Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as  reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Travel:

1. UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.
2. Any travels related to official performance of duties will be covered by UNDP.

Office/Unit/Project Description

The Procurement Specialist is going to support two key projects managed by the Innovation Team: Mayors for Economic Growth and Transformative Governance and Finance Facility.

About the Mayors for Economic Growth Facility

The EU, in partnership with UNDP, promotes inclusive economic growth and innovation in the Local Authorities (LAs) of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. To that end, on January 1, 2021, the new phase of the “Mayors for Economic Growth Facility” (M4EG) commenced. The project will run for 48 months. The project will support local authorities in Eastern Partnership countries to use innovative methods towards just and green development.

The overall objective of this action is to enhance economic inclusive growth and job creation in the region by supporting local authorities in the EaP countries to design and implement Local Economic Development Plans (LEDPs) in line with the principles of good governance and sound financial management.

The specific objectives of the new phase of the M4EG project are to:

• Support local authorities in their participation to the M4EG initiative.
• Support the preparation and implementation of local authority projects building on approved LEDPs.

During project implementation, the already established M4EG network will increase further beyond the current 400 signatories, and 12 local authorities will go through a process of portfolio development. Three funding facilities will be available to the local authorities in the network: the EU Project Fund (2021), Annual Portfolio Call (2021-2023) and M4EG Innovation Project Call (2021-2023). This second phase has a key focus on creating inclusive innovation processes for design of investable projects that correspond to the developed LEDPs in a way that bring tangible benefits to citizens.

About the Transformative Governance and Finance Facility

By 2050, the UN foresees that 66% of the world's population will be living in metropolitan cities and, thereby, increasing pressure on municipal governments to provide reliable access to public services. With this expanding population, there is a global shift to cities as primary agents of innovation and intervention and a general consensus that, to accommodate these new patterns, they need to be resilient, economically vibrant, more liveable, sustainable, accessible, well-governed, and well-planned. To many cities, these demands elicit uncomfortable growing pains that force existing structures, policies, and regulations to stretch or break. In the Europe and Central Asia region, there are two intersecting trends: one of rapid depopulation of monotowns & another of expansion of capitals. Both are creating tensions – socio-economic decline in parts of the country, and overstretching of existing infrastructures, weak public services & weak social fabric in the growing urban areas.

NextGenUNDP recognizes that development is not static and fixed, but that the current times are especially dynamic, ever-changing, and evolving into a new pattern. UNDP also recognizes that in a multi-polar, interconnected and fast-paced world, a single development model is not enough. Agility, exploration and experimentation are critical in appreciating, addressing and, ultimately, closing the relevance gap - the difference between current practice and the speed of development change in the world. Grappling with complexity and uncertainty means that systemic change cannot be achieved by one state or organization alone, that no idea will achieve the necessary scale without multi-sector partnership, and that radically new development models are in high demand.

To this end, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) has pursued two approaches to accelerate learning on strategic risks and development of systemic solutions to complex challenges, and especially doing so at the local level. Under the framework of the City Experiment Fund, between 2018 and 2021, UNDP has explored rolling out a system-thinking framework & multi-sectoral approach on how to tackle local level challenges. Building on the emerging practice of portfolio design, in the IRH, RBEC COs & across UNDP, applying this methodological framework to the City Experiment Fund is likely to yield new models for transformation at the local level.

To that end, under the Transformative Governance & Finance Facility (TGFF) II, UNDP’s Innovation Team is supporting ten cities in the region in the articulation, design and dynamic management of portfolios. This work builds on the ongoing efforts at the regional level to develop a portfolio on urban transformation following the pandemic. The cities participating in the process have been divided into two subsequent cohorts. Cohort no. 1 shall deliver their results by the end of 2020, while Cohort no. 2 shall deliver theirs by August 31, 2021.

Institutional Arrangement

The Procurement Specialist will work under the overall guidance of the Innovation Specialist, and direct supervision of the Regional Project Manager. The Procurement Specialist will also work closely with the forthcoming Project Associate for the M4EG project as well as the City Experiment Fund Lead.

Duties and Responsibilities

The M4EG Regional Project team together with the TGFF II team, both based in Istanbul, are looking for a Procurement Specialist to assist in procurement planning as part of the inception phase of the project. The Procurement Specialist will ensure efficient management of procurement processes for the project, with the following responsibilities:

1. Ensures administration and implementation of the operational strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:
   • Full compliance of procurement activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of the effective internal control, proper functioning of a client-oriented procurement management system.
   • Provision of researched information for formulation and implementation of contract strategy and strategic procurement in the CO including tendering processes and evaluation, managing the contract and contractor, legal considerations and payment conditions, sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management, e procurement introduction
2. Organizes procurement processes for the Regional Project:
   • Review and suggest changes to the procurement plan for the project, including deadlines and monitoring; in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulation;
   • Assist and advise the project team in the conceptualization and elaboration of contract strategy including tendering processes and evaluation, contractor appraisal, evaluation and negotiation of offers, management of the contract and contractor, legal considerations and payment conditions, risk assessment.
   • Conceptualization and elaboration of strategic procurement including sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management, and performance measurement.
   • Provide solid advice and recommendations on procurement method and process for the diverse services required for the implementation of the project, including organization of RFQ, ITB or RFP, receipt and evaluation of quotations, bids or proposals, negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulation;
   • Support and advise the project team on the management of procurement contracts as needed;
   • Preparation of submissions to the Contract, Asset and Procurement Committee (CAP) and Advisory Committee on Procurement (ACP) if needed.
3. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on achievement of the following results:
   1. Provide guidance and on-the-job training for the Project Associate, and other as needed.
   2. Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in procurement for the future implementation of the Regional Project.

Competencies

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience