Background

There is a growing emphasis placed on understanding and managing risks – whether they pertain to conflict, natural hazards, climate change, health, economic shocks, etc. – to ensure development is risk informed. Investing in risk-informed development means integrating risk management into the whole of the development planning, financing, and implementation process. If it isn't risk informed, it isn't sustainable development.

Given UNDP’s mandate to help countries build the capacities and resilience needed to sustain development results, we are committed to ensuring effective risk management across our programming. As part of this commitment we will be developing a new Risk Management Policy and related guidance for our programming. This will be undertaken as a component of a broader initiative to enhance UNDP’s programme and project management (PPM) policies and procedures to improve the quality, robustness, and performance of programming.

The new risk management policy and guidance will build on and align with UNDP prescriptive content and systems that are already in place or being developed. In particular, the new policy will need to fully align with UNDP’s recently updated Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Policy, which includes the following:

• Definition of the objectives of ERM;
• Clarification of the roles and responsibility between managers, risk owners, and ERM support functions;
• A risk management approach aligned with international standards (ISO 31000);
• Provision of risk acceptance guidance;
• Provision of guidelines on escalation;
• Requirements for risk reporting;
• Standardization of terms and definitions;
• Provision of the criteria model for UNDP;
• Definition of risk categories.

The ERM policy considers the variety of external and internal factors that create uncertainty regarding the realization of organizational goals, including programmatic objectives. However, the ERM policy does not prescribe specific programme and project management policies and procedures. Therefore, the new risk management policy will need to fully align with the corporate ERM policy but go a step further to define how UNDP’s commitment to risk management is operationalized across our programming.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Risk Management Advisor will advise and support UNDP in the development of guidelines for risk management across UNDP programming. The guidelines will include prescriptive policy and related procedures as well as operational guidance to support implementation. They will:

• Establish requirements for how and when risks are identified, analyzed, evaluated, and managed across UNDP’s programming cycle (design, implementation, closure). This will include clarification on how risks inform programme/project approval, management decisions, and budgeting;
• Increase focus on risk management for programme effectiveness, ensuring the policy requirements are fully embedded in UNDP’s approach to quality programming, including the requirement for all programmes and projects to develop and monitor a Theory of Change. The risk management policy should not be designed or presented as a separate or parallel administrative process but rather an essential part of programming required for programme effectiveness;
• Address relevant performance challenges, bottlenecks and opportunities related to risk management in programming? that have been raised by country offices, Bureaus, oversight units and partners in the ROAR, lessons learned reports, audits, evaluations and partner assessments. Relevant decisions of the Executive Board, EG and OPG should also be factored. Lessons from a recent risk mapping exercise and staff survey will be utilized as an input;
• Ensure coherence and consistency with relevant international standards, and global thinking, including the ISO 31000, Sustainable Development Goals, Sendai Framework, World Humanitarian Summit, etc. Risk management policies of other development organizations will be reviewed to ensure UNDP’s policy benefits from the lessons learned of others;
• Ensure consistency with related UN/UNDP programming approaches and requirements, including Delivering as One SOPs, revised UNDAF guidance (once available) and the 2016 QCPR (once available). Relevant UNDP policies and procedures, such as the Social and Environmental Standards and Private Sector Due Diligence, will be fully incorporated;
• Integrate and clarify risk management requirements and options in diverse contexts, including options and innovations for risk management in crisis contexts, global and regional programming, and working with partners with specific needs and requirements such as GEF, Global Fund, GCF, EU, private sector and foundations;
• Strengthen the linkages between programme and operations, including clarifying how internal and operational risks should be managed, and identifying specific areas where procurement and finance prescriptive content are closely linked to ensure coherence. This includes full alignment with the ERM Policy, including aligning the new risk log used by the Annual Business Plan (ABP) and Integrated Work Planning reviewed by the corporate risk committee with the needs of programmatic risks;
• Provide a framework that enables engagement in high-risk contexts by providing relevant and practical requirements that ensure risk-informed development programming.The risk management policy should not make UNDP more risk averse but should ensure we have processes in place that enable improved risk management supported by clear guidelines on risk tolerance and how to determine when UNDP or should not engage;
• Provide clarity on risk communications by indicating the appropriate entry points for risk communication for both internal and external stakeholders. The guidance should also spell-out what to communicate, in what manner and when.

Key background documents that will be provided to facilitate this work include:

• Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (including ERM Policy, Monitoring Policy, Quality Standards, Social and Environmental Standards);
• PPM Architecture paper;
• Delivering as One Standard Operating Procedures and the revised UNDAF Guidance;
• Lessons learned on risk management collected from the ROAR, evaluations, performance factor analysis, and other sources;
• Summary of common audit issues and donor assessments of UNDP’s performance;
• Example risk logs for UNDP projects;
• Stocktaking and Mapping of UNDP Risk Management Report;
• Template for prescriptive content.

The risk management guidelines will be developed through a consultative process led by UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), Development Impact Group (DIG). All Bureaux will be consulted throughout the process. A small risk management reference group will be established to include colleagues with technical expertise in risk management who can contribute time to the process. The reference group for the overall PPM re-write will also be consulted.

Output 1: Scoping Report

• Review background documents to identify gaps and needs;
• Identify examples and lessons learned from other organizations;
• Map existing relevant prescriptive requirements in the POPP;
• Prepare scoping report outlining background and rationale, needs, and recommendations for the new risk management guidelines for programming;
• Engage with reference group throughout to ensure approach is tailored to UNDP needs and benefits from in-house expertise. Duration 18 Days by end August.

Output 2: Draft Prescriptive Content

• Based on scoping paper and feedback from reference group, prepare a draft of the risk management policy and procedures for programme and project management using UNDP’s prescriptive content template.
• Prescriptive content will include policy, procedures and templates (including an updated project risk log);
• Preliminary Draft to be shared with reference group for inputs which will be incorporated into a revised Draft. Duration 12 Days by end of September.

Output 3: Final Draft Prescriptive Content

• Draft prescriptive content will be shared widely internally, including through the Policy Review Network. Advisor will track and incorporate all feedback into a final draft. Duration 10 Days by end of October.

Output 4: Draft Operational Guidance

• Simple and practical operational guidance to be developed to support implementation of key requirements of the policy and procedures. This will include guidance on the risk log. Duration 15 days by end of November.

A more detailed work plan and timeline will be agreed at the start of the contract.

Competencies

Functional/Technical competencies:

Technical: The consultant must demonstrate strong expertise on three technical aspects:

• Risk management expertise within the context of development programming. In particular, experience managing complex risks related to issues such as climate change, natural disaster, crisis, etc;
• Familiarity with international standards for risk management i.e. ISO 31000. Professional Certification is not required but would be an advantage;
• Project management expertise within the context of development programming. Familiarity with UNDP’s programming policies and procedures is desired. Familiarity with internationally recognized approaches on project management such as PRINCE2, CCPM, etc, is also beneficial.

Communication:

• The consultant should be able to communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner;
• Experience developing practical policies and guidance.

Professionalism:

• The consultant should be capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
• Able to handle a large volume of data and reports accurately and thoroughly, with great attention to detail;
• Exercise the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Teamwork:

• The consultant should work well in a team;
• Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
• Focuses on results for the client; and welcomes constructive feedback.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by upholding the United Nations' values and ethical standards; treats all people fairly;
• Appreciates differences in values and learning from cultural diversity;
• Promotes UNDP vision, mission and strategic goals;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age-based sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UNDP in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Required Skills and Experience

Education :

• An advanced (Masters) degree in international development, risk management or related field;
• At least 15 years relevant experience (including risk management, project management and international development).

Language: Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

Requirements:

• Technical competencies in risk management (20 points);
• Ability to communicate a clear understanding of the nature of the assignment (10 points);
• Interview;
• Familiarity with international standards and practices related to risk management and risk-informed development (10 points)
• Demonstrated expertise in managing risks in development programming (10 points);
• Experience developing practical and operational policies, guidance and/or tools related to risk management (10 pts.);
• Familiarity with project management practices, particularly UNDP’s programme and project management policies and procedures (10 points).
• Desk Review;
• Financial proposals must be all inclusive and must be expressed on the basis of “a daily fee';

Payment will be made upon submission of a certificate of payment request, indicating outputs achieved and days worked to be verified and cleared for payment by the supervisor.

Any travel expenses will be paid for directly by UNDP and should not be included in the price proposal.

Financial Proposal (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 (30 points);
• µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

Presentation of Offer:

How to apply ? Applicants are instructed to submit the following:

Motivation Statement indicating why the consultant is interested in the position with a brief summary of their qualifications;

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references. (P11 template can be downloaded from this link: http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc. ?A complete PH 11 Form will be required before a selected applicant is awarded a contract.
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive daily fee in US Dollars for this consultancy must be sent via email to bpps.procurement@undp.org with the subject heading “Financial proposal for “Senior Consultant, Risk Management Advisor” prior to the deadline of this vacancy. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.
• Award of Contract: The award of contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as responsive, compliant, and acceptable; having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to this solicitation.General Terms and Conditions: under Individual Consultant (IC) type of assignments: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf?