UNDP Jobs - 49547- National Consultant to Support the Development of

National Consultant to Support the Development of an Accelerated Action Plan (AAP) on MDG1

Location :

Harare, ZIMBABWE

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

40 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

40days over a three months period

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

With less than 2 years remaining until the target date of 2015, current views suggest that MDGs remain achievable but increasingly require a deeper insight of the problems, solutions, collective efforts and resources needed to accelerate progress. The year 2010 provided the setting for a comprehensive review of progress on the MDGs including the impact of new challenges and realities, such as the global economic and financial crises and climate change, as well as new evidence and innovations to accelerate and sustain progress towards the MDGs. At the country level, such a review works towards identifying bottlenecks and the solutions needed to accelerate progress on lagging MDGs, consistent with existing planning processes. To facilitate this outcome, the UN has developed and tested an “MDG Acceleration Framework” (MAF).

The Framework helps countries to analyse why they are lagging behind on specific MDGs, prioritize the bottlenecks to progress, and identify collaborative solutions involving governments and all relevant development stakeholders. It could also help to address new challenges related to meeting the MDGs in a particular country context; and integrate new evidence such as the strategic importance of energy, technology, and gender, and new innovations in national and sub-national efforts to accelerate and sustain progress towards the MDGs. In countries where rates of progress vary sharply across geographic regions and/or population groups, the MAF can help understand the reasons behind such differential progress, and thereby address them through tailored solutions.

The MAF results in the preparation of a focused, agreed-upon action plan to address the specific MDG that rallies the efforts of governments and its partners, including civil society and the private sector, on providing the investments and services needed to advance key policy reforms and overcome identified constraints.

The Government, in close collaboration with its partners in the Food Security and Nutrition sector including the UN Country Team in Zimbabwe, plans to apply the MAF to MDG 1, Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

This would be done through:

Identifying priority interventions required to accelerate the MDG 1’s achievement;
Identifying bottlenecks to interventions;
Determining solutions accordingly;
Developing an Accelerated Action implementation, monitoring and evaluation plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will work under the direct guidance and supervision of the UNDP Assistant Resident Representative for Poverty Reduction and HIV/AIDS mainstreaming, and the Chair of the Technical Expert Working Group, established to develop an Accelerated Action Plan on MDG1 in Zimbabwe. The Accelerated Action plan will be developed based on the MDG Acceleration Framework methodology.

The consultant will be responsible for:

Leading the development of an Accelerated Action Plan (AAP) for MDG1, working closely with the Technical Expert Working Group (TEWG), based on the processes described in the MAF document and operational note. The AAP will draw upon a bottleneck assessment for MDG1 (as described in the MAF);
Undertaking an initial scoping exercise to identify sources of data and information, including surveys, development plans, and reviews;
Modifying the MAF as needed and drawing upon the lessons learned (knowledge based good practices) from the MAF pilot countries so as to increase its effectiveness and make it relevant to Zimbabwe’s institutional needs;
Supporting the organization of technical workshops and stakeholder meetings for Government officials, academics and experts involved in the sector;
Liaising with different stakeholders and partners including: relevant Government ministries and departments, UN agencies, private sector associations and civil society groups (including those representing women, minority groups and the marginalized) to ensure that their views are reflected in the assessment;
Ensuring that the analysis builds upon, and is consistent with on-going efforts to achieve MDG1 in the Zimbabwe.

Developing the Accelerated Action Plan (AAP) on MDG1, assisting in its validation and acceptance, and drafting the final draft report for publication in consultation with the TEWG, Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Ministry of Public Services, Labour and Social Welfare and the UNDP in Zimbabwe.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Excellent knowledge of the UN Reform particularly UN coherence, coordination, accountability and management system;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Ability to work under pressure and remains calm;
Demonstrates strong leadership abilities.

Core 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;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;
Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork and adept in working with people of diverse cultural and social backgrounds;
An understanding of and ability to abide by the core values of the United Nations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Post-graduate degree in Development Studies, Economics, Political Science, Public Policy and/or relevant field of social sciences. A Master degree is a minimum.

Experience

A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in the field of Food Security and Nutrition, working with development planning processes at the national and sub-national levels, preferably in Zimbabwe;
Proven track record of excellence in development assessments, policy formulation, and analysis monitoring and measurement, and a record of research work relating to development issues;
Strong knowledge and understanding of the MDGs, human development and the international development agenda with a demonstrated expertise in conducting studies to assess the impediments to and impact of development interventions;
Strong organizational and planning skills and proven experience in supporting national development planning including the conduct of public policy assessments;
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and perform well under pressure;
Excellent inter-personal skills to build and sustain relationships with key constituents (internal/external/bilateral/ multilateral/public/private, civil society and academia);
Excellent written and oral communication skills and competency in basic editing and proof reading; must be detail oriented and organized;
Uses information and internet technology applications effectively as a tool and resource.

Language:

Written and oral proficiency in English is required;
Excellent reading and writing skills in Shona would be an added advantage.

Any other relevant information regarding the post

Follow the link for further instructions on how to submit the required documents:http://www.zw.undp.org/content/zimbabwe/en/home/operations/procurement/.

Proposal should be submitted at the following email addresses

bidstechnical.zw@undp.org for technical proposals- detailed methodology, workplan and approach.

bidsfinancial.zw@undp.org for the Offeror’s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the individual contractor (IC) assignment.

Submissions should be made no later than 15 September 2014 @ 16:00hrs, local Harare, Zimbabwe Time

Any request for clarification must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: procurement.zw@undp.org.

The response will be sent by standard electronic mail and written copies of the response including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, will be sent to all consultants.