A.           Project Title: Consultancy to take forward mobilization of economic and development assistance in support of UNITAMS mandate

B.     Project Description. On 3 June, the Security Council, through resolution 2524 (2020), established the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). The resolution mandates that UNITAMS will have the following strategic objectives, working in close collaboration with the Transitional Government of Sudan and under Sudanese sovereignty:

1. Assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, in the protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace;
2. Support peace processes and implementation of future peace agreements;
3. Assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Darfur and the Two Areas.
4. Support the mobilization of economic and development assistance and coordination of humanitarian assistance.

The «Sudan Peacebuilding and Stabilization Programme (SPSP)», presently under development, will be funded by the Peacebuilding and Stabilization Window of the Sudan Financing Platform. This will enable the UNITAMS to take forward the implementation of Security Council resolution 2524 (2020). Each strategic objective/Pillar will be articulated around a programmatic framework that will regroup the major interventions undertaken by the UNCT in that area. The development of the SPSP comes at a time when the closure of UNAMID has heightened the imperative of ascertaining which priority peacebuilding, stabilization and protection of civilian activities should most usefully support the mandate, while preventing critical protection gaps associated with UNAMID’s mandate cessation. It will have to simultaneously address support to the political transition in Sudan and the reconfiguration of the UN presence. Finally, it will have to integrate a strong community stabilization dimension, while at the same time focusing on support to institutional reforms at the national and sub-national levels.

One of the pre-eminent existential challenges facing the Government of the Sudan and its transitional programme is the continued economic crisis, including the impact of sanctions. Addressing the economy is an imperative, since the failure to stabilize it and improve living conditions will expose the transitional Government’s socio-economic and reform plans to internal and external shocks and impose significant hardships on the population. The transitional government would be strengthened by delivering immediate and tangible socioeconomic dividends to the Sudanese people, on social protection, on the way to economic recovery and sustainable development. This will require significant resources from the international community and ownership by the Sudanese stakeholders to continue to implement critical economic reforms. It will also require specific programmes to invest in development in key sectors and improve service delivery. The meaningful economic participation of women requires specific attention, as does the economic empowerment of young people, who would benefit from access to information, quality education and employment opportunities.

International financial support and socio-economic reforms go hand-in-hand. A coordinated programme of priority UN transitional support actions shall be implemented, in line with the SDGs, in key sectors and locations across Sudan. While humanitarian assistance will continue to be necessary in some areas, the balance of assistance programmes shall begin to discernibly shift towards longer-term development work.

UNITAMS will coordinate international efforts to assist the Sudanese stakeholders in identifying and articulating their priorities and will advocate for increased international financial support for Sudan’s transition, mobilize donor support on an ongoing basis , including through the Friends of Sudan group and the Khartoum-based aid coordination mechanisms. The ongoing reflection on the revamping of the aid coordination architecture under the leadership of the Government of Sudan will be reflected once in place.

A.           Project Title: Consultancy to take forward mobilization of economic and development assistance in support of UNITAMS mandate

B.     Project Description. On 3 June, the Security Council, through resolution 2524 (2020), established the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). The resolution mandates that UNITAMS will have the following strategic objectives, working in close collaboration with the Transitional Government of Sudan and under Sudanese sovereignty:

1. Assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, in the protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace;
2. Support peace processes and implementation of future peace agreements;
3. Assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Darfur and the Two Areas.
4. Support the mobilization of economic and development assistance and coordination of humanitarian assistance.

The «Sudan Peacebuilding and Stabilization Programme (SPSP)», presently under development, will be funded by the Peacebuilding and Stabilization Window of the Sudan Financing Platform. This will enable the UNITAMS to take forward the implementation of Security Council resolution 2524 (2020). Each strategic objective/Pillar will be articulated around a programmatic framework that will regroup the major interventions undertaken by the UNCT in that area. The development of the SPSP comes at a time when the closure of UNAMID has heightened the imperative of ascertaining which priority peacebuilding, stabilization and protection of civilian activities should most usefully support the mandate, while preventing critical protection gaps associated with UNAMID’s mandate cessation. It will have to simultaneously address support to the political transition in Sudan and the reconfiguration of the UN presence. Finally, it will have to integrate a strong community stabilization dimension, while at the same time focusing on support to institutional reforms at the national and sub-national levels.

One of the pre-eminent existential challenges facing the Government of the Sudan and its transitional programme is the continued economic crisis, including the impact of sanctions. Addressing the economy is an imperative, since the failure to stabilize it and improve living conditions will expose the transitional Government’s socio-economic and reform plans to internal and external shocks and impose significant hardships on the population. The transitional government would be strengthened by delivering immediate and tangible socioeconomic dividends to the Sudanese people, on social protection, on the way to economic recovery and sustainable development. This will require significant resources from the international community and ownership by the Sudanese stakeholders to continue to implement critical economic reforms. It will also require specific programmes to invest in development in key sectors and improve service delivery. The meaningful economic participation of women requires specific attention, as does the economic empowerment of young people, who would benefit from access to information, quality education and employment opportunities.

International financial support and socio-economic reforms go hand-in-hand. A coordinated programme of priority UN transitional support actions shall be implemented, in line with the SDGs, in key sectors and locations across Sudan. While humanitarian assistance will continue to be necessary in some areas, the balance of assistance programmes shall begin to discernibly shift towards longer-term development work.

