UNDP Jobs - 58284- International Consultant for Local Development Pla

International Consultant for Local Development Planning

Location :

Laamu Atoll, Maldives

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

05-Aug-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Organizational Context

The Republic of Maldives is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its low-lying geography that makes it susceptible to flooding and inundation, and its dependence on economic activities that are sensitive to climate change, such as fishing and tourism. It is also highly dependent on imported fossil fuels for its energy supply and this represents a major source of greenhouse gas emissions for the country. Consequently, the Maldives has made significant commitments to the pursuit of a low emission climate resilient development agenda. However, ongoing decentralization reforms, fiscal crisis and low capacity at the sub-national level, mean that local planning is not reflective of national level commitments.

The three year, US$9.2 million UN Joint Programme, “LECReD”, responds to the United Nations Development Assistance Framework Outcome “Enhanced capacities at national and local levels to support low carbon life-styles, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction” and builds on the comparative strengths of United Nations Organizations including UNDP, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNFPA, UN WOMEN, WHO and FAO. The programme is innovative and represents a pioneering initiative of bringing together the wealth of diverse development-oriented expertise from these United Nations Organizations with equally diverse national and local partners to address this multi-faceted development challenge.

The programme is assisting the Laamu Atoll and its islands to realize Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development (LECReD). The programme seeks to mainstream LECReD issues into local level development planning and service delivery for greater community-level ownership and sustainability of programme benefits. Towards this objective, the programme is supporting local councils, civil society, private sector and other local stakeholders to establish platforms for stronger partnerships, improved coordination, and enhanced participation in local planning for LECReD; it will strengthen data and knowledge systems for LECReD; improve local level LECReD development planning and management of service delivery; and through a learning-by-doing approach establish early lessons and build demand for LECReD planning and management for replication and scaling-up.

In pursuit of the core objective, the programme will achieve the following outputs:

Output 1: Partnership, coordination and participation platform for local LECReD planning and action is strengthened;
Output 2: Data and knowledge systems established or identified to support evidence-based planning and policy development for LECReD at the local level;
Output 3: Improved Local Level Planning and Management for LECReD;
Output 4: Practical local experience in LECReDs interventions leads to learning and promotes replication.

Objectives

The aim is that the local development plans will evolve from stand-alone action plans into more strategic and evidence-based instruments, which are climate smart and able to mobilize public and private investment. This programme will be closely linked to the existing national development planning cycle and will build capacity of local and national partners engaged in these local processes. The rationale being that lessons learned will be used to inform replication throughout the country and directly support the national agenda.

Under the Output 3 of the Joint Annual Work Plan (JAWP): Improved Local Level Planning and Management for LECReD, the Local Planning Officer(s) will be assisting in the process of collecting data, community consultation, prioritizing long and short term development goals to create a climate resilient atoll / islands, drafting land use plans and leading the local development planning process, assisting in the identification and prioritization of possible initial investment projects coming from the local development plans.

The International Consultant (Local Devleopment Planning) will be working to support and corroborate the work carried out by LECReD Planners; each of whom are assigned to the following island clusters in Laamu Atoll:

Cluster 1: Isdhoo, Kalaidhoo, Dhanbidhoo and Maabaidhoo;
Cluster 2: Mundoo and Gan;
Cluster 3: Fonadhoo, Gadhoo and Maamendhoo;
Cluster 4: Kunahandhoo, Hithadhoo and Maavah.

UNDP is soliciting applications from qualified candidates with strategic planning/development planning experience who can support solutions-oriented work in specific operations, including the development of long-term strategies, plans that incorporate new approaches and partnerships that adhere to bottom up and participatory approach. These tasks will be undertaken by supporting the formulation and development of Island Development Plans (IDPs), Atoll Development Plan (ADP) and Land Use Plans (LUPs) that are evidence–based strategies in the respective islands taking into the account legal, political, economic and social challenges and opportunities. The incumbent will also support the councils in the identification of priority actions for investment, and in preparing project proposals to be funded under LECReD small grants application scheme.

The incumbent will also provide technical expertise and guidance to the Local Planning Officers to deliver the programme outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Development of guidelines, tools, methodologies, and systems for local LECReD planning and management;
Strengthen the capacity for integrated local development planning and management for LECReD;
Support LGA and local councils in the preparation of Local Development Plans. Facilitate capacity self-assessment and prepare a Capacity Development Action Plan (CDAP);
Support councils in preparing Policy and Investment Plans, identifying and preparation of back-able project ideas to foster LECReD;
Develop an options and recommendations paper on institutional development pathways to support continuation and up-scaling of the LECReDs decentralized approach in Maldives, based on the institutional, capacity and financial barriers encountered in the process of implementing Tasks 1-4;
Provide strategic guidance and support to the Local Planning Officers and the participatory planning processes.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

Development of guidelines, tools, methodologies, and systems for local LECReD planning and management:

Identify/prepare participatory integrated LECReD and DRR planning methodology and ensure integration with existing local planning methodology;
Prepare guidance materials and tools in preparation for LECReD planning, reviewing existing templates and handbooks on local development planning.

Prepare a guidance manual for adopting national policy, standards or best practices into local level planning and management for councils and service providers. Supporting the preparation and incorporation of guidelines for:

Adopting national standards on buildings and energy efficiency;
Preventative measures for flooding and erosion;
Condense and integrate related guidelines by Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs) into the Guidance Manual, incorporating guidance materials, tools and templates, to produce a toolkit for planners.

