United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) is the focal point for promoting and facilitating South-South and triangular cooperation for development on a global and United Nations system-wide basis. The Office fosters a coordinated and coherent United Nations system support to South-South and triangular cooperation. The office also supports the UN entities in mainstreaming South-South and triangular cooperation in their strategies, programmes and activities.  

The Secretary-General, in his report on the State of South-South Cooperation to the seventy-second session of the General Assembly, had requested UNOSSC “to coordinate, in consultation with the United Nations agencies, the preparation of a United Nations system-wide South-South cooperation strategy.”

Subsequently, the United Nations System-wide Strategy on South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development (2020–2024), was prepared in inclusive and consultative manner, with participation of UN Agencies/Entities members of the Inter-Agency mechanism on South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation. The draft Strategy was shared with Member States for their comments and inputs through the Bureau of the High-Level Committee (HLC) on South-South Cooperation. The Strategy was approved by the Executive Committee of the Secretary General on 18 August 2020. The overarching goal of the strategy is to leverage South-South and triangular cooperation in support of Member States’ efforts to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions, to achieve all sustainable development goals, and to secure peace and prosperity while promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment on a healthy planet.

The strategy envisions to develop an Action Plan for the implementation of this strategy in close consultation with all United Nations entities and attach to this strategy in order to set out specific deliverables, responsibilities and reporting. The strategy also envisions to develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework based on the deliverables set out in its Action Plan. The M&E framework is expected to provide a set of non-mandatory indicators for the United Nations System (UNS) to collect and analyse  relevant information that will complement the existing indicators used by each entity of the UNS to report on its South-South and triangular cooperation work. The M&E framework is also expected to include clear definition, baseline, milestone, target and data collection methodology for each agreed indicator in order to track progress and conduct meaningful assessments of the achieved results.

Since September 2020, an Action Plan for the implementation of the strategy is being drafted under coordination of the UNOSSC and close engagement of the UN Inter-Agency Mechanism for South-South and Triangular Cooperation. Following the five outcomes identified in the strategy, in coordination of UNOSSC, the UN Inter-Agency Mechanism members are working together to draft the Action Plan forming five result groups focusing on the five different outcomes of the strategy.

Under the guidance of the UNOSSC Director a.i., UNOSSC has assigned a team of its staff members – led by its Deputy Director for Policy and Strategic Partnerships - to coordinate and facilitate the Action Plan development process. The UNOSSC’s Action Plan Development Team and the UN Inter-Agency Mechanism along with some UNOSSC members serve as subject matter experts for the development and finalization of the Action Plan and its M&E Framework. The UNOSSC’s Action Plan Development Team deals with the technical issues/subject matter and overall coordination, development and finalization of the Action Plan and its M&E Framework. UNOSSC and the Inter-Agency Mechanism have realized that a dedicated results-based management (RBM) and M&E support will be required to ensure quality, result-orientation and coherence in the Action Plan and its M&E Framework.

In this setting, UNOSSC intends to hire a Results Adviser (Consultant) to provide RBM and M&E services to UNOSSC’s Action Plan Development Team and the Inter-Agency Mechanism to ensure quality, result-orientation and coherence in the Action Plan and its M&E Framework.

The Consultant will work under the guidance and supervision of the UNOSSC Director a.i. and in close collaboration with the UNOSSC’s Action Plan Development Team. The consultant will collaborate with the Inter-Agency Mechanism through the UNOSSC’s Action Plan Development Team

The consultant will directly report to the UNOSSC Director a.i. and serve as a Results Adviser for the development and finalization of the Action Plan and its M&E Framework. The consultant will perform following duties, but not limited to:

• Provide required advice to the UNOSSC Director a.i. to ensure quality, result-orientation and coherence in the Action Plan and its M&E Framework.
• Review the draft version of Action Plan prepared by the Drafting Committee/Outcome Working Groups from RBM/M&E ends and support to prepare revised draft(s) of the Action Plan and develop an M&E framework.
• Support the UNOSSC’s Action Plan Development Team to ensure quality, results-orientation and coherence in the overall Action Plan and cross-outcomes areas.
• Building on progress made so far on the Action Plan development, offer high quality RBM and M&E services to the UNOSSC’s Action Plan Development Team to improve/develop the Action Plan’s Results Matrix ensuring SMART results chain (Goal, Outcome, Output, and Package of Activities) and corresponding indicators.
• Offer support to improve Theory of Change to each outcome of the action plan.
• Develop/establish definition, data collection methodology, baselines, milestones and final targets – to each agreed indicator in the Result Matrix – in consultative manner.
• Develop result-oriented monitoring and reporting system and tools for the Action Plan - in consultative manner.
• Serve as a resource person for the Result Matrix and M&E/Reporting tools validation workshop (remote-online).
• Attend relevant meetings and ensure timely reflection of Inter-Agency Mechanism inputs in evolving drafts.
• Any relevant tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Note: An inter-agency process through the Inter-Agency Mechanism for South-South and Triangular Cooperation will determine the overall breadth and depth of the Action Plan and its M&E Framework of the Strategy. Under the overall coordination of UNOSSC’s Action Plan Development Team, the consultant will gather inputs from United Nations entities and offer RBM and M&E services, within their respective focus areas, toward ensuring an innovative, dynamic and living Action Plan that will encourage broad implementation moving forward. UNOSSC will provide required support to the consultant, as and when requested.

EXPECTED INDICATIVE DELIVERABLES:

The consultant is expected to complete the Action Plan and key components of M&E Framework within January 2021. Specific timeline for each deliverable will be agreed between UNOSSC and the consultant at the beginning stage of the assignment.

