UNDP Jobs - 78143- Advisor on Platform Design and Implementation

Advisor on Platform Design and Implementation

Location :

Istanbul Regional Hub with missions, TURKEY

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

26-Apr-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

estimated April - 31 December 2018

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

App. 120 working 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 new UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021 frames new complexity of SDGs’ interconnected nature, and outlines UNDP’s support to programme countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda, and to respond to the varied needs of countries at different points in the development spectrum. These goals will be achieved through two core delivery models:

A global platform to provide world-class, context-specific development advisory and implementation services, and
Country-specific SDG Support Platforms that support integrated UN Development Solutions to complex, interconnected development challenges in the 2030 Agenda.

As in 2018 the organization embarks on the first year of Strategic Plan implementation, many of the country offices and technical teams are already exploring ways to create effective SDG platforms. UNDP’s role of integrator, systematic connector, and enabler will very much depend on the application of the platforms complemented and reinforced with well-defined and tailored signature solutions.
At the interregional meeting of RBEC and RBAP, one particular methodology on designing platforms was introduced. In March 2018, the RBEC/IRH convened a meeting of HQ’s senior advisors, CO practitioners, IRH policy advisers, representatives from Bangkok Regional Hub, and RBAS/Amman Hub, to unpack the ‘platforms’ concept as a step towards having a common understanding and language on platforms as well as the elements that should be in place to more systematically apply platform approach and signature solutions throughout the region, and the organization. Out of these two meetings, the following set of needs emerged so far:

Develop an operational definition of platforms and create a portfolio of implementation modalities;
Building on the existing strengths and assets of the organization, articulate the types of values that UNDP can bring to the governments and in what roles;
Identify the gaps between the current state and the SP vision, what are the strengths to build on and the most critical areas to improve;
Understand what mechanisms the organization can deploy to create an organizational culture of platform-based design and functioning;

With this in mind, the Executive Office (ExO) and RBEC/Istanbul Regional Hub are undertaking steps to support teams in rolling out the process of platforms design, to systemically address these needs, be able to provide better support to the country offices. To this end, we seek for an advisory support on platform design in setting the grounds for transformation towards a platform-based way of working.

Objective of the assignment:
The Advisor on Platform Design and Implementation will work under the matrix supervision of the Policy and Innovation Advisor/ExO and Senior Programme Coordinator/IRH and support Country Offices and other business units to design the architecture and the strategy for the platform implementation. Equally important, the Advisory will ensure synchronization with the work of the corporate working group on country based support platforms.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Advisor will provide support in platform design, layout of ecosystem architecture, strategy for creation of network of partners, governance of the ecosystem, roadmap creation and metrics definition. The expert will perform the following tasks:

Set up an advisory group of external thought leaders and experts in platforms and systems design that will work and/or meet virtually to support UNDP to accelerate the adoption of the variety of platform approaches at UNDP, help articulate the value of the platform approach for a development organization like UNDP, and support design of a range of experiments inside UNDP to test the new approaches and design SDG platform (month 1-2). The composition of the group and the terms of reference will be designed at the beginning of the assignment in joint consultation with UNDP management and teams.
Develop a platform design and implementation methodology and a narrative for UNDP, building on the existing collective/advisory group and in collaboration with key UNDP core staff, including the learning and feedback on the methodology based on various types of feedback (from the Advisory group, from UNDP staff and units experimenting with platform business models) (month 1-2, with finalization expected by the end of the assignment)
Design and help run a 4-5 day boot-camp (face to face gathering) connecting advisory group with UNDP units - country offices, project/program teams, regional hub and/or global teams who self-select to experiment with platform business models to i) get feedback and buy in on the rough UNDP methodology on platforms, ii) help design experiments for various self volunteered units (month 3)
Set up a mechanism for UNDP to i) track the progress of the experiments that will be designed during the boot-camp, ii) capture learning, and iii) iterate on initial and finalize the UNDP methodology based on the field experimentation (month 4-9)
Provide advisory and mentoring support to the RBEC/IRH and Country Offices in other regions in running multiple parallel experiments;
Advise on technological underpinning of platform approach;
Advise, design and develop a strategy for shifting the organizational culture towards platform-based approach of working.

Payment schedule and deliverables

Advisory Board set up, deliverable 1
Platform methodology/set of principles and narrative for UNDP designed, deliverable 2
Boot-camp designed and facilitated, a series of UNDP units with roughly designed experiments on applying platform business models in their work, deliverable 3
Mechanism for tracking experiments and capturing learning set up, deliverable 4
Final report that blends learning from experiments into a more refined narrative and methodology for UNDP produced with suggested next steps for rolling out platform business models across on an organization-wide scale, deliverable 5

Initial plan is to pay for services in monthly installments based on UNDP approval of progress report against Deliverables listed above. Specific payment schedule with be agreed with the consultant prior to contract signature.

Travel:

Travel to Istanbul and work from the Istanbul Regional Hub is expected. In addition, missions to few countries will also be required. The number of the missions and the length will depend on the execution of the tasks listed above, the interest of the country offices and the need to establish certain baselines.

The consultant shall be available to undertake these missions in agreement with UNDP management, and will be planned well in advance.

Missions will be arranged by UNDP and costs will be covered separately as per UNDP rules and regulations.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDPs mission, vision and values.
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional Competencies:

Demonstrate ability in analytical thinking, work-planning, multi-tasking and strategic planning;
A solid understanding of digital trends and technologies, and ability to identify and assess opportunities, risks and challenges;
Experience in developing and/or implementing innovation strategy frameworks;
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
Ability to work well with multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.

Knowledge Management and Learning

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the programme and office through leadership and personal example.
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A university degree in Communications, Social Sciences, International Relations, Development, Economics or other related fields is a requirement

Experience:

At least 5 years of proven work experience on sustainable development and/or corporate strategy related issues in large and complex international organizations, private and public sector organizations;
Strong interest and proven work experience in innovation and emerging business models for public and private sector;
Relevant experience and knowledge on mainstreaming and addressing development goals in a government or international organisation setting;
Experience in research writing
Proven experience in partnership building and working in a team.

Language skills:

Excellent command of English language

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates who will get min. 70% of points in desk review will be invited for interviews. Only candidates who get min. 70% of points in technical evaluation (includes desk review and interview) will be scored in financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

Criteria A (Education) – max points: 5
Criteria B (Experience on sustainable development related issues in large and complex international organizations is a requirement) – max points: 15
Criteria C (Experience in innovation) – max points: 10
Criteria D (Experience and knowledge on mainstreaming and addressing development goals in a government or international organisation setting) – max points: 15
Criteria E (Samples evaluation – research writing) – max points: 10
Criteria F – interviews (experience in partnership building and working in a team) – max 10
Criteria G - interviews (Language skills) – max 5

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

Application procedures

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
Links to blogs/methodologies/projects representing your previous work in relevant areas
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc) please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
Financial Proposal* in USD – specifying a) total lump sum amount for tasks specified in this announcement and b) travel costs to join the duty station/repatriation travel. Price offer must not include costs related to official missions. Missions will be paid separately as per UNDP rules and regulations;
A brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work may be requested by UNDP within the selection process.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). Candidates are requested to apply price for an economy class ticket on the most direct routes and per diems not exceeding maximum UN daily allowance rates (http://icsc.un.org/rootindex.asp).

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org.

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply. Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.