Antecedentes

Background and Context

The UN Country Team (UNCT) in Sudan is embarking on the formulation of the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for the next planning cycle of 2017-2021. The process to elaborate the UNDAF entails three main steps: i) a comprehensive common analysis to identify national development priorities; ii) the strategic prioritization of areas for UN intervention based on the UN’s comparative advantage; and iii) planning and programming of the UN’s response. As part of the UNDAF process, the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) in Sudan wishes to recruit a qualified individual or team to carry out the Common Country Analysis (CCA) for Sudan.

The analysis will help shape the UNDAF outcomes by allowing the UN to examine national development challenges, assess the potential role of key actors and the UN’s comparative advantage. Given the number of existing research, reports and studies on Sudan, including the previous CCA, the analysis will focus on reviewing the existing resources and identifying and addressing any existing gaps through complementary research, instead of carrying out a full assessment. This includes conducting causality analyses, organizing consultations with relevant stakeholders and conducting capacity assessments, as needed. Determining the UN’s comparative advantages is a key element of the analysis.

UNDAF implementation is expected start at the same time as implementation of the National Development Plan and will cover the same period, namely 2017-2021. The UNDAF should be closely aligned with the priorities identified by the government, including as presented in the upcoming Poverty Reduction Strategy, and for this it is of utmost importance to interact closely with the government throughout the analysis. Similarly, other stakeholders, such as civil society organizations, will be encouraged to participate in the analysis, as appropriate.
The work of the analysis consultant(s) will be supported by the UNDAF Task Force (UTF) on behalf of the Programme Management Team (PMT) and the UNCT.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Objective, Scope of Work, Tasks and Responsibilities, Outline of Report:
The overall objective of the consultancy is to work with the UN and its partners in conducting the analysis for Sudan and elaborating a CCA document that identifies national priorities and the UN’s comparative advantage, and will form the basis for the later stage of strategic prioritization of the UNDAF.

The consultant(s) will:

Research:

• Conduct a desk review of and synthesize existing analytical material to serve as a basis for the analysis;
• Collect reports and statistical and other material to support thematic meetings, including by preparing issues papers to inform the thematic consultations (see 2) below).

Facilitation:

• Facilitate thematic consultation workshops to be attended by UN, government and other partners to discuss and address information gaps, conduct root cause analysis, etc., as well as a validation workshop to present and seek endorsement for the findings of the analysis.

Drafting and editing:

• Develop a draft CCA document based on the results of the desk review, workshops, discussions, and feedback from the UTF and UNCT, and revise the draft under their guidance.

Others:

• Perform any other duties related to the CCA as required by the RCO.

In completing the above, the consultant(s) will:

Be familiar with the UNDAF process and guidelines1 (this may involve attending any workshops on programming principles organized as part of the UNDAF process), and work closely with the RCO on the methodology to be followed and adopted through decisions taken by the UNCT.
Ensure that the five UN mandatory programming principles, namely human rights-based approach, gender equality, environmental sustainability, results-based management, and capacity development, are properly integrated throughout the CCA.

Ensure that the analysis identifies main deprivations and their root causes, and it identifies the most affected groups.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

• Undertake an in-depth desk review of relevant analytical products in Sudan, in consultation with UN agencies, government and other relevant partners; prepare issues papers, that take into consideration the findings of the UNDAF evaluation and other relevant material, to be discussed at thematic consultations;
• Identify information gaps to be addressed, in consultation with the UN and partners;
• Hold/facilitate thematic consultations with UN and partners (including government, civil society, academia, donors) to address information gaps identified above, conduct root cause analysis, etc.;
• Provide an updated status of the country’s fulfilment of international goals, norms and standards (e.g. Millennium/Sustainable Development Goals, the Zero Hunger Challenge, etc.) and identify national development challenges;
• Provide a mapping of development partners, identify major national capacity gaps, and conduct a stakeholder analysis and an analysis of the UN’s comparative advantage;
• Draft the CCA document and finalize it under the guidance of the UTF and PMT;
• Facilitate a validation workshop.

The CCA document will present a focused discussion on key issues. It will not exceed 30 pages and will adhere to the following structure:

• Executive summary: synthesis of the main themes and major findings of the analysis (2 pages).

Introduction:

• Brief explanation of the preparation process and scope of the analysis, the efforts made to ensure government engagement in the process, and how the analysis will add value to country analytic work and to the national development framework (2 pages).

Analysis and identification of priority development problems:

• Focused examination of the national development situation, with analysis of main deprivations and identification of trends, disparities and the most affected population groups, and root causes, grouped under the main themes (24 pages).

UN’s comparative advantage:

• Realistic assessment of the UN’s expertise and value added relative to the role of other development partners (2 pages).

Expected Deliverables and Schedule of Payments
The expected deliverables of the consultancy are:

• See https://undg.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/How-to-Prepare-an-UNDAF-Part-I.pdf and https://undg.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/How-to-Prepare-an-UNDAF-Part-II-Technical-Guidance-for-UN-Country-Teams1.pdf;
• Inception report and detailed work plan, within two days of contract signature, to be approved within one day by UTF;
• Thematic consultation workshops with UN and partners around main themes;
• Workshop on UN’s comparative advantage;
• Draft annotated outline of the CCA, to be approved by UTF within one day;
• Draft report, within 38 days of contract commencement, for UTF and PMT comments within 7 days;
• Validation workshop with UN and partners;
• Final report incorporating comments received on the draft report, within two weeks of receiving comments.

Competencias

• Substantive knowledge of development issues, including Sustainable Development Goals;
• Extensive knowledge of the situation in Sudan;
• Good understanding of UN programming principles and planning processes, in particular UNDAF, desirable;
• Proven skills in compiling and analyzing data and conducting research;
• Ability to work both independently and in teams;
• Outstanding writing skills.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Master degree in one of the social sciences or a field relevant to the assignment.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years experience working on development issues and conducting socio-economic or similar analyses;
• Substantive knowledge of development issues, including Sustainable Development Goals;
• Extensive knowledge of the situation in Sudan;
• Good understanding of UN programming principles and planning processes, in particular UNDAF, desirable;
• Proven skills in compiling and analyzing data and conducting research;
• Ability to work both independently and in teams;
• Outstanding writing skills.

Language:

• Excellent written and spoken English.