The Decentralized Cooperation Consultant will work under the supervision of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Geneva Representation office (GRO)– Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) team  – that is responsible for managing the institutional relationship between UNDP and France.

UNDP and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MFA) – through the Delegation for the External Action of Local Governments (MFA/DAECT) – have been cooperating since 2013 to promote support to local governance and strenghten the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Previous collaboration focused on facilitating the contribution of French decentralized cooperation (DC) actors and strenghtening their understanding and role in the implementation of the global agendas (2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Paris Climate Agreement, Busan Partnership for effective development cooperation, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, etc). French decentralized cooperation actors (cities, departments, regions, and other multi-stakeholder groupings at national level) were notably encouraged to participate in UN and UNDP knowledge exchange processes, events and platforms and use the tools co-designed by UNDP and DAECT to increase their ownership of the SDGs.

With the adoption of its new Strategic Plan for 2022-2025, UNDP is committed to focus more strongly on local governance systems and their linkages to multilevel systems, where there is most potential for change and capacity to prevent and recover from shocks and make progress towards the 2030 Agenda. Strengthening the role of local actors in developing countries is also key to promote an inclusive and green recovery to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In parallel, France has a long tradition and experience in engaging in decentralized development cooperation. Over the years, decentralized cooperation has become an integral part of the French development policy by evolving from traditional North – South aid towards strategic cooperation and exchanges of experiences between equal partners. With the new French law on international solidarity adopted in August 2021, a decision was also made to double the French governmental support to these local initiatives and to consider new methods and partnerships to scale-up their impacts.

In this context, the UNDP Geneva Representation Office has established in 2022 a new partnership with the French MFA/DAECT to foster collaboration between French local entities and UNDP’s worldwide multilateral network at country-level. The activities are undertaken under the framework of the UNDP “Geneva Inclusive Partnerships and Advocacy for Change” (GIPAC) Engagement Facility/project. The Decentralized Cooperation Consultant will be based in Paris, to facilitate day-to-day liaison with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DAECT, and other French actors.

Following an exploratory phase and mapping of needs and interests conducted between January and June 2022, the main objective of this consultancy is to create the process for and initiate the implementation of a concrete cooperation mechanism promoting innovative linkages between UNDP’s initiatives in support of local authorities in developing/programme countries on the one hand and expertise and resources of French local governments and entities on the other hand, coordinated under the joint oversight of the DAECT and UNDP Geneva.

The Decentralized Cooperation Consultant will work under the supervision of the UNDP Geneva Partnership Specialist providing overall guidance, and in close collaboration with the rest of the Geneva Office. S/he will be in day-to-day contact with the French MFA Delegation for the External Action of Local Authorities, based in Paris.

The Decentralized Cooperation Consultant  is expected to produce a number of advocacy and programme management products to facilitate the articulation and engagement of French decentralized cooperation actors within the local development initiatives implemented by UNDP’s network of country offices to meet the needs of partner’s countries local authorities.

As part of UNDP’s overall cooperation with the Government of France, s/he will also support the preparation and implementation of a set of capacity-building initiatives and activities related to the localization of the SDGs and and the promotion of the partnership between UNDP and the Delegation for the External Action of Local Authorities (DAECT) - French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Official travel may be required as part of the consultancy, including one mission per  month  to Geneva, in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions and regulations and depending on business exigencies

Specific outputs, activities and deliverables:  
The Consultant will work under the supervision of the UNDP Geneva Partnership Specialist who will provide guidance and feedback at all stages of the process in coordination with DAECT.

A.  Programme design - Develop, test and launch a pilot mechanism to facilitate the articulation of French decentralized cooperation initiatives with UNDP’s work at country and local level

• Organize consulation meetings between UNDP and the French MFA and its partners (French Embassies, AFD, AMF, ADF, Regions of France, CUF) to define and validate the concept of the innovative mechanism and make sure it responds to the needs of French decentralized cooperation actors, UNDP and their partner local authorities;

• Under the framework of the UNDP GIPAC Engagement Facility, finalize and submit the actual design of the cooperation mechanism, determining its scope, objectives, modalities and expected results, in alignment with UNDP’s operational policies, rules and regulations,  through close engagement with different UNDP teams (Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Regional Bureaux, Country Offices);

• In partnership with the French DAECT, coordinate and launch a “call for interests” to identify French decentralized cooperation actors willing to engage in this mechanism and support them in defining the resources and expertise they will bring in support to UNDP local programmes at country-level.

