Background

The UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence (GCPSE) seeks to recruit a dynamic Project Manager to support its role in the Effective Institutions Platform (EIP) joint secretariat which GCPSE jointly runs with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The EIP is an international partnership of over 65 countries and organizations (development agencies, civil society, think tanks), which was created in 2012 in response to international commitments on the need to strengthen the effectiveness of our public institutions for the delivery of public service excellence. See www.effectiveinstitutions.org for details on the EIP.

The EIP supports its members in their development of accountable, inclusive and transparent public sector institutions capable of delivering responsive policies, effective resource management, and sustainable public services for poverty reduction and inclusive growth.

The EIP does this through hosting a different kind of conversation; using collective learning processes to capture innovation, stimulating experimentation and bringing this learning to a wider audience through an influential global network.

The EIP collaborates with a number of multi-stakeholder groups and actors working on public sector reform. However, it is distinctive from other efforts in a number of ways. In particular, the EIP:

• Brings together a diverse group of stakeholders engaged in Public Sector Reforms – not only government representatives, but civil society representatives, legislators and think tanks.
• Works through innovative approaches to peer learning under the "Learning Alliances on Public Sector Reform".
• Provides a safe space to debate successes and failures in public sector reform efforts and communicates the results as appropriate.
• Provides evidence and promotes experimentation in the area of public sector reform.
• Supports motivation, leadership, strategic foresight and innovation among public officials.
• Works across institutional objectives – including but not restricted to increased transparency across government.
• Helps bridge local, regional and global efforts to strengthen public sector institutions.

The EIP has developed a guide (http://bit.ly/P2P-Learning) targeting organisations that facilitate and promote Peer-to-Peer Learning as an innovative and alternative approach that is increasingly being used in the public sector to understand the challenges faced by public sector change agents, allowing them to tap into the experience of other practitioners.

The EIP is looking to launch international Peer-to-Peer Learning Alliances composed of professional peers (e.g. officials who are driving reforms) and leveraging the multi-stakeholder nature of the platform by promoting collaboration with allies outside the public service. Learning Alliances would provide leaders with peer engagements and learning opportunities on the basis of the premise that no one knows the challenges facing reformers better than reform practitioners themselves. EIP is in the process of launching a learning alliance which pairs several Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in Latin America.

In January 2015 the OECD and GCPSE entered into a partnership to jointly run the Secretariat for the EIP which had previously been administered by the OECD. The decentralized structure of the platform includes the Co-chair positions who are currently held by USAID and the Kenya Public Service Commission. An advisory group guides and oversees all operations of the EIP, advising on the strategic direction and substantive content of outputs and deliverables.

The following key functions are performed by the Joint Secretariat:

• Take stock of challenges and opportunities within the global development architecture to identify key areas of work for the EIP.
• Together with the Co-chairs and Advisory Group, develop the Strategic Framework and put to action the agreed upon EIP Programme of Work.
• Closely collaborate with the Advisory Group and EIP pillars to ensure forward movement on each group’s work plans.
• Facilitate peer learning in the framework of Learning Alliances and identify and document country level public sector reform innovations.
• Position the EIP within and ensure collaboration with concurrent international processes (such as the 2030 Agenda).
• Make evidence and knowledge available and report back on EIP activities to all the members of the EIP/to all EIP members and interested partners.
• Prepare for, manage and facilitate effective meetings of the EIP, including virtual meetings.
• Consolidate the EIP membership and bring new interested parties on board the EIP. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager will support the implementation of GCPSE’s commitments to its role in the Joint Secretariat. These commitments are not static but evolve in coordination with the EIP membership, OECD (as the partner institution in the Joint Secretariat) and the donors supporting the work of the EIP.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

Strategic Advice and Leadership:

• Provide strategic managerial and operational contributions in managing the Joint Secretariat;
• Provide substantive inputs to the EIP Advisory Group and Co-chairs to ensure that the EIP remains relevant and responsive to changes in the global development arena, through identification and the conceptualization of key policy and programming options;
• Ensure communication and sharing of knowledge with other similar initiatives (e.g. Open Government Partnership, Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, etc.);
• Promote thematic and sectorial synergies and coordination of programme activities and execution;
• Identify opportunities to enhance team work within the Project and with other partners to capitalize on specific advantages of the multi-stakeholder character of the platform;
• Create and maintain partnerships with relevant networks and institutions;
• Conduct research and analysis with regards to strategic entry points for EIP;
• Play a technical support role to members on the thematic focus areas of the EIP or provide references to sources of information, evidence or advice;
• Support the GCPSE Management in performing their role as the UNDP focal point in the Joint Secretariat.

