Background

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN Volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity, as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

UNV is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has approximately 150 staff positions – with the majority in Bonn and some positions with different UN peacekeeping and political missions, and in other Headquarters locations (e.g. New York and Tokyo).

The major organizational groups within UNV are:

• The Office of the Executive Coordinator (OEC) comprising the Evaluation Unit (EU) and the Corporate Planning and Performance Unit (CPPU);
• The Volunteer Programming and Management Group (VPMG) comprising Quality Assurance Unit (QAU), Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation Section (VKIS), and Peace and Development Division (PDD), which includes the Peace Programming Section (PPS), the Development Programming Section (DPS), and the Volunteer Recruitment Resources Section (VRRS);
• The Partnerships and Communications Division (PCD) comprising the Partnerships Section (PS) and the Communications Section (CS);
• The Management Services Division (MSD) comprising the Information and Communication Technology Section (ICTS), Finance Section (FS), Human Resources Section (HRS), and the Administration Unit (AU). Additionally the Common Services Unit (CSU) provides support to the UN presence in Bonn.

The Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation Section enhances UNV’s proactive capacity to mainstream volunteerism into peace and development initiatives through:

• Promoting sound volunteer management practices, including the development of innovative volunteering solutions (volunteer modalities and volunteer management resources and tools) and the management of the Online Volunteering service;
• Leading the delivery of volunteerism advisory services for integration of volunteerism for peace and development into policies and programming; and for enhancing the recognition of volunteerism contributions;
• Leading initiatives for Volunteer Learning and Knowledge management.

As the focal point in the United Nations for the International Year of the Volunteers (IYV) 2001 and IYV+10 in 2011, UNV is active in the follow-up to the IYVs, for which the key objectives are the recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerism.   As part of its mandate to promote volunteerism for development, UNV prepared the first State of the World Volunteerism report (SWVR) released during the tenth anniversary year of IYV in 2011. 

This consultancy is to lead the development of the content of the next SWVR in December 2014.  This initiative will be located in Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation Section (VKIS).

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective:

The next State of the World Volunteerism Report (SWVR 2014) will be published in December 2014 and address the theme of volunteerism and governance, especially in the context of discussions on the MDGs and post 2015 sustainable development framework. Supervised by the Volunteerism Policy Advisor, the Lead Writer will provide consultancy services equal to about 160 days over 16 months to provide substantive inputs into the design of the report, preparation of the research, drafting and reviewing of the content, and the dissemination of the SWVR 2014.  (References to producing the SWVR 2014 should be understood to include the Report and any planned ancillary products, e.g. Summary, separate chapter publications, dissemination materials, etc.)

Scope of work and deliverables:

Finalized plan for Report content, research, drafting process and ancillary products:

• Substantive and collaborative leadership with the Project Team, Technical Committee and other relevant stakeholders to finalize Report objective, outline, and plans for content, ancillary products, and research methodology;
• Leadership on the identification and selection of researchers, paper authors, and other writers.

Deliverable due by 15 February 2014: Documented expert inputs to the plan/process/selection processes for developing the SWVR.  Submit adapted2014 work plan to finalized Report development plans including detailed outline, research methodology.

Leadership on the researching, writing, and reviewing of the SWVR 2014.  

Write or oversee writing of Report chapters and content; and any agreed ancillary publications and products.

Ensure Report consistency; smooth transition from chapter to chapter;  evidence base; optimal usage of text boxes, tables; ensure language of report is understandable for non-experts.
Provide final edits to chapters and products prior to publishing of report.
Provide quality assurance inputs into and support team coordination of the work of researchers, papers authors, and other content contributors.
Continue to engage with Technical Committee and other relevant stakeholders.  Integrate consultative contributions and expert inputs into report.

Help ensure proper referencing and crediting.

Deliverable due by 1 April: Draft with identified missing data.

Deliverable due by 15 May: Draft version of the report for Technical Committee/stakeholders review.

Deliverables due by 20 August 2014:  Final approved Report and Summary ready for publishing.

During January to August 2014, consultant is expected to be based in Bonn.
 
Support publishing of SWVR2014 and finalization of ancillary documents.

Engage in quality assurance reviewing of final publication;

Finalize ancillary publications and products.

