UNDP Jobs - 51642- Practice Development and Partnership Consultancy

Practice Development and Partnership Consultancy

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Dec-2014

Application Deadline :

28-Nov-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 months (66 days)

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

3 months

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

Strengthening rule of law is a cornerstone of UNDP’s efforts to achieve sustainable human development and eradicate extreme poverty. By providing rule of law assistance, UNDP contributes to peace building and democratic governance. These factors are critical for the successful achievement of other social and economic development outcomes and ultimately eradicating extreme poverty. UNDP Strategic Plan (2014 – 2017) emphasizes this engagement by underscoring that the rule of law, justice and security are key for sustainable development, peace building and state building especially in settings affected by conflict, natural disasters and political transitions. As a breakdown of rule of law institutions in a country strips away the necessary oversight and safeguards against immunity and corruption, particularly the integrity of justice institutions; thus from an economic and social standpoint it becomes exceedingly difficult to guarantee business and property rights, civil liberties, and judicial redress through the courts. Reforming justice institutions, including the police, and combating corruption is thus critical for building confidence between individuals, communities, and the State and society, and also guaranteeing a measure of stability. This sort of reform is also critical in setting a basis for sustainable development, by providing accountable and peaceful mechanisms for claiming rights and addressing injustice. Ultimately, providing for accessible and effective rule of law/justice institutions paves the way for local and regional investment. Thus, prolonged challenges to administering the rule of law have compromised regional development gains, as well as common security and stability.

The governments of West Africa and the Sahel as well as UN bodies have laid frameworks acknowledging the criticality of strengthening rule of law institutions and combating corruption in the region. In 2008, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) developed a Conflict Prevention Framework identifying a set of priorities in justice system reform, reconciliation, restoring confidence in governance institutions, and enforcing anti-corruption polices and accountability in the public sector. In 2011, the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA) led a conference on impunity, justice and human rights in West Africa, with the objective to support ECOWAS on these matters. The principle outcome of this conference was the Bamako Declaration in which West African states put forth a comprehensive set of recommendations on matters of justice, reconciliation, and anti-corruption. Finally, most governments in the region are party to international and regional conventions outlining State obligations for fostering an effective and accountable rule of law institutions. However, the implementation of these obligations can be difficult, and is attributed to a number of common cross-cutting challenges of development, existence of protracted armed conflict, porous borders and other regional challenges that have, in some contexts, weakened the rule of law as mentioned earlier.

In West Africa and the Sahel, weakened institutions have been unable to prevent discrimination and exclusion. Access to justice, security and other services, as well as livelihoods and economic opportunities has been hindered. Nepotism and corruption have bred a culture of mistrust. People’s confidence in formal justice systems has eroded, and general perceptions of unfairness continue to threaten peace and stability at local, national, and regional levels.

Thus, and in support of West African and Sahel states, an adoption of a common strategy and a collective effort to strengthen effective and accountable rule of law institutions is envisioned to support and complement the activation of extant national and regional frameworks, as well as reinforce the commitment of Member States to accelerate the implementation of justice reforms and to combat corruption. A common approach that invests in justice/rule of law institutions and ensures popular participation across borders is essential to long-term stability and development.

Against this background, Ministerial-level conference to promote discussions on these issues and also to provide an opportunity to achieve regional consensus in charting a way forward to address rule of law and corruption challenges in West Africa and the Sahel. In particular, the conference will focus on strengthening transnational and South-South cooperation in the exchange of capacities and reform implementation support. The discussions will be guided by the UN Charter and collective extant international, regional and national mechanisms and frameworks on rule of law and anti-corruption.

Duties and Responsibilities

The primary objective of the consultancy is to support a number of partnership events and donors related communications and reporting in relation to rule of law, access to justice and anti – corruption thematic area.

