Antecedentes

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a global organization with 18,000 staff working in approximately 170 offices globally. UNDP works in development and crisis settings with the aim to achieve the eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities and exclusion, and sustained development results. Coming together under the new framework of the Global Policy Network (GPN), the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and Crisis Bureau (CB) sit at the core of UNDP’s global policy, programming, and knowledge capacities.

The current revitalization of these functions aims to better capture UNDP’s knowledge, innovations, good practices and lessons learned from country, regional and global experience, drawing from a network of internal and external expertise, in order to address complex problems. To this end, UNDP has recently re-established its global Communities of Practice (CoPs), of which UNDP has a rich history, to promote and support knowledge flows within and across the GPN areas of work and enrich UNDP’s global policy and programme functions. The new model of the CoPs has a more inclusive, flexible approach taking advantage of existing networks, both internal and external to UNDP, to build inclusive communities around UNDP’s main thematic areas of work.

Two of the key thematic areas the new CoP structure aligns to are focused on the topics of Energy and Environment:

• The CoP on Clean, Affordable Energy supports members to exchange views, share lessons learned, and provide perspectives on key issues related to increasing energy access, promoting renewable energy and enhancing energy efficiency. Energy is a priority in UNDP’s current strategic plan as sustainable energy is vital to poverty eradication, social progress, gender equality, low-carbon and climate-resilient development.
• The CoP on Nature Based Solutions and Climate Action for Sustainable Development (Environment, for short) is designed for discussions and knowledge sharing on policy and programmatic lessons and experience on climate actions, including NDCs, biodiversity and ecosystem management, environmental protection and the linkages between these areas. UNDP works with countries to build their capacities to integrate climate change and environmental concerns into development plans and strategies to promote resilient livelihoods, and to ensure natural capital is well conserved, managed and used to promote climate change mitigation and adaptation, economic recovery and sustainable development for all.

Deberes y responsabilidades

SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK

The CoP Facilitator plays an important role in fostering strong substantive engagement within and across the CoPs, supporting content curation, quality assurance, and providing substantive advice and feedback loops. For this role, the Facilitator will split his/her time 50/50 across the two CoPs related to Energy and Environment.

This Recognizing that each CoP member has unique needs and comfort levels related to participation, the facilitator will promote and offer a variety of opportunities and approaches for engagement. The main areas of responsibilities are:

Foster engagement among CoP members:

• Facilitate timely, focused, targeted and crosscutting e-discussions and on/offline events;
• Engage with Thematic Advisors who lead on relevant practices under the CoP’s purview and are accountable for their respective CoP;
• Engage in continual “behind the scenes” work of connecting practitioners, flagging experts to come in where necessary, and supporting development of queries and discussion topics for members;
• Support the development and implementation of relevant webinars and in person events;
• Manage a “direct connect” service via email/chat for CoP members who prefer reaching out with questions via social networks; thus, enabling small networks of practitioners and peer assists.

Scan the internal and external environment for relevant content for the CoP members:

• Interface with and draw from existing internal and external networks focused on a range of related topics, including energy access, renewable energy, energy efficiency, biodiversity and ecosystem management and nature based solutions, climate change mitigation and adaptation (in the context of raising ambition and implementation of National Determined Contributions (NDCs)), water and oceans, chemicals, climate and forests, integrated strategies (NDCs, NAPs) , and other relevant thematic and cross-cutting areas of UNDP work at the global, national, sub-regional and local scale; 
• Stay on top of industry trends and keep the CoP updated on the latest news, thinking and findings on the topic.
• Detect and capture any relevant issues from one or more networks that could be elevated as an inter-practice discussion;
• On a weekly basis, reach out to all the CoP members through digestible, targeted email updates (“Community Snapshots”) to bring the most pertinent updates and opportunities for engagement to the attention of the CoP members, including, relevant discussions, queries, cross-cutting consultations, hands on “labs”, webinars, events;
• Continually update relevant information on a curated, easy to use, central web portal (on SharePoint);

Produce knowledge products related to community engagement and integrate the CoP into corporate processes:

• Prepare relevant knowledge products pulling from the CoP members’ knowledge, experience and engagements including e-discussion summaries, FAQs, lessons learned overviews, guidance documents and case studies, for reference and use by the community members and beyond;
• Connect the CoP and its members to corporate systems and processes, such as capacity mapping exercises, individual and group learning opportunities, and lessons learned capture and reuse from programmes and projects, in order to ensure the CoPs are not stand-alone discussion forums, but are learning from and informing programmes and processes across the organization.

Expected outputs and deliverables:

Based on the detailed list of tasks outlined in the scope of the work section, the IC is expected to deliver the following outputs:

1. Organize and facilitate e-discussions and/or offline events at least once a month.
2. Detect and capture at least 3 relevant issues from one or more networks that could be elevated as inter-practice discussions
3. Develop 3-4 knowledge products related to the needs of the CoP
4. Prepare and send weekly Community Snapshot messages to CoP members for the duration of the contract
5. Continually update relevant information on a curated, easy to use, central web portal (on SharePoint);
6. Contribute to weekly meetings with network of CoP Facilitators
7. Prepare two reviews of the CoP functioning. The first approx. Oct 2019, and the second, approx. March 2020, reviewing successful elements and areas for improvement.

Competencias

Core Competencies:

Ethics & Values:

• Demonstrates commitment to the UN’s values and ethical standards;

• Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status.

Organizational Awareness:

• Promotes the mission, vision and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment understands the structure and hierarchy of UN/UNDP, process flows throughout the organization, products and services, their measures of effectiveness, and perceptions of clients;
• Excellent knowledge of development issues and internationally-agreed development goals;

Working in Teams:

• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Works collaboratively with colleagues inside UN/UNDP as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals.
• Ability to work at ease in a multicultural setting.

Communicating Information and Ideas:

• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Delivers verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner;
• Strong communication skills and the ability to listen and take direction and leadership from others.

Self-Management & Emotional Intelligence:

• Creating synergies through self-control, tolerates conditions of stress, uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to maintain a positive outlook and to work productively.

Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Learning:

• Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Functional competencies:

• Substantive knowledge of the Community of Practice (CoP) subject matter;
• Strong skills in networking, knowledge sharing, collaboration and facilitation online and in-person events;
• Experience in production, development and dissemination of knowledge and communication products;
• Good familiarity with social media, web content management and other online tools for collaboration, knowledge sharing and communication;
• Ability to engage collaboratively with partners (including other UN agencies), donors, and other development stakeholders;
• Excellent organizational skills and proven ability to deliver projects within assigned deadlines

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Academic qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in international development, Energy and Environment, Social Sciences, or related area, required. Or 7 years equivalent relevant experience combined with a bachelor’s degree in aforementioned related areas may also be considered.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional working experience in relevant fields related to international developmentis required;
• A minimum of 2 years working in the energy and environment area of work is required;
• A minimum of 2 years working in knowledge management within an international organization is required;
• Proven experience organizing and managing events and workshops (desirable);
• Knowledge of the UN system (desirable);
• Proven ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines, and to deliver in a timely manner within cost and quality standards;
• Proficiency and proven experience in the use of Microsoft Office suite (e.g. Word, Excel, Power Point) is required. Proven experience in the development infographics, online surveys, presentations, organization of webinars would be an asset;
• Proven work experience and knowledge of Yammer or other relevant social media-based platforms/tools is required. Proven experience in managing Microsoft SharePoint web-based platforms is an asset;
• Country Office experience with international organizations or with UNDP (desirable).

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken Englishis required;
• Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset

Application Procedure

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

• A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer 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;

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 should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7 hour 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; (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.

• 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. Professional working experience in relevant fields related to international development – Weight: 10.5%; Maximum Points: 105;
• Criteria 2. Demonstrated experience working in the energy and environment area of work – Weight: 14%; Maximum Points: 140;
• Criteria 3. Demonstrated experience working in knowledge management – Weight: 10.5%; Maximum Points: 105;
• Criteria 4: Proven relevant work experience and knowledge of corporate social media-based platforms/tools, and experience in managing web-based platforms – Weight: 7%; Maximum Points: 70;
• Criteria 5: Relevant Experience organizing and managing events and workshops – Weight: 7%; Maximum Points: 70;

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three/four shortlisted candidates with a minimum of at least 34 points for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• Interview: Weight = 21 %; Maximum Points: 210.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (490 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (700 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (300 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 IC will report to the Policy Specialist: Community and Network Management in the Knowledge Management team, and will work closely with colleagues in the Energy, Climate and Natural Capital and Environment teams in the GPN.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

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 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.