Historique

The Poverty Group of the Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) is the institutional anchor of UNDP’s work on poverty reduction and MDGs support. It provides core services designed to support global, regional and national efforts to reduce poverty and reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Poverty Group is organized into four teams: the MDGs Support Team, Inclusive Globalization Team, Inclusive Green Growth Team and the Economic Governance Team.

The Economic Governance Team (EGT) provides policy advisory services relating to public resource management in developing countries. Current EGT portfolio focuses on three areas: employment; management of natural resources and water governance.

  • Employment: UNDP employment programme portfolio encompasses four areas: 1) macro-economic and sectoral policy reforms for employment-led growth; 2) entrepreneurship development (support to micro-, small and medium enterprises and linkages to existing markets and finance); 3) vocational education and training; 4) temporary public employment programs and employment guarantee schemes, particularly in post-conflict countries.  In its approach to employment policies, UNDP aims at assisting countries to address structural barriers that women and youth, as well as other vulnerable groups (such as persons with disabilities or minorities), face in the labour market. Considering the acute problems of youth employment, UNDP’s support in this area is on the rise.
  • Extractive industries: UNDP’s work on extractive sector relates to research, policy advice, and South-South cooperation – focusing on how resources are managed to promote human development. UNDP takes a multidisciplinary approach, by engaging experts and practitioners working in many broad areas with the objective of promoting a more stable, equitable and sustainable extraction of resources.
  • Water governance: The EGT, in collaboration with the Environment and Energy Group, examines to what extent small-scale private providers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) contribute to achieving the target for access to safe water under MDG7. In-depth case studies, which were based on household and water provider surveys as well as interviews with government officials and other stakeholder, were completed on Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. They are available at http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/povertyreduction/overview.html. The second phase of the project consists of case studies of three additional countries. These are Senegal, Burkina Faso and Mozambique.  Along the studies already available, they will strengthen UNDP’s capacity to formulate evidenced-based policy and programming on water governance in SSA.

Objective:

The overall objective of this consultancy is to support all three of the areas outlined above with quality research and data analysis as well as administrative support to the Economic Governance Advisor and members of the team during the finalization of the knowledge products developed in the Economic Governance Team.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Consultant’s responsibility will be to support the production of publications developed or commissioned by the EGT. The tasks include: literature review and data analysis. The Consultant will review the publication drafts with an aim to: complement the analysis, check the text and data for accuracy. Whenever required, the consultant will carry out additional background research as well as econometric analysis. After thoroughly reviewing drafts, the Consultant will support coordination of a peer review of the publications and incorporate comments from the reviewers. Finally, s/he will support coordination of their editing and desktop publishing.

The final product of the consultancy will be the final version of knowledge products.
 
Specific Deliverables:
  • Knowledge products checked for accuracy;
  • Incorporation of comments from peer reviewers;
  • Edited knowledge products, in coordination with editor;
  • Publications ready for dissemination.

Timeframe:

The consultancy is planned for 120 days between 1 January 2013 – 31 July 2013.

Payment:

The payment shall be made in six installments, after the satisfactory completion of the following tasks:

  • Review and fact checking of knowledge products;
  • Incorporation of comments from peer reviewers;
  • Coordination of editing and desktop publishing of knowledge products.

Reporting:

The consultants will report to the Leader of the Economic Governance Team in the Poverty Group/Bureau for Development Policy (PG/BDP) and liaise with policy specialists in the Economic Governance Team, PG/BDP for any queries and assistance on a day-to-day basis.

Compétences

  • Proven record of research and analytical skills in the area of development, governance or environment;
  • Proven data analysis skills;
  • Attention to detail;
  • Strong communications and inter-personal skills;
  • Ability to work in a diverse team, but also independently and under deadlines.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Qualifications and their equivalent percentage weight for evaluation of candidates

Education:
  • University degree in development, economics, social sciences, quantitative methods, political science or other closely related field – 15%

Experience:

  • Understanding of and interest in economic and political development of UN member countries – 10%
  • Professional experience, including in conducting research – 15%
  • Outstanding writing, editing and fact-checking skills, attention to detail and the ability to review and provide comments on knowledge products – 15%
  • Familiarity with the UN system and development agenda. – 5%

Language Requirements:

  • Excellent command of English; command of other UN language is an asset – 10%
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.