UNDP Jobs - 104136- Expert on drug abuse and consumption

Expert on drug abuse and consumption

Location :

Bissau, GUINEA-BISSAU

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Feb-2022

Application Deadline :

24-Jan-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

5 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The particular structural conditions of the illicit economy in Guinea-Bissau will benefit from a
drive to achieve greater openness and debate on the factors underlying the illicit economy, in
parallel with any attempt to reinforce state institutional and regulatory responses. To achieve
this, the UNDP in Guinea-Bissau has partnered with the Global Initiative against Transnational
Organized Crime to create a civil-society observatory of the illicit economy in Guinea-Bissau. The
observatory is expected to link local communities and the proponents of political reform, by
providing objective research and analysis, sourced from community and civil-society networks,
which focuses on the nature and damaging impact of the illicit economy in Guinea-Bissau.

The ultimate objective of the Observatory is to enhance community resilience against organized
crime in Guinea-Bissau, by directly support and incubating an independent civil society capacity
for regular and public reporting on the extent, nature and impact of the illicit economy in
Guinea-Bissau. The project specifically focuses on the empowerment of civil society to improve
national and international responses to organized crime, in particular through producing and
sharing better data and analysis and promoting engagement and trust-building dialogue.

Civil society can play an important counterpoint to elite capture of illicit activities. In particular,
success is greater if the approach is linked with attempts to strengthen and build partnerships
and strong communication and information sharing, with law enforcement. This is at a nascent
stage in Guinea-Bissau where there are growing ties between some prominent civil society
activist and widely respected individuals in the law enforcement sector. It is clear that civil
society is committed to the rule of law in the country, and with the necessary tools can observe
and analyse the activities of the judiciary and would make public any abuses.

Although the sector remains weak and itself subject to politicization independent civil society
organizations in Guinea-Bissau are already playing an important role. Civil society provides an
opportunity to support both the building of a broader alliance to help highlight the illicit
economy (also in areas such as forestry and fisheries crimes) and provide independent sources
of objective information, ideally that after should be checked and validated by the competent
authorities.

Through a joint UNDP/GI-TOC project, the partners are pioneering the development of regular
reporting on organised crime and illicit market trends in Guinea-Bissau. The project experience
in regular reporting and analysis allows to influence decision makers about the nature, extent
and priorities in the organised crime debate. It is also expected to provide support to key
stakeholders and field networks and analysts to remain on top of unfolding developments,
shaping the writing of more targeted and better analysed longer-term reports. High quality
analysis and reporting which is sourced from Guinea-Bissau is therefore a crucial addition to the
current regional debate, providing new insights into developments.

The Project aims to limit the harms of illicit economies by working with vulnerable populations
to enhance awareness and mitigate the risks of increasing drug use and the borderland areas
identified constitute key transit areas on international drug trafficking routes. As has been
tracked across Africa, local distribution markets target marginalized and socio-economically
excluded populations, compounding their vulnerabilities so interventions are urgently required
to hamper the growth of significant domestic consumption markets, in line with patterns
repeated by other transit states.

Currently data on drug use in the sub-region is scarce. Governments are extremely sensitive to
scrutiny of drug use within the country and leveraging data to adjust national policies in drug
consumption prevention can therefore be a powerful tool to state actors.

Duties and Responsibilities

In the context of the UNDP / GI-TOC project, the UNDP is recruiting an international expert
with the following main responsibilities:
1. Conduct and coordinate a baseline study on the consumption of illicit drugs;
2. Conduct the baseline assessment according to the guidelines provided.
3. Analyze the data using the proposed analytical framework.
4. Suggest in detail how sample size will be identified/selected in the selected sites.
5. Analyze secondary data, if any and prepare summary findings of the data analysis and
consultations with steering committee.
6. Prepare a report outlining the research design, including sampling framework,
methodology (quantitative and qualitative), tools, and ethical considerations.
7. Prepare written reports of the results of the study.
Principal researcher has to consider who would participate in the research team in close
coordination with national counterparts according to guidance of UNDP team.

Expected output 1: The national policies on drugs prevention are adapted based on results
from qualitative baseline study on illicit drugs consumption conducted in Guinea-Bissau.
Deliverables:
Deliverable 1
• Summary report capturing the inputs provided by the advisory and monitoring
committee on the definition of the baseline study
• Protocol to be submitted to the Bissau-Guinean Ethics Committee with assessment
design, including sampling framework, methodology and the information collection
tools
• Terms of reference to carry out the training of surveyors
Delivered after 6 weeks
Deliverable 2
• First report on data entry and data analysis
Delivered after 18 weeks
Deliverable 3
• Final report with the baseline assessment
Upon conclusion of the consultancy

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Head of Governance Cluster and in direct
collaboration with the CS Observatory of Illicit Economies in Guinea-Bissau Project Manager.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Sound knowledge of and exposure to a range of development assistance
issues, including on development programmes design and management for borderland areas; is
conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery
of subject matter; 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates
appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for
contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time
efficiently.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits
input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places
team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group
decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for
team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Corporate competencies
• Demonstrated integrity by upholding the United Nations' values and ethical standards;
• Appreciate differences in values and learning from cultural diversities;
• Promotes UNDP vision, mission and strategic goals;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age-based sensitivity and
adaptability;
• Demonstrates diplomacy and tact in dealing with sensitive and complex situations.

Required Skills and Experience

I. Academic Qualifications:
Advanced University degree in medicine, public health, international development, sociology, or
similar field with training in research and data analysis in the field of public health.

II. Years of experience:
• Demonstrate proven experience (at least 5 years) in program design and implementation
including relevant experience in the design of quantitative and qualitative evaluation
studies or baseline or completion studies.
• Demonstrate proved experience (at least 3 years) working in this domain with at least
three similar exercises.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct qualitative study as well as computer and data analysis
skills, including proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office software and statistical software.
• Prior professional experience with International Organizations in multi-cultural settings
and multi-stakeholder processes, preferably in Africa is mandatory;

III. Language:
• Advance knowledge in oral and written English, including a proven ability to prepare
reports and proposals in a clear, concise manner.

The consultant will be paid in four tranches. First payment (20% of the contract) upon
deliverable 1. Second payment (20%) upon deliverable 2. Third (40% of the
contract) upon submission of deliverable 3. Fourth payment (20% of the contract) upon
submission of deliverable 4.

Evaluation: Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant 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.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Evaluation criteria:

Education background - 10 points;
Experience as defined in the ToR - 15 points;
Competences as defined in the ToR - 10 points;
Understating of the ToR - 15 points;
Methodology and overall approach - 30 points;
Overall quality of the proposal (comprehensiveness, structure, language and clarity) - 20 points.

Required documents:

A personal CV including past experiences in similar projects and at least 3 professional references.
A brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the tasks, describing the tools and workplan proposed for this assignment
A financial proposal