UNDP Jobs - 69048- Conflict Resolution Consultant

Conflict Resolution Consultant

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Dec-2016

Application Deadline :

11-Nov-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

120 days initially, with possible extension

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Maximum period of 3 years

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

This consultancy is located in the Office of the Ombudsman for UN Funds and Programmes established as an informal pillar of the new system of administration of justice within the UN to make available the services of impartial and independent persons to address the work-related issues of staff members and non-staff personnel of the UN Funds and Programmes serving UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNOPS and UN Women.

The conflict resolution consultant will be under the immediate supervision of the Ombudsmen for UN Funds and Programmes.

Duties and Responsibilities

The conflict resolution consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

Support the Ombudsmen by providing conflict management services to staff members and non-staff personnel as applicable, in the UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNOPS and UN Women. Travel to field offices to provide training or respond to conflict situations, as required;
Inform, and where necessary guide, parties in potential or active disputes about the informal resolution process and assist them to initiate it;
Facilitate informal resolution of workplace conflicts helping all parties to explore options and engage in a voluntary and confidential process, acting as a neutral third-party, facilitate and help conflicting parties to discuss issues and negotiate an agreement;
Maintain neutrality and impartiality towards all parties and confidentiality within the process, gather information as appropriate, and help parties identify and understand issues and interests, explore options, and generate solutions to which all parties agree, draft agreements when requested;
Assist in identifying systemic issues encountered during informal conflict resolution and make proposals towards relevant actions to be taken;
Perform research and analysis and prepare opinions, studies, briefs, reports and correspondence;
Participate in developing and delivering outreach and learning activities on informal resolution and conflict management to help all parties to efficiently utilize services of the Office of the Ombudsman;
Work collaboratively with relevant actors in the various offices to achieve informal resolution to employment related problems raised by the parties when requested;
Develop relationships with visitors and advise on all aspects of the informal resolution by telephone or meetings with parties;
Offer creative and expert advice on the best service or dispute resolution technique to meet the visitor's needs and requirements;
Where required, assist in following up with the parties after informal resolution to receive feedback and to advise clients of further services;
Develop surveys, review survey results and provide report, as necessary;
Perform other duties to support the Office of the Ombudsman in non-core functions, as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism:

Knowledge of alternative dispute and conflict resolution systems;

Knowledge of the United Nations activities and organizational structure rules and policies;

Ability to establish and maintain confidentiality;

Ability to prepare reports, formulate positions on systemic issues, articulate options concisely conveying maximum necessary information;

Communication:

Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation:

Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Leadership:

Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Judgement/Decision-making:

Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in alternative dispute resolution, administration, human resources management, law, social sciences or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Training in conflict resolution is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience including five at the international level in legal, managerial or dispute resolution or related field. Experience in conflict management and different approaches to informal resolution are required.

Previous experience with the UN system is strong asset.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post fluency in English (both, oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is an asset. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Qualified and interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information uploaded to their online application:

A. Cover letter: brief description of why the Offeror considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment.

B. Personal CV or UNDP P-11 Form, indicating past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.

C. Financial proposal: an all-inclusive daily rate.

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

An all-inclusive daily rate. ***Please note that, if travel outside the Duty Station (New York) is requested by the Office, such travel shall be at the Office’s expense and the Individual Contractor shall receive a Living Allowance (LA) not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate in such other location(s). Applicants, therefore, are not supposed to include any travel expenses, or LA, in their financial proposal.***

EVALUATION

Applicants are shortlisted based on education, skills and experience stated in these ToRs. Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top shortlisted offerors (maximum five) for presentation/interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

- Being 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 including Presentation/Interview Score (80%).

Financial criteria weight/Financial Proposal (20%).

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (560 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (800 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Technical evaluation - Total 80% (800 points):

- Offeror’s experience based on CV and cover letter: Weight = 50%; Maximum Points: 500;

- Presentation/Interview: Weight: 30%; Maximum Points: 300.

Financial evaluation - Total 20% (200 points)