Background

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships: The interagency MAPS support consultant will be part of the Interagency MAPS team, and report to SDG Integration Team Lead, BPPS, UNDP.

MAPS, launched in 2016, was the first UN interagency initiative developed to support national Governments in their work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While initial engagements focused on mainstreaming and awareness raising of the SDGs, the initiative has evolved in tandem with the ongoing UN Development System reform, to provide longer term policy support to Governments. Today’s engagements consist of multi-agency interdisciplinary teams which provide sequenced, integrated and sustained SDG policy support to Governments over a 6 to 12-month time frame.

The MAPS approach is overseen by the UNSDG Joint Task Team on Integrated Policy support, co-chaired by UNICEF, UNDP and ILO. Day to day management and support is undertaken by the Interagency MAPS team, currently consisting of dedicated staff from UNICEF and UNDP.? The consultant will be an integral part of this Interagency MAPS team.

Background information/reason for request/extension

The COVID-19 pandemic, and its related shocks, have served as a stark reminder of the complexity and interconnectedness of the world we live in.? As Governments seek to respond and adapt their existing planning frameworks, MAPS is well placed to help identify longer term development pathways.? In the context of COVID-19, the interagency MAPS team is recalibrating the MAPS approach to deploy experts and integrated tools remotely through online collaboration platforms, as ‘digital engagement teams.’ The team is also exploring how best to ensure coherence between support for implementation of the 2030 agenda and addressing Covid19-related needs, in line with ongoing efforts by the government and in support of the implementation of the UN Socio-Economic Response Framework. A current pipeline of six countries need dedicated support and follow up to ensure smooth engagements through the next 6-12 months.

Duties and Responsibilities

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

Responsibilities: The interagency MAPS support consultant will support the preparation and delivery of MAPS missions and engagements to the countries in the pipeline. Under the guidance of the SDG Integration Team Lead, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

Country missions support

• Facilitate and support UNCTs in the technical preparation of country engagement missions, including MAPS pre-missions and missions

• Liaise, coordinate and report on country engagement and coordinate with relevant agencies and country offices with specific timeline and resourced action plans

Identify technical support and leverage intelligence for pre-missions and country engagement entry points, using UNDP and GPN resources

Policy and Programme Support Delivery

• Provide substantive support to UNDP’s contribution to the inter-agency processes on SDG implementation in the context of the reform of the UN Development System, such as Common Country Assessments, UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, Joint SDG Fund, and Voluntary National Reviews.

• Assist the SDG Integration Team Lead in delivering UNDP’s role and contribution to the programme of work of the UNSDG Task Team on Integrated Policy Support, including facilitating inter-agency policy support for SDG implementation through MAPS engagements, in close liaison with the UN Sustainable Development Group and the UN Development Coordination Office;

• Research and analysis

  • Support the development of relevant analysis, guidance and tools to strengthen UNDP’s service offer on SDG integration and support to MAPS Engagements;

  • Contribute to the development and delivery of training packages for SDG policy support, including through MAPS engagements and the UN Sustainable Development Group;

     

• Knowledge Management

• Support knowledge management activities to help advance policy dialogue on MAPS and SDG Integration in collaboration with the GPN Knowledge Management team and policy teams;

• Support knowledge capture on the practice of SDG integration and integrated policy support through MAPS Engagements by answering questions, providing guidance and sharing relevant documents and lessons learned through Communities of Practices and other corporate knowledge-sharing platforms;

• Support the development of knowledge products and advocacy (internal and external)

Expected outputs and deliverables:

Competencies

Professionalism: Deep knowledge of the SDGs and SDG integration and policy support. Knowledge of the substantive development and humanitarian role of the UN in general and of UN interventions on specific areas/themes. Shows ability to produce reports, analysis and papers on substantive issues and to coordinate, review and edit the work of others. Shows ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Communication: Excellent drafting skills; speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed as appropriate;

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for Unit’s shortcomings.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international development, public administration, international relations, law, social or political sciences or related areas is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in country level programming, policy analysis, sustainable development and the SDGs, development coordination, and implementation of development policies and strategies in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization context required
• Demonstrated in-depth experience in providing policy advice and developing programmatic solutions, tools and methodology to support countries in their implementation of the SDGs required
• Experience in coordinating large and complicated processes with multiple different actors; government, civil society, academia and private sector, is desirable.
• Knowledge of the MAPS approach and SDC acceleration tools an advantage.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset

Application Procedure

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

• A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer 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.

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.

• 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.
• This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel.?
• 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% (700 points):

• Criteria 1. Demonstrable in-depth experience in providing policy advice and developing programmatic solutions, tools and methodology to support countries in their implementation of the SDGs desirable Weight = 40%; Maximum Points: 280;

• Criteria 2. Experience in coordinating large and complicated processes with multiple different actors; government, civil society, academia and private sector, is desirable; Weight = 35 %; Maximum Points: 245 points

• Criteria 3. Demonstrable Knowledge of the MAPS approach and SDG acceleration tools an advantage; and Weight = 12.5 %; Maximum Points: 87.50 point
• Criteria 4 Interview scores =12.5%; Maximum points: 87.50 points

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will shortlist the top three candidates obtaining 70%( i.e. 428.75 points ) of desk Review scores for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (490 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (700 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (300 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 SDG Integration Team Lead, BPPS, UNDPand will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Payment modality

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.