Background
The International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS) began in 2009 after the 3rd High Level Forum in Accra that provided the mandate. It brings together the International Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF) under OECD/DAC and the g7+. INCAF convenes international aid agencies and is co-chaired by UNDP. The g7+ was created in 2010 and now includes a group of 20 countries who self-identify as fragile states. The g7+ has received much positive international attention among donor agencies and in the international debate, as it represents an authentic voice of fragile states. It can help establish a basis for more focus on capacity development and a gradual and realistic movement towards greater use of country systems and long-term sustainable development.
The key achievement of the IDPS has been to launch the New Deal at the Busan High Level forum in November 2011 after an intensive process of negotiation between the g7+ and INCAF. It represents a new and improved approach to planning and assessment in fragile states with a strong focus on 5 Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals (PSGs). The New Deal recognizes the need for simple and streamlined planning processes, building on compacts agreed upon between governments and donors to ensure joint prioritization and mutual accountability. New Deal implementation typically includes a government-led fragility assessment organized around the 5 PSGs, a compact and a continuous monitoring and dialogue process.
A number of countries have carried out fragility assessments, including DRC, Comoros, Liberia, Timor Leste, South Sudan, and Sierra Leone; Afghanistan is now undertaking one. Somalia and Sierra Leone have established compacts and Liberia and DRC have decided to establish one. The Ebola crisis is currently preventing active progress in Liberia and Sierra Leone, but their governments remain strongly committed. Afghanistan and Yemen have established mutual accountability frameworks that are very close to New Deal standards for compacts, and Yemen recently joined the g7+. CAR and Guinea Bissau have both made their intention to use the New Deal as transition frameworks clear.
The New Deal expires in 2015, and the Steering Group meeting of the IDPS in Washington on 13 October agreed to conduct an independent review of the New Deal as part of the background to renew its mandate. The review will build on in-depth country cases and country discussions. In the remaining time under the current mandate, there is agreement to focus on achieving progress in a few countries and overcoming the obstacles to this, including through high joint level visits.
UNDP launched a donor funded New Deal implementation support facility in early 2014 with a two-year budget of USD 5.3 million, and this has allowed UNDP to step up our engagement in New Deal processes and provide support to work in Sierra Leone, Liberia, DRC and Guinea Bissau. At the same time, UNDP Country Offices continue their existing engagement in other countries, including in Afghanistan and Somalia. Beginning in April, UNDP has circulated quarterly updates with financial and results based information. Through the support facility, UNDP aims to effectively connect the country level with the global policy debate and learning process at the heart of the New Deal. In addition to the country level support, the facility provides capacity support to the g7+ and enables g7+ participation in international meetings on the New Deal.
Duties and Responsibilities
UNDP will engage a consultant to support the implementation of the New Deal support facility. The consultant will work as part of the Strategic Policy Unit in the Bureau for Policy and Program Support at UNDP Headquarters in New York and will report to the project manager. The consultancy is planned for an initial period of 6 months with a possibility for extension.
Expected Functions:
- Coordinate country level support for New Deal implementation under the New Deal support facility. Engage UNDP Country Offices, Regional Bureaus, Technical Teams, Regional Service Centres and external partners on this. Take initiatives, participate in, and convene meetings and discussions, produce implementation plans and roadmaps, draft concept notes and ToRs;
- Provide support at the country level for New Deal implementation as required and at the request of national governments in g7+ countries. Brief country level stakeholders, support fragility assessments, establishment of compacts as well as New Deal monitoring and reporting processes;
- Support collection of information and drafting of reports and implementation overviews;
- Support engagement with global partners, including the g7+, OECD/DAC, other UN partners, the World Bank and bilateral donors. As required, participate in meetings of the IDPS at the global level;
- Organize internal and external workshops, trainings and conferences related to implementation of the New Deal, including internal UNDP workshops and staff briefings at HQ, regional and country level, as well as workshops and conferences with external partners;
- Draft policy papers and notes for internal and external use, as well as briefings for UNDP senior management. Prepare PowerPoints and communications material.
Competencies
Core Values and Guiding Principles:
Integrity
- Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UNDP in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
Cultural Sensitivity/Valuing diversity
- Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff;
- Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity.
