Background

UNDP developed a project document on Support Iraqi government on SDGs implementation and monitoring based on the findings of concertation with Iraqi stakeholders exploring pathways in advancing the Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals as prioritized in the National Development Plan (2018 - 2022). The project addresses a specific request from the Government of Iraq to support the production of pilot local SDGs reports as inputs to the first Iraq National Volunteery Reviews (VNR) report.

The Government of Iraq, with support from multiple development partners, has engaged in developing new strategies and plans to meet the challenges of transitioning from a crisis context to a sustainable development context. The Government of Iraq has prepared the National Development Plan (NDP 2018-2022) with the support of UNDP and other UN Agencies; it also developed a Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) with the purpose of targeting the most vulnerable groups, especially in most deprived and peripheral areas; as well as a Reconstruction and Development Framework (2018-2027). The Government has also engaged in developing a ‘Vision 2030’ that is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDGs and identifies and addresses medium and long-term strategic development priorities.

At the local level, the SDGs need to be adapted to fit local realities is essential to ensure that the national development priorities will be achieved at both national and sub-national levels, for higher, more equitable, and inclusive outcomes. The localization of the SDGs also implies that actors and institutions (government and non-government at the sub-national level have a fundamental role to play in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of the SDGs. Local sustainable development goals committees have been established in three pilot provinces (Anbar, Karbala, and Basra). The committees start working on identifying the prioritized local SDGs targets and indicators and their alignment with local development plans.

The three selected pilot governates will produce local SDGs reports by the end of 2019. One of the main challenges in the process of the production of the report is the availability of resources and capacities. UNDP has been working on strengthening the capacity of the three pilot provinces on the SDGs targets and indicators localization and alignment with both national and subnational development plans, in addition to the MoP at Baghdad and KRI. The three local SDGs reports will serve as primary inputs to Iraq first Voluntary National Review (VNR) report which will be presenting at the High-Level Political Forum in 2019 to share about its experience with the implementation of the 2030 and the SDGs.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Duties and Responsibilities:

The consultancy is aimed to help local sustainable development committees to develop local SDGs reports based on governates development plans, priorities, needs, and resources availability. The consultant will:

• Reflect on national targets and indicators around prioritized local SDGs targets and indicators

• Provide technical advice on methodologies and act as a resource person to the local sustainable development committees

• Review three local SDGs reports of the pilot governates

• Reflect on key lessons that should inform the local SDGs teams process of writing the local SDGs reports

• Support provincial consultations on SDGs, and develop a case study for each governorate’s report

• Support mechanisms to strengthening horizontal and vertical coordination within the central government

• Technical reviwing for the Iraq VNR report

1. Monitoring, Progress Control, and Key Deliverables

The consultant will report directly to the project manager to support the production of the VNR and three local SDGs reports towards the implementation and monitoring of SDGs in Iraq at a local level. These reports serve as inputs to the VNR  report will be the primary basis to the Government of Iraq’s presentation at the HLPF and the formation of a sustainable and inclusive review process for the SDGs by Government partners.

1. Key Deliverables and Timelines:

1. Reports:

• The Individual Contractor will report directly to the SDGs Project Manager/UNDP Iraq.
• All the three local SDGs and VNR reports should be received by the deadline mentioned in the timelines.
• Reports to submit the following reports that have to be made all in Arabic language in , 11 font size:

1. Location:

Homebase with travel to Baghdad, and Karbala.

1. Duration of Assignment:

25 working days over a period (20 March  2019 – 1st August  2019). The total working days are allocated as follows:

Competencies

• Strong communication skills to effectively collaborate with clients and colleagues and maintain strong relationships with them.
• Experience of working with senior government officials to provide strategic and technical advice.
• Good facilitation and presentation skills including the use of technology to communicate ideas and strategies.
• Ability to establish, develop and maintain relations with and between a diverse array of stakeholders.
• Ability to produce well-written reports demonstrating analytical ability and communication skills.
• Facilitation skills and the ability to manage the diversity of views in a different cultural context.
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

1. Qualifications And Requirements:

Education:

• Advanced degree Ph.D. in Economic, Development, or related fields.
• Master with ten years’ experience in economic, development, or related fields.

Work Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in development-related activities, advisory role on effective development cooperation, politics, governance, project/programme management, and capacity development.
• Experience in working within policy institutes and other types of governmental centers to conduct analyses and assessments with an eye on developing capacity.
• Experience in conducting MDGs and human development reports,
• Expertise in designing change management strategies and identifying prioritized actions.
• Prior experience with the government, UNDP/UN agencies, and other international organizations are desirable.
• Experience in managing multi-stakeholder engagement.

Language

• Fluency in English both written and spoken.
• Fluency in Arabic both written and spoken.

1. Evaluation/Selection criteria

Technical Criteria – Maximum 70 points

Technical Proposal (30 marks)

• Technical Approach & Methodology (20 marks) – Explain the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the degree of detail of such output. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach.
• Work Plan (10 marks) – The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan.

Qualification and Experience (40 marks) [evaluation of CV]:

• General Qualification (20 marks);
• Experience relevant to the assignment (20 marks);

Technical proposal:

• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
• A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment

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

Financial proposal (30 marks), as per template provided in UNDP jobsite (Annex II);

• Incomplete proposals may not be considered

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

• Duly accomplished Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II); https://www.iq.undp.org/content/iraq/en/home/operations/jobs.html  
• Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.