UNDP Jobs - 51308- Consultant –Innovation Facility Coordination & Ros

Consultant –Innovation Facility Coordination & Roster Management

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

02-Jan-2015

Application Deadline :

01-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

200 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

200 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

UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2014-2017 (SP) emphasizes the need to identify, explore, test, evaluate and scale up innovative approaches across priority subject areas, in programme development, management and review, through established and new knowledge and collaboration partnerships, and as a key part of our own institutional innovation. The SP identifies a specific result in the Integrated Results and Resources Framework related to innovation: “innovations enabled for development solutions, partnerships and other collaborative arrangement”). To achieve these results, UNDP will focus on the following two areas: (1) Innovative methodologies and tools for scanning the horizon, collecting and analysing data, ideation and reflection, and prototyping and testing development solutions; and (2) Innovative methodologies and tools for co-designing and scaling up demonstration projects identified/developed and ready for application. Collaboration across sectors (public, private, civil) with traditional partners and as well as those actors less historically engaged is a key element in this strategy.

The UNDP Innovation Facility will support initiatives that a) strengthen UNDP’s position as a leading advisor on innovation for development; b) enable national development actors to co-create value; c) increase understanding of the role and value of innovation for development; d) support social innovators both within the organization and from the broader development community; and finally, e) enhance UNDP’s own performance efficiency through innovative practices.

The Development Impact Group coordinates the allocation of funding and the substantive support to Country Offices with Regional Portfolio Teams consisting of BPPS staff and Regional Bureaux representatives.

Under the overall guidance of the Policy Specialist Innovation, the primary function of the Consultant is to provide programmatic support to Regional Portfolio Teams and Country Offices and support the team’s work on innovation, particularly with the coordination of the SHIFT Week of Innovation Action 2015 and the facilitation of UNDP’s Innovation 4 Development network.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives and deliverables:

Portfolioof initiatives identified for receiving allocations from the Innovation Facility in 2015;
Documentation of at least three board meetings;
Bi-monthly updates on innovation initiatives based on input from portfolio teams;
WIDE roster for Innovation experts is set up and documented processes in place;
At least 10 referrals of experts (depending on demand);
Regular updates of roster profiles with feedbacks etc.;
At least four research portfolios completed on emerging trends.

Management of UNDP roster of social innovation experts

Lead the establishment and launch of the roster on the WIDE platform;
Lead the management of the roster including monitoring of uptake and engagements;
Provide expert referral service to the UNDP Country Offices and other units;
Solicit feedback from UNDP Country Offices on roster and develop proposals for management modifications.

Innovation Facility Support

Support the 2015 call for proposals for UNDP innovation initiatives and the selection process with Regional Portfolio Management Teams, Development Effectiveness Team and Innovation Board;
Provide substantive support to UNDP Country Offices and Regional Teams throughout the Innovation Facility fund selection process, onboarding and project cycles; including coordination with networks of UNDP and external innovators and by providing guidance to UNDP Country Office staff;
Lead the preparation of UNDP Innovation Facility Board meetings;
Monitor progress and expenditures of innovation initiatives in UNDP Country Offices and global level; prepare updates on progress as required;
Support the 2015 SHIFT Week of Innovation Action including preparing the concept, coordination with UNDP Regional Portfolio Management Teams and UNDP Country Offices.

Other activities on innovations for development

Undertake background research on emerging trends in social innovation;
Initiate new partnerships with social innovation organizations;
Manage presentations (virtual and onsite) of partners to UNDP innovation networks.

Competencies

Excellent research and writing skills;
Very strong communications skills;
Teamwork and management of competing priorities;
Knowledge of international and aid as well as innovation for development;
Knowledge sharing and Knowledge Management methods and tools;
Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities. (5 points);
Ability to work in team, communicate information & ideas clearly, self-manage & display emotional intelligence, and make decisions. (5 points).

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent Advanced Degree in economics, with specific focus on development, communications, and innovation.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of professional working experience in a relevant field;
Proven expertise in management support including budget monitoring and preparation of briefing materials for senior management. (20 points);
Experience in research and consolidating results in policy advice and knowledge assets with a focus on innovation for development. (20 points);
Strong knowledge of social innovation trends; experience with UNDP’s emerging innovation framework an asset. (15 Points)
Experience in roster management. (5 points);
Experience with UNDP's emerging innovaiton framework an asset.

Language:

Mastery of English;
Working knowledge of other languages is an advantage.

Evaluation Method:

Cumulative Analysis - The financial proposal will account 30% (maximum 30 points) and technical proposal will account for 70% (maximum 70 points) of the total evaluation score.

Criteria for Financial Evaluation:

The following formula has been used to evaluate financial proposal: p = y (µ/z)

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated.

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal.

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal.

z = price of the proposal being evaluated.