UNDP Jobs - 108518- BBRSO191994:Consultant to Update and Draft UK FCDO

BBRSO191994:Consultant to Update and Draft UK FCDO Annual Statement of Progress for the Fiduciary Risk Assessment; and the Annual Report on Dominica’s commitment to the Partnership Principles for 2022

Location :

Commonwealth of Dominica, BARBADOS

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

28-Sep-2022

Application Deadline :

02-Sep-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

2 MONTHS

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

2 MONTHS

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

ADMINISTRATION

To apply, interested persons should upload the combined* Technical Proposal/Methodology (if applicable), CV and Offeror’s Letter to “UNDP Jobs” by navigating to the link below and clicking “APPLY NOW”, no later than the date indicated on the “UNDP Jobs” website. Applications submitted via email will not be accepted**: -

UNDP Job Site – https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=108518 (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work)

* PLEASE NOTE: The system allows the upload of one (1) document ONLY – if you are required to submit a Technical Proposal/Methodology, this document along with your CV/P11 and Offeror’s Letter, MUST be combined and uploaded as one.

NOTE: The Financial Proposal should not be uploaded to “UNDP Jobs”**.

**Please email the password-protected Financial Proposal to procurement.bb@undp.org. The subject line of your email must contain the following: “BBRSO##### Financial Proposal – Your Name”

If the password for your Financial Proposal is required, it will be requested by the Procurement Unit.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to procurement.bb@undp.org within three (3) days of the publication of this notice, ensuring that the reference number above is included in the subject line. The UNDP Barbados & the OECS Procurement Unit will post the responses*** two (2) days later, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to: -

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=94539 (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work)

A detailed Procurement Notice, TOR, and all annexes can be found by clicking the above link.

*** UNDP shall endeavour to provide such responses to clarifications in an expeditious manner, but any delay in such response shall not cause an obligation on the part of UNDP to extend the submission date of the Proposals, unless UNDP deems that such an extension is justified and necessary

Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria and under the leadership of the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica (GoCD); UNDP, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Government of Canada partnered to support the creation of the Climate Resilience Executing Agency for Dominica (CREAD).

This tripartite support consisted in the provision of technical and strategic advice to national authorities, based on global best practices and experiences of post-disaster institutional recovery frameworks; while supporting the CREAD transition and Climate Resilient Recovery Plan (CRRP) development processes. This included (a) supporting the drafting of legislation to establish the CREAD; (b) supporting the recruitment of the CEO and COO of CREAD and establishing operational facilities and Terms of Reference for support staff; (c) preparing priority policies, analysis, and systems needed to ensure the CREAD is fully operational upon becoming a statutory agency, inclusive of drafting the CREAD work plan, and (d) financial assistance to support the operationalization of CREAD.

In follow up to the technical assistance to CREAD, the UK FCDO and UNDP have partnered to monitor and oversee the implementation of CREAD and the FCDO’s wider development portfolio in Dominica, with the aim of mitigating delivery risks by having UNDP Dominica staff provide in person monitoring of the portfolio. The partnership also includes a technical assistance fund to strengthen important areas of capacity deficit - critical both for CREAD implementation and GoCD’s long-term ability to manage large investment projects.

As part of its monitoring and oversight function, UNDP will engage with respective ministries and the CREAD to monitor the progress being realized against the workplan and agreed targets. This engagement also involves updating and reporting on a) the UK FCDO Annual Statement of Progress for the Fiduciary Risk Assessment; and b). providing evidence for the annual report on Dominica’s commitment to the FCDO’s Partnership Principles.

UNDP will recruit a consultant who is suitably qualified to update and draft the UK FCDO Annual Statement of Progress for the Fiduciary Risk Assessment; and providing evidence for the Annual Report on Dominica’s commitment to the Partnership Principles.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will conduct research, review available documentation and engage in consultations with government, the academic community, representatives of civil society and private sector, UNDP and the UK FCDO to update and draft the UK FCDO Annual Statement of Progress for the Fiduciary Risk Assessment; and provide evidence for the Annual Report on Dominica’s commitment to the Partnership Principles over the period December 2021 to November 2022.

Annual Statement of Progress for the Fiduciary Risk Assessment

Fiduciary Risk Assessment (FRA) is a key tool used to assess elements of partnership commitments. Specifically to assess and monitor partner government commitments to improving Public Financial Management (PFM), check that planned reforms and agreed safeguards are being implemented effectively, monitor key residual risk, provide alerts to indications of significant losses occurringand identifying new fiduciary or corruption risks or changes in circumstances. UK FCDO requires that an FRA be conducted every 3 years and in the intervening years an Annual Statement of Progress (ASP) is conducted to track a partner country’s continuing commitment to improving PFM, domestic accountability and fighting corruption. The ASP will either provide assurance that UK FCDO’s overall programme strategy remains appropriate from a fiduciary risk perspective or warn of potential problems.

The Annual Statement of Progress will be completed on a standard FCDO template (See Annex VI) and will review the risks identified in the FRA for Dominica under the following PFM pillars:

Budget reliability
Transparency of public finances
Management of assets and liabilities
Policy-based fiscal strategy and budgeting
Predictability and control in budget execution
Accounting and reporting
External scrutiny and audit

The report will then provide a relatively light touch assessment of progress on implementing mitigation measures recommended in the FRA and in the GoCD’s PFM Action Plan and flag any emerging areas of concern.

The Annual Report on Commitment to the Partnership Principles

The Partnership Principle Assessment is an important decision-making tool used to inform UK’s stategy on providing development assistance within a country with which they have an aid partnership. A PPA for Dominica was conducted by the UK FCDO in 2021 with the Annual Report for Dominica being required to be completed on a standard FCDO template (See Annex VII - Section highlighted in yellow. Reference documents to be updated as well) and will identify any new and relevant information that has arisen since the last report and look more closely at information and evidence relevant to assessing commitment to the following principles:

A commitment to reducing poverty and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals;
A commitment to respecting human rights and other international obligations;
A commitment to strengthening financial management and accountability and reducing the risk of funds being misused through weak administration or corruption, and;
A commitment to strengthening domestic accountability.

The consultant is expected to update and draft both documents by 10 November 2021.

Competencies

Display cultural, gender, race, and age sensitivity
Demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Display comfort working in politically sensitive situations
Excellent written and verbal skills in English
Demonstrate research, analysis and report-writing skills
Has excellent communication and inter-personal skills, particularly for building networks and partnerships
Strong analytical ability and report writing skills
Time management skills and ability to meet established timelines.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum of Masters in a Political Science, Development Studies, Sociology or related discipline

A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in conducting and drafting political economy and financial analysis in the Eastern Caribbean.
Over 5 years experience of working/liaising with Government bodies
Previous working experience in Dominica