UNDP Jobs - 72526- Strategic Planning Consultant

Strategic Planning Consultant

Location :

Nairobi, KENYA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

20-Jun-2017

Application Deadline :

08-Jun-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

7 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

7 Months

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

Over the last years, the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and its partners have established a number of structures and instruments aimed at implementing the Somali Compact, developed and agreed in September 2013 and in line with the New Deal framework.

Following the finalization of the electoral process including the election of a new President and parliament, the completion of the state formation process, the drafting of the National Development Plan (NDP) and the expiration of the 2014-2016 Somali Compact, all the elements are now in place to enable the UN to articulate its commitment and contribution to Somalia’s development path in the coming years. As such, a new UN Strategic Framework (UNSF) is being developed to articulate the UN’s contribution to Somalia’s development trajectory over the coming years. This UNSF represents the culmination of a broader multi-step planning process for the UN in Somalia, at a time of significant and highly fluid developments in the country.

This UNSF will build on the development and adoption of a provisional UN Strategic Framework (p-UNSF) completed at the end of 2016. Following the finalization of the p-UNSF, the UN undertook a 4-month Strategic Assessment of the UN presence in Somalia “to ensure that the United Nations is properly configured to support the next phase of state-building in Somalia, and to present options and recommendations to the Security Council.” This process culminated in a Strategic Assessment report to the UN Secretary General with recommendations for the overall UN strategy with respect to peacebuilding and state-building in Somalia, in light of experience and achievements to date, a new political dispensation, and the political, security, humanitarian and socioeconomic challenges that the country will continue to face over the next four years. This Strategic Assessment report will also inform the development on the new multi-year UNSF.

Looking forward, the current New Deal architecture will remain in place, including the Somalia Development and Reconstruction Facility (SDRF) and associated Working Groups. The SDRF brings together several financing instruments (“windows”) under common governance arrangements including the Somalia UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) which provides funding to national entities and UN agencies for implementation of NDP priorities. To compliment the new UNSF, the UN has also embarked on the development of a multi-year MPTF strategy which will articulate key objectives for the Fund at the strategic, programmatic and operational/funding levels that will enable the MPTF to most effectively support Somalia’s development and state building agenda over the next four years. The UN is also making continuous efforts to improve reporting across the MPTF portfolio and other reporting requirements.

Objectives of the assignment

The International Strategic Planning Consultant will support the United Nations Resident Coordinators Office (RCO) - Somalia in the following tasks:

Coordinate and finalize the development of a new multi-year UN Strategic Framework for Somalia.

Ensure that the development of the UNSF is consistent and coherent with other strategic planning exercises, particularly the outgoing provisional UNSF and the UN Strategic Assessment report for Somalia, and frameworks, including the NDP and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
Engage with members of the UN Country Team (UNCT) and Programme Management Team (PMT) as well as the Joint Planning Unit of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) in soliciting and integrating feedback on successive drafts of the UNSF;
Liaise with external partners, particularly donors and government, to ensure that their views and priorities are reflected within the UNSF;
Finalize the development of a comprehensive, realistic, useful and costed results framework, as well as monitoring and evaluation arrangements for the UNSF;
With UNSOM’s Joint Planning Unit, formulate structural arrangements across the UNCT and the Mission for the successful implementation of the UNSF over its life-cycle;
Ensure that the new UNSF is compliant with the newly developed UN Development Group’s United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) guidelines;
Liaise with and seek feedback and guidance from the regional UN Development Group throughout the UNSF development process;
Support design and launch of UNSF M&E including M&E of UN partnership principles, in line with the newly endorsed New Partnership Agreement (endorsed at the 2017 Somalia London Conference);
Support the development and finalization of a multi-year UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) strategy linked to the UNSF.

Develop an implementation plan for the UN Strategic Assessment report recommendations and related ‘local recommendations’.

In collaboration with UNSOM’s Joint Planning Unit, the consultant should develop an implementation strategy of key recommendations emanating from the UN Strategic Assessment process;
Design a framework for the development and/or reform of the UN system-wide coordination architecture;
Coordinate the development of new Joint Programming initiatives as outlined in the Strategic Assessment report and in alignment with the Somalia NDP by coordinating the consultation process among concerned agencies, drafting of the concept notes and progamme documents;
Through a consultative process, Identify entry points to support UNSOM regional offices as UN system wide coordination platforms at sub-national level.

Coordinate ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements of the RCO with regards to MPTF Quarterly Reports.

Work with MPTF donors and participating UN organizations on developing and enhancing portfolio-level indicators to integrate cross-cutting issues into reporting framework;

In all tasks listed above, the international consultant will work closely with a number of actors and partners engaged in various strategic planning and implementation processes, including the World Bank, the UNDP, the New Deal team (UNSOM), the Joint Planning Unit (UNSOM) and United Nations Department of Political Affairs (DPA).

Duties and Responsibilities

Key results expected include:

UN Strategic Framework, including results framework, concluded and endorsed by the UN and government of Somalia;
Multi-year MPTF strategy finalized and launched in conjunction with the UNSF;
Improved and streamlined MPTF reporting process.

Miletones and Tiggers for payment:

Develop work plan, in consultation with RCO Head of Office, on specific deliverables and timetables, in line with ToR. (1 week);
Develop initial draft UNSF after engaging with members of the UN Country Team (UNCT) and Programme Management Team (PMT) as well as the Joint Planning Unit of UNSOM in soliciting and integrating feedback on successive drafts of the UNSF. (3 weeks and 15% of contract price);
Develop and deliver a multi-year UNSF with related results framework in alignment with the NDP and SDGs and the New Partnership for Somalia. (4 weeks and 15% of contract price);
Design an outline of multi-year Multi-Partner Trust Fund strategy. (4 weeks and 15% of contract price);
Finalize a Multi-year MPTF strategy support its launch in conjunction with the UNSF. (4 weeks and 15% of contract price);
Develop an implementation plan for the UN Strategic Assessment recommendations. (4 weeks and 15% of contract price);
Create an enhanced monitoring and reporting processes and products by ensuring portfolio-level indicators are integrated into reporting framework. (4 weeks and 15% of contract price);
Produce a streamlined MPTF reporting process. (4 weeks and 15% of contract price).

Impact of Results

Finalization of multi-year UN Strategic Framework which outlines the UN’s support Somalia’s development trajectory in the coming years;
Implementation of key UN Strategic Assessment recommendations, including local recommendations;
Improved monitoring and reporting processes and products.

Expected Deliverables

UNSF completed and endorsed;
Key recommendations of the UN Strategic Assessment implemented;
Monitoring and reporting processes and products enhanced.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
Knowledge of the UN preferable.

Functional Competencies:

Planning:

Knowledge of Results Based Management concepts and tools;
Understanding of national and UN planning tools (including, preferably, ISF and UNDAFs) and the New Deal Compact

Knowledge and Learning Management:

Shares knowledge and experience across partners;
Encourages colleagues to share knowledge.

Coordination Effectiveness:

Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships within Government entities, UN Agencies and donors;
Ability to advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

A Master’s degree in project management, international affairs, politics, economics, management and other social science or related field.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of reporting coordination and planning related work experience;
Experience in strategic planning and reporting (including, preferably, with the UN);
Experience in the implementation of M&E systems and approaches.
Experience in data collection, analysis, and management (including relevant software products).

Language requirements:

Fluency in English and advanced communication skills and are essential;
Knowledge of Somali preferable.

Scope of Price, Proposed Methodology and Schedule of Payments

All applicants must submit their Proposed Methodology on how they intend to deliver the services while demonstrating that it will be appropriate to context of the assignment. As part the methodology the applicants must indicate how many working days it will take to complete each milestone as outlined in the TOR.

All applicants must also submit a Financial Proposal clearly specifying the breakdown under following headings:

Consultancy Fee (USD) per day;
One (1) economy fare return Ticket for travel from country of residence to Nairobi (USD) if applicable;
Cost of Per Diem per day (USD) for Nairobi if required.

Criteria for selection of the best offer:

Combined scoring method – where the technical score (qualifications and proposed methodology) will be weighted at a maximum of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted at a maximum of 30%

Evaluation criteria for Technical Score

Education – 10 points
Experience – 5 points
Language skills - 5 points
Methodology – 50 points
Financial
Price Offer - 30 points

Only applicants obtaining a minimum of 49 points in their technical score will be considered for the financial evaluation.

Applicants area are also required to fill and sign a P11 Form and submit it together with Curriculum Vitae on the online application. The P11 Form can be obtained from the link below:

http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc