UNDP Jobs - 64687- International Consultant to Support the Ministry o

International Consultant to Support the Ministry of Economy and Development of Turkmenistan in preparing the Presidential Plan

Location :

Home Based with Missions to ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Apr-2016

Application Deadline :

22-Mar-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

April - December 2016

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

80 working days

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

On 8 January 2016 the President of Turkmenistan issued a Decree to prepare the Presidential program for socio-economic development for the period 2017-2021. The program should be ready by 31 December, 2016. The Ministry of Economy and Development of Turkmenistan is responsible for preparing the Program. The Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan has agreed a structure of the new Presidential Program http://www.tm.undp.org/content/dam/turkmenistan/docs/TOR/Draft_Content_of_the_Programme_for_social_and_economic_development_of_Turkmenistan.docx and a timeframe for its preparation http://www.tm.undp.org/content/dam/turkmenistan/docs/TOR/schedule_Programme_for_social_and_economic_development_of_Turkmenistan.docx.

The Government decided that the new Program will incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted in September 2015. The United Nations and the Government of Turkmenistan have agreed a three stages process plan for implementing SDGs in Turkmenistan that includes:

Stage 1: Conduct national consultations with key sector ministers to agree what goals and targets that are relevant to Turkmenistan during October 2015 – March 2016;
Stage 2: Integrate those goals and targets adopted by Turkmenistan into sector plans and the 5 year Presidential plan 2017 – 2021 during March 2016 - December 2016;
Stage 3: Agree the measuring systems to be used to measure progress of SDGs targets and indicators during March 2016- December 2016.

In view of the above, UNDP Turkmenistan supports the Ministry of Economy and Development of Turkmenistan as part of a joint project that focuses on:

Supporting the development of the Presidential Programme 2017-2021 that incorporates SDGs, nationalized targets and indicators. This will also include support in designing monitoring and evaluation plans to track the progress and measure results indicated in the Programme, and estimating a budget for the Programme implementation;
Developing financial mechanisms to implement SDGs and targets integrated into the new Presidential Programme for socio-economic development for the period 2017-2021;
Designing a monitoring and evaluation system to measure progress in implementing the new SDG goals and targets integrated into the Presidential Programme for socio-economic development for the period 2017-2021.

The project will also support efforts to further improve mid-term macroeconomic forecasting and strategic planning system. This will include improving legal and regulatory framework in the area of macroeconomic forecasting and strategic planning, improving macroeconomic models and building capacity of the Ministry of Economy and Development in macroeconomic data collection and mid-term forecasting, as well as strengthening research capacity of the Institute of Strategic Planning to effectively contribute to the planning of state macroeconomic policy. Note: If the consultant possess the necessary economic background.

Purpose of the assignment

UNDP is seeking a senior expert to lead the support to the Government, in particular the Ministry of Economy and Development and line agencies, in producing the first draft of the Program. The expert will provide overall guidance on strategic planning and respective mainstreaming of SDGs (including their targets and indicators). Depending on the expertise of the consultant he/she will conduct analysis and suggest options of macro economic policy directions including actions of forecasting. A local team of experts are engaged to support this process and the incumbent of this position will technically guide this team.

Note: The consultant will be given additional days to carry out this macro-economic activities if the consultant possess the necessary economic background.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will perform the following activities:

Understand the development context of Turkmenistan and read existing 2030 socio-economic strategy, 2012-2016 Presidential Plan, Rural Development Plan and other related plans;
Review the proposed structure of the plan http://www.tm.undp.org/content/dam/turkmenistan/docs/TOR/Draft_Content_of_the_Programme_for_social_and_economic_development_of_Turkmenistan.docx and provide comments;
Review the templates sent to Line Ministries for their inputs into the direction of the 2017- 2021 plan . Prepare any additions templates required for line ministries inputs;
Agree with Ministry of Economy on how best to integrate the SDG goals, targets and indicators into 2017- 2021 plan based on the agreed goals, targets and indicators recommended for adoption by Turkmenistan during the March 2016 consultations conducted by the Government and the UN;
Propose and develop a process to prioritize these 15 year SDG goals, targets and indicators for the 5 years plan;
Lead in rolling out this process of prioritization;
Define how these new SDG indicators will be included in theplan 2017- 2021 given the proposed structure of the plan;
Define how any additional indicators other than those existing in the current 2012- 2016 program and proposed SDG indicators can best be incorporated to allow for new policy direction in many sectors;
Agree the possible policy directions with Ministry of Economyand Development for the medium term (2017-2021) for all areas suggested in the proposed structure of the plan;
Discuss with the Ministry of Economy and Development the balance in the plan between human development and capital development focus;
Lead on preparing the first draft based on completed templates from line ministries and subsequent drafts that will be required and write these drafts. Ensure the strategy sections compliments the indicators suggested;
Led the process with Ministry of Economy and Development of internal discussion on all drafts;
Write the monitoring of progress section of the plan based on inputs of all stakeholders;
Prepare the budget for the plan in consultation with line Ministries;
Lead the finalizing stage of the Program design, including its consultation withstakeholders.

