UNDP Jobs - 42845- Consultant - Corporate Planning and Results System

Consultant - Corporate Planning and Results System - Guidance Development and Training Support

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

09-Jan-2014

Application Deadline :

06-Jan-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

50 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

50 days

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

UNDP’s has developed a strengthened online Corporate Strategic Planning and Results System which will be rolled out across the organization in early 2014.

This new system aligns and brings greater coherence to all parts of the corporate strategic planning system in order to strengthen the link between results and resources. The system will support the management of the Strategic Plan 2014-2017 and Annual Business Plan and will be complemented by the development of a simpler, more logical, and user-friendly results management system which will enable continuous results and performance management corporately and in every business unit.

The system is being designed to be responsive to the business requirements and performance management needs of Country Offices in a way that is both integrated and dynamic, allowing for flexibility and customization. To this end, it will include the retirement and/or integration of many of the stand-alone results and performance management tools and focus on the key elements which will best support Country Offices toward programme implementation and delivering results. Regional and Central Bureaux components will facilitate bottom-up processes and collaboration and provide information for more strategic oversight and guidance.

The base of this platform will be a ‘one stop shop’ online planning and results management portal consisting of unit work spaces for Country Offices, Regional Bureaux, Central Bureaux, and other units, with integrated spaces for programmes, projects, and resources. It will allow for a more integrated view of Country/Regional/Global programmes from the CPD/programme level through to the outcome and project levels, with full alignment to the Strategic Plan. Details about these work spaces and key elements are outlined in further detail in this note.

Implementation of this initiative is proceeding closely with other initiatives, including changes to the PPM cycle, strengthening project level quality assurance, the updated Executive Snapshot, the Corporate Scorecard, the POPP revision, HR People Capability Strategy, service trackers, Results reporting, and others as necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives and scope of the consultancy

The project task force has developed the elements of new Corporate Strategic Planning system. These include:

Sets of forms and applications to support planning process;
Enhancement to Atlas as well as additional instruments to support UNDP program and operations including project spaces, project quality review, service tracker and early warning;
Corporate, Regional and Country spaces for tracking and reporting by articulating information generated these applications around the key performance metrics covering context, resources, operational capability, results, and accountability areas. Full details on the strengthened system will be available to the consultant.

The consultant will work with the core project team that includes representatives from the Strategy and Change Implementation Group (SCIG), Operations Support Group (OSG) and Bureau of Management (BOM). She or he will be required to quickly grasp the fundamentals of the new system, including with reference to what is different from existing approaches, and develop guidance and support packages and tools for the organization wide rollout of the new system, as well as provide ongoing support through training and webinars for its introduction. Rollout of the initial phase is expected to be iterative, with planned releases in Mid-January, Mid February and Mid-March. The initial releases will support the organisation’s annual business planning process as well as the alignment throughout the organization with the new Integrated Results and Resources Framework linked to the Strategic plan 2014-17. The consultancy will also include reviewing and updating guidance and support to reflect user feedback and supporting a help desk function at peak periods.

The consultancy will be managed on a part-time basis over 3 months, with the timing for outputs to be agreed in line with the project rollout schedule. Peak work periods are expected to include Mid-January; mid-February and mid-March. Some work may be completed outside UNDP’s premises in New York, but blocks of time will be required on site.

Key deliverables

Working closely with the project team, the consultant is required to:

Develop guidance and support packages to accompany the phased rollout of the new system, tailored to HQ and country offices;
Support cascaded training for HQ and country offices through webinars and other methodologies to accompany the rollout;
Support the operations of a help desk function to accompany the first phase rollout linked to the 2014 planning process; and
Compile real time feedback and identify ways to improve the guidance, training and support materials.

The first guidance package is required to be completed by 15 January, with deadlines for other outputs to be agreed in light of the rollout schedule.

Timeline and Reporting Arrangements

The consultancy will be part time and comprise up to 50 working days between 9 January and 15 April 2014. The consultant will report to the Chair of the corporate planning system team or a team member delegated by the Chair.

Competencies

Strong familiarity with UNDP’s operating model between HQ and Country;
Ability to quickly grasp the fundamentals of the new corporate planning and results systems and translate this into easily understood content for HQ and country offices, and present this content in English;
Ability to work independently as well as in a team and adhere to deadlines;
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's or PhD degree.

Experience:

15 years of experience with a proven record in capacity development/programme management/policy analysis/and/or change management, preferably within the UN system;
Experience with UNDP’s planning, management and results frameworks and processes, including business planning, operational management, monitoring, results-based management and the project and programme management context in UNDP HQ and Country Offices;
Expertise and experience in developing guidance and support materials for the rollout of innovative business and programme management practices that support the needs of users;
Experience in presenting training sessions and webinars in a multi-cultural setting.

Language:

Fluent in written and spoken English.

Note:

The consultant is expected to deliver these outputs in written form. The primary materials will be formatted in MS Word with graphics/screenshots. Instructional materials will be presented in draft MS Powerpoint slides, in English language.The consultant is expected to deliver these outputs in written form. The primary materials will be formatted in MS Word with graphics/screenshots. Instructional materials will be presented in draft MS Powerpoint slides, in English language.

Additional background information will be made available to the consultant upon commencement of the assignment.

Interested applicants are requested to provide:

Short statement (maximum one page) outlining the consultant’s capacity to fulfil the TOR, including addressing the profile and competencies required;
CV, including past experience in similar projects;
Names and contact details of two referees; and
Daily rate applicable for the duration of the consultancy .