UNDP Jobs - 68707- State Technical Officer (SDG Based Planning), For

State Technical Officer (SDG Based Planning), For Indian Nationals Only

Location :

Gandhinagar, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Oct-2016

Application Deadline :

12-Oct-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Six Months, Extendable.

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

In September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – a universal, integrated and transformative vision for a better world. Focusing on an integrated approach to achieve social development, economic growth and environmental protection, the Agenda 2030 aims at eradicating poverty and reducing inequalities.

The Government of India is committed to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and leaving no one behind. Within the Government of India, NITI Aayog has been entrusted with the role to co-ordinate the roll out and implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. NITI Aayog has advised all the states to initiate preparation of their Vision documents and to align schemes to achieve SDGs.

The Government of Gujarat has initiated the process of developing a Vision document and has formulated seven working groups towards this. UN Agencies have been collaborating with the Government of Gujarat. Building on this collaboration, UN is partnering with the state government as part of the overall UN’s support to SDG roll-out for visioning and planning. Services of a technical officer are required to lead UN interventions in SDG visioning and roll-out at the state level. The technical officer is also expected to develop programmes and their implementation strategies to promote state priorities linked to SDGs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of UN Focal Point and the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Planning, the incumbent will –

Provide coordination support to the Planning Department during the process of developing Vision 2030:

Responsible for coordinating with the various agencies involved in the process, including Government of Gujarat, UN Agencies, Niti Aayog and technical agencies;
Coordination with UN agencies for best practices and technical experts that may be needed during the course of work by various working groups streams;
Highlight cross-cutting issues among the working groups to facilitate “whole of government approach.

Oversight to SDG working groups

Coordinate and support the meeting of all the working groups (members will include senior officials from departments and other experts) that have been formed to work on each of the SDGs and bring in technical expertise from other UN agencies as and when required;
Support the creation of an action plan for roll out of the SDGs in Gujarat including linking it to the process of budgeting;
Suggest and prepare detailed concept notes for possible actions that will be identified to dovetail state development priorities with the SDG framework.

Support the state governments in developing strategies for the roll-out of the Sustainable Development Goals agenda:

Provide technical inputs in planning the roll-out by bringing together relevant experiences from other countries;
Support the development of SDG indicator framework and aligning it to state’s data and M&E systems for monitoring the state vision document;
Collate and present information and data on social and economic priorities of the state. Prepare short status notes for use of the working groups;
Contribute to the design of sensitisation programmes and capacity building workshops.

Support the working groups related to poverty, food security and institutional strengthening:

Provide dedicated support to two working groups that are cross-cutting in nature;
Prepare status notes, briefs based on data for the state to aide focused discussions;
Coordinate with UN agencies and experts on the thematic issues.

Contribute to implementation of select strategies as agreed with the state government

Identify the areas of focus with the greatest potential for impact and scale, in collaboration with the government, sectoral colleagues and senior management;
Undertake continuous scoping of the development landscape in the state for identifying opportunities for future work.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Thoroughly familiar with the SDG agenda, development context and challenges with regard to key developmental issues in the state;
Writes concept notes, background material based on secondary data.

Results Based Programme Development and Management

Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points for integration;
Participates in formulation of project proposal and ensure substantive rigour in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly;
Strong writing and analytical skills.

Building Strategic Partnerships

Effectively networks with partners, seizes opportunities to build strategic alliances;
Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners.

Core Competencies:

Promotes and enforces ethics and integrity and creates precedence in good practice;
Demonstrates corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, ability to take initiative, adopt a corporate approach to complex situations;
Creates and promotes an enabling environment for open communication.

Required Skills and Experience

Required Qualification:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Development, Public and Business Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.

Professional Experience:

7-10 years of relevant experience with government at the national level or sub-national level being responsible for inter- sectoral planning;
Experience in leading office or sub-offices as part of a larger organisation or entity;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language Requirement:

Fluency in written and oral English.

Duration of the Work:

The contract will be awarded for six months initially. Working days will be as per the State Government policy.

Duty Station:

The Consultant is required to report regularly to the office as per the State Government policy;
Relocation expenses, if any would be borne by the successful Consultant.

Institutional Arrangement:

Contracted consultant will submit the monthly progress report duly certified by reporting officer;
Contract will be administered by UNDP on behalf of the Government of Gujarat;
Consultant will be entitled for leaves of 2 days per month (non-encashable).

Schedule of Payments:

Consolidated Six monthly Fee (Remuneration) of Rs 6,36,000/- payable in equal monthly instalments, upon submission of monthly progress report certified by the reporting officer;

Documentation required:

Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
In case consultant has published papers, preferably give online links of latest three relevant papers or upload along with CVs in one file.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Shortlisted candidates shall be called for an interview, shortlisting would be done based on the following criteria:

Educational Qualification: 30%;
Relevant Experience of working with Government: 40%;
Technical Expertise in the subject (including written work): 30%.

Interviews will be conducted in Delhi/Ahmedabad and will be based around the competencies (skills) required as per the ToR . The contract shall be awarded on a merit basis. Travel costs for interview will be borne by UNDP.

For any clarification please write to sandeep.sharma@undp.prg