B. Outreach and Advocacy – Promote visibility of this partnership and foster stakeholders’ engagement in this programme, through developing a set of communication and advocacy material targeting UNDP country offices and their partners, and French decentralized cooperation actors

• Design effective ways to inform French decentralized cooperation actors about opportunities for collaboration with UNDP’s programmes, through developing a repository of good practices and communication documents (brochures, flyers, blogs, social media) and creating regular content for UNDP Geneva smf DAECT webpages;

• Develop the presence and visibility of UNDP within the community of French decentralized cooperation actors, through representing UNDP in relevant events and conferences, such as French bilateral Assises de la Coopération Décentralisée and CNCD sessions.

• Gather and support the dissemination of UN and UNDP tools and methodologies to the various networks of French local governments, so as to enhance the impact of development cooperation projects (e.g. in the field of urban planning, local disaster risk reduction, digital, gender equality, local economic development, etc).

C.  Support to project management

• Administrative support: Plan, organize, prepare and document/report on the ouctomes of meetings between UNDP (and its Country Offices) and French actors (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, decentralized cooperation actors).

• Project support- Provide technical backstopping and assistance, where needed, to remove project, legal, and operational bottlenecks preventing the joint collaboration at country/local level, facilitating the programmatic dialogue between French cooperation actors and UNDP entities (UNDP Geneva and country offices) to ensure the smooth running of the “pilot cooperation mechanism” and activities on the ground.

• Provide assistance to the elaboration of partnership documents (MoUs, contribution agreements, tripartite conventions between French DC-UNDP-and local actors, etc.) and resources mobilization efforts.

• Elaborate draft workplans for 2022-2023 (corresponding to the implementation of pilot cooperation projects)  and support preparation of the next phase of UNDP-DAECT partnership, notably through providing support in subsequent recruitment processes.

• Any other support (eg analytical research), as required by the UNDP Geneva Representation Office and/or DAECT.

Deliverables:

• Ability to plan and coordinate activities with limited supervision, take initiatives and deliver at pace in a fast-changing environment.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
• Practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues, including linkages between the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and how they are applied at the local level.
• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills;
• Strong writing skills in both French and English.
• Openness to change and ability to receive / integrate feedback.
• Ability to work under pressure, independtly and in stressful situations.
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience:

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):  

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) with a brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and  
• Personal P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references; 

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document. 

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal. 

• The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around the specific and measurable deliverables of the TOR. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR, and deliverables accepted and certified by the technical manager.   
• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; mission travels as detailed in the Terms of References; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract. 
• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. 
• If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. 

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates. 

Evaluation process 

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.? When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: 

• Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and 
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%. 

Technical evaluation: Total 70% (70 points) 

1// Review of CV/P11 and screening of relevant experiences: 70 points 

• Practical knowledge and experience of supporting/managing international cooperation projects - 10 points 
• Proven track record of knowledge and engagement with French decentralized cooperation partners and networks - 20 points 
• Proven knowledge of UNDP’s work on support to local governance and local partners- 20 points 
• Relevant professional experience with UNDP or UN agencies, projects and initiatives linked to decentralized cooperation - 30 points 

Financial?evaluation - Total 30%?(30 points) 

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:  

p = y (µ/z), where 

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated 

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal 

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal 

z = price of the proposal being evaluated 

Contract Award 

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP. 

Payment modality 

• Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified above and deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.   

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents): 

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs  

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template  

Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions  

Annex 4 – RLA Template 

8 .Annexes to the TOR

• Mandate of UNDP Geneva Office: https://www.europe.undp.org/content/geneva/en/home/our-focus.html
• Presentation of the DAECT-UNDP Partnership: https://www.undp.org/geneva/press-releases/undp-and-french-government-new-partnership