UNDP Jobs - 27164- Capacity Assessment Consultant

Capacity Assessment Consultant

Location :

Monrovia, LIBERIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Feb-2012

Application Deadline :

02-Jan-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 dys

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

Delivering as One was launched as a pilot initiative in eight countries in 2007 as part of the United Nation’s response to the commitment made by the wider development community through the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. It aims to strengthen national ownership of development priorities, and increase the UN’s strategic impact by providing more coherent, effective and relevant assistance at the country-level.

Since 2007, a number of countries have requested to become volunteers, or self-starters, in implementing the UN reform process. On 25 February 2010, the Government officially requested that Liberia become a Delivering as One self-starter country. In October 2010, a High-Level Conference that brought together representatives from the Government, UN and donors, marked the official launch of Delivering as One in Liberia. Liberia is the first post-conflict country with an Integrated Mission to embark on the UN reform process.

The UN in Liberia has already made significant progress in joint programming to address national priorities. The United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Liberia incorporates key benchmarks of the Integrated Strategic Framework, and reflects interventions by the UN Agencies and the Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), while an integrated management structure provides strategic policy advice and guidance to the UN system’s work in Liberia. A number of Joint Programmes have been developed, Joint Offices set up, and common services implemented.

The Government of Liberia is presently developing ‘Vision 2030,’ and its National Growth and Development Strategy (Poverty Reduction Strategy II). The current United Nations Development Assistance Framework ends in 2012, and UNMIL is in a transition phase. The progressive transition of UNMIL will change the composition and operational capacity of the UN in Liberia.

A UN Delivering as One in Liberia will be better placed to respond to these developments.

The United Nations system in Liberia has decided to conduct an internal assessment of existing technical, human and financial capacities at both national and county levels- to identify strengths, weaknesses and gaps, and enable the UNCT to strengthen its capacities to implement Delivering as One and support UNMIL’s transition. The UN system is seeking to recruit an international consultant to conduct the capacity assessment.

Objectives and Overall Goal:

Assess the UN system’s human, financial and technical capacities in order to contribute relevant and targeted assistance to the Government’s national priorities, both at the national and sub-national levels, in the context of Delivering as One and UNMIL’s transition processes.

The specific objectives of the capacity assessment are as follows:

I. To assess the UN’s existing institutional capacities (in-country and of Non-Resident Agencies) at national and sub-national levels that:

Address relevant national priorities currently being formulated in the PRS II, for which the UNCT has a comparative advantage.
Implement the One Programme/new UNDAF and the new approach to common services as detailed in the operational change management plan.

II. To identify required institutional capacities to contribute to the achievement of national priorities as articulated above, by Delivering as One, taking into consideration UNMIL transition requirements.

In consultation with the Security Transition Group, and in particular the Civilian Transition Group, the assessment will also identify key milestones in UNMIL transition planning that require UNCT input/consideration , as well as key UNMIL functions that need to be handed over for implementation by the UN Country Team.
To identify critical capacity gaps, synergies and technical requirements, by agency/entity, in line with their foreseen roles and responsibilities within the new One Programme, taking into consideration their comparative advantages and mandates.
Recommend actions and measures to be implemented in the short and medium term which would develop and/or strengthen UNCT capacities to coherently respond to national priorities, deliver the One Programme, facilitate the change management process and ensure a smooth transition of UNMIL.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting and scope of work:

Under the supervision of the Resident Coordinator’s Office, and under the overall guidance of the IAPT, the capacity assessment consultant is expected to undertake the following activities:

Initial Planning for the Assessment
Preparatory discussions and meetings with UNCT, Inter-Agency Programme Team (IAPT) and Operations Management Team (OMT) to understand the expectations and concerns relating to technical capacities for the implementation of the One Programme in the next UNDAF cycle.
Selection of an appropriate interview guide/specific diagnostics tool to analyze emerging needs and gaps relating to One Programme delivery, in particular in light of UNMIL transition.
Assess the OMT Change Management Plan against the UNDG Change Management Framework and Toolkit, in consultation with the IAPT, OMT and RC Office.
Develop a timeline and activities, including schedule of field visits, to be undertaken during the consultancy. This should highlight linkages with UNMIL transition planning and related challenges

