UNDP Jobs - 49169- Re-advertisement - Consultant to support UNDP’s wo

Re-advertisement - Consultant to support UNDP’s work on HIV Key Populations, Gender, and Human Rights

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Nov-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

140 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Applicants who previously applied need not re-apply.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Response Unit (CRU) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

BPPS supports UNDP’s 2014-2017 Strategic Plan, focusing on 7 outcomes. The HIV, Health and Development group within BPPS, contributes to: strengthening institutions to progressively deliver universal access to basic services (outcome 3), especially as it relates to strengthening of national institutions, systems, laws and policies for equitable, accountable and effective delivery of HIV and related services (output 3.3); citizen expectations for voice, development, the rule of law and accountability are met by stronger systems of democratic governance (outcome 2); and, faster progress is achieved in reducing gender inequality and promoting women’s empowerment (outcome 4).

HIV, Health and Development Approach

UNDP is a founding cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), a partner of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and a co-sponsor of several other international health partnerships. UNDP’s work on HIV, health and development leverages the organization’s core strengths and mandates in human development, governance and capacity development to complement the efforts of specialist health-focused UN agencies. UNDP delivers three types of support to countries in HIV, health and development.

First, UNDP helps countries to mainstream attention to HIV and health into action on gender, poverty and the broader effort to achieve and sustain the Millennium Development Goals. For example, UNDP works with countries to understand the social and economic factors that play a crucial role in driving health and disease, and to respond to such dynamics with appropriate policies and programmes outside the health sector. UNDP also promotes specific action on the needs and rights of women and girls as they relate to HIV and health.

Second, UNDP works with partners to address the interactions between governance, human rights and health responses. UNDP also works to empower and include people living with HIV and marginalized populations who are disproportionately affected by HIV - also known as key populations - such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender people, as well as women and girls living with and affected by HIV. Beyond these focused efforts, UNDP plays a key role in ensuring attention to HIV and health within broader governance and rights initiatives, including support to district and municipal action on MDGs, strengthening of national human rights institutions and increasing access to justice for marginalized populations.

Third, as a trusted, long-term partner with extensive operational experience, UNDP supports countries in effective implementation of complex, multilateral and multisectoral health projects, while simultaneously investing in capacity development so that national and local partners can assume these responsibilities over time. The UNDP/Global Fund partnership is an important part of this work, facilitating access to resources for action on MDG 6 by countries that face constraints in directly receiving and managing such funding. UNDP partners with countries in crisis/post-crisis situations, those with weak institutional capacity or governance challenges, and countries under sanctions. When requested, UNDP acts as interim Principal Recipient in these settings, working with national partners and the Global Fund to improve management, implementation and oversight of Global Fund grants, while simultaneously developing national capacity for governments or local entities to be able to assume the Principal Recipient role over time.

Objective:

As the lead agency on human rights and law within the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), UNDP supports countries to create an enabling human rights environment, promote gender equality, and address HIV-related stigma and discrimination. To promote and advocate for human rights based approaches, UNDP supports initiatives to promote access to justice, legislative review and reform, and enforcement of protective laws and anti-stigma initiatives. Within the UNAIDS Division of Labour (DoL), UNDP is the co-convenor of the UNAIDS Inter-Agency Working group on “key populations.” The HIV key populations are sex workers (SWs), men who have sex with men (MSM), people who use drugs (PWUDs), and transgender people (TGs). UNDP also co-convenes (with UNFPA and UN Women) the DoL on women, girls, gender equality and HIV, with a particular concern for its intersection with key populations. UNDP participates in the UNAIDS Reference Group on Human Rights, and participates in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) Reference Group on Human Rights. Additionally, UNDP works with partners in supporting efforts at better governance for better health at the city level.

Consequently, UNDP’s HIV, Health & Development Group is recruiting a human rights consultant to support UNDP’s work on HIV key populations, gender, and rights. The objective of this consultancy is to provide research, analytical, and writing support to the HIV, Health and Development group in its efforts to address the development dimensions of HIV and health. This consultancy will focus on support to building enabling environments and addressing human rights concerns of HIV key populations and women affected by HIV.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the HIV, Health and Development (HHD) Group’s Cluster Leader for Governance and Human Rights, the Consultant will be responsible for:

Undertaking research on HIV-related human rights, stigma and discrimination as related to HIV key populations;
Undertaking research on HIV-related human rights, stigma and discrimination as related to women affected by HIV;
Providing support to the development of policy and normative guidance on HIV and human rights;
Undertaking research and contributing to analysis of human rights and HIV key populations as entry points for improving city-level governance for better health; and
Providing analytical and research support to the development and dissemination of various knowledge products relating to HIV and rights, and related to cities and governance for better health.

