Background

Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 breaks new ground in development thinking as it is the first time that Peace, Justice and Inclusion are being addressed in an explicit global development goal with detailed targets. It is widely acknowledged that SDG 16 is both an end in itself and a crucial part of delivering sustainable development in all countries.[1] Five years into the implementation of 2030, the 2019 Sustainable Development Goals Report and the SDG Summit Political Declaration highlight that despite increased advocacy and implementation on SDG 16, indicators are largely trending in the wrong direction.

Following the July 2019 High-level Political Forum at which SDG 16 was under thematic review and the first quadrennial review of the 2030 Agenda at the SDG Summit in September 2019, it is now imperative for SDG 16+ action and implementation to be accelerated in demonstrable terms as part of the Decade of Action. The first thematic review of SDG 16 highlighted the urgent need for increased political and financial investment in SDG 16+ and to draw on the potential of SDG 16 as an enabler of the whole of Agenda 2030. This consultancy will support UNDP’s effort to continue to support countries to deliver on SDG 16+ by collecting and monitoring SDG 16 data to inform policies and implementation, and by facilitating partnerships and peer-learning to identify and document what works to advance SDG 16 targets. The consultant will be part of UNDP’s Governance Team.

The consultant will additionally support UNDP’s role as host of the Secretariat for the Global Alliance for reporting progress on Just, Peaceful and Inclusive Societies. The Global Alliance is a coordinating platform for UN Member States, private sector, civil society, and international entities to work together to promote peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. The Global Alliance leverages reporting processes to enable diverse actors to define shared goals, and innovative, evidence-based action to achieve them. It is led by a Steering Committee including Member States; civil society organisations; and private sector companies. Co-facilitators include UNDP, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNODC, UN Women, OHCHR and the United Nations Global Compact

 

[1] https://www.sdg16hub.org/content/global-alliance-enabling-implementation-2030-agenda-through-sdg-16-anchoring-peace-justice

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will work under the supervision of the UNDP Advisor on SDG 16 and closely with the Global Alliance Coordinator. A key task will be to support UNDP’s work on SDG 16 to advance programming and knowledge management, including as host of the Global Alliance on SDG 16. This involves supporting facilitation of peer-exchange and consultations; develop design and delivery of innovative, well-organised online and offline events and consultations on SDG 16+, assisting with coordination meetings with other SDG 16+ initiatives; quarterly Global Alliance Steering Committee meetings; bi-weekly Global Alliance Secretariat meetings and periodic meetings with key partners. The Consultant will also take part in UNDPs policy and programmatic work on SDG16.

 

Tasks will include, but not be limited to:

  • Provide programmatic, coordination and research input to UNDP’s work streams on SDG16, including by contributing to the development of UNDP’s SDG 16 Tool Kit and development of best practices resource and exchanges on post VNR efforts on SDG 16.
  • Contribute to briefing notes and background material for senior UNDP staff on SDG 16+.
  • Follow and report on key happenings on SDG16 in intergovernmental fora and liaise with key partners and Global Alliance Member States on SDG16.
  • Lead on components of an SDG 16 good practice repository on the SDG 16 Hub. 
  • Support coordination of Global Alliance members and activities, including development of knowledge products, organisation of events, and support the secretariat function.
  • Support communication and coordination of SDG 16+ outreach and advocacy, in close partnership with key SDG 16+ partners.

 

 

Expected outputs and deliverables: (total

  • Contribute to the harnessing of SDG 16 good practices, including development of repository and key resources on SDG 16 responses to COVID19 (20)
  • Support the development of UNDP’s SDG 16 Tool Kit (24 days)
  • Support the finalisation and roll out of UNDP/TAP Network’s post VNR/SDG 16 best practices resource (20)
  • Provide input to coordination and implementation of SDG 16 initiatives (20 days)
  • Contribute to background material and briefing notes for UNDP on SDG 16 (20 days)
  • Support the organisation of events on SDG 16 (HLPF, UNGA) (20 days)
  • Develop and design communication material and lead on outreach, including social media (20 days)
  • Coordinate with partners and participation in relevant meetings (15 days)
  • Support design and implementation of Global Alliance global high-level events and regional workshops/side events and country engagements on SDG 16 (20 days)
  • Support Global Alliance Secretariat (40 days)

Support organisation of Global Alliance coordination, meetings, and workshops (30 days)

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

  • Ability to coordinate complex multi-stakeholder processes.
  • Demonstrated competency and experience in carrying out advocacy and interfacing with multiple constituencies, including UN organizations (at country and global level); UN Member State delegations, governments; private sector, and civil society.
  • Experience in liaising with UN Member States and delegations, as well as solid knowledge of UN intergovernmental processes and the Sustainable Development Goals
  • Excellent organizational and management skills with experience in organizing high-level international events.
  • Demonstrated ability to organize and structure information with superior analytical and research skills.   
  • Ability to write and communicate in a clear and concise manner, with experience in writing briefing notes, talking points and concept notes for senior staff. 
  • Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure in a fast-paced international environment, preferably in a UN organization.
  • Experience in communications and social media management.    

