The United Nations office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN system coordinator and focal point for South-South cooperation (SSC). The Policy and Partnership Division of the Office monitors South-South and triangular cooperation in the UN system and reports to the highest levels of the system, including the UN General Assembly, the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation (HLC), the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board. It provides secretariat services to biennial sessions of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation and its bureau and to other relevant United Nations governing bodies. It supports the mainstreaming of South-South approaches to development in global policies and operational activities of the United Nations development system and enhances the coherence and coordination of United Nations system support to South-South and triangular cooperation. The Policy Division has as its top priority the strengthening of the multilateral South-South and triangular policy-making processes in advancing Southern perspectives and approaches in major intergovernmental and inter-agency processes and enhancing the coherence and coordination of the UN support to South-South and triangular cooperation.

The General Assembly in its Resolution 72/237 requested the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the state of South-South cooperation to its 73rd session in 2018. The purpose of the report is to inform discussions on South-South cooperation as the General Assembly considers the operational activities for development. This report will focus on efforts by the United Nations system organizations to promote South-South cooperation during 2017-2018, at global, regional and national levels. The report will also put forward recommendations on the measures needed to leverage South-South approaches towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other internationally agreed development priorities.

UNOSSC seeks to hire a Senior Research Consultant to assist with the preparation of the 2018 report of the Secretary General on the state of South-South cooperation, by analyzing surveys, conducting research, and drafting the report that will inform deliberations of Member States on United Nations support to South-South cooperation during the 73rd session of the General Assembly.

• Review and analytically build on previous reports of the Secretary-General on the state of South-South cooperation;
• Analyze and draw lessons for the future from the report of Secretary-General on the State of South-South cooperation (A/72/297) that was submitted to the 72nd  session of the General Assembly, and the Report of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation at its nineteenth session (A/71/39);
• Gather, compile and analyze information and data obtained from a survey conducted among United Nations organizations on the measures taken by them to promote South-South cooperation during the reporting period, 2017-2018;
• Fill information gaps in response to the survey by conducting further research, follow-up with agency South-South focal points and analyze the data available from other sources including official documents, websites and publications of United Nations system organizations relevant to South-South cooperation and analytically present the information provided;
• Prepare the following: a) an annotated outline of the report; b) a first draft on the basis of the outline agreed upon with the UNOSSC; c) submit a first draft for UNOSSC comments; and d) a final draft maintaining the timeline agreed upon with UNOSSC; e) prepare a one-page summary of the final report.
• Other duties at the request of the Deputy Director

Expected Deliverables, Duration of Work, and Payment:

• The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables within the proposed timeframe below. Payment will be made upon receipt and acceptance by UNOSSC of the deliverables.

Functional:

• Experience in researching on topics relevant to South-South cooperation;
• Experience in producing analytical reports, policy papers and briefs, and academic publications;
• Experience and knowledge of UN/UNDP procedures concerning reports, publications and speeches;
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research;
• In-depth knowledge of South-South cooperation as a development modality and experience on UN system support to SSC required.

Corporate:

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

Education:

• Advanced degree in social sciences or journalism (Ph.D. preference)

Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the area of policy analysis and policy research in international development both at national and international levels;
• Thorough knowledge and experience in the debates surrounding South-South and triangular cooperation;
• Experience working collaboratively in a team structure in a multicultural environment;
• Knowledge of the United Nations system and in particular knowledge of UNDP policies and organizational frameworks is highly advantageous

Language:

• Proficiency in English;
• Knowledge of the other five official languages of the UN (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset

Application process:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• A CV or Personal History (P11). The Form can be downloaded at  http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc
• Financial Proposal: Applicants are requested to submit a financial proposal in the form of a lump sum in US dollars including all expenses for the assignment. Please note that proposals above USD 11,000 may not be considered.

Evaluation / Selection Process

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

The evaluation Criteria as shown below shall be used to evaluate all the proposals received. The award of the Individual Contractors Contract shall be made to the individual contractors whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

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.

• Technical Criteria weight: 70 points
• Financial Criteria weight: 30 points

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal: p = y (µ/z),

• 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;

a.- Technical Proposal (70%): Selection criteria are as follows:

• Demonstrated ability to manage research projects including prior experience with the development of reports (25 points).
• Thorough understanding of South-South and triangular cooperation (25 points).
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with stakeholders including Member States, UN entities, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations (25 points).
• Knowledge of the UN system and in particular knowledge of UNDP policies, processes, and organizational frameworks (25 points).

Only candidates that obtain a minimum of 70 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

b.- Financial Proposal (30%): Applicants are requested to submit a financial proposal in the form of a lump sum in US dollars including all expenses for the assignment. 

Other Information:

Incomplete application and applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

UNDP Individual Consultant General Conditions for Contract apply and can be downloaded at:

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf