Historique

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.  BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.  BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Response Unit (CRU) to support emergency and crisis response.  BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

UNDP has worked with national governments in more than 50 countries with high levels of disaster risk to develop their disaster risk management capacity. A substantial part of this support has been devoted to strengthening governance arrangements for disaster risk reduction (DRR), i.e. the institutional systems, legislative frameworks and policy guidance that are put in place for managing natural hazard risks. In 2007 UNDP published a report entitled “Global Review: UNDP Support to Institutional and Legislative Systems for Disaster Risk Management” (ILS Review 2007), which took stock of UNDP’s role in strengthening governance arrangements for disaster risk reduction. The results of this report served as background for a side event on institutional and legal frameworks for DRR at the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDR) in 2005. The review findings also gave direction to UNDP’s and other partners’ work in DRR during the HFA implementation period.

It has been almost ten years since the above review and it is considered timely to conduct a follow-up analysis and take stock of the disaster risk governance (DRG) arrangements around the globe and how UNDP’s programs have contributed to them. The follow-up report will be entitled “UNDP’s Contribution to Disaster Risk Governance during the HFA Implementation Period from 2005-2015” (DRG Review). This analysis report will be published in early 2015 and launched at the next WCDR in March 2015 in Sendai, Japan.

Also the fourth Global Assessment Report on DRR (GAR 2015) will be released by UNISDR at the World Conference in 2015. UNDP is contributing to GAR 2015 through a thematic review on Disaster Risk Governance (Thematic Review). The findings of this thematic review will constitute a key input for the DRG Review.

The DRG Review will support the implementation, in particular of outcome 5 of UNDP’s Strategic Plan, as well as the on-going UNDP “Global Disaster Risk Reduction Mainstreaming Initiative” (GMI) in the area of “practical advocacy approaches for DRR mainstreaming and governance at global and regional level”.

The objectives of the DRG Review are to:

• Provide an overview of the state of DRG and analyze the trajectory of approaches to DRG in selected UNDP programme countries since 2005;
• Assess UNDP’s role in strengthening DRG against global developments since the ILS Review in 2007;
• Provide policy and programmatic guidance on DRG to UNDP, its programme countries and partners;
• Constitute a resource for the development and implementation of the HFA successor arrangement and the post-2015 development agenda.

The report will be published in early 2015 and launched and disseminated at the WCDR in March 2015 in Sendai, Japan. The conference will be attended by member states and other UN agencies, as well as national and international NGO’s, intergovernmental organizations, representatives from sub-national government and the private sector.

The recommendations, the lessons learned and the knowledge derived from the overall DRG Review will be of use and interest not only to UNDP but also to the larger international DRR community. The findings will reveal certain trends in the development and strengthening of DRG and reveal areas of opportunity for more effective assistance for strengthening DRG programmes globally.

The results of the review will be incorporated into UNDP’s ongoing work at headquarters for policy formulation and at the country level programme implementation. The study is also expected to affect the outlook of local partners, such as UN agencies, academic institutions, NGO’s, and other partnering agencies etc.

Devoirs et responsabilités

The objective of this assignment will be to carry out the DRG Review, including analysis methodology and report preparation.  The lead author will work in a team approach with two supporting consultants (already recruited).

A considerable amount of desk based research will be finalised by the two supporting consultants before this assignment starts, so as to lay the groundwork. The desk based research will comprise four key products which eventually will become standalone resources on DRG available to UNDP practitioners, programme countries and partners: (1) a Portfolio Analysis of UNDP’s regional and national DRG programmes/projects, since 2005. This will be crucial for assessing UNDP’s support to DRG; and (2) a stock-take of global, regional and country level UNDP good practice and lessons learned reports, tools and guidelines on DRG for the same period to provide practical guidance on the design and implementation of DRG programmes. These products will be analysed for their potential for knowledge sharing; (3) a DRG electronic Library (e-Libray) which contains the most relevant and up-to date literature on DRG, covering academia, policy and practice related resources; and (4) compilation of available information on the status of DRG for each sample country.

