UNDP Jobs - 70925- Local Research Consultant

Local Research Consultant - Youth and Preventing Violent Extremism Research Initiative

Location :

Pristina, Kosovo, UNSCR 1244 (1999)

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Apr-2017

Application Deadline :

13-Mar-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

01 April 2017 - 30 June 2017 (30 working days within this period)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

01 April 2017 - 30 June 2017 (30 working days within this period)

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP is launching a multi-country research initiative on “Youth-led Solutions to Preventing Violent Extremism.” Coordinated by UNDP’s Youth Global Programme for Sustainable Development and Peace (Youth-GPS), with the support of the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre, the initiative’s goal is to increase the evidence-base for the positive role of young people in the preventing violent extremism (PVE), to catalyze new partnerships, and to inform a new generation of empowering policy and programming interventions at the local, regional and global levels.

Young people worldwide are still an untapped and undervalued force for peace. In many places young people—and young men especially—are still seen as potential threats or as burdens, and young women as vulnerable or victims. The vast majority of young people, however, do not and will not become affiliated with violent extremism—many are actively working for peace.

Global recognition has steadily grown that successful efforts peacebuilding efforts require the positive engagement and participation of young people. On 9 December 2015, the UN Security Council adopted a ground-breaking resolution, UNSCR 2250, on youth, peace and security, which for the first time recognized the positive role of young people in promoting durable peace, preventing violence, reconciling communities and resolving conflict. So far, however, context-sensitive research on youth and violent extremism, youth perceptions of existing C/PVE policy and programmes, and of youth-led solutions to PVE have been rare. The “Youth-led Solutions to Preventing Violent Extremism” initiative will help address this gap and feed into inter-agency efforts around PVE and around Youth, Peace and Security.

The research initiative consists in the preparation of a global report based on a desk review and three country /geographical area -level case studies— each one from a different region and covering a unique set of PVE challenges.

Objectives of Assignment

Research at the field level will be guided by the following key questions: (1) what are the local drivers of youth involvement in violent extremism? (2) how are young people engaging in responding and preventing violent extremism and how are they addressing its root causes in their local contexts? (3) what kind of enabling environment is needed to support their participation and promote inclusive societies and sustainable peace? (4) policy and ecology: which actors, resources and policies are in place, under-consideration etc. amongst public, private and non-profit sectors to reduce youth involvement in and vulnerability to violent extremism (at the national, provincial and local levels)?

The initiative will also capitalize on the involvement of various stakeholders in the research process at country level by: (1) developing and applying a participatory methodology for conducting research with young people; (2) animating dialogues and catalyze national and local networks of young champions working on PVE, and linking them to regional and global networks and policy discussions; (3) Supporting dialogues of young champions working on PV and capture positive examples to serve as the basis for online and offline advocacy materials

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work

Under the supervision of Governance Portfolio Manager & Deputy Programme Coordinator and UNDP’s Youth-GPS team and the Research consultant will:

Conduct desk research on the local history of violent extremism, the national situation of young people and the actions of young peacebuilders;
Conduct an assessment of the status of youth, mapping the role and space afforded to youth in national and regional policies aimed at sustainable development, stabilization and reduction of violent extremism.
Map and engage relevant actors for youth and PVE, including but not limited to youth organizations, activists, scholars and relevant government ministries and agencies;
Include an overview of the work done by international and local development agencies and actors on prevention of violent extremism amongst youth in the country;
Liaise with relevant UNDP offices for inputs on priorities, methodology and engaging additional stakeholders;
Convene a Kosovo youth-led solutions to PVE meeting with youth organizations, young champions, universities and other stakeholders where participants will showcase the way young people have been contributing to PVE in their national context, while speaking to the specific issues that are most urgent and pressing to them;
Hold a series of preparatory meetings with key stakeholders;
Support dialogues of young champions working on PV and capture positive examples to serve as the basis for online and offline advocacy materials;;
Draft a Kosovo case study report for UNDP on the basis of the desk research, partner inputs and recommendations, drawing on the presentations and conclusions from the consultation process;
Incorporate comments on the Kosovo report from partners before finalizing and submitting the report to UNDP’s Youth-GPS team and UNDP Kosovo team.

Expected Results:

Deliverables/Outputs

Workplan and methodology, including interviewees’ list and research questions completed;

Target Due Dates

05 April 2017

Deliverables/Outputs

National Consultation held;

Target Due Dates

05 May 2017

Deliverables/Outputs

First Draft case study delivered

Target Due Dates

25 May 2017

Deliverables/Outputs

Final case study submitted.

Target Due Dates

20 June 2017.

Deliverables / Final Products Expected

Workplan and methodology, including interviewees’ list and research questions provided
National Consultation held
First Draft case study presented
Final Case Study completed

Scope of price proposal and schedule of payments

Interested individuals must upload the following documents/information (in a single PDF or word document) to demonstrate their qualification:
Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability
A one-page proposal explaining why they are the most suitable candidate for the work, which includes a description of approach/methodology for the assignment;
A Personal CV and duly signed P11, including at least 3 references (either current or former supervisors) with their contact details to be provided;

Financial Proposal

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

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

Evaluation:

The selection shall be made on a combined scoring method, based on a 70%-30% distribution on the technical and financial offers, respectively;

Application Instructions:

Click on the "Apply now" button;
Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation; You can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box;
Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume;
System will only allow one attachment. All docs (CV; P11; financial offer; list of similar profiles should be included as one attachment).
Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete.

Competencies

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Strong research, writing and communication skills;
Demonstrated ability to speak and write professionally, clearly and concisely in English;
Knowledge and research experience in development, governance, youth, peacebuilding, violence, conflict and violent extremism;
Ability to produce high quality research from academic and non-academic sources;
Ability to write impactful narratives from interviews and multi-stakeholder dialogues;
Demonstrated proficiency in outreach and coordination;
Demonstrated ability to organize successful multi-stakeholder meetings and other collaborative processes;
Demonstrated ability to develop, maintain and grow professional networks;
Demonstrated ability to trouble-shoot problems and ensure delivery of results;
Ability to work independently with strong sense of initiative, discipline and self-motivation.

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Maturity combined with tact and diplomacy;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in social sciences, peace studies, international Relations, political science, journalism/communication or related field. Master’s and PhD an asset.

Work experience:

5 years of relevant work experience is required with a Master’s, and 7 with a Bachelor’s.
Post-graduate research activities such as Ph.D. research, think tank affiliation and/or a track record of academic and/or policy-oriented publications and/or research management is an advantage.
Experience working with young people, youth organizations and networks and universities is highly desirable.

Language requirements

Fluency in English and Albanian (written and spoken) is required, knowledge of Serbian is considered an asset.