UNDP Jobs - 66435- Programme Consultant

Programme Consultant

Location :

Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Jun-2016

Application Deadline :

04-Jun-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 working weeks

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 working weeks

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

Saudi Arabia is among the high achievers of human development. Linking development to a long-term vision of the economy toward the year 2024, Saudi Arabia is thereby seeking to achieve a diversified, prosperous, private-sector-driven economy that would provide rewarding job opportunities, quality education, health care and necessary skills to ensure the well-being of all citizens. Along this path, the Kingdom has achieved and sustained great gains with respect to its progress in the global Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), by persistently ascending to the status of Vey High Development category in 2015 from that of middle-income ranking in the 1990s.

Following a five-year planning process since the early 1970s, the Government has successfully galvanized a strong political will in support of a set of specific national development targets geared to diversify the economic base away from the conventional reliance on the natural resources. In addition to the economic diversification, the planning process focuses on enhancement of competitiveness, balanced regional planning to ensure evenhanded distribution of resources and development benefits among regions, and the movement toward an economy based on knowledge and founded on a knowledge society. By and large, such a set of objectives has been perceived to generate and maintain quality of life for the citizens in the short, medium and long terms.

The national planning process has also been buttressed by a resolve to achieve international agreed upon development targets that institute and mainstream the holistic approach to development, internationally and locally. In the extensive international work that heralded the endorsement of the SDGs in September 2015, Saudi Arabia was an active participant and a strong potential candidate to implement the global sustainable development agenda ahead of the set time of 2030.

In this framework, UNDP is eager to sustain and strengthened its technical and substantive support to the Government in the national resolve to adapt the SDGs and commence their implementation in full consideration of the underlying principle of ‘leaving no-one behind’.

UNDP in Saudi Arabia partners with various governmental actors, non-governmental organizations, civil societies, UN agencies and other organizations. The decision makers vary according to the projects and the efforts it entails. The Resident Representative and the Resident Coordinator of the UN in Saudi Arabia collaborate with these actors in the decision-making processes.

The current request for assistance falls under the programme team to develop concepts notes and conduct relevant research for upcoming new development projects in the fields of social development, youth, and organizational effectiveness of partner ministries.

Objective:

The objective of this assistance is to support the programme team in providing timely well-researched proposals for cooperation initiatives to potential and existing partners in line with the Kingdom’s development goals and UNDP’s core mandate towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Duties and Responsibilities

The current consultancy request entails working under the supervision of the Programme Team to develop concept papers and conduct relevant research for the following areas of cooperation with national partners:

Development of national capacities in social research;
Utilization of public space for social cohesion;
Developing the national capacities for efficient implementation of the SDGs;
Establishment of national youth indicators;
Establishment Social Innovation Labs and establishment of Social Indicators;
Social protection and safety programs;
Enhance statistics generation in support of the SDGs implementation;
Provide assistance to thematic studies conducted to establish linkages between the national development objectives and the SDGs.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Creating synergies through self-control;
Managing conflict;
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Advanced university degree in social sciences, management or related field.
5 years of relevant experience;
Research capability;
Excellent writing skills;
Fluency in English and Arabic;
Experience in socio-economic development project proposals formulation is an advantage.