UNDP Jobs - 53779- Data Analysis Consultant for UNDP- Energy and Envi

Data Analysis Consultant for UNDP- Energy and Environment Group (EEG) - Biodiversity, Land and Ecosystems Management

Location :

Home-based, no travel required

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

estimated April 2015 to 30 October 2015

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

approximately 58 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

As one of the three implementing agencies of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNDP oversees a portfolio of projects in the focal areas of biodiversity, climate change, international waters, ozone depleting substance phase-out, land degradation, and persistent organic pollutants.

The cumulative value of UNDP’s GEF portfolio is valued at nearly US$5.0 billion. These projects are implemented through UNDP’s network of more than 130 country offices located in developing countries as well as numerous UN and other agency partners. Given the highly specialized nature of the GEF Program, UNDP’s Energy and Environment Group (EEG) is organized by focal area, with the Principal Technical Advisor (PTA) being the team leader within each focal area. Each PTA leads and supports a team of regionally based UNDP-EEG Regional Technical Advisers/Specialists (RTA/RTS). The role of a UNDP EEG Regional Technical Adviser/Specialist is to support project implementation partners, primarily UNDP country offices but also other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, co-funders, etc. in the efficient, effective, and high quality delivery of project development and implementation services in one or more focal areas or sub-focal areas, drawing primarily on GEF funds, but also other sources of finance as appropriate.

As part of project monitoring and supervision the GEF conducts an annual review of project monitoring instruments (so-called Tracking Tools), and Portfolio Performance Review (PPR). The UNDP-GEF unit prepares its Tracking Tools, PIRs, mid-term and final evaluation reports.
This consultancy is aimed to support review process, completion and delivery of high quality monitoring tools and documents mentioned above.

Duties and Responsibilities

Review Tracking Tooks, and completion of other data for projects having completed Mid-Term/ Final Evaluation during the course of the current PIR period. Under the direct supervision of the RTAs for Biodiversity, Land and Ecosystems:

Ensure the appropriate GEF tracking tools have been submitted along with the PIR reports;
Check that all portions of the tools have been completed in required quality;
Liase as necessary with project teams to ensure completion of tracking tools. Cooperate with Regional Knowledge Management specialist as necessary;
Prepare separate table to reflect which tools have been completed for MTR/FEV;
Package the electronic tools in zip file(s) of up to 3MB and transfer worksheet summary and zip files to RTA and PTA for submission to GEFSEC in line with PIR requirements.

Support for Annual Project Implementation Review for Europe and CIS:

Review and finalize each APR/PIR Excel spreadsheet (or Word document in exceptional cases) for quality and completeness of information collected through the 2015 PIR process, including the following: project progress; project risk (number, type, description and response); financing and co-financing; outcomes (general for all projects, specific outcomes for each OP); and, lessons learned. The PIRs should be finalized with due consideration to the PIR quality evaluation criteria, which will be provided;
Liaise with the relevant Country Office, project team and/or RTA as directed, to support correction and completeness of every PIR, including review of receipt of supporting documentation (e.g., MTEs, FEVs).

Deliverables:

Finalized tracking tools with a worksheet summarizing status of BD1/ BD2 tracking tools submitted at MTE/FEV during PIR period (Task I);
Finalized PIRs for Europe and CIS (Task II).

Payment schedule:
The lump sum fee is payable in two installments:

first installment (30%) payable upon completion of task I (end of April 2015);
second installment (70%) payable upon completion of task II (end of October 2015).

Timeline

Part time assignment over several months
The work is home based and expected to take approximately up to 58 working days during the period from April to 30th October 2015. Working with the RTAs and the COs, all communications will be via email / skype.

Work to be completed during the period:

The Tracking tools will be provided by RTA to the consultant in April 2015. The quality-checked tracking tools should be returned to RTA by end of April;
PIRs will be accessible starting July.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Works toward creative solutions by analyzing problems carefully and logically;
Acknowledges and responds constructively to the points of view of others;
Technical knowledge: expert excel skills to generate various worksheets, pivot tables, presentations;
Highly organized, detailed oriented, ability to work with ease and accuracy to generate financial related worksheets.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

MBA or Master Degree in Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences.

Experience:

At least 2 years of UN Agency experience in preparation of PIRs for GEF funded projects, review of project evaluation reports or UN agency direct project management / project support experience;
At least 3 years of experience preparing portfolio impact assessments in the biodiversity land or ecosystems management focus areas;
Experience in GEF Biodiversity tracking tools.

Language:

Excellent written communication skills in English and Russian is an asset.

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 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 – academic qualification and education – max points: 10;
Criteria B – At least 2 years of specific professional experience with M&E of UNDP supported GEF funded projects - max points: 10;
Criteria C – specific professional experience in BD focal area - max points: 5;
Criteria D –At least 3 years of experience preparing portfolio impact assessments in the biodiversity land or ecosystems management focus areas - max points: 5;
Criteria E - Experience in GEF Biodiversity tracking tools – 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. 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 group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

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...).

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://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.