Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP works through 125 country offices to provide development advocacy, advice and assistance to 170 countries globally.

The Effectiveness Group of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) focuses on assisting UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. It seeks to do so by enabling UNDP and others to be more innovative, and to make more evidence and data driven decisions by identifying, testing, sharing, learning from and institutionalizing what works. It acts as a hub on all aspects of results-based management, development performance monitoring and analysis, as well as identifying, collecting, and sharing ideas on new and better ways of working across the UNDP network, social innovators, and the development community.

The Development Results and Performance Analysis Team (Results Team) of the Effectiveness Group leads UNDP’s results and resources analytics using a range of qualitative and quantitative data sources. In 2018, UNDP has built a new data infrastructure to support the implementation of the Strategic Plan for 2018-2021, where 10,000+ development projects are linked to Country Programme Documents, Signature Solutions and SDGs. The newly introduced Project Markers (Hows, Whos, Partners, Joint Programme, South-South Cooperation and Humanitarian Markers) has added a greater depth to UNDP’s results and resources analysis. UNDP conducts annual results reporting through Results Oriented Analysis Report (ROAR) where all 125 country offices and headquarter units report their achievement and challenges in a narrative format.

Building on machine learning algorithms and live Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and qualitative results data reported through the ROAR, the Results Team developed the Power BI based Portfolio Analysis Dashboard, which visualizes UNDP’s financial, results and project data in dynamic maps and charts to support the Midterm Review (MTR) of the Strategic Plan for 2018-2021 and evidence and data-informed policy making and programming across the organization.

The Data Science and Visualization Consultant (Consultant) will support the enhancement of the Portfolio Analysis Dashboard through developing supervised/unsupervised machine learning algorithms and effectively visualizing UNDP’s qualitative and quantitative data, including Project Marker data, performance indicator data, evaluations, etc.

As the global COVID-19 pandemic accelerated its devastating path across the countries, UNDP ais taking integrated actions to address the pandemic on the ground, helping countries developing and implementing socio-economic assessments and response plans.  The Effectiveness Group has collaborated with various divisions and led the successful development of a UNDP COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard.  The Effectiveness Group has also developed new data collection mechanisms to specifically gather field data on UNDP’s response to and results of UNDP’s COVID-19 response work.

The Consultant will support the enhancement of the COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard through analyzing quantitative COVID-19-specific indicator data and applying machine learning algorithms on qualitative data to identify successes, challenges and future demand.

The Consultant will work closely with the Effectiveness Group, Global Policy Network (GPN) Policy Leads, Information and Technology Management (IMT) Team, Regional Bureaux and Country Offices to develop client-centred analytical tools for strategy setting, policy making and programming of UNDP.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Policy Specialist, the Consultant will perform the following tasks:

1. Develop algorithms for supervised and unsupervised machine learning for portfolio and project analytics. This includes automated tagging of digital projects, migration projects, social protection projects and other expanded thematic areas.
2. Incorporate the machine learning analytics and other relevant data in the Portfolio Analysis Dashboard with effective data visualization and functionality. This includes incorporation of project markers as defined in the current contract and incorporation of evaluation and data quality scorecards as additional functions.
3. Maintain and improve the data quality and functionality of the Portfolio Analysis Dashboard.
4. Develop machine learning algorithms for COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard “Results and Lessons” section.

Expected Key Deliverables and Indicative Timelines:

By 30 October 2020

• Machine learning algorithms for unsupervised topic modeling for COVID-19 activities report.
• Enhanced COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard with the visualization of successes, challenges, future demand and lessons
• Incorporation of the Evaluation Implementation Scorecard in the Portfolio Analysis Dashboard

By 30 November 2020

• Machine learning algorithms for supervised machine tagging for social protection projects and additional thematic areas.
• Incorporation of the Programme and Project Data Quality Scorecard in the Portfolio Analysis Dashboard

By 31 December 2020

• Enhanced Portfolio Analysis Dashboard with additional tagging results.

By 29 January 2021

• Incorporation of the 2020 IRRF and ROAR data in the Portfolio Analysis Dashboard

By 26 February 2021

• Quarterly qualitative data analysis for COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard

By 31 March 2021

• Share all relevant source codes and documentation in GitHub and submit hand over note of the completed consultancy work.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’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. Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
• Client-service attitude and sensitivity in communicating with clients.
• Ability to explain complex and abstract concepts in simple terms and adapt language and content to different target audiences.
• Demonstrated interest and motivation in the field of development.

Functional Competencies

• Strong data analytics and coding skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of data with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong understanding of databases, data collection systems, data analytics and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality.
• Strong data visualization skills with Power BI and/or other business intelligence systems.
• Ability to learn new technologies quickly. Demonstrated willingness to keep technical skills and knowledge up to date.
• Ability to think logically and analytically in a problem-solving environment. Ability to evaluate, transform and model data to derive relevant findings. Ability to analyze problems and present clear options for solution.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Ability to work independently.
• Responsible, responsive and enthusiastic.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

• Master’s degree or above in Data Science, Public Policy, Statistics, or a related field is required.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of work experience in data analytics is required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in creating/maintaining dashboard and report using corporate BI tools, such as Power BI (preferred), Tableau, or similar tools, is required.
• Demonstrated experience in handling large datasets and quality assurance, is desirable.
• Knowledge of programming language (Python, R, JavaScript, etc.) and/or any other analytical tools is required.
• Experience of supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms on Natural Language Processing (NLP) is required.
• Experience with interpreting analytical results with public policy perspective is desirable.
• Familiarity with UNDP (or other UN agencies) financial and programmatic data is a strong plus.
• Working experience with Microsoft Azure is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is 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 offerer 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); travel cost to join duty station/repatriation 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. Knowledge on statistical programming language (Python, R, STATA, etc.) and/or any other analytical tools:Weight 15 %; Maximum 15 points;
• Criteria 2. Relevance of the experience in developing machine learning algorithms in natural language processing: Weight 15 %; Maximum Points: 15;
• Criteria 3. Proven track record of working with data visualization tools such as Power BI (preferred), Tableau, Qlik sense or similar tools: Weight = 15 %; Maximum Points: 15;
• Criteria 4. Relevance of the experience in processing large datasets and quality assurance: Weight =15 %; Maximum Points: 15;
• Criteria 5. Relevance of experience in interpreting data analytics results with implications of public policy: Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 10.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70%(49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 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 consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of Policy Specialist within the Result Team of the Effectiveness Group and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.The Consultant will be given access to relevant information and data necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment.

The consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop to conduct the work.

 Payment modality

• Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on monthly based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the Technical manager/Supervisor
• 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.

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

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template

Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4 – RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org  

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit 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.