UNDP Jobs - 57672- Consultant - Desk review of the Literature Availab

Consultant - Desk review of the Literature Available on the Perspectives and Recommendations of People Affected by Crisis

Location :

Home-based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

20-Jul-2015

Application Deadline :

12-Jul-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 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

In May 2016, the UN Secretary-General will convene a World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) to leverage new partnerships, technologies, and ways of working with the aim of improving the effectiveness of global humanitarian action. The discussions setting the agenda at the World Humanitarian Summit must represent the widest range of perspectives and experiences. Inputs are needed from everyone, including governments, UN agencies, the private sector, international and local civil society organizations and, most importantly, people and communities who are affected by humanitarian crises.

In the two years preceding the summit, eight regional and two global consultations will be held to gather the perspectives of stakeholders from nearly 200 countries. At the same time, consultations will also take place online, enabling a truly global discussion to take place. Four themes will serve as broad categories to guide the conversations: (1) humanitarian effectiveness; (2) reducing vulnerability and managing risk; (3) transformation through innovation; and (4) serving the needs of people in conflict.

A key element of the WHS approach is to foster new partnerships and develop new ways of meeting the humanitarian needs of millions of people both now and for decades to come. The Summit can only be a success if it is grounded in the needs, priorities, and aspirations of crisis affected communities themselves. Consequently, a critical element of Summit preparations will be to ensure that the process leading up to the WHS will fully include the voices of affected communities.

The WHS secretariat is deeply committed hereto. To support and bring different perspectives to the process of engaging with communities, including providing guidance and support to the processes, the WHS has created an Advisory Group on Community Engagement. The group consists of professionals with diverse experiences in community engagement and how to ensure accountability to affected communities.

In liaison with the WHSS, the Advisory Group will support and advise on all activities related to engaging affected communities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will undertake a comprehensive literature review of previous efforts to gather community perspectives and recommendations, as well as all of the consultations done to date by the WHS. The review:

Will describe, analyze and synthesize existing evidence on the problems, challenges, and weaknesses of the current international humanitarian system as seen and experienced by the end users;
Should include an analysis and overview of findings to date with regard to community perceptions of international and national responders, their roles, effectiveness, and ways that they can better meet the needs of and support local action in the face of crisis;
The report should make a point of capturing the range of insights and viewpoints that have emerged over the years, as well as recommendations already made to address these challenges;
It is critical that the report following the literature review seeks to capture the diversity in opinions and experiences between people in different geographical locations and between different social groups, including women and men, girls and boys, socially marginalized people, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. The resources identified in the mapping of activities related to current and upcoming engagement with crisis-affected communities will be included in this review;
Should include an analysis and overview of findings to date with regard to community perceptions of international responders, their roles, effectiveness, and ways that they can better meet the needs of and support local action in the face of crisis. It should also cover and articulate lessons learned from past such consultation exercises so this process can incorporate and build on them. The report should make a point of capturing the range of insights and viewpoints that have emerged over the years. This should also include, but obviously not be limited to, the significant work undertaken by various organisations in the Philippines and in Haiti, which should be included and properly represented in the literature review;
In addition to the WHS stakeholder consultations, resources include agency specific studies such as MSF’s In The Eyes Of Others, multi country listening processes such as the Listening Project, and studies focusing specifically on work in conflict such as Beatrice Pouligny’s Peace Operations Seen From Below, as well as many other relevant publications. Further information on activities to engage affected communities in improving humanitarian action is available in the mapping of current and upcoming initiatives available at the WHSS.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

The final outputs will be a comprehensive literature review of previous efforts to gather community perspectives and recommendations. Timely delivery is critical;
The first draft should be made available in due time for WHS staff and the Community Engagement Advisory Group to comment on the draft and for these comments to be fully utilized in the later versions;
The final report will be reviewed by the WHS Community Engagement Advisory Group and the WHS Partnership and Accountability Advisor with final approval by the Chief of the WHS secretariat.

Duration of the Work:

The desk review is expected to take no more than 30 working days and to be completed no later than August 15, 2015;
As this project is closely related to the WHS process, particularly the upcoming Thematic Consultation, the Global Consultation, and the Summit itself, strict respect of the timelines is essential.

Duty Station:

The selected candidate will be expected to provide his/her own equipment and software, as well as meet any other working conditions required to fulfill these tasks;
The consultancy will be home-based, although depending on the candidate’s location, options for the location of the consultancy can be discussed. Some travel may be required. Any days worked in addition to the timeframe agreed will be at the consultant’s own expense unless explicitly approved by the WHS Secretariat.

Competencies

Professionalism:

Prior substantial experience working in a participative way with crisis-affected people in humanitarian response;
Demonstrated ability to undertake and publish independent research, preferably on CWC and/or AAP related issues;
Demonstrated knowledge of relevant humanitarian best practices, standards, policies, networks and publications;
Flexibility and ability to work to tight deadlines;
A strong sense of client orientation and a strong drive for results and ability to adhere to deadlines.
Excellent communication and writing skills.

Communications:

Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of Communications with Communities (CWC)/ Accountability to Affected People (AAP), participatory and listening-based methodologies, and accountability mechanisms in humanitarian response.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field.

Experience:

7 years of relevant experience at the national and international level including previous experience with research focusing on people affected by crisis.
Substantive field experience a significant advantage.
Previous and well documented experience with independent research assignments, including research focusing on the needs, aspirations, and opinions of people affected by crisis.

Languages:

Fluency in English, written and oral, is required.

Others:

Remuneration for the project will be provided upon completion of the tasks outlined in this ToR.
The lump-sum amount must be “all-inclusive”; the selected candidate will be expected to provide his/her own equipment and software, as well as meet any other working conditions required to fulfill these tasks.
The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components; any days worked in addition to the timeframe agreed will be at the consultant's own expense unless explicitly approved by the WHS Secretariat and UNDP.

Documents to be included with this application:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references
Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment. A methodology is recommended for intellectual services, but may be omitted for support services;
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.