UNDP Jobs - 50614- Advisory and Organizational Services for Country-l

Advisory and Organizational Services for Country-level Support for the Arab States and Promotion of Regional South-South/East-East Cooperation Roadmap Mechanisms For Arab States, Europe and CIS Regions

Location :

Home-based with possible travels in the region

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

November 2014 – October 2017

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

up to 252 full working days

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

Considering the realistically ambitious development agendas of Arab States region and the Eastern Europe and CIS region as well as a highly competitive development assistance environment, South-South Cooperation (also sometimes referred to as East-East Cooperation) is considered as a complementary means in broadening opportunities for creating partnerships and coalitions among various development stakeholders in the two regions. It is in this context that triangular cooperation is gaining additional importance. Serving as a potential bridge between the North-South, South-South/East-East Cooperation systems, and building on the principles of South-South Cooperation, such as non-conditionality, national ownership, and equality, triangular cooperation provides all the actors involved with a unique opportunity for a transformational change in the ways that challenges are addressed in the regional development context.

In the Nairobi outcome document, Member States encourage Southern “centers of excellence, as well as regional and sub-regional economic groupings, to establish closer links among themselves, with the support of the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation (currently referred to as the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation - UNOSSC), including through its Global South-South Development Academy, Global South-South Development Expo and South-South Global Assets and Technology Exchange”. Similarly, at the seventeenth session of the High-level Committee in May 2012, the European Union acknowledged that the “UNOSSC had successfully created a space where United Nations actors, Member States, the private sector and non-governmental development actors can forge inclusive partnerships for effective development”. The Secretary-General in his report on the quadrennial review (A/67/93) also acknowledged that UNOSSC has “created a three-in-one multilateral South-South architecture to enable all stakeholders to forge inclusive South-South and triangular partnerships”.

On the basis of the above record of performance, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation aims to systematically provide the Member States in the Arab region, and in the Eastern Europe and CIS, including the governments, civil society, academia and the private sector, as well as the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes active in the two regions with the support in advancing their respective South-South/East-East Cooperation agendas by providing access to the Global Three-in-One Multilateral Support architecture for South-South Cooperation. UNOSSC support is based on the complex of advisory modules in various aspects pertinent to the afore-mentioned Three-in-One architecture, as well as in piloting specific project initiatives on South-South Cooperation that can be used as a basis for testing such modules in specific areas of development.

More specifically, based on the mandate of the UNOSSC as the coordinator for promoting and facilitating South-South and triangular cooperation for development on a global and United Nations system-wide basis, it was suggested that UNOSSC comes up with the proposal on supporting South-South cooperation in the field of Agricultural Development. The resulting project initiative supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) aims to contribute to improved self-reliance of pilot rural communities in selected countries in Arab States, Europe and CIS, further improvements in cross-regional South-South cooperation for enhanced food security, to streamlining access to relevant knowledge and expertise, as well as to mainstreaming South-South Cooperation model and approaches in the national-level decision making processes where appropriate.

Type of Contract

Individual Contract (Advisor) - The offered assignment will be implemented through individual contract designed as the framework long-term agreement (LTA) as the indicated services are needed on an intermittent and repetitive basis. The individual contract designed as the framework agreement does not form a financial obligation or commitment from the UNDP/UNOSSC at the time the Individual Contract is signed. Financial commitments will be established each time the services are requested within the scope of the Individual Contract, through the call-off in the standard one-page service request form accompanied by the issuance of a purchase order.

Duration of assignment

Estimated November 2014 – October 2017, up to 252 full working days, given that 8 working hours - whether within one or several days - constitute a full working day.

Mission travel

The assignment envisages possible mission travel to Istanbul (Turkey), Cairo (Egypt), and possibly other geographic locations as needs may arise. Mission-related costs shall be calculated as per UNDP rules and regulations and paid for separately.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Chief, Division for Arab States, Eastern Europe and the CIS of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, the incumbent is responsible for provision of advisory and organizational services for Country-level Support in advancing the South-South Cooperation agendas of the countries in the Arab States region as well as for the promotion of Regional mechanisms for the two regions including the South-South Cooperation Roadmap for Arab States and the Regional East-East Cooperation Roadmap for Europe and CIS. More specifically, the incumbent will:

As an overall guiding framework for the provision of advisory services under the TOR and as a group of deliverables in itself

With a view of ensuring relevance and responsiveness of services provided, regularly acquaint herself/himself with the standards, norms and principles of South-South/East-East Cooperation described in relevant guiding policy documents, including:
Nairobi Outcome Document (http://ssc.undp.org/content/ssc/library/policy_papers/statements/nairobioutcomedoc.html)
Strategic Framework of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (http://ssc.undp.org/content/dam/ssc/documents/Key%20Policy%20Documents/N1362177.pdf)
Recent decisions of the UN General Assembly’s High-level committee on South-South Cooperation
Framework of operational guidelines on United Nations support to South-South and triangular cooperation
Regional Strategic Approach on advancing South-South, East-East, and Triangular Cooperation for development in the Arab States, Eastern Europe and CIS.

In line with the range of overall priorities identified by the supervisor, as well as based on the requests from/consultations with relevant stakeholders vis-à-vis concrete tangible outputs expected as a result of provision of the incumbent’s services in line with the given TOR, proactively recommend proposed scope of works and concrete tangible deliverables on a quarterly basis and seek comments/endorsement from the supervisor in the form of request for services under the LTA subject to the supervisor’s decision on the relevance/efficiency of the proposed activities and other considerations (this deliverable is only expected 30 calendar days after the date of first request for services under the LTA).