Building on the available information, the consultant will:

• review the methodology of the ILS 2007 review and align it with the latest conceptual understanding of DRG;
• coordinate the collation and analysis of existing information on the status of DRG in 20 sample countries and UNDP’s contribution in the form of short country papers which will serve as discussion inputs for short in-country workshops with DRG stakeholders and UNDP;
• identify any remaining information gaps;
• carry out in-depth telephone interviews and a qualitative survey with UNDP regional centres, UNDP country offices, as well as selected stakeholders and partners in sample countries; and
• compile all information gathered in the DRG Report.

By end October a first draft of the DRG review will be ready for internal and external peer review. Report editing, design and production will take place from December – February 2015 for release in March at the World Conference.

Indicative Work Plan

This consultancy assignment will be conducted over a total of 46 working days from September to December 2014.

• Review the 2007 ILS methodology and align it with the latest concept of DRG (5 days; by 26 Sept)
• Oversee the preparation of short country papers on the status of DRG  in sample countries and identify any remaining information gaps (5 days; by 15 Oct)
• Provide remote support to UNDP Country Offices in sample countries for organizing in-country workshops as required (days 2; by 28 Oct all workshops should be completed)
• Carry out in-depth telephone interviews and a qualitative survey with UNDP regional centers, UNDP country offices, as well as selected stakeholders and partners in sample countries (15 days; by 28 Oct)
• Prepare annotated outline of report (1 day; by 28 Oct 2014)
• Prepare first draft report based on available information  and interviews for review by BCPR (10 days; by 4 Nov)
• Prepare second draft report for UNDP peer review (5 days; by 30 Nov)
• Prepare final draft including formal peer review comments (3 days; 31 Dec)

Main Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The expected contract start date is 15 September 2014 and deliverables will be due following a tight schedule in order to meet the deadline for the report production:

• Detailed work plan: by 26 Sept 2014
• DRG review methodology including selection of sample countries:  by 26 Sept 2014
• Annotated outline of report:  by 28 Oct 2014
• First draft report: by 4 Nov 2014
• Second draft report: 30 Nov 2014 [Peer Review: 1-15 Dec]
• Final report: 31 Dec

All outputs and deliverables will be reviewed and approved by the Disaster & Climate Risk Governance Advisor.

Management arrangements

The assignment will be implemented under short term consultancy arrangements through individual contract with clearly identified number of work days, work plan and deliverables. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Disaster & Climate Risk Governance Advisor and the overall leadership of the Chief of Profession, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, the consultant will be commissioned to prepare the UNDP DRG Review. The consultant will work in close collaboration with members of BPPS Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Team.

This is primarily a home based assignment. Occasional travel may be required, most likely to New York or Geneva, to discuss the scope, progress and analytical direction of the DRG Review with UNDP.

Compétences

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Meeting timelines and demonstrate ability to work harder;
• Demonstrate fruitful consultation skills;
• Demonstrates openness to ideas, feedback, inputs and comments.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
• In-depth knowledge on parliament/policy issues;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development;
• Programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
• Strong analysis skills, methodical approach and precise style of writing.
• Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit;
• Strong IT skills;
• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/attitudinal change.

Management and Leadership:

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• Master’s degree or higher in public administration, disaster risk reduction, political studies, development / environmental studies or a discipline relevant to governance and institutional and policy analysis and development in disaster and climate risk management.

Experience:

• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in research or planning, implementing and managing programs and projects related to governance and/or disaster and climate risk management;
• Sound understanding and experience of working on development issues and understanding of the relationship of development, governance and DRR;
• Broad knowledge of recent institutional and policy developments in the global DRR community, both within and outside of the UN.
• Working experience in different regional contexts across Africa, Asia Pacific, Arab States and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Language:

• The consultant team will require an excellent command of English; other
• UN working languages such as Spanish or French will be an asset.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

Applicants to this consultancy are required to submit a financial proposal together with their expression of interest. The financial proposal will consist of an “all inclusive fee” that indicates the total consultancy fee for the full preparation and completion of the product with a breakdown of deliverables. Payments will be made against satisfactory completion of deliverables as per the above time line. The payment will be based upon the certification and acceptance of the outputs of the relevant approval officer as stated in section D.

The following minimum documents will be required when submitting an offer:

• Letter of interest using the template provided by UNDP;
• Personal CV or 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;
• Brief description of why the Candidate considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
• “All inclusive” consultancy fee (daily fee).