Consultancy: Analysis and lessons learnt of UNDP’s contribution to the implementation of UN Development System Reform based on outcome of 2021 RR Survey

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

In May 2018, the General Assembly adopted resolution 72/279 on the repositioning of the UN Development System (UNDS), which reaffirmed the UN Secretary-General’s vision for a system that is fit to deliver on the 2030 Agenda. UNDP has been working closely with UN Agencies, Funds, Programmes (AFP) and Resident Coordinator’s (RCs), as well as the UN Development Coordination Office (DCO), to take these reforms forward.

Since the adoption of the Resolution 72/279, UNDP has played a key role in the strengthening of the RC system, supporting its operationalization through the delinking of the RC and RR functions, providing back-office support, assisting RCs and the RC System with substantive expertise, seconding staff to serve as Resident Coordinators, and financially backing the RC system through an annual cost-sharing contribution.

As a means of gathering data and evidence to show progress and challenges in implementation of the reforms, a series of surveys, analyses and evaluations have been undertaken in the last two years that are a valuable source of information for UNDP to assess implementation and to further strengthen its engagement and support in the coming years. UNDP is keen to ensure it is fully supporting the reinvigoration of the System, taking into consideration lessons learned from two years of implementation of the UNDS reforms, including associated costs and impact.

The 2021 UNDP RR Survey on UNDS Reform Implementation was launched on 13 April and will run until end-April. A full assessment of the findings is required in order to be able to evidence lessons learned and best practices, and inform concrete recommendations on forward-looking support to the reinvigorated RC System.

Several data sources within and outside of UNDP currently exist that would provide useful inputs for UNDP to evaluate its performance in strengthening and supporting the reinvigorated RC system and that would need to be considered to provide a thorough and coherent analysis. The analysis will help inform the formulation of UNDP’s new Strategic Plan 2022-2025, and help shape messaging and engagement with its partners, including its engagement with UN entities and support to country, regional and headquarters offices.

Objective:

The overall objective is to provide a comprehensive analysis and a set of recommendations, based on most recent data, that would help UNDP in better supporting the re-invigorated RC System. The analysis will be used to inform engagement with UNDP stakeholders on UNDS reform implementation.

Deliverables:

The expected deliverables of this assignment are as follows:

1. RR Survey report: Analyze data of the 2021 RR Survey on UNDS Reform Implementation and provide a comprehensive analysis of data, including in comparison to 2020 RR Survey results. The report should also include a set of methodological recommendations for next year’s survey.

2. Analysis Report on UNDP and the re-positioned UNDS: Triangulate data from different sources and compare editions of surveys and assessments (e.g., 2020 RR Survey, MAF Survey, OIOS Assessment, MOPAN Study) and available documents.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities:

Deliverable 1: RR Survey report

• Analyze the results of the 2021 RR Survey on UNDS Reform Implementation and prepare findings, including in comparison with data from the 2020 edition.
• Develop draft key messages for UNDP emerging out of the survey
• Develop a presentation with visuals (infographics, graphs, etc.) to convey the findings of the survey.
• Engage in briefing sessions with UNDP senior management on preliminary analysis /findings. Integrate feedback received.
• Provide regular updates on progress to the UN System Affairs Team Leader.
• Provide recommendations on the process and survey methodology used for future consideration.

Deliverable 2: Analysis Report on UNDP and the re-positioned UNDS

• Review the following documents,
  • Early Assessment of the Resident Coordinator System, OIOS (November 2020)
  • Management and Accountability Framework Survey Results Findings
  • Early Lessons and evaluability of the UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery MPTF (draft report, March 2021)
  • MOPAN Study on UNDS reform (preliminary report, if available)
  • UNDP/BMS Survey on back-office support
• Analyze, triangulate information and propose draft key messages for UNDP.
• Integrate feedback received from UNDP Senior Management and substantive leads in the final deliverable.

Supervision and working relationship.

This consultancy will be supervised by the UN System Affairs Team Leader with the support of the UN Reform Advisor and UN Coherence Specialist. As part of the internal quality assurance process, the consultant will also receive feedback from UNDP Senior Management (including through the Anchor Group) and other Bureaux. Deliverables will be approved by the UN System Affairs Team Leader.

The UN System Affairs Team will provide to the consultant all required documents for analysis, including all the raw data from the RR survey. The consultant is required to respect the complete confidentiality of the raw data and any internal documents to be provided, as well as the analysis /reports produced as part of this consultancy. Any information provided is for exclusive use of UNDP.

Deliverables and Timeline

Deliverables

Timeline

1. An inception report on survey analysis methodology and workplan.

Week 1

2. Draft report for deliverables 1 and 2.

Week 3

3. Validation session and feedback on reports, preliminary analysis and survey findings.

Week 4

4. Final Comprehensive report including key messages and recommendations with data and visuals.

Week 5,6

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Commitment to UNDP mission, vision and values;
• 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;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
• Excellent drafting and presentation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Required skills and experience:

Education: University degree, preferably a Masters degree, in the areas of development, international affairs, public policy, social science or related field.

Experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience in analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data for large surveys with multiple sources.
• Proven experience working on survey analysis for an international organization.
• Previous experience working with a UN Agency is highly desired; experience with UN reform analysis strongly desired.
• Excellent writing skills for complex reports and consolidating messages based on surveys findings for strategic engagement processes.
• Data analysis and visual presentation skills required.

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal (70%-30%).

The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (CV desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Application procedures

The application submission is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications.

Step 1: Interested candidates must include the following documents when submitting the applications (Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF attachment as the system only allows upload of one document):

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
• A brief concept note presenting the approach for conducting the analysis / work as specified in the TORs (max. 1.5 pages. )
• Filled CV form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees;

Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and requested to provide a financial offer.

Only candidates who will get a minimum of 55 points in the technical evaluation will be invited for the last step: financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Criteria A (Desk review - Education) – max points: 10
• Criteria B (Desk review – At least 5 years’ experience analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data for large surveys with multiple sources, preferably with International Organizations. – max points: 15
• Criteria C (Desk review – Concept note on work approach ) – max. points: 15 points
• Criteria D (Desk review – One sample (excerpt) of a survey analysis that demonstrates the use of visuals /graphs). –max. 15 points
• Criteria E (Desk review- One sample of an analytical piece that presents key findings or messages – max. 15 points

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

• Only the shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a financial proposal.
• The financial proposal should specify a lumpsum per deliverable.
• 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, if 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.

Institutional Arrangement:

Specific workplan will be agreed with the Team Leader of the UN System Affairs Team, as the certifying officer, at the beginning of the consultancy. Payments will be made against the receipt of the final report of each of the deliverables and their satisfactory acceptance by the Supervisor/Certifying Officer.

The Consultant will report to the Team Leader of the UN System Affairs Team, and his/her performance will be assessed against the deliverables. The Consultant will also interact with relevant UNDP staff across the various bureaux on a regular basis, and meet with senior managers and key line staff, as required.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also be required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we will be able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

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

• Annex 1 - UNDP P11 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 [email protected]