UNITAMS will coordinate international efforts to assist the Sudanese stakeholders in identifying and articulating their priorities and will advocate for increased international financial support for Sudan’s transition, mobilize donor support on an ongoing basis , including through the Friends of Sudan group and the Khartoum-based aid coordination mechanisms. The ongoing reflection on the revamping of the aid coordination architecture under the leadership of the Government of Sudan will be reflected once in place.

C.     Scope of Work

Building on work already done within UNITAMS,  the Office of the Resident Coordinator and the UNCT, as well as on aid effectiveness and evolving thinking on aid coordination, the consultant will develop an approach and activities to be carried out by UNITAMS to operationalize the strategic objective of pillar IV of its mandate to “Support the mobilization of economic and development assistance”, i.e. how to revamp the aid coordination architecture under the leadership of the Government of Sudan with support from  the UN and international partners with a view of making maximum use of existing and forthcoming bilateral and multilateral assistance in Sudan, including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In performing this function, to support the implementation of the mandate, the consultant will:

• Review in-depth the literative on relevant area(s) and background documents, available within UNITAMS, the UNCT, including that of the World Bank and the IMF, and development partners to determine of the principle/key elements of focus, and capacities required, going forward;
  • Identify and consult national and international partners working in the field and engage with them to solicit thinking and ideas and develop a shared vision on the way forward including roadmap and key milestones for UNITAMS engagement;
  • Building on work done toward the Sudan Development Forum and the Development Partners Group, conduct a series of consultations with stakeholders, develop concrete proposals as to how UNITAMS could support the coordination of international efforts to assist Sudanese stakeholders in identifying and articulating their priorities and to mobilize donor support on an ongoing basis through the transitional period, including through the Friends of Sudan group and the Khartoum-based aid coordination mechanisms to ensure that international financial support and socio-economic reforms go hand-in-hand.
  • In consultation with national and international partners, provide options as to how UNITAMS should advocate for increased international financial support for Sudan’s transition, in coordination with the evolving aid architecture in Khartoum;
  • Develop a strategy and roadmap on how UNITAMS could encourage Sudanese stakeholders to reach consensus on a set of reforms that will pave the way fully reintegrating Sudan into the global economy;
• Identify institutional capacity challenges for implementation of the Pillar components and the achievement of results;
• Explore linkages and complementarity with the other Pillars of the SPSP to identify areas requiring financial injections and make recommendations on how to solicit these;
• Ensure that the proposed activities  are grounded within the realities of Sudanese society and based on a “conflict sensitivity and do no harm approach” to minimize harm and maximize positive impacts;
• Ensure gender and youth dimensions and priorities are mainstreamed into the framework document;
• Develop a comprehensive framework for economic and development aid mobilisation and coordination of humanitariat assistance, which will be coherent with the other Pillars of the SPSP;
• Ensure that the draft framework document is circulated among stakeholders and their feedback is incorporated before finalizing the documents;
• Work closely with UNITAMS and the UNCT, to ensure that all product and process deliverables are aligned with the relevant internal UN planning processes driven by the Office of the Resident Coordinator, UNITAMS and OCHA. The consultant should provide regular progress reports to RCO and UNITAMS to ensure the same understanding and agreement on the steps taken within this consultancy.

The output document should be a product of an inclusive consultative process amongst the UNITAMS and UNCT integrated mission, as well as with the IFIs, the Government of Sudan and other relevant partners and informed by the evidence.

D.     Expected Outputs and Deliverables

E.      Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will report to the RC/HC a.i. but will work closely with UNITAMS and its integrated  UNCT partners, as well as the entire SPSP team, by developing the framework for the fourth pillar of the mandate, supported by evidence and programme priorities of agencies. There will be extensive collaboration with UNCT including all agencies, funds and programmes, IFI and the Government of Sudan as required.

F.      Duration of the Work[1]

The duration of work is a maximum of 30 working days as of 31st January 2021 working for a maximum total of five days a week but completed before 31st March.

G.     Duty Station

The expected start of the assignment is at the beginning of February 2021. Khartoum-based although the consultant may begin work remotely while waiting for the Sudanese visa. Once the visa is issued the consultant will be expected to be in country within a week. During his/her assignment, there may potentially be travel within Sudan - if COVID-19 pandemic travel arrangements and quarantine (personal isolation) standard operating procedures (SOPs) – allow and if warranted. 

[1] The IC modality is expected to be used only for short-term consultancy engagements.  If the duration of the IC for the same TOR exceeds twelve (12) months, the duration must be justified and be subjected to the approval of the Director of the Regional Bureau, or a different contract modality must be considered.  This policy applies regardless of the delegated procurement authority of the Head of the Business Unit. 

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPENETNCIES

Professionalism: Ability to identify and analyze political, ethnic, racial, social and economic problems. Extensive knowledge of the political dynamics in Sudan, including local dynamics, as well as those related to the peace process. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: 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 the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

• University degree in social sciences or discipline relevant to financing for sustainable development
• At least seven years’ of relevant work experience in financing for peacebuilding, donor coordination;
• Experience working with IFIs is an advantage as is building partnership and mobilising resources
• Familiarity with UN work in the Arab States region at country and regional level will be an asset
• Language requirements: English.  Working knowledge of Arabic will be considered an asset.