UNDP Jobs - 47795- United Nations Strategic Framework Consultant (ICP

United Nations Strategic Framework Consultant (ICPN/DPRK/2014/09)

Location :

Pyongyang, KOREA (DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF)

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Aug-2014

Application Deadline :

30-Jul-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months

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

The current United Nations Strategic Framework (UNSF) which started in 2011 is due to end in December 2015. On 22 May 2014, the existing UNSF Steering Committee (SC) composed of UN Country Team (UNCT) and the Government National Coordinating Committee (NCC) convened to discuss the process for the development of the next UN Strategic Framework covering the period 2016-2020. The meeting also confirmed the role of UNSF-SC as overseeing and guiding the overall process. The goal of the UNSF is to assist the government of DPR Korea in its aim of achieving the MDGs and implementation of the post MDG development agenda by supporting activities that lead to the sustainable improvement of the living conditions, especially for the most vulnerable population in the country.

The UNSF process shall be done in close coordination with the Government and be in line with the Government plans and priorities. During the UNSF-SC meeting, the participants also agreed to have the Thematic Groups lead the substantive process and provide technical inputs while external assistance from UN agencies regional offices and a consultant should be sought on need basis to support the process. The next UNSF development should be preceded with a review of the current UNSF and a situation analysis based on existing documentations and available data including new data from the government. The situation analysis should be combined with a light review of the current UNSF 2011-2015 building on the last Mid-term review of the UNSF. This is to ensure lessons learned are fed into the new document. The UNSF will be a hybrid document which will reflect both the humanitarian and development needs and priorities of the country. The UNCT and NCC will hold a prioritization workshop within the first two weeks of November, 2014. The situation analysis/CCA should be produced before that date.

A full draft of the UNSF is due to be completed by January 31, 2015. Principles which guide the UN’s programming process and products include:

Seek full government leadership and participation in all stages of the process to ensure that the UNSF is conceived as an integral part of the national development process;
Focus primarily and coherently on getting results in those areas where the UN has comparative advantage and would make the most strategic impact;
Consistent and responsive to the national priorities, especially those which will facilitate the progressive achievement of the MDG and the post MDG development goals;
Minimize workload and transaction costs by building on existing analyses and other development processes that have been completed or are underway;
Ensure a dynamic process with a broad range of national and international stakeholders;
Include strategies to address prevention and mitigation of natural disasters;
Integrate rights-based principles and gender equality as well as response to vulnerable population including women and children.

Duties and Responsibilities

The international consultant will be responsible for facilitating discussions on thematic inputs, consultation with all stakeholders including with various government institutions, as well as supporting the Thematic Groups in the preparation of the UNSF review and situation analysis as well as UNSF results matrix. S/he will also complete the descriptive part of the United Nations Strategic Framework.

Other responsibilities and duties of the international consultant include: Initiate the preparation of a workshop to determine the scope of the UNSF review and situation analysis in consultation with the Steering Committee and Thematic Groups:

Facilitate the situation analysis workshop and provide orientation to the workshop participants on the UNSF road map, key programming principles and RBM concept;
Conduct the review of the current UNSF and support the work of the thematic groups in their sectoral analysis and collate and synthesize their contribution into the situation analysis;
Building on the findings of the UNSF review, initiate the drafting of the situation analysis based on inputs from the thematic groups;
Working closely with the UN Resident Coordinators Office (RCO), ensure full consultations with the government and non-resident UN agencies; Organize and support the UNSF Strategic Prioritization workshop including its facilitation; Working closely with the thematic groups, initiate the drafting process of the UNSF document;
Ensure the completion of the first draft UNSF (including the descriptive part, the Results Matrixes and the M & E Matrixes); Coordinate with the Regional UN Development Group (UNDG) team in Bangkok to solicit feedback from the Peer Support Group (PSG and incorporate its feedbacks into the process and draft document;
Edit the full UNSF draft to include the Steering Committee’s comments and suggestions – with emphasis on logical and issue-based consistency of the different sections, including Narrative, Results Matrices and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

Present the final draft to the UNSF-SC by January, 2015. Key Deliverables:

A concise review report of the current UNSF with clear articulation of lessons learned that can feed into the situation analysis of no more than 15-20 pages (by the end of August 2014);
A situation analysis document based on existing data, survey, UNSF review and other documentations submitted by the Government relevant to the humanitarian and development situation of DPR Korea;
15-20 pages (by the end of September 2014);
UNSF Strategic Prioritization workshop including its facilitation organized, supported and facilitated (by 7 November 2014) A UNSF document (by the end of December 2014);
A UNSF results and M&E matrix (by the end of January 2014);
A short consultancy report describing the process, lessons learned and recommendations. 5-10 pages (by the end of January 2014).

Competencies

Core 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.

Functional competencies:

Excellent facilitation and presentation skills;
Excellent communication and networking skills;
Knowledge of the region and the country is an advantage.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Masters and equivalent) in development studies, economics, international relations or related field.

Experience:

Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience in developing countries, excellent knowledge of the UN system and UN common country programming processes, including previous substantive involvement in UNDAF formulation and review;
Experience in DPRK would be an asset.

Language:

Excellent written and spoken English.

Supervision and Reporting:

The consultant will be under the day to day supervision of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator under the general oversight of the UNSF Steering Committee;
The Consultant will work very closely with the Thematic Groups and participates in their meetings;
S/he will also consult other stakeholders to ensure a consultative process.

Payment arrangements:

A Payment schedule will be agreed between the consultant and the RCO based on the delivery of each output.

Lump sum (payments linked to deliverables) Administrative arrangements;
The consultant will be provided a working space and support in visa issuance (to be picked up in Beijing or other duty stations) and accommodation;
Airport pick up from Pyongyang airport will be provided.

Selection method:

Desk review followed by validation interview/ interview Applicants shall submit the following documents:
Personal CV/P-11, including information about past experience in similar projects / assignments and contact details for referees

Financial proposal.

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP Financial proposal. The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract);
Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR;
In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel costs:

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal;
This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel;
In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources;
In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation criteria:

Educational background – 10 points max (10 pts – PhD degree;
5 pts – Specialist/Master’s degree); Relevant professional experience in developing countries, excellent knowledge of the UN system and UN common country programming processes, including previous substantive involvement in UNDAF formulation and review – 40 points max (40 pts – 10 years and more;
30 pts – 9-10 years;
20 pts – 8-9 years);
Language Skills – 5 points max (5 pts – fluent English);
Knowledge of the region and the country and experience in DPRK (an asset) – 15 points max (2 points per each year of experience in the region) Maximum available technical score - 70 points.

Evaluation method:

Cumulative analysis Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the cumulative highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical Criteria weight:

70% Financial Criteria weight
30% Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula: 30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price]. The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.