Antecedentes

The purpose of this procurement exercise is to contract a maximum of two individual consultants who will assist with the preparation of two (2) reports called for in decisions by the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation at its twentieth Session[1] that will inform deliberations during its twenty-first session as follows:

  1. a comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on progress made in implementing the decision 20/1, including the recommendations and proposals made in his report[2]
  2. a report of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme to provide an update on the support to interregional initiatives, and progress made by the Programme and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation for the promotion and facilitation of South-South and triangular cooperation[3]
  1. Background

The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN system-wide coordinator and focal point for South-South cooperation (SSC). The Intergovernmental and UN System Affairs Team in the Office monitors South-South and triangular cooperation in the UN system and prepares reports for the highest levels of the system, including the UN General Assembly, the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation (HLC), the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board. It provides secretariat services to biennial sessions of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation and its bureau and to other relevant United Nations governing bodies. It supports the mainstreaming of South-South approaches to development in global policies and operational activities of the United Nations development system and enhances the coherence and coordination of United Nations system support to South-South and triangular cooperation.  Furthermore, following the functional restructuring of the Office in August 2022, the Intergovernmental and UN Systems Affairs Team coordinates the Regional  function previously executed under the three functional  Regional Offices.

The main policymaking body on South-South cooperation (SSC) in the United Nations system is the High-level Committee (HLC) on South-South Cooperation, a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly. Since 1981, the Committee has met almost every two years to undertake an overall intergovernmental review of technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC) and subsequently SSC within the United Nations development system. UN General Assembly resolution 35/202 of 16 December 1980 established that the functions of the High-level Committee on TCDC would be the same as those outlined in recommendation 37 of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries. The Committee responsibilities adapted to currently relevant terminology is as follows:

  • reviewing the progress made in implementing the tasks entrusted to the United Nations development system in the Buenos Aires Plan of Action;
  • ensuring that efforts to strengthen SSC are sustained within the United Nations development system;
  • supporting new policies and innovative approaches to further the development of SSC;
  • considering the availability of financial resources and their effective use by the United Nations development system, without prejudice to existing programmes; and
  • ensuring coordination of the promotional and operational SSC activities of the United Nations development system.

The 20th Session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation met in 2021 to review progress made in implementing the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, the New Directions Strategy for South-South cooperation, and the Nairobi outcome document of the High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation.

The twenty-first session is scheduled for 30 May – 2 June 2022. Two (2) key reports called for in decisions adopted by the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation at its twentieth Session1  will inform deliberations during its twenty-first session. UNOSSC now seeks to hire two (2) Senior Research Consultants to assist with the preparation of the below reports. The Senior Consultant will work under the guidance of the Chief, Intergovernmental and UN System Affairs.

      1. A comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on progress made in implementing the decision 20/1, including the recommendations and proposals made in his report[4]

This report will be assigned to the candidate who gets the highest score, as there is more complexity in compiling this report than the Administrator’s Report.

2.  A report of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme to provide an update of the support to interregional initiatives, and progress made by the Programme and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation for the promotion and facilitation of South-South and triangular cooperation[5]

This report will be assigned to the 2nd candidate who scores high in the evaluation, as this report is of less complexity than the Secretary-General’s report.

 

[1] A/76/39 https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N21/127/02/PDF/N2112702.pdf?OpenElement

[2] A/76/39, para 18

[3] A/76/39, para 19

[4] A/76/39, para 18

[5] A/76/39, para 19

Deberes y responsabilidades

SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK

  • Review the Report of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation,  Twentieth session, June 2021 and the decisions adopted at this session;
  • Analyze and draw lessons for the future from the Report of the Secretary-General to the Twentieth  session of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation;
  • Analyze and draw lessons from the Review of progress made in implementing the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, the New Directions Strategy for South-South cooperation, and the Nairobi outcome document of the High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation4 as well as previous reviews of progress.
  • Analyze and draw lessons from the latest Secretary General’s Report on the State of South-South Cooperation, Administrators Annual Reports including the UNOSSC Annual Report and other relevant reports, including key South-South and triangular cooperation initiatives and achievements in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • Gather, compile, analyze and update information and data obtained from UNOSSC, UNDP, other UN system entities and other key stakeholders on the measures taken by them to promote South- South cooperation, including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as relevant to the scope of the report and analyse, package  and  present the information provided;
  • Update all data and statistics in the report based on most recent available data;
  • Prepare the following: a) an updated annotated outline of the report; b) a first draft update of the report on the basis of the outline agreed upon with the UNOSSC; c) submit a second draft update of the report for UNOSSC comments; and d) a final draft update of the report maintaining the timeline agreed upon with UNOSSC; e) prepare a one-page summary of the final report.
  • Other duties at the request of the Chief, Intergovernmental and UN System Affairs.

Expected Deliverables, Duration of Work, and Payment:

  • The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables within the proposed timeframe below. Payment will be made upon receipt and acceptance by UNOSSC of the deliverables.

Deliverables (per report)

Due Dates

% Payment

Annotated outline of the report

17 January 2023

0%

First draft of report available for review and comment, and approved by UNOSSC

7 February 2023

25%

Second draft of report, incorporating comments, available for review

21 February 2023

 

0%

Final report delivered and approved by UNOSSC

1 March 2023

 

75%

Competencias

Functional:

  • Experience in researching on topics relevant to South-South cooperation;
  • Experience in producing analytical reports, policy papers and briefs, and academic publications;
  • Experience and knowledge of UN/UNDP procedures concerning reports, publications and speeches;
  • Experience with qualitative and quantitative research; 
  • In-depth knowledge of South-South cooperation as a development modality and experience on UN system support to South-South Cooperation required.

Corporate:

  • Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Academic qualifications:

  • Advanced degree in social sciences or journalism. Master’s degree required, Ph.D. an asset.

Years of experience:

  • At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the area of policy analysis and policy research in international development both at national and international levels required;
  • Thorough knowledge and experience in the debates surrounding South-South and triangular  cooperation required;
  • Experience in producing analytical reports, policy papers and briefs, and academic publications, including reports for high-level inter-government processes required;
  • Experience working collaboratively in a team structure in a multicultural environment required desirable;
  • Knowledge of the United Nations system and in particular knowledge of UNDP policies and organizational frameworks is highly advantageous.

Language:

  • Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
  • Working knowledge of another UN language would be a Distinct advantage

Application Procedure

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

  • A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment;
  • Personal CV or 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; and
  • An example/sample of previous similar work is required with the application.

Note: The above documents need to be sent together putting into a single email or a zip folder.

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; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; 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.
  • This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel.  
  • 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):

The technical evaluation will comprise of a desk review (700points). All applicants will be initially screened against the minimum qualification requirements as specified above.  

Responsive candidates will then be further evaluated against the following criteria and shortlisted applicants invited for the interviews:

Desk Review of Technical Criteria as Evident in the submitted application (70 points)

  • Criteria 1. Demonstrated experience to manage research projects including prior experience with the development of analytical reports for high-level intergovernmental processes Weight = 25%; Maximum Points: 25;
  • Criteria 2. Thorough knowledge of South-South and triangular cooperation Weight = 25 %; Maximum Points: 25;
  • Criteria 3. Demonstrated experience and skills to work collaboratively and effectively with stakeholders including Member States, UN entities, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 10
  • Criteria 4. Knowledge of the UN system and in particular knowledge of UNDP policies, processes, and organizational frameworks Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 10

 The maximum points that can be achieved in the desk review is 70 points.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

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

Two candidates 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.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Chief, Intergovernmental and UN System Affairs and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

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. 
  • The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

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

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.