Under the overall supervision of the Rule of Law focal point and working closely with the Rule of Law team, the consultant allocated functions will be as follows:

Pre-event preparations:

Support with planning, coordination and communications related to the event’s preparations including for communications with the UNDP different country offices and other key stakeholders/partners;
Support in costing and budgeting exercises, including for contacting vendors, suppliers and parties to be contracted for the event;
Support in discussions and placing of an events related agenda including for events sessions, side events and arrival and departure of participants;
Support in developing a comprehensive communications strategy, establishing and updating social media links and mapping media entities to be invited to the event;
Support in consolidating event’s invitation lists and follow up, including for technical participants, donors, civil society, media and others;
Logistical support in arranging lodging, events venues, interpretations arrangements and any other logistical support related to the event;
Technical and programmatic support to the events sessions, agenda preparations and advice on programmatic related matters;
Follow up with event speakers including compilation of presented papers and biographies, power point presentations and other related matters to the event speakers;
Support with event’s public relations matters, including contact and invitation of media and related coordination;
Drafting and disseminating communications materials for the event including for excerpts for UNDP publications, blogs and/or for social media;
Support in arranging and coordinating protocol related matters, including for events VIP participants and communication with related national actors;
Follow up on sending out of invitations, save the dates and preparing a logistical note and participants packages for the event.

Executing of events tasks:

Support pre participants arrival arrangements including for VIPs, other participants international speakers and establish communication with key participants;
Support registration of event’s participants upon arrival and ensuring seating arrangements
Follow up with partners in country on logistical, lodging and other conference preparations, including for media arrangements;
Support in executing the events sessions, including for ensuring technical preparations, time keeping and other related issues;
Ensuring update of social-media linkages

Post-event

Support in finalizing of an event report, including for complete list of participants, discussions and final recommendations;
Support compilation of events related papers, biographies, photos and other related material for UNDP and partner member states;
Supporting sending out thank you notes and follow up with participants on pending requests and/or matters if any;
Support any event’s follow up tasks should be requested.

Expected output:

Successful planning, execution and post event follow up of the event, including for effective coordination, financial and logistical support.
Successful liaison and collaboration with national and international partners, including for follow up on fulfilling contractual requirements;
Submission of a final event's report, including events, photos, excerpts and annexes. The final report should be adequate for presentation in donors related activiteis.

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will work under direct supervision of a Rule of Law Focal Point and work closely with the rule of law team, country office and partners in NY and in country, administrative and operational units in UNDP. The consultant will be directly responsible to, reporting to, and seek approval/acceptance of output from the Focal Point.

The assignment will be divided between office and home based work upon agreement with the focal point, UNDP will provide relevant logistical and other support service provided to consultant capacities. The consultant however is expected to bring his/her own laptop and mobile phone and meet local communication cost. Costs to arrange meetings, workshops, travel costs to and DSA during country visits (if any), etc will be incurred by UNDP.

Duration of the Work

The performance under the contract shall take place over total contract duration of 12 weeks (92 days – 66 working days), excluding joining and repatriation travel days. The target date for the start of work is Monday 15 Dec 2014.

Competencies

Technical/ Functional Competencies:

Knowledge and experience in planning and executing practice development and donor relations related events and conferences;
Knowledge of political, social and humanitarian context of where UNDP provides country support;
Ability to prepare events budgets and manage logistical aspects and coordination across different participants and stakeholders
Excellent drafting and communicatons skills;
Excellent analytical, problem solving, negotiations and diplomatic skills;
Excellent coordination and advocacy skills;

Core Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’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
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Takes initiative and approached work with energetic and constructive attitude;
Ability to work under pressure, multi-task and work for flexible schedules;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in law, international relations, political science or a related field;
A combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree..

Required Skills and Experience:

2 to 3 years of progressively responsible experience in rule of law and access to justice related partnership, advocacy and donors and civic engagement;
Extensive experience in organizing and managing events, including for budgeting and media related relations.
Technical knowledge relevant to rule of law and access to justice;
Proven practical capacity to engage with donors community, including for advocacy and forging successful partnerships;
Theoretical and practical experience in drafting, editing publications and reports drafted for external relations;
Excellent drafting and formulation skills; proven record of official reports or papers/studies in the selected area;
UN Experience and experience in United Nations inter-agency work is an asset;
Experience working with UN and/or other inter-governmental entities;

Language requirements:

Fluency in spoken and written English and French is a must;
Knowledge of another UN Language a plus.