UNDP Jobs - 58680- UN Research Consultant

UN Research Consultant

Location :

Nairobi, Kenya with field visits in Somalia, KENYA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Aug-2015

Application Deadline :

08-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

4 weeks (3 + 1 week review)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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:

Somalia provides a unique challenge in aid coordination. It requires a complex mix of humanitarian, relief, recovery, and development interventions in a deeply insecure and unpredictable operating environment. In 2013, the Somali Federal Government adopted the New Deal for Fragile States. Under the New Deal, Somalia and the international community have adopted a “Compact”, which determined key priorities for Somalia and its international partners. The New Deal Compact is intended to guide the aid architecture within which the UN and other partners operate.

Within this overall context, the absence of a functioning government and pressures on civil society over throughout over two decades of conflict presents a unique challenge to the international community’s efforts to assist in the development of a viable and resilient state. The greater effort to harmonize development efforts between the Somali government and the international community is perceived to exclude to some extent civil society actors, which may increase the likelihood of development efforts being out of touch with the needs and perspectives of the Somali people. Additionally, the support and buy-in of Somali civil society is essential to ensuring the realization of a resilient and peaceful Somali state.

For the United Nations, the need to catalyze the contributions of all actors, including civil society entities, behind the New Deal is critical. Such an effort brings into sharp relief the role of the Resident Coordinator Office (RCO).

The RCO is a vital part of the UN family in Somalia, serving as an enabler between agencies as well as between agencies and the mission (UNSOM), and as a support office to the Resident Coordinator to Somalia. The RCO’s mandate covers a variety of activities, including coordination between joint efforts (such as joint funding for joint programmes), harmonized communication on achievements and deliverables, and research to inform better development practice specific to Somalia’s unique context. Efforts to conduct research activities, however, have been insufficient in the past few years. Recently, the RCO merged the post of communications officer with research coordinator. Within that capacity, the RCO has launched a research project on the UN’s engagement with Somali civil society. The need for this research emerged from the realization that civil society’s participation and support is essential in efforts to build a stable Somalia. Additionally, there is a need to highlight existing efforts by the UN to incorporate the perspectives of Somali civil society, and identify areas of improvement. The research is therefore intended to address the following questions:

What role does or can civil society play in rebuilding a resilient Somalia?
How does the UN engage with the Somali civil society? How effective is the current approach and how can it be improved?
Do UN programmes take into account local solutions for peacebuilding efforts and how can civil society be better incorporated into local programming and resilience work?
How does the Somali civil society view UN programming and its effectiveness?
What are the relevant best practices from similar complex conflict-effected states?

The research project is designed to provide added value to programming for the UN in Somalia. In order to conduct the research project in an efficient and effective matter across all regions of Somalia, the RCO has identified the need to recruit a research specialist with expertise in Somalia and Somali civil society. The objective of this consultancy is to support the RCO’s research capacity in conducting field research, and to provide an objective and impartial analytical assessment in response to the research questions. The final research product will provide a situation analysis of the UN’s engagement with Somali civil society as well as recommendations on how to improve programming, by addressing the questions identified above.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Working closely with the RCO Research and Communications Officer and any person assigned by her, and under the overall guidance of the Head of the RC Office in Somalia, the consultant will be expected to provide the following services:

Support the RCO in analyzing the UN’s current engagement with civil society and relevant actors;
Support the RCO in finalizing the desk and field research methodology;
Support the RCO with a literature review to trace the development and engagement of Somali civil society by international actors, and best practices from similar conflict effected states;
Conduct and support field research in Somalia;
Support the RCO in the development of the research report and its presentation to the UNCT.

Deliverables:

Literature Review

Field research on the UN’s engagement with Somali civil society, including:

Detailed research methodology;
List of relevant actors and civil society contacts;
Schedule of meetings with civil society representatives;
Reports on interviews and meetings;
Structures of Somali civil society;
Comprehensive report on the findings of the desk and field research including recommendations.
A first draft of the report should be available to be presented at the UN Country Team Meeting in Mid-September. It should not exceed 20 pages.

Impact of Results:

The research report on the UN’s engagement with Somali civil society will result in the following outcomes:

Greater clarity on level and scope of engagement with Somali civil society;
Enhanced strategic and contextual vision for UN programming in Somalia;
Greater transparency and impact of UN programming;
Improved aid effectiveness of the UN in Somalia.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Coordination Effectiveness;

Ability to organize and lead field research activities;
Ability to communicate sensitively across different focal points.

Management and Leadership;

Focuses on impact and result for the client;
In providing advice to the RCO, the candidate has the capacity to gather comprehensive information on complex problems or situations; evaluates information accurately and identifies key issues required to resolve problems;
Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills;
Manages conflict and stress, remaining composed and working as a mediator in crisis or antagonistic situations;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A Master Degree in Development, International Relations, Business Administration or a related subject.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience, with a demonstrable ability to carry out field research and literature reviews;
Outstanding writing skills and an excellent grasp of issues related to Somali society, internal political dynamics, civil engagement and Somali NGOs;
Proven capacity to produce high quality research and case studies on the issues mentioned above or related issues;
Proven outstanding writing skills, for a range of different audiences;
Substantial experience of working on policy and advocacy work on women’s rights and/or human rights;
Excellent understanding of women, peace and security issues in a range of contexts;
Ability and willingness to work as part of a team to meet tight deadlines and produce high quality work.

Language requirements:

Written and oral proficiency in English is required;
Knowledge of Somali preferable.

Submission of application:

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit electronic application by visiting http://jobs.undp.org/. The closing date for receipt of applications is 8 August 2015.
The P11 Form can be obtained from the following link: http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc
UNDP will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.
Women are strongly encouraged to apply.