Background

The UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence (GCPSE) seeks to recruit an advisor on foresight to support its function as an evidence and convening hub. The aim of the assignment is to enable the Centre to deliver on the UNDP Administrator’s visionary commitment that the GCPSE should become a global leader in supporting the institutionalisation of foresight in public service, and applying it in the relevant fields of international development.

The GCPSE aspires to promote the capacity of public service to better navigate uncertainty, complexity and change. The application of foresight can foster a greater responsiveness to shocks, greater agility when sudden challenges and opportunities arise, and increase the propensity of public service to adapt and change.

As a way of thinking, foresight encourages innovation, strategic evaluation and the proactive shaping of the future, which is critical for developing countries facing a very uncertain future, shaped by urbanization, technological developments, political instability, climate change and other “wicked” problems.  The aim is to help find alternatives to traditional planning and national visioning approaches, in order to build more resilient futures.

Applications include the consideration of possible, probable and desired futures that can support visioning processes, strategic foresight with links to long-term planning and other areas of application that contribute to the above mentioned intent. It can be argued that developing countries have a greater need for foresight as they are undergoing intense change processes in environments of great uncertainty. Strengthening the capacity of public administration systems to appreciate, apply and mainstream foresighting in strategic and policy planning processes, would thereby contribute to an innovative but home-grown planning approach.

Such institutions strengthening would involve capacity development and change management processes within existing public administration structures, with the creation of hybrids that integrate foresight and more traditional bureaucratic planning processes.

Share futures are negotiated though inclusive processes, such as whole of government and whole-of-society approaches as knowledge of “things to come”, experiences and problem solving abilities are distributed widely within societies and institutions.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Advisor will develop and expand the foresight work-stream at the GCPSE, supporting UNDP and the international development community in helping policymakers to use and understand foresight tools and methodologies.

The Advisor will be responsible for delivering on the GCPSE’s foresight work-stream by:

• Providing strategic leadership and vision, as well as ensuring cutting-edge knowledge production and dissemination on foresight, complexity and related themes;
• Convening of ideas, resource persons, thought leaders, practitioners from across public, private, civil society and academic actors;
• Partnership building, communication and outreach to practitioners in the subject area;
• Liaison between UNDP, the Government of Singapore and other stakeholders;
• Take forward applying the theme in specific contexts, such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• Develop a series of relevant flagship knowledge products.
• Planning, commissioning and supervising applied research on foresight, complexity and related themes;
• Producing analytical pieces/ policy briefs;
• Disseminating findings, lessons and case experiences in various formats such as case experiences, think-pieces, comparative research pieces, and social media packages such as blogs and network contributions;
• Liaising closely with the relevant departments and offices of UNDP to make the organisation effective thought-leader in foresight, complexity and related themes.

Management:

• Managing relevant planning, funding streams and resource allocation, reporting to and through the deputy director on administrative issues; and directly to the director on policy issues.

Convening and Coordination:

• Convening high-level policy dialogue amongst researchers, policy-makers and practitioners, civil society representatives, in the field of on Foresight, complexity and related themes in public services;
• Coordinating research work with those of other institutions to maximize capacities on Foresight, complexity and related themes in public service issues and to avoid effort duplication;
• Identifying speakers, resource persons, documenters and scribes for above events and arranging for their involvement;
• Ensuring quality documentation of above activities, and production and dissemination in various forms and forums;
• Undertaking any relevant supporting activities.

Partnership Building, Communication and Outreach:

• Outreach and links to Singaporean and UNDP community of practitioners on Foresight, complexity and related themes in Public Services; joining or coalescing existing or new networks also beyond these two communities. 
• Supporting the community of practice among UNDP practitioners with relevant contributions to the network by providing technical inputs into the network discussions;
• Building partnership with conventional and emerging partners, think tanks, NGOs, Universities, other government or semi-government institutions;
• Building innovative partnerships on both content and resource mobilisation;
• Liaison with: (a) Key government officials (decision makers, policymakers, civil servants, strategists and planners); (b) Civil service academies; (c) UNDP – Country Offices, Regional Service Centres, Headquarters, Policy Centres; (d) Regional foresight experts, thinkers and practitioners; (e) UN agencies, World Bank, World Bank Institute, bilateral donors & development agencies (e.g. AfDB); (f) Think Tanks / Foundations, Universities; (g)Professional Associations & Networks; (h) NGOs (with a focus on public services, citizen engagement, etc.) ; (i) Consultants and Private Sector experts; (j) Others, as directed.
  