Prepare (on months when services are requested under the LTA and delivered) concise one page service delivery reports outlining concrete tangible deliverables relevant to the overall priorities identified as well as key activities that have not yet led to concrete results but are essential for future success.

In the part of the TOR related to the Country-level Support in advancing the South-South Cooperation agendas of the countries in the Arab States region, provide needs-based response aimed at sensitization of respective government counterparts on concrete practical benefits of South-South/East-East Cooperation approach and Triangular cooperation approach as a complement (and not a substitute) to traditional North-South approach to development Cooperation, and aimed at raising the profile/positioning of respective countries as potential providers of certain technical expertise.

To this end

Support implementation of national-level stock-taking on trends and opportunities for East-East/South-South Cooperation in respective countries; provide substantive inputs and ensure production of national-level stock-taking reports.
(Target deliverable: 4 national-level stock taking reports per year).

Promote the idea of and provide advisory support in elaboration of dedicated national-level programme initiatives in support to East-East/South-South Cooperation, possibly as joint UN programmes and used as platforms to mobilize partnerships around national priorities for advancing. East-East/South-South Cooperation model.
(Target deliverable: 4 national-level programme initiatives per year).

Provide catalytic support in creation/institutional development of government structures in charge of coordination on South-South/East-East Cooperation, if need be support in designing national-level coordination board on SSC/EEC; assist respective government agencies in drafting presidential decrees/declarations on respective countries’ stances towards South-South/East-East Cooperation as well as assist in elaboration or review of respective national/institutional strategies and funding mechanisms.
(Target deliverable: 4 national agencies supported with concrete policy decisions/documents produced).

Support organization of quarterly regional coordination and knowledge exchange workshops for government and institutional focal points on South-South/East-East Cooperation.
(Target deliverable: 4 regional workshops per year).

Organize, in cooperation with ISESCO, other relevant institutions (possibly UNITAR, UN Staff College), and deliver Training of Trainers on Mainstreaming South-South and Triangular Cooperation based on the approved training module (link below) as well as pilot training workshops for line ministries (http://academy.ssc.undp.org/GSSDAcademy/ResourceCentre/training.aspx).
(Target deliverable: 4 TOT and 4 pilot trainings per year).

Support the organization of national-level information mechanisms for regular assessment of national capacities and needs and linked to regional online mapping portal.
(Target deliverable: 70 solutions documented per year).

Respond to urgent ad-hoc requests from client countries and UN RC offices in these countries including substantive reviews/inputs to strategic policy documents aimed at mainstream South-South/East-East and Triangular Cooperation where relevant

In the part of the TOR related to the promotion of Regional mechanisms for the two regions including the South-South Cooperation Roadmap for Arab States and the Regional East-East Cooperation Roadmap for Europe and CIS.

Promote the idea of and provide advisory support in elaboration, production and series of launch events for the regional reports on the State of South-South/East-East and Triangular Cooperation both for Arab States, as well as Europe and the CIS regions, comprising analysis in trends and specific SSC/EEC opportunities, policy recommendations, compendiums of contacts, etc.
(Target deliverable: 2 regional reports launched).

Provide catalytic support in establishing Regional Roadmaps on South-South/East-East Cooperation for Arab States as well as for Europe and the CIS with the participation of respective national governments, regional multilateral institutions and the UN
(Target deliverable: 2 regional roadmap declarations launched).

Support partnership mobilization around the idea of regional funding facilities for expert exchanges for South-South/East-East Cooperation (including national governments, Qatar, Japan, other partners who participated in the funding institutions meeting during the First Arab States Regional South-South Development EXPO).
(Target deliverable: 8 pilot expert exchanges funded through the facilities per year).

Provide any other work inputs as may be required in the framework of provision of advisory and organizational services for Country-level Support in advancing the South-South Cooperation agendas of the countries in the Arab States region as well as for the promotion of Regional mechanisms for the two regions including the South-South Cooperation Roadmap for Arab States and the Regional East-East Cooperation Roadmap for Europe and CIS.

Competencies

Professionalism:

Shows pride in work and achievements;
Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.

Teamwork:

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender balance.

Communication:

Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and respond appropriately;
Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience, demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation:

Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from the clients’ point of view;
Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
Identified clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;
Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Technological awareness:

Keeps abreast if available technology;
Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office;
Activity seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks;
Shows willingness to learn new technology.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in development, law, international relations, environment, or another relevant field is essential.

Experience:

Minimum of 3 years of highly responsible experience in the development field including policy development, programme planning and management;
Prior experience of at least 1 year in the field of South-South Cooperation, preferably with one of the United Nations institutions or another international organization, is a considerable asset;
Knowledge and experience in the use of standard office software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets);
Demonstrated ability to assess, plan, coordinate and monitor related activities.

Languages:

Fluency in spoken and written English and Arabic.

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual contract applicants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

The award of the contract will be made to the applicants whose offer will have 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.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 35 points:

Criteria A: number of years and quality of working experience in the field of development including policy development, programme planning and management – max points: 10
Criteria B: type and quality of working experience in the field of South-South Cooperation – max points: 10
Criteria C: results of the written test (both the understanding of relevant South-South Cooperation approaches, practical value proposition in the offered assignment, as well as the ability to assess, plan, coordinate and monitor related activities will be evaluated) – max points: 15

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 15 points.

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
Financial Proposal* - The financial proposal shall indicate the hourly fee in the US Dollar equivalent
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the individual contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...) except for the costs related to the mission travel. Mission-related costs shall be calculated as per UNDP rules and regulations and paid for separately as mentioned above.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP/UNOSSC on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Contract holders are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.