Background

UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2014-2017 (SP) emphasizes the need to identify, explore, test, evaluate and scale up innovative approaches across priority subject areas through emerging methodologies, technologies, knowledge and partnerships, in support of national partners and as part of its own institutional innovation. The SP identifies a specific result in its Integrated Results and Resources Framework related to innovation: “innovations enabled for development solutions, partnerships and other collaborative arrangements.” To achieve these results, UNDP focuses on the following two areas:

•  Innovative methodologies and tools for scanning the horizon, collecting and analysing data, ideating and reflecting, and prototyping and testing development solutions; and
•  Innovative methodologies and tools for co-designing and scaling up demonstration projects identified/developed and ready for application. Collaboration across sectors (public, private, civil) with traditional partners and as well as those actors less historically engaged is a key element of this strategy.

The UNDP Innovation Facility, launched in 2014, supports initiatives that a) strengthen UNDP’s position as a leading advisor on innovation for development; b) enable national development actors to co-create value; c) increase understanding of the role and value of innovation for development; d) support social innovators both within the organization and from the broader development community; and finally, e) enhance UNDP’s own performance efficiency through innovative practices.

UNDP Arab States Regional Innovation Facility, based in the Regional Hub in Amman, supports 18 Country Offices as well as Regional Hub colleagues in various professional areas, including Governance & Peacebuilding, Sustainable Development, Environment & Energy, and Gender. Regional innovation activities focus on Behavioral Insights, Games for Social Change, Data Innovation (including big data and micronarratives), and Alternative Financing Mechanisms.

Learn more about the Innovation Facility at www.undp.org/innovation.

Context

In recent years, the world has witnessed new waves of violent extremism that have taken the lives of many innocent people. Whether based on religious, ethnic, or political grounds, extremist ideologies glorify the supremacy of a particular group and oppose a more inclusive and tolerant society.

In response to the growth of violent extremist (VE) groups, UNDP has developed a global framework[1] on the prevention of violent extremism and implemented a number of projects in the Arab States where violent extremism has a significant regional dimension given the high VE interlinkage between countries in the region. This framework is based on the UN Secretary-General’s 2016 Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism (PVE), which considers VE a ‘diverse phenomenon, without clear definition and it knows many manifestations that are very context specific in nature and linked to a myriad of structural and individual drivers’.

Building sustainable approaches that tackle the causes of VE is hampered by a lack of robust evidence around what types of interventions are effective in reducing the influence of extremist groups.[2] This, coupled with the lack of agreed definitions and robust understanding of different pull and push factors for radicalization and VE, poses a significant challenge. Without a framework through which to understand the dynamics and a methodology to measure impact, it is difficult to build a picture of which interventions are most effective in preventing violent extremism, what it takes to make them effective, and how to best target resources sustainably.

Given these challenges, the regional Innovation Team, in collaboration with two UNDP Country Offices (COs) – Tunisia and Yemen – and the regional Governance and Peacebuilding Team, has designed an initiative to test the use of Behavioral Insights in Preventing Violent Extremism. With this initiative, we hope to support Country Offices’ efforts to: 1) better understand how to affect contributing factors, both structural drivers and individual motivations, to violent extremism; 2) understand the types of interventions that are effective in reducing the influence of extremist groups and reducing the propensity to become radicalized; and 3) measure the impact of various interventions. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of UNDP’s Regional Innovation Team Lead based in the Regional Hub in Amman, and in collaboration with UNDP Tunisia and UNDP Yemen COs and the regional Governance and Peacebuilding Team, the consultant will provide technical support for the development of behavioral maps, intervention design and analysis, and knowledge product development.

The consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Working with colleagues in UNDP Tunisia and Yemen COs, their national partners as appropriate, and the regional advisory teams to understand the process of radicalization in the Tunisia and Yemen contexts, in order to develop conceptual behavior maps for radicalization and violent extremism that document the journey of target groups in each country; these would be the basis for discussion at the kickoff workshop with colleagues and partners;
• Working with colleagues and national partners as appropriate to refine the behavior maps and identify possible areas of interventions for BI trials;
• Providing technical advisory services to UNDP Tunisia and UNDP Yemen Country Offices in designing proposed randomized control trials (RCTs) to experiment with different approaches to disrupting the process of radicalization; designs would be specific to each country;
• Providing technical support in analysing results of the RCTs, if these are implemented by UNDP Tunisia and/or UNDP Yemen Country Offices by end of March 2018;
• Working with the regional teams to design and co-deliver two workshops with the UNDP CO teams, their national partners, and other partners: a kick off workshop and a progress check meeting;
• Writing and producing a knowledge product that reflects the experience of UNDP Tunisia and UNDP Yemen in using BI for PVE, as well as the consultant’s own experience on the topic; would consist of three rounds of revision of by UNDP colleagues in the two Country Offices and the Regional Hub.

By the end of the initiative, the objectives are to:

• Generate insights on the use of BI for PVE, based on experiences of two UNDP Country Offices in the region;
• Develop methodology and tools for using BI for PVE, in terms of research, design, implementation, and measurement of PVE interventions, as documented in a knowledge product;
• Strengthen regional and national capacity to undertake BI interventions.

Competencies

Corporate

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional

• Demonstrated knowledge/understanding of the current political and development context of the Arab region;
• Excellent writing and communication skills;
• Excellent team-building/engagement and interpersonal skills.
• Capacity to interact with social innovators as well as senior officials and decision makers in UNDP Programme countries and other development organizations;
• Strong analytical and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality reports and knowledge products;
• Demonstrated skills in BI research and analysis and RCT experiments across a variety of thematic areas;
• Time management and organizational skills, with the ability to undertake multiple tasks and deliver under pressure.

Leadership

• Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broaderstrategic overview and corporate vision;
• Demonstrated flexibility in leadership by performing and/or overseeing the analysis/resolution of complex issues;
• Ability to conceptualize and conveystrategicvisionfromresearch, analysis, and development perspective.

Managing Relationships

• Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational management skills;
• Excellent networking skills with strong partnerships in academia, technical organizations and as a recognized expert in the practice area.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products;
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
• Demonstrates a strong capacity for innovation and creativity in reporting on UNDP programming.

Judgment/Decision-Making

• Proven track record of mature judgment and initiative;
• Proven ability to provide strategic direction to the project implementation process;
• Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues andchallenges, uses diplomacy and tact to achieve result.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• A masters-level degree in behavioral and social sciences, political science, international relations, conflict resolution or related fields.

Work Experience

• At least 7 years of progressively professional experience in behavioral insights research, conflict assessment and prevention, peacebuilding or similar at the national or international level;
• At least 3 years of experience in designing, executing, and analysing RCT experiments.

Language Requirements

• Language proficiency in written and oral English is required; Arabic is an asset.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

• S/He shall perform tasks under the general guidance of the Regional Innovation Team Lead at UNDP’s Regional Hub in Amman;
• The supervision will include approvals/acceptance of the deliverables/outputs, including for payment, as identified in previous sections;
• The individual is expected to liaise and collaborate in the course of performing the work with UNDP colleagues in UNDP Tunisia and Yemen Country Offices and at the Regional Hub, private and public sector stakeholders, and other national and international consultants as necessary;
• S/He will report to the Innovation Team Lead for the UNDP Regional Hub in Amman. Deliverables shall be prepared by the expert on the basis of specific requirements;
• The individual is required to maintain close communication with the UNDP Regional Innovation Team Lead on regular and as-needed basis throughout the assignment in order to monitor progress. In the event of any delay, s/he will inform UNDP promptly so that decisions and remedial action may be taken accordingly. Delays that would affect the flow of the collaborative work and the delivery of outputs on schedule will lead to termination of contract;
• Should UNDP deem it necessary, it reserves the right to commission additional inputs, reviews or revisions, as needed to ensure the quality and relevance of the work;
• UNDP shall be entitled to all intellectual property and other proprietary rights, including, but not limited to, patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to products, processes, inventions, ideas, know-how or documents and other materials which the Individual contractor has developed for UNDP under the Contract and which bear a direct relation to, or are produced or prepared or collected in consequence of, or during the course of, the performance of the Contract, and the Individual contractor acknowledges and agrees that such products, documents and other materials constitute works made for hire for UNDP.

