Background

The UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021 embraces the complexity of development and commits the organization to helping countries find faster, more durable solutions to achieve Agenda 2030.  In line with this, the organization has begun incubating several strategic initiatives aimed at ensuring UNDP is ‘fit for purpose’ to deliver a new generation of solutions in line with the challenges the world faces.

One such key strategic initiatives is the UNDP Accelerator Lab Network.  The initiative is run out of the UNDP’s Executive Office of the Administrator in very close collaboration with the Bureau for Policy and Program Support, Regional Bureaus and Country Offices.  The intention is to build the largest and fastest learning global network of Accelerator Labs (initially 60 labs covering 78 countries) to apply emerging approaches to development challenges and accelerate progress toward the Agenda 2030.  The Labs, embedded within UNDP’s global architecture and country platforms, embody the new organizational offering to transform the collective approach to development.  The new offering is premised on leveraging the latest thinking from the fields of complexity science, lead user innovation and collective intelligence toward new development approaches and accelerated learning on most effective and locally appropriate ways of achieving SDGs. 

The network will surface and reinforce locally sourced solutions at scale while mobilizing a wide and dynamic partnership of actors contributing knowledge, resources and experience.  The initiative is meant to transform our collective approach by introducing new protocols, backed by evidence and practice, which accelerate the testing and dissemination of solutions within and across countries. This will enable the global community to collectively learn from local knowledge and ingenuity at a speed and at a scale that our societies and planet require. This will be achieved by:

-              Building on locally sourced solutions, finding things that work and expanding on them;

-              Rapid testing and iteration to implement what works and go beyond the obvious solutions;

-              Combining the best understanding, ideas and expertise to generate collective knowledge;

-              Accelerating progress by bringing expertise, creativity and collective intelligence to bear.

The Outreach and Foundations Strategy Consultant will increase support from existing partners while identifying and cultivating new private sector prospects, focusing on  foundation in alignment with the UNDP Accelerator Labs strategy and needs.

Under the supervision of the Team Leader and the Innovation Policy Specialist, s/he will design a strategy and tools to increase the partner basis including through funding and pro bono contributions. The successful candidate will also work with UNDP’s Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) to secure increased partnerships and enhance outreach and engagement of private sector via advocacy, awareness and fundraising initiatives.

S/he is responsible for:

• Advisory support and technical guidance on strategic outreach to potential foundations;

• Creating tools to seek and secure strategic partnerships and resource mobilization;

• Intelligence and briefing material development to maintain and increase engagement with foundations and potential innovation partners;

• Maintaining a database on knowledge of foundation and potential partners;

Identifying and develop partnerships with state-of-the-art technology and innovation sectors from developing countries and others

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be expected to work with the Accelerator Lab Network in implementing the strategy in the following key areas:

Develop and implement a partnership, outreach, advocacy and resource mobilization strategy  for foundations and philanthropic organizations in coordination with the Accelerator Lab Global Team, UNDP BERA, as well as Regional Offices
Implement and manage resource mobilization activities with foundations and philanthropic organizations with the objective of landing partnerships both in cash and in kind;
Identify possible private sources of new and continued funding at the global, regional and country level, where the Labs are present;
In close collaboration with UNDP BERA, monitor and evaluate existing resource mobilization channels with  the private sector, to ensure achievement of resource mobilization goals of resource mobilization plan;
Develop tools for continued scanning and establish a foundations donor database to ensure all the organizations contact and opportunities are leveraged fully;
Prepare presentation decks and briefing papers for senior management
Undertake event design and management for at least 3 sessions/events to bring in new partners for the Accelerator Lab Network.

 Expected Outputs and Deliverables

____________________________________________________________________________

All the below deliverables must be submitted with the monthly payment requests. These will be reviewed/cleared by the Accelerator Lab Network Team Leader.

