Antecedentes
Title: Principal Advisor on Border Management, UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe & the CIS/Senior Advisor to UNDP in Armenia
The United Nations Development Programme is requesting consultancy service to support the Regional Bureau for CIS in New York and the UNDP country office in Armenia in provision of border management expertise and guidance for efficient programme implementation.
Improving border management policy and practice is one of the key areas of cooperation between United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU) in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (ECIS). In the region where creation of state institutions is still work in progress, and where border and custom services are relatively new, the EU requires respective governments to improve border management as a means to ensuring regional security and cooperation and as a key element in negotiating Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements, Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements and Mobility Partnerships.
In the past decade, UNDP has been implementing a large number of EU-funded border management programmes. These programmes encompass a range of activities aimed at introduction of international norms and standards through support to policy and reform, institutional capacity development, specialized training and coaching for customs police, border guards and other officials; also provision of modern equipment and improvement of border crossing and monitoring infrastructure.
In this context, the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS (RBEC) in UNDP is seeking consultancy services to support the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS in New York and the UNDP country office (CO) in Armenia in provision of border management expertise and guidance for efficient programme implementation.
Deberes y responsabilidades
The Principal Advisor will advise and guide the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS in UNDP New York on development aspects of border management in the region. He/she will build on UNDP experience in 11 countries involved in border management project implementation and will provide options to UNDP management on the next steps in this strategic area. The expert will closely liaise with other institutions, including international organizations implementing projects in the area of Border management. During the course of the envisaged contract, the Principal Advisor will be responsible for the following deliverables:
Contribute to international and regional policy debate on border management:
- Participate in, and support preparation of, a Strategic Review Meeting on Border Management between the UNDP and the EU;
- Participate in border management coordination meetings and other relevant conferences and events, including the meetings of the EU’s Eastern Partnership Integrated Border Management (IBM) Panel in June and November 2013;
- Participate in selected bilateral workshops between Armenia and Georgia to comprehend the needs of both countries in the area of cross-border cooperation/IBM and capture information at the EU’s Eastern Partnership IBM Panel meetings to the benefit of both countries;
- Maintain relations with external partners and stakeholders in border management, including, inter alia, the European Union institutions, EU Member State Border Agencies, ICMPD, OSCE, other UN Agencies, relevant US funds and programmes, the Council of CIS Border Guard Commanders etc., in order to support the sustainable capacity development work of the RBEC Border Management Programmes;
- Prepare a short briefing on the conclusions of the upcoming EC’s Global Evaluation of its interventions on Border Management and Organized Crime, including assessment of implications for UNDP and recommendations for any potential response from RBEC.
Programme Development:
- Provide substantive inputs and coordinate RBEC’s participation in UNDP’s global programme on migration and border management;
- Provide inputs and recommendations on the IBM capacity development to focus on institutional strengthening and establishment of appropriate success indicators for border management work, particularly in regard to measuring the impact of capacity development interventions, and take the lead in the preparation of a think-piece for dissemination and peer review of the Community of Practice (CoP) of UNDP;
- Keep COs/RBEC informed of the progress of the EC programming in the region;
- Undertake regular missions to Brussels to participate in conferences and meetings in regard to border management;
- Support COs with project formulation on a demand-driven basis; identify and liaise with potential consortia partners as required.
Support to Project Implementation:
- Provide support and technical advice to UNDP in Armenia to ensure the efficient start-up of the “Modernization of Bagratashen, Bavra and Gogavan state border crossing points of the Republic of Armenia” (MBBG Programme), and the separate but related Bavra-Ninotsminda Flagship Integrated Border Management Project;
- Provide an on-demand advisory service to all COs on operational questions pertaining to the implementation of the border management programmes.
UNDP Partnerships & Knowledge Management
- Facilitate the work of RBEC’s regional CoP on border management and expand its scope to other regions, thus, facilitating cross-bureau exchange of information and experience on border management. Liaise with UNDP’s Bureau for Development Policy and Bratislava Regional Centre in order to integrate border management into the strategic development frameworks for UNDP and the regional programme for RBEC;
- Organize and hold a border management CoP meeting in July 2013 to review strategic direction of border management work and discuss common issues in regard to implementation;
- Prepare quarterly updates on relevant developments in the field of border management assistance. In liaison with RBEC New York and Bratislava Regional Centre;
- Support follow-up to signature of the recently-agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNDP and International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and recommend next steps for developing the partnership on border management.
Deliverables:
- Quarterly updates on the relevant developments in the area of border management;
- Progress reports summarizing the work accomplished on a monthly basis;
- Develop a range of success indicators for border management work and take the lead in the preparation of a think-piece for peer review and dissemination;
- Short summary of progress and major results after COs’ missions (including observations and recommendations);
- Detailed concept paper for the joint consultation meeting on border management with EU, UNDP and prepare a report from the meeting;
- Organize and facilitate a border management Community of Practice meeting to review strategic direction of border management work and discuss challenges and opportunities.
- Briefing note on the conclusions of the EC’s Global Evaluation, including an assessment of implications for UNDP and recommendations for any potential response from RBEC (if required);
- Final Report at the end of the Contract, summarizing the work accomplished during the contract duration period.
Payment schedule:
Specific deliverables will be agreed upon with the Supervisor at the beginning of each month, in writing. Payments will be made once a month upon submitted satisfactory progress report against deliverables and approved timesheet submission providing details of time spent on respective deliverables, their timely execution and acceptance by the Supervisor.
Reporting Requirements:
The international consultant will report to the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS and to UNDP country office in Armenia on country office-related activities.
Competencias
- Prior experience and ability to understand and interpret governance issues and complex development situations;
- Ten years of experience in managing large-scale development projects;
- Good communication skills, written and oral;
- Ability to lead and motivate staff and ensure teamwork;
- Ability to plan and prioritise;
- Ability to work under pressure;
- Excellent negotiation and diplomatic skills;
- Full understanding of, and ability to interpret, UNDP policies and procedures;
- Understanding of EC procedures is essential.
Habilidades y experiencia requeridas
Education:
- Advanced University degree in social sciences, public administration, law, development studies or other related field;
Experience:
- At least ten years of senior project management experience in international development work;
- Experience in development work; initiative and sound judgment, dedication to UN principles and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds;
- Knowledge of border management issues in transition states, writing skills and sound knowledge of the region would be an asset;
- Experience with resource mobilisation from bilateral and multilateral donors;
- Computer literate;
Language Requirements:
- Full proficiency in English;
- Russian language an advantage.
Evaluation of Applicants:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:
- Knowledge of border management issues in transition states and sound knowledge of the region – max points: 20
- Senior advisory services and project management experience in international development work – max points: 20
- Experience in development work, prior working experience experience in managing large-scale development projects and resource mobilisation from bilateral and multilateral donors max points – max points: 15
- Knowledge of the EU institutions, policies and procedures – max points: 10
- Advanced education and language skills – max points: 5
Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points
Application procedures:
Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:
- Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
- Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees
(blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV. - Financial Proposal*- specifying a daily rate in USD. Payment will be made once a month upon submitted satisfactory progress report against deliverables and approved timesheet. All envisaged travel costs will be paid separately according to UNDP rules and regulations.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials
*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period except of travel expenses (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged travel costs will be paid separately according to UNDP rules and regulations.
Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.
Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://europeandcis.undp.org/home/jobs
Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.