Background
Over the past decade, Decentralized Cooperation (DC) has gained rapid recognition as a means to support decentralized governance, promote local development as well as consolidate stable ‘North-South', 'South-South' and ‘Triangular’ partnerships. In recognition of the key strategic role of DC in the international development cooperation arena, in 2005 UNDP introduced the ART Initiative as an entry point for all international cooperation actors interested in aligning and harmonizing their respective actions in support of national policies for sustainable human development at local level. Within an evolving development landscape, ART capitalizes on the complementarities of actors at the local level and puts in place multi-level governance systems for sustainable human development. ART’s objective is to enhance the capacities of national and local institutions and actors working at the local level, thereby supporting the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and thus attaining inclusive and sustainable development.
In this context, French partners (through the Delegation for the External Action of Local and Regional Authorities and local communities - DAECT) and UNDP are working closely together to support the local implementation of the SDGs. France has indeed a long tradition and experience in engaging in decentralized development cooperation. Over the years decentralized cooperation has become an integral part of the French foreign development cooperation policy by evolving from more traditional north – south development aid towards strategic cooperation and exchange of experiences between equal partners.
According to the Atlas on French DC, almost 5,000 French sub-national governments have links with partners in partner countries; the majority of which are in Francophone countries. The main themes of interventions are urban strategic planning, water management, waste and sanitation, economic development, environment, and youth. The Delegation for the External Action of Local and Regional Authorities (DAECT) defines and implements, in consultation with ambassadors and the National Commission for Decentralized Cooperation (CNCD), the decentralized cooperation support and development strategy. It serves as a resource and support centre for local and regional French authorities, providing legal support, information services, analysis, and advice. Furthermore, DAECT implements a series of tools designed to encourage consistency and information pooling (bilateral meetings, decentralized cooperation portal, publications). For several years, the DAECT has been providing support to local government projects as well as national networks and regional consultation and coordination bodies in the form of calls for proposals. DAECT also acts as general secretary of CNCD, the French national institution of dialogue between the French state (9 ministries and operators involved) and local & regional authorities’ national associations.
Duties and Responsibilities
Objectives of the consultancy:
Since 2013, UNDP through the ART Initiative is partnering with the DAECT to stimulate and facilitate the articulation of French DC actors within the UNDP ART Initiative for improved development impact based on the mutual reinforcing role of both, Decentralized Cooperation actors and the multilateral system. The Consultancy will aim at promoting development cooperation effectiveness by facilitating harmonization and alignment of French development cooperation partners within the multilateral framework and supporting integrated local development approaches. Furthermore, it will support the contribution of French decentralized partners to the SDGs localization process, in coordination with UNDP.
More specifically, the consultancy will stimulate and facilitate the articulation of French DC actors within the implementation of development initiatives in the partners countries and territories through UNDP ART Initiative, as well as the preparation and implementation of a set of activities related to the localization of the SDGs. Specific tasks of the Consultant will include the articulation of French Local and Regional Governments and their networks and liaison with the Delegation for the External Action of Local Authorities (DAECT) - French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development. A special emphasize will be put on stimulating the participation of French partners in the process of elaboration of tools and resources for the localization of the SDGs, and on the involvement of French actors in the process of the World Forum of Local Economic Development.
Specific outputs, activities and deliverables
The consultant will work under the supervision of the UNDP ART Coordinator that will provide guidance and feedback at all stages of the process in coordination with DAECT. The expected activities and deliverables are the following:
Capitalize and upgrade the different work streams between France and UNDP, facilitating and promoting the articulation of French decentralized cooperation actors within the ART initiative, its country activities and UNDP’s local governance and local development programmes.
Responsibilities:
- Organize workshops with French DC actors to promote the ART Initiative as entry point to work with the multilateral sector to contribute to the implementation of the SDGs;
- Promote the added value of decentralized cooperation within the multilateral framework, in support of SDGs localization;
- Facilitate the participation of French DC actors in international events on SDGs localization;
- Ensure the follow up of the partnerships with French actors from the first contacts to the implementation and review of action plans in the partners countries and territories, together with UNDP ART team / Country Offices.
Deliverables:
- Elaborate all necessary documentation and outreach material in close collaboration with the UNDP ART team;
- Elaborate ToRs, agendas and briefing notes for relevant meetings, workshops and seminars.
2. Coordinate the contribution of French DC actors to the SDGs’ implementation at local level, especially for the elaboration of tools and systematization of experiences for the localization of the SDGs.
Responsibilities:
- Promote the SDGs localization process and the knowledge sharing platform (www.localizingthesdgs.org) among French decentralized partners (national government, local authorities, civil society, private sector), and support their contribution through information sharing, workshops organization, presentations, meetings, etc.;
- Accompany the use of the tools promoted in the platform in French decentralized cooperation initiatives;
- Support the systematization and sharing at global level of best practices and tools developed by French partners, both in their territories and in partner countries, for policy design and implementation, capacity building, resources mobilization and review;
- Organize workshops to better harness the potential of French DC actors to support SDGs localization, including on local economic development as a vehicle for SDGs localization.
Deliverables:
- Elaborate TORs, agendas and briefing notes for relevant missions, meetings, workshops and seminars
3. Promote the articulation of UNDP with French associations of LRGs such as ADF, ARF, and CUF
Responsibilities:
- Identify, for year 2019, strategic dialogue opportunities to use/build together with French LRGs networks and UNDP, in order to promote a common vision within the framework of SDGs implementation;
- Facilitate the use of the programmatic LGLD frameworks set in several countries by UNDP ART to offer them as entry point to French partners;
- Contribute to the building of a global alliance for SDGs localization by starting and sustaining a dialogue with French associations of local governments;
- Identify and support the engagement of French DC actors and other local governance actors in the process of the World Forum of Local Economic Development.
Deliverables:
Elaborate ToRs, agendas and briefing notes for relevant missions, meetings, workshops and seminars.
Reports:
The Consultant shall report quarterly to the UNDP ART Coordination in Brussels and to DAECT against the commonly agreed work plan prepared by the consultant within the first four weeks of the assignment.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’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
- Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
- Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Functional Competencies:
- Knowledge of local governance processes;
- Ability to work in a team;
- In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues including gender equality and empowerment issues, as well as a good knowledge of the inter linkages between the social, economic, environmental and cultural dimensions of sustainable development.
- Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills;
- Openness to change and ability to receive / integrate feedback;
- Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Master degree in a relevant discipline, such as International Relations, Social Sciences, Economics, Local Development, Development Studies, etc.
Experience:
- At least 2 years of relevant work experience, including assignments for bilateral and multilateral donors;
- Proven experience in local development or local governance processes;
- Proven networks in the French DC community and the ability to mobilize partners in response to territories’ demands;
- Thorough knowledge of the role and mechanisms of key and strategic decentralized cooperation actors, networks and associations working in Europe and other regions of the world;
- Comprehensive knowledge of DC mechanisms instruments and tools;
- Sound familiarity of the concepts and related principles of the Sustainable Development Goals;
- Experience in resource and partner mobilization, and partnership and network building and strengthening;
- Knowledge of the ART methodology and approach is a distinct advantage.
- Fluency in spoken and written French and English is a must;
- Knowledge of Spanish would be an advantage.
Official Travel:
Official travel may be required as part of the consultancy in accordance with UNDP standard policies and procedures for Consultants.
Application Submission Process:
The application is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications:
Step 1: Submission of Technical Proposals:
Interested individual consultants must include the following documents when submitting the applications in UNDP Job site (Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded therefore please include all documents in one file):
Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position;
A brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (Please paste the letter and the brief methodology into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application).
CV and Personal History Form (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 (the template can be downloaded http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc).
Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal
Applicants are instructed to submit their financial proposals in EURO for this consultancy to procurement.be@undp.org using the financial proposal template available here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=45780. The proposals should be sent via email with the following subject heading: “Financial Proposal* for French Decentrilized Cooperation - ART Initiative by 13 December 2018. Proposals to be received after the deadline will be rejected. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal should be all-inclusive and include a breakdown. The term ‘all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel related expenses, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the financial proposal.
Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). The cost of the assignment shall be linked to the deliverables specified above and reflected in the Section B. of the Financial Proposal template.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.
Application Evaluation Process:
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:
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. Only highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job based on the P11 desk review will be invited for an interview.
- Technical Criteria weight: [70%]
- Financial Criteria weight: [30%]*
Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 70% on the Technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 100 points:
Criteria A – Evaluation based on the following qualification (max points - 60):
Advance knowledge of decentralized cooperation mechanisms (max points - 20);
Knowledge and experience of French DC network (max points - 20);
Proven experience in development cooperation (max points 20).
Criteria B – Evaluation of the brief description of Approach to Assignment (max 15 points)
Criteria C – Further assessment based on interview (partnerships and resource mobilization, network building, relevant experience) – max 25
Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points
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.
Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.
Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs
Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.