• Revised draft(s) Action Plan reviewing the work of the Drafting Committee/Outcome Working Groups from RBM and M&E ends - ensuring results-orientation and coherence in the overall Action Plan and cross-outcomes areas.
• High quality Results Matrix for the Action Plan produced ensuring SMART results chain (including Goal, Outcome, Output, and Package of Activities) and corresponding indicators - developed and validated by the Inter-Agency Mechanism.
• Clear Theory of Change to each outcome of the action plan - developed and validated by the Inter-Agency Mechanism.
• Clear definition, data collection methodology and data source, credible baseline and realistic annual milestone and final target - to each agreed indicator in the Result Matrix - established and validated by the Inter-Agency Mechanism.
• Result-oriented monitoring and reporting system and tools for the Action Plan - developed and validated by the Inter-Agency Mechanism.
• The Result Matrix and M&E/reporting tools validation workshop organized and facilitated.
• A consolidated high-quality M&E Framework – incorporating above mentioned deliverables - finalized to be attached to the Action Plan.

Core values:

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNOSSC/UN System.

Core competencies

• Demonstrates professional competence to meet responsibilities and post requirements and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Results-Orientation: Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals, generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Communication: Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different audiences;
• Teamwork: Ability to interact, establish and maintain effective working relations with a culturally diverse team;
• Client orientation: Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with national partners and stakeholders and pro-activeness in identifying of beneficiaries and partners’ needs and matching them to appropriate solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Education:

• At least an advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in public policy, statistics, economics, political economy, international relations, social sciences or any other relevant fields. (Required)

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years’ experience working on international development at the strategic level within the UN System, international agencies or government agencies focusing in developing country contexts. (Required)
• Proven experience of RBM and M&E methodologies, and developing result matrix and M&E framework for the large scale and multi-sectoral policies/action plans/programmes. (Required)
• Strong experience in implementing a range of qualitative and quantitative data collection tools and methodologies to derive definition of indicators and data collection methodologies establish baselines and targets, and monitor progress. (Required).
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to conceptualize, articulate, write and debate about the multiple thematic sectors in international development – such as poverty reduction, peace and development, gender, climate chance, policy advocacy, etc. (desirable).
• Knowledge of South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation issues, policies, practices, and programmes. (desirable).
• Demonstrated experience and skills in facilitating stakeholder/working group consultations. (desirable)
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups to facilitate dialogue and inclusive and participatory processes to build consensus on complex and sensitive issues. (desirable)

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• Working knowledge of another UN language a distinct advantage

EVALUATION PROCESS AND CRITERIA

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file: MERGED PDF FILE):

• A cover letter with a brief description of why the applicants considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment;
• 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; and
• At least one example/sample of previous similar work (Required)

Note: The above documents need to be sent together putting into a single email or a zip folder 

Technically qualified candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• Financial proposals must be all inclusive and must be expressed on the basis of “a daily fee” in USD based on an 7-hour workday.
• 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; (excluding mission travel); 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.
• This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel.  Any official mission travel expenses will be duly paid for by UNOSSC/UNDP and should not be included in the price proposal.
• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNOSSC/UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNOSSC/UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNOSSC/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 UNOSSC/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 UNOSSC/UNDP.
• The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply for this assignment.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF THE BEST OFFER:

Applicants are reviewed based on required skills and experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below. 

The selection of the best offer from the shortlisted candidates will be based on a combined scoring method – where the qualifications and experience will be weighted a maximum of 700 points and combined with the price offer, which will be weighted a maximum of 300 points.

Method: Cumulative analysis method will be used to evaluate proposals.

• When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the ICFA will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as responsive, compliant, and acceptable, and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to this solicitation process. Kindly refer to the evaluation criteria and scoring provided below.

Technical Criteria weight: 70%

Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Technical Evaluation – (700 points, 70%):

The technical evaluation will comprise of desk review (600 points) and interviews (100 points).

All applicants will be initially screened against the minimum qualification requirements as specified above.   Responsive candidates will then be further evaluated against the following criteria and shortlisted applicants invited for the interviews:

 Desk Review of Technical Criteria as Evident in the submitted application (600 points)

• Criteria 1 (100 max. points): Quality and relevance of sample work/s submitted for review. 
• Criteria 2 (200 max. points):  Relevance of the track-record expertise in developing results-oriented M&E frameworks – including SMART results chain (Goal, outcome, output) and corresponding indicators, clear theory of change, definition of indicators, data collection methodology, data sources, baseline, target – for large scale and multi-sectoral development policies/action plans/programmes.
• Criteria 3 (200 max. points): Relevance of the track record expertise in implementing a range of qualitative and quantitative data collection tools and methodologies to derive definition of indicators, establish credible baselines and realistic targets, and monitor progress of large scale and multi-sectoral development policies/ action plans/programmes.
• Criteria 4 (100 max. points): Experience of performing similar assignment for UN System agencies or international organizations (Special advantage will be given to candidates with knowledge on development issues/sectors from South-South Cooperation and triangular cooperation perspective).

The top three candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (420 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the desk review (600 points) shall be considered for the interview.

• Criteria 5: Interview (100 points)

The total obtainable score on the interview is 100 points, bringing the total points for the technical evaluation to a maximum of 700 points. A minimum 70 (70% of total points obtainable during the interview) points are required to pass the interview.

 Only those candidates who obtain a total technical score of 490 points and above on the technical evaluation will be considered for financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation (300 points, 30%)

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 contract with UNOSSC/UNDP.

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 supervisor.
• This consultancy assignment is expected to be performed around 15 days/per month over the 3 months period. However, the payment will be made based on the actual working days utilized and completion of corresponding deliverables.