15 December 2019

- Develop partnership, outreach, advocacy and resource mobilization strategy for foundations and philanthropy in coordination with the Accelerator Lab Global Team, UNDP BERA, UNDP Regional and Country Offices, including expected mobilization/commitments targets

31 January 2020

- Identify 10 potential foundation and philanthropic organizations and develop outreach strategy for each

29 February 2020

-Outreach event design plan (series of 3) (in New York)

31 March 2020

Prepare decks and briefing papers for senior management

30 April 2020

-Develop tools for continued scanning and establish a foundations donor database to ensure all the organizations contact and opportunities are leveraged fully;

31 May 2020

- Report with final recommendations on strategic positioning and visibility of the project, including potentials leads to increase private funding at the global and country level in 2020

E.      Institutional Arrangements

The consultant will directly report to the Accelerator Labs Team Leader and will liaise regularly with the rest of global team, especially with the Partnership Specialist and take part in weekly team meetings/teleconference with the rest of the Network, while engaging directing with the Country Labs as necessary. The consultant will also interact regularly with UNDP BERA for regular updates.

F.         Duration of the Work

The Consultant will provide services to the Accelerator Lab Network over a 6-month period, estimated at 22 working days a month. The Consultant should submit a detailed lump sum proposal, which will include Consultant’s remuneration and reimbursable expenses.

G.        Duty Station

The consultancy is home-based, with occasional meetings at headquarters in New York, USA and possible travel to support the implementation of the project to different locations.

As part of the contract, the consultant is expected to undertake the following missions, if applicable (**):

New York: three trips/ 5 days each

** Final travel details are subject to change based on planning needs.

Travel costs should NOT be estimated as part of proposal. The reimbursable cost will be due upon submission of the documentary evidence of such expenses, which will then be reviewed and accepted by the project. Please be advised that the daily maximum for lodging and accommodation is 430 USD) flights quoted should be full fare economy.

Competencies

Competencies:

Learning and people development:

• Excellent analytical and information-management skills;
• Manages projects effectively and consistently ensures timeliness and quality of project work;
• Builds strong relationships with partners, focuses on impact and result for the partner and responds positively to feedback;
• Establishes lasting relationships and substantive dialogue that create valuable intervention opportunities for the Accelerator Labs and access to critical information within and outside the Office;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;

Communication:

• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills with capacity to research and produce briefs;
• Ability to interact with foundations, government, partners, UN and UNDP officials;
• Ability to interact with and communicates effectively with staff at all levels of the UN and UNDP;

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Excellent knowledge of policy processes and work culture in UN Agencies, private sector and civil society;
• Proven track record of working with the innovation sector for good
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development and applies newly acquired skills;
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;

Teamwork:

• Acts as a team player and facilitates teamwork;
• Willing to learn from others;
• Collaboratively works with colleagues inside the UN as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals;
• Projects a positive image and ready to take on a wide range of tasks.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in development studies, economics, social sciences, economics, public administration, international relations or equivalent. A first-level university degree in combination with 2 additional years of meaningful experience in development of partnership with innovation sector may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience

• At least 7 years of progressive experience in providing support in partnerships development, and policy analysis and/or support on international development and development cooperation, with knowledge on innovation;
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working in activities related to outreach, advocacy, fundraising with the private sector within the innovation sector;
• Deep understanding of foundations and familiarity with the UN system and its processes;
• Experience working with the foundations, philanthropic organizations, social enterprise world, including entrepreneurs and the private sector;
• Proven experience in proposal writing and partnership management;
• Field experience in developing and emerging markets is an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English language
• Knowledge of other UN languages would be an asset.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Payments will be made over a period of six monthly in six equal installments, after the submission of deliverables described in section D.

Presentation of Offer

Interested individual consultants must present the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications.

• Brief proposal to cover the scope of the consultancy
• A CV, including a list of current and previous clients. 3 professional references are required. . 
• The recommended candidate  will be required to complete  a Personal History (P11) www.sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc  at UNDP’s request.

Financial Proposal:

Applicants are requested to submit a financial proposal together with the Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability  (the form can be downloaded at : https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx&action=default&DefaultItemOpen=1).

The financial proposal shall consist of all-inclusive lump sum in USD for the whole duration of the contract period, which shall include the consultancy fee. The financial proposal shall contain a breakdown of these costs and should indicate the number of off days the consultant wants to take during the contract period (if any).

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

This contractual process is a direct contract, based on the following criteria:

• Clarity of proposal (15%)

• Available network among foundations and innovation partners (25%)

• 3 years of experience working in activities related to advocacy, outreach and fundraising with the private sector (20%)

• Experience in social innovation or tech sector (20%)

• Proven experience in proposal writing and partnership management (20%)