Project Management and Oversight:

• Ensure coherent and effective management of the project, using a results-oriented approach that incorporates creativity, innovation and responsiveness to emerging needs;
• Measure performance and report on results and outcomes to the Advisory Group and Co-Chairs;
• Manage the day-to-day functioning of the project and maintain regular contact with the other part of the Joint Secretariat under the direction of the GCPSE Management;
• Provide overall supervision and leadership to consultants, experts or interns;
• Draft project work plans, progress reports and final report;
• Take overall responsibility for the timely preparation and quality control of all substantive technical outputs, briefs and required documents, ensuring timely production and submission of outputs and reports by the GCPSE team in the EIP Joint Secretariat;
• Ensure the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the approved project and activities proposed by EIP members by offering technical assistance;
• Organize Advisory Group meetings, Conference Calls with the Co-Chairs and the Secretariat as well as EIP Events (e.g. meetings of the full EIP membership);
• Prepare background documents, briefs, issues papers, and progress reports for these meetings and for donor reporting;
• Follow-up on the implementation of Advisory Group decisions and recommendations;
• Manage process for the selection of suppliers, contractors and partners. Supervise procurement of goods and services including preparation of equipment specifications, Terms of Reference and Request for Proposals according to UNDP rules and procedures;
• Handle the internal and external communications of the EIP in coordination with the partner in the Joint Secretariat (OECD), including regular newsletter updates, website content, blogs and social media posts;
• Supervise outsourced research and dissemination of research findings.

Piloting and co-facilitation of EIP Peer Learning Alliances:

• Motivate EIP Members and potential partners to pilot the EIP Peer Learning Guide through the roll-out of Learning Alliances;
• Assist with and provide technical advice and capacity development to support such Peer Learning initiatives;
• Conceptualise EIP Learning Alliances on key themes which have potential for resource mobilization and for generating insights that would inform an improved version of the EIP Peer Learning Guide;
• Coordinate the EIP activities under the Peer-to-Peer Learning work-stream on behalf of the EIP Secretariat;
• Maintain close contact and generate insights, feedback and evidence from ongoing peer learning activities that can be shared with the EIP membership and help improve EIP knowledge products;
• Contribute to the production of reports and publications, and serve as peer reviewer.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization:

• Facilitate and strengthening of partnerships within the EIP and externally (incl. the joining of new members);
• Support the GCPSE management in relationship building with key government counterparts to promote the mandate of the EIP and to ensure their active engagement in its activities;
• Support relationship building with donors in support of resource mobilization (incl. external and internal analysis for assessing resource mobilization opportunities);
• Analysis of key development and sectorial policies currently being discussed and implemented in the country and key donors willing to support policies;
• Monitoring the overall implementation of donor agreements;
• Identification of emerging sources of funding; assessment of their current usage and potential for the future;
• Development of specific donor fund-raising strategies and approaches;
• Prepare proposals for mobilization of human, technical or financial resources from international development organizations as well as non-government organizations;
• Negotiation of mutually beneficial agreements, compliance with partner requirements, including donor reporting requirements.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Innovation (Ability to make new and useful ideas work):

Collaborates and Integrates

• Creates new business opportunities;
• Integrates diverse contributions into a coherent service;
• Aligns strategy to service delivery components;
• Scales up innovation for greater impact.

Leadership (Ability to persuade others to follow): 

Takes initiative

• Identifies opportunities and challenges and recommends options;
• Checks assumptions against facts;
• Assumes responsibility for decisions and outcomes.

People Management (Ability to improve performance and satisfaction):

Encourages collaboration and improves team responsibilities and/or project deliverables

• Takes ownership of responsibilities;
• Involves team in different steps of the process;
• Seeks and values other’s initiatives and expertise;
• Drives team engagement.

