UNCDF Jobs - 66106- Junior Policy and Advocacy Consultant -

Junior Policy and Advocacy Consultant -

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Office Based, New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

30-May-2016

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months initially subject to extension based on the needs and performance

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

United Nations Capital Development Fund’s (UNCDF) mandate from the UN General Assembly (1966) is to “assist developing countries in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants and loans”. The mandate was modified in 1974 to focus on “first and foremost the least developed among the developing countries”. This original mandate -- to promote economic development in the least developed countries – remains highly relevant today. Within its economic development mandate UNCDF focuses on public and private financing mechanisms. Effective and efficient finance – in both the public and private sectors -- can spur economic growth and make it more sustainable and inclusive. UNCDF’s focus on financing mechanisms has special relevance for least developed countries, where public financial management is often weak and private financial systems often underdeveloped and inaccessible to the poor.
UNCDF’s support is ultimately designed to promote sustainable and inclusive growth that empowers people and countries to unleash their potential. The UNCDF approach to local development finance in least developed countries recognizes the need to unlock existing sources of capital for local development and attract new investment capital to the local level. To this end UNCDF applies its seed capital and technical assistance to develop innovative solutions that leverage or mobilize, allocate, and invest resource flows to the local level for local development, thus meeting the capital funding gap. This means that the key factors are the demonstration effect of the innovation and the additional fund flows unleashed for local development. This requires strengthening the capacity of existing public and private institutions and the procedures they use as well as providing the seed capital itself.

Under the direction of the Programme Manager, Local Development Finance Practice in HQ, the Junior Policy and Advocacy Consultant will assist the practice in various tasks related to strengthening knowledge management, policy advocacy and outreach, drafting of proposals and reports, organization of events as well as general support to the programmes as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key functions

Provides support to the Local Development Finance Practice (LDF Practice) in drafting policy, advocacy, and resources mobilization reports, communications and outreach materials;
Assists the LDF Practice in dissemination of knowledge, advocacy and communications products, and ensuring that the practice has sufficient publications in stock for all its products and advocacy materials;
Assists in the content development, redesign and presentation of the web pages related to the global programmes;
Assists in organization of events;
Assists in taking notes and summary reports for major meetings and other admin tasks as needed;
Conduct research and provide summary reports in areas related to Local Development Finance, including but not limited to, Infrastructure development, Finance for Food, Municipal Finance, and Private Sector Development.

Key Deliverables

LDFP global communications materials updated;
Targeted reports, advocacy materials related to global programmes drafted;
Support to drafting of donor proposals and outreach materials provided;
Support to organizing major HQ events provided;
Content for the websites of the global programmes finalized;
Specific research on areas related to Local Development Finance conducted as needed;
Programme and Admin support provided to the Practice.

Competencies

Functional/Technical Competencies:

Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills;
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop herself or himself professionally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
Client Service: Focuses on results for the clients and responds positively to feedback;
Time Management: Demonstrates excellent organizational and time management skills with strong interpersonal skills, ability to work under pressure in a well-organized, flexible and calm manner in fast-paced environment;
Knowledge Management: Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge;
Development and Operational Effectiveness;
Ability to perform a broad range of specialized activities aimed at effective and efficient functioning of unit;
Demonstrates a high degree of initiative and independence in delivering required outputs within tight timeframes, exercising problem solving and negotiation skills while at the same time demonstrating flexibility and ability to get the job done effectively;
Ability to finalize key products in the absence of supervisors.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Economics; Communications or related Development field.

Experience:

At least 2 years of relevant working experience in development, communications, advocacy and support or related development field;
Experience working with UNCDF/UN agencies in communications, partnerships development, policy or advocacy support. Previous experience working with UN agencies as a consultant, volunteer, or intern is highly desirable;
Proven experience in drafting proposals, reports, and organizing public events/meetings;
Experience in using IT, and communications related programmes.

Language:

Fluency in English, both written and oral;
Knowledge of another UN official Language is considered a plus.

Payment:

Payments are made to the Individual Consultant based on receipt of the Certificate for Payment (CoP) and acceptance of the work by UNCDF Responsible Staff that will be attached to the agreed deliverables.

Travel:

If travel is necessary UNCDF will arrange and cover expenses as per UNCDF travel policies.

Evaluation Method

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis methodology (weighted scoring method), where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable;
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;
Technical Criteria weight: [70%];
Financial Criteria weight: [30%].

Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 49 (70%) on the Technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Criteria for technical evaluation (70 points maximum):

Master’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Economics; Communications or related Development field (15 points);
At least 1-2 years of relevant working experience in development, communications, advocacy and support or related field. (15 points);
Experience working with in communications, partnerships development, policy or advocacy support. Previous experience working with UN agencies as a consultant, volunteer, or intern is highly desirable. (20 points);
Proven experience in drafting proposals, reports, and organizing public events/meetings; (20 points).

Criteria for financial evaluation (30 points maximum):

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.

UNDP is applying fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their price proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores.

Please go the following link for the General Conditions of Individual Contracts: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf