Background

Dear Sir / Madam:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is looking for an individual to perform the work described in the corresponding TORs.

• Post Title: National Consultant: Youth Entrepreneurship Policy and Partnerships Consultant
• Country of Assignment: Seoul, ROK
• Duration of Assignment: 13 May 2021 – 12 May 2022; Maximum 216 working days

Proposal should be submitted no later than 22 April 2021

If you are interested in this assignment, please provide the following documents;  

• A cover letter indicating brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability with financial proposal in KRW using the template provided by UNDP.
• P11/ Personal CV, Indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
• A copy of the highest educational certificate. 
• Your confirmation that you have read, understood and hereby accept UNDP’s General Conditions of Contract for the Services of the Individual Contractors. 
• Completed and signed Statement of Good Health (prior to signing of the contract).
• Copy of Medical Insurance Certificate (prior to signing of the contract). 

Yours sincerely,

Procurement Unit

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1. BACKGROUND

The UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC) for Global Knowledge Exchange through Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Partnerships is one of UNDP’s five Global Policy Centres and constitutes an integral part of UNDP’s Global Policy Network (GPN). USPC represents UNDP in Korea, works with Korea on international issues, and shares Korea’s development experiences with other countries. Through ‘SDG Partnerships,’ USPC acts as a facilitator of global knowledge exchange on innovative and tested-and-proven policy solutions in three thematic areas:

1. Governance, specifically (i) transparency & accountability, and (ii) sexual & gender-based violence;
2. Resilience, specifically sustainable forestry; and
3. Development cooperation, specifically (i) capacity for addressing the challenges of development cooperation, and (ii) engagement of non-state development actors.

The SDG Partnership on engagement of non-state development actors, as specified in USPC’s triennial programme (2020-2022), aims to build the capacity of the private sector and civil society, as defined in the SDG targets 17.6 and 17.7, and to systematically deploy their core competencies to address development challenges across the globe in ways that are sustainable from economic, social and environmental standpoints. The SDG Partnership deploys the knowledge of these non-state development actors in various subject areas for concrete use in development projects that have a high probability of sustainable implementation at country level.

USPC is spearheading the Youth Co:Lab Korea programme to build the capacity of innovative startups from around the Asia-Pacific region who constitute key private sector actors that have the potential to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. The Centre works collaboratively with other parts of UNDP and UN agencies, NGOs, and the public and private sector to advance youth entrepreneurship and social innovation in the Asia-Pacific region via initiatives to boost entrepreneurship and related policies, notably through the regional Youth Co:Lab initiative which aims to tackle the challenges young people, including the most marginalized, face today in the region. USPC will bring together relevant stakeholders and entrepreneurs to develop social entrepreneurship in the country and the region, leverage the impact and potential of frontier technologies and innovative solutions, as well as the implications of private-public partnerships for SDG implementation. Upstream policy work will aim to produce dialogues for better future collaboration and policy development on supporting impact-oriented enterprises and strengthening the impact ecosystem.

Under the overall supervision of the Centre’s Director and the Communication & Partnerships Specialist, and in close partnership with regional public and private stakeholders and other UNDP units  from the Asia-Pacific region including the Youth Co:Lab network, the Consultant will support the above aspects of the Centre’s work covering the entrepreneurship and policy development portfolio within the global development agenda. This portfolio covers a broad range of engagement targets including a variety of private sector actors (e.g. startups, small/micro social enterprises, investors) and civil society (e.g. NGO, academia, youth). The work also requires advocacy and outreach skills to facilitate awareness-raising of and partnership-building with non-state development actors for SDG implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

2. SCOPE OF WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(1) Facilitate regional knowledge exchange on social entrepreneurship promotion and startup support policies and practices by engaging both private and public sector entities to share their experiences, resources and know-how with developing countries.

• Perform a situational analysis and mapping of potential partners in the social entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem in Korea and partner countries from around the region.
• Conduct background research on national and global policies, strategies and coordination frameworks that provide strategic direction and advice to policymakers.
• Facilitate consultations with various public and private stakeholders to identify the policies and practices that help create an environment conducive to innovation through entrepreneurship.
• Support all aspects of the organization of regional knowledge-sharing events (e.g. policy dialogues, thematic workshops, webinars)
• Support the production of knowledge products and analytical pieces to facilitate the exchange of best practices and lessons learned.

(2) Facilitate the operation of the Youth Co:Lab Korea programme, through inputs to the conceptualization and implementation of a workplan and coordination of partnerships with private and public sector entities from around the Asia-Pacific:

• Engage in the conceptualization and planning of the activities of Youth Co:Lab Korea in coordination with the regional Youth Co:Lab network and partner institutions.
• Act as focal point and coordinator of all Youth Co:Lab Korea activities and events (e.g. startup challenge, networking initiatives, capacity building sessions) in collaboration with regional partner institutions, and play representation role in related events.
• Support the Youth Co:Lab Korea initiative on day-to-day implementation, such as administrative and logistical support, preparation of outreach/communication materials (PPTs, brochures, reports, webnotes, press releases, social media).
• Monitor and evaluate the programme impact, through coordination with the regional Youth Co:Lab initiative.
• Perform other functions as may be assigned by USPC consistent with qualifications and experience.

3. KEY EXPECTED OUTPUTS

• Youth Co:Lab Korea’s region-wide strategy and work plan for 2021-2022 drafted.
• Analysis of regional partnership opportunities and strategies in the social entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem successfully conducted.
• Youth Co:Lab Korea’s region-wide activities and knowledge sharing events successfully co-organized and coordinated with all partners and stakeholders (e.g. national dialogue, YCL Regional Summit 2021, pooling of startups from the region).
• Capacity-building, matchmaking and monitoring support provided to regional startups through coordination with the regional Youth Co:Lab initiative and identification of linkage with UNDP networks and potential ecosystem partners from the Asia-Pacific for country-level SDG implementation.
• Knowledge products (e.g. policy dialogue outcome report) drafted, and support provided for ongoing research and technical consultations in relation to knowledge exchange on social entrepreneurship/impact ecosystem.
• Communication and outreach support provided in relation to the Centre’s work on youth entrepreneurship.

Competencies

Functional Competencies: 

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to UNDP Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development;
• Ability to provide quality policy advice services;
• In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.
• Strong analytical skills to process qualitative information

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of programmes;
• Ability to apply theory to specific country contexts, carry out high-quality research.

Management and Leadership

• Focuses on impact and result and responds positively to critical feedback;
• Assesses risk and applies common sense;
• Pursues creativity and innovation;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Builds strong relationships with peers and external actors;
• Works as part of a team with required flexibility, mutual support and feed-back.

Corporate Competencies: 

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Required Skills and Experience

4. REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in the social sciences, international development, international relations, social development, business administration, marketing, public relations or other relevant subject is required.

Experience

• At least 2 years of experience supporting programmes related to social entrepreneurship/ innovation, preferably with knowledge in the area of policy support and development in the Korean and Asia-Pacific regional context.
• Experience in collaborating with/working in international organizations, and preferably also with the private sector and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Successful experience in international/regional event management.
• Demonstrated capacity to write clear and well-constructed reports and process documents.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and liaison skills with government, inter-governmental agencies, UN system and international and regional development partners, academic institutions, civil society organizations, private sector and other relevant institutions.
• Experience in the usage of computers, office software packages, and social media is required.

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Korean.

5. PROVISION OF MONITORING AND PROGRESS CONTROLS

The Consultant will report to the Communications & Partnerships Specialist, while under the overall supervision of the Director of the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre.  

Payments shall be done on a monthly basis based on actual days worked, upon verification of completion of deliverables and approval by the IC’s supervisor of a Time Sheet indicating the days worked in the period. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the direct supervisor. The contract

price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost of components.

6. DUTY STATION/TRAVEL

Seoul, Republic of Korea with no travel

7. CONSULTANT PRESENCE REQUIRED ON DUTY STATION/UNDP PREMISES

?  NONE              ?  PARTIAL               ?  FULL TIME

8. REVIEW TIME REQUIRED

10 days

9. PAYMENT TERMS

10. EVALUATION METHOD AND CRITERIA

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis. 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 set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.