UNDP Jobs - 53360- International Consultant

International Consultant - Sub-Regional Resilience Specialist - Short Term Assignment

Location :

Amman, JORDAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

22-Feb-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months with the possibility of extension as need requires.

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months with the possibility of extension as need requires.

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 impact of the Syrian crisis on the development trajectory of countries in the region can easily span a decade. The magnitude of the conflict has not only led to a high loss of human life and massive population displacement both within and outside of Syria, but it has also destroyed the social, economic and political fabric and has seriously compromised the future of the country and the region. The scale of the refugee influx and its impact on host countries calls for dedicated action, as coping mechanisms are stretched and resilience is eroding.

This requires long-term vision that guide short and medium term interventions and that generate immediate, concrete changes in lives of people affected by the crisis while simultaneously arresting development loss. Countries affected by the Syrian crisis are in the middle-income bracket, which suggests that there are domestic resources available and systems in place that international support can build upon.

On 17 December 2013 UNDP and UNHCR signed a regional MOU in order to consolidate the cooperation between our two organizations, and to draw on the comparative advantages of humanitarian and development organizations in order to address the range of needs on a timely basis and at an appropriate scale. One of the key elements of this partnership is the establishment of a UNDP-UNHCR Joint Secretariat that will support Country Offices by addressing knowledge gaps, and provide the required operational framework, and analytical and programmatic tools.

In parallel with this partnership, wide ranging consultations have taken place with partners on the operationalization of a country driven regionally coordinated approach that takes into account the protracted nature of the crisis and the current preparation of national plans. This has led to the development of the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) for the 2015-2016 period. A regional monitoring and evaluation framework and an integration and expansion of existing financial tracking systems is required to support this new initiative on the global and regional level.

The 3RP is envisioned as a broad regional partnership strategy, based, on national plans or processes, and a platform for advocacy, fundraising, information management and monitoring. The 3RP will address refugee protection and humanitarian needs, whilst building the resilience of vulnerable and impacted communities and strengthening the capacity of national delivery system, including through national crisis response plans. It is a strategy to address the adverse social, humanitarian and economic impact resulting from the Syrian conflict and an unprecedented ‘demographic and economic shock’ arising from large refugee inflows.

Duties and Responsibilities

Based on the analysis carried out hitherto and under overall guidance of the Sub-Regional Development Coordinator and in close coordination with UNHCR and OCHA, the Sub-Regional Resilience Specialist will:

Support 3RP partners and other relevant stakeholders, including the national and regional IMAS teams, in the design and implementation of targeted tools to track progress of the resilience component and advise on the sub-regional dimensions of its monitoring and evaluation and financial tracking plan, in consultation with the Regional Technical Committee and based on the mandate given to it at the UNDP/UNHCR 3RP IM, M&E and Reporting Workshop.

To this end, the results expected are as follows:

Implement address the short-term priorities for the immediate operationalization of the resilience component as well as long-term capacity building objectives of the regional information system to integrate available tools, including ActivityInfo, the 4Ws, the Digitial Atlas, Vulnerability/Stress Index, and support national planning and monitoring processes;
Ensure timely collection and appropriate publication of financial tracking information per agency per country per component for the 3RP;
Review, amend and design indicators for the tracking of the resilience component on the output level and ensure timely and adequate publication of corresponding information;
Support a feasibility assessment regarding the possibility to develop adequate indicators for the tracking of the resilience component on the outcome level. To this end, review internal expertise, identify key external partners and conduct resource mobilization advocacy;
Build intelligence on work pertaining to the resilience component currently undertaken by 3RP partners, including UN agencies, implementing partners and line ministries and develop a corresponding database;
Advice relevant stakeholders on all aspects of information management, including standardization, best-practice dissemination and knowledge coordination and provide overall guidance and technical assistance to country M&E and FT staff through data quality assessments and in-country visits;
Lead the creation of a mid-year review to showcase progress made on the resilience component to be published in July, 2015. To this end, determine key aspects of the resilience agenda, identify as well as organize adequate qualitative and quantitative evidence and coordinate with relevant stakeholders;
Initiate and lead all aspects of a ‘State of Resilience’ report for publication by mid-January 2015.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the “UN delivering as One”;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

Well versed in the work on resilience, conflict prevention, reconciliation, and conflict sensitive approaches in countries and contexts emerging from conflict (post conflict settings);
Sound understanding of resilience issues with a capacity to foster concrete linkages with community security, governance, livelihoods and related efforts;
Possesses the ability to serve as an effective advocate for clients with demonstrated capacity to work with the United Nations;
Demonstrated expertise in developing programmatic platforms, as well as all strategic partnerships and coordination mechanisms;
Significant experience in assessing opportunities/challenges and designing programmes for livelihoods and income generation and developing an innovative approaches to applying a resilience-based approach to complex emergencies;
Strong methodological and research skilling, and familiar with quantitative research techniques;
Effective communication skills and ability to establish good working relationships with national and local authorities, and international interlocutors.

Management and Leadership:

Focuses on impact and result for the client;
Interacts effectively with all levels of the organization;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Demonstrates exceptional ability to remain calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure and tight deadlines;
Demonstrates openness to change
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in economics, international development or other social sciences;

Experience:

2 years relevant experience with results-based programmes and projects, monitoring and evaluation plans, sex and age disaggregated data collection and analysis and gender mainstreaming;
Familiarity with the Regional Resilience and Refugee Plan (3RP);
Experience in preparing quality reports and documents; good drafting skills;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language:

Fluency in English; and
Arabic language is an advantage.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. Payment will be made in monthly installments.

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, 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 and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight; 80%

* Financial Criteria weight; 20%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 60 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.