UNDP Jobs - 68319- Re-advertisement: Local Analyst-Writer for the Kos

Re-advertisement: Local Analyst-Writer for the Kosovo Human Development Policy Paper 2016 on Agriculture and rural development

Location :

Prishtinë/Priština, Kosovo, UNSCR 1244 (1999)

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

12-Sep-2016

Application Deadline :

05-Sep-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

September - December 2016 (25 working days within this period)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

September - December 2016 (25 working days within this period)

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

Background Information

There cannot be inclusive growth in Kosovo without local administrations, entrepreneurs, farmers, and communities deploying their energies and resources in a coordinated way, networking together to overcome specific development challenges in their territory. While development potentials exist (particularly in agri-business and related value chains), no strong service institutions are present at municipal/local level. People have great difficulties in accessing employment opportunities, economic circuits and regular markets, business services and credit.

UNDP’s Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development programme has been supporting farmers and producers throughout Kosovo to increase productivity, develop new capacities in best practices in agriculture and economic and rural development, as well as business to business networking and other advisory services. In this regard, through a number of interventions, UNDP with its partners offers in-kind or financial grants to individual farmers or business initiatives to upgrade farms or production units with new tools, materials, or equipment in order to create additional jobs, strengthen income generation, and contribute to import substitution of agricultural products in Kosovo with the aim of reducing the heavily negative trade balance Kosovo has. Moreover, farmers and producers receive targeted complementary training and advisory services in best practices in agriculture and other relevant topics of rural development, such as quality standards and management systems, export and marketing guides, or cultivation of specific agricultural produce. UNDP supports analysis and development of various value chains linked to agricultural production specific for Kosovo, such as forest fruits, mushrooms and medical and aromatic herbs, wood processing, or rural tourism. Furthermore, UNDP supports relevant Kosovo institutions with technical assistance and policy recommendations such as various information systems and platforms for more evidence-based policy making, papers on evaluation of the impact of policies, competitiveness reports, reports on potential export markets and more, as well as capacity development of local and central-level officials within relevant departments and units. Under the IG&SD programme together with other non-agricultural sectors, more than 1300 people have new job opportunities and more than 12000 Kosovans gained marketable skills, enhanced business development and farming skills in 2015 alone. These initiatives contribute directly to a number of the Sustainable Development Goals, with SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production all at the heart of the various interventions.

Human Development (HD) is about creating an environment where people are able to have a dignified life and having a decent job is one of the fundamental needs for a healthy socio-economic environment. In the context of Kosovo, employment means nutritious food on the table, a better house to live in, better health, access to education and greater personal freedom.

The primary objective of the report is the provision of a high quality piece of research, which stimulates public discussion and improves policymaking in the field of agriculture and rural development. A Human Development perspective is going to permeate the report in order to maintain a focus on the people and their quality of life. Yet the overall aims are wider than merely producing a report, and include offering a practical resource to policymakers, and building the capacity of national researchers, through exposure to analysis of an international standard.

Objectives of Assignment

The overall objective of this assignment is to analyse the existing datasets and available analytical work in the fields of:

1. Rural infrastructure, and
2. Special features of life in rural areas (demographics, education, income, employment, types of farming and production in order to produce a qualitative HD policy paper.

The writer/ analyst shall work under direct supervision of the HD Specialist and Inclusive Growth Programme. The local analyst/writer will work closely with the international lead writer to complete this assignment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work

Under the supervision of the HD Specialist and UNDP Inclusive Growth Programme Analyst, as well as of the international lead writer the writers of the HD Policy Paper are expected to guide and work closely with the national experts, representatives from relevant Kosovo Institutions and other partners/stakeholders in order to maintain the high quality standards of the UNDP Kosovo flagship product. More specifically, the Analyst Writer will be in charge of the following:

Based on desk review research, as well as using the data obtained from the Labour Force Surveys, Population Census, Kosovo Remittance Surveys, Public Pulse opinion polls, and Kosovo Mosaic Survey, the Analyst -Writer is required to write the first draft of each assigned chapter. ?The chapters should be written in English (United Kingdom English spelling) and be submitted by MS Word style (A4 default margins, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, single spaced).
The Analyst–Writer will draft each chapter, and the report in general, based on the outline created by the International lead writer. These chapters need to include analytical thinking and an in-depth analysis of issues from different perspectives.
The Analyst–Writer will have to revise the initial drafts of chapters after receiving peer review comments and suggestions from the International lead writer. Final narrative report should include relevant tables, graphs and charts. The Analyst-Writer may also add annexes.

Expected Results

Deliverables/ Outputs

Finalizing the Research needs, such as research questions, and source of data to be analyzed in order to finalize the Outline and Methodology of the HD Policy Paper.

Estimated Duration to Complete:

04 w/days.