DURATION OF THE WORK

Work is to take place for a period of a little over 6 calendar months from contract signature date, to be completed by the end of March 2018. Applicants should include the number of working days they require to complete the scope of work and deliverables as described herein as part of their financial proposal.

DUTY STATION

The expert will work remotely from his/her own place of work, and will be expected to liaise regularly with the UNDP Regional Innovation Team Lead in Amman, Jordan, and UNDP Tunisia and UNDP Yemen Country Offices teams throughout the assignment. The expert will have to travel to Jordan for the project workshops (the kickoff workshop and progress check meeting).

TRAVEL PLAN

Part of this assignment will require the consultant to travel for a two-day kickoff workshop as well as two-day a progress check meeting in line with the travel plan/schedule hereunder. The primary purpose of this travel will be to meet with the Regional Innovation Team Lead, CO teams, and national and/or international experts. The location of these two meetings will be Amman, Jordan or Tunis, Tunisia. Depending on availability, the kickoff workshop would occur in the second half of October, and the progress check meeting would occur in early-to-mid February. Applications should include all travel-associated costs in their financial proposal. Any travel outside of the travel listed below will be considered as Unforeseen Travel and will be treated in accordance with UNDP corporate regulations and rules.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Candidates that fail to submit the required information will not be considered.

• Duly accomplished using the template provided by UNDP;
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
• Technical Proposal (A one-page technical proposal detailing how the Candidate will approach the assignment and prioritize activities to complete the scope of work and deliverables in the most efficient and effective manner);
• Sample of previous work (behavioral maps, intervention design and analysis, and final products);
• Financial Proposal indicating the all-inclusive deliverables-based total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided in section D. The terms “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal. 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 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.

All necessary information including: Complete Procurement Notice, The Selection Criteria, and Annexes are found on the following link under Procurement http://procurement-notices.undp.org/

Interested candidates shall apply by submitting the online CV/P11 via the UNDP Job advertisement website. Thereafter, the consultant should submit a package containing all required documents via e-mail to proc.contract.rscjo@undp.org. The following documents must be included in the e-mail package submission:

1. Confirmation of availability;
2. CV/P11
3. One-page technical proposal;
4. Sample of previous work; and
5. Financial proposal.

Applications must be received no later than 10 September 2017. Only complete packages will be considered.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Work is to take place for a period of a little over 6 calendar months from contract signature date, to be completed by the end of March 2018. The number of working days is to be specified by the applicant in his/her financial proposal based on the scope of work and deliverables described herein.

Interested candidates should provide lump sum fees for requested services with detailed breakdown (consultancy fees, round ticket , living allowances etc.as per travel plan

EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

First Screening:

Applications will first be screened and only candidates meeting the following minimum requirements will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

• A masters-level degree in behavioral and social sciences, political science, international relations, conflict resolution or related fields;
• At least 7 years of progressively professional experience in behavioral insights research, conflict assessment and prevention, peacebuilding or similar at the national or international level;
• Language proficiency in written and oral English.

Desk review:

Shortlisted Candidates will then be assessed and scored against the following evaluation criteria:

Technical criteria (max 100 points):

• A masters-level degree in behavioral and social sciences, political science, international relations, conflict resolution or related fields; (20)
• At least 7 years of progressively professional experience in behavioral insights research, conflict assessment and prevention, peacebuilding or similar at the national or international level; (30)
• At least 3 years of experience in designing, executing, and analysing RCT experiments; (20)
• Language proficiency in written and oral English; (10)
• Sample of previous work (behavior maps, design of RCT experiments, analytical assessments and reports). (20)

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

Financial criteria (max 30 points):

For those offers considered in the financial evaluation, the lowest price offer will receive 30 points. The other offers will receive points in relation to the lowest offer, based on the formula (PI/Pn)*30, where Pn is the financial offer being evaluated and Pl is the lowest financial offer received.

 Step II: Final evaluation

The final evaluation will combine the scores of desk review and financial proposal with the following weights assigned to each:

• Shortlisting: 70%;
• Financial proposal: 30%