UNDP Jobs

Objective:

The UNDP PFF is looking for a professional forensic anthropologist (hereafter referred to as Consultant) to contract on behalf of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP). The role of the Consultant will be to conduct casework and provide hands-on training in human skeletal analysis for the CMP Anthropological Laboratory (CAL), and to help expedite skeletal analysis, leading to case resolution.  The Consultant will provide expertise and guidance in the carrying out of the CMP project on Exhumation, Identification and Return of remains of missing persons to their families.

Background:

The principal framework of the mandate of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) is to assess the fate of the people that went missing as a consequence of the tragic events of 1963-1964 and 1974 and to provide answers to anguished families. One important aspect of this work is to exhume, identify and return remains of missing persons. This process will enable the relatives of the victims to recover remains of their loved ones, arrange for a proper burial and close a long period of anguish and uncertainty, thereby promoting a process of reconciliation, healing and dialogue between both communities. This project also aims to strengthen the capacity for civil society to engage in sustained cooperation and reconciliation, through the important participation of bi-communal scientific teams at all stages of the process. This bi-communal cooperation will strengthen civic participation toward an issue which is critical for the healing of old wounds, and will sustain partnerships of cooperation and trust between both sides. The broad CMP project includes:

• (Phase I) Archaeological Phase: related to the exhumation of the remains of missing persons;
  
• (Phase II) Anthropological Phase: related to the analyses of the recovered remains in the anthropological laboratory;
  
• (Phase III) Genetic Phase: related to the comparison of blood samples collected from the victims’ families, with samples from the remains, in order to identify them;
  
• (Phase IV) Return of Remains: within the framework of a reconciliation programme, aiming at helping families of both communities cope with the difficult task of healing and coming to terms with their loss.
  

Scope of work:

The consultant will provide day-to-day training of the bi-communal team of local scientists on forensic anthropology (analysis of skeletal remains).  The Consultant will be immediately under the CAL Team Coordinators.  In addition, the Argentine Forensic Laboratory Team (EAAF) and the Identification Coordinator of the project (IC), will support the Consultant’s work with advice and observations, as necessary, and will monitor his/her activities if requested by CMP.

Responsibilities for the Consultant:

The Consultant shall make use of his/her experience in forensic anthropology, pathology, radiology, and odontology, among other techniques, to help establish sound biological profiles of recovered skeletal remains that support individual identification.  The identification of remains will take place within a Reconciliation Programme among the CAL Team Leaders and the DNA Consultant, and the Identification Coordinator.  When a definitive identification is made drawing on all available lines of evidence, the remains of identified victims will be returned to the relatives following the established protocols based on international standards and adapted to the local experience.

Specific responsibilities of a Consultant are to:

• Provide updated training in estimating sex, age-at-death, stature from skeletal remains; 
  
• Provide training in skeletal trauma and pathology interpretation, when they relate to human identification; 
  
• Perform peer-reviews of analytical case notes and reports of anthropological findings conducted by the local specialists;
  
• Assist Team Coordinators and the IC in the organisation/direction of the bi-communal team of anthropologists; 
  
• Assist, if requested, in the organisation of the bi-communal anthropological laboratory and archaeologists, in terms of space, activities and circulation of recovered remains and associated artefacts;
  
• Liaise with archaeologists; 
  
• Assist, if requested, in production of the update progress reports as well as evaluations of the laboratory operations, as requested by the CMP Members.

It is essential that the international forensic scientist works in a cooperative and constructive manner with the bi-communal teams of forensic scientific assistants, and that at all times the Consultant complies with the established guidelines for laboratory procedures and chain of custody, including maintaining all necessary documentation.

Expected deliverables:

The consultant will

• Produce analytical notes and reports related to skeletal analysis and the tentative identification of remains after coordination with the CAL Team Coordinator;
  
• Produce monthly progress reports as well as evaluations of the laboratory operations to the CMP, when requested;
  
• Other monthly and ad hoc reports as required by CMP.

All reports shall be written in the English language, and shall describe in detail the services rendered under the Contract during the period of time covered in such report. All reports shall be transmitted by the consultant by mail and/or fax and/or by hand to the CMP Members for safekeeping due to the confidential nature of the documentation involved.  The CMP shall then transmit to UNDP a confirmation that the required reports have been received and the contract requirements were satisfactorily met so that UNDP may proceed with the corresponding payment.  On a regular basis, UNDP will visit the CMP premises to review the reports.

Corporate Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Shares knowledge and experience;
  
• Provides helpful feedback and advice to others in the office.

Leadership and Self-Management

• Focuses on result for the client;
  
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
  
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
  
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
  
• Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behavior.

Education: 

• University graduate degree in Anthropology, or related discipline.

Experience: 

• At least 5 years of experience in forensic anthropology casework;
  
• Proven experience of leading teams and supervising staff;
  
• Experience of working in an anthropological laboratory that had to deal with the identification of victims of mass disaster;
  
• Previous experience of working on an international bi-communal project would be an asset.

Language Requirements: 

• Excellent knowledge of English.
  

Application:

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

• Motivation Letter: Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work.
  
• CV or Personal History (P11): Applicants are required to submit CV or P11 together with the online application. The UNDP P11 Form can be downloaded from: http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc  
  
• Financial Proposal: Applicants requested to submit financial proposal. Proposal will specify the monthly fee in USD and shall cover all expenditures including fees, international or local travel (place of residence to office and office to place of residence), cost of living, etc. Leave benefits (annual, sick, paternity, maternity) are not applicable to Individual Contractor and absent days are deducted from the monthly fee.
  
• References: Applicants are required to provide the contact details of 3 references.

Evaluation:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Criteria A - Educational qualification as defined in the ToR (20%)
• Criteria B - Experience in forensic anthropology (20%)
• Criteria C - Experience of leading teams and supervising staff (10%)
• Criteria D - Previous experience of working on an international bi-communal project (10%)
• Criteria E - Knowledge of English (10%)
  

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the maximum attainable score in the interview would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points

• Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

Payment Term: Monthly lump-sum payable upon submission and UNDP approval of the monthly progress report.

General Conditions:
General Conditions of contract for the services of Individual contractor can be downloaded from: http://web.undp.org/procurement/documents/UNDP_GCC_IC_Final_English.pdf.