Background

The European Union and the United Nations are establishing a new Initiative aimed at addressing all forms of violence against women and girls which will follow a transformative and evidence-based approach, addressing unequal power relations between men and women and focusing on gender equality and women’s empowerment. In line with the principles of Agenda 2030, this approach will also follow a human rights-based approach and take into consideration the specific needs of women and girls who experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and uphold the principle of “leaving no one behind”. To manage this initiative, the European Union and the United Nations are establishing a Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) with a dedicated governance structure. Within the MPTF Secretariat, The Senior Fund Manager will lead the Management Unit of the newly established EU-UN Gender Initiative MPTF.

The MPTF Secretariat composed of a Management Unit and a Technical Unit will assist and support the Operational Steering Committee of the Fund with strategic advice, coordinating the Fund’s operations and the programming by the United Nations agencies. The Management Unit is a small office staffed by three qualified experts.

The Management Unit provides strategic, operational and administrative support to the Operational committee and is responsible for the coordination and day-to-day management of the Fund. The Unit codifies the fund’s policies and rules of procedure into an operational manual, including a Fund Risk Management Strategy. The Unit also provides strategic advice and quality control over the fund operations and coordinates the meetings. It facilitates collaboration and communication between the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, the Recipient UN Organizations, and the Resident Coordinators regarding the Fund operations when necessary.

The Management Unit will be responsible for reporting progress of funded projects through periodic progress updates (which will include consolidated narrative reports) received from Recipient UN Organizations and present on overview of the progress to the Governing Body and Operational Steering Committee.

Staff designated to fulfill Management Unit functions will work closely with the Governing Body, Operational Steering Committee, UN Resident Coordinators, Recipient UN Organizations and the Administrative Agent, under the overall supervision of the EOSG.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Fund Manager, the Coordination Consultant responsibilities will include the following main functions:

Strategic Planning and Coordination:  

• Manages the annual plan for Governing Body and OSC meetings;
• Elaborates in coordination with the Co-chairs draft detailed agendas;
• Drafts supportive documentation, technical notes or speeches for the Co-chairs of both the Governing Body and Operational Steering Committee;
• Drafts minutes and circulates for comments and finalization;
• Monitors action points and reports back to the OSC;
• Communicates decisions to the concerned stakeholders;
• Plans and organizes joint mission by the Governing Body or the OSC to priority countries when requested;
• Liaises with UN Agencies at HQ regarding activities of the Governing Body and OSC;
• Facilitates linkages and consistency between the Fund and other VAWG related initiatives.

Fund Operation:

• Supports the preparation of the Annual Work Plan(s) and budget for the Management Unit.
• Supports the preparation of job descriptions, vacancy announcements, and office set-up.
• Mobilizes goods and services to initiate activities.
• Coordinates administrative support for the meetings of the Operational Steering Committee.
• Ensures preparation/revision of Fund operational arrangements and rules of procedures (Manual of Operations).
• Supports the establishment of Country level Steering Committees, and application of global guidelines regarding composition and functions.
• Designs and reviews appropriate templates.
• Monitors and ensures application by Recipient UN Organizations of the Fund procedures and applicable templates.
• Manages Gateway up-load when necessary

Results Expected

Governing Body and OSC Annual Work Plan and Decisions.
Implementation of Manual of Operation and subsequent revision including all mandatory template.
Functional Country level Steering Committees.
Implementation of the Programming Cycle as described in the Fund ToRs.

Duty Station: Multi Partner Trust Fund Office, New York.

Payment: 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.

Institutional arrangements:
The consultant will be working under the direct supervision of the Head of the Management Unit. This consultancy will be office-based in the MPTF Office in New York. The UN reserves the right to rescind this agreement due to unsatisfactory performance by the contractor.

Travel: No travel is envisaged for this consultancy.

Competencies

Core and Functional Competencies:
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.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management
Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration; Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation; Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals; Participates in the formulation of project proposals.

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.

Accountability
Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Creativity
Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

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.

Technological Awareness
Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Experience    
Masters (Advanced level) University Degree in one or more of the following disciplines: international development, economics, social studies, business studies or other equivalent fields.
A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Minimum 5 years of relevant experience at the national and international level in international development issues, both in the field and HQ.
Experience in designing/managing large projects/programmes or Trust Fund is an asset.
Experience in managing gender initiatives with a great understanding of the stakeholders engaged to end violence against women and girls and/or related policy matters is desirable.  

Language Requirements:    
Excellent command of English is essential

Application Requirements

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):
Online application with brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and
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; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; 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

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 Criteria Total 70% (700 points):
Relevant background in terms of educational and professional experience; (30%)
Experience of working with the UN or Civil Society; (15%)
Demonstrated understanding of the thematic content of this assignment; (10%)
Interview scoring (15%)

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three/four shortlisted candidates for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (490 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria weight overall: 70%;
Financial Criteria weight overall: 30%.

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.

X. Others

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1:   UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2:   IC Contract Template

Annex 3:   C General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4:   RLA Template

Annex 5:  Individual Consultant General Terms & Conditions

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to procurement.mptfo@undp.org

The MPTF office will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.