UNDP Jobs - 56638- Lead Consultant - Revision of UNDP SOPs for Immedi

Lead Consultant - Revision of UNDP SOPs for Immediate Crisis Response

Location :

New York with some home-based work, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Jun-2015

Application Deadline :

26-May-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

60 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

5 months

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 Standard Operating Procedures for Immediate Crisis Response (SOPs) detail the critical steps and decisions that should be followed to ensure effective, coherent and coordinated organizational support to Country Offices in the aftermath of a crisis, as well as effective recovery programming. The goal of the SOPs is to enable the timely deployment of assistance and resources to requesting country offices to enhance their capacity to respond, fund, and programme in post-crisis settings.

Developed in 2008 and updated in 2012, the SOPs provide a solid institutional and operational framework to guide the management of UNDP both at HQ and in the field, in responding to any slow or sudden onset crisis. The SOPs are not activated in any “business as usual” case and therefore are not intended for use in special development or protracted crisis situations.

In light of UNDP’s new corporate structure and creation of the Crisis Response Unit (CRU), UNDP (through the CRU) will undertake a thorough revision of SOPs. This revision will reflect the new corporate accountability framework for crisis response, as well as the updated strategy for crisis response. As per its core responsibilities, CRU will lead the development and implementation of the SOPs and will undertake a participatory process that will involve UNDP regional and central bureaus as well as key decision makers and experts in UNDP country offices. The revision of the UNDP SOPs will also look at similar tools and processes adopted by relevant partners, including humanitarian agencies.

To initiate the revision of the SoPs, the Crisis Response Unit is looking to recruit a Lead Consultant, who will manage, oversee and drive the revision of the SoP under the overall supervision of CRU Management, the guidance of the Team Leader of CRU’s Rapid Response and Preparedness Team and work closely with its members as well as with other teams in CRU.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Lead Consultant will be responsible for carrying out the below tasks and undertaking the following processes, towards the revision of the SoPs.

Review existing relevant documentation and experiences on SOPs for immediate crisis response
Undertake consultation process with key policy and decision-makers in UNDP as well as with relevant partners;
Preparation and finalization for approval of the new SOPs;
Provide recommendations on the implementation of the revised SOPs

This following is a tentative outline of the process for the development, approval and roll out of the SOPs that the consultants is expected to take

Review of existing relevant documentation and experiences on SOPs for immediate crisis response;
Map the changes that were made in the first revision of the SoPs;
Identify and summarize organizational changes which may have made sections of the SOP irrelevant;
Summarize any new UNDP and interagency level developments that would affect the new version of the SOPs;
Review SOPs for immediate crisis response from relevant UN agencies;
Summarize the findings of relevant UNDP after-action reviews, UNDP and interagency evaluations or other relevant studies that would contain lessons learnt for the SOPs. Revisit After Action Reviews (and especially the Haiti AAR) to see the logic behind the first set of revisions;
Collate processes that were followed within the organization to respond to the Ebola crisis, Cyclone Pam and the Nepal earthquake.

Consultation process with key policy and decision-makers in UNDP as well as with relevant partners;

Identify the key stakeholders: RBs, Central Bureaus, Stand-by partners, selected COs, IASC members, etc;
Design the consultation and validation processes and methodology (e.g. survey, interviews, meetings, etc.). This should include sessions with stakeholders to get feedback on the organization’s understanding of the SOPs, their purpose and value;
Identify and agree on the key issues to be addressed by the SOPs and changes to be made.

Preparation and finalization for approval of the new SOPs;

Drafting of revised SOPs, incorporating results of the consultation process
Validation process with key stakeholders (see 2b) via an interactive workshop
Finalization of the SOPs document
Submission of revised SOPs to OPG for approval

Provide recommendations on implementation of the SOPs

Advise ways to improve accessibility of information, including graphic design and using of the SOPs and online platform;
Recommend a framework for monitoring the application and implementation of the SOPs

The consultant will also work closely with the Rapid Response and Preparedness Team to draft ToRs and identify a support team which could include:

A Technical Expert to support the Lead Consultant and the Rapid Response and Preparedness Team in the delivery of aforementioned tasks 1 to 4.
An Operations Advisor within UNDP to assist the team with practical operational solutions (disbursement of emergency response funds, FTP applications, operational issues between CRU, BPPS, RBs, BOM etc.).
An ICT Advisor to develop an online platform for the SOPs, allowing for ‘live’ applications in the aftermath of a crisis.
A CRU support staff to provide secretariat and administrative functions for the team.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN.
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Specific Knowledge Competencies:

Humanitarian Response - Excellent knowledge of humanitarian response systems, coordination mechanisms, and humanitarian policy. This includes coordinated needs assessments (MIRA, PDNA), and the Humanitarian Programme Cycle;
Emergency Preparedness and Response Systems: proven experience in designing corporate SOPs for UN entities and other relevant organizations, with a focus on emergency preparedness and immediate response. Strong command of software systems and analytical tools to serve in the development and smooth roll out of the SOPs an advantage.
Recovery Programming - Strong knowledge of one or several of the early recovery programmatic areas e.g. livelihoods, cash based programming, rubble removal, governance, community restoration;
Transition Planning – Comprehensive understanding of the challenges and experience of countries transitioning from humanitarian assistance to recovery and development, including resilience building principles and frameworks.
People Centred Approach - Understands that a people-centered approach to humanitarian action brings together the universal determinants of age, gender, and other specific diversity characteristics for analysis that informs an effective response which includes; disability, HIV AIDS, mental health, socio-economic status, religion, nationality, the environment and ethnic origin.

Functional Competencies

Professionalism – Advanced knowledge of the use of information management in humanitarian response and recovery environments; highly developed conceptual, analytical and innovative ability to identify and articulate the information management requirements of complex situations requiring a coordinated response between disparate actors; demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to use sound judgment to ensure the effective and timely completion of complex tasks; ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters).
Communication – Excellent communication and training (spoken and written) skills including the ability to convey complex information management concepts and recommendations to staff at all levels, both orally and in writing, in a clear, concise style that can be readily understood by non-information management practitioners.
Teamwork – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision.
Planning and Organisation – Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; operates in compliance with organisational regulations and rules; supports subordinates and peers, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
Client Orientation – Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; designs solutions and basis recommendations on the principles of usability; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients’ informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients.
Judgment/Decision-making – Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision.

Summary of Critical Competencies for Immediate Response Situations:

Possess a comprehensive set of competencies to immediately take on the challenging role setting up core crisis response systems – strategic, integrity, results oriented, teamwork, good inter-personal skills, well developed communication skills, sound judgment, analytical skills, flexibility, proactive engagement, innovation, risk management, gender and culturally sensitive, ability to work under pressure and demonstrates high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences (Economics, International Development, International Relations etc.), Management, related field, or a combination of relevant academic background (at least a first level university degree id est Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and extensive relevant professional experience in a related area may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.

Experience:

Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian and recovery related advisory services (e.g. programming, policy, assessment, information management systems, and so on) or a related field; experience both at the national level and international level in large organizations with dispersed operations and/or in the public and private sector preferred (seven years’ experience if candidate holds Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent).
Experience working within the UN system, preferably in an operational UN Agency or with OCHA.
Experience in humanitarian response and recovery operations (complex emergencies and/or natural disasters) is desirable
Experience with setting up crisis response mechanisms and systems including SoPs, templates and other relevant tools and systems

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.
Fluency in one or more official UN languages is desirable.