UNDP Jobs - 71034- International Consultant to Support the Implementa

International Consultant to Support the Implementation and Monitoring of the Liberia Decentralization Support Programme (LDSP)

Location :

Monrovia, LIBERIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

10-Apr-2017

Application Deadline :

20-Mar-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Six Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Six Months

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

For over many years, the centralized governance system has hampered popular participation and local development initiatives, especially in the provision of public goods and services. In 2006, the Government of Liberia (GOL) made a commitment to “bring government closer to the people” and ensure greater participation of the Liberian people in their own developmental processes for equitable distribution of the nation’s resources. In January 2012 the Government of Liberia launched the National Policy on Decentralization and Local Governance aimed at decentralizing power, authority, functions and responsibilities from the central government to local governments. The policy provides that administrative institutions in the counties be revised, restructured and harmonized to provide for a responsible and responsive system of local governance and public administration, and to ensure accountable, efficient and transparent management of local resources. The EVD pandemic that hit Liberia in 2014/2015 not only highlighted the weakness of the health sector but also underscored the negative consequences of a highly centralized system of governance.

In order to implement the National Decentralization Policy, the Government designed a Liberia Decentralization Support Program (LDSP) signed in April 2013 as the successor program to the Liberia Decentralization and Local Development (LDLD) program and the County Support Team (CST) Program that phased had out in 2012. The LDSP covering the period 2013-2017 seeks to “create transparent, accountable and responsive public institutions that contribute to economic and social development as well as inclusive and participatory governance systems”. The LDSP outlines the strategy, results framework and operational modalities for realizing decentralization of political, administrative, and fiscal governance in Liberia. In addition to implementing the decentralization policy, LDSP is also aligned with the Agenda for Transformation, specifically Pillar 4 on Governance and Public Institutions.

Through the LDSP, significant progress has been made in operationalizing the Government’s vision and strategy for a decentralized governance system. The most significant of this, which was given further impetus by the effects of the ebola epidemic, has been the opening of County Service Centers to facilitate decentralized service delivery. In addition, an Act to provide the legal framework for delegation of authority to sub-national levels, the Local Government Act, is at advanced stages of enactment by the Legislature. This progress notwithstanding, challenges still remain. The most prominent of this is relates to capacity of national institutions to accelerate decentralization. These challenges manifest themselves in various ways, including low delivery, poor inter-sectoral coordination as well as shortage of skilled personnel especially at the critical middle level at the national and local levels.

The challenges notwithstanding, the government has intensified efforts and in 2017 primary focus will be, among others, the completion of the roll-out of the County Service Centres in all 15 Counties; stepping up the roll-out of County Development Agendas; advocacy for the passage of the Local Government Act; intensifying capacity building across government and professionalizing staff in advancing decentralization, with specific investments on MIA and GC; advancing sector deconcentration, fiscal decentralization in terms of various funds for local development, transfer of recurrent budgets to county administrations; accelerating participatory planning, public financial management capacity at local level and consolidating a decentralized monitoring and evaluation systems. These priorities are embedded in the 2017 work plan for the LDSP with specific outputs, time-lines and budgets.

In order to effectively support the realization of the above priorities and in response to a request from the Government of Liberia, UNDP is seeking the services of an international Technical Consultant with experience in advancing reforms in local government, designing decentralized service delivery and local government capacity development. The consultant will be embedded within the Ministry of Internal Affairs and liaising closely with the Governance Commission to provide technical and advisory support focused on program management and training staff of MIA and GC to enhance capacity in the implementation and monitoring of the LDSP. The Consultant will work through and with the National Decentralization Implementation Secretariat (NDIS) in advancing the priorities outlined above and as defined in the LDSP 2017 Annual Work Plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

Working under the direct supervision of the Minister of Internal Affairs, (MIA) , the overall guidance of the Liberia Decentralization Program Board, and the day to day collaboration with the UNDP, Governance Commission (GC), and National Decentralization Secretariat, the Consultant will provide strategic advice and technical program management support for the implementation of the Liberia Decentralization Support Programme (LDSP), ensuring it remains focused on its objectives, outputs and outcomes. He/she will have a dual focus: i) provide technical support MIA/GC departmental heads and MACs to deliver assigned roles in the LDSP and to better monitor the decentralization reform processes, and, ii) build the capacity of the National Decentralization Implementation Secretariat (NDIS), offering needed guidance to the LDSP program to ensure effective implementation.

Relating to task (ii) above, the Consultant will be expected to coach, mentor and support the staff of the project implementation unit – the National Decentralization Implementation Secretariat (NDIS), based in MIA and will ensure transfer of knowledge towards strengthening staff capacities to engage in strategic reform processes and in fully assuming the tasks for long term sustainability. This will therefore include the development of an exit strategy and sustainability plan for the LDSP.

