Background
“Creating Employment and Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Women in India” (Disha) is a multi-year partnership project between United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and India Development Foundation (IDF), supported by IKEA Foundation. Project Disha aims to reach out and enable one million underprivileged women in India through training, employment and entrepreneurship skills development, as well as development of a new model of public private collaboration that can be adapted and replicated across India.
Disha project is implementing a series of pilots in the skills-to-job vertical with the aim to build the capacity of young girls and women from the marginalised communities so that they are employable by meeting the requirements of the employer. In this regard, integrated pilots are being designed and implemented with the aims to impart skill training and provide for employment opportunities for women in industries/corporate sector. Strengthening public-private sector engagement to ensure sustainability of the models in jobs, is an integral part of the Disha project.
The Partnership Specialist will work under the overall leadership and guidance of the Chief, Skills and Business Development in the establishment of strategic partnership with the private sector in support of the Disha scale up project. The Partnership Expert is expected to develop and help implement strategies and suitable operational modalities for the Disha project, by building networks with the private sector, foundations, and apex industry bodies; identifying and developing partnership projects. The Partnership Officer will coordinate efforts with the Disha State teams and thematic experts for building linkages with the programme areas and the pilots implemented. The incumbent is also expected to provide technical inputs and contribute to Disha’s advocacy efforts to engage with the private sector at national and state level. The Partnership Specialist will be based in the Disha programme unit of the UNDP India in New Delhi.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Delineate the strategic role of private sector partnerships at national and state levels in UNDP Disha project;
- Develop and help implement UNDP Disha project’s strategy making the business case for a closer private sector engagement focussing on both partnerships in CSR and core businesses;
- Support UNDP’s Disha project advocacy efforts on CSR and engagement with the private sector on Disha programme priority areas;
- Scan the environment for private sector partnership opportunities using partner specific analysis, needs and comparative strengths;
- Assist in resource mobilization by preparing the background analysis, partner consultations, and high-level meetings to facilitate a closer cooperation with the private sector;
- Facilitate outreach and partnership development in identified sectors and programme areas and work with the programme units to formalize subsequent project proposals;
- Identify suitable partnership instruments and operational modalities for engagement with the private sector within the existing laws and regulatory framework;
- Use UNDP standard due diligence and risk assessment tools while formalizing the project engagement with the private sector;
- Take the lead in establishing and maintaining strategic contacts and association with relevant partners, follow-up proactively on engagement ideas and work closely with UNDP Programme Units;
- Map and track Disha project’s need for potential private sector engagement initiatives and CSR activities aligned with overall private sector engagement plan;
- Provide regular technical support, information and expert guidance to Disha project State Offices on engagement with the private sector and CSR;
- Work closely with the Communications team for appropriate messaging for Disha project engagement with the private sector.
Expected Deliverables:
- Private sector partnership strategy for achieving UNDP Disha programme results developed;
- Suitable operational modality (ies) for UNDP engagement with the private sector established;
- Opportunities in CSR and resource mobilization for UNDP Disha programme identified;
- Atleast 10 robust partnership projects identified, developed and formalized;
- Private sector advisory services made available to stakeholders;
- Robust partnership networks established with the private sector, foundations and apex industry bodies
Travel:
The consultant will undertake travel to consult with the state governments, industry and the civil society after getting his travel plans approved by the Chief, Skills and Business Development, UNDP.
Competencies
Functional Competencies:
Building and managing strategic partnerships
- Identifies common interests and goals and carries out join initiatives with partners
- Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationship, partnerships and alliances with private sector, foundations and other agencies
- Makes effective use of resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships
Advocacy
- Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues
- Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work
Client Orientation
- Demonstrates an understanding of client / partner / donor perspective and strives for high quality client oriented services
- Establishes smooth relationship and enabling environment between clients and service providers
Leadership and Management
- Is results driven and solution oriented, is able to work under pressure
- Ability to identify problems, propose solutions and take immediate corrective measures
Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
- Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
- Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches
Results based management
- Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals
- Demonstrates ability to generate innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations
- Ability to work independently and with minimum supervision
Required Skills and Experience
Applicants shall demonstrate sufficient capacities to carryout activities to a high standard. The successful applicants will have:
- At least a Master’s Degree in social science, development studies, business management or a relevant field;
- At least 8 years of work experience in private sector companies, with exposure to CSR
- Strong private sector contacts, across different sectors, and business type (SMEs, MNCs etc.);
- Experience in engaging with senior management at private corporates;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Strong interpersonal skills, networking and managerial capacity;
- Ability to multitask and monitor several projects on a daily basis;
- Ability to take initiative to develop new strategies;
- Excellent inter-personal and technical communication (oral, written and visual) skills with high level English language writing skills are essential;
Core skills:
- Sound knowledge of partnership management tools and instruments and utilises these regularly in work and assignments
- Strong evidence of resource mobilization experience in the development sector
Evaluation Criteria
The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as Responsive to the requirement.
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation;
• Technical Criteria weight - 70%;
• Financial Criteria weight – 30 %
Technical Criteria
- Prior work experience with private sector/ bilateral/multilateral agencies with exposure to CSR or other funding- 20%
- Knowledge of partnership management tools and instruments and has demonstrated mobilization of resources in the past- 30%
- Experience in engaging with senior management in the private sector/Government/ bilateral/multilateral agencies and demonstrates ability to multitask and monitor several projects - 20%
Note:
- Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone, relocation charges etc. would not be reimbursed;
- Travel, lodging and boarding as per UNDP rules subject to prior approval
- Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual
- Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered.
Submission of Proposal
Financial Proposal:
Consultant should specify his/her lump sum consultancy fee. Please quote your professional fee only. Do not include travel costs in your financial quote as these will be reimbursed separately, as per actuals, subject to UNDP’s prevailing rules.
For any clarifications, please write to ic.india@undp.org