UNDP Jobs - 59568- Consultant - Vetted Roster for Technical Experts o

Consultant - Vetted Roster for Technical Experts on Crisis Prevention and Recovery, support to UNDP BRH Projects and Country Offices

Location :

Home Based and Various (within Asia Pacific Region)

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Dec-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

5 years

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

05 days to 150 days for each 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

UNDP’s Strategic Plan (2014-2017) is designed to help individuals and countries alike build resilience to internal and external shocks. This helps reduce risks, prevent crises (whether from man-made or natural causes), avert major development setbacks and promote human security. In this regard, UNDP focusses on two critical issues: a much stronger ability to prepare for and deal with the consequences of natural disasters, especially as they are exacerbated by climate change; and a rapid and effective recovery from crises in those cases where prevention has fallen short. Policies and capacities are needed for comprehensive national and regional responses to natural disasters to minimize adverse development impacts and accelerate rebuilding.

One focus area for UNDP is on what happens before disasters strike. This includes supporting a range of issues: disaster risk assessments that consider geophysical, weather, climatic and other hazards (including those that are low intensity but high frequency); policy and planning frameworks that integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation; and preparedness for disaster management and recovery including, for example, innovations to manage risks through insurance and resilient infrastructure.

The other major focal area for UNDP is on what happens after a disaster strikes. This includes the preparation of post-disaster recovery and reconstruction plans and programmes that are inclusive of and accountable to displaced populations, women and other excluded groups. This is reinforced through assistance for better coordination and implementation of early recovery programmes with a focus on local economic conditions, addressing the needs of groups in danger of exclusion.

To support implementation of work in these areas, the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) will support expertise with a roster of implementation support, specialist support and senior advisory support external experts. Only the applicants who pass all screening procedures will be included in the Technical Experts Roster and recommended for consultancy assignments.

Duties and Responsibilities

To be considered for inclusion in the roster, applications would need to have expertise in one or more of the following areas of expertise:

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR);
Mainstreaming of DRR and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in development planning;
Urban Risk Reduction;
Early Warning System;
Hazard Risk Vulnerability Assessment;
Capacity Building and Training Needs Assessment in Disaster Risk Reduction;
Review and Preparation of Disaster Management/ Sectoral Plans;
Community Based Resilience Building;
Establishment of decisions support system on GIS platform.

Scope of Work:

Tasks assigned in each individual assignment may include one or more of the following:

Policy and Strategy Development:

Prepare Policy briefs, Status papers on developmental challenges/issues based on secondary review of existing literature for evidence based advocacy and policy dialogue;
Develop guidelines and national and sub-national strategy in the areas of institutional strengthening;
Develop institutional and regulatory frameworks to facilitate climate change and adaptation and disaster risk reduction;
Review of policy literature in respect to the subject;
Formulation of strategic national and sub-national development policy;
Identification of barriers and solutions for proposed interventions;
Risk Identification, Mitigation.

Project Design, Formulation & other project related functions:

Prepare conceptual framework/concept note on new area of work/developmental challenge;
Provide technical assistance in identification of developmental challenges, target areas, beneficiaries and partners and formulation of implementation strategy for UNDP support;
Provide technical support in development on new interventions/projects with Implementation (operational plan, monitoring and resource requirement) Institutional and management arrangements;
Identify issues, formulate and implement interventions that focus on various activities;
Conduct studies on project/program highlights, activities and processes involved;
Prepare and review Project documents;
Identify areas/beneficiaries and partners; timing, sequencing of activities; mobilization of finance;
Prepare project proposals to ensure innovation in concepts, strategies and incorporation of best practices.

Research and Documentation:

Undertake secondary research in the new areas of developmental concern based on review of existing literature;
Develop research design, research questions and scope of work for undertaking primary research in new areas;
Document good practices, case studies, innovations and pilot models for wider dissemination and sharing;
Undertake process documentation of models for upscaling.

Capacity Development/Training:

Based on capacity assessment, develop Capacity Development Plan to achieve the milestones identified and address the identified capacity gaps;
Develop target specific training tools/tool-kits and manuals based on training needs assessment;
Design training curriculum, conduct and/or coordinate trainings programmes for various stakeholders;
Carry out capacity assessments of public institutions and government institutions for development of strategic interventions for institutional strengthening;
Design and delivery of training tool-kits, products etc.;
Conduct and/or Coordinate trainings and workshops.

