Antecedentes

The IASC Cluster Working Group on Early Recovery (CWGER) consists of 29 UN and other international members, from both humanitarian and developmental communities.  The members are committed to: (i) cooperate towards development and operationalization of agreed common cluster services, tools, strategies, and products; and (ii) take individual actions to make internal improvements, as necessary, within each agency. 

 As the designated cluster lead for early recovery, UNDP assumes “managerial accountability” for ensuring preparedness and response that are both adequate and predictable. To support its functions as cluster lead, UNDP has a team of dedicated staff who are responsible for Information and Knowledge Management and Secretariat Support for the CWGER, based at UNDP/BCPR’s Geneva office.

 CWGER Lessons Learned Exercise

 The first Early Recovery (ER) Cluster was set up in Pakistan in October 2005.  Since then, ER Clusters or Networks have been established in over thirty countries where the cluster approach has been rolled out.  It is time to take stock and document these experiences.   The intention is to learn from experience; to improve the way that ER Clusters/Networks operate in response to future crises; and to enhance the way that the global Cluster Working Group on Early Recovery (CWGER) organizes itself to provide support to country-level Clusters/Networks.

 A small Task Team within the CWGER has been set up to oversee the exercise.  The exercise will be mainly informed by a series of in-depth telephone interviews, structured according to a set of previously agreed questions; backed up by short, generic questionnaires and collation of background materials.  Up to two country-level lessons learned workshops may be conducted to look at specific cases in more detail and add richness to the remote interview technique.  The results of this work will be summarized in an initial report, highlighting common messages and lessons. 

 The following key stakeholders will be consulted during the exercise:  UNDP Country Offices in countries where ER Clusters/Networks have been established; UN Resident Coordinator Offices; the Country Offices of other CWGER Task Team members; government officials; other clusters at global and country levels; other stakeholders involved in ER Clusters/Networks at country level; Early Recovery Advisors/Cluster Coordinators; plus others as appropriate.

 Following the publication of an initial report on findings at the country level, a workshop, attended by CWGER members, other clusters, and a representative range of country-based colleagues, will consider the results of the exercise and aim to turn lessons learned into strong recommendations for how to improve practice at both country and global levels.

 In July 2005, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) embarked upon a major undertaking in response to the strong need highlighted by the Humanitarian Response Review and other recent review and reform initiatives, to improve the predictability, timeliness, and effectiveness of response to humanitarian crises. This review effort led to the adoption by the IASC of the “cluster approach” intended to redress critical systemic gaps and strengthen leadership and accountability in nine key sectors of humanitarian response: nutrition; water and sanitation; health; camp coordination and management; emergency shelter; protection; logistics; emergency telecommunications; and early recovery. Two additional clusters, Education and Agriculture, were later added.  Interagency working groups were formed under each cluster to define and implement improved response strategies and mechanisms. UNDP was given the lead on the Early Recovery cluster.

 Early phases of the recovery process are an integral part of humanitarian action and need to be addressed concurrently and in close synergy with humanitarian relief.  As one of the eleven clusters identified by the IASC, the focus is placed on “early recovery” within the context of humanitarian action, in both natural disaster and conflict situations.

 Membership and Cluster Lead

Deberes y responsabilidades

Under the overall guidance of the CWGER Knowledge Manager, and in consultation with the CWGER Lessons Learned Task Team, the Lessons Learned Consultant will:

Lead a consultation process to gather experiences and draw out lessons learned from country experiences of setting up and running ER Clusters and Networks, including all of the inter-agency ER processes that this entails (including needs assessment, strategic planning, information management, resource mobilization, etc):

• Prepare a set of guiding questions for in-depth telephone interviews and electronic questionnaires;
• Assist with the identification of appropriate interviewees and points of contact for background materials.
• Conduct and record telephone interviews and collate completed questionnaires.
• Help organize and lead two to three country-level lessons learned workshops (as necessary).
• Create ER Cluster/Network profiles for all countries considered during the exercise, organized by a clear set of agreed criteria.
• Analyze results and prepare an initial report of key findings and lessons learned.
• Incorporate comments and inputs from CWGER Lessons Learned Task Team and finalize initial report of key findings and lessons learned.

Contribute to a global CWGER lessons learned workshop:

• Prepare and deliver a PowerPoint presentation, or series of presentations, during the workshop
• Contribute actively to the workshop, feeding in the results of the research conducted above.
• Draft a final report, consolidating the initial results of telephone interviews and questionnaires, with recommendations from the lessons learned workshop.

Create an initial basis for an on-line library of resources on ER Clusters/Networks at the country level:

• Collect and organize all background materials gathered during the process, including records of interviews conducted and completed questionnaires, ER Cluster/Network profiles, and other resource materials.
• Provide contact details for all those who participated in the process, to eventually form the basis of a global ER Community of Practice.

Perform other related duties and ad-hoc assignments as required by the supervisor.

Scope of Work

• This contract encompasses 60 days of consultancy work to complete the activities described above.

Duration of Assignment

The consultancy work is required to take place between June and December 2009. Occasional travel to Geneva, Switzerland is anticipated. Other travel may be necessary during the period of the contract, particularly if country-level lessons learned workshops take place.  All costs of travel and daily substance allowance will be covered by BCPR/UNDP. The incumbent is aware that willingness to travel once health and security issues are settled is expected of him/her.

Deliverables/Final Product

Final products (dates to be determined):

Agreed set of guiding questions for use during in-depth interviews and as part of questionnaires.  

• Final report of initial lessons learned exercise, including ER Cluster/Network profiles, list of interviewees with  contact details, and list of background documents.  
• PowerPoint presentation(s) for CWGER Lessons Learned workshop, summarizing results of lessons learned exercise.  
• Final report, consolidating lessons learned exercise with recommendations from the CWGER Lessons Learned workshop.  
• Compilation of background materials on CD-Rom, including records of interviews conducted and completed questionnaires, ER Cluster/Network profiles, and other resource materials.  
• Short (one to two page) report on own lessons learned during the process, including suggestions for how the CWGER can systemize lessons learning based within its future practice.

Provision of Monitoring and Progress Control

Overall performance will be evaluated by means of the standard performance evaluation form to be completed by BCPR ERT.  Quality of each of the products delivered will also be recorded.

Competencias

Personal competencies

• Excellent interpersonal, networking and communication skills, including proven ability to articulate and promote the KM agenda through demonstrating leadership in the KM field.
• Proven systems and lateral thinker able to build bridges among the various levels and units within the UN System, UNDP and BCPR and ability to engage effectively at both conceptual and practical levels.
• Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and main constituents, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies.
• Clear conceptual and strategic thinking - understanding the big picture, the wider knowledge context and BCPRs and UNDPS strategy within it.
• Knowledge of UNDP/UN regulations, rules, policies, procedures and practices
• Proven project management skills – results planning, budgeting, financial tracking, report preparation.
• Proven level of expertise in ICT for KM, and ability to engage with IT professionals.
• Strong analytical, creative and writing skills
• Strong service orientation.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

 Education

•  An advanced degree (masters level) in political science/ international relations or related field

Work experience

• A minimum of 5 years in the field of international development and considerable experience in the field of Information and Knowledge Management
• Knowledge of the UN system and experience in inter-agency collaboration
• Familiarity with the IASC cluster approach
• Experience working in an international organisation and familiarity with crisis prevention and recovery issues, particularly early recovery
• Experience of conducting lessons learned exercises or similar.

Language Requirements

• Excellent speaking and writing skills in English are essential and
• fluency in another UN official language (French and/or Spanish) is essential.