UNDP Jobs - 59347- Senior Advisor on Governance Measurement

Senior Advisor on Governance Measurement

Location :

Home Based, with Travel as Necessary

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

02-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Up to 50 days, over 9 months

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

The UNDP Oslo Governance Centre [OGC] was established in 2002 to support the operational work of UNDP in assisting partner countries in developing more democratic and effective forms of governance for sustainable peace and development. Within the framework of a vision to eradicate poverty and significantly reduce inequalities and exclusion within and among societies, the 2014-2017 UNDP Strategic Plan sets out a plan of action with three core work areas; one of these areas is the building and/or strengthening of inclusive and effective democratic governance.

As a result of a forward-looking assessment (2014) of the OGC over the next Strategic Plan period, the Centre has a specific mandate to work on the governance and peacebuilding pillar of UNDP’s work by focusing on the distillation of existing global knowledge, expertise and perspectives, to develop innovative policy solutions that promote effective and accountable governance and to contribute to conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

The renewed OGC aims to become a global Centre for policy development and applied research with an overarching focus on democratic governance and peacebuilding in crisis, conflict and transitional contexts. It will engage and strengthen ties with Norwegian, Nordic and other partners from the South in undertaking applied research and developing policy options and tools for governance support in post-crisis and post-conflict environments, in order to find practical solutions on the ground which address the following thematic areas:

Governance and democratic challenges in countries that are transitioning out of crisis and conflict towards more inclusive institutions and more peaceful, prosperous equal and resilient societies;
Governance of extractive industries in post-crisis and post-conflict settings and its impact on sustainable development pathways and progress towards more inclusive institutions;
Governance of inclusion, and in particular how societies evolving from crisis and conflict address gender equality and the political and economic empowerment of women in a conflict sensitive manner;
Measuring governance for development results to inform and influence the contributions of UNDP and partners in the discussions on the post-2015 agenda and the measuring and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will provide senior technical advisory support to the Oslo Governance Centre’s cross-cutting area of work on governance assessment and measurement. This work links with other UNDP initiatives in the area of governance measurement, particularly the support to the Praia Group on Governance Statistics led from New York, the support to measurement of SDG16 and the virtual network also led from New York, and learning from the roll-out of the governance, peace and security modules under the SHaSA process, led by the Regional Service Centre for Africa.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide overall technical advice on the framing and implementation of OGC’s output 4, on measurement of governance. This will include advising staff and consultants working on this output and advising the Director in her strategic management of this output;
Provide support to learning on the SHaSA process carried out by the Oslo Governance Centre. This may include, but will not be limited to, drafting of background papers and reports and facilitation of learning events hosted or co-hosted by the OGC in Africa, Norway or elsewhere;
For activities identified under OGC’s output 4, provide technical advice on the development of indicators at the global and national level;
Provide technical support to the Virtual Network for the Development of Indicators for Goal 16, in particular by co-facilitating the discussion on targets to SDGs 16.6., 16.7. and 16.10 and linking the Virtual Network to the work of the IAEG-SDGs;
Provide substantial input and technical advice to contribute to the Praia Group on Governance Statistics including:
advice on development of the roadmap and support for the implementation of the tasks of the Praia Group under the UN Statistical Commission;
support for the initial work on developing a Handbook on Governance Indicators for the Praia Group on Governance Statistics under the UN Statistical Commission.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

Input to the drafting of output 4 of OGC’s revised results framework, for approval by the OGC Board in October 2015;
A background paper and related documentation for a proposed SHaSA Lessons Learning Meeting to be co-hosted by the OGC;
Facilitate the above SHaSA lessons learning meeting and produce a report on the main outcomes and recommendations for follow up;
A draft work plan for the development of any indicators identified under OGC’s output 4;
Written feedback to the discussion and outcome report of the Virtual Network for the Development of Indicators for SDG 16;
Provide background paper(s) and advice to further initiatives of the Virtual Network as mutually agreed, including a possible further/final meeting in October 2015;
Provide written contributions to assist the work of the Praia Group, including to support preparation of the roadmap and the draft of the Handbook on Governance Statistics.

Institutional arrangement/ Reporting relationships

The Director of the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre will provide overall supervision of the consultancy and approve key outputs. The Consultant will work closely with the Governance and Peacebuilding Cluster in UNDP/BPPS and UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa in implementation of activities.

Competencies

Strong understanding of the role of statistics in the current development agenda and under the proposed new development framework, including the role of national statistical offices;
Strong track record of work with governance statistics;
Superior analytical, research and statistical skills;
Ability to write and communicate in a clear and concise manner.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree in Economics, Sociology, Statistics, Development Studies, or other relevant field;
PhD in relevant field will be considered as an asset.

Experience:

Minimum of 10 years international experience in the field of democratic governance or statistics for development;
Knowledge and experience of consultation processes for the measurement of SDG16;
Knowledge of UNDP Democratic Governance work an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in English required;
Excellent drafting skills.

Important Note:

The Consultant is required to have the abovementioned professional and technical qualifications. Only the applicants who hold these qualifications will be shortlisted and contacted.

Special Considerations

Payment Milestones and Timeline

The consultant will be paid quarterly, or when 10 days or more has been completed, on invoicing, after the approving authority confirms successful completion of agreed deliverables. If it is required that the consultant travels, UNDP will book the flights and pay DSA/TE according to UNDP Rules and Regulations.

Criteria for selecting the best offer

Qualified Individual Consultants are expected to submit both Technical and Financial Proposal, which will be evaluated based on a Technical Criteria (70% ) and Financial Criteria (30% ).

Criteria Weight

Technical Competence (based on CV, Proposal and interview (if required) = 70%.

Criteria a. Understanding the Scope of Work (SoW); comprehensiveness of the methodology/approach; and organization & completeness of the proposal. 50 pts.

Criteria b. Sound experience (at least 7 years) of undertaking technical policy-focused research related to governance statistics , statistics for development;. 25 pts.

Criteria c. Ability to carry out research, to contribute to the formulation of policies, processes and guidelines for development and governance systems. 25 pts.

Only applicants shortlisted will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial evaluation criteria - 30% of total obtainable scores – maximum 30 points.

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposals:

p = y (µ/z),

where:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

Total Score: Technical Score (70%) + Financial Score (30%) = 100%.

The award of contract will be made to the individual consultant who receives the highest combined score out of the weighted technical and financial criteria as specified above.