Background

Since 2014, UNDP’s Facility for the Implementation of the SDGs in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings (formerly known as the New Deal Implementation Facility) has been supporting a range of initiatives in g7+ countries and other fragile and conflict-affected states to implement the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This has included both direct country support as well as policy support and partnership engagement with the three constituencies of the International Dialogue for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding, comprised of the 20 self-declared fragile countries (g7+), the donor group of OECD International Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF) and the Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS). The International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS) began in 2009. The key achievement of the IDPS was to launch the New Deal at the Busan High Level forum in November 2011 after an intensive process of negotiation between the g7+ and INCAF. It represented a new and improved approach to development cooperation, planning and assessment in fragile states.

In September 2015, Member States of the United Nations adopted a new global development framework entitled “Transforming Our World: 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, commonly referred to as the 2030 Agenda. This framework came into effect upon expiry of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on 1 January 2016 and runs through 2030. The ambition and scope of the 2030 Agenda is reflected in its 17 goals and their 169 targets that will be the road map for the efforts of Members States and the United Nations (UN) system until 2030. The Agenda seeks ‘to realize human rights of all and to achieve gender quality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.

With the first term of the IDPS coming to an end, and taking into account the 2030 Agenda along with a number of other new frameworks, the Stockholm Declaration of 2016 brought forward new development paradigms for the IDPS including the 2030 Agenda, and the Secretary General’s Agenda for Humanity, which seeks to transcend humanitarian-development-peace divides, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, and UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security. The Stockholm Declaration committed the International Dialogue to make concerted efforts to implement the SDGs in line with the New Deal principles, taking into consideration the specific context of countries in fragile situations.

Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, in addition to the promotion and strengthening of New Deal’s aid effectiveness approaches in g7+ states, the Facility has supported the implementation of the SDGs in these contexts. To do this, the Facility supports action that can catalyze SDG implementation in fragile states, resolve particular blockages to 2030 Agenda achievement in fragile settings and stimulate complementary action by other development actions.

To accomplish this, the project adopted a three-pronged approach: 1) direct support to country implementation of g7+ and other countries in fragile situations to put in place more effective and fragility-sensitive systems and support SDG implementation in national processes; 2) build capacities of g7+ members to engage in the IDPS partnership and policy dialogue and to address fragility, including through fragile-to-fragile cooperation; and 3) generating new 

evidence-based knowledge products and conducting advocacy to inform policies and programmes on fragility and the New Deal.

To streamline efforts within UNDP, in April 2018, the Facility for the Implementation of the SDGs in FCAS became part of UNDP’s Global Flagship ‘Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS)’ programme which is an integrated UN approach to supporting SDG implementation. The Facility sought to revise the Project Document to become fragility-sensitive, building from UNDP’s expertise in fragility and conflict-sensitive programming, and previous engagement with g7+ member countries on New Deal implementation. The Facility aims to drive action on the 2030 Agenda and New Deal principles of reinforcing national ownership; strengthening institutions and capacities, supporting inclusive partnerships and processes and prioritizing peacebuilding and statebuilding. 

The objective of the review is twofold:

1. to provide a set of forward-looking recommendations and institutional options that can inform UNDP’s future engagement and support to a) UNDP’s overall future strategy and/or offer to address the issue of fragility vis-à-vis other related themes such as prevention, peacebuilding, resilience, governance, SDG integration in UNDP’s new Global Policy Network and b)  the IDPS partnership, including its constituents g7+, CSPPS as well as OECD INCAF but foremost inform UNDP’s support and engagement with g7+ countries.
2. 2.to review the overall work, results and contributions of the Facility “SDG Implementation in Fragile and Conflict-affected States” (formerly known as New Deal Engagement in Fragile States Facility) not only on the country level but also in its policy support to the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding, as a multi-stakeholder partnership to promote the New Deal and the 2030 Agenda.

This review, which will be taking place during the fifth year of the project’s implementation (2014-2019), will be used not only to assess this project but also to inform UNDP’s ongoing strategy for SDGs implementation in fragile situations, be it at the country or the regional level. The consultancy will analyze the progress towards the achievement of the project goals and outcomes as specified in the project documents since inception, demand and needs from UNDP programme countries, UNDP country offices in g7+ states as well as partners, namely the International Dialogue for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding and its constituent parties and donors OECD INCAF, g7+ and CSPPS, and suggest forward-looking recommendations, especially in the context of UNDP’s institutional reform at HQ (i.e. formation of the Global Policy Network including its co-anchors: the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support and Crisis Bureau and respective SDG Integration Team and the Crisis, Fragility Policy & Engagement Teams, and relevant global projects under development. It will also examine factors that facilitated or constrained the achievement of intended project objectives.

The findings and recommendations will be critical to guide UNDP in further refining appropriate strategies, policies and programme approaches to strengthen UNDP's support to SDG implementation in fragile and conflict-affected settings. The review will strengthen UNDP’s accountability to national programme partners and donors of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK

Scope

The review will cover the period from inception of the project in 2014 to present.

Methodology

• The consultant will interview a wide group of partners and stakeholders: IDPS donors and partners, UNDP HQ and Regional Hubs, UNDP Country Offices in g7+ countries, g7+ focal points in country of the Facility. The consultant will also review underlying relevant policies of the IDPS, g7+, CSPPS and OECD INCAF as well as consider them in the framework of wider relevant policies (e.g. 2030 Agenda, SDG 16+ debates, UN Secretary General’s Prevention Agenda, Twin Resolutions, UN-WB Pathways for Peace Report. After the production of the draft report, the consultant will present his/her findings on the Facility as well as recommendations on its future course. Sources of data and methods of collection will include in-person/virtual interviews with key UNDP stakeholders from Country Offices, Regional Bureaus, HQ
• Interviews with external stakeholders.
• Project documents (Project documents 2014 and 2018, donor agreements, Annual Progress Reports, Facility Annual Newsletter, Project Board Minutes etc.) 
• New Deal and IDPS policy documents, workplans, meeting reports

Timeframe for the lessons learnt process

The consultancy will be undertaken as soon as possible during the period February through March 2020 based on the following schedule.

To complete the deliverables, the consultant will be expected to present a daily rate for up to a maximum of 25 days total, this includes roughly:

• 3 Days: Review literature, prepare outline, and produce inception report
• 7 Days: Interviews
• 2 Days: Preparation of preliminary findings
• 5 Days: Analyze and Produce Draft Report 
• 5 Days: Revision and finalization based on comments 
• 3 Days: Presentation, discussions and revision of final draft in New York

Expected outputs and deliverables:

The Consultant, in close consultation with the Technical Project Team, will develop the  approach, formulate a data collection and analysis strategy, and conduct an in-depth review of the activities carried out as part of the Facility for the Implementation of the SDGs in Fragile and Conflict-affected Settings (formerly known as the New Deal Implementation Facility) over the past  five years. The review is expected to arrive at evidence-based findings that will help identify whether the Facility achieved what it set out to do, considering the different phases of the IDPS and the New Deal and how contributions could be improved or reshaped. Accordingly, this evaluation should contribute to the UN’s understanding of effective practices and areas for further improvement.

Required tasks include:

 a) Develop an inception paper that outlines the review’s approach/methodology and a data collection plan (e.g. scope, data      collection, timelines) covering the following aspects:

• ?Strategic: Did the project pro-actively take advantage of new opportunities and adapt its approaches to respond to changes in the development context? Was the project aligned with the thematic focus of the Strategic Plan?
• Relevant: Were the project’s targeted groups systematically identified and engaged? Did the project generate knowledge, particularly lessons learned (i.e., what has worked and what has not) – and has this knowledge informed management decisions and changes/course corrections to ensure the continued relevance of the project towards its stated objectives, the quality of its outputs and the management of risk?
• Management & Monitoring: Did the project’s governance mechanism (i.e., the project board or equivalent) function as intended? Were risks to the project adequately monitored and managed?
• Efficient: Were adequate resources mobilized to achieve intended results? Were project inputs procured and delivered on time to efficiently contribute to results? Was there regular monitoring and recording of cost efficiencies, considering the expected quality of results?
• Effective: Did the project deliver its expected outputs? Were there regular reviews of the work plan to ensure that the project was on track to achieve the desired results, and to inform course corrections if needed.

