UNDP Jobs - 67478- Consultant for Analysis of Public Services Deliver

Consultant for Analysis of Public Services Delivery Models in Europe and CIS Region

Location :

Home based, with possible missions, TURKEY

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

02-Aug-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

estimated August – October 2016

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

app. 35 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

The 2030 Agenda approved in September 2015 underscores the need for transformative steps that are needed to a resilient and sustainable development that leaves no one behind. SDG 16 in particular calls for the development of effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels (16.6) and responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels (16.7). The UNDP Strategic Plan (2014-2017) further emphasizes the importance of strengthened national institutions as key to ensuring effective and universal access to basic public services.

In the Europe and CIS region, all governments have embarked on various initiatives to improve delivery of public services while at the same time increasing transparency, reducing corruption risks, and enhancing accountability measures at national and sub-national levels. At the local level, the need to ensure that communities particularly in rural, remote areas are able to access public services in a timely manner – particularly among women and female-headed households, elderly, and unemployed men and women – also drive current efforts and discussions for innovative and responsive service delivery models.

In response to this, the adoption of e-government strategies – defined as “the use of ICT and its application by the government for the provision of information and public services to the people” (UN Global E-Government Readiness Report 2004) – for example, has seen a rise in recent years.. Armenia, Georgia, Montenegro and Turkey are among the countries in the region with high ratings in terms of online services delivery (UN E-Government Survey 2014). A number of countries as well are looking at experiences in more advanced countries such as Estonia, Latvia, Singapore and western Europe, to explore possible scaled approaches to improving public services delivery.

At the same time, there remain multiple channels being applied at the national and sub-national levels in delivering public services, including the use of public kiosks, one-stop-shops, traditional over the counter services, use of innovative technologies and approaches for citizen engagement, etc., depending on national and local contexts.

Location: Home-based with possible missions to four countries in the region including to Istanbul/Turkey.

Duties and Responsibilities

The main functions of the Consultant are as follows:

Provide a state-of-the-art review and analysis of the public service delivery issues, challenges, practices and lessons learnt in the region including case analysis of public service delivery models in at least three countries in the region that would represent the breadth of issues and innovations being addressed and/or applied at the national and/or sub-national levels;
Mapping of service delivery models and approaches in Europe and CIS region, with a particular focus on transparency, accountability and integrity.

Specifically, these will include:

Provide a state-of-the-art review and analysis of the public service delivery issues, challenges and lessons learnt in Europe and CIS region;

Undertake a desk review of the public service delivery context, challenges, and lessons learnt in the ECIS region;
Liaise with the Governance and Peacebuilding (GPB) Team in the Istanbul Regional Hub, the Global Center for Public Service Excellence (GCPSE) in Singapore, and relevant UNDP Country Offices in the region to understand existing UNDP initiatives on public services delivery;

Prepare case analysis of public service delivery models in at least three countries in the region that would represent the breadth of issues and innovations being addressed and/or applied at the national and/or sub-national levels;

In coordination with the GPB Team in IRH, identify three countries for detailed case study/analyses and undertake analytical missions in these countries, including consultations with UNDP staff, service providers (public/private/CSOs), and service users;
Prepare individual case studies for each country focusing on the issues, service delivery approaches/models, impact (if any), lessons learnt and recommendations for upscaling the models within the country and in other countries
Prepare an executive summary and a detailed report of the findings including recommendations for upscaling innovative approaches for public services delivery that promote transparency, accountability and integrity, as well as inclusion and addresses inequalities, including concrete entry points for sub-regional/multi-country approaches and partnerships.

The Consultant may also be invited to present the findings of the analysis through an event to be organized by the Istanbul Regional Hub. The Consultant will report directly to the GPB Team Leader in IRH, and is expected to consult and be guided by the GPB Team and the UNDP COs on any political sensitivities around issues and relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

Payment schedule and deliverables:

20% of the lump sum, upon submission of inception plan providing detailed workplan for the study and initial review of public service delivery issues in the region (by 12 August 2016);
40% of the lump sum, upon submission of detailed analysis of public service delivery issues, challenges and lessons learnt (by 9 September 2016)
30% of the lump sum upon submission of the mapping of models, practices and approaches to public service delivery, including three case studies in the region (by 14 October 2016);
10% of the lump sum, upon submission of complete full report including executive summary, that incorporates comments and feedback from IRH and UNDP Country Offices (by 28 October 2016).

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to human development principles and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Promotes the mission and values of the UN;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional competencies:

Demonstrates extensive research planning and implementation skills;
Shares knowledge and experience;
Provides helpful feedback and advice;
Displays strong analytical skills;
Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals in a timely manner;
Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters degree in public administration, international relations, social sciences, or relevant disciplines

Experience:

At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in public administration, institutional reforms, public service delivery, business process re-engineering, or relevant fields;
A demonstrable body of written work on issues relating to governance, public services delivery, public administration preferably in the ECIS region;
Demonstrable experience collaborating with a wide-spectrum of actors in collaborative research;
Experience with the UN or UNDP in the area of governance desirable.

Language Requirements:

Excellent command of English; knowledge of other languages of the ECIS an asset but not essential.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates who will get at least 70% of points in each step of the process (technical evaluation and interviews)will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 50 points:

Criteria A - Education– max points: 5;
Criteria B - Language skills: max. points: 10;
Criteria C - Demonstrated research and analytical skills - max points: 10;
Criteria D - Interviews – Experience in public administration, service delivery approaches/mechanisms, or governance preferably in ECIS region; experience with the UN or UNDP in the area of governance - max points: 15;
Criteria E - Interviews - Knowledge and familiarity with innovative practices in public service delivery, including e-services, among others - max points: 10.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 21.5 points

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
Written samples of your previous research or analytical work in English (please, upload a document or provide us with links);
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount in USD for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days and any other relevant expenses) with the exception of travel expenses related to missions. Travel costs related to missions, if any, will be paid by UNDP in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...).

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling 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
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

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.