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP, and partner organizations:
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Excellent understanding of international development issues and knowledge of UNDP and the UN system.
  • Expresses detailed knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Familiarity with key concepts of, and approaches to, monitoring and evaluation

Required Skills and Experience

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

At least Master’s or higher Degree in Social Sciences, Human Rights, Development Studies, Political Science, International Relations or related field

Experience:

  • Minimum of 2 years of external relations management experience, including experience managing multi-stakeholder partnerships and experience engaging with government in the context of policy dialogue and policy advocacy efforts required.
  • Minimum of 2 years of experience dealing with communications with experience in writing briefing notes, talking points and concept notes for senior professionals, required.
  • Experience working with UNDP or within the UN system, particularly on governance, partnerships and intergovernmental relations, will be an asset
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the work of the Global Alliance, SDG16 and the 2030 Agenda would be a strong asset
  • Previous experience organizing and managing international high-level meetings, will be an asset.

Language:

•           Fluency in English, both written and oral, required.

EVALUATION METHOD

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria: weight 70% (desk review and interview)

* Financial Criteria weight 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 490 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Technical Evaluation (700 points, Weight 70%)

All applicants will be initially screened against the minimum qualification requirements as specified above.

Responsive candidates will then be further evaluated against the following criteria:

DESK REVIEW OF TECHNICAL CRITERIA AS EVIDENT IN THE SUBMITTED APPLICATION:

  • Criterion 1. Experience working with UNDP or within the UN system, particularly on governance, partnerships and intergovernmental relations (Maximum of 100 points)  (from 1 to 3 years, maximum of 70 points, more than 3 years: up to 100 points)
  • Criterion 2. Relevance of the expertise with external relations management experience, including experience managing multi-stakeholder partnerships and experience engaging with government in the context of policy dialogue and policy advocacy efforts (Only candidates with more than 2 years of experience will be considered). (Maximum of 200 points)
  • Criterion 3. Professional experience organizing and managing high-level international events. (Maximum of 150 points, Note: candidates with national relevant expertise only will obtain a maximum of 70 points)
  • Criterion 4. Interview (250 points).

The maximum points that can be achieved in the desk review is 450 points.

Only top 4 applicants obtaining a minimum of 315 points (70% of points obtainable in the desk review: Criterion 1-3) will be considered for an interview (Criterion 4).

The total obtainable score on the interview is 250 points bringing the total points for the technical evaluation to a maximum of 700 points.

Candidates obtaining less than 175 points during the interview (70 % of points obtainable during the interview) will be directly disqualified.

Only those candidates who obtain a total technical score of 490 points and above on the technical evaluation will be considered for financial evaluation and will be asked to submit a financial proposal.

Financial evaluation (300 points, Weight 30%)

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

For the General Conditions of contracts for the Services of Individual Contractors, see http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.

Note: only shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a financial proposal. Please do not include your financial proposal in your technical application package.

  • The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee, take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; 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.  The financial proposal will be requested through the e-tendering portal and shortlisted candidates will be notified accordingly
  • In response to the announcement by New York local authorities that all United Nations non-essential workforce must stay home in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, the consultant is expected to telecommute (from the country of residence at the moment of application) until the situation allows for the deployment in New York HQ Offices. As such, shortlisted candidates may be asked to submit two different all-inclusive professional daily fees: home-based and office-based (based on a 7 hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).
  • Only for daily fee-based assignments: Both home-based and office-based all-inclusive professional daily fees will be considered during the financial assessment and will have an equal impact on the evaluation’s result. The most competitive financial proposal for each of the categories (home-based and office-based) will be awarded a total of 15 points.
  •  
  • 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.

 

Application Procedure

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

  • Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

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 Advisor on SDG 16 and closely with the Global Alliance Coordinator and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

Work arrangement

The /UNDP/ BPPS/ G&PB will provide office space and internet facility, the contractor is expected to bring his/her own laptop and mobile phone and meet local communications costs

While telecommuting from country of application, the consultant is expected to be available during New York business hours.

Payment modality

  • 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.
  • Payments to the consultant will be based on the all-inclusive home-based professional daily fee while telecommuting. Effective from the first day of deployment in New York City offices, payments to the consultant will be based on the all-inclusive office-based professional daily fee. Should the deployment not be carried out to adjust to potential recommendations made by New York authorities regarding COVID-19, the all-inclusive home-based professional daily fee will be considered during the entire assignment.
  • The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 17h00 daily.

  • 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 Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants

  • http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc