UNDP Jobs - 51301- Consultant: Writer for UNDP’s 2014 Annual Report o

Consultant: Writer for UNDP’s 2014 Annual Report on Human Rights and Rule of Law in Europe and the CIS

Location :

Home-based, no travel required

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

21-Nov-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Estimated November 2014 - March 2015

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Approximately 40 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

The ECIS Regional Service Centre (based in Istanbul, Turkey) is UNDP’s main knowledge and advisory hub for the countries serviced by UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS (RBEC). The Regional Centre is in charge for regional programme implementation. Through its regional programme, the ECIS Regional Centre in collaboration with UNDP Headquarters in New York provides advisory and programme support, knowledge management and innovation services to UNDP Country Offices in the ECIS region in the areas of poverty reduction, democratic governance, environment and energy, crisis prevention and recovery, capacity development, gender, HIV, health and development. It connects the region to a global network of development experts, to build knowledge and capacity, and to forge partnerships to meet the development challenges of a large and diverse region. The Regional Centre works to codify and disseminate development successes and best practices in the region, and to improve the impact of UNDP’s work through effective communications and advocacy.

UNDP’s work on human rights, rule of law, justice and security focuses on strengthening national human rights systems and supporting the implementation of human rights recommendations by international human rights mechanisms. Furthermore, UNDP provides support to justice sector reforms, assisting countries and governments to develop strategies and reforms for more effective, transparent and responsive justice systems. Efforts also include support to increased access and availability of justice services with a special focus on the needs of those most vulnerable and marginalised in society. In post conflict situations, UNDP supports efforts for transitional justice and reconciliation, including specific assistance to access to justice for conflict-affected victims through victim and witness support and legal aid services.

In this regard, the UNDP ECIS Regional Service Centre has developed a number of initiatives to better serve countries in the region in their quest for human rights and inclusive social justice, namely: Universal Periodic Review Follow-up Facility (UPRF); Legal Aid for Justice (LAJ); NHRIs Plus; and Special Ability.

In 2014, based on the new UNDP Regional Programme Document (2014-2017), articulated in four programme outcomes of the UNDP Strategic Plan 2014-2017, the ECIS Regional Centre developed four regional project documents providing a comprehensive framework and clear mechanisms for implementing regional initiatives in line with the set objectives and principles. The regional project “Supporting voice for citizens, development, the rule of law and accountability in governance systems in Europe and the CIS” (VOICE) aims at addressing interlinked governance challenges that correspond to the outputs outlined in the Regional Programme Document, implementation of international human rights, rule of law, justice and security standards by governments, national institutions and mechanisms being one of them. The VOICE Project is based on the achievements of the previous project 2011-2014 PHASE (“Promoting Human Rights and Access to Justice for Social Inclusion and Legal Empowerment“) in enhancing the capacity of human rights and justice institutions, civil society organizations, and UNDP Country Offices to pursue a robust regime of human rights, rule of law, and justice programming in support of country level engagements with national and international principles and mechanisms.

The UNDP ECIS Regional Service Centre is preparing the 2014 Annual Report to capture and present results and achievements of UNDP’s work in the area of human rights, rule of law and justice and security in the ECIS region, to all partners, stakeholders and the general public.

In this regard, UNDP is seeking for the services of a consultant who is familiar with human rights, rule of law and justice and security issues, and proven written and analytical skills. The consultant’s functions and deliverables are envisaged in more detail below.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Human Rights, Rule of Law, Justice and Security Programme Specialist (hereinafter: Programme Specialist), the consultant’s allocated functions will be as follows:

Assumes lead responsibility for drafting and coordinating inputs to the 2014 Annual Report on Human Rights and Rule of Law in the ECIS region; and
Provides any other support required to finalise the Annual Report.

Deliverables

The timeline and deliverables are as follows:

Phase I:

5 December 2014: Draft outline of the Annual Report agreed with the Programme Specialist;
20 December 2014: First draft of the Annual Report is produced to share with the Human Rights, Rule of Law and Justice and Security team.

Phase II:

30 January 2015: Comments have been incorporated into the Annual Report, and arrangements made for final review and publication;
15 February 2015: Final draft submitted and agreed;
28 February 2015: Preparations have been made for the design and publication of the report, including working with the designers to clear the final version of the report for printing and working with the technical consultants for publication of the web-based version of the report.

Competencies

Corporate 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.

Functional competencies:

Knowledge of UNDP/UN work related to human rights, rule of law, justice and security;
Excellent interpersonal skills;
Excellent English writing and editing skills;
Good analytical, problem solving, negotiation, and diplomatic skills;
Ready to work flexible schedules throughout the consultancy term;
Builds strong relationships, focuses on impact and results; establishes and maintains relationships to understand the needs and gain support;
Ability to work under pressure;
Proven networking and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s level) in law, development, political science, or other relevant field.

Experience:

Knowledge of UNDP/UN work related to human rights, rule of law, justice and security;
Knowledge of UNDP reporting requirements/external relations and communications approaches is desirable. 3 years relevant, international, professional experience (international development, communications, reporting, editing or other relevant fields);
Demonstrated experience in writing reports/communications/external relations;
Computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft’s Power Point, Excel and Word and knowledge and skills of graphic software packages and editing tools.

Language:

Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required.

Location and management of Consultant:

The consultant is expected to work for 40 working days within the estimated period from November, 2014 to March 2015.
The consultancy is home-based.
The consultant will provide regular progress updates to the Human Rights, Rule of Law, Justice and Security Programme Specialist.

Payments

The consultant will be paid at a lump sum agreed with the UNDP Regional Center Istanbul. .
Payment will be released in 2 instalments: 50% (Phase I) and 50 % (Phase II) – upon timely submission of respective deliverables and their acceptance by the Human Rights, Rule of Law, Justice and Security Programme Specialist.
It is noted that due to the nature of the project, there will be periods of time when no actual writing or research will occur because the writer will be waiting for either text clearances from UNDP and/or layouts from the designer.

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants 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 should 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 (P11 desk reviews) 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 (Education, academic background,) – max points: 5;
Criteria B (Knowledge of UNDP/UN work related to human rights, rule of law, justice and security) - max points: 10;
Criteria C (Knowledge of UNDP/UN reporting requirements/external relations and communications) - max points: 5;
Criteria D (Demonstrated experience in writing reports/communications/external relations) - max points: 10;
Criteria E – (Methodology as proposed by candidate) max points: 5.

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 and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work. 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* - specifying a total lump sum amount in USD for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days, and any other possible costs).
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 consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...).. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.

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

Individual Consultants 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://europeandcis.undp.org/home/jobs.