Background

Anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNDP’s Strategic Plan, 2018-2021 sets out a vision for UNDP to help countries achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shocks. UNDP’s Strategic Plan highlights the key role innovation needs to play for the organization and the larger development system to successfully address the global challenges of the present and future. UNDP has invested in various transformation initiatives that promote a culture of innovation, testing alternative ways to transform the organization’s work and address development challenges facing Member State countries. As part of this UNDP is taking this initiative to fulfil the mandate provided by its Executive Board in the adoption of the Strategic Plan 2018-2022 and the General Assembly Resolution 72/279; both of which make explicit reference to UNDP’s function as an integrator and support platform of the UN development system, to help design and deliver solutions to complex development problems. Country support platforms have been established as a service of the UN and UNDP to partner countries, to tackle systemic and multidimensional development challenges, working with partners within and beyond the UN in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives

The overall purpose of this work will be to elevate UNDP’s innovation work and help the organization maximize innovation opportunities, based on international ISO standards and guidance. Specifically, the selected bidder will be expected to:

1. Review the conceptualization of country support platforms in the UNDP 2018-2021 Strategic Plan with supporting materials and assess their viability

2. Review and assess the criteria being developed to identify country support platforms

3. Conduct a deep dive into a few country support platforms and develop social innovation case studies of UNDP’s platform work so it can be used as a learning tool for UNDP, organizations and academia.

Review the conceptualization of the country support platforms in the UNDP 2018-2021 Strategic Plan along with the supporting materials and make recommendations for better framing if needed.

Review the criteria being developed to identify country support platforms and make recommendations.

Do a deep dive into 3-4 country support platforms to produce social innovtion case studies and capture, to the extent possible, the principles/protocols for establishing an open innovation platform approach. Also looking at gaining an understanding of how the platform was established and the different phases of thinking about a platform approach to operationalizing it. UNDP will help to identify which platforms to examine.

Scope and Activities

UNDP is seeking to engage an Executive Senior Platforms Consultant with experience designing and implementing social innovation platforms for complex systems to help elevate and capture UNDP’s country support platform work. Leveraging its experience, the selected bidder will be expected to:

1. Review the conceptualization of country support platforms in the UNDP 2018-2021 Strategic Plan with supporting materials and assess their viability

2. Review and assess the criteria being developed to identify country support platforms

3. Conduct a deep dive into a few country support platforms and develop social innovation case studies of UNDP’s platform work so it can be used as a learning tool for UNDP, organizations and academia.

1. Review the conceptualization of country support platforms in the UNDP 2018-2021 Strategic Plan with supporting materials and assess their viability

   1. Review the Strategic Plan country support platform concept and the guidance materials that were subsequently developed and assess compatibility with the UNDP business model.

   2. Assess UNDP’s country support platform management and processes, identifying existing good practices and gaps.

   3. Advise on the platform management process to ensure sustained success.

   4. Identify areas for improvement and resources/capacities needed.

       

2. Review and assess the criteria being developed to identify country support platforms

   1. Review the UNDP Strategic Plan Integrated Results and Resources Framework (IRRF) indicator and the associated criteria being developed to identify country support platforms and make recommendations.

       

3. Conduct a deep dive into a few country support platforms and develop case studies of UNDP’s platform work so it can be used as a learning tool for UNDP, organizations and academia.

   1. Conduct an analysis of 3-4 country support platforms to be identified by UNDP.

   2. Broker partnerships with academia to develop case studies of UNDP’s platform work so it can be used as a learning tool for UNDP, organizations and academia.

Activities may be taken on directly or relying on the administrative and professional support of the entity the bidder is engaged by/belongs to/manages. The technical offer should clearly delineate what inputs these entities would be expected to have and indicate how such support and inputs would reflect positively on the outputs.  If the bidder selects this, UNDP is prepared to consider entering into a Reimbursable Loan Agreement with the entity.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Duration of work

The assignment is expected to be completed over a 6-month period, within which a total of up to 80 working days will be undertaken by the selected bidder (not including dates for travel).

