Background

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UNV volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

 Every year, more than 6,500 world citizens serve United Nations as UN Volunteers. After servicing the UN in some of the most challenging environments, UNV is committed to support them in developing skills and capacities to support their transition from the UNV assignment. By creating an end-of assignment package to support career transition and management, UNV aims to better support UN Volunteers during their assignment and in their career path, creating an attractive learning package for our talent. Through the UNV eCampus we will provide tools and resources to support career management and transition, we are now looking at a consultant that can help us design and deliver also face-to-face training.

The UNV organization

UNV is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has approximately 150 staff positions – with the majority in Bonn and some positions with different UN peacekeeping and political missions, and in other Headquarters locations (e.g. New York).

 Organisational setting

The Capacity Development (CD) team in the Human Resources Section (HRS) oversees the coordination and implementation of all learning activities for the volunteers assigned with UN agencies globally.

The UNV programme actively supports learning and capacity development for all volunteers providing a conducive environment and opportunities for all volunteers to develop key skills and competencies. The UNV Strategic framework 2014-2017 emphasizes that learning, knowledge generation and sharing is critical to promote and enhance the quality and impact of the volunteering experience. 

The recent learning trends have emphasized the necessity to combine the traditional face-to-face learning with online resources to allow a more comprehensive learning journey.

In 2014 UNV developed a Volunteer Learning strategy on the basis of a comprehensive Learning Needs Assessment which identified key skills and knowledge required to carry out the assignment more effectively, as well as supporting the individual’s personal and professional growth. In the past years, we have developed a UN Volunteer Learning Journey which includes an induction package, and expanded access to continuous learning opportunities. Most of the resources for onboarding and continuous development of UN Volunteers are online, and available through the UNV eCampus (https://learning.unv.org). The current focus is on developing an end-of-assignment package to support Volunteers in their career transition and planning. 

Duties and Responsibilities

In the framework of the UN Volunteer Learning Journey, the Capacity Development team wants to develop a full training curriculum, including detailed facilitators’ notes, handouts and resources to support the UN Volunteers who are finishing their assignment.

The project can be divided in two phases: a first phase of preparation of training curriculum, tools, and training materials for face-to-face courses, and a second phase of delivery.

In particular, we can expect research and desk review of existing resources and key documentation, a proposal of the career transition curriculum for Volunteers compiling existing resources and developing new ones, and finally overseeing the set-up and delivery of the learning programme.

In particular, we can expect:

  • Desk Review of UNV’s volunteer learning strategy as well as the Learning Needs Assessment and other relevant documents;
  • Identify and review practices and processes on career transition and management of other leading international organizations, including UN, IFRC etc.
  •  Develop a comprehensive Manual containing all resources needed for training on career transition and management; a draft training agenda, and specific training materials for a series of modules for face-to-face workshops (up to 5 days), including detailed session designs and content with learning objectives and proposed different modules and methodologies, a comprehensive facilitators’ guide, participants’ handouts and resources needed;
  • Research and recommend specific self-paced resources and adjust those as needed to the UNV context, to be included in a self-assessment Toolkit to reflect on competences acquired and skills transfer;
  • Adapt and deliver four two days training sessions to groups of UN Volunteers in South Sudan in May 2018;
  • Prepare and deliver 3 online sessions in a webinar format for all Volunteers.

This face-to face training is expected to provide an opportunity to individual volunteers for self-reflection and acquisition of skills, as well as support them in their career transition and professional development.

Specific deliverables include the following

  1. Research: Desk review of internal relevant documentation as well as research on existing training and learning strategies for career transition and management. Deliverable: Inception report, highlighting the trends and proving recommendations on the model for UNV career transition and management training; Due date: 28 February 2018
  2. Proposal: Define objectives and outline for the new career transition and planning programme for volunteers; Propose curriculum; Identify tools and methodologies to carry out the plan. Deliverable: Draft outline of the career transition model programme; Due date: 14 March 2018

  3. Design a) Develop a core training curriculum and delivery model with learning objectives and activities that are suitable for all Volunteers. The programme should focus on core standard content for maximum one week of training, coordinated by the UNV Field Unit and delivered by partners. The curriculum should revise the existing and propose new series of training modules that are designated specifically for UN Volunteers and which can be adapted to local context. Curriculum should include for each module, learning objectives, content and proposed methodology and tools. The curriculum should take into consideration blended learning approaches. Deliverable: Manual containing all resources needed for training on career transition and management; a draft training agenda, and specific training materials for face-to-face workshops (up to 5 days), including detailed session designs and content with learning objectives and proposed different modules and methodologies, a comprehensive facilitators’ guide, participants’ handouts and resources needed; Due date: 17 April 2018 ; b) Develop specific self-paced resources to help Volunteers reflect on competences acquired during the assignment and how can they transfer those skills in a new position. Deliverables: Self-assessment toolkit drafted and finalised; Due date 25 April 2018

  4. Implementation a) Prepare, adapt and deliver four face-to-face 2 day training sessions composed of different modules, depending on needs identified by the Volunteers in South Sudan, using the new curriculum. This would serve also as validation of the Manual (training proposed dates 7-18/05/18) Deliverables: Training delivered.Manual and all related documents and resources reviewed. Due date: 18 May 2018; b) Online Session Delivery. Prepare, adapt and deliver 3 1-hour webinars using the new curriculum for a wider audience of Volunteers. Deliverables: 3 webinars organized and delivered in March, April and May ; Due date: 30 May 2018

  5. Final version of the resources prepared and  evaluation report. Deliverables: Manual and all related documents and resources finalized. Report Due date: 30 June 2018

 

Competencies

The assignment will be contracted to a consultant with demonstrated expertise and experience in training and development.

  • Proven expertise in the area of career planning, development and management.

  • Ability to work flexibly in a multicultural team setting and to work in a cross-departmental manner, building consensus with colleagues.

  • Proven communication and interpersonal skills.

  • Knowledge and experience of job markets, career development and international working environments.

  • Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills.

  • Knowledge and experience with international agencies and professional development approaches for a diverse audience would be a distinct advantage.

  • Knowledge of UN agencies and their learning approaches would be an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Advanced university degree in education, organizational development, social sciences, or other relevant field.

Experience: Minimum 5 years’ experience in career planning and development working with larger organizations;

Proven track record with training design, development and review;

Expertise in delivering training for multicultural audiences;

Relevant knowledge of modern training principles and techniques;

Language requirement: Fluency in written and spoken English is an absolute requirement. Ability to work and deliver training in French is an asset.

Application procedure:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via the UNDP website. Interested candidates are advised to carefully review this ToR and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described above. The application should contain the below documents that should be scanned and attached in one pdf format document.

Motivation/Cover Letter: Explaining why they are the most suitable candidate for the work

A technical proposal: Describing the methodology and the approach how to fulfill the required deliverables as well as outline the major components of its implementation

Personal History (P11): Applicants are required to fill out and sign a P11 Form and submit it together with the online application; the P11 should include contact details of 3 references; (the P11 form can be downloaded at www.sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc ) Please also include your CV.

A Financial Proposal: Applicants are requested to submit a financial proposal. The financial proposal shall consist of all-inclusive lump sum in USD for the whole duration of the contract period, which shall include the consultancy fee, cost of travel and per diems to and from the duty station. Please consider one travel to Juba, South Sudan and at least 8 working days for the face to face trainings. The financial proposal should indicate clearly a breakdown of cost. This should be done through the Offeror’s letter to UNDP confirming Interest and Availability. The form can be downloaded at: https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx&action=default&DefaultItemOpen=1 

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you provide all requested documents (Motivation Letter, Technical Proposal, P11/CV and Financial Proposal).  Any queries should be sent in a separate e-mail and addressed to: procurement@unv.org clearly referencing 84950_Career Preparedness Training and Learning Consultant in the subject line.

Criteria for Selection of the Best offer:

The selection of the best offer will be based on the combined scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted – 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted 30%.

Experience in career transition and planning (20%)

Proven track record with training design, development and review (20%)

Experience in training delivery (15%)

Experience in working with or delivering services for an international audience or organization (15%)