UNDP Jobs - 66100- International Consultant to design the overall sta

International Consultant to design the overall statistical measuring systems for SDGs, targets and indicators adopted by Turkmenistan, including for the Presidential Programme 2017- 2021

Location :

Home based with 3 missions to ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

31-May-2016

Application Deadline :

18-May-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

May 2016 - December 2016

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

45 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 Government decided that the new Program will incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted in September 2015 (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs). 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.

Stage 1 consultations have been completed and resulted into the compiled list of SDG, targets and indicators recommended for adoption by the Government of Turkmenistan. The list was sent to the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan for review and further approval. 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.

UNDP is seeking an International Expert to describe in detail the overall measuring systems (including upgrades) required to measure progress in all SDGs, indicators adopted by Turkmenistan, including for the Presidential Programme 2017- 2021 involving mainly Ministry of Economy and Development (MOED), State Statistics Committee and line ministries. The expected output of the assignment will be the MOED, the State Statistics Committee and line ministries have defined in detail the upgrades required in their statistical systems to measure progress in the implementation of SDG targets and indicators, including the Presidential Programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will perform the following activities:

One: Review again the list of SDG targets and indicators agreed to be adopted by Turkmenistan;
Two: Review the current monitoring of progress statistical system of the current Presidential Plan;
Three: Review the current MDG monitoring of progress statistical system;
Four: Discuss with MOED, State Statistics Committee and line ministries the following:
- If the SDGs will have its own stand- alone SDG measuring system or it will be integrated into existing national statistical system;
- If the system to monitor progress of SDGs will be part ( upgrade) of the current statistical system for measuring the Presidential Plan system or a stand – alone new SDG measuring separate system.
Five:Based on discussions with MOED, State Statistics Committee and line ministries and findings on 1- 4 above draft 2 options of an overall structure for measuring the SDG indicators. Clearly define if this is a new stand- alone SDG system or an upgrade of an existing system (national and sectoral statistics). Is that existing system the current Presidential Plan system?
Six: Discuss options with Line miniseries and agree preferred option;
Seven: Based on the preferred OPTION, specify clearly the role of each line ministry in this system and broadly define (not in depth) what amendments they will be need to make to ensure that their Line Ministry statistical system can accommodate SDGs monitoring.
Eight: Prepare in detail the SDG system setting out the following:

SDG Monitoring Data:

suggestion methodologies for collecting baseline information for each SDG indicator;
how the baseline information will be collected;
what data has to be collected;
who will analyze baseline data;
relevant templates;
the preferred IT requirements;
when data will be collected (frequency);
who will compile baseline data at national and sub- national levels;
who will compile date into reports for Cabinet Of Ministries and international reporting;
the preferred IT requirements;
any changes required to the legal framework;
who will be the coordinator of the SDG measuring;
any other relevant step in establishing a SDG system.

Nine: A plan of action for establishing /upgrading this system with proposed budget;
Ten: Prepare a brief summary of the SDG system to be included into the Presidential Plan 2016- 2020

Expected Deliverables:

Deliverable 1:Two broad options of an overall structure for measuring the SDG indicators.

Days: 7

Deadline: End of first mission to TKM

Deliverable 2: Detailed draft description of the system for measuring progress of for SDGs, targets and indicators adopted by Turkmenistan, including for the Presidential Programme 2017- 2021 based on the preferred option, including all element defined in Scope of works above

Days: 25

Deadline: Within 40 working days of TKM agreeing the preferred option.

Deliverable 3: Final Detailed description of the system for measuring progress of for SDGs, targets and indicators adopted by Turkmenistan, including for the Presidential Programme 2017- 2021 based on the preferred option, including all element defined in Scope of works above.

Days: 5

Deadline: Within 10 working days of TKM providing feedback on deliverable 2.

Deliverable 4: A plan of action for establishing /upgrading this system with proposed budget .

Days: 5

Deadline: Within 10 working days of completing deliverable 3.

Deliverable 5: Brief summary description of the SDG monitoring system to be included into the Presidential Plan 2017- 2021.

Days: 3

Deadline: Within 10 working days of completing deliverable 4.

Payment Conditions:

This is a lump sum contract that should include costs of consultancy and travel costs required to produce the above deliverables. Payment will be made in 4 installments according to these TOR as per Deliverables outlined above, as follows:

1st installment (20% of the total contract amount) to be made upon achievement of Deliverables 1;
2nd installment (40% of the total contract amount) to be made upon achievement of Deliverables 2;
3rd installment (20% of the total contract amount) to be made upon achievement of Deliverables 3;
4th installment (20% of the total contract amount) to be made upon achievement of Deliverables 4 and 5.

Competencies

The consultant should have the following competencies:

Corporate Competencies:

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, age sensitivity/adaptability;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.

Technical Competencies:

Experience in international statistics bodies, such as UNstat, Eurostat, will be an asset;
Knowledge of methodology (metadata that exist globally) for SDG indicators;
Experience of working on sustainable development issues; advanced understanding of the Sustainable Development Agenda in the post-2015 context;
Good knowledge of and working experience the CIS region.

Functional competencies:

Strong communication and analytical skills;
Excellent ability to communicate in English and Russian both written and spoken;
Good writing skills and computer literacy;
Ability to meet deadlines;
Excellent organizational, communicative, time-management and teamwork skills;

Personal Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
Positive, constructive attitude to work.

Required Skills and Experience

Advanced university degree in statistics and/or economics;
Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience in statistics. Working experience in international statistics bodies, such as UNstat, Eurostat, will be an asset;
Knowledge of methodology (metadata that exist globally) for SDG indicators;
Experience of working on sustainable development issues; advanced understanding of the Sustainable Development Agenda in the post-2015 context;
Good knowledge of and working experience the CIS region;
Knowledge of English and Russian languages.

Submission of applications:

Methodology: All applicants shall submit a brief methodology indicating phases, tasks, methods, techniques, time, resources, accessibility and tools to be applied for successful completion of assignment;
Financial proposal for implementation of the assignment. All applicants shall submit a detailed, carefully considered and justified financial statement based on a lump sum, which should include: a consultancy fee, administrative expenses (if applicable), travel expenses (three missions) to Ashgabat, and/or any other expenses the applicants deem necessary to incur during assignment. Interested candidates should take into account those expected three travels to Turkmenistan, and showing in their financial proposals breakdown of financial expenses for consultancy fee, DSA (currently, DSA for Ashgabat stands at 245 USD per day), round-trip tickets and concomitant terminal expenses. Template of the form can be found at: http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operations/jobs;
Updated P11 form and CV: P11 can be downloaded from the website at http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc.

Evaluation of proposals:

The Individual will be evaluated against a combination of the Offerors’ qualifications and financial proposal:

Technical criteria -70%, which includes:

Appropriate education -25;
Relevant experience – 30;
Knowledge of methodology for SDG indicators – 10;
Experience of working on sustainable development issues- 10;
Good knowledge of and working experience the CIS region – 5;
Knowledge of English and Russian languages – 10;
Methodology - 10.

Financial proposal – 30%.

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.