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP and the UN;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Functional Competencies:
Technical/Functional
- Demonstrates expertise in policy writing and the UN system, along with substantive knowledge of economic, social and peacebuilding issues, and intergovernmental processes;
- Excellent written and oral communications skills required;
- Strong ability to communicate directly and independently and explain complex issues at different levels, including management, professional staff and operational staff, as well with different groups of partners such as representatives of G7+ countries, donor agencies and other multilateral agencies;
- Strong writing skills;
- Flexibility and excellent organisational skills and ability to deliver on time and under pressure;
- Ability to identify creative solutions and solve problems;
- An excellent team player with an open and service-minded attitude; and
- Ability to connect with and work well with internal and external partners.
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
- Ability to conduct advocacy, and to support the development of programme communications strategies for sharing good practices and successful strategies;
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree in development economics, finance, environmental science, international relations or other relevant discipline.
Experience
- Five years of progressively responsible experience in international development;
- Substantial experience with development problems in post-conflict countries and fragile states is required. Experience from country level work as well as global policy work, including on assessment, planning and aid management, will be an advantage; as well as
- Experience with organization of workshops and conferences, coordination processes and preparation of policy papers, notes and briefings;
- Specific knowledge about the G7+ and the New Deal is an advantage;
- Experience from working with the UN the World Bank or other multilateral agencies is strongly preferred, including on issues related to policy, coordination and partnership.
Language
- Fluency in English is required;
- Working knowledge of French will be a strong advantage.
Appliction submiession process:
Applicants must submit their application through this online system using the following steps:
Step 1) Click “Apply Now” button and fill in the necessary information on the first page. You must:
- Explain why you are the most suitable candidate for the work (300 words maximum online)
- Provide brief description of the approach you will take to accomplish this work (500 words maximum online)
- Provide Names, titles and contact details (telephone and e-mails) of 3 references. UNDP retains the right to contact references directly.
- Upload CV or P11 to this online system
- Submit a non-negotiable all-inclusive daily rate in USD
Step 2) Upload your CV or Personal History (P11) Form and then “Submit Application.” Please note only one document can be uploaded (scan all your documents into one single PDF file to attach). If you upload you CV we might request the P11 Form at a later date. A completed PH 11 Form will be required at the time a consultant signs an Individual Contract (IC) or his/her employer (if employed) signs a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) for work associated with this assignment.
UN Personal History form (UN PH11) can be downloaded from here http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc
Financial Proposal (daily rate)
Contracts is based on daily fee
Please submit an all-inclusive lump sum daily fee in United States Dollars (USD).
Financial proposals must be all inclusive and must be expressed on the basis of a daily fee. The term ‘all inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel related expenses, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the daily fee.
In the case of unforeseeable duty travels, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses will be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be paid to the consultant.
Travel
Some official travel out of New York may be required as part of the consultancy, including to g7+ countries, in accordance with UNDP standard policies and procedures. DSA will be provided for such mission travel which will also be on Economy Class tickets.
Evaluation:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:
Evaluation of Applicants:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative Analysis methodology [weighted scoring method], where the award of the contract will 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 technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight: 70%.
Financial Criteria weight: 30%.
UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their price proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores.
The following criteria will be used in the Technical Evaluation:
A total maximum of 100 (will be adjusted to 70% of total obtainable scores) points will be assigned on the basis of review of applications and may be adjusted on the basis of a possible supplemental written test, interviews, and reference checks of shortlisted candidates:
- At least five years of progressively responsible experience in international development with substantial experience in working on post-conflict countries and fragile states at country level and with global policy work in the UN or other multilateral agencies, including on issues related to policy, coordination and partnership, and with aid effectiveness and aid management: 25;
- Specific knowledge about and experience with the g7+, g7+ countries and the New Deal: 25;
- Experience with organization of workshops and conferences, coordination processes and preparation of policy papers, notes and briefings. Excellent written and oral communications skills. Working knowledge of French: 25;
- An excellent team player with an open and service-minded attitude and demonstrated ability to connect with and work well with internal and external partners: 25.
Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 70 out of the obtainable 100 points in the technical evaluation will be considered in the financial evaluation.
Annexes and References:
Individual Consultant's General Terms and Conditions are provided here: