UNDP Jobs - 88405- International Consultant for the Design and Delive

International Consultant for the Design and Delivery of the Istanbul Innovation Days 2020

Location :

Istanbul, TURKEY

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

20-Nov-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

estimated 10 November 2019-20 May 2020

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

approximately 100 days

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

Istanbul Innovation Days are UNDP’s flagship event on innovation. Currently in its fifth year, this R&D event for UNDP serves to accelerate organizational learning on emergent risks and approaches.

The IID was originally conceived as UNDP’s R&D mechanism that accelerates organizational learning about emerging trends (eg. growing use of big data, online labor, new governance mechanisms for the 4th industrial revolution technologies) through incentivizing experimentation (as opposed to or in addition to pure research) in the field. It is one of several organizational mechanisms aimed at identifying emerging risks and opportunism for sustainable development – others include Project Catalyst to the Administrator’s Future of Development gatherings.

The underlying logic is that in a complex and emergent world, it is no longer sufficient to analyze, theorize and subsequently roll out answers to deep systemic issues like the changing climate or migration. Instead, the complex interdependencies of exponentially accelerating technological revolutions, unrecognized externalities of global economic model, vested interests and accumulated liabilities of inadequate governance mechanisms call for new models through experimentation, real-time and data driven feedback, self-learning and cross disciplinary action.

In this respect, the IID has been heavily premised on learning by doing based on a diverse portfolio of experiments across a range of countries enabling UNDP and its partners to speak about the emerging trend from the experience of having done it (see here the global portfolio on alternative finance mechanisms stemming out of 2016 IID).

Duties and Responsibilities

We are recruiting an International consultant for the design and delivery of IID 2020. This is an opportunity to design, shape and execute a flagship initiative that seeks to rethink how development is done, by engaging with the cutting-edge practice. The project manager will be responsible for the strategic execution of the event by adhering to the IID 2020 concept, guided by the Regional Bureau for Europe and Central Asia and the global innovation team.

This unique role would best be filled by a dynamic, curious and solution-oriented person, who actively is searching and using new approaches, has a propensity for partnership development and has experience in managing events.

Objective

The Consultant is expected to leverage extensive experience in innovation, social innovation, engagement with the innovation ecosystem and convening major international events to execute delivery of a high quality, action-oriented event.

Scope of Work:

Horizon Scanning & Ecosystem Growth – identifying issues and actors behind the bend (approximately 30% of work input)

Actively horizon scan for emergent topics, signals of change and frontier issues relevant for RBEC and beyond;
Identify unusual actors who are working on a new generation of solutions that disrupt business as usual in development and challenge existing norms;
Grow and engage an ecosystem of ‘doers’ that are working in the edge of development.

Coordination & Collaboration – working with units across the organization (HQ, region and CO) to ensure that all relevant parties are engaged (approximately 20% of work input)

Ensure IID 2020 is aligned closely with the vision, aims, brand, and thematic areas of focus determined by the Global Innovation Team and RBEC;
Work closely with the UNDP Global Innovation Team and Regional Bureau for Europe and Central Asia to build the content programme for IID 2020;
Coordinate and facilitate engagement of UNDP’s corporate units, regional and country offices;
coordinate closely with the communication team within UNDP and with external communication partners
In coordination with relevant teams, develop a strategy for engagement with potential partners and sponsors for the event.

Event Execution – provision of technical support in the implementation of the IID 2020 (approximately 50% of work input)

Supported by a dedicated event management team, guide event organization from planning to execution;
Provide technical input and expertise in ensuring that the event is practical and action-oriented and maintains its R&D nature;
Jointly with RBEC and Global Innovation Team, define IID2020 KPIs;
Provide support in the overall organization of the event – including tracking financial expenditures and advising on how to generate savings;
Oversee the production and delivery of a comprehensive communications and outreach strategy to promote awareness of the IID with the widest cross section of government, business, and civil society audiences;
Represent UNDP at meetings and events relevant for the IID 2020 as needed;
Contribute to and support the production of the report from IID2020;
Support the RBEC innovation team in the design and delivery of an experiment to use spatial computing at the IID2020.

