UNDP Jobs - 74053- Consultancy, Strengthening the UNDP Contribution t

Consultancy, Strengthening the UNDP Contribution to UNDP Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention and the Joint World Bank-UN Study on Conflict Prevention, BPPS/SP&GP

Location :

Home-based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

18-Sep-2017

Application Deadline :

25-Aug-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

1.5 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1.5 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

The UN and the World Bank have initiated work on a joint study to examine the evidence on how development policies and programmes contribute to the prevention of violent conflict. The Flagship Study will also provide recommendations to governments and development organizations on making development policies more effective at preventing violent conflicts.

The Study is being conducted by a joint United Nations-World Bank team, and it will be finalized in September 2017 to be presented at the United Nations General Assembly and at the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in 2017. The study is a World Bank commitment, as part of the IDA 18 replenishment efforts. It is also one of the responses to the UN’s review of peacebuilding operations that recommended a much stronger focus of the international community on prevention.

Conceptually the Study will build on the framework of the 2011 World Development Report on Conflict, Security and Development (WDR, 2011), incorporating the results of research undertaken over the last five years, and integrating new data on the changing forms of violent conflict since 2010, and in particular, the catastrophic violence in the Middle East. While recognizing the centrality of the role of institutions, the study will look more deeply at structural factors, in particular, inequality and relative deprivation that contribute to a risk of violent conflict.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK

The primary objectives of the consultancy will be to, under the supervision of the Policy Specialist in the Strategic Policy Unit and in close collaboration with other members of the Strategic Policy Unit, support: 1) Assist on the joint UN-World Bank study with background paper feedback, preparations, coordination, implementation and follow up of study-related meetings; 2) Development of UNDP Approach to Strategic Policy and Practice Development post-joint study completion; 3) Development of UNDP Strategic Policy engagement with academia and policy organisations.

Assist on the joint UN-World Bank study with background paper feedback, preparations, coordination, implementation and follow up of study-related meetings

• Identify and distill scope for enhancement in submitted background papers, and study drafts, and provide comments indicating scope in text and in meetings.

• Identify scope for improvement in study approach, communicate this to UNDP colleagues, take direction on UNDP positions and communicate positions in meetings relating to the Joint Study, in Washington D.C. New York or where requested to attend.

• Identify opportunity for knowledge sharing within UNDP and between UN agencies, including by organizing and hosting meetings within UNDP and with other partners.

Development of implications to Strategic Policy and Practice Development post-joint study completion

• Identification of empirical and theoretical scope for further research and analysis beyond the Joint Study.

• Undertake research and/or participate in, or lead, research or pilot studies that employ identified methods for exploring and identifying advancement in conflict prevention and peacebuilding policy and practice efficacy, in close collaboration with the conflict prevention team/Governance and Peacebuilding Cluster.

Development of UNDP Strategic Policy engagement with academia and policy organisations.

• Identify collaborators and methods for advancing research and practice that explores advancement in conflict prevention and peacebuilding policy and practice efficacy.

• Identify modes of engagement and development of external relations to enable an available resource pool of external expertise on the broad spectrum of UNDP policy and practice

Expected outputs and deliverables:

• Successful identification of empirical and theoretical scope for further analytical work on prevention and peacebuilding beyond the Joint Study;

• Successful identification of external academic collaborators.

• Successful report completion, review planning, execution of launch and post-launch follow up, including for effective coordination, substantive, and logistical support.

Accordingly, deliverables will include but not necessarily be limited to:

• Identification of empirical and theoretical scope, and proposals for direction for further analytical work on development nexus with prevention and peacebuilding beyond the Joint Study;

• Completion of a report on implications of Joint Study for UNDP sustaining peace policies, including on SDG implementation in fragile and conflict-affected settings;

• Identification of potential external collaborators for development of an associated academic and research network.

Task Percentage of Expected Deliverables

Successful identification and engagement of external academic collaborators, to advance analytical thinking on the relationships between the 2030 Agenda and Sustaining Peace (8 days) - 26%

Successful identification of further empirical and theoretical issues building on findings of the Joint Study and towards development of sustaining peace policies (9 days) - 29%

Preparation of a paper on the implications of the UN/WB study for SDG implementation, in fragile and conflict affected settings (14 days) - 45%

Competencies

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

Teamwork

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals

• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from other

• Places team agenda before personal agenda

• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position

• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings

Planning and organizing

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies

• Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required

• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work

• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning

• Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary

• Uses time efficiently

Accountability

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments

• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards

• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules

Client orientation

• 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

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

Master’s degree in Political Science, Law, Sociology or related field, required. (PhD preferred).

Experience:

At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, rule of law access to justice, transitional justice work of the UN in country settings, required.
Expertise on the functioning of international organizations, in particular in post-conflict and crisis settings, required.
Experience in organizing and managing events, required.
Proven experience in drafting official reports and/or papers/studies in the rule of law and transitional area, required.
Expertise in analytics in support of sustaining peace policy development, both theoretical and empirical research.
Experience working with international organizations, preferably both with the United Nations and The World Bank.

Specific knowledge areas and skills required:

Knowledge and experience in planning and executing practice development related events and conferences;
Knowledge of prosecution of international crimes cases in challenging contexts and of conflict prevention and transitional justice processes and functions in challenging contexts;
Knowledge of conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and rule of law support and development in countries that are experiencing political crisis and/or transitions and conflict;
Knowledge of the political aspects of Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding, Transitional Justice, and rule of law development;
Ability to prepare event budgets and manage logistical aspects and coordination
Knowledge of Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding, and Transitional Justice literature
Theoretical and empirical knowledge of the disciplines of Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding, and Transitional Justice
Knowledge of prominent conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and transitional justice situations
Excellent, multi-disciplinary analytical competence, particularly in relation to conflict-affected and transitional situations.
Knowledge of political and social context in countries where UNDP operates;
Excellent drafting and communication skills;
Excellent analytical, problem solving, negotiating and diplomatic skills

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset

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.
Provide access or reference to the publications and writing records related to social policy, gender equality and sustainable development issues; and Indicate available start date.

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.
This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel.
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.
The cost of the official missions should not be factored in the financial proposals of the applicants. At this time, some locations of the missions are undetermined.
The consultant is expected to bring his/her own laptop and mobile phone and meet local communication costs. UNDP will provide office space, access to internet and a printer during the assignment (the cost of this facilities should not be included in the financial proposals).
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% (700 points):

Criteria 1. Minimum 5 years- professional experience working on issues related to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, transitional justice and rule of law. Weight = 15%; Maximum Points: 150;
Criteria 2. Expertise in analytics in support of sustaining peace policy development, both theoretical and empirical research. Weight = 15%; Maximum Points: 150;
Criteria 3. Experience working with international organizations, preferably both with the United Nations and The World Bank. Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 100;
Criteria 4. Proven experience in drafting official reports and/or papers/studies in the rule of law and transitional area. Weight = 15%; Maximum Points: 150;
Criteria 5. Experience in networking and organizing and managing events. Weight = 5%; Maximum Points: 50.
Criteria 6: Interview Weight = 10% Maximum Points: 100

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top 3 shortlisted candidates for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (490 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (700 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (300 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 Policy Specialist in UNDP’s Strategic Policy Unit and in close collaboration with other members of the Strategic Policy Unit, and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Payment modality

Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, 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.