Background

As the world is changing with increasing pace, it becomes ever more important for development actors to be able to respond to different types of challenges with agile and flexible solutions, representing a shift away from a “business as usual” approach.
 
What is unique about development challenges today is not so much their nature but their complexity and interconnectedness which may accelerate the speed and unpredictability of events as well as generate negative feedback loops (e.g., climate change and its linkages with poverty, use of renewable energy, migration, conflicts, etc.). These complex issues are not easily addressed, and definitely not by traditional sector approaches. Innovative approaches and solutions are thus clearly called for. 

In a gradual process of change, UNDP has begun working differently. We are taking steps to create space and encouragement for individuals to collaborate creatively, adopt an outside-in perspective that is driven by clients’ perspectives and needs, and take measured risks. We are engaging with different and sometimes unexpected development actors, for example tapping directly into the experience and expertise of young people, local communities or entrepreneurs, to help refine the problem statement and importantly define and implement solutions. We are using different modalities of problem-solving, for example, hosting social innovation camps and issuing social challenges to crowdsource development solutions. We are adopting agile and flexible management approaches, such as rapid feedback loops to avoid waiting for annual reviews to make course corrections. We are supporting cohorts of innovators in countries, using our Country Offices, regional hubs and headquarters as platforms for support.

Innovation has been built into both the approach and results of UNDP’s new Strategic Plan (2014-2017). An Innovation Board has been established and is providing strategic direction for the innovation agenda and managing a pipeline of innovation projects. The Knowledge, Innovation and Capacity Group (KICG) within UNDP’s Bureau for Programme and Policy Support (BPPS) serves as the Secretariat for the Innovation Board and provides policy and programme support through its network of advisors in HQ and the regional centers.

In order to help to achieve this vision, UNDP seeks to create a Roster of Innovation Experts, who shall be deployed to work in any of UNDP country offices, HQ location or work from their own respective locations (remote support). The experts selected for inclusion in the Roster would be engaged by UNDP through Individual Contracts/ Reimbursable Loan Agreements for each of the assignments they may perform. The Roster will remain valid for a three years period (2014-2017) .

Duties and Responsibilities

Social innovators are sought to support the realization of UNDP’s innovation agenda by providing client-oriented advisory services, training and guidance to staff, clients and partners in the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative approaches to development. The duties and responsibilities detailed below are a representative, but not exhaustive, list of potential activities. Social innovators will be expected to work in one, some or all of these categories of work; specific Terms of Reference will dictate the scope of work and the selection of experts from the vetted roster for each of the assignments.

  • Provide client-oriented advisory services and programmatic support to UNDP staff, clients and partners on innovative approaches to horizon scan, strategic planning, design, implementation and evaluation of global, regional and country programmes, projects and campaigns;
  • Support the development of innovative tools and techniques;
  • Provide training on innovation to UNDP staff, clients and partners;
  • Support the design of and participate in global, regional and country events on innovation;
  • Support the development of UNDP’s Innovation Fellows Programme.

Description of Responsibilities:

Provide client-oriented advisory services and programmatic support to UNDP staff, clients and partners on innovative approaches to design, implementation and evaluation of global, regional and country programmes, projects and campaigns:

  • Review programme and project documents to identify “windows of opportunity” for infusing innovative approaches such as foresighting, scenario planning, user-centered design (or design thinking), behavioral economics, and gamification;
  • Facilitate discussions with issue-based teams to bring fresh ideas and approaches to programme and project design, implementation and M&E, such as horizon scanning, crowdsourcing, participatory statistics, rapid feedback mechanisms, and micro-narratives;
  • Peer-review “innovation in action” briefs and papers;
  • Design criteria for UNDP innovation funds to use in evaluating proposals;
  • Participate in evaluation committees, evaluating proposals and providing suggestions for improvement;
  • Participate in / facilitate design jams with UNDP staff in applying innovative approaches, tools and techniques;
  • Participate in corporate knowledge campaigns around specific areas of the UNDP Strategic Plan by injecting advice on social innovation through blog posts, social media, e-discussion contributions, etc.;

Support the development of innovative tools and techniques

  • Work with global, regional and national teams to design social innovation mechanisms, such as ethnography, games, social innovation camps, prize challenges, crowd-funding, etc.;
  • Support the delivery of these mechanisms;
  • Support sharing and discussion of examples experiences, practices and lessons on social innovation mechanisms through blogs, online discussions, webinars, events, etc.

