UNDP Jobs - 46502- International Consultant to Assist UNCT in Develop

International Consultant to Assist UNCT in Developing the 2016-2020 UNDAF Document for Turkmenistan in line with 2010 UNDAF Guidance Package, the Standard Operating Procedures for DaO an other UNDAF Guidance Materials and Tools

Location :

Home-based with 4 days mission to Ashgabat, TURKMENISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

08-Sep-2014

Application Deadline :

06-Jun-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

14 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

14 working within September-December 2014

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

In 2014, the United Nations System in Turkmenistan has initiated the process of formulating the 2016-2020 United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) to succeed the current 2010-2015 UNDAF. Having discussed the options for the level of results in the UNDAF Results Matrix, the UNCT decided to develop the UNDAF at the Outcome Level (“UNDAF Light”) which is also in line with the SOPs for DaO.

The UNCT completed the UNDAF roadmap stage which resulted from the wide-ranging consultations on 12-13 February 2014 in Ashgabat between the UNCT and around 40 senior technical representatives of ministries, departments, and agencies of the Government of Turkmenistan (GoT), as well as civil society representatives (Note: together with UNCT members and key UN staff the GoT technical experts formed the UNDAF Working Group). Results of the consultation were presented to over 30 Deputy Ministers on 13 February.

Following the Roadmap, in April 2014 the UNCT in consultations with the same representatives of the Government of Turkmenistan (GoT) and civil society organizations (CSO) carried out the country analysis by reviewing the existing analytical products, drawing on the broadest set of data from national and international reports, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the existing national processes and identifying development gaps. The country analysis stage helped identify the key development priorities facing Turkmenistan and provided the analytical basis for the UNCT and national counterparts to define areas, in which the wider UN system’s support and expertise could be relevant in the country and develop outcomes within the new UNDAF.

In late July 2014, the UNCT will also conduct the Results-based Management (RBM) workshop for the UNDAF Working Group to build national capacity in RBM as one of five programming principles applicable to the UNDAF development as requested by the national partners to be followed by a Strategic Prioritization Retreat (SPR). The two-day SPR in Turkmenistan will follow the same pattern that the UNCT applied for the Roadmap and Country Analysis stages. It will involve a 2-stage process: Working sessions with the UNDAF Working Group and a briefing for the Deputy Ministers. The SPR will help select strategic priorities for the UNDAF, agree on Outcomes, strategies and partnerships for implementation, and discuss implementation and coordination mechanisms.

Following the SPR, the UNCT will organize a follow-up one day working meeting with programme staff for results based programming and formulation. The working meeting will build on the SPR results and develop a first full draft of the results matrix with indicators, baselines, and targets, means of verification, risks and assumptions, and other information required. The work on development of the draft 2016-2020 UNDAF will continue in the last quarter of 2014 to be submitted to the Peer Support Group (PSG) review by 24 November 2014. In the first quarter of 2015, the draft 2016-2020 UNDAF is expected to be submitted to the GoT for the formal review and endorsement which would provide the basis for joint UN programmatic implementation as of 2016.

In order to conceptualize and formulize the results of the SPR and complete the 2016-2020 UNDAF document, the UNCT and GoT seek assistance of an international consultant to assist in developing the final draft of the 2016-2020 Turkmenistan UNDAF, including the narrative part, Results Matrices and the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator, the international consultant shall:

conduct a working meeting with the UN key programme staff to finalize formulation of draft Results and Monitoring Matrices of the next UNDAF based on the outcomes of SPR ;
assist the UNCT in writing the 2016-2020 Turkmenistan UNDAF document, including: signature page; introduction, including summary of country analysis; UNDAF results; initiatives outside results matrix; estimated resource requirements; implementation arrangements; M&E Plan.
The consultant will be also engaged in addressing the PSG feedback and prepare the final 2016-202 Turkmenistan UNDAF in consultation with the UNCT.

Structure and the Content

In line with the UNDG 2010 UNDAF Guidelines and the SOPs for DaO, the 2016-2020 Turkmenistan UNDAF should contain around 15 pages excluding annexes and the cover pages and include an executive summary with a synthesis of the key information from the document followed by the following six sections: 1) Introduction, 2) UNDAF Results, 3) Initiatives outside the Results and Monitoring Matrix, 4) Estimated Resources, 5) Implementation and 6) Monitoring and Evaluation.

Introduction contains a brief narrative, following the preparatory exercise done during the analytical phase and the strategic planning exercise. The introduction should pay particular attention to describing the position and the potential of the UN in the country, its comparative advantages, including key normative work being done by (resident and non-resident) UN agencies in relation to national development priorities, as well as the alignment of the UNDAF process with the national planning process.

UNDAF Results comprises a narrative and a results matrix. These form the core of the document. The narrative complements the results matrix, and should describe in narrative form (i) The results expected from UNCT cooperation, a clear rationale for the choices made, their expected contribution to national development framework; (ii) Why the UNCT and partners have focused on these results; and (iii) How the expected results will be achieved, and with whom. It provides a summary of the expected results from contributions of all UN agencies, including specialized agencies and non-resident agencies. In particular, this section highlights the anticipated synergies between the agencies for the achievement of UNDAF outcomes, and describes any joint programmes. The narrative also identifies the government and/or other partners that are expected to contribute to the achievement of UNDAF results. It also summarizes the coordination mechanisms for working with partners and for promoting greater national ownership and capacity

Initiatives outside the UNDAF results matrix describes agency-supported activities that respond to specific country demands but which fall outside the common results matrix of the UNDAF. The initiatives and expected results are briefly described, along with the agency responsible, and the estimated budget and timeline.