Communication (Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform):

Advocates, able to change mind of self, peers and partners

• Persuades others to embrace new ideas, even when controversial;
• Empathizes with client perspectives and needs;
• Prepares and presents authoritative advice;
• Represents team in formal settings;
• Expands expertise of team through sharing expertise.

 Delivery (Ability to get things done)

Makes new ideas work

• Critically assesses value and relevance of existing thinking and policy;
• Embraces difficult obstacles that interfere with getting work done;
• Anticipates constraints and identifies solutions;
• Strives to improve team reputation with clients;
• Expands capacity of team to deliver on time and on target;
• Accountable for project implementation and/or team deliverables.

Functional and Technical Competencies

• Knowledge of key public administration/service areas and core government functionality and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations in different development situations;
• Ability to manage complex relationships through pathways of knowledge exchange, capacity development, funding relationships and strategic engagement;
• Ability to recognize and facilitate South-South and Triangular Cooperation with ability to demonstrate clear organizational value add;
• Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge;
• Sets innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing;
• Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share;
• Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships;
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and balance often contradictory expectations, building and maintaining relationships;
• Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly;
• Strong presentation skills in meetings with the ability to adapt for different audiences;
• Strong capacity to communicate clearly and quickly;
• Knowledge of project management related procedures to ensure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled;
• Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in Public Administration, Political Science, International Development, or related field;
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience, at least 5 of which involve project implementation and management;
• Professional experience in the development arena with a particular focus on public administration reform, public sector capacity development, and/or public service innovation is required;
• Computer proficiency is required, incl. working knowledge of MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Creative Suite; Web-based Content Management systems;
• Practical familiarity with UNDP project management principles and practises is highly desirable;
• Experience of resource mobilization, donor coordination, accountability and multi-donor trust funds is desirable;
• Experience in working with UNDP and/or other development agencies is an asset;
• Willingness to travel, especially to developing countries.

Language:

• Fluency in English, including excellent writing skills, is required;
• Working knowledge of French is an asset.

Criteria:

Documents to be included when submitting the proposal:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications.  All documents must be attached and uploaded as one combined PDF document when you are asked to upload your CV/resume on the application website.

• Technical proposal: cover note, providing brief information on the experience gained with concrete experience in relation to the ToR (maximum 500 words).
• UNDP Personal History form (P-11):http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc)
• Financial proposal: indicate the daily all-inclusive rate in US Dollars (USD)

Please Note: The total working days per month are estimated to be 21.75 days, leave days are unpaid. The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. professional fee, and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services).

Payment Modality:

Monthly upon satisfactory submission of monthly progress reports / time sheets.

Travel:

All travel to join the duty station and repatriation travel must be included in the financial proposal. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed (incl. economy class tickets, daily subsistence allowance and terminal expenses, based on extant policies and rules). Should the Individual Consultant wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Evaluation Criteria

The final evaluation method will be based on a cumulative analysis of both the technical and financial proposals. An interview will be conducted as part of the selection process. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultants whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable;
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;
• Technical Criteria weight: 70 percent; and
• Financial Criteria weight:  30 percent.

Candidates will be assessed based on the following technical criteria:

Technical Evaluation (70%): evaluation of the P11 and technical proposal, including:

• Experience in similar and relevant field, skill or expertise; relevant projects for similar international organisations and previous relevant UNDP/UN projects (20 points);
• Qualifications in terms of education, consultancy, specialisations and other relevant requirement; key technical skills related to project scope; availability (30 points);
• Interview (20 points).

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 per cent of the total technical scores will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Evaluation (30%):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal: p = y (µ/z):

• p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
• y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
• µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

General Terms and Conditions of Contract for the Services of an Individual Contractor can be downloaded from http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Procurement/english/UNDPGeneralConditionsforIndividualContracts.pdf

Other:

• For clarification, please email to procurement.my@undp.org with the reference number MyIC_2016_017;
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. Payments will be made only upon confirmation by UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner;
• Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when traveling 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;
• 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;
• 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.