Background

GOXI (www.goxi.org) is a standing online forum for innovation and collaboration across stakeholder groups, countries and initiatives that aims to strengthening governance of the extractives sector. GOXI is used by more than 3000 practitioners from 100 countries, ranging from government, the private sector, civil society and think tanks. GOXI is designed to, among other things: enable substantive discussions; share opinions, information, new research and events; connect people working on extractive industry issues and dealing with similar challenges; learn what is happening globally in governance of the sector; find jobs; and announce initiatives and seek collaboration to make them happen.

GOXI was launched by the World Bank (WB) in 2009, and in 2013 the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) joined as a co-convener.

GOXI is among the largest existing networks of practitioners interested in extractive industry governance. It is a trusted source of knowledge, experiences, learning and connections in the sector and a rich platform for dialogue and exchange of practical experiences, policy and lessons learned. GOXI is curating knowledge and helping users access relevant information and best practices, not only through online exchanges, but also through face-to-face learning events. However, GOXI has the potential to do more to support knowledge exchange and learning and to play a connector role. The vision is to become a go-to hub on extractive sector governance. 

Environmental Governance Sub Group – Environmental Public Administration of Mining

As one of the largest multi-stakeholder networks focused on extractive governance, GOXI is well positioned to contribute to the body of knowledge and discussion around prevention and mitigation of negative environmental and linked social impacts of mining.  Developing a specific thematic focus on public administration of the mining sector on the GOXI platform will contribute to increase awareness and knowledge of the importance of environmental public administration in the mining sector for the achievement of human rights and a number of sustainable development goals.

By enhancing knowledge about environmental governance of the extractive sector, the overall aim is to enhance development outcomes across a number of SDGs from resource extraction. Equipping practitioners and organizations active in this area with expertise, tools, knowledge about key approaches and networks will enable them to more quickly and strategically improve environmental natural resource governance.

Based on this, UNDP is seeking a consultant who would function as the main GOXI “Environmental Governance of the Mining Sector” Community Facilitator. The consultant would support daily management and development of content on GOXI sub group for Environmental Governance including the facilitation of online discussions. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work, Responsibilities and Description of the Proposed Analytical Work

The Consultant will work closely with the project management team and with the GOXI’s Community Manager as needed in further developing the Environmental Governance sub group/community of practice on GOXI. The Consultant will primarily support the community as a facilitator and tasks related to knowledge sharing and knowledge management with a particular emphasis on rights based approaches to environmental public administration of the mining sector. The consultant will be supervised by the the UNDP/SEPA Project Manager for the Environmental Governance of Sustainable Natural Resource Management in based in New York. The consultant will be expected to develop an in-depth understanding of user needs in order to:

Support knowledge exchange, learning and e-discussions:

• Identify, gather and curate existing and relevant knowledge on governance of extractive sector with a specific focus on rights based environmental public administration
• Share information, innovation, lessons learned and other best practices from the project on(human ?) rights based environmental public administration
• Engage experts and practitioners to discuss actively on GOXI. Facilitate separate discussions on rights based approaches to environmental public administration.
• Moderate dialogues, blogs and overall participation on the platform, including posting regular content on GOXI on a weekly basis and posting information such as events, job opportunities and contribute to the bimonthly project newsletter linked to GOXI
• Create and curate a news-feed with select news articles on extractive industry topics, with regular updates;
• Create and publish video-interviews on extractive industry topics,
• Create a dedicated discussion group and ‘community of practice’ on a rights based approach to public administration of the mining sector.

Expected outputs and deliverables:

Deliverable 1: 

Build and maintain online GOXI Group focused on rights based public administration of mining, including identification and invitation of relevant experts in the field and establishment of initial e-library of relevant resources.  Due Date: September 1, 2017.

Deliverable 2:

Create/Build an information exchange group on lessons learned from RoLPA assessments (Rule of Law in Public Administration) and possibly other program related questions/issues. Due Date: December 15, 2017.

Deliverable 3:

Ongoing support to relevant consultations, knowledge management and dissemination based on identified demand from GOXI members and partners. Due Date: February 15, 2018.

Deliverable 4:

10-12 blog posts on results from national assessments, workshops, webinars and other programme activities. Due Date: February 15, 2018.

Competencies

Corporate:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Technical:

• Expertise and knowledge on public administration, environmental governance and extractive sector;
• Expertise on working with communities of practice and facilitation of online communities, knowledge management, or other related areas.

Communication:

• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills;
• Communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Professionalism:

• Demonstrated ability in analytical thinking;
• Strong organizational, reporting and writing abilities;
• Capacity to work independently, plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time.

Teamwork:

• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Ability to work well in teams.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

• Master’s degree in development studies, comparative politics, communications, journalism, international relations or other relevant field.

Years of experience:

• Minimum 2 years of proven and relevant work experience, including working with communities of practice, facilitation of online communities and knowledge management as well as experience of issues related to extractive industries and relevant sustainable development issues;
• Excellent writing and editorial skills. Experience in social media outreach, preparation of newsletter or e-mail digests, editing/blogging/drafting of articles, and website management.  Provide 2 writing samples of previous relevant work;
• Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages and website management.

Language:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Other languages, particularly Spanish is a plus.

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• Online application with brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all 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.
• Please attach or provide links to at least 2 samples of previous work/publications in your application preferably related to this assignment showing experience in conducting research in and formulating knowledge products and proven ability to write well and concisely, and to synthesize large amounts of supporting material.

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

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around the specific and measurable deliverables of the TOR. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR, and deliverables accepted and certified by the technical manager. 
• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.
• If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  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; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (70 points):

• Proven and relevant work experience, including working with communities of practice, facilitation of online communities and knowledge management as well as experience of issues related to extractive industries and relevant sustainable development issues. (Maximum 15 points);
• Excellent writing and editorial skills. Experience in social media outreach, preparation of newsletter or e-mail digests, editing/blogging/drafting of articles, and website management.  Provide 2 writing samples of previous relevant work. (Maximum 15 points);
• Familiarity with UNDP, the UN system, and/or other international organisation, multi-lateral and other academic and international institutions. (Maximum 10 points);
• Experience of working in a user support function and designing and delivering training. (Maximum 5 points);
• Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages and website management. (Maximum 5 points).
• Interview. (Maximum 20 points).

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP reserves the right to invite the top scoring shortlisted candidates for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of UNDP Advisor on Extractive Industries, based in New York and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

• The consultant will have a work-station at UNDP New York
• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment
• The consultant will liaise and collaborate closely with the WB team working on Goxi as well as with the UNDP Oslo Governance Center as needed.

Payment modality

• Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified above and deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager. 
• The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template

Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4 – RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.