UNDP Jobs - 74780- International Consultant on Strategic Management (

International Consultant on Strategic Management (SM)

Location :

home-based with one mission to ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

30-Oct-2017

Application Deadline :

04-Oct-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

November - December 2017

Languages Required :

Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

20 days

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 Academy of Civil Service under the President of Turkmenistan (hereinafter referred to as Academy or ACS) was established by Presidential Decree in 2008 that regulates the activities of the Academy. The documents include the Regulation on Academy, the procedures on referral and acceptance of students for training at the Academy, and management structure of the Academy.

The Academy follows the main policy of the President of Turkmenistan, its activities are focused on strengthening professional skills, knowledge and practical skills of civil servants, state apparatus, and employees of key ministries and agencies, as well as local authorities and local self-government employees responsible for the implementation of national social and economic programmes.

Based on the requests received from the key ministries and agencies regarding the strengthening of professional skills of their civil servants and in accordance with consultations with the Cabinet of Ministries of Turkmenistan the Academy annually provides the following courses within the period from September to July:

Advanced training course for civil servants of state apparatus with a major subject “manager – legal expert” (course duration - 2 years);
Professional development course for civil servants of state apparatus (course duration – 5 months) (consisting of 2 groups of students annually);
Professional development course for civil servants on commercial arbitration (course duration – 4 months) (1 group of students annually);
Professional development course for local authorities and local self-government employees (course duration 2 months) (4 groups of students annually).

The Academy is a leading institution providing training to the civil servants of Turkmenistan. It plays a significant role in improving and strengthening of the public administration system in the country. At the same time, Academy is a young and dynamic organization, which is actively seeking new opportunities for capacity building and development. Support to the Academy may serve as a strategic approach for the UNDP and other partners, which would like to make an impact on the administration system in Turkmenistan and on strengthening of its capacity.

The development priorities repeatedly emphasized by the Academy include, inter alia, developing and updating its curricula in line with the best international practices, establishing/developing relationship with similar foreign institutions that provide training opportunities in the field of public administration, developing an electronic management system for employees and students of the Academy, and strengthening the capacity of ACS staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

To achieve the main objectives of the project, the UNDP plans to hire an International Consultant to carry out a set of lectures for the students on the subject “Strategic management: international experience and national practices” and a round-table for faculty members of the Academy of Civil Service to provide information about the best practices in the area of strategic planning and management at the government level. This will be done in the framework of provision of consulting services under implementation of Component # 3 of joint work plan for 2017.

The International Consultant on strategic management (SM) will work under the supervision of the Programme Specialist in close collaboration with relevant specialists of Academy, as well as with international and national project consultants.

The International Consultant on strategic management (SM) will also ensure coordination of project activities with Academy’s activities implemented under the projects of European Commission and United Nations Population Fund on capacity building of faculty staff and students of the Academy of Civil Service in the area of strategic planning and management at the government level.

In accordance with the Terms of Reference the international expert performs the work in 3 (three) phases:

Preliminary (preparatory) phase – 10 days;
Training mission in Turkmenistan (main) phase – 5 days;
Final phase – 5 days.

In particular, the International Consultant will carry out following activities under the project:

Review the needs of the Academy of Civil Services on improvement of curricula on strategic management and planning at the government level;
Development of set of lectures for students on subject “Strategic management: international experience and national practices” consisting of presentations in electronic format, handout and informational materials;
Development of programmes and necessary informational and methodological materials of round table for faculty members of the Academy of Civil Service in order to familiarize them with the best practices on strategic management and planning at the government level;
Carrying out the round table for the faculty members of the Academy of Civil Service in order to provide information about the best practices on strategic management and planning at the government level;
Submission of the final report and preparation of curricula on strategic management and planning for the Academy of Civil Service.

Deliverables:

Deliverable # 1:

The programmes and necessary informational and methodological materials of round table for faculty members, and set of lectures of the students of the Academy of Civil Service;

Number of days - 10 days, Timeline and payment terms - November 2017, 30% of total amount.

Deliverable # 2:

A set of lectures for the Academy students on subject “Strategic management: international experience and national practices” and round table for faculty members of the Academy of Civil Service;

Number of days - 5 days, Timeline and payment terms - December 2017, 50% of total amount.

Deliverable # 3:

The final report has been submitted and curricula on strategic management and planning for the Academy of Civil Service have been developed;

Number of days - 5 days, Timeline and payment terms - December 2017, 20% of total amount.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

knowledge of methods and interactive forms of effective use of tests, exercises in the education process;
skills in the fields of management, planning and control at the micro level;
knowledge of leading world practices on preparation and implementation of development strategies at the macro level in the context of global crisis;
ability to develop modern curricula on strategic management in the Academy’s activities;
good analytical skills, ability to carry out lectures and practical lessons, debates, discussions, organize work of training groups, testing, evaluation of knowledge quality, etc.
effective communication skills, focus on result, teamwork and possession of leadership skills;
determination, independence, logical judgement, ability to perform analysis of economic situation and knowledge of SWAT analysis methodology.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in the field of economy, management, macroeconomics, macro and micro analysis or other economic and financial fields;

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of relevant working experience in staff training system in the area of management and planning, including higher educational institutions, in particular, professional development, training/advanced training of civil servants;
Working experience in relevant international projects on strategic management and planning, preparation of long-term development strategies;
Good understanding of strategic management/planning issues and experience working in CIS countries;
Ability to use ICT at the high professional level, as tools and resource base; skills to use computer technology, including skills to work with Word, Excel and other files, as well as Internet – resources and software products.

Languages:

Knowledge of Russian language is obligatory, both written and verbal. Knowledge of English language is preferable.

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates must submit the following documents (information) to demonstrate their qualifications:

Brief (1-2 pages) description of the methodology for the assignment;
Cover letter of the applicant to the UNDP confirming the interest and readiness of the Individual Consultant to take the assignment, including his/her financial proposal. The financial proposal shall include: payment amount for consulting services, administrative expenses (if necessary), transportation costs and/or any other expenses, which candidates considers necessary for completion of the assignment. The financial proposal shall include lump sum amount of remuneration in US dollars for the whole scope of work. Template of the form can be found at: http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operation/jobs;
Resume (curriculum vitae) including working experience on drafting and assessment of laws, bylaws and standards;
Filled P11 from, which can be found at: http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operation/jobs;

Evaluation of proposals:

The consultant will be selected based on the combined scoring methodology. When using this method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/ compliant, and
Having received the highest score – out of 100 points.

Out of the maximum score, the score for technical criteria equals 70% - maximum 100 points, and for financial criteria 30%.

Technical evaluation will take into account the following as per the scoring provided:

The technical part of the proposal – 70%:

Education – 20 points;
Professional working experience in the relevant field – 25 points;
Working experience with international projects – 20 points;
Methodology: good understanding of strategic management/planning issues and working experience in the CIS – 20 points;
Knowledge of languages – 15 points;

The financial part of the proposal – 30%.

Additional requirements for recommended contractors:

Recommended contractors aged 62 and older, and if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.