UNDP Jobs - 49947- Consultant - Country Outreach and Knowledge Manage

Consultant - Country Outreach and Knowledge Management Support

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

10 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

10 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

UNDP, the global development network for the United Nations system, is present in over 170 countries and territories and is uniquely equipped to help developing countries build sustainable capacity to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In support of this, UNDP offers a wide range of solutions to global, regional and national development challenges through a comprehensive knowledge network, expert practitioners and focused strategic areas of support.

The Effective Development Cooperation (EDC) Team, under the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) is the institutional anchor of UNDP’s work on development cooperation, focusing on the comparative advantages of UNDP in strengthening country capacities to manage and coordinate development cooperation and to strengthen peer-learning, South-South Cooperation and knowledge sharing as a tool for capacity development. It also assists countries in shaping and participating in the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC), as part of the OECD/UNDP Joint Support Team. This includes supporting global policy dialogue and mutual learning on effective development cooperation as well as leading country support in implementation and monitoring of the effective development cooperation principles. It also leads the coordination of the International Aid Transparency Initiative, including Secretariat services to the Chair, Vice Chair and 63 member states and organizations, drawing on UNDP’s track record to date in supporting cross-UNDP initiatives and global processes on transparency, mutual accountability, and national ownership of development cooperation.

The EDC team aims at advancing UNDP’s position and credibility in effective development cooperation in close collaboration with the UNDP Regional Service Centres, the UNDP Country Offices, as well as with programme countries and other partners. Collaboration with programme countries in deepening policy, analytical and knowledge base on effective development cooperation; the customization of programme and project outputs to effective support countries responding to a growing need of managing complex development cooperation; and facilitating and strengthening knowledge exchange platforms and peer-learning is key to the success of the initiative. Global and regional partnerships with the OECD-DAC, multilateral development banks, UN DESA, regional development banks and other actors are key to leveraging UNDP’s support in this area.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the EDC Team Leader and Policy Adviser, the Consultant will focus on the following:

Country Outreach

Provide technical and coordination support to country outreach efforts on UNDP’s global policy support on effective development cooperation, including establishing and maintaining a robust UNDP Community of Practices, monitoring of the UNDP CO’s support in the areas of effective development cooperation;
Support the coordination of country engagement in monitoring of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation;
Support country pilot initiatives of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation as well as the IATI;
Support the Vice-Chair and the IATI Secretariat partner country outreach focal point in partner country outreach and the organization/preparation of the regional workshops, partner country caucus meeting, and other partner-country oriented activities of the IATI.

Country Policy Analysis and Research

Provide analytical and technical support in country analysis/country studies, including Development Cooperation in Middle Income Countries (MIC) country analysis, South-South Cooperation country paper as well as the Global Partnership country policy briefs;
Identify good practices, gather country evidence and document and/or prepare country stories/case example papers.

Knowledge-Management

Lead knowledge management work on effective development cooperation, including supporting the preparation of cross-regional exchange of knowledge platforms and forums; leading the conceptualization and management of e-discussions both GPEDC online community as well as UNDP’s Teamworks-based knowledge sharing activities;
Provide analytical and technical support in knowledge analysis, codification of results/lessons learned in effective development cooperation;
Support production of knowledge products, such as newsletters, good practice papers, etc.

Project Management

Support management of the global project, including the monitoring and documentation of the regional and country support;
Support preparation of annual progress report, IATI annual report (country stories), GPEDC activity report.

Deliverables

Annual overview of UNDP country advisory and capacity development support;
5 country policy briefs/discussion paper relating to the GPEDC and IATI;
3 knowledge products produced in the areas of effective development cooperation, transparency, mutual accountability, development cooperation in MIC;
At least 2-3 cross-regional workshops on effective development cooperation (including GPEDC, IATI)At least 3 country pilots of implementation of effective development cooperation principles;
Support the biannual partner country caucus meeting for IATI with effective partner country engagement;
Preparation of 6 country examples on effective development cooperation for the GPEDC online community/(www.unteamworks.org/gpedc);
Contribute Annual Progress Report; IATI Annual Report; GPEDC Activity Report;
Contribute to at least 4-5 thematic e-discussion(s) on effective development cooperation, which include managing the e-discussion/events and production of knowledge products drawn on the e-discussions;
Produce and maintain an updated UNDP Country Focal points on effective development cooperation.

Competencies

Technical:

Excellent client orientation and interpersonal skills and able to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.
Manage complexity and able to work in a highly pressured environment with extreme deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
Exercises the highest level of responsibility and is able to handle confidential and sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
An excellent team player, projecting a positive image and ready to take on a wide range of tasks to create an enabling environment for the supervisor, focusing on results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Impeccable analytical skills and able to research, analyze and draft well and is able to present convincingly;
Excellent computer skills, including frequent use of Excel and PowerPoint;
Willingly shares knowledge and experience and makes contributions to UNDP practice areas (e.g., documented knowledge, community of practice building initiatives);
Understanding of the United Nations system, operations and structures, this includes demonstrating keen political awareness, particularly in relation to the principles of development effectiveness and transparency.

Corporate:

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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Public Administration, International Relations, Economics, and the broad social sciences or other related disciplines.

Experience:

At least5 years of work experience, in an international organization;
Knowledge and understanding of f global policy dialogue on effective development cooperation, knowledge management and innovation for development, etc.;
Experience in country analysis and policy research on development cooperation;
Familiarity of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation and International Aid Transparency Initiative.

Language requirements:

Proficiency in written and spoken English;
Good working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Selection process:

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

All applicants will be initially screened against the minimum requirements as specified in the terms of reference.

Only candidates who have scored a minimum of 70% will be considered for an interview and asked to submit a financial proposal.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicant’s interview score and financial proposal with a 70-30 weighing.