South Sudan trade.

The Government of the Republic of South Sudan in collaboration with UNDP will be undertaking DTISU update. The objective of the DTIS update is to develop an up to date and trade integration policy document that can stimulate the development of an inclusive and sustainable trade for South Sudan’s goods and services. The DTIS update will assess the implementation status of policies and programmes since DTIS 2014 and provide a roadmap to address the challenges facing South Sudan with respect to trade. The DTISU is based on the agreed DTISU Concept Note.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose and Objective of the Consultancy

The primary objective of the assignment is to develop a DTIS update report in consultation with stakeholders under the guidance of UNDP and Ministry of Trade and Industry. The DTIS update is expected to assess the implementation status of policies and programmes since DTIS 2014 and provide a roadmap to address challenges facing South Sudan with respect to trade.

The DTISU Trade Consultant will be responsible for managing and coordinating all stages of the DTIS Update process; ensuring its overall quality and coherence; and alignment with established DTIS update guidelines adopted by the EIF Board. The consultant will work in close cooperation with the RSS EIF Focal Point for the organization of consultations with a broad range of stakeholders whose inputs will inform the preparations of the study. The DTISU Consultant will be in regular contact with UNDP South Sudan and EIF focal point for sharing draft reports and ensuring that the process is on track. The DTISU Consultant will be responsible for the completion of the following activities or key deliverables:

a) Developing 1st Draft DTISU Report

? Develop 1st Draft DTISU Report based on the Desk Review and in line with DTISU Report outline as stipulated in the Concept Note.

b) Main mission

? Undertake main mission to gather, analyse information in line with the DTIS Update Concept Note, and asses the level of the implementation of South Sudan DTIS 2014
? Consult all key stakeholders in the Government, private sector, other non-state actors and partners on the priorities as envisaged in the South Sudan DTISU Concept Note. The consultant is expected to gather necessary information to draft the report and address more in depth particular topics.
?Undertake preliminary consultations in plenary and on an individual basis with stakeholders to brainstorm and to gather relevant data to inform the formulation of the DTIS Update.
? Present the preliminary findings and conclusions of the mission and seek feedback.
? Share a presentation summarizing discussions held with the government and stakeholders and sketching out the DTISU report outline with the RSS and UNDP at the end of the Main Mission

c) Drafting of the DTISU

? Draft the specific DTIS chapters and Implementation Action Matrix in line with the DTISU report outline, emerging findings from the Main Mission and data gathered through desk review.
? Submit the Draft DTIS Report including the Monitoring and Evaluation matrix to RSS and UNDP for comments.
? Revise the DTIS Report based on the comments received from RSS and UNDP

d) Validation process

? Present the draft report in a national workshop involving key stakeholders to validate the report and in particular, the Action Matrix. Careful preparation will be necessary to allow a focused discussion during the workshop, on the prioritization of actions reflected in the Action Matrix.
? Revise the Draft DTSIU report based on inputs/comments received from the national validation workshop
? Submit the final DTISU to the RSS and UNDP.

Deliverables

The consultant is required to produce the following outputs:

? 1st Draft DTISU Report based on the Desk Review and in line with DTISU Report outline as stipulated in the Concept Note;
? 2nd Draft DTSIU Report with specific DTIS chapters and Action Matrix in line with the DTISU report outline, emerging findings from the Main

Mission and data gathered through desk review;

? 3rd Draft DTSIU Report with Action Matrix based on the comments received from MTI and UNDP
? Final DTSIU Report with Action Matrix based on inputs/comments received from the national validation workshop

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates professional competence and expertise on the subject matter
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Able to work in team environment
Treats all people fairly without favouritism

Functional Competencies:

Excellent critical reasoning and problem-solving skills
Excellent skills in the use of computer software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, clients, and external actors
Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure
High degree of self-motivation and initiative
Willingness to learn and apply new analytical approaches

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Post -graduate qualifications in any of the following areas: economics, business management, international economics, development, or other relevant fields.

Experience

At least 10 years of relevant working experience;
Research experience and publication record of high professional standards in the fields of trade and development;
Good understanding of WTO disciplines and processes;
Ability to interpret results and make recommendations;
Strong understanding of the trade-related development challenges and relevant sectoral issues, especially in the context of LDCs;
Ample experience on trade and development issues in Sub-Sahara Africa;
Experience on trade-related international cooperation, including the EIF is an asset.
Post-conflict experience will be added advantage

Experience

Proficiency in Written and Spoken English

Institutional arrangements

The activities will be managed in coordination with the Ministry of Trade and Industry;
MTI will provide access to office space, organise meetings and provide administrative support where needed.
UNDP South Sudan through its office in Juba will be responsible for supervising, facilitating and monitoring the work of the DTISU Consultant. UNDP South Sudan and Ministry of Trade and Industry will also review the draft reports, provide comments, and prepare the Consultative and Validation Workshop in Juba, South Sudan.

Payment Schedule

1st Draft DTISU Report based on the Desk Review and in line with the chapters in the DTISU Concept Note 20%
2nd Draft t DTSIU Report with specific DTIS chapters and Action Matrix in line with the DTISU report outline, emerging findings from the Main Mission and data gathered through desk review; 30%
3rd Draft DTSIU Report with Action Matrix based on the comments received from stakeholders and UNDP 20%
Final DTSIU Report with Action Matrix based on inputs/comments received from the national validation workshop 30%

Technical proposal comprising of the following:

Articulation of technical approach to the assignment/tasks, including the methodology and indicative workplan/timeline
Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP
Personal CV or P11, indicating all prior experience with similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and three (3) professional references
Brief description (max. 1 page) of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology (max. 1 page) for how you will approach and complete the assignment

Financial proposal:

Indicating the all-inclusive, fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs.

Consultancy Evaluation Criteria

Offers received will be evaluated using a Combined Scoring method, where the qualifications and Required Skills and Experience will be weighted 70%, and combined with the price offer, which will be weighted 30%.

Technical evaluation criteria

Criteria to be used for rating the qualifications and Required Skills and Experience is outlined below:

Post -graduate qualifications in any of the following areas: economics, international economics, development, or other relevant fields (20 points)

Evaluation of the P11 and CV including educational attainment, research experience and publication record of high professional standards in the fields of trade and development and good understanding of WTO disciplines and processes (20 points)
Strong understanding of the trade-related development challenges and relevant sectoral issues, especially in the context of LDCs and ample experience on trade and development issues in Sub-Sahara Africa (15 points)
Experience on trade-related international cooperation, including the EIF is an asset.; post-conflict experience will be added advantage (15 points)

NOTE: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial evaluation (total 30 points)

All technically qualified proposals will be scored up to 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals receive points according to the following formula: p y (x/z)

Where:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated
x = Price of the lowest priced proposal
y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal
z = price of the proposal being evaluated.