Target Due Dates

September 2016.

Review and Approvals Required

Human Development Specialist/Inclusive Growth Team.

Deliverables/ Outputs

Draft the report as per the agreed Outline and Methodology.

Estimated Duration to Complete:

10 w/days.

Target Due Dates

September 2016.

Review and Approvals Required

Human Development Specialist/Inclusive Growth Team.

Deliverables/ Outputs

Peer Review.

Estimated Duration to Complete:

N/A.

Target Due Dates

October 2016.

Review and Approvals Required

Human Development Specialist/Inclusive Growth Team

Deliverables/ Outputs

Incorporation of tables and figures Tables:

Style of writing: Times New Romans 10 font (style and size should be standard for all tables and figures).
Title: Bold (include number of the table and/or figure plus title).
Heads of tables: Bold and Right, except the most left head of table which will be Left.
The left roll of table should be positioned on the Left; the other side should be positioned on the Right.
Source should be positioned at the end of the table, Left, Italic, Times New Roman 9, and Italic.
According to UNDP rules and regulations, the English version of the chapter should consist of the names of cities and villages in Kosovo in both languages: Albanian and Serbian (the characters of both respective languages should be taken into consideration).

Graphs/figures:

Style of writing: Times new roman 10 (style and size should be standard for all tables and figures).
Title of the graph: Bold. Title consists of the number of graphs and respective question upon which the question was build.
The graphs will be without values checked.
The legend should be positioned below.

Source (mandatory) should be positioned at the end of the graphs. Times New Roman 9, Italic.

Estimated Duration to Complete:

1 day.

Target Due Dates

November 2016.

Review and Approvals Required

Human Development Specialist/Inclusive Growth Team.

Deliverables/Outputs

Incorporating comments of UNDP, IRH and HDRO and finalization (incl. editing in the UK English) of the report after the peer review.

Estimated duration to complete

6 working days.

Target due dates

November 2016.

Review and approvals required

Human Development Specialist/Inclusive Growth Team.

Deliverables/Outputs

Delivery of final draft.

Estimated duration to complete

4 working days.

Target due dates

November/ December 2016.

Review and approvals required

Human Development Specialist/Inclusive Growth Team.

Deliverables / Final Products Expected

A finalized outline of the Kosovo HD Policy Paper.
The gathering of additional data to address current identified gaps.
An established and rigorous methodology for the Kosovo HD Policy.
An executive summary, introduction and concluding chapter with recommendation based on data analysis.
Annexes which provide detailed information of methods, special terms, tables, charts etc.
A HD Policy Paper which uses concise language that is fluid, accessible, and clear, as well as abides with UK English standards.
A HD Policy Paper which is consistent with the UNDP Style Manual in general and with UNDP Kosovo writing guidelines in particular.

Scope of price proposal and schedule of payments

Remuneration - Lump Sum Amount

The Contract is based on lump sum remuneration and shall be processed subject to deliverables as per the schedule listed below:

50% upon successful delivery of the first draft of the report;
50% upon successful completion of all the deliverables.

Required Presentation of Offer:

The following documents need to be submitted:

P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three professional references (P11 can be downloaded at UNDP web site: http://www.ks.undp.org/content/kosovo/en/home/operations/jobs/)
Financial proposal: The consultant is expected to provide a lump sum for delivering the assignment.
Technical proposal, a max. 2-page document briefly explaining the approach and method to be utilized for delivering the expected results within the indicated timeframe.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Please note that the criteria for selection of the best candidate that shall be utilized is the combined scoring method – where the technical part based on the P11 and the technical proposal will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.

Application Instructions:

Click on the "Apply now" button;
Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation; You can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box;
Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume;
System will only allow one attachment. All docs (CV; P11; financial offer; list of similar profiles should be included as one attachment);
Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Committed to professionalism, impartiality, accountability and integrity;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, ethnicity, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Demonstrates substantial experience in gender equality. Actively promotes gender equality in all activities;
Demonstrates commitment to human development principles and values;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

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;
Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
Punctuality and honouring of commitments;
Ability to draw conclusion on the related subjects;
Ability to pay attention to details;
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment;
Commitment to accomplish work;
Results and task oriented.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (MA Degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, agriculture, economics, econometrics, PhD is preferable).

Experience:

At least 3 years of relevant experience with research and analytical work, especially with statistics and opinion poll surveys, in academia or research institutions is required;
Proven record of publications is required;
Previous experience in the sector of agriculture and rural development is necessary;
Excellent knowledge of STATA and SPSS incl. data processing/analysis is an asset;
Familiarity with the relevant situation in agriculture and rural development in Kosovo is required;

Language requirements:

Excellent analytical and report writing skills in clear and fluent English. Knowledge of Albanian and/or Serbian is considered an asset.