Expected Output and Deliverables:

Deliverable 1 - IID Concept and implementation plan (including consultations and horizon scanning) (work input: 20 days; deadline: beginning of December)
Deliverable 2 - Mapping of innovative outfits working in the edge of development (work input: 10 days; deadline: December 10 RBEC; payment: 28% of total value)
Deliverable 3 - Partnership development – mapping and engagement with potential corporate sponsors (work input: 10 days; deadline: Mid-January ; payment: 14% of total value)
Deliverable 4 - Support in coordination of speakers, agenda and communications (work input: 20 days; deadline: ongoing until May 10; payment: 14% of total value)
Deliverable 5 - Finalization of the agenda, consultations with partners, development of briefing notes (work input: 10 days; deadline: mid-February; payment: 14% of total value)
Deliverable 6 - Delivery of the event – including supporting speakers (work input: 20 days; deadline: early April; payment: 14% of total value)
Deliverable 7- IID2020 Event report draft, coordination and consultations (work input: 10 days May 10; payment: 16% of total value)

Institutional Arrangement:
The International Consultant will work in close coordination with and report to the head of regional innovation team, UNDP, RBEC.

Duration of the Assignment:
Approximately 100 working days within the Contract duration (10 November 2019-20 May 2020)

Duty Station and Expected Places of Travel:
The duty station is Istanbul, Turkey. Travel is not envisioned for this assignment.

However, if the consultant will need to undertake travel as part of this assignment, their costs will be covered separately in line with UNDP’s policies and procedures. Any mission/ travel of the Consultant should be planned and certified in advance in coordination and consultation with the certifying officer.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP
Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise.

Functional competencies:

Demonstrates sound judgment, diplomacy and sensitivity to confidential matters;
Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure;
Innovative forward thinking, good coordination and organizational skills, teamwork;
Participate effectively in team-based, information sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others.

Skills:

A positive and open disposition, curious nature and problem-solver attitude is necessary;
Knowledge and experience in using innovative methods to discover and solve complex challenges is essential;
Strong-record in running multi-stakeholder, international events is fundamental;
Strong negotiation skills;
Understanding of the UN, UNDP, international public sector, and government institutions roles in sustainable development and achievement of the SDGs;
Demonstrate ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure;
Demonstrate ability to work across teams and effectively promote information sharing, collaboration and cooperation.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

MA degree in business, political science, social sciences, international relations, communications or public policy.

Experience:

At least 5 years of experience working on social or digital innovation, new approaches and methods,
At least 5 years of experience in running international, action-oriented, multi-stakeholder events;
Experience in horizon-scanning and development of new service lines;
Demonstrated track record of working with unusual suspects and across different sectors;
Demonstrated track record of partnership development and resource mobilization.

Language:

Proficiency in written and spoken English.

Evaluation of Applicants
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical criteria, (P11/CV desk review and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates who will get at least 70% of points in the desk review (criteria A-D) will be considered for interviews. Only candidates who will get at least 70% in technical evaluation (Criteria A-F) will be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 35 points:

Criteria A (desk review) (University degree in business, political science, social sciences, international relations, communications or public policy.) – max points: 5)
Criteria B (desk-review) (Demonstrated experience working on social and/or digital innovation, new approaches and methods – max points: 5;
Criteria C (desk-review) (Demonstrated experience in running international, action-oriented, multi-stakeholder events) – max points 10;
Criteria D (desk-review) (Demonstrated experience in horizon-scanning and development of new service lines;) – max points: 5;
Criteria E (interview) (Demonstrated track record of working with unusual suspects and across different sectors; and track record of partnership development and resource mobilization) – max points: 7;
Criteria F (interview) (Language skills) – max points: 3;

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 15 points.

Application procedures
The application submission is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications.

Step 1: Interested candidates must include the following documents when submitting the applications (Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF attachment as the system only allows upload of one document):

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
Filled P11 form/CV including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.do); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;

Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and requested to provide a financial offer.

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.