UNDP Jobs - 50303- Strategic Risk Information Advisor

Strategic Risk Information Advisor - Risk Management Unit

Location :

Kabul, AFGHANISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

13-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 Months

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

The UN Afghanistan Risk Management Unit (RMU) has been established to support all United Nations entities working in Afghanistan, as well as partners and donors. This Unit works within the Office of DSRSG/RC/HC, which ensures independence and impartiality.The RMU has made considerable progress in advancing the risk management agenda for the United Nations.

The Strategic Risk Information Advisor is responsible for assisting the Head of Risk Management Unit in implementing the risk management regime with the UNCT Afghanistan agencies, funds and programmes through development and design of risk information methodology, the development of operational and strategic risk analytical products and development of analytical tools to assist in the continual development of the RMU. .

The consultant shall work with members of the UNCT, RCO & UNAMA, as well as partners and donors to help ensure support for the RMU.

The products and tools developed by the Consultant are essential to the effective functioning of the RMU.

Stakeholders in this project include all members of the UNCT, and elements of the integrated UN mission in Afghanistan.

The consultant will be expected to work in Afghanistan, itself a hazardous working environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work and deliverables:

Scope of Work

The contractor is expected to provide strategic analytical support to the RMU, which includes development of risk methodology, development of a strategic risk analytical framework, development of risk reporting and key strategic analytical product related to UNCT operations, risk monitoring and programme oversight in Afghanistan, and development of Standard Operating Procedures for the RMU within 6 months;
Working with UN agencies and UNAMA staff, the consultant shall identify information sources, review documentation, draw together material, and prepare the analytical products for the Head of RMU. S/he shall also review agency contributions, liaising with them to ensure quality and comprehensiveness of their inputs.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables to be approved by Head of RMU:

Work Plan to be provided - within 7 days;
Development of RMU risk methodology – estimated duration to complete is Variable, due to the requirement to undertake research, apply best practice and ensure consistency with existing RMU processes and methodologies. Target due date is monthly;
Development of a strategic risk analytical framework – within 3 months from start of consultancy;
Development of risk reporting and key strategic analytical product related to UNCT operations, risk monitoring and programme oversight in Afghanistan – Estimation duration to complete is Variable, due to the nature of risk information analysis and provision of information and data from UNCT agencies. Target due date is fortnightly;
Development of SOPS and design and codify policies, procedures, approaches and standards for the RMU – End of Consultancy.

Working arrangement:

Institutional Arrangement

Progress will be monitored on a weekly basis, at the start of each week;
The consultant shall liaise with members of the UNCT and their agencies’ focal points for this work; in the event of any difficulties securing material from the agencies, the consultant shall refer the matter to the Head of the RMU.;
The RMU and RCO shall provide local transport, office accommodation and logistical support.

Duration of the Work:

The duration of the contract is 6 months. The consultant is expected to work 6 days per week, and will be supported in meetings with UNCT agencies or UN staff during the regular working week of Sunday-Thursday;
The consultant shall produce the final copy of the codified policies and procedures for the Head of RMU 3 weeks prior to the conclusion of the consultancy. This enables a three week revision period by the Head of RMU to ensure quality control of the work contracted and time for relevant revision and completion/ handover of the codified policies and procedures to the Head of RMU at the conclusion of the contracted period;
The consultant is also expected to complete the strategic analytical framework, risk reporting and relevant policies and procedures as they are completed, in order for them to be provided to the UNCT and Risk Steering Committee as necessary for endorsement.

Duty Station:

The contractor’s duty station will be Kabul;
The contractor shall report to the Head of the RMU, and in his absence to the Head of RCO.

Evaluation method and criteria:

The Head of RMU will undertake a desk revision of candidates based on the above criteria, and recommend to the UNDP the preferred candidate. Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis:

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant 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%.

Financial Criteria weight 30%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria 70 points:

Technical Proposal (30 marks).