Documents to be included when submitting the proposal:

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

Technical proposal:

• Provide brief information on the experience gained with concrete experience from developing countries - a maximum 500 words-long.  Evidence of key deliverables and results could be attached to the document;
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (Blank form can be downloaded from http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/P11_Personal_history_form%20-%20latest.docx).

Financial proposal:

• Indicate the all-inclusive daily fee.
• The template for the Financial Proposal (Annex II) can be downloaded from http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/MyIC_2014_045%20Annex%20I-II.docx
  

  Note:

• Please scan, save and upload all technical and financial documents mentioned above into ONE PDF file and upload when requested;
• For clarification, please email to procurement.my@undp.org. The reference number is MyIC_2014_045.
• General Terms and Conditions for Service for Individual Contract can be downloaded from http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf;
• The total working days per month are estimated to be 21.75 days. The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. professional fee, and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services). The fee should be quoted in US dollar only;
• Payment Modality: Monthly upon satisfactory submission of monthly progress reports / time sheets;
• Travel: Successful consultants must be able to travel to facilitate consultations in countries based on demand if required. When such a request comes, the organization shall bear the cost of travel including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses based on extant policies and rules. Should the Individual Consultant (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: (Please also see in Annex II)

The final evaluation method will be based on a cumulative analysis of both the technical and financial proposals. An interview will be conducted as part of the selection process. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultants whose 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 specific to the solicitation;
• Technical Criteria weight: 70 percent;
• Financial Criteria weight: 30 percent;

Candidates will be assessed based on the following technical criteria:

• Technical Evaluation (70%): evaluation of the P11 and technical proposal, including:
• Experience in similar and relevant field, skill or expertise; relevant projects for similar international organisations and previous relevant UNDP/UN projects  (20 points);
• Qualifications in terms of education, consultancy, specialisations and other relevant requirement; key technical skills related to project scope; availability (30 points);
• Interview (20 points).

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 per cent of the total technical scores will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Evaluation (30%):
The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal: p = y (μ/z):
p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
μ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
z = price of the proposal being evaluated;
                                               
Others:

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. Payments will be made only upon confirmation by UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when traveling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org.

Applicant must be willing to travel especially in the developing countries.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

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

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.

Competencies

The incumbent will have the capacity to for institutionalising foresight in public service to enable the formulation of more adaptive and responsive public policy. The incumbent must have the technical and general skills to interact effectively with the typical stakeholders in governance processes (e.g. officials, elected representatives, and citizens), foresight thinker-practitioners, as well as experts on complexity, political economy and international development. He/she needs to have the intellectual capacities and diplomatic skills to spur government officials to action by acting in consultation with UNDP country offices to design and develop programmes that support the institutionalisation of futures thinking and foresight in public service.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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.

Leadership:

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and provide leadership;
• Strong decision-making skills with proven track record of mature judgments;
• Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic visions.

Functional:

• Strong analytical and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality academic papers, reports and other knowledge products;
• Proven professional and/or academic experience in applying foresight-related technical skills to Public Service Reform, Public Management, Public Governance or closely related fields;
• Capacity to interact with senior officials and credibly influence senior decision makers.   

Management:

• Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating evolving client needs;
• Ability to focus on impact and results for the client, promoting and demonstrating an ethic of client service;
• Strong ability to manage teams; creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff;
• Strong resource mobilization skills and accountability for management of financial resources.

Partnership building and team work:

• Excellent negotiating and networking skills;
• Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment;
• Constructive approach to feedback and conflict resolution.

Communications and Advocacy:

• Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly;
• Strong presentation skills in meetings with the ability to adapt for different audiences;
• Strong capacity to communicate clearly and quickly.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Public Administration, Economics, International Development, Business, or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience inclusive of extensive national and international working experience in the development arena with a particular focus on public administration reform, public sector capacity development, and/or public service innovation;
• Demonstrated experience in working with the public service in developing countries on issues of public administration reform or change management, public sector capacity development, and/or public service innovation is required;
• Experience in working with UNDP or other UN agencies is an added advantage;
• Relevant experience in leadership positions in recognized development or other relevant organizations;
• Proven management experience and demonstrated leadership ability in foresight issues;
• Experience in leading/managing knowledge product development and dissemination.

Language:

• Excellent written and oral English communications skills;
  
• Knowledge of other languages desirable.