UNDP Jobs

The UN plays an important role in Nepal’s transition and has identified a set of important services for the UN, the Government of Nepal and the wider donor community in this transitional context.

The Department of Political Affairs (DPA) is carrying out its support to Nepal’s peace process and long-term stability through frequent visits to the country with a view to closely monitoring developments on the peace process and constitution drafting, conducting regular consultation with all relevant international and Nepalese actors and providing regular updates and recommendations to the Secretary-General.

This engagement will be supported by the presence in Kathmandu of a small UN DPA Liaison Team which is attached to the Office of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC-HC).

Under the supervision of Head of Office, the Political Affairs consultant  will contribute  to the development of an UN strategy/planning in areas of support to the integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist army (MaoA) personnel to achieve the following results:

• Keep abreast of relevant developments in Nepal and build strategic relationships with key interlocutors;
• Contribute substantively to the development of a strategy on areas of potential UN support.

Assess key developments with regards to the peace process and constitution drafting process including challenges to them:

• Maintain regular and reliable contacts with key national actors and government authorities, civil society and media personnel.

Undertake research on thematic subjects and provide substantive input for the DPA/RCHCO Liaison Team’s periodic reports:

• Produce weekly reports and thematic internal analytical reports including the critical issues in the peace process and constitution drafting;
• Draft scenarios, briefing notes, messages and analytical reports on key developments in Nepal.

Within the overall national peace building efforts, the Political Affairs Consultant is responsible for:

• Maintain contact with members of the Special Committee; its Secretariat and other relevant actors in the field of Integration and rehabilitation;
• Coordinate and interact with the UN Country team on issues related to the planning and implementation of support of any of the Maoist army personnel;
• Attend and contribute to the policy planning and senior management meetings as required;
• Maintain positive working relationship with relevant international and national governmental and non-governmental actors.

The Political Affairs Consultant ensures favourable contributions towards  partnership building among key stakeholders in the post conflict national setting:

• Participate in fact-finding and other missions;
• Support the planning and implementation of the Office's substantive work-plan in accordance with the scope of work of the office
• Attend and speak at seminars/programmes related to office scope and its work as required.

The Political Affairs Consultant ensures knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Advocates for UN with Government counterparts and ensures access to best available expertise;
• Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the country programme for organizational sharing and learning;
• Supports capacity-building of national counterparts;
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in UN.

Senior management is updated on key political developments related to the peace process and constitution writing:

• A good working relationship is maintained with the GoN, and Special Committee/ its Secretariat members, transferring international technical expertise and best practices to key national actors as requested;
• DPA’s perspectives and views are reflected accurately in discussions between key political stakeholders;
• UNHQ and UN-RCHCO’s Senior Management are provided with timely reports that can direct and better focus UN support to the peace process and constitution writing;
• DPA maintains a coordinated approach in key areas of the peace process and constitution writing;
• UN-RCHCO and other UN Agencies have easy access to information/developments on peace; process and constitution writing for their own analysis as well as dissemination to the media and other stakeholders, as necessary;
• Regular information sharing between DPA Liaison Office Nepal and key members of the international community.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the DPA Liaison Office in Nepal;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Ability to establish substantive professional relationships with all stakeholders; and
• Willingness and ability to travel and work in remote locations with limited interaction with other international staff.

Functional Competencies:

• Professionalism: Sound knowledge of international and regional peace and security issues, political analysis, conflict prevention and negotiations at the international level as well as knowledge of the practices and procedures of the UN in conflict resolution. Ability to perform duties with confidentiality and tact.  In-depth knowledge and understanding of a broad range of issues relating to South Asia an advantage. Efficiency in meeting commitments and deadlines. Motivation by professional rather than personal concerns. Persistence in the face of difficult challenges. Ability to maintain calm under pressure.
• Communication:  Speaks and writes clearly and effectively, listens to others, correctly interprets messages and responds appropriately; asks questions and maintains two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audiences; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping colleagues informed.
• Teamwork:  Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits inputs by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decision may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for shortcomings.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration or other related areas. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area. Knowledge of the situation in Nepal is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• English and French are the two working languages in the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, 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 weight; 70%
 * Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Contract will be awarded to the technically qualified consultant who obtains the highest combined score (financial and technical). The points for the Financial Proposal will be allocated as per the following formula:
((Lowest Bid Offered:)/(Bid of the Consultant)) x 30

*"Lowest Bid Offered" refers to the lowest price offered by bidders scoring at least 70% points in technical evaluation.