Estimated resource requirements is a costing of the results in the matrix, covering the estimated financial resources required by the UN system for its contribution to the achievement of each expected outcome in the UNDAF. Each agency identifies the resources that it plans to contribute— both regular budget and other resources. The figures, while only indicative, are as accurate as possible at the time of the UNDAF drafting.

Implementation: For each outcome, this section describes the specific coordination, management and partnership arrangements that are needed for success. In line with the focus on capacity development, these arrangements support the use of national systems for implementation, management and monitoring based on internationally recognized standards and good practice.

Monitoring and Evaluation: This section explains how the UNCT and partners will monitor and report on UNDAF achievements, and how they will evaluate the effectiveness of the UNDAF as a contribution to the national development framework.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Review Roadmap report, Country analysis report, RBM and SPR workshops results, and design, prepare and conduct a 1-day working meeting with the UNCT key programme staff following the SPR workshop to: address any outstanding matters raised during the retreat; prepare 1st full draft of UNDAF document with results and monitoring matrices; discuss and finalize inter-agency mechanisms for joint monitoring, reporting and annual work planning; prepare and submit Annotated Table of Contents for UNDAF document.
Estimated duration to complete: 4 working days with on in-country mission (meeting to be conducted following the SPR workshop scheduled for 10-11 September 2014). Review and Approvals Required: UNCT
Initial draft 2016-2020 UNDAF: Prepare 1st full draft of UNDAF document; Skype consultations with RC/UNCT/ UNDAF results groups to review and refine UNDAF Results and M&E frameworks; submit final 1st draft of UNDAF.
Estimated duration to complete: 8 working days (by COB 20 October);
Review and Approvals Required: UNCT
Final Draft 2016-2020 UNDAF: Revision of UNDAF based on feedback from PSG and UNCT/NRAs; Final consultations with RC/RCO/UNCT (skype) and submission of the finalized UNDAF;Estimated duration to complete: 2 working days (by COB 28 November);Review and Approvals Required: UNCT;

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant is expected to work on a daily basis in coordination with the UN Coordination Analyst under the overall guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator. She/he shall update the UNCT on the progress of implementation of the assignment. All organizational support and necessary meetings for the expert will be facilitated by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.

Competencies

Shares knowledge and experience and provides helpful feedback and advice;
Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
Ability to identify beneficiaries’ needs, and to match them with appropriate solutions;
Excellent communication and interview skills;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
Ability to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints;
Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Strong analytical skills; ability to identify the key issues, gather, organize and edit relevant information;
Ability to handle politically sensitive issues;
Excellent English writing and editing skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in humanities, international development, development economics, public administration, social or political science, governance and development, or related fields.

Experience:

The successful candidate is expected to have extensive experience in facilitation of UNDAF-related workshops and programming.

At least 7 years of professional experience in development areas, international development consulting
Substantive knowledge of United Nations Country Programming processes, the conceptual frameworks, structure and processes;
Understanding of the country context;
Previous experience in the context of Central Asia and/or particularly Turkmenistan.

Language:

Fluent in English.

Evaluation Criteria

The consultant will be evaluated against a combination of technical and financial criteria.
Maximum score is 100.

Out of the maximum score, the score for technical criteria equals 70% - maximum 70 points, and for financial criteria 30% - maximum 30 points.

The technical evaluation (70%, or max 70 points) will take into account the following as per the scoring provided:

Advanced university degree in humanities, international development, development economics, public administration, social or political science, governance and development, or related fields - 10 points;
At least 7 years of professional experience in development areas, international development consulting
Substantive knowledge of United Nations Country Programming processes, the conceptual frameworks, structure and processes-25 points;
Understanding of the country context and previous experience in the context of Central Asia and/or particularly Turkmenistan - 5 points;
Strong analytical skills; ability to identify the key issues, gather, organize and edit relevant information;
Ability to handle politically sensitive issues - 20 points;
Excellent English writing and editing skills - 10 points;

Financial proposal – 30% of total evaluation - max 30 points.
Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Submission of applications:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Cover letter explaining why they are the most suitable candidate for the assignment;
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc) please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
Offeror's letter to UNDP, which includes a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work and Financial proposal(a detailed, carefully considered and justified financial statement based on a lump sum specifying a daily fee for the tasks and an estimated duration as specified in this announcement and any other possible costs (including vaccinations, travel to and from the mission, dwelling, etc.). Offeror's Letter to UNDP can be downloaded from http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operations/jobs/.

Additional requirements for recommended Individual Contractor:

If the successful candidate is more than 62 years of age he/she shall be required to undergo a full medical examination.

Payment Conditions

This is a lump sum contract that should include costs of consultancy and other costs required to produce the above deliverables. The final schedule will be agreed upon in the beginning of the consultancy.

Payment will be done in two installments based on the quality and timeliness of presented outputs after acceptance of them by the UN Country Team.

Upon submission of the final first draft of the 2016-2020 UNDAF (50% of total fee);
Upon submission of the finalized version the 2016-2020 UNDAF with incorporated comments from PSG Group and NRAs, and endorsement by UNCT (50% of total fee).

All costs related to the assignment will be covered through a special fund based on the agreement reached within the UNCT.