UNDP Jobs - 76597- Consultancy – Rule of Law and the SDGs Implementat

Consultancy – Rule of Law and the SDGs Implementation and Research Consultant

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Feb-2018

Application Deadline :

31-Jan-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

105 working days (5 months)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , Member States articulated a vision of “…a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality and non-discrimination; of respect for race, ethnicity and cultural diversity; and of equal opportunity permitting the full realization of human potential and contributing to shared prosperity.” Recognizing that to achieve such a vision – a world where poverty and hunger are eradicated, where people can live free from violence and fear and where the planet is protected for future generations – Member States outlined a universal agenda grounded in human rights, and developed as set of inter-linked and indivisible goals, targets and indicators, including specifically to measure progress towards more peaceful, just and inclusive societies. Following the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, Member States also endorsed an agenda for ‘sustaining peace’ through two twin resolutions through the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly, to highlight the importance of not just recovery and peacebuilding the aftermath of conflict, but also as a means of preventing conflict, including the role of strong and resilient institutions, as a means of preventing conflict linking clearly to the SDG 16 on peaceful and just societies with effective and inclusive institutions.

The relationship between the rule of law and sustainable development are complex and interconnected: the rule of law can contribute to sustainable and equitable social and economic development by establishing legal frameworks that enable access to land, property, and natural resources, fair labour regulation, and predictable and effective contract enforcement, as well as guaranteeing of equitable service delivery (health, education, justice services), including for marginalized groups. It can also support the enforcement of the national normative frameworks by putting in place accountability measures that can effectively check abuse of power and protect civil and political rights, including in crisis and post-conflict situations where restoring security and justice services can be critical in for recovery and to sustain peace.

UNDP’s Global Programme on Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights for Sustaining Peace and Fostering Development is launching an initiative to support countries in achieving SDGs related to the rule of law. This initiative will focus particularly on targets related to reducing violence (16.1 and 16.4), promoting the rule of law and access to justice (16.3), ensuring representative judiciary (16.7.1), and supporting national institutions to prevent violence, combat terrorism and crime specifically national human rights institutions (16.a), while recognizing the interconnected and integrated nature of the rule of law across the SDGs, mainly in Goal 16, but also linked to goals such as poverty eradication (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work (SDG 8), reducing inequalities (SDG 10).

This initiative will aim to facilitate UNDP support on rule of law and access to justice to align with the 2030 Agenda for Development, including by developing programming to a) support the development and implementation of policies and interventions that directly contribute to achievement of SDG targets and indicators that promote the rule of law, access to justice, community security and human rights (including nationally development indicators) and b) facilitate countries in linking their justice sector planning to the national development planning, monitoring and reporting processes.

Duties and Responsibilities

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

Under the overall supervision of the Rule of Law, Justice, Security and Human Rights Policy Advisor, the day-to-day supervision of the ROLJSHR Programme Specialist, the consultant’s allocated functions will be as follows:

