UNDP Jobs - 77657- Community Engagement Consultant

Community Engagement Consultant

Location :

Nicosia, CYPRUS

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

23-Apr-2018

Application Deadline :

25-Mar-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Up to 30 days

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

Since 2001, United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) has been supporting different levels of intervention, including working with Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots on confidence building measures aiming at the reunification and economic and social development of the island. One component of current efforts involves providing support to broader UN efforts to increase Cypriot confidence in the peace process.

UNFICYP’s Civil Affairs Section works with communities in Cyprus to: i) build confidence and trust between communities and ii) work with members of communities who carry out activities in the buffer zone as part of the UNFICYP’s mandate pursuant to Security Council resolution 186 [1964] to contribute to a “return to normal conditions”. Recognizing the need to strengthen capacity for community liaison and community engagement with Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, the Mission is seeking a Consultant with ability and experience in community engagement.

On behalf of UNFICYP, UNDP is therefore recruiting a Consultant to work with UNFICYP to:

i) review and make recommendations to strengthen the confidence and trust-building activities of the mission; and

ii) review and make recommendations to strengthen the role of the mission in their liaison and engagement with Cypriots as part of UNFICYP’s mandate to contribute to a “return to normal conditions” as led by the Civil Affairs Section.

The successful candidate should have experience and expertise with analysis, community engagement and trust-building initiatives in a sensitive political environment, with specific knowledge and work experience in establishing and maintaining relations and building trust within communities with inherent mistrust and limited engagement with their neighbors or members of other communities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Chief of Section, UNFICYP Civil Affairs, the Consultant will provide advisory support and guidance in the following areas:

Reviews and analyzes current community liaison and engagement processes at UNFICYP and identifies challenges and issues to be addressed and opportunities including cross-component coordination;
Provides learning materials, training and guidance to Civil Affairs and uniformed staff on best practices for community liaison and engagement with special attention to grass-roots engagement, promoting inclusivity and reaching diverse audiences and client groups.
Together with UNFICYP Civil Affairs staff and key uniformed personnel, participates in the design, planning, coordination and facilitation of inclusive community liaison and community engagement activities.
Contributes to regular analysis of community liaison and engagement processes and drafts a strategic plan of action for Civil Affairs staff members with communities throughout Cyprus.
Travel out outside of Nicosia with frequent travel and long working hours is required.

Deliverables/Outputs

- Develops and finalizes a community engagement tool-kit for UNFICYP staff for inclusive community liaison and community engagement.

- Provides training to key HQ and Sector level field-staff on use of the community engagement tool-kit to familiarize them with elements of community engagement (4 day-long sessions to different groups of 30 members maximum).

- Final report on UNFICYP’s future community engagement approach featuring the following elements:

Identifies opportunities for greater coordinated community liaison and engagement;
Best practice examples on steps to strengthen civilian liaison and engagement and cross-component coordination of community liaison and engagement; and
Recommended strategic guidance to enhance cross-component coordination of community liaison and engagement.

- The consultant will require to work a minimum of 12 days in Cyprus (up to 20 days) and a minimum of 5 days home-based services (up to 10 days) will be needed for preparation of the tool-kit, training and final report.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

- Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;

- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Functional Competencies:

- Ability to meet deadlines and maintain high-quality of output working under pressure;

- Ability to use good judgment and experience working in a multi-cultural setting are critical;

- Excellent communication / organizational skills, attention to details;

- Ability to operate personal computers, corporate and commercial software applications and databases such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, perfect command of Excel, Internet, ERP;

- Familiar with corporate software applications is essential;

Core Competencies:

- Excellent team-building and interpersonal skills;

- Excellent training skills;

- Ability to analyze community perceptions and develop key messages.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelor degree in conflict management, international relations, social studies in community work, social psychology, or related studies.

Experince:

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of community liaison and community engagement, inter-communal relations, peace-building, training or related areas is required.
Knowledge and understanding of the Cyprus problem, and understanding of the mechanisms by which socio-historic narratives in society are constructed and remedied is desirable.
Demonstrated ability to work with patience in a complex and politically sensitive arena while maintaining impartiality and confidentiality is highly desirable.
Experience facilitating inter-communal confidence-building activities is required.

Language:

Fluency in written and verbal English required.

Driving:

Valid driving license is required.

Submission of Applications and Evaluation

Application:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

References: Contact details of 3 references.
Financial Proposal: Applicants requested to submit financial proposal. Financial proposal will specify the lump-sum fee in EUR and shall cover all expenditures including fees, health insurance, vaccination, international (all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel) or local travel (place of residence to office and office to place of residence), cost of living and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services. Leave benefits (annual, sick, paternity, maternity) are not applicable to Individual Contractor and absent days including weekends and office holidays are not payable.
The breakdown of the lump-sum financial proposal should be provided to indicate daily fee in Cyprus, home based daily fee and other expenses such as travel.

Evaluation / Selection Process
All applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies set above. Candidates fully meeting the mandatory minimum requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below.

Technical Criteria (CV review and interviews) – 70% of total evaluation– max. 70 points

CV review: 30 points:

Educational qualifications as defined in the ToR (10 points);
Experience as defined in the ToR (20 points).

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the CV desk review (who will score at least 21 points) will be invited for an interview.

Interview: 40 points

Experience in community liaison and community engagement, inter-communal relations, peace-building (10 points)
Ability to analyze community perceptions and develop key messages (10 points)
Ability to work with patience in a complex and politically sensitive environment (5 points)
Knowledge and understanding of the Cyprus problem (5 points)
Training skills (5 points)
Team-building and interpersonal skills (5 points)

Only those individual consultants who obtained at least 70% of points from the interview (28 out of 40) will be considered for financial proposal evaluation.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

UNDP applies the “Best value for money approach” – the final selection will be based on the combination of the applicants’ qualification and financial proposal.

Payment Term:

Lump-sum payment upon; submission and approval of the outputs defined in the ToR, monthly time-sheet and the UNDP certification of payment form.