UNDP Jobs - 58235- Local Innovation Consultant

Local Innovation Consultant

Location :

Prishtinë/Priština, Kosovo, UNSCR 1244 (1999)

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

03-Aug-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

03 August 2015 to 31 July 2016 (12 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

The United Nations Kosovo Team (UNKT) has designed a process to connect the application of formal UN programming processes to a deeper transformation of the way its members collaborate as a team. By lightening the process burden as much as possible while at the same time fostering new mental models, behaviours and relationships, the UNKT is working to construct a more organic, less formal and more fluid approach to work that provides the necessary space for thinking together, learning together and acting together.

The team has embarked on a two-track planning process that has, in its current phase, to the design and implementation of a UN Common Development Plan (i.e. UNDAF) that constitutes the primary mechanism by which the UNKT will also achieve significant improvements in the quality of collaboration. At the same time, it is hoped that by combining both standard, top-down context analysis and strategic prioritization methods with bottom-up prototyping, the UNCDP, once completed, will be strongly rooted in specific, concrete joint initiatives.

The purpose of the informal track is to challenge and rethink current and behaviours, and to help to “reset” the way the members of the UNKT work together as a team. With the support of an external consultant, the UNKT has identified concrete projects and processes that will serve to prototype this new way of working together and contribute to greater impact through: a) collective advocacy; b) an enhanced value proposition through joint programming; and c) increased efficiency through client-oriented common operational services.

UNKT seeks to treat the prototyping process as a dialogue process or sustained platform for strategic conversation, bearing in mind that what people talk about is what they pay attention to. In addition, resources permitting, the prototype groups will benefit from additional peer coaching or staff exchanges/shadowing across different agencies, as potentially useful techniques for developing greater shared understanding.

During this period, some of the prototypes have advanced significantly while others have yet to move beyond initial conversations. Out of these, the most advanced so far are those dealing with youth engagement, advocacy for social protection and joint procurement.

Objectives of Assignment
The UN Kosovo Team seeks to engage a consultant to assist with:

The design, planning and implementation of UN inter-agency initiatives and action plans that prototype new ways of collaboration across the UN Kosovo Team, including a new joint UN programme on youth engagement that utilizes human-centred design as a tool for enhancing youth participation during all phases of the programme cycle.
The design, testing and implementation of a process and platform for “making visible” the answer to question “What is the UN doing in Kosovo” using Social Network Analysis and Mapping.
The identification of lessons learned and provision of recommendations for: a) scaling up pilot innovation activities; and b) embedding new approaches to collaboration employed by these strategic initiatives within the broader UN Kosovo Team monitoring, reporting and evaluation framework;

The consultant will be requested to be available full time from 1 August 2015 to 31 July 2016. The consultant will be based in the Office of the UN Development Coordinator.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UN Coordination Specialist, the Innovation Consultant will execute the duties and responsibilities outlined below, in the context of the project “Prototyping new forms of UN collaboration in Kosovo”.

Summary of key functions:

Provide support on innovation initiatives and action plans, including formulation, design, planning and implementation;
Assist with development of a process and platform for “making visible” the answer to question “What is the UN doing in Kosovo” using Social Network Analysis and Mapping;
Support the scouting for new innovative ideas and opportunities;
Support IN UNKT in development of partnerships and networks with local innovators, youth organizations, NGOs, the private sector, local media and academia to build and provide a space to nurture and test new and innovative ideas, and build local capacity;
Provide support in development and testing of innovation products and processes to strengthen and improve efficiency and effectiveness of UNKT programming, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy and communication;
Provide training for UNKT staff, partner staff, local counterparts and other end users in the use of innovation products and processes;
Document tested innovation projects and processes and ensure effective sharing and generation of knowledge around innovations in within the UNKT as well as with UNDG regional and global networks;
Whenever necessary, liaise with UNDP and UNICEF innovation experts from the region and around the world;
Whenever appropriate, represent the UNKT in global UN innovation networks for information sharing and leveraging of experiences of innovation colleagues at the regional and global levels;
Support follow-up on the results of the different innovative activities undertaken under the UNKT prototyping project, including measures to ensure sustainability;
Assist in finalizing templates to ensure the tested out models are replicable and scalable, including drafting of necessary documents and templates and other follow-up activities as necessary;
Assess lessons learned and provide recommendations for scaling up pilot innovation activities and for embedding the implementation arrangements for these strategic initiatives within the broader UNCDP monitoring, reporting and evaluation framework;
Prepare a report that summarizes the results of the prototyping initiative;

Expected Results

The key results have an impact on the overall performance and success in implementation of the activities. Open communication, analysis, solid problem solving skills and presentation of information ensure success of interventions.

Deliverables / Final Products Expected

UN inter-agency initiatives and action plans that prototype new ways of collaboration across the UN Kosovo Team, including a new joint UN programme on youth engagement that utilizes human-centred design as a tool for enhancing youth participation during all phases of the programme cycle designed, planned and implemented.
Process and platform for “making visible” the answer to question “What is the UN doing in Kosovo” using Social Network Analysis and Mapping designed, tested and implemented.
Lessons learned and provision of recommendations for: a) scaling up pilot innovation activities; and b) embedding new approaches to collaboration employed by these strategic initiatives within the broader UN Kosovo Team monitoring, reporting and evaluation framework identified.

Deliverables/ Outputs
Registered new innovative ideas and opportunities