Knowledge Management:

Prepare knowledge and communications products related to the projects/programs (Audio, Video and Hard copies);
Review of Knowledge products (subject, design and content);
Prepare and publish featured articles and case studies in publications of the UNDP, other pertinent organizations, academic journals;
Disseminate knowledge and communications products;
Develop literature on best practices and case studies;
Contribute to Communities of Practice (CoP) of UN Solutions Exchange (UNSE);
MIS and GIS.

Monitoring & Evaluation:

Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of national and sub-national policies;
Carry out required independent monitoring and evaluation of UNDP projects;
Facilitate community and process monitoring;
Undertake Baseline and Client satisfaction surveys.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Good track record in project management, with UNDP experience being an asset;
Understanding of Government functioning and systems;
Updated familiarity on, various international projects across one or more areas of expertise;
Familiarity with UNDP ERP would be advantageous;
Working knowledge of objectives-oriented project planning, or results-based management;
Leadership skills;
Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet;
Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
Excellent presentation and facilitation skills;
Positive, constructive attitude to work.

Client Orientation:

Contributing to positive outcomes for the client;
Anticipates client needs;
Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:
Developing tools and mechanisms

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Core Competencies:

Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building support and political acumen;
Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in disaster risk planning, preparedness, management, response or recovery, early warning systems, climatology, engineering, public administration, economics or a related field.

Experience:

Band 1 - Implementation Support:

Masters Degree in relevant field with minimum 3 years of relevant work experience, or Bachelors Degree in relevant field with minimum 5 years of relevant work experience.

Band 2 - Specialist Support:

Masters Degree in relevant field with minimum 7 years of relevant work experience, out of which minimum 3 years of international experience as a requirement.

Band 3 - Senior Advisory:

Masters Degree in relevant field with minimum 12 years of relevant work experience, out of which minimum 5 years of international experience as a requirement;
Demonstrated experience in research, analysis, policy support, programme and project development, project management, knowledge management, and/or monitoring, reporting and evaluation;
Proven experience working with a wide variety of development actors including governments, international development organizations (including United Nations agencies), donors and other funding agencies, private sector entities, and/or civil society organizations including community groups, academia and the media;
Previous work experience in Asia and the Pacific is an asset.

Language:

Excellent oral and written English.

Duty Station:

Various (within Asia Pacific Region).

Travel:

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including economy tickets, lodging and terminal expenses will be reimbursed as per actuals in line with UNDP rules.

Evaluation of Applicants

Applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies specified above.

The inclusion into the Vetted Roster of Experts will be offered to those individual consultants whose offers have been evaluated and determined as:

a) Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
b) Meeting requirements across the functional bands in each area of expertise.

Applicants may be requested to participate in a brief interview.

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via the UNDP website. Interested candidates are advised to carefully review this advertisement and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described above.

Qualified women are encouraged to apply.

Applications should include:

A cover letter,
Updated CV and;
Proposed daily fee.

A brief proposal in response to the below mandatory questions:

Q1. Please specify your proposed daily fee in USD (United States Dollar)?
Q2 Please specify the area of expertise you are applying for, as mentioned in this advertisement?
Q3 How many years of experience do you have in your area of expertise ?

A brief cover letter, clearly identifying the “Areas of Expertise” as mentioned in the section above.

Successful candidates will be included in UNDP RBAP Experts Roster for a period of 5 years. Inclusion in the expert roster does not guarantee a contract with UNDP.

A brief cover letter, clearly identifying the “Areas of Expertise” as mentioned in the section above.

Successful candidates will be included in UNDP RBAP Experts Roster for a period of 5 years. Inclusion in the expert roster does not guarantee a contract with UNDP.

Contracting:

When a request for services arises, the roster manager shall Contact the individuals in the specific area of expertise with ToR, location and dates of the assignment seeking confirmation of availability, as well as other costs such as living allowance, travel cost, etc.;
The individual selected for the deployment will be contracted as per the UNDP IC modality. The Contract and conditions are available at http://www.asia-pacific.undp.org/content/rbap/en/home/operations/procurement.html

Payment:

Payment(s) shall be made following certification by UNDP that the services related to each deliverable, as specified in the contract, have been satisfactorily performed and the deliverables have been achieved by or before the due dates specified, if any.

Other information:

This call for experts is not linked to other UNDP rosters or to a specific UNDP recruitment opportunity;
Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are only able to inform the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process;
For any clarifications please write to rcb.procurement.th@undp.org