Technical Approach & Methodology (20 marks) – This explain the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the degree of detail of such output. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach;
Work Plan (10 marks) – The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan.

Qualification and Experience (35 marks) [evaluation of CV:

General Qualification (10 marks);
Experience relevant to the assignment (30 marks);
Experience of working for projects funded by UN (5 marks).

Payment considerations:

The consultant shall be paid on the basis of working 6 days per week, for a maximum of 26 weeks. The consultant shall be provided a laptop, and cellphone by the RMU project. The schedule and percentage payments will follow the timelines of the below mentioned deliverables.

Work plan to be provided – 25% of installment;
Development of RMU risk methodology & strategic risk analytical framework – 30% of installment;
Development of risk reporting and key strategic analytical product related to UNCT operations, risk monitoring and programme oversight in Afghanistan – 20% of installment;
Development of SOPS and design / codification of policies, procedures, approaches and standards for the RMU – 25% of installment.

Price Proposal

Lump Sum Amount

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around the deliverables. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the terms of reference (TOR). In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, insurance, living allowance, and number of anticipated working days).

Notes

The term “All inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel costs, insurance, living allowance, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal.

Living Allowance – The contractor shall propose a living allowance at the Kabul applicable rate of USD 181 per day for his/her stay at the duty station. The number of days for which the living allowance shall be payable under the contract is 180 (180 days @ USD 181 per night). The contractor is NOT allowed to stay in a place of his/her choice other than the UNDSS approved places. UNDP will provide MORSS compliant accommodation in Green Village (GV) to the contractor. The cost of GV accommodation to be directly paid by the contractor.

Rest & Recuperation (&R) – The contractor shall be entitled for one paid (USD 2,606) R&R (7 calendar days) during the course of the assignment after 42 days of continuous stay in the duty station. During these 7 R&R days when the contractor is away from Kabul, the contractor shall be paid the DSA at half rate (USD 90.5 per day) should the contractor retain his/her room in GV for these 7 days.

The total contract price, inclusive of the above elements, shall be converted into a lump sum contract and payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of deliverables under the contract in accordance with the above mentioned schedule of payment.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information

Personal CV and P11, including at least three professional references; (Annex);
Technical proposal describing his or her approach, methodology and timeline to achieve the deliverables (to be included in the online submission);
Financial proposal that indicates the fixed total contact price for a three-month assignment, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per the template provided. (Annex).

Note

Only one document can be uploaded and hence it is suggested that the CV, P-11, financial proposal and sample writing/editing/publication are uploaded as one document.

Annex (to be downloaded from UNDP Afghanistan Website, procurement notices section: http://www.af.undp.org/content/afghanistan/en/home/operations/procurement.html.

The consultant shall bring strong strategic analytical skills to their work, and shall be able to quickly build close working relationships with people from a diverse range of cultures and organisations. S/he should have excellent communication skills. The consultant will have exemplary analytical drafting skills, particularly in the area of drafting of strategic analytical products.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning;
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations.

Management and Leadership:

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

The consultant should have a minimum of a Masters University degree, in the arts or social sciences, or business.

Experience:

The consultant should have a minimum of 7 years’ professional experience, a minimum of 4 of which should have been in the field of development or humanitarian affairs, intelligence analysis, project management, strategic planning and reporting, and experience within multilateral organisations;
S/he should have demonstrable experience in producing substantial programme / briefing documents, strategic reporting and risk analytical products, projecting complex issues in a lucid, logical and succinct manner. S/he also understands the principles of information security and management and acts with discretion at all times;
S/he should have proven experience in Risk Analysis and the ISO31000 framework – including the ability to identify and manage risks at an operational and strategic level and identify and communicate in a timely manner, any risk management issues;
S/he will be able to demonstrate professional experience in supporting a United Nations Country Team in the provision of risk and analytical support and in conflict/post-conflict environments/developing countries.

Language:

Excellent command of the English language.