Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work is carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, and forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains.

Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau (CB) guides UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery. The Bureau has the responsibility for support to prevention, crisis response, resilience and recovery work under the auspices of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Crisis Bureau staff provide global strategic advice to UNDP management and technical advice to regional hubs and Country Offices; advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. As part of the Global Policy Network (GPN), the Crisis Bureau works in an integrated manner with UNDP’s Development Policy Bureau (BPPS) ensuring that issues are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes.

In support of UNDP’s resource mobilization efforts in the area of disaster risk reduction and recovery, the CB’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team (DRT) will develop a global project document that provides a comprehensive and well aligned portfolio approach for the CB’s projects in the area of DRR and recovery.  The development of the DRT Global Project will be closely aligned with the preparation of other proposals submitted to donors, such as for example the EU.  Since the bulk of funding for UNDP will be in support of country level interventions, it will be essential that the UNDP project documents are designed in a participatory process with UNDP global, regional and country office-based teams, and partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

Against the above background, the DRT is commissioning this work to formulate a UNDP Global Project, which will form the basis for designing a project document for submission to the EU.

Scope of Work

Under the guidance and supervision of DRT’s Disaster Risk Reduction Team Leader and in close collaboration with UNDP global teams working on DRR & recovery, climate change, conflict prevention, and relevant Regional Bureaus, the consultant will provide:

  •  UNDP inputs to the 11 EDF Intra-ACP Action Document on DRR: The consultant is expected to contribute to the narrative and theory of change, review the Action Document, and ensure the consistency of the language of all outputs. Due date: end of January 2019 (3 days);
  • Participate in technical meetings with donor (tbc): The consultant is expected to participate in a one-day technical meeting with the donor and project implementation partners. Due date: end of January (3 days);
  • Analyze existing UNDP policy guidance and key projects: The Global Project is expected to provide the portfolio framework for the DRT’s existing and upcoming projects and initiatives. As such it will be essential that the project design is well informed by these. The consultant is expected to: review and analyze UNDP policy on DRR and recovery, as well as key global and regional initiatives to be able to incorporate these appropriately into the project document. Due date: end of January 2020 (3 days);
  • Conduct stakeholder consultations: Although the DRT has already a well-established service offer on DRR & Recovery, the success of the Global Project will depend on it being well aligned with UNDP regional and country office needs and capacities. It will also be necessary to consult with key partners UNDP is collaborating with. The consultant is expected to: Conduct interviews and consultations with key partners and UNDP colleagues working at HQ, regional and country office to validate or adjust as needed the service offer and specify concrete deliverables. Due date: end of February (14 days);
  • Prepare draft global project document: The findings from the consultations will inform the design of the project document which follows the UNDP corporate format and include narrative, theory of change, results framework, and budget.The consultant is expected to: prepare an initial draft project document which can be shared for comments and feed-back within UNDP. Due date: end of March (10 days);
  • Prepare a project document for submission to the EU: Based on the draft UNDP Global Project document, prepare a project document for submission to the EU under the Intra-ACP Action Fiche. The consultant is expected to: prepare an initial draft of the Description of Action that can be shared with the EU for review. Due date: end of March (5 days);
  • Organize workshops/meetings: It may be necessary to conduct meetings or webinars that bring together a larger group of stakeholders at different stages of the project design process. Due date: end of March 2020 (2 days).

Key Deliverables (40 working days over a period of 3 months)

  • Work plan and inception report detailing methodology and approach to the above steps;
  • Quality inputs for the Intra-ACP Action Document;
  • Consultations with list of key informants and summaries of key points;
  • Skeleton project framework for discussion and feed-back from DRT;
  • Draft project document ready for collecting comments from stakeholders.

 

The UNDP project document template for EU funded projects is structured as follows: Development challenges; Strategy (including Theory of Change); Result and partnership; Project management; Result Framework; Monitoring and evaluation; Governance and management arrangements.

Competencies

Professional Skills:

  • Excellent research, analytical, writing and communication skills;
  • Full understanding of UNDPs programmatic approach and project development process/templates;
  • Capacity to identify lessons learned and good practices and translate these into written materials and programming options;
  • Knowledge and research experience in disaster risk reduction and recovery;
  • Ability to manage, facilitate, and engage in discussions with multiple stakeholders in a formal setting, seeking to encourage participation in an open and collegial environment;
  • Strong ability in managing confidential and politically sensitive issues, in a responsible way, and in accordance with protocols.

Interpersonal and communication skills:

  • Strong communication skills and proven ability to collaborate between different actors and high level of internal and external relationship management;
  • Tact and sensitivity when delivering sensitive information or resolving delicate issues;
  • Calm, good humored and patient even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

A minimum of a Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, development studies, conflict studies, international relations, political science or related field is required.

Experience:

  • At least 10 years of professional experience, at the national or international level, in the area of disaster risk reduction and recovery;
  • Demonstrated experience in developing disaster risk reduction and recovery strategy and programmatic frameworks;
  • Solid understanding of the funding environment for the areas of disaster risk reduction and recovery;
  • Demonstrated experience with the design of project documents, including theory of change, results frameworks and budgets;
  • Demonstrated experience in facilitating consultations, and discussions with focus groups and key informants;
  • Working experience with UNDP and the UN system, its practices, and procedures, particularly in disaster risk reduction and recovery;
  • Working experience with DEVCO would be an asset.

Language:

  • Fluency in written and spoken English is required; French is an additional asset.

Recommended Presentation of Offer

The application is a two-step process requiring the submission of several documents as outlined below. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applicants.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicant's qualifications and financial proposal as follows:

  • Technical Criteria weight: 70%
  • Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Step 1: Online application

Interested candidates must include the following documents when submitting the applications through the UNDP Jobs Site (https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_jobs.cfm). Please note that only one (1) file can be uploaded therefore please include all documents in one file.

Step 2: Financial proposal

Applicants are requested to submit A Financial Proposal in US Dollars, using the financial proposal template available here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=45780. The proposals should be submitted with the subject heading: “89170 - Support UNDP Global Project Design on Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery” by the deadline of this vacancy along with the above documents in one file.

The Financial Proposal should indicate all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. The term ‘all-inclusive fee’ implies that all costs (professional fees, transport related expenses, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) are included.

If the candidate is employed by an organization/ company/ institution, and the candidate expects their employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing the candidate to UNDP under the Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the candidate must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Criteria for the selection of the best offer

Candidates will be evaluated using a combined scoring method with the qualifications and methodology weighted at 70% and the financial offer weighted at 30. Only the highest ranked candidates who have obtained a minimum of 49 points (70%) on the technical evaluation will be considered for the financial evaluation. The award of the contract shall 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 and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Criteria:

Technical Evaluation: 70% of total evaluation (maximum 70 points)

Criteria A: Education (maximum 5 points);

Criteria B: Experience (maximum 60 points), divided into:

  • 20 points for work experience in disaster risk reduction & recovery
  • 20 points for experience in policy advice/design of development programmes, strategy and frameworks
  • 10 points for experience in working for/with UNDP and full understanding of UNDPs programming environment
  • 10 points for sound understanding of the funding environment and donor requirements

Criteria C: Language requirements (maximum 5 points).

Financial evaluation: 30% points (maximum 30 points):

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.

Annexes to the TOR