Background
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Department for Political Affairs (DPA) and more recently the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO), have been collaborating on the Joint UNDP-DPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention. First launched in 2004, the programme has grown significantly in recent years.
In 2016/2017, the Joint Programme provided support to 50 countries globally through the UN Country Teams, in many instances involving the deployment of Peace and Development Advisers (PDAs). The deployment of PDAs represents the most visible element of the partnership, though the programme provides broader support in conflict prevention.
Previous deployments of PDAs, coupled with other types of remote support from DPA and UNDP, have enabled UN contributions to violence-free elections or referenda in countries as diverse as Guyana, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Togo, Lesotho, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Uganda, and the Solomon Islands; breaking deadlocks and resolving conflicts in Lesotho, Bolivia, Ghana, and Kenya; sustaining viable platforms for dialogue or conflict resolution in Chad, Guinea, Fiji, Georgia, FYROM, Cyprus, and Malawi; and initiatives to reduce insecurity at the local level in Ecuador, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Mauritania. During 2018, the programme aims to deploy between 47-48 PDAs and to increase the support being provided to joint conflict analysis and programmatic interventions.
The current programme cycle is coming to an end in May 2018 and new cycle will be designed. An Advisor specialised in Conflict Prevention as well as Results Based Management, and with advanced skills in designing Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks for Conflict Prevention Programmes is required to support this process.
A recent evaluation found that the Joint Programme was consistently recognised by stakeholders as extremely relevant and well situated to support new institutional priorities, particularly as the Programme contributes to bridging the peace and development parts of the UN system at both Headquarters and at the country-level. The Joint Programme was recognised by most stakeholders for being ahead of recent UN system thinking in terms of conflict prevention and was able to positively influence how conflicts are handled and responded to at the country level.
The programme is resourced from multiple funding sources and implemented flexibly across 50 different country contexts where different types of results are sought to be achieved; presenting challenges for employing results-based management methods. Moreover, defining and measuring impact results remain central challenges to the entire conflict prevention and peacebuilding sector. Given these constraints, the results-based programme design, management and M&E need strengthening in the Joint Programme.
Duties and Responsibilities
SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK
The following tasks will be undertaken by the consultant in order to draft the next phase of the Joint UNDP-DPA Programme Document:
- Review relevant documentation including evaluation, audit, donor reviews, programme documents, PDA reports, criticality assessment documents and other programme management documentation;
- Lead consultation process with relevant stakeholders (donors, Peace and Development Advisors, desk officers and the Programme team);
- Develop a feasible theory of change (TOC); results-based outputs and indicators; monitoring framework; as well as a joint reporting template for donor consultation;
- Hold a joint donor consultation on suggested TOC, results framework and reporting template;
- Support the design and participate in an internal UN consultation on the design of the next phase of the Programme (2 days in New York);
- Hold discussions with the Programme management team and draft the management arrangements of the Programme (including the Secretariat team structure);
- Draft the Programme document, including a strong results framework and a monitoring framework in the latest programme document format;
- Incorporate feedback of the Programme team in the draft Programme Document.
- Finalize the Programme Document.
Expected outputs and deliverables:
A – Draft TOC, results framework, monitoring framework
B – Draft reporting template and the summary of the consultations held
C – Final full programme document with all the elements in the template (including TOC, results framework, monitoring framework).
Duration of Assignment: The consultancy will take place March to July 2018 and will include 50 working days.
Duty Station: The consultancy will be home-based, with a one-week mission to New York to participate in the consultation.
Competencies
Corporate
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards;
- Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
- Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age differences
Functional Competencies
- Knowledge and understanding of peacebuilding and conflict prevention issues, including policy frameworks and programmes;
- Strong familiarity of UN institutional structures and processes related to conflict prevention and peacebuilding sector;
- Familiarity with UNDP’s work, particularly on peacebuilding and conflict prevention;
- Ability to carry out research, to contribute to the formulation of policies, procedures and guidance materials;
Knowledge of the results-based monitoring of conflict prevention and peacebuilding programmes
- Ability to function in a team environment
Behavioral Competencies
- Performance-oriented and focused on results
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks
- Strong interpersonal skills and flexibility
- Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
Required Skills and Experience
Academic qualifications:
A minimum of a Master’s degree or equivalent in political science, conflict resolution studies, development studies or other relevant social science.
Experience:
- Significant experience (at least 7 years) in the design and results-based monitoring of conflict prevention and peace building programmes, required;
- Technical knowledge and experience in conflict prevention, required;
- In-depth understanding of the latest result-based management methodologies, especially in the field of conflict prevention, required;
- Good understanding of UN/UNDP policies, procedures, as well as participatory monitoring and evaluation methodologies and approaches, required;
- Demonstrated strategic thinking and strong understanding of global developments in conflict prevention issues and recent policy developments and programming at country level, required;
- Sound understanding of the UN mandate and role in conflict prevention, required;
- Experience in design of gender responsive peacebuilding initiatives and programmes, desirable;
- Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English, required; and
- Demonstrable analytical skills and strong drafting skills, required.
Language: Proficiency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of other UN languages is desirable.
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.
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.
- 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. Master’s degree or equivalent in political science, conflict resolution studies, development studies or other relevant social science Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 70;
- Criteria 2. Significant experience (at least 7 years) in the design and results-based monitoring of conflict prevention and peace building programmes Weight = 20 %; Maximum Points: 140;
- Criteria 3. In-depth understanding of the latest result-based management methodologies, especially in the field of conflict prevention Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 70;
- Criteria 4: Good understanding of UN/UNDP policies, procedures, as well as participatory monitoring and evaluation methodologies and approaches Weight = 5 %; Maximum Points: 35
- Criteria 5: Sound understanding of the UN mandate and role in conflict prevention Weight = 5 %; Maximum Points: 35
- Interview: Weight = 50 %; Maximum Points: 350.
Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three/four 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 Sanna Tasala, Programme Coordinator, 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.