Background

The United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) is a unique collaborative effort that brings together UN entities, governments, disabled people’s organizations and the broader civil society to advance disability rights around the world. The UNPRPD supports the full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by facilitating coalition-building and capacity-development at country, regional and global level. In doing so, it leverages the comparative advantage of multiple stakeholders to contribute to the realization of a “society for all” in the 21st century.
 
The UN entities participating in the UNPRPD are the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The UNDP Poverty Practice serves as the Technical Secretariat for the Partnership. The UNPRPD also works closely with multiple civil society organizations including the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC).
 
The UNPRPD is supported by the UNPRPD Fund, a Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) established to mobilize resources for the Partnership. The UNPRPD MPTF is administered by the UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office) and builds on the experience developed by the MPTF Office in managing multiple Multi-Partner Trust Funds and joint programmes around the world.
 
On 6 March 2014, the UNPRPD announced its second funding round (UNPRPD R2). It is expected that, under this funding round, a selected number of joint UN programmes on disability rights will be funded at country level for a period of two years. After a screening of initial expressions of interest, a total of 36 United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs) have been invited to submit proposals under the UNPRPD R2.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective:
 
The consultant will be part of a team of external reviewers who will:
  • 1) review the proposals submitted by UNCTs;
  • 2) score the proposals on the basis of a Technical Review Scoresheet prepared by the UNPRPD Technical Secretariat; and 3) provide detailed analytical feedback on the quality of the proposals and their consistency with the principles laid out in the UNPRPD Strategic and Operational Framework (SOF).  
Specific activities:
 
The consultant will undertake the following activities:
  • Review relevant UNPRPD documents (UNPRPD Strategic and Operational Framework, templates for the submission of proposals, Technical Review Scoresheet, previously funded proposals) – 0.5 days;
  • Participate in an initial briefing to be provided by the UNPRPD Technical Secretariat – 0.5 days;
  • Review and score the proposals – 6 days;
  • Participate in a joint review of scores with other consultants – 0.5 days;
  • Conduct a final review of scores, provide additional analytical comments on the proposals (if and as needed) and wrap up – 1 days.

Specific deliverables:

Specific deliverables to be produced by the consultant will be:
  • Initial assessment of submitted proposals;
  • Final assessment of submitted proposals.
Timeframe:
 
Keeping to the timeframe will be critical for this assignment The consultancy will be conducted over 9 working days between 21 April 2014 and 27 May with the following milestones:
  • 21 April 2014 - UNPRPD Technical Secretariat to share relevant documents with reviewers;
  • 28 April 2014 - UNPRPD Technical Secretariat to brief external reviewers;                                           
  • 2 May 2014 - Proposals submitted by UNCTs;                 
  • 16 May 2014 - External reviewers to submit initial assessment of proposals;
  • 23 May 2014 - Joint review of initial assessments;
  • 27 May 2014 - External reviewers to submit final assessment of proposals.
Payment:
 
The payment shall be made based on deliverables as follows:
  • 25% after the initial briefing from the UNPRPD Technical Secretariat;
  • 50% upon submission of the initial assessment of proposals;
  • 25% upon submission of the final assessment of proposals.
Reporting:
  • The consultants will work under the oversight of the Coordinator of the Technical Secretariat of the UNPRPD.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:
  • Strong understanding of results-based management in the context of development interventions, particularly in the area of human rights and social inclusion;
  • Strong understanding of capacity development in the context of development interventions, particularly in the area of human rights and social inclusion;
  • Strong understanding of the mandate, operation modalities and work of UNCTs, particularly in the area of human rights and social inclusion;
  • Strong analytical skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Master’s degree (or higher level qualification) in Sociology, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Development Studies, Management or closely related field.
Experience:
  • At least 10 years of professional experience as an advisor in the areas of results-based management and capacity development – particularly as applied to human rights and social inclusion – with proven track record of engagement with individual UN organizations and/or UNCTs.
  • Prior experience in the evaluation of funding proposals
Language:
  • Excellent command of English (oral and written).
Evaluation Method:
  • Cumulative Analysis - The financial proposal will account 30% and technical proposal will account for 70% of the total evaluation score.