Background

Flowing from the integrated governance and peacebuilding agenda that is at the heart of the Strategic Plan 2014-17, UNDP supports partners in the building of responsive and accountable institutions at all levels of government. This work is central to ensuring that development is both effective and sustainable for citizens. By supporting member states to deliver quality services, improve accountability and expand the opportunities for inclusive economic and social progress, UNDP builds resilience to crisis and reinforces the dynamic relationship between State and the people, at all levels of society. Part of this support is provided by the Oslo Governance Center and the Governance and Peacebuilding Cluster (GP) at the Bureau of Policy and Programme Support (BPPS).

Specifically, in fragile settings, the Responsive and Accountable Institutions (RAI) team of GP/BPPS supports governments and citizens to gain control of the recovery and peacebuilding process through support to the restoration of core functions of the state -- from rapid support to civil service and center of government capacity to aid management and extension of state authority.  UNDP’s support to partners focuses on restoring the basic capacities required to make and enact policy through state institutions.

UNDP works to improve the capacities of local governments to meet their statutory obligations for delivering public services, investing in local development and preserving social peace. UNDP recognizes local governance as the most accessible level of engagement with public authority and works with local authorities and civil society to involve communities in deciding on priorities for local development and, in crisis-affected situations, for a sustainable recovery.

Through this framework, restoring the capacity of local governments to improve safety and security of crisis-affected communities, to deliver services and to represent the population is central to the UN’s wider peace and state-building goals. While early support to strengthening some form of local government is crucial, where state presence, legitimacy and capacity is often eroded by extended violence, international support to local governments and other local development actors, backed by sufficient field presence, has not always been timely and commensurate. As a result, UNDP support has assumed a special relevance in crisis-affected countries, when it has contributed to supporting infrastructure repair and building or creating relationships between different levels of government and civil society.

UNDP’s approach to local governance and local development in the 21st century is framed by its Integrated Local Governance and Local Development Framework. Given the peculiar challenges met in fragile and crisis-affected settings, UNDP’s specific approach to such contexts is given in its Guide on Local Governance in Fragile and Crisis-affected Settings. Both the overall framework and the guide to be released in April 2016 represent important milestones in renovating UNDP’s policy framework on local governance and local development, as called for by the independent review of UNDP’s contribution to local development carried out in 2010. In 2016, GP/BPPS will put priority in launching and rolling out these important policy guidelines within the UNDP network of regional hubs and country offices, but also beyond in the broader development community. GP/BPPS will also proceed with developing a Global Programme on Local Governance and Local Development under which a specific output will look at the needs to strengthen local governance capacities for fomenting peace and recovery in fragile and crisis-affected settings.

Furthermore, the LGLD Framework and the Guide will contribute directly to the elaboration of UNDP’s Toolkit for the Localization of SDGs, which will be completed in 2016. This toolkit will propose a set of instruments and mechanisms that can support the process by which local governments and local actors can also play a major role, if not the leading one, in implementing the ambitious set of objectives set forth in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The Toolkit will look at crucial areas that need to be addressed in order to successfully implement the 2030 Agenda at local level, such as the integration of the three pillars of sustainable development within local development systems, inclusiveness, multilevel governance, monitoring and accountability, and the role of territorial partnerships, among others. The Toolkit shall have a consistent but also flexible approach to be adaptable to different circumstances, including in particular to peacebuilding and resilience contexts.

Finally, UNDP will continue in 2016 its partnership with the World Bank for developing and deploying a Diagnostic Tool on Core Government Functions and a broader set of policy recommendations and tools for supporting core government functions in the aftermath of a conflict. This body of work incorporates a specific focus on local governance and in 2016, further efforts are planned to refine the local governance diagnostic tool and pilot it in more crisis-affected countries.

In order to support the roll-out of this ambitious policy guidance and knowledge product package on local governance in crisis countries, the Governance and Peacebuilding Cluster is looking to recruit a senior consultant with extensive experience of UNDP’s work in this area.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader of the Responsive and Accountable Institutions (RAI) Unit in the Governance and Peacebuilding Cluster of BPPS, and in collaboration with the Adviser at the Oslo Governance Centre, the senior consultant will be responsible for providing high-quality technical assistance on local governance issues and approaches into the process of launching and disseminating the LGLD Framework and the Guide on LG in Fragile and Crisis-affected Settings, as well developing the Toolkit for the Localization of SDGs, with a special focus on crisis settings.

