UNDP Jobs - 86922- National Consultant for the Elaboration of a Feasi

National Consultant for the Elaboration of a Feasibility Study and Strategy for the establishment of the United Nations Technology Innovation Lab (UNTIL) Mauritius

Location :

Port Louis, MAURITIUS

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

30-Aug-2019

Application Deadline :

19-Aug-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

40 days within a period of 4 months

Languages Required :

English Portuguese

Expected Duration of Assignment :

40 days within a period of 4 months

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 Government of Mauritius is exploring to partner in establishing a UN Technology Lab (UNITIL) with the UN Secretariat Office of Information and Communication Technology (OICT) (www.until.un.org) to invent, incubate and accelerate technology-based products and services that address key identified thematic areas: SDG 14 – Life Below Water, SDG 13 – Climate Action, SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities.

UNTIL Mauritius will create a platform for collaborative problem solving in partnership with UN and its agencies, the Government of Mauritius, Private Sector, Academia and Civil Society. It will provide support in four different dimensions:

Improving the enabling environment (e.g. better policy and regulatory space for innovation);
Developing skills (innovation methods, learning behaviors, outcome-focus, action-orientation, technology innovation), including understanding what makes local solutions work and reverse engineering them into different contexts to ensure scale and spread;
Design, development of proto types, testing and market application of digital solutions
Improving internationalization for Mauritius-designed digital solutions
Recommendations on public-private partnerships in making UNTIL Lab financially autonomous in the medium and long-run

The UNTIL Lab in Mauritius will be integral part of the global UNTIL network that is operational in Finland, Egypt, India and Malaysia with several additional countries like Germany, Rwanda and Thailand expected to become operational in 2019-2020.

UNTIL also expects to share knowledge and concrete software solutions with other African countries through South-South Cooperation and make Mauritius as a landing pad and platform for Africa in technologically connecting with Asia, Australasia and Europe through the global UNTIL network.

UNDP Office in Mauritius is therefore seeking the services of National Consultant for the Elaboration of a Feasibility Study and Strategy for the establishment of the United Nations Technology Innovation Lab (UNTIL) Mauritius.

Key results expected include:

Completion of a detailed feasibility study on UNTIL Mauritius potential deliverables
Establishment of a strategy for a 3 years operations horizon ready to be endorsed by the UNTIL Mauritius Advisory Panel
Initiation of the administrative operationalization of the UNTIL Mauritius lab
Recommendations on public-private partnerships in making UNTIL Lab financially autonomous in the medium and long-run

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the UNDP resident Representative and the SEDU Head of Unit and with a matrix reporting to UNTIL Programme Global Manager and within delegated authority, the National Consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

Leverage the UNTIL global network and knowledge base to establish an UNTIL Mauritius solid technology innovation strategy around an identified list of key concrete projects to develop, co-develop, adopt and share digital solutions in the thematic areas of focus;
Work with the government of Mauritius focal points to ensure alignment around the UNTIL Mauritius strategy, timed programme of work and associated resource requirements as well as establishment of the UNTIL Mauritius Advisory Panel;
Work with local and global partners and UN entities in defining roles and responsibility in a clear feasibility study underpinning the future success of the lab activities;
Cement partnership opportunities for in-kind and financial contributions toward UNTIL Mauritius programme of work;
Work with UNDP and other UN agencies/stakeholders on the administrative set up of the lab and initiate the operationalization phase through recruitment activities for the “year one” operations including the initiation of the procedure to recruit key resources as well as the establishment of the physical lab location.

The team will consist of an International Consultant and a National Consultant.The overall responsibility of the Consultant will be to produce the drafts and final reports.

S/he will lead and coordinate the work of the National Consultant and be responsible for the quality assurance of all deliverables.
The Consultant will provide guidance, technical support and oversight to the National Consultant throughout the period, especially in ensuring agreed upon methodologies,and action items.
The Consultant will report to UNDP and liaise with the OICT UNTIL Global programme, and other UN stakeholders, the RCO etc.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The National consultant shall assist the International Consultant on the following key deliverables:

Complete the UNTIL Mauritius feasibility study
Write the strategy for the lab full operationalization in year one (1)
Engage with the local technology eco-system with outreach events (at least 2 events)
Recommendations on public-private partnerships in making UNTIL Lab financially autonomous in the medium and long-run

Duration of the work:

The Consultant will be engaged under an Individual contract (IC), and the whole assignment will be for not more than 40 days worked. The assignment will be from 30 August 2019 and 15 December 2019

Deadline for submission of offers - no later than Monday 19 August at Midnight New York time (GMT +4 hrs Mauritius time) to the email address below:

procurement.mu@undp.org or apply online

For more details of the scope of work, please visit the website - http://jobs-admin.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?job_id=86921

Annexes

Annex A - Letter of confirmation of interest and availability and Submission of financial proposal
Annex B - Model Contact IC
Annex C - UNDP GCC IC
Annex D - P11
Terms of Reference

Note: Please upload documents as one single document when applying online

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrate integrity by modelling the United Nations’ values and ethical standards;
Advocate and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of United Nations;
Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treat all people fairly without favoritism.

Personal Skills

Excellent communication and inter-personal skills;
Ability to establish effective working relations both with high level decision makers and with grassroots organizations and people of different social and cultural backgrounds;
Excellent organizational, problem-solving, teamwork and coordination skills;
Committed and result-oriented;
Respectful and interested in others’ cultures;
Positive approach and attention to detail;
Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.

Functional Competencies

Excellent writing and oral skills in English;
Ability to work in a team and independently;
Initiative and sound judgment, dedication and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and the UNDP Statement of Purpose;
Ability to adapt in new working environment;
Demonstrated strategic technical and analytical skills in the substantive area;
Computer proficiency.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, information systems, international relations, partnership management, international law, international business administration, innovation management or related field;

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of French is desirable;
The Consultant should have a good knowledge and experience of the UN programming principles, especially Results Based Management;
Economic/financial background or relevant experience in financial analysis, desirable.

Experience:

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in technology innovation management in either of the following or related areas: health, education, ocean economy, equal opportunities and partnerships.
A minimum of two years’ experience in planning, designing and facilitating deployment of innovative technology solutions in the areas of education, health, ocean economy, equal opportunities, partnerships or related areas is an advantage.
A minimum of two years’ experience in developing and managing multi-stakeholder partnerships for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is an advantage.
A minimum of two years’ experience in setting up offices away from headquarters in intergovernmental organizations with responsibilities to implement programmes with local and global scope is an advantage.