Deliverables due by 15 November 2014: 

Final approved ancillary publications and products ready for publishing.

Participate in global launch of the Report, subsequent events, and outreach and advocacy through mid-2015.  Missions will be based on demand and may involve travel to any region. Travel will be purchased directly by UNV. Consultant will need to cover daily living costs and incidentals, based on a plan for 10 missions of an average of 4 days each. 

Contribute to development and implementation of Report public relations strategy, including media and communications messaging and materials.
Participate in International Volunteer Day (IVD) Report global launch, and other scheduled launch/dissemination events, workshops, dialogues, media activities to enhance the impact of SWVR 2014 and input into post 2015 discussions.

Deliverable by 15 December 2014:
Documented support to preparation for and participation in IVD (5 December) global launch and related activities and events, including addressing media inquiries and public requests for information.

Deliverables due by 30 June 2015:
Documented participation in scheduled local or regional launches and other events for the Report.  Final consultation report will be required that includes summary of outputs and documenting impact of SWVR 2014. Consultant will also be expected to contribute to any subsequent SWVR 2014 evaluations or reviews.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrates very strong writing skills in English;
• In particular, has the ability to present persuasive, coherent and well-founded arguments and to write in several different styles or to adapt to different styles and needs to make messages accessible to a broad audience;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrates analytical rigor, intellectual creativity and contributes original ideas about people, engagement, poverty and development;
• Possesses some familiarity with substantive and policy issues related to governance, civic engagement and volunteerism.
• Effective team leader and member;
• Creates team spirit, inspires and motivates colleagues at all levels;
• Demonstrates willingness to integrate ideas of others into own thinking;
• Demonstrates drive to achieve results in timely manner and to seek and find solutions to any problems encountered;
• Makes efficient use of available resources;
• Demonstrates ability to multitask;
• Remains composed under stress;
• Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively;
• Demonstrates ability to build consensus and expresses own ideas openly and frankly without jeopardizing rapport with colleagues.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• Advanced university degree in political science, international development, journalism, research or related topic.

Experience: 

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional work experience in development and communications;
• Demonstrable experience in writing/editing/formulating complex development knowledge products such major research or policy documents, preferable with UN, EU or Government;
• Work experience in development or for international or regional agencies is highly desirable;
• Experience with participatory governance especially in environment, gender, poverty-reduction, conflict, human rights, or peace building desirable;
• Experience and demonstrated understanding of volunteerism in various forms desirable.

Language requirement: 

• Excellent written and spoken English;
  
• Working knowledge of at least one other UN language besides English is desirable.

Application Procedure

Applicants have to provide a technical and financial proposal.  

The technical proposal shall describe the methodology and the approach how to fulfill the required deliverables as well as outline the major components of its implementation.  It should be justified by referencing previous experiences.
The financial proposal shall consist of all-inclusive lump sum for the whole duration of the contract period, which shall include the consultancy fee, costs of living, costs for insurance, and cost of travel to and from the duty station. The financial proposal shall contain a breakdown of these costs and indicate the number of off-days the consultant wants to take during the contract period (if any).
The lump sum/contract price is fixed regardless of subsequent changes in the cost components.

Criteria for Selection of the Best offer:

The selection of the best offer will be based on the combined scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted – 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted 30%.

Key selection criteria are:                                                                                                                                                                                Technical total 70%

Demonstrated experience in writing/editing/ formulating, managing complex English-language knowledge products
successfully and on-schedule 35%

Relevant substantive experience in peace/ development/governance/ volunteerism 25%

Demonstrated ability to build consensus and explore creative ideas 10%

Financial  30%

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via the UNDP website. Interested candidates are advised to carefully review this ToR and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described above. Applications should contain: A brief cover letter, a short summary of relevant qualifications and a technical proposal.
Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application. A current completed and signed P11 form/ UN Personal History Form in English. Blank form can be downloaded from www.sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc

Please ensure that P11, CV and your technical proposal are scanned in one pdf format  document and uploaded on the UNDP Job site http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/jobs.html
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you provide all requested materials.

Financial proposal should be sent in a separate e-mail and addressed to : procurement@unv.org  clearly marking the job title in the subject line.

Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply. Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are only able to inform the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.