UNDP Jobs - 48182- Internataional Consultant

Internataional Consultant - Monitoring and Reporting Specialist for National Assembly Strategic Support Project

Location :

Vientiane, LAO PDR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year contract (a total of 250 working days excluding UN holidays and weekends

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year contract (a total of 250 working days excluding UN holidays and weekends

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 unicameral National Assembly of Lao PDR was established in 1991 and has 6 portfolio committees in addition to the Standing Committee: Committees on Law, Economics/Planning/Finance, Social and Cultural Affairs, Ethnic Affairs, National Defense and Security, and Foreign Affairs. At the last NA election in April 2011, the new 7th Legislature was established with 68% of the parliamentarians newly elected.

The NA has an ambitious legislation programme for 2011-2015 and is facing challenges in realizing its legislative duties as the overall majority of draft laws originate from the executive. Similarly, the NA is facing insufficient data and background information for relevant issues, a shortage of specialized staff as well as lack of effective systems for assessing and monitoring the results of budget allocations and spending, which calls for further improvement of the NA’s institutional capacity. The NA also need to strengthen and implement its critical mandate to represent the people, advocate for improvement in the quality of life, and articulate the needs of the people.

Project Context

Given the past support by UNDP to the National Assembly in Lao PDR, this new project (National Assembly Strategic Support Project or NASSP) is newly launched in June 2014 with the objective to improve the capacity of the NA to be able to effectively review and deliberate draft laws, conduct oversight, and represent constituents as an important aspect of the parliaments’ contribution to democracy and development in Lao PDR. To address the challenges and needs highlighted above, the Project will assist the NA in creating a conducive environment for more inclusive, accountable and participatory political processes.

Scope of work

This is a full-time post based in Vientiane, Lao PDR for the first 12 months of the Project started in July 2014 (a total of 250 working days excluding UN holidays and weekends). The consultant is expected to work mainly with the management team to be established at the National Assembly and UNDP during the assignment.
As a Monitoring and Reporting Specialist, the consultant will be responsible for providing technical support in the areas of the M&E framework and results-based management (RBM) including indicators setting and monitoring, collecting data, results-based reporting, and work planning amongst others. The consultant also takes the lead in ensuring proper procurement management and compliance as well as effective coordination and organization of evaluations, audits, and spot checks.

As the management team to be set up under the International Cooperation and Project Management Secretariat at the National Assembly is going to be relatively new to the development project contexts and UNDP rules and regulations, the consultant needs to train the team in these areas for effective management and implementation of the Project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the National Project Director and UNDP Governance Unit Chief, the Monitoring & Reporting Specialist will:

Provide guidance and assistance to the development and implementation of project activities as well as to the drafting of annual and quarterly work plans and all other relevant reports;
Install a proper mechanism to report on results in a results-based language and provide training to the project management team accordingly;
Establish and maintain a robust system to monitor project delivery (the implementation of activities and disbursement of funds) and project results (progress towards outcomes) against the indicators;
Exercise quality control over the development of project ideas and concepts and closely monitor the project implementation progress and results;
Keep abreast of the developments in the governance sector in Laos as well as the socio-economic conditions and trends as they relate to the National Assembly Programme, in close collaboration with the Senior Technical Specialist, Outcome Coordinators, and Project Manager.
Strengthen the management and administrative capacity of project staff and NA project focal-points through provision of advice and identifying training opportunities;
Develop and uphold effective financial, administrative and managerial procedures in accordance with guidelines agreed between the UN and the Government of Lao PDR relating to NIM Projects.
Assist the PM to maintain management logs (risk, issues, lessons learnt and monitoring) as well as in the application of other results-based management tools and principles;
Provide advice to the NPD/PM on substantive management and implementation issues.
Coordinate preparations management meetings, including monthly meetings of project staff, quarterly meetings of the Programme Assurance Group, six-monthly meetings of the Project Steering Board and annual planning and review meetings;
Serve as a focal-point for audits, spot checks, the mid-term review, final evaluation, etc. and take responsibility for following up on the recommendations;
Regularly coordinate with the UNDP Programme Officer and UNDP Programme Support Unit to update UNDP on the progress made in the Project;
Collect baseline data necessary to measure project results.

Expected Results and Deliverables

In addition to routine work throughout the consultancy (such as data collection for indicators, relevant reporting, monthly meetings, and delivery rate updates), key expected deliverables from the consultant include but are not limited to:

Month 1:

Development of the 12-month work plan (including the budget and results-based indicators and targets) together with the International Consultant for the NASSP;
Development and finalization of the 12-month procurement plan;
Development of the first quarterly work plan (including the budget)
Design of a monthly meeting structure;
Installation of a proper M&E framework for the project;
Development of a guideline for effective implementation of the NASSP (based on the corporate NIM guidelines and UNDP Lao PDR’s NIM SOPs);
Training for the NASSP project team on UNDP-supported project management and implementation.

