Background

The UN/UNDP Brussels Representation Office (http://www.undp.org/content/brussels/en/home.html) plays a pivotal role in nurturing the established partnership with the European Union (EU) institutions, and acts as the key institutional anchor in efforts to sustain and maximize emerging opportunities with the EU.

The Office represents UNDP vis-à-vis the EU and the Government of Belgium and plays an active role in facilitating a unified and coherent action of the more than 20 UN organizations represented in the country.

Since 2004, the EC-UNDP inter-institutional relationship has been guided by a Strategic Partnership, focused on governance, and conflict prevention and recovery. The EU institutions together with the EU member states represent an important strategic partner of UNDP in terms of development policy dialogue, programmatic partnerships and funding. The Office closely monitors strategic debates and policy decisions emanating from the EU institutions in such areas of development policy, EU external assistance, EU foreign affairs, and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Well positioned as lead actor, its objective is to maintain, nurture and develop its strategic partnership with the EU.

Duties and Responsibilities

The full-time Junior Policy Analyst Consultant will report to the Director and work in close collaboration with the various units of the Office (Directorate, Communications, Programmes, Bureaux, Operations). S/he will be responsible for:

  • Monitoring strategic debates and policy decisions and developments emanating from the EU institutions in the areas of – but not limited to – development policy, external assistance, foreign affairs, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals;

  • Mapping out the 2019 European Elections and monitoring the formation of the new College of Commissioners, new EU presidents; providing outlooks; analysing trends and implications for the UN; providing recommendations;

  • Conducting research and analysis in the above areas for the cataloguing and consolidation of key information;

  • Drafting briefing papers, reports, presentation materials, talking points and speeches, using catalogued and consolidated material, for the Director’s meetings;

  • Compiling and preparing background briefings and speaking points for UNDP Headquarters in New York;

  • Drafting the Director’s correspondence on issues relevant to EU policy, ensuring adherence to appropriate protocol and correspondence guidelines;

  • Ensuring smooth information flows with relevant partners and parties;

  • Attending meetings and events, circulating information as required.

    Expected deliverables

  • Produce monthly reports on the dynamics in the European Parliament (i.e. positioning the EU Countries in matters related to Development, impact on ongoing EU electoral processes etc.), the European Commission and the European Council;
  • Produce briefing papers on an ad hoc basis on the trends and evolution of the European debate on Development within European Think Tanks and political parties and particularly on the topics related to UNDP’s work, such as SDGs, Climate Change, Migration, Brexit, etc.;
  • Produce briefing notes for UN Brussels or HQ in support of meetings, visits;
  • Contribute towards UNDP/DSG weekly Policy/Political highlights in Brussels;
  • Compilation of contacts and plans for a substantial learning programme of UNDP Office;
  • Produce one final report outlining the achievements for the entire duration of the assignment at the end of the contract.

Competencies

  • Strong research skills with proven ability to monitor, understand and keep informed of ongoing policy developments, processes and decisions within the EU environment;

  • Excellent analytical skills with proven ability to extract and consolidate actionable insights from data;

  • Ability to interpret data and information and provide practical recommendations;

  • Excellent ability to write and to communicate orally with accuracy and professionalism;

  • Ability to communicate effectively across different constituencies;

  • Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a multi-cultural environment;

  • Displays a high level of motivation, ability to show initiative and to work independently;

  • Displays creativity, flexibility and an innovative approach to problem solving;

  • Proven ability to work within the set time frames on multiple activities and tasks concurrently, observing priorities and deadlines and delivering required results;

  • Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;

  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and experience

  • Master’s degree (or Higher) in Social Sciences, International Relations, Development, European Political, Economics and Administrative Studies, Communications or related field;

OR

  • Bachelor’s degree in similar areas plus 2 years of related work experience;
  • Knowledge of UN or EU working environment an asset;
  • Experience in the usage of computer and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc);
  • Fluency in written and spoken English. French an asset.

Selection Criteria

 

Application Submission Process:

The application submission is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications:

          Step 1: Interested individual consultants must include the following documents when submitting the applications in UNDP job shop 

          (Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded therefore please include all docs in one file):

 

  • Personal History Form (P11), indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references (the template can be downloaded from this link: http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc

  • An updated curriculum vitae.

  • A motivation letter prepared by the candidate detailing how he/she is best fit for this consultancy given his/her experience and background.

     

    Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal

    Applicants are instructed to submit their financial proposals in EUR for this consultancy to procurement.be@undp.org using the financial proposal template available here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=45780. The proposals should be sent via email with the following subject heading: “Junior Policy Analyst Consultant” latest by December 21st, 2018.

     

    Proposals to be received after the deadline will be rejected. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal should be all-inclusive and include a breakdown. The term ‘all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, travel related expenses, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the financial proposal. 

     

    Application Evaluation Process

    Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis methodology (weighted scoring method), where the award of the contract will 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 technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

    Technical Criteria weight: [70%]

    Financial Criteria weight: [30%]

     

    Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 70% on the Technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

     

    Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 100 points:

  • Relevance of Education/Degree – max 15 points;

  • Knowledge of UN/UNDP working environment and organisational set-up - max 20 points;

  • Sound knowledge of the EU institutions and its policies, in particular that related to development, and further dynamics within European Think Tanks and political parties and specially on the topics related to UNDP’s work, such as SDGs, Climate Change, Migration, Brexit -20 points

  • Work experience in a relevant domain, preferably in an international context. Experience gained from working within a UN context would be an asset - max 25 points;
  • English language proficiency and writing skills (with French language proficiency an asset) – max 10 points;
  • Proficiency in the use of IT application: excellent command of MSWord, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet Explorer functions. - max 10 points.

 

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation

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

 

UNDP is applying fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their price proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores. Please go the following link for the General Conditions of Individual Contracts: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf

UNDP retains the right to contact references directly.

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

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.

 

Please note that UNDP cannot guarantee residence permits or visas for consultants.

Applicants must therefore have a valid work permit or permanent residency in Belgium.

 

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.