Conduct a mapping and lessons from ongoing initiatives: Map out ongoing country, regional and global initiatives on justice, security and human rights and the SDGs including a) reviewing Voluntary National Reviews submitted to the HLPF, national SDG reports , reports of MAPS missions, b) consulting within UNDP as well as with UN entities, including through the Global Focal Point Arrangement on Police Justice and Corrections, c) reviewing the experience of the g7+ and New Deal on implementation and monitoring of the of the Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals, particularly the goal on “Justice: address injustices and increase people’s access to justice”. The consultant will also highlight good practices, including on inclusion of access to justice within national development plans or justice sector policies, including on gender equality, youth empowerment and ensuring that the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’ is applied in achieving access to justice for all. Based on the mapping and review, the consultant will identify gaps and propose recommendations on the way forward to support engagement on access to justice and the SDGs.
Organize a technical workshop on achieving the SDGs on rule of law: The findings of the mapping and lessons will be presented at a global workshops with key stakeholders and partners to exchange information on ongoing initiatives and lessons to inform developing policies and programmes to support achievement of justice and rule of law targets and indicators. It will also help to better understand what is working well, existing gaps and challenges and identify areas for targeted support at the national and international level to support access to justice for all.
Country support on delivering on rule of law access to justice for all: Support the realignment of SDGs and rule of law programmes in 4 countries to support Member States in assessing bottlenecks and developing a national strategy and a targeted plan on achieving access to justice for all in line with the SDGs and linked to national development plans and planning processes. In particular, the initiative will focus on crisis and conflict affected countries, as it is evident from the experience of the MDGs that fragile or conflict affected countries were not able to achieve any of the MDGs and require dedicated support to accelerate progress to achieve the SDGs. In partnership with other UN entities, UNDP will seek to support countries to take forward the following:
- Facilitating broad-based consultations and multi-stakeholder partnerships including with government, civil society, private sector and National Human Rights Institutions
- Facilitating dialogue between Ministries of Planning/Development and Ministries of Justice/Interior/Security to ensure justice, security and human rights are part of the national development planning, SDG strategies and reporting.
- Supporting capacities to collect and share disaggregated data on justice, security and human rights to support monitoring of progress towards the SDGs (including nationally identified rule of law priorities)
- Identifying bottlenecks to achieving rule of law related SDG targets and indicators and developing programmes to address bottlenecks and accelerate achievement of the SDGs.

Expected outputs and deliverables:

Submission of a workplan (Initiation of desk review and consultations with RBx, RHs and COs to identify of 4 pilot countries): 15 March
Submission of mapping and lessons report draft: 15 April
Completion of missions to 4 countries to support programme development and engagement on SDGs and the rule of law: 15 May
Completion of workshop to share lessons from mapping and initial findings from country initiatives: 15 June
Development of SDGs and the ROL proposals in 3 countries on achieving rule of law related SDGs and finalization of Mapping and Lessons report: 15 July

Competencies

Ability to write and communicate in a clear and concise manner;
Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks with minimal supervision;
Excellent communication;
Strong analytical and communication skills, including distilling complex information to communicate key messages in an engaging and succinct manner.
Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Behavioural Competencies:

Productive and efficient worker, highly motivated;
Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks;
Strong initiative and is comfortable to pro-actively reach out to new and existing external partners;
Performance-oriented and focused on results;
Persistence and willingness to follow through;
Strong interpersonal skills and flexibility;
Ability to take instructions and to learn on the job;
Communication and advocacy skills
Curiosity and desire to work a complex, international environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

Masters degree in Law, Political Science, International Relations, International Development studies, or other relevant area is required.

Experience:

Minimum of 8 years of experience in policy and programming on rule of law, access to justice, human rights and/or community security is required
Previous experience working in supporting development and implementation of rule of law, access to justice, human rights and/or community security programming, particularly in crisis and conflict affected situations is required
Familiarity with the global policy development related to the rule of law and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is required
Excellent analytical, communication and negotiation skills based on research, policy and partnerships building experience is required
Previous relevant work experience working in UNDP, the UN or other international organizations an asset

Language:

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
Excellent command of a second UNDP working language a strong 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.
A two-page methodology on how the Offeror will conduct the work including a Work Plan and approach in delivering the required outputs within the assignment period.

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.
The consultant will also be expected to travel to three countries to help with developing the proposals of country initiatives on rule of law and the SDGs for this assignment. In the case of such travel requested by UNDP, the travel will be arranged by UNDP.
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. experience in policy and programming on rule of law, access to justice, human rights and/or community security. Weight = 20%; Maximum Points: 200;
Criteria 2. Experience working in supporting development and implementation of rule of law, access to justice, human rights and/or community security programming, particularly in crisis and conflict affected situations. Weight = 15 %; Maximum Points: 150;
Criteria 3. Familiarity with the global policy development related to the rule of law and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 100;
Criteria 4: experience working on the SDGs and the 2030 agenda and/or on research/publications related to global policy development ton rule of law and development. Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 100;
Criteria 5: Previous work experience working in UNDP, the UN or other international organizations. Weight = 5 %; Maximum Points: 50;
Interview: Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 100.

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three 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 (70 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 Rule of Law, Justice, Security and Human Rights Team Leader 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

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.