UNDP Jobs - 98328- International consultant on Legislation in Public

International consultant on Legislation in Public Service Delivery

Location :

home based and at least 4 visits to Uzbekistan by 5 w/days each

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

17-May-2021

Application Deadline :

29-Apr-21 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

90 working days

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

May 2021 - October 2022

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

"Improved Public Service Delivery and Enhanced Governance in Rural Uzbekistan" is a joint project of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), funded by the European Union. The overall goal of the project is to improve the quality of life of vulnerable sectors of the population in rural areas – such as women, youth and children, the elderly and people with disabilities – by enhancing their access to public services, and the quality of their provision. Equally, the project aims to strengthen citizen participation in the decision-making processes at the local level and increase their access to information, effectively increasing the transparency of the local governance system.

The project objectives are congruent with government policy demands in designing and implementing initiatives that would foster institutional effectiveness, transparency and participation and change management. Thus, project objectives are clearly linked with the country’s reform aspirations and strategies.

In addition, taking into account the Government’s recent legislative initiative that increases integration of public services delivery, digitalization, standardization and certification of services, as well as decentralization of services delivery, the project will support the Ministry of Justice, Agency for Public Service and other concerned stakeholders in legislative drafting of normative-legal acts, which are aimed at improving the availability, accessibility, affordability and high quality of the integrated public services, designed and provided through citizen-centric and life-cycle approach, at the local level.

This assignment is in line with the approved Project Document/DoA, namely “Output 1: Build an enabling environment for improved public service delivery by streamlining regulatory framework and relevant policies and encouraging data-driven and evidence-based policy making”.

Within the framework of further improvement of the quality of public services, increasing the effectiveness of the activities of state bodies and related organizations, implementation of the state strategic goals for the elimination of bureaucratic barriers, the following tasks are assigned to the IPSD:

paying special attention to attracting foreign experts in the rule-making process;
development of recommendations on harmonization with the requirements of international standards and best foreign practices;
conducting a functional analysis of government bodies providing public services;
business process reengineering (BPR);
introducing blockchain into the registry office;
innovations in the system of providing public services, technical support of public service centers, as well as studying foreign experience and increasing human resources in these areas, etc.

In this regard, the project is planning to hire an International Consultant on Legislation in Public Service Delivery, who will support the IPSD team by providing strategic guidance regarding the implementation of all the initiatives related to improvement of the legal and regulatory framework for public service delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under overall guidance of the Project Manager and direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator the International Consultant will perform the following duties and responsibilities.

General tasks
1. Provide policy and legal advice to IPSD team in the sphere of the improvement of the legislation on public service delivery;
2. Support IPSD team in the development of publications, informational materials and analytical articles on legislation of public services delivery in the international mass media (journals, newspapers, Internet, etc.);
3. Provide strategic guidance in reviewing and finalizing a 5-year strategy and action plan for the improvement of public services delivery system of Uzbekistan, which is currently developed by the international consulting company;
4. Provide expertise and analytical, legal conclusions to the draft regulations and legal proposals (including on BPR of public services, digitalization of public services, local governance issues, etc.) to IPSD team and national partners if required.
5. Participate in the Project events and workshop meetings with national partners and key stakeholders (including international conferences, “round table discussions”, presentation of outputs and other);
Specific tasks

Strategic guidance and technical advice for the improvement of the legal and regulatory framework for public service delivery in Uzbekistan.
1. Analysis of current legislation in Uzbekistan, regulating public service delivery system, and the best international practices, including from the EU countries.
2. Develop an analytical report with practical proposals for the improvement of the framework regulating public services delivery system, the interagency coordination, users of public services and digitalization for better public services delivery, including partnership modalities in public services delivery.
Strategic guidance and technical advice for development and improvement of administrative regulations in the field of public services delivery.
1. Develop a single unified draft regulation on administrative procedures in the field of public services delivery aimed at optimization and reduction of the number of administrative procedures which takes into account the requirements of international standards and the best foreign practices.
2. Develop a training manual on drafting regulations on administrative procedures and organize trainings on practical aspects, methodology and tools used during review of legislation, observing foreign legislation and procedures.
Strategic guidance and technical advice for the development of the Standard of introduction of new public services
1. Conduct a comparative analysis of the process of introduction of new public services based on the review of the best foreign practices in developed countries and develop a set of recommendations on development of the Standard of introduction of new public services.
2. Develop draft of Standard of introduction of new public services.
3. Develop a set of recommendations and measures to be taken in order to improve and maintain the unified Register of Public Services, based on the deep analysis of existing Register of Public Services and best international practices.

The consultant should submit a progress report (narrative part 3-5 pages without annexes) on the work done every 4 months from the date of contract signed to the Project manager.

Competencies

Good understanding of public administration and public services delivery system;
Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills including oral and written communication;
Demonstrated programme management skills including; results-based orientation, preparation of work plans, monitoring and evaluation and leading cross-cultural teams;
Previous experience in performing a similar role in UNDP would be an advantage.

Required Skills and Experience

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Law, Public Administration, International Relations, Economics, Political-social sciences or another relevant field.
At least 15 years of relevant professional experience performing a similar technical assistance role on legal and regulatory framework for public service delivery.
Previous work in Central Asia and in any other post-soviet republics is an asset.
Fluency in written and spoken English and Russian.
Knowledge in Uzbek is an asset.

Application Process:

Interested candidates need to apply online at www.jobs.undp.org and upload requested documents in Part 4 of Procurement Notice no later than end of April 29, 2021 (New York time). Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document. Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged to your email address provided in application. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary.

Link to application at the UNDP Job Site – https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=98328

(cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work).

You can review detailed Procurement Notice, Terms of Reference and download templates from the UNDP Procurement Notices Site following the link http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=77325. (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work).

Application submitted via email, incomplete applications or received after the closing date (April 29, 2021) may not be given consideration.

UNDP is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified female candidates, people with disabilities, and minorities are highly encouraged to apply. UNDP Balance in Manage Policy promotes achievement of gender balance among its staff at all levels.