The senior consultant will also provide technical expertise inputs into Core Government Functions work stream co-led with the World Bank, including by assisting in the development of further tools and their piloting in specific crisis contexts.

Finally, the consultant may be called to undertake specific assignments in response to Country Offices and Regional Hubs for programming in areas related to local governance and local development.

The consultant will, in particular, be responsible for:

1. Leading the launch, dissemination and piloting of the Guide on Local Governance in Fragile and Crisis-affected Settings.

a) Lead the drafting and oversee the publication of promotional products for the dissemination of the Guide, including:

•  Summary Brochure on the Guide
•  Blogs, articles and web pages for disseminating the Guide
•  An on-line short presentation (15 min) mixing text and audio-visual materials for dissemination to a wider audience of practitioners and policy-makers.

b) Contribute to the preparation and delivery of a number of global and regional launch events for UNDP’s renovated policy framework on local governance & local development and core government functions in fragile and crisis-affected settings planned for 2016, including:

•  A New York-based event (1 day) targeting the UN system and permanent representations to the United Nations.
•  A Europe-based event (2 days) presenting the overall UNDP’s package on local governance and local development, including the Guide, Strategy and the upcoming localization toolkit.
•  A dialogue at the Oslo Governance Centre (1 day)

Other events at global or regional level may be scheduled during the year and require the consultant’s technical support and/or presence for aspects relating to fragile and crisis-affected settings.

c) Develop training package to support dissemination of the Guide including:

•  A webinar (one hour duration) gathering a few experts on the topic of local governance in fragile and crisis-affected settings and discussing the main tenets of the approach proposed in the Guide.
•  A training package for a 3-day workshop including: model agenda, trainers’ guide, participants’ notes, presentation materials.
•  An on-line interactive course (2 hours)

d) Pilot the Guide at global, regional and country level, through:

•  Managing an on-line e-discussion on UNDP Teamworks/Yammer
•  Conducting up to 2 regional training workshops (hosted by Regional Hubs) for UNDP field-based staff
•  Conducting up to 3 country missions to support programming in local governance in fragile and crisis-affected settings, conduct further training of UNDP staff and UNDP partners (government, NGOs, others) and participate in local events where Guide can be launched.

2. Contributing to UNDP’s global policy and programme development on the localization of SDGs, urbanization, migration and resilience.

a) Support the development of specific programming tools, or adaptation of existing tools, for the localization of SDGs in fragile and crisis-affected settings, including:

•  a rapid diagnostic tool on LGLD in crisis situations;
•  a rapid capacity assessment methodology for local governments in crisis situations;
•  a citizen perception survey tool to measure trust in local governance in post-crisis situations.

b) Contribute to the preparation and launch of a Global Programme on Local Governance, with emphasis on UNDP’s response at the local level in fragile and crisis-affected settings.

c) Contribute to the preparation, review and finalization of UNDP upcoming policy documents on: (a) urbanization; (b) migration; and (c) resilience, for aspects related to local governance and local development in crisis-affected settings.

3. Participate in UN/WB assessments on core government functions

In two pilot countries:
a) Adapt existing diagnostic tools on local governance in the immediate aftermath of conflict to pilot countries’ context.
b) Conduct desk research as first assessment in diagnostic process.
c) Join UNDP/WB diagnostic team for field-based diagnostic mission
d) Draft local governance chapter of final diagnostic report (10-15 page max).

Competencies

The Senior Consultant will contribute her/his knowledge, expertise and experience on local governance in crisis situations by producing the following deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Leading the launch, dissemination and piloting of the Guide on Local Governance in Fragile and Crisis-affected Settings.  This deliverable will entail 55 working days, distributed among the following key activities: Dissemination of products (5 days); 3 launch events (10 days); training package (15 days); and regional/Country Office piloting (25 days).

Deliverable 2: Contributing to UNDP’s global policy and programme development on the localization of SDGs, urbanization, migration and resilience.  This deliverable will entail 35 working days, distributed among the following key activities: SDG localization toolkit (15 days); support to Global LGLD Programme (10 days); and UNDP policy documents (10 days).

Deliverable 3: Participate in UN/WB assessments on core government functions.  This deliverable will entail 30 working days, based on two country missions at 15 working days per country.

This work plan based on a total of 120 working days remains indicative at the time of issuing the TORs and will be revised upon signing the contract with the Senior Consultant and at the beginning of each new quarter by mutual agreement.

Required Skills and Experience

A minimum of Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, political science, social sciences or related field.

Required Experience

• At least 15 years of relevant professional work experience at the national and/or international level in governance, local development, and crisis prevention and recovery.
• Demonstrable at least 8 years’ policy and practical experience in one or several areas associated with local governance and in relation with fragile and crisis-affected environments.
• At least 3 years of experience working with UNDP or other international organizations at the global policy level.
• Understanding of political economy, conflict analysis and relevant tools to assess crisis environments and institutional capacities;
• Extensive experience on programme development, management and/or support modalities specific to UNDP.
• Knowledge of UNDP/UN regulations, rules, policies, procedures and practices is an advantage.

 Language

• Fluency in English and in French, both oral and written is required. Working proficiency of an additional UN language, Spanish or Arabic, is highly desirable.

Payments will be made monthly based on all-inclusive daily fee upon evidence of progress on final deliverables (and on the basis of actual mission days if applicable) as per the work plan approved between UNDP and the consultant at the beginning of each quarter.  Payment will be made upon submission of a certificate of payment request, indicating the type of deliverable completed to be verified and cleared for payment by the supervisor.

Approval of deliverables will be done by the Team Leader of the UNDP/BPPS Responsive and Accountable Institutions Unit, in liaison with the Adviser, Oslo Governance Centre.

All mission-related expenses, including travel fares, accommodation and terminal expenses (at UNDP DSA rate), will be covered by UNDP through F10 claims.

The submission of application is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications:

Step 1: Interested individual consultants must include the following documents when submitting the applications in UNDP job shop (Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded therefore please consolidate all docs in one file):

 •             CV and /or Personal History Form (P11), indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of at least three (3) professional references (the template can be downloaded from this link: http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc).

•             Brief description of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment.

 Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal

Applicants that pass the technical evaluation will be contacted and asked to submit their financial proposals indicating an all-inclusive daily fee in US Dollars for this consultancy using the financial proposal template available here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=43528.

Applications received after the deadline may be rejected. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal should be all-inclusive and include a breakdown. The term ‘all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel related expenses, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the financial proposal.

Technical proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria (Maximum Attainable 70 Points):

• At least 15 years of relevant professional work experience at the national and/or international level in governance, local development, and crisis prevention and recovery. (20 – Points)
• Demonstrable at least 8 years’ policy and practical experience in one or several areas associated with local governance and in relation with fragile and crisis-affected environments. (15 –Points)
• At least 3 years of experience working with UNDP or other international organizations at the global policy level; knowledge of UNDP/UN regulations, rules, policies, procedures and practices is an advantage. (15 – Points)
• Understanding of political economy, conflict analysis and relevant tools to assess crisis environments and institutional capacities; (10 – Points)
• Extensive experience on programme development, management and/or support modalities specific to UNDP; (10 – Point)

A minimum of 49 points is required to pass the technical evaluation.

Financial evaluation (Weight 30%)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

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

Financial Proposal (30% weight of combined score)

Please submit an all-inclusive lump sum daily fee in the Offer form.

Financial proposals must be all inclusive and must be expressed on the basis of a daily fee.  The term “all inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel related expenses - i.e. if required by applicant, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the daily fee.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses will be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP will not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

 Payments to Consultant:

Payment will be made upon submission of a certificate of payment request, indicating the type of deliverable completed to be verified and cleared for payment by the supervisor.

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.

 Please note that UNDP reserves the right to have an interview.