Months 2-3:

Development of relevant reporting and financial templates;
Design of a data collection tool/mechanism in line with indicators and targets set out ;
Design of a progress matrix to keep track of the project’s delivery status (including the financial parts);
Finalization of the guideline for the project management and implementation;
Design of a work planning flow;
Development of a visibility plan;
Preparation for the next quarter’s work plan;
Design of a quarterly newsletter to give updates on the project implementation.

Month 4:

Development of a quarterly work plan (by 10th of Month 4);
Development of the previous quarter’s progress report and logs;
The previous quarter’s financial settlement;
Development of training curricula and materials for the NASSP project team on the M&E framework;

Months 5-6:

Training for the NASSP project team on the M&E framework (results reporting, data collection against indicators, work planning, etc.);
Preparation for a mid-term review meeting;
Development of a quarterly newsletter;
Preparation for a quarterly work plan.

Month 7:

Development of a quarterly work plan (by 10th of Month 7);
Development of the previous quarter’s progress report and logs;
Organization of a mid-term review meeting together with the International Consultant for the NASSP .

Months 8-9:

Minutes for the mid-term review meeting;
Development of a quarterly newsletter;
Preparation for a quarterly work plan.

Month 10:

Finalization of the last quarterly work plan (by 10th of Month 10);
Finalization of the previous quarter’s progress report and logs;
Preparation for the annual review meeting;
Preparation for the project evaluation at the end of the first year:
Inputs into resource mobilization strategy.

Months 11-12:

Development of the next 12-month work plan;
Development of the current quarter’s progress report and logs;
Development of the results-based 12-month progress report and logs;
Organization of the annual review meeting together with the International Consultant for the NASSP;
Preparation and organization of the Board Meeting;
Facilitation for the project evaluation as a focal point.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

Shares knowledge and experience;
Plan and prioritizes work activities to meet organizational goals.;
Builds and sustains relationships with key constituents (international/external/bilateral/ multilateral/public/private/civil society);
Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
Demonstrates excellent and effective written and oral communication skills;
Demonstrate respect to knowledge and culture and religion in a multidisciplinary working environment;
Applies the required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise to meet job demands;
Uses information technology effectively as a tools and resource;
Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in taking on this type of consultancy.

Corporate 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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master Degree in Management, Public administration, Development Studies, Political Science or related field;

Experience:

At least 2 years of experience working in capacity development projects with international organizations;
Knowledge of UN and UNDP reporting and management practices;
Knowledge and experience with results-based management (RBM);
Experience in monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
Excellent command of spoken and written English (especially demonstrated experience in report drafting skills);
Familiarity with the UNDP’s NIM modality and its regulations an asset;
Knowledge and experience of parliamentary practice and administration, particularly in the areas of institutional management, the functioning of parliamentary committees and the legislative process is a strong asset.

Languages:

Proficient in English.

Requirements for submission of proposals:

All interested and qualified candidates should apply on-line using the following links:

UNDP Lao PDR Country Office website at http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/ or
UNDP Jobs at http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_jobs.cfm.
In order to make submission please read the attached relevant documents which are also avalable on our web-site at
http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/:
TOR (Annex I);
Individual Contract & General Terms and Conditions (Annex II);
Offeror’s Letter to UNDP (Annex III);
Reimbursable Loan Agreement (for a consultant assigned by a firm) & General Conditions (Annex IV).

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
Technical Proposal as per Annex III “Offeror’s Letter to UNDP”

Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work;
Providing a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work including the work schedule for the delivery of outputs/deliverable;
CV including past experience in similar project and contact reference of at least 3 references for whom you have rendered preferably the similar service.

Financial proposal:

Detailed financial proposal: Lump sum offer with clear cost breakdown against each deliverable.

Note:

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). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. UNDP accept travel costs not exceeding of an economy class air ticket.

Instructions for on-line submissions:

Step 1: Please prepare all required documents electronically;
Step 2: Combine all documents in ONE SINGLE FILE (preferably in PDF however Word format can be also accepted) and upload to the UNDP Jobs using the links above;
Step 3: After that you will receive an auto reply from the UNDP jobs if your offer is received successfully.

Incomplete proposals or proposals received after the deadline will be rejected.
Please kindly refer to the Terms of Reference Annex I for detailed information on:

Project’s background;
Scope of work and Responsibilities;
Timeframe for the work;
Deliverables;
Requirements for Experience and Qualifications.

Evaluation of Proposals:

Cumulative analysis: The award of the contract will be made to a consultant who offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria: Technical Criteria weight; [0.7] ; Financial Criteria weight; [0.3].

Only a consultant obtaining a minimum of 50 points in the technical rating would be considered for the financial evaluation.

Note:

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to the following e-mail: kazuo.fukuda@undp.org .

UNDP Lao PDR will respond in writing by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

The copies of the response will be also placed on our web-site at: http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/and linked to the current Procurement Notice.

All interested candidates are encouraged to visit the above web-site for updates.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more detailed information about UNDP Lao PDR please visit our website at http://www.la.undp.org/lao_pdr/en/home.html.