UNDP Jobs - 49050- Support to Transitions in the Context of Mission D

Support to Transitions in the Context of Mission Drawdown or Withdrawal

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

08-Sep-2014

Application Deadline :

02-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

9 months (8 September - 31 May 2015)

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

9 months (8 September - 31 May 2015)

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

In its resolution 2137 of 13 February 2014 the Security Council extended BNUB’s mandate to 31 December 2014. The Council also requested the UN to prepare a transition plan by 15 May 2014 and prepare the “transfer of appropriate responsibilities to the United Nations

Country Team by 31 December 2014”. The closure of the mission is a challenge especially in the light of the extremely fragile and tense political situation and because the UN’s political engagement still is, and will be essential in the run-up to the 2015elections.

A Strategic Assessment of Burundi was conducted at the end of 2013 and the conclusions presented to the Security Council in the Secretary-General’s report on Burundi of 20 January 2014. The complete closure of BNUB with no follow-on direct political engagement was not one of the three options proposed by the Secretary-General. The Government of Burundi has, however, insisted that it wishes to have an exclusive UNCT presence from the beginning of 2015 and UN observers for the upcoming elections.

On 13 February 2014, the Security Council adopted resolution 2137 (2014) extending BNUB until 31 December 2014; requested the Secretary-General to prepare BNUB’s transition and the transfer of appropriate responsibilities to the United Nations Country team by 31 December 2014; and further requested the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to finalize a transition plan by 15 May 2014. The Security Council also requested the Secretary-General to establish a United Nations Observer Mission to follow and report on the electoral process in Burundi immediately at the end of BNUB’s mandate, and further requests this mission to report to the Secretary-General and the Secretary-General to the Security Council before, during and after the 2015 elections.

The Joint Transition Plan, developed by the Transition Steering Group, was presented to the Security Council on 14 May 2014. BNUB and the UN Country team are working on modalities for transferring tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Support BNUB, the UN Country Team in Burundi and headquarters in implementing the Policy on UN Transitions in the Context of Mission Drawdown and Withdrawal with a focus on planning, UN integration, monitoring and evaluation, coordination, and communication;
Support BNUB, the UN Country Team in Burundi and headquarters in implementing the Integrated Assessment and Planning Policy within the context of transitions, reconfigurations, and mission start-ups;
Undertake a lessons learned exercise on the Burundi transition, that also takes into account the potential impacts of the transition on women, men, girls and boys;
Undertake a joint lessons learned exercise with DPKO/DFS and UNDP on transitions, that also takes into account the potential impacts of the transition on women, men, girls and boys;
Review the UNDP Guidance on UN Transitions in Mission settings based on the lessons learned from Burundi;
Prepare, develop, and facilitate trainings related to transitions;
Participate, as required, in visits on transitions to geographic areas of interest and existing field operations.

Key Deliverables:

Planning and implementation processes for BNUB endeavor to adhere to the Policies on Integrated Assessment and Planning and Planning and on UN Transitions in the Context of Mission Drawdown and Withdrawal:

Estimated duration to complete: 8 months;
Target Due Dates: Report Progress every month;
Review and Approvals Required: Guidance and Learning Unit, PMD, DPA and PPD, UNDP.

Two lessons learned reports on transitions that could contribute to developing future guidance material and provide feedback to Member States:

Estimated duration to complete: 6 months;
Target Due Dates: 31 May 2015;
Review and Approvals Required: Guidance and Learning Unit, PMD, DPA and PPD, UNDP.

Develop two training courses for Headquarters and field-based staff on transitions and the IAP Policy:

Estimated duration to complete: 5 months;
Target Due Dates: 31 May 2015;
Review and Approvals Required: Guidance and Learning Unit, PMD, DPA and PPD, UNDP.

Provide support to critical peace consolidation areas in Burundi and other transition processes:

Estimated duration to complete: 5 months;
Target Due Dates: Report progress every month;
Review and Approvals Required: Guidance and Learning Unit, PMD, DPA and PPD, UNDP.

The consultant will have a dual reporting line. The first line will be to the Team Leader of the Guidance and Learning Unit of the Policy and Mediation Division, Department of Political Affairs, through the Africa I Division, Department of Political Affairs. The second reporting line will be to the Policy Advisor and Team Leader, Policy Team, PPD, UNDP.

Duration of the Work:

The proposed contract will start from 8 September 2014 – 31 May 2015, for an initial period of nine month;
Payment on a monthly basis following certification by the Team Leader of the Guidance and Learning Unit of the Policy and Mediation Division, Department of Political Affairs, that the services related to each Deliverable have been satisfactorily performed and the Deliverables have been achieved before the due dates. The certification and deliverables will be sent to the Policy Advisor and Team Leader, Policy Team, PPD, UNDP for additional confirmation and processing of payment.

Competencies

Ethics & Values

Demonstrating/Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity;
Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status;
Demonstrated outstanding ability to coordinate and cooperate with many different UN actors, both within and outside UNDP and an ability to generate trust and deliver on joint commitments in cooperation with others;

Working in Teams:

Acting as a team player.

Communicating Information and Ideas:

Facilitating and encouraging open communication;
Delivers verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum of a Master’s Degree or equivalent in development, business administration, international relations, political science or related field.

Experience:

A minimum of five years of relevant, progressively responsible experience in mission planning, coordination, or a related area is required;
First-hand experience in facilitating and coordinating multi-stakeholder processes is required, such as the development of an Integrated Strategic Framework and/or a United Nations Development Assistance Framework;
Experience working in a peacekeeping operation or Special Political Mission is highly desirable;
Experience working with UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes in a conflict/post-conflict setting is desirable;
Experience in planning and implementing a mission transition (drawdown), liquidation plan is desirable.

Language:

Excellent writing, editing, and oral communications skills in English are required;
Proficiency in French is desirable.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The Daily fee must be “all-inclusive”. The term “All inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances, communications, consummables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal:

IC Time Sheet must be submitted by the Contractor, duly approved by the Individual Contractor’s supervisor, which shall serve as the basis for the payment of fees;
Payment on a monthly basis;
The consultant shall be paid the standard DSA rates for field visits and air travel will be in economy-class regardless the length of travel.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

Letter of Offer or confirming Interest and Availability;
P.11 completed.