Background

Background to the Assignment

 

The UNDP Philippines Country Programme Document (CPD) is structured around three outcomes that are aligned with and contribute to the achievement of the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, the UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021, and the draft Philippine Framework for Sustainable Development 2019-2023.

 

The three integrated programme work areas are the following:

  1. Strengthening capacity to plan, manage and deliver quality social and economic services for the most marginalized and at-risk people.
  2. Supporting the effective transition towards low carbon and climate resilient development; and
  3. Support towards addressing the key drivers of conflict and risks to stability.

 

While building on the gaps from the Country Office’s wealth of experience in the above-mentioned programme areas, it would need to revolutionize the way it works and break from the past. It has become clear that transformational changes are necessary for the Philippines to tackle critical challenges and ultimately realize its national development goals and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to support the Philippines in this transformation, the Country Office has identified five inter-related, cross-cutting approaches to underpin its work. These are: focusing on financing and not funding to deliver results, applying innovations to provide new solutions to old development problems, deepening partnerships to ensure no one is left behind, re-conceptualizing the human rights-based approach and providing platforms for SDGs integration and acceleration.?

 

Concurrently, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the Philippines economy. The outbreak of the virus is fast changing from being a health crisis, economic and social crisis, bringing “huge challenges, raising many unknowns and wrenching trade-offs”[1]. ?The Philippines signed the “Bayanihan to Heal as One” Act (Republic Act No. 11469) as the government’s response to the pandemic. The Act empowers the President to carry out policies and plans that aim to curb the rising number of COVID-19 cases and its economic impact in the country. Despite efforts, NEDA reported that the Philippines has plunged into recession as the country’s GDP shrank to 16.5% from a year ago[2]. As of 17 August, the country has also reported more than 160,000[3] cases as of writing.

 

To enhance UNDP’s upstream engagement and increase the implementation of UNDP 2.0 offer, UNDP Philippines requires the establishment of a roster of individual consultants, available on demand.? The consultants will provide his/her service as an Economist to the Country Office (CO) to augment CO’s capacities as and when required, assisting in UNDP’s strategic positioning in the policy space.

 

[1] UNDP (April 2020). UNDP Position Note: The Social and Economic Impact of COVID-19 in the Asia-Pacific Region.

[2] Lopez (August 2020). “Lockdowns push PH economy into recession, dives 16.5% in Q2” as posted in NEDA Governance site.

[3] Based on DOH COVID-19 Case Bulletin #156, dated 17 August 2020

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific Objectives

 

Under the overall supervision of the Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Senior Policy Advisor, the consultants will support the CO in strengthening the effectiveness and impact of UNDP’s support to the 2030 Agenda in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region overall through the provision of high-quality economic analysis, as well as the implementation of the UNDP 2.0 offer.

 

Specifically, he/she will be required to:

 

  1. Identify, formulate and manage policy research projects on key socioeconomic and environmental issues, in particular, socio-economic impact assessment, poverty reduction and inclusive growth, inequality, development finance with focus on innovative and inclusive finance, next generation economic governance, among others.
  2. Design, produce and publish independent and policy-relevant research (e.g., policy briefs, discussion papers) on key development issues.
  3. Plans strategic knowledge generation and management as well as build, maintain relationships and work directly with key and influential economic and development policymakers and thinkers in Philippines and abroad.
  4. Assists the UNDP in the development of the new generation programmes with a strong investment orientation and focus on acceleration towards achieving the 2030 Agenda, UNDP 2.0 and facilitating rapid and sustainable recovery in Philippines.

 

As deemed necessary, the consultants selected from the roster will be required to conduct a mix of informal and structured discussions with relevant government counterparts, civil society organizations, the private sector and development partners, including at the sub-national level, in order to deliver the said outputs.?

 

Institutional Arrangements

 

The consultant will work under the primary supervision of the Resident Representative or, depending on the initiative, appropriate project manager. S/he will work in close collaboration with the Impact and Advisory Team of the Country Office.

 

The consultant’s deliverables will be reviewed and approved by Senior Policy Advisor as per the specific terms and conditions that will be agreed during the selection of the candidate from the Roster.

 

Facilities to be provided by UNDP

 

UNDP Philippines may assign a work area for the Consultant and provide administrative and logistics service, when needed.

