Background

The Poverty Group of the Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) is the institutional anchor of UNDP’s work on poverty reduction and MDGs support. It provides core services designed to support global, regional and national efforts to reduce poverty and reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Poverty Group is organized into four teams: the MDGs Support Team, Inclusive Globalization Team, Inclusive Green Growth Team and the Economic Governance Team.

The Economic Governance Team (EGT) provides policy advisory services relating to public resource management in developing countries. One of the Team’s current portfolios focuses management of natural resources (extractive industries). This work on extractives sector relates to research, policy advice, and South-South cooperation – focusing on how resources are managed to promote human development. UNDP takes a multidisciplinary approach, by engaging experts and practitioners working in many broad areas with the objective of promoting a more stable, equitable and sustainable extraction of resources.

Objective

Consultants are needed to support the quantitative and econometric work of the EGT. The overall objective of this consultancy is to support the work area on extractives outlined above with quality research and data analysis for the finalization of knowledge products.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant’s responsibility will be to contribute to knowledge products through literature review, data analysis and writing. The consultant is expected to carry out econometric analysis. The Consultant will support coordination of a peer review of the publications and incorporate comments from the reviewers. Finally, s/he will support coordination of their editing and desktop publishing.

The product of the consultancy will be the final version of knowledge products.

Specific Deliverables
  • Draft knowledge products;
  • Set of data and econometric models;Comments from peer reviewers incorporated;
  • Edited knowledge products, in coordination with copy editors;
  • Publications ready for dissemination.
Timeframe

The consultancy is planned for up to 60 days between 1 May 2013 and 31 July 2013.

Payment

The payment shall be made in one installment, after the satisfactory completion of the knowledge products.

Reporting

The consultants will report to the Leader of the Economic Governance Team in the Poverty Group/Bureau for Development Policy (PG/BDP) and liaise with policy specialists in the Economic Governance Team, PG/BDP for any queries and assistance on a day-to-day basis.

Competencies

Functional Competencies
  • Proven record of research and analytical skills in the area of development, governance or environment;
  • Proven econometric and data analysis skills;
  • Attention to detail;
  • Strong communications and inter-personal skills
  • Ability to work in a diverse team, but also independently and under deadlines.
Corporate Competencies
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.  

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Master degree in development, economics, social sciences, quantitative methods, political science or other closely related field – 15%
Experience:
  • Understanding of and interest in economic and political development of UN member countries – 10% Professional experience, including in conducting research – 15%
  • Outstanding writing, editing and fact-checking skills, attention to detail and the ability to review and provide comments on knowledge products – 15%
Language:
  • Excellent command of English; command of other UN language is an asset – 10%
  • Familiarity with the UN system and development agenda. – 5%

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.

Evaluation Method

Cumulative Analysis - The financial will account for 30% and technical will account for 70% of the total evaluation score. 

FC: 25630