 Provide training on innovation to UNDP staff, clients and partners

  • Design and deliver training on innovation, using UNDP’s approach to innovation and existing training materials: Training to include an introductory overview of innovation concepts and tools as well as more in-depth training on the three key areas of UNDP’s innovation process: Find and Reflect; Prototype; and Scaling Modalities to include for example webinars to Country Offices and Regional Centers and face-to-face hub-style trainings;
  • Design and participate in learnings sessions on innovation, its successes and failures, e.g., as part of innovation conversations series, brown bag lunches;
  • Regularly blog about innovation for UNDP-internal and external audiences to raise awareness and connect UNDP with interesting resources, projects and experts on social innovation.

Support the design of and participate in global, regional and country events and exchanges with innovation as a topic (primary or secondary)

Provide support in the design of events on innovation, including:

  • Those focused on innovation, e.g., global and regional innovation submits;
  • Those with innovation sessions, e.g., youth and innovation; employment and innovation; disaster risk reduction and innovation);
  • Any other corporate on-site or online exchange, e.g., Global Meetings, Communities of Practice, Cluster Meetings, in which UNDP management desires the innovation angle to be addressed;
Participate in events in varying roles, e.g., as a technical expert, facilitator, presenter, etc.

Support the development of UNDP’s Innovation Fellows Programme:

  • Support the design of an innovation fellows programme, including articulation of objectives, principles, scope, duration, etc.;
  • Advise on the selection of potential champions, including the development of screening criteria;
  • Support the design of a ToT agenda, designing and delivering trainings to develop the capacities and skills of champions to take forward the innovation agenda in Country Offices.

Competencies

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills in English;
  • Excellent advisory skills;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and objectivity;
  • Demonstrate integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

 

     

Required Skills and Experience

We are looking for experts at mid-level and senior level.
Individuals applying at senior level will need to have at least 10 years of experience in innovation with at least five in innovation for development. Individuals applying at mid-level need at least five years of experience in innovation, with at least three in innovation for development.
The following skills and experiences are relevant to both levels.

Education:

  • Post-graduate University Degree in International Development, Business Administration, or related area. Equivalent relevant experience combined with a first degree will also be considered.

Experience:

  • Experience with providing advisory services to international organizations and development actors proven relevant working experience in developing countries;
  • Familiarity with UNDP’s functions, innovation process and activities;
  • Experience with designing and delivering training on innovation;
  • Experience working collaboratively in a team structure in a multicultural environment;
  • Strong working experience with innovation and demonstrated use of innovation for development;
  • Experience in blogging and effective use of social media for advocacy and discussion;

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English, essential;
  • Knowledge of another UNDP official language (Spanish, Russian, Arabic, French and Chinese) is an asset. Note: Some assignments would be open only to an expert with the knowledge of a specific language
Evaluation of Applicants:
 
All applicants will be initially screened against the minimum requirements as specified above. These long listed candidates will then be further evaluated against the following criteria.
 
Desk review of technical criteria as evident in the submitted application:
  • Familiarity with innovation theory and practices (max 180 pts);
  • Experience in applying innovation, particularly in the public sector (max 160 pts);
  • Experience in providing policy and programme advisory support, particularly in the public sector (max 160 pts)
The maximum points that can be achieved in the desk review are 500.
Only those applicants obtaining a minimum of 350 points in the desk review will be considered for an interview. A total of 500 points can then be obtained in the interview bringing the total points for the technical evaluation to a max. of 1000.
Only those candidates who obtain a total technical score of 700 and above will be considered for the financial evaluation and will be asked to submit a financial proposal. The financial proposal will also count for a max. of 1000 points.
The final selection will be based on the combination of the technical evaluation and the financial proposal (weighing 70 -30) taking into consideration the different level and best value for money approach.
  
Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:
  • A brief statement, including a clear identification of your motivation;
  • A current P11/CV;
  • An indication of the category/categories of work in which you interested (from the five highlighted under duties and responsibilities) with a short paragraph highlighting your experience in this/these category

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials
Qualified women are encouraged to apply.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

Contracting Arrangements:

Several successful individuals will be selected and placed on the technical expert roster for the period of three years. It is to be noted that inclusion in the roster does not guarantee a contract during the period of three years.
Rostered experts will be contacted when specific service requests arise and will be asked to indicate availability and interest against a specific Terms of Reference (ToR) outlining the outputs of the assignment.
Upon secondary selection Individual Contract (IC) or Reimbursable Loan Agreements (RLA) will then be awarded for these specific ToRs, incl. detailing the time frame.
 
Note:

Please visit http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=22291 to view the Individual Contract (IC) General Terms and Conditions (for Individuals/Free Lancers who will sign the UNDP contract on behalf of themselves).
For Individuals who will be represented on behalf of a company, a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be signed between UNDP and the company. To view the RLA's terms & conditions, please see http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=22292
Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA): A legal instrument between UNDP and a Company/institution, according to which, the latter makes available the services of an individual delivering time-bound and quantifiable outputs that are directly linked to payments.

Payments:

Payments will be made as specified in the actual contract upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering against the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.