Strengthen the capacity for integrated local development planning and management for LECReD:

Prepare training materials and conceptualize workshops on LECReD planning;
Support/Facilitate workshop to produce trainers on LECReD planning;
Support trainers to conduct training for councils, Women’s Development Committees, Civil Service Organizations, and community leaders on LECReD planning.

Support LGA and local councils in the preparation of Local Development Plans. Facilitate capacity self-assessment and prepare a Capacity Development Action Plan (CDAP):

Support and conceptualize a pilot planning/visioning workshop targeting island councils and relevant stakeholders in developing Island Development Plans for each of the 12 islands, and 1 atoll development plan to encompass the development of the atoll;
Facilitate capacity self-assessment for councilors, Women’s Development Committees, Civil Service Organizations and sectoral focal points and produce a Capacity Development Action Plan.

Support councils in preparing Policy and Investment Plans, Identifying and preparation of back-able project ideas to foster LECReD:

Support councils to prepare Policy and Investment Plans including priority CDAP actions, policy developments and priority investment projects;
Support Programme Board to identify priority projects from actions identified in Local Development Plans and Policy and Investment Plans.

Develop an options and recommendations paper on institutional development pathways to support continuation and up-scaling of the LECReDs decentralized approach in Maldives, based on the institutional, capacity and financial barriers encountered in the process of implementing Tasks 1-4. This should include the following elements:

Recommendations for adjustment of LECReD-supportive local level planning cycle and processes together with institutional and financial needs implications;
Economic analysis to support the LECReD approach and what this might mean for policy frameworks in Maldives. These should as far as possible bring together and synthesize the analysis gathered from other workstreams of the LECReD programme, for example, the integrated energy assessment and vulnerability assessments;
The policy, regulatory and legal instruments needed to implement the LECReD/local development plans fully.

Expected Results & Deliverables:

The Consultant is expected to support the Local Planning Officers and local councils in the preparation of the following outputs, in collaboration with the UNDP Project Manager (LECReD) and PCU:

An inception report which should incorporate an understanding of Council planning processes currently and possible entry points for LECReD mainstreaming;
Prepare guidance materials and tools in preparation for LECReD planning, reviewing existing templates and handbooks on local development planning;
11 Island Development Plans and an Atoll Development plan to integrate development of all islands in the Atoll, including Policy and Investment Plans for each island in addition to monitoring frameworks;
A Training Plan based on the learning needs identified by Councilors, Women’s Development Committees, CSOs and sectoral focal points for integrated local planning and management for LECReD;
Training materials, as appropriate;
Capacity Development Action Plan;
An options and recommendations paper on policy and institutional support needs for continuation and up-scaling of the LECReD approach to other Councils;
Priority projects identified from Local Development Plans and Policy and Investment Plans.

Institutional Arrangement

The Consultant will be home based and will provide remote assistance as required, by supporting the Local Planning Officers. The consultant will undertake four missions as required, to the Maldives throughout the Consultancy Period. The Consultant will report regularly to the UNDP Project Manager (LECReD) and UNDP Project Officer (Governance). Further, He/She will work in close coordination with the LECReD Programme Manager, the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU), Local Government Authority (LGA) and the local Councils.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Thorough familiarity with the development context and challenges regarding inclusive growth, human development and disadvantaged groups in the State, with particular reference to climate change, Decentralized Planning, development and social inclusion;
Adequate knowledge of the policy context of devolution, Decentralized Planning, spatial planning based on rural-participatory processes, disadvantaged groups, and human development outcomes;
Familiarity with UNDAF, CPAP, and UNDP project systems in Maldives is preferred;
Knowledge of programmes and schemes relevant to decentralization, participatory planning and local self-governance.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Ability to interact with disadvantaged groups and PRI/ULB members and local officials;
Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
Demonstrates ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in the area of professional discipline and job knowledge, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Demonstrates competent analytical and presentation skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to facilitate strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
Excellent working knowledge of MS Office-Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Intra-Internet, e-mail applications etc. Knowledge of other applications such as Front Page, Publisher and some multimedia tools would be useful.

Management and Leadership:

Focuses on expected impact and results and responds positively to feedback;
Promotes teamwork and shows conflict resolution skills;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Builds strong relationships with stakeholders and external actors;
High interpersonal skills, and ability to remain calm, in control and good humored under pressure;
Ability to prioritize assignments and requirements, and multitask as needed;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Demonstrates skills to liaise with varied government stakeholders and report to senior government officials.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Postgraduate degree in Spatial/environmental Planning, Environmental studies, Public Administration, Urban and Regional Planning, Geography, development studies, Landscape Architecture, or a similar planning-related field, with minimum 10 years of relevant experience will be considered.

Experience:

Minimum of 10 years’ professional experience (as above) of working on development issues, including rural development and planning;
Climate change planning processes;
Relevant experience of working on Decentralized Planning, participatory development and governance issues would be ideal;
Knowledge of GIS is an asset.

Language:

Proficiency in English.

Communication Skills:

Excellent oral and writing and communication skills;
Sound analytical and presentation skills;
Good interpersonal and presentation skills, with an ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Location:

The consultant will be based in Laamu Atoll, Maldives;
Preparedness to undertake 4 missions to Laamu Atoll throughout the duration of assignment as required.

Financial Proposal and Remuneration Schedule:

The consultancy fee will be in lump sum inclusive of international travel and local living expenses to be paid in installments corresponding to deliverables.

Application Documents:

The application must include a letter of interest to undertake this task, P-11, and a proposal for fees. To download P11, kindly please visit the link: http://www.mv.undp.org/content/maldives/en/home/operations/jobs
Please combine all the documents into one single file, as the system will allow for only one document to be uploaded.