Support to the Ministry of Economy Development to develop macro-economic policy of the Presidential Plan 2017- 2021:

Support the Ministry of Economy and Development to define their policy direction for the period 2017- 2021 and corresponding indicators to be included.

Management Arrangements

The consultant will spend a minimum of 50 days in the country and sit in the Ministry of Economyand Development. He will report on a daily basis to the Research and Innovation specialist . He/she will have weekly meeting with RR and DRR.

Deliverables

Part 1: Support to Ministry of Economic Development on macro-economic forecasting.

Recommendations to define macroeconomic directions for five-year period, including goals, targets and indicators in the area of macroeconomic policy;
Conduct review of the macroeconomic forecasting and strategic planning system;
Recommendations for improvement of the macroeconomic forecasting and strategic planning system.

Duration: 20 days. NOTE: The consultant will be given these additional 20 days to carry out this macro-economic activities if the consultant possess the necessary economic background.

Part 2: Support to Developing the Presidential Plan 2017- 2021. Total duration of this main part of the assignment - 80 days.

Templates for all Line Ministries submissions to the 5 year plan;
Process for prioritizing 15 year SDG targets and indicators into the 5 year plan;
Suggestion on how best to integrate SDG, targets and indicators into plan and any additional policy indicators in addition to those existing in the 2012- 2016 plan;
Draft section of the plan that defines the line ministries policy direction and corresponding indicators including SDG indicators;
This deliverable also includes all the relevant consultations inputs.

Duration: 30 days.

First full draft of plan with monitoring strategy.

Duration: 30 days.

Revised drafts and the Final Presidential Programme that incorporates SDGs, targets, budget and M&E plan ready for submission to the Cabinet of Ministers.

Duration: 15 days.

Capacity development plan to support MOED to coordinate the roll out of the plan.

Duration: 5 days.

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;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge of and extensive experience working with UN human rights mechanisms;
In depth knowledge of common core documents format, styles, and latest best practices in the preparation of the core documents required;
Excellent training, facilitation and communication skills;
Results driven, ability to work under pressure and to meet required deadlines;
Good understanding and practice of capacity development;
Cultural sensitivity;
Diplomatic skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in economics , public policy with focus on economic development.

Experience:

At least 15 years of experience in advisory for strategic planning;
Experience in macro economy development would be an asset;
Understanding of the country’s and/or region’s development context (Turkmenistan, Central Asia, emerging economies of the region);
Experience of working with international institutions; experience with the United Nations system is an advantage;
Experience of working on sustainable development issues; advanced understanding of the Sustainable Development Agenda in the post-2015 context.

Language:

Excellent written and spoken Russian and fluent English.

Submission of applications

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Technical Proposal:

All experts applying for this position are required to provide:

Brief (1-2 pages) description of the methodology for the assignment;
Financial Proposal with the references to (1) the daily rate for the assignment and within the timing scale indicated in the present TOR, and (2) any other expenses (including transportation costs, accommodation costs, the possibility of vaccination and etc.). Template of the form can be found at: http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operations/jobs;
Cover letter explaining why they are the most suitable candidate for the assignment;
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc; please upload the P11 instead of your CV.

Financial Proposal:

The UNDP will enter into an Individual Contract based on a lump sum amounts. The financial proposal shall represent a detailed, justified and “all inclusive” amount. In order to assist UNDP in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount, including:

a daily fee for the tasks and an estimated duration as specified in this announcement;
travel (to and from the missions);
per diems;
any other possible costs (including vaccinations, dwelling, communication etc.).

Evaluation Criteria

Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative Analysis:

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/ compliant, and
Having received the highest score – out of 100 points.

Out of the maximum score of 100 points, the score for technical criteria equals 70% - maximum 70 points, and for financial criteria 30% - maximum 30 points.

Technical evaluation (70%, or max 70 points) will take into account the following as per the scoring provided:

Education – 10 pts;
Relevant working experience in advisory for strategic planning – 15 pts;
Methodology– 10 pts;
Results of Interview – 10 pts;
Experience of working on sustainable development issues; advanced understanding of the Sustainable Development Agenda in the post-2015 context– 5 pts;
Understanding of the country’s and/or region’s development context (Turkmenistan, Central Asia, emerging economies of the region)– 5 pts;
Fluency in Russian – 10 pts;
Fluency in English – 5 pts.

Financial proposal – 30% of total evaluation - max 30 pts.

Additional requirements for recommended contractor:

Recommended contractors aged 62 and older, and if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.