 

Duration of the Work

 

Successful candidates will be placed under the roster for minimum of one (1) year. The roster duration can be extended for up to maximum of three (3) years if their performance evaluation is deemed satisfactory and if there is an ongoing requirement.

 

Depending on specific requirements, the actual duration will be specified in the ICs Terms of Reference for each individual assignment.

 

Duty Station

 

The Consultant’s duty station can be arranged with a mix of remote and in country visits to UNDP Philippines Country Office, Rockwell Business Center Sheridan, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. The Consultant may be not required to report daily at the Country Office. On the other hand, s/he is expected to report on a mutually agreed schedule, organize regular updates meetings with the Deputy Resident Representative and Senior Policy Advisor and participate in Management Team meetings and other relevant meetings.

 

Performance Indicators

 

Aside from the delivery of the outputs, the roster is to be evaluated based on the following key performance indicators (KPIs):

 

KPI 1.Responsiveness: Accept or decline the assignment within 5 calendar days after being contacted and should be available to start no later than 10 calendar days upon receipt of confirmation of acceptance by UNDP.

KPI 2.Timeliness of submission of report

KPI 3.Quality of reports submitted, based on the specific TOR

KPI 4.Communication and reporting: Consultant shall communicate and provide reports in a timely and professional manner

KPI 5.Analytical depth: Consultant shall have analytical skills to be able to produce high quality strategic notes relevant to high level policy dialogue.

 

If the consultant fails to meet UNDP’s performance requirement, the consultant will receive in the first instance a warning to improve their performance. Continued failure to meet performance requirements may result in the exclusion from the roster.

Competencies

Competencies

 

To be eligible part of the roster, the applicant must possess any of the following competencies:

 

Innovation - Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them.

 

Leadership - Ability to persuade others to follow.

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers.

 

 

Delivery - Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy/practice and contributes to the enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

 

Technical Competency – Level 5, Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

 

Advocacy - Level 5, Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

 

Programme and Project Management - Level 5, Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications of the Successful Individual Expert

The expert roster for Economists will be a repository of qualified national and international experts who should meet the minimum qualifications. Only those who obtain a minimum of 49 out of 70 points (70% passing) will be considered technically qualified.

Education

  • Master’s degree in economics, finance, development studies, or related areas. A doctorate degree in any of the aforementioned is an advantage.

 

Experience

  • At least seven (7) years of experience working on economic and social development issues.
  • At least seven (7) years of proven track record in providing high-quality, development-relevant analysis and policy advice in areas such as development planning, public financial management, macroeconomics, microeconomics or poverty reduction.
  • Familiarity with 2030 Agenda/SDGs and integrated approaches to planning, programming and monitoring and evaluation.

 

Review of technical criteria as evident in the submitted application:

  • Criterion 1:? Education: 30 points
  • Criterion 2: Suitability of Experience: 40 points

 

 

Evaluation Method, criteria for selection and establishment of roster

 

The application for the roster has two steps, as follows.

 

STEP 1 – Technical offer

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain the following two documents, ALL IN ONE FILE:

  • DOCUMENT 1: Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experiences, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of at least three (3) professional references.
  • DOCUMENT 2: Brief description of why the individual considers her/himself suitable for the assignment. Please submit this information in the same file as Document 1.
  • All the information requested above must be submitted in the same file. Candidates who fail to submit all the information requested above may be disqualified.
  • Please do not include your financial proposal at this stage. Only technically qualified candidates who will be included in the roster will be invited to submit a financial proposal as specific requirements arise.

 

STEP 2 - Financial Proposal

When Country Office requirements and specific Terms of Reference with defined deliverables and timelines are available, the experts in the roster will be contacted by UNDP and requested to submit a Financial Proposal using the UNDP template.

  • The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive “daily fee” In USD or PHP currency (all-inclusive of communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
  • Other expenses including cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station etc. will be reimbursed by UNDP on actuals and must not be included in the daily fee rates;
  • 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 responsive and qualified candidates.
  • Payments will be made upon submission of a certificate of payment request, at a schedule agreed based on deliverables, indicating outputs achieved and days worked to be verified and cleared for payment by UNDP supervisor.
  • Incomplete applications may not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.
  • Qualified women are encouraged to apply.

 

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

 

Please note that this call for applications is solely intended for inclusion in the roster and that there is no guarantee of a contract or immediate opportunity for an assignment.

 

 

Notes: