Background
The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan, which is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BPPS staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Response Unit (CRU) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.
The Strategic Policy (SPU) Unit within BPPS has primary objective to lead UNDP’s policy research agenda, policy incubation, provide forward-looking analysis, identify emerging development trends in multiple contexts (including crisis) and collaborate with academia and think tanks to advance UNDP’s contribution to global policy debates and the implementation of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.
In September 2015, UN Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda), a universal and transformative set of commitments for ending poverty and protecting the planet. The 2030 Agenda and the SDGs set out concrete aspirations to end hunger and disease; fight inequality and discrimination; and tackle climate change. The SDGs also recognize the importance of peaceful and inclusive societies as a prerequisite and indivisible component of sustainable development. UNDP will support UN Member States and other stakeholders in the implementation of these commitments. This support is framed by the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) common approach to supporting SDG implementation, MAPS, comprising: Mainstreaming of the 2030 Agenda, Acceleration towards the SDGs, and Policy Support drawing on the expertise and programmatic experience of different parts of the UN.
Duties and Responsibilities
Provide Strategic and Policy Advisory Support:
- Provide strategic and policy advisory support to advance UNDP’s contribution to global policy debates and for adopting the 2030 Agenda to national development contexts;
- Provide guidance to implement UNDP’s Strategic Plan at regional and country levels through the global advisory and implementation services platform;
- Support the development and application of cutting-edge tools and analytics to provide integrated solutions to complex development challenges;
- Work in collaboration with the UN development system and national stakeholders in the application of acceleration tools to help countries prioritize investments in SDGs (for example, by supporting the preparatory and follow-up work on MAPS Missions);
- Participate in MAPS Missions as Economist to provide analytical and policy advisory support.
Lead the Portfolio on Tools and Analytics:
- Lead and manage the portfolio on tools and analytics to provide policy and analytical support to countries in planning and prioritizing resource use;
- Learn and apply strategic tools (such as the International Futures and the Climate, Land-Use, Energy and Water Systems) for research analysis and the development of technical papers;
- Undertake data analysis and country-specific modelling to support preparations for MAPS missions;
- Analyze emerging trends and global issues to prioritize research topics in consultation with governments and UNDP’s COs;
- Liaise with different parts of UNDP to support the incubation and development of innovative tools and methods and make them available to countries for improved planning of the SDGs.
Build Partnerships:
- Build on existing partnerships, and develop new partnerships, with key UN agencies, IFIs, think tanks, research and academic institutions, and civil society, to develop and apply innovative analytical tools and methods that can be used by policymakers to make informed decisions on high-valued investments on the SDGs;
- Develop and implement workplan jointly based on partnership agreements;
- Liaise with Government and UNDP COs to implement projects at the country level;
- Identify opportunities for collaboration with key UN agencies to provide integrated support on the SDGs and deliver as One UN
Facilitate Outreach and Advocacy:
- Undertake forward looking analysis and research on sustainable development issues to help countries understand alternative development pathways;
- Develop Knowledge Products in connection with tools such as guidance notes, policy briefs, publications, websites and visualizations to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and resources related to quantitative analysis on the SDGs;
- Work with Regional Hubs and Country Offices to offer workshops and training on analytical tools that can build the capacity of government officials and UNDP staff;
- Support knowledge dissemination through organization of workshops, expert panel discussions, and policy symposia.
Expected Outputs and Deliverables:
- Lead the portfolio on tools and analytics in context of SDG implementation (through 31 December 2018)
- Learn and apply strategic tools to support research and analysis, including preparations for MAPS Missions (on an ongoing basis, including timely inputs for MAPS Missions)
- Build and strengthen strategic partnerships to leverage knowledge and expertise and make innovative tools and approaches available to governments (through 31 December 2018)
- Work closely with UNDP COs to support country-level analysis on planning and prioritizing resource use (through 31 December 2018)
- Provide integrated support through participating and/or providing inputs to MAPS missions (as needed)
- Deliver knowledge products, reports and websites related to SDG implementation (on a quarterly basis)
Competencies
- Strong record in research and analysis on poverty reduction and broader sustainable development issues;
- Excellent knowledge of current trends and debates regarding sustainable development issues;
- Sound understanding of the UN system and the strategic priorities of UNDP particularly with regard to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
- Good team player and ability to work within tight deadlines and under pressure.
Required Skills and Experience
Academic Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in Economics, International relations or related field is required. PhD in Economics, International relations or related field will be an asset.
Experience:
- At least 10 years of working experience in international development is required;
- At least 5 years of experience in working with UN agencies, and/or other international organizations is required;
- Strong background in research and analysis, including publication record, and application of tools and analytics is desirable;
- Experience in working on sustainable development issues is desirable.
Language:
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
Application Procedure
The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):
- Online application with brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and
- 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.
- Provide access or reference to the publications and writing records related to human and sustainable development issues; and Indicate available start date.
- A two-page methodology on how the Offeror will conduct the work including a Work Plan and approach in delivering the required outputs within the assignment period.
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 must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; 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.
- In the case of 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.
- The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7-hours 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; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; 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.
- 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% (70 points):
- Criteria 1. Experience in working on sustainable development issues and on providing integrated support to countries. Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 10;
- Criteria 2. Demonstrated ability in research and analysis, including the application of tools and models for development planning. Weight = 15%; Maximum Points: 15;
- Criteria 3. Experience in knowledge management and production, including a strong publication record. Weight = 15%; Maximum Points: 15;
- Criteria 4. Experience in working with UNDP and/or other international development agencies, and in building partnerships with relevant stakeholders. Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 10;
- Criteria 5. Interview: Weight = 20 %; Maximum Points: 20.
Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three shortlisted candidates for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.
Financial Evaluation - Total 30% (30 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 Director, SPU, BPPS and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above and will work closely with other members of the Strategic Policy Unit;
Payment Modality
- Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.
- The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7-hours 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.
Additional Questions:
- Can you confirm that you have Master’s Degree in Economics, International relations or related field?
- Can you confirm that you have at least 10 years of working experience in international development?
- Can you confirm that you have at least 5 years of experience in working with UN agencies, and/or other international organizations?
- Are you a former staff of the UN/UNDP? If yes, please clarify the reason of separation.
- Are you a UN/UNDP retiree?