b) Conduct key informant interviews with relevant staff (including senior managers and staff at UN Headquarters, Country Offices and Regional Hubs as well as other key stakeholders of the IDPS (g7+ counterparts, INCAF donors, civil society, IDPS secretariat constituents) as well as other data collection methods and capture findings in writing;

c) Identify key issues, trends, and recurrent problems related to project implementation

d) Present options for future shape and institutional home of the facility

e) Present preliminary findings to project leadership and key stakeholders

f) Draft, revise and finalize the report.

Outputs

Competencies

Applications are solicited from highly-experienced individual consultants that have substantive knowledge of the 2030 Agenda implementation in fragile and conflict-affected settings, development and aid effectiveness.

The specific experience, skills, and competencies needed include:

• Extensive experience and demonstrable experience in reviewing projects that focus on sustainable development, aid effectiveness, crisis response and recovery, fragility and the 2030 Agenda.
• Qualitative data collection and analysis skills;
• Process management skills such as facilitation skills and ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders;
• Prior experience in working with multilateral agencies;
• Additional qualifications can be considered an asset: Knowledge of UNDP’s role, and UN programming at the country level and regional levels; these include demonstrable language fluency (in English required, French desirable); experience in working across UN HQ and regional offices; understanding of the UN ongoing reform processes, and experience in working with other relevant regional and/or continental entities and international donors.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

Advanced University degree at Master’s level in relevant fields.

Experience:

• Extensive experience and demonstrable experience in reviewing projects that focus on sustainable development, aid effectiveness, crisis response and recovery, fragility, and the 2030 Agenda;

• Qualitative data collection and analysis skills;

• Process management skills such as facilitation skills and ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders;

• Prior experience in working with multilateral agencies;

• Additional qualifications can be considered an asset: Knowledge of UNDP’s role, and UN programming at the country level and regional levels; these include demonstrable language fluency (in English required, French desirable); experience in working across UN HQ and regional offices; understanding of the UN ongoing reform processes, and experience in working with other relevant regional and/or continental entities and international donors.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• French desirable.

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offerer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment;

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references; and
• Example of a previous project review focusing on sustainable development, aid effectiveness, crisis response and recovery, fragility, and the 2030 Agenda.

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• Daily fee: The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7 hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).
• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; (excluding mission travel); living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.

• Home-based: This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel.  There is one trip to New York envisaged to finalise and present the report (3 days).
• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.
• If the 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 a 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 to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being 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 where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (70 points):

• Criteria 1. Demonstrated examples in reviewing projects that focus on sustainable development, aid effectiveness, crisis response and recovery, fragility, and the 2030 Agenda. [5+/5 points; 10+/15 points; 15+/20 points] Weight = 20%; Maximum Points: 20;

• Criteria 2. Prior experience in working with multilateral agencies and fragile settings [5-10 years/5 points; 10-15 years/15 points; 15+ years/20 points] (Weight = 20 %; Maximum Points: 20;
• Criteria 3. Quality of written example of a previous project review focusing on sustainable development, aid effectiveness, crisis response and recovery, fragility, and the 2030 Agenda [1-20 points] Weight = 20 %; Maximum Points: 20;
• Criteria 4. Provided examples of applying qualitative data collection and analysis skills and process management skills such as facilitation skills and ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders.  [1-5/5 points; 5+/ 10 points] Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 10;

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (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

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of UNDP CB/BPPS and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

For BPPS ICs: The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Payment modality

• If daily fee: Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.

The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template

Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4 – RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.