The work will be conducted over a total of at least three missions to UNDP’s Headquarters in New York and at least one field mission to a Regional Hub or Country Office, each approximately three days in duration, as well as approximately 68 days of desk work for preparation of materials, briefing notes, targeted research, case studies and recommendations.

Duty Station

This is a home-based assignment. Travel will be required to UNDP’s headquarters, as well as to one or more UNDP offices, either in its Regional Centers of in programme countries. Interested individuals should note that while travel plans will be determined at a later date based on the assessment, it is possible that they will include countries affected by crisis and fragility.

Competencies

• Inspires organization to take on new challenges, reach higher performance

• Expands understanding of subject by clients and inspires action

• Transforms ideas, behaviours, and organizational culture

• Conveys a vision that staff and clients can see and charts a clear course to achievement

• Establishes strategic relationships and expands UNDP’s network

Conceives of and transforms strategies to better position UNDP to act and deliver.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Minimum Masters Degree in Business Administration, International Relations or related field

Working Experience:

• At least 15 years of experience in management consulting, business, finance or government affairs, of which a minimum 7 years should be dedicated to the area of social innovation platforms

• Demonstrated experience in providing high level advisory services to the UN system on social innovation laboratories and open innovation platforms

• Experience in brokering partnerships on innovation with NGOs, private sector and academia in peace building interventions

• Experience in supporting regional transformation movements, senior management position at an innovation-focused entity that promotes solutions for sustainable development and has strong networks with academia, international organizations and private sector to promote large scale social innovative solutions.

Language:

• Excellent command of English language

  Application procedures   Technical Proposal: The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file): 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 A CV, including a list of 3 references. Please ensure that your CV indicates relevant experience.   A brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work may be requested by UNDP within the selection process (A maximum of 5 pages).   Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials   Financial Proposal: Shortlisted candidates ONLY will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.   The Financial Proposal (in USD) should specify total lump sum amount for tasks specified in this announcement. Price offer must not include costs related to official missions. Missions will be paid separately as per UNDP rules and regulations. Given the nature of the work, travel to specific countries will be determined based on the assessment. Travel could include regional offices and country offices, including countries affected by crisis and fragility.  Travel costs should therefore not be included in the financial proposal. Travel costs will be paid by UNDP via a lump sum amount, which will be all inclusive of air travel, terminal fees and daily subsistence allowance at the prevailing UN rates for missions. Interested bidders should note that in submitting a bid, they are expressly accepting to abide by UNDP travel policies If an 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 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 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...).   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 (desk reviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.  Only candidates who get min. 70% of points in technical evaluation will be scored in financial evaluation. Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points: Criteria A (Methodology) – max points: 10 Criteria B (Experience providing high level advisory services to clients, including the UN, on innovation) – max points: 20 Criteria C (Experience as a Managing Director, or equivalent, of an innovation focused entity with strong networks, and proven ability to leverage this entity) – max points: 20 Criteria D (Experience advising and/or implementing ISO innovation standards) – max points: 20   Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.   Payment Modality: Remuneration for this contract will be out-put based, and payments will be made based on deliverables received as per the table above under “Expected Outputs and Deliverables”. Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.    Governance and Accountability   The selected bidder will report directly to the Senior Advisor, Strategy and Planning Surge Team. Progress reporting will be made via a concise report submitted electronically to the Senior Advisor two weeks after a visit to New York.   During their work, they will interact with the Administrator of UNDP, Senior Advisors in the Executive Office, Bureau Directors and Deputies, and staff members working on innovation. Meetings and presentations to academia and other actors are also expected to occur. Over the duration of the contract, logistical support, scheduling and preparation of meetings will be provided by the Strategy and Planning Surge Team.   Note: 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.   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.   Note: Please visit http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=22291 to view the Individual Contract (IC) General Terms and Conditions (for Individuals/Free Lancers who will sign the UNDP contract on behalf of themselves). For Individuals who will be represented on behalf of a company, a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be signed between UNDP and the company. To view the RLA's terms & conditions, please see http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=22292 Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA): A legal instrument between UNDP and a Company/institution, according to which, the latter makes available the services of an individual delivering time-bound and quantifiable outputs that are directly linked to payments.

  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.