UNDP Jobs - 49949- Consultant - Policy Support for Effective Developm

Consultant - Policy Support for Effective Development Cooperation

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:

Policy Research and Development on Effective Development Cooperation

Contribute to policy research and development of policy products as well as policy/knowledge exchange, such as policy papers/discussions papers/ policy positions/practice notes/concept papers on effective development cooperation;
Identify and support the new research areas for policy development.

Support to the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC)

Contribute to the preparation of the GPEDC Steering Committee, Co-Chairs, and GPEDC members, focusing on substantive development cooperation issues, monitoring and accountability, etc.;
Contribute to strengthening substantive linkages with Building Blocks, Voluntary Initiatives and Partner-led initiatives in ensuring linkages between building blocks and those partner-led initiatives and the Global Partnership Steering Committee;
Support donor and partners outreach activities.

Strengthening of Global Partnership monitoring framework

Provide substantive and analytical support, with specific focus on indicators:

Use of country results framework;
Enabling environment indicators for civil society;
Enabling environment for private sector; and
Transparency.

Project Management

Prepare annual progress report for the global project on effective development cooperation, GPEDC Activity Report, and contribute to the IATI Annual Report;
Support management of the global project, including the monitoring and documentation of the global support.

Deliverables

Develop 3 - 4 global policy products on development cooperation;
Identification of and contribution to 1 new research areas for global policy dialogue in development cooperation;
Document of 3 cases of policy adaption in linking with the Building Blocks, Voluntary Initiatives as well as partner-country led initiatives;
Prepare 2-3 discussion papers for e-discussions;
At least 10 substantive background documents prepared for GPEDC and IATI;
Develop a concept note for strengthening results indicator;
Contribute to a revised methodology and approach for transparency indicator, enabling environment indicators;
Contribution to at least 3 thematic policy briefs;
Take a lead in drafting the annual Progress Report; GPEDC Activity Report;
Contribute to the IATI Annual Report.

Competencies

Technical:

Excellent client orientation and interpersonal skills and able to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization;
Capable of working in a highly pressured environment with extreme deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
Manage complexity and is able to handle confidential and sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
Impeccable analytical skills and able to research, analyze and draft well and is able to present convincingly;
Exercises the highest level of responsibility;
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;
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 least 7 years of work experience, with increasing independence, in an international organization with at least 2-3 years of country level experience;
Knowledge in the areas of effective development cooperation, development planning, mutual accountability framework, transparency and results framework, preferably at country level; Prior experience providing analytical, technical and coordination support in the areas of development partnership, development cooperation and/or supporting country efforts in the area of development effectiveness is an advantage;
Experience in policy research;
Familiarity of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation and International Aid Transparency Initiative is desirable.

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.