Data Collection and Analysis:

See Annex 1 on key documents and key individuals and groups for consultation/interviews.
Capacity assessment consultant to review key documents as listed in Annex 1 and discussed with the IAPT and RC Office.
Capacity assessment consultant to conduct individual and group consultations with key persons/groups as listed in Annex 1 and discussed with the IAPT and RC Office

Analyze the UN system’s capacity to:

Deliver on the One Programme/new UNDAF with a results-based management and rights-based programming approach (including existing core staff and expert capacity for programme and operations development and implementation under Delivering as One).
Maximize synergies, and ensure complementarity for increased efficiency and effectiveness in programme delivery.
Promote gender responsiveness and human rights based approach to programming.
Incorporate Non-Resident Agencies in all aspects of programming and planning
Adapt to changing aid environment and UN programming processes, such as DEX to NEX i.e. revising business processes, broadening the skills of staff and assuming new and / or additional roles and functions to respond to national priorities, and needs in the context of DEX to NEX processes, UNMIL drawdown etc.

Provide Recommendations:

The necessary technical, structural and institutional requirements to ensure Delivering as One at both programmatic and operational levels.
Presentation and discussion of findings with the IAPT, OMT and then UNCT

Development of recommendations for actions to be taken as part of an overall change management strategy, including:

Costed menu of options enabling the UNCT to select those that are most appropriate and effective.
Required external support (technical support from region, additional resources, etc) to deliver results.
Adapting relevant indicators from One UN pilot performance reviews into existing agency based performance review systems.

Work Approach and Timing: The assessment will not exceed 30 working days, and will be conducted in two phases as follows:

Phase I:

The purpose of this phase is to share the initial main findings of the capacity and competency assessment, to solicit input from the IAPT, OMT and UNCT. The key milestone for Phase I is a preliminary document describing existing capacities, gaps and requirements for the UN to implement the One Programme/new UNDAF.

Phase II:

The key deliverable under Phase II of the consultancy involves presenting a document with a comprehensive listing of agreed upon recommendations to strengthen the UN in Delivering as One, with clear actionable steps, costs, timelines, and key decision points, based on further consultations around the main findings as presented at the end of Phase 1.

The consultant will do 3 days of Desktop review out of Country, spend 25 days in Monrovia and 3 days in the field in Liberia.

Competencies

Ability to translate strategic thinking and innovative ideas into practical operational recommendations.
Solid analytical and presentation skills.
Excellent interpersonal, communication skills.
Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum Masters degree in Development studies, Social Sciences, International Relations or related fields

Experience:

Experience in conducting organizational capacity and needs assessments.
Proven experience in organizational change management and business process reviews across the private and public sectors.
Demonstrated experience in working with, or supporting, the development of new and innovative approaches, particularly in all areas relating to human resource management.
Proven track record in performance management, human resource development, innovative learning strategies and incentive programmes, knowledge management and goal alignment.
Good knowledge of the UN and latest developments with regard to UN reform.
Familiarity with the changing development aid environment, particularly aid delivery, donor harmonization and alignment and aid cooperation in general. Familiarity with DEX to NEX transitions advantageous.
Experience in working in/with developing and post-conflict countries and in a cross-cultural setting.

Deliverables/Outputs :

The outputs will be assessed against, among other things, the brief conceptual framework submitted as part of the initial proposal submitted by the selected consultant(s).

Deliverables are linked to the payment as follows:

Deliverable Assignment	# of deliverables	Tentative Timeline	% of payment
A clearly defined work plan and schedule for implementation of the assessment	1	within first week of Phase	20 % of total contract sum
An assessment interview guide / analytical tool identified	1	within first week of Phase	20 % of total contract sum
Concise, analytical report assessing capacities, gaps and needs for the delivery of the One Programme/new UNDAF	1	End of week 3	20 % of total contract sum
A set of recommendations, including indicative costed menu of options, for the IAPT, OMT and then UNCT to consider as part of its overall change management strategy	1	End of week 4	40 % of total

Application Procedure:

Only shortlisted applicants will be notified and forwarded the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice along with terms of reference and general conditions of contrat for the services of Individual Contractors. Short listed candidates will be asked to submit the follwing:

General Proposal: Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work
Financial proposal
Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references