The assignment shall be carried out in close cooperation with the international partners providing financial support to the LDSP, namely the EU, Sweden, USAID and UNDP, and will entail quality assurance of the reporting and other accountability tools and frameworks.
Scope of work and expected outputs:

In order to achieve the objective, it is foreseen that the Consultant will undertake the following:

Provide technical support to MIA and the Governance Commission, primarily training and building staff capacity in the implementation of the LDSP, ensuring cross-programme synergy and complementarities with other on-going related programmes (eg LEGIT, Integrated Public Financial Management Reform Project, Public Sector Modernization Plan, etc etc)
As an embedded expert in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and working in collaboration with the NDIS, provide day to day technical and advisory support to MIA, GC and other MACs in implementing the 2017 work plan, translating the plan into detailed schedule and time-line for implementation (Gantt chart) including tools and systems for monitoring and reporting;
Provide a capacity building and change management support for the NDIS, offer guidance and expert input to the staff including the mentoring and coaching of secretariat staff, identifying needs, designing and rolling out institutional development and training programs;
Provide oversight and leadership support to LDSP support to NDIS, including overseeing and conducting due diligence on reports to be summited to various established structures including the LDSP Technical Committee, the LDSP Board on progress, opportunities and challenges.
In close liaison with UNDP’s Team Leader, Democratic Governance Pillar, and the National Programme Coordinator, support the NDIS in establishing systems for monitoring and evaluating the program’s delivery of agreed results;
Provide technical support in collaboration with the National Program Coordinator in conducting a risk analysis of the LDSP and in designing an issues and risk log including mitigation measures and plans ensuring input from the technical committee and reporting to the project board for consideration and decision-making;
Provide technical support assisting the National Program Coordinator in extracting and reporting on overall program results and products at quarterly intervals, distilling lessons learned and good practices, etc, and participate in global knowledge networks and communities of practitioners on local government reform/democratic governance, etc.
In close consultation with Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Governance Commission, participating MACs and other key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Finance, collaborate with the National Program Coordinator in assessing the programme prospects for sustainability and recommend appropriate sustainability plan post 2017.

Assignment Activities and Deliverables

Settling in and introductory meetings with UNDP, MIA, GC and other LDSP stakeholders and partners, review of programme documents, progress reports, and other related documents to understand the full scope of the programme; production of Output: inception report discussed and endorsed by Technical Committee and approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs: April, 2017
In light of programming in an election year, assist MIA/GC in reviewing risk analysis undertaken as part of 2017 work planning under GC’s leadership and revise/update as appropriate, focusing on likely scenarios and risk mitigation/management measures, present this to the Technical committee and Board: output: revised LDSP risk assessment and management strategy : April 2017
Provide overall leadership and oversight support to IUNVs on the direction and implementation of assigned activities. Throughout
Review the LDSP Work plan and along with it develop or revise its detailed implementation schedule with sequenced activities and deliverables (Gantt Chart), including baselines, targets and indicators: output: LDSP Gantt Chart: April-May 2017
Provide technical support to National Program Coordinator in extracting overall program results and products at weekly, monthly, quarterly intervals, distilling lessons learned and good practices, etc, Outputs: weekly, monthly, quarterly reports; Throughout
Develop content and provide in-service training and knowledge transfer, guidance and expert input to the staff of the MIA/NDIS and the GC, on a scheduled basis; Throughout
Weekly updates and Monthly progress reports submitted to the Minister of Internal Affairs; Throughout
Final narrative report (in English) submitted and approved by Minister of Internal Affairs; 30 Sept 2017

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UN/UNDP’s as well GOL’s mission, vision and values.
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to work well with counterparts in government, the Legislature, the Judiciary, civil society, political parties, and the donor community;
Excellent negotiation and representational skills, at senior level (with international organizations and/or diplomatic missions).
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, ability to foster networks and partnerships, and good working knowledge of information and computer technology;
Displays analytical skills including theories of change and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
Demonstrates strong capacity in institutional strengthening and change management, including mentoring and coaching techniques to supervisees and coordinating capacity advisory services to stakeholders;
Proven familiarity with gender analysis and concepts;
Excellent project management skills. Knowledge of UNDP programming practices is an asset;
Knowledge and expertise in Decentralization, Local Government capacity development, democratic governance, and rule of law;
Proven skills in organizational change management in transitional context;

Communications and Networking:

Excellent oral and written communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors, including detractors.
Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, government and non-government

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's Degree in Political Science, Law, Public Administration, institutional/organisational development or related field

Experience

A minimum of 10 years working experience in the area of programme management, with at least 5 years in areas of decentralization, democratic governance/rule of law.
Prior experience working in countries in transition. Previous work experience in post-conflict contexts in Africa is a requirement. Work experience in Liberia will be an added advantage

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Evaluation criteria:

Shortlisting: Education = 4 points : Experience = 6 points; 7 points required for pass to the desk review process

Only shortlisted candidates will be forwarded the UNDP Procurement Notice

Technical proposal (desk review)

Technical skills, given by qualifications and training record (20 points);
Overall experience in the provision with the services given above (50 points);
Adequacy of competencies & skills responding to the Terms of Reference (30 points).

To be qualified candidate should obtain minimum 70% or total 70 points.

Contract Award

Contract will be awarded to highest scored candidate (technical score + financial scores)/100
Rating will be as follow:

Rating the Technical Proposal (TP):
TP Rating = (Total Score Obtained by the Offer / Max. Obtainable Score for TP) x 100

Rating the Financial Proposal (FP):
FP Rating = (Lowest Priced Offer / Price of the Offer Being Reviewed) x 100

Total Combined Score:
(TP rating) x (Weight of TP, e.g. 70%) + (FP Rating) x (Weight of FP, e.g., 30%)
Total Combined and Final Rating of the Proposal: The higher combined score will be recommended.