Specific Deliverables:

Support the convening of a consultation of partners related to the MSM Implementation Tool (MSMIT). Envisaged Deadline: October 2014;
Support the convening of a consultation of partners related to the Transgender People Implementation Tool (TRANSIT). Envisaged Deadline: October 2014;
Support the convening of focus group discussion on responding to HIV key population human rights crisis. Envisaged Deadline: December 2014;
Support the development of at least three knowledge products (guidance notes and or policy briefs) on HIV, human rights and key populations and/or women affected by HIV. Envisaged Deadline: April 2015;
Support as required to the implementation of regional and country office activities related to the above. Envisaged Deadline: May 2015;
Support UNDP’s involvement in the UNAIDS Steering Committee on Sex Work. Envisaged Deadline: throughout consultancy; and
Undertake research and provide technical, policy and substantive advice on matters relating to HIV, human rights, key populations and women affected by HIV, and policies and practices as they relate to the implementation of the Global Fund. Envisaged Deadline: throughout consultancy.

Expected Outputs:

Three knowledge products (guidance notes/policy briefs) on HIV, human rights, key populations and/or women affected by HIV policies and practices finalized and disseminated;
The MSMIT finalized and disseminated;
The TRANSIT finalized and disseminated; and
The successful implementation of various national and regional activities.

Reporting: The consultant will regularly evaluate progress in meeting the specific deliverables with the HHD Cluster Leader for Governance and Human Rights.

Travel: No travel is expected for this consultancy.

In the case of additional and unforeseeable travel, payments of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP HHD Team and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be covered and paid by UNDP. The fare will always be most economical and any difference in price with the preferred route will be paid for by the expert.

UNDP will not cover any costs associated with moving to the duty station. If applicant is requesting for such coverage the cost to be calculated and included in the financial proposal.

Timeframe: The consultant’s assignment is office based and is expected to last a maximum of 140 days starting from 15 September 2014 to 31 May 2015.

Working arrangements: A workplace and computer will be provided.

Evaluation:

Applicants will be screened against qualifications and competencies specified below through a desk review or an interview process. Applicants will be evaluated based on: Cumulative analysis method that combines the results of technical and financial evaluation results.

Responsive/compliant/acceptable;
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%; and
Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points on technical part will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Criteria for technical evaluation (70 points maximum):

An advanced degree in human rights, public health, international law, international affairs or a related degree (maximum points: 20);
Minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience in the area of HIV, public health, human rights, international affairs or a related field (maximum points:20);
A demonstrated knowledge of HIV, human rights, public health, international law as evidenced by a publications record (maximum points:15); and
Excellent writing and editorial skills (maximum points:15)

Criteria for financial evaluation (30 points maximum):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

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

Payment:

Payment will be processed through the Certificate of Payment (COP) and timesheet, verified and certified by the direct supervisor. The rate will be based on the all-inclusive daily rate or rate mentioned in the Offeror’s letter to UNDP. To download the letter, click: Offeror Letter and email to hhd@undp.org specifying the post number and title you are applying to.

In addition, you can also find the job notice on: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=17635 in case you are having difficulties downloading the attachments.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; and
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products;and
Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of human rights, public health public policy or international affairs.

Project and Resource Management:

Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs;
Ability to focus on impact and results for the client, promoting and demonstrating an ethic of client service;
Strong organizational skills;
Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs; and
Sound judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to manage competing priorities.

Partnership building and team work:

Demonstrated well developed people management skills;
Strong negotiating and networking skills;
Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment; and
Provides and receives constructive feedback.

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;
Excellent analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically; and
Capacity to communicate clearly and quickly.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

An advanced degree (Masters level) or equivalent in law, human rights, international affairs, public policy, public health or a related field and knowledge of at least one of the other substantive areas.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years relevant work experience in the area of public health, public policy, international affairs or a related field; and
Excellent writing, research and analytical skills.

Language:

Fluency in English is essential.