UNDP Jobs - 59778- Vetted Roster - Individual Consultants: Crisis Pre

Vetted Roster - Individual Consultants: Crisis Prevention and Recovery

Location :

Various Locations in Asia-Pacific and New York

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

04-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

To be determined, based on specific assignment

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

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.

In order to ensure continued support to our initiatives, UNDP’s Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) invites candidates to send their applications for inclusion in a Vetted Roster external experts. The process of including candidates in the Expert Roster are described in the later sections of this advertisement.

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

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

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

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;
Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Degree in governance related field including: Law, Economics, Public administration, development studies, Business Administration, Public Policy, Social Science, Political Science, international relations.

Experience:

Following a vetting process, the successful candidates would be place in one of the following bands:

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;
Knowledge and experience in international development, governance, and Governance and Peace Building programming and policy development;
Knowledge of Governance and Peacebuilding programming;
Experience in management of post-conflict interventions;
Knowledge of high-level governance, capacity and public communication support.

Language:

Fluency in spoken and written English is a must.

Evaluation of Applicants

Interested candidates are advised to carefully review this advertisement and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described above. Applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies specified above and may be may be requested to participate in a brief interview.

Qualified women are encouraged to apply.

Applications should include:

A cover letter, clearly identifying the “Areas of Expertise” as mentioned in the background section above;
Updated CV with phone/email contacts.

Successful candidates will be included in UNDP RBAP Experts Roster for a period of 5 years, in one of the “bands” indicated above. However, the addition of an individual in the Roster does not guarantee a contract with UNDP.

Contracting:

When a request for services arises, the roster manager shall Contact the individuals included 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 daily fee quoted by the individual during this application process shall remain as the ceiling fee and cannot be increased upwards for any offered individual assignment(s);
Travel: For each assignment UNDP shall reimburse cost of travel from the place of domicile of the individual to the place of assignment (most direct economy fare);
The individual selected for the deployment will be contracted as an Individual Contractor to the UNDP. The Contract template and associated conditions are available at
http://www.asia-pacific.undp.org/content/rbap/en/home/operations/procurement.html;
The Contract and its terms and conditions are non-negotiable.

Payment:

Payment(s) shall be made following certification by the hiring UNDP Office 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.