Consultancy: Senior Support Services for the Elaboration of the 2025-2029 United Nations Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) in Iraq (International consultancy)

Contract

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires the United Nations Development System (UNS) to be agile, coherent, and responsive to countries' priorities and people's needs and has therefore embarked on a reform process since 2018.

As part of the UNS reform process, a new generation of country teams has been created, led by the Resident Coordinator (RC), now independent of the Agencies, Funds, and Programmes (AFPs) and equipped with a technical support team (Office of Resident Coordination). The RC is appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and leads the work of the Country Team, made up of the Representatives of the AFPs. In Iraq, the RC is responsible for leading the Country Team (UNCT) in the formulation of the United Nations Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development and the different inputs on which it is based, such as the Common Country Analysis (CCA).

In this context of the new positioning of the UNS, the new Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF) are the most important instrument for planning and implementing the UNS in support of the 2030 Agenda in each country, and are prepared and implemented in full consultation with national governments. In addition, the UN Policy on Integrated Assessment and Planning (IAP) requires special political missions to participate with the UNCT in a common strategic framework. By default, the United Nations sustainable development cooperation framework is the common strategic framework in an integrated presence. In Iraq, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has agreed to integrate its planning into the 2025-2029 UNSDCF.

The current UNSDCF ends in 2024, and the UNCT and the Government of Iraq have agreed to begin the process of preparing the new Cooperation Framework in 2023 for the period 2025-2029. The RCO seeks to hire a consultancy to support the UNS in Iraq in this process.

Scope of Work: The main objective of this consultancy is to provide support to the UNS in Iraq for the elaboration of its new United Nations Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development (UNSDCF) for the period 2025-2029.

Under the supervision of the RCO and close collaboration with PMT, the consultant is expected to achieve these specific objectives: i. Systematize the discussions and inputs derived from internal and external meetings and consultations within the framework of the UNSDCF elaboration process; ii. Facilitate, when required, meetings, consultations, and validation sessions with internal and external actors; iii. Elaborate, based on relevant documentation and systematized inputs resulting from consultations and discussions with internal and external actors, a theory of change proposal, which will be discussed and must be adjusted until a validated final version is achieved; iv. Elaborate, based on relevant documentation and systematized inputs resulting from consultations and discussions with internal and external actors, a proposed results framework, which will be discussed and adjusted until a validated final version is achieved; v. Elaborate, based on relevant documentation and systematized inputs resulting from consultations and discussions with internal and external actors, a proposal for a UNSDCF document, which will be discussed and adjusted until a validated final version is achieved. II.3 In order to carry out this consultancy, the following activities must be carried out: i. Review of documentation relevant to the process, especially the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and the Evaluation of the current 2020-2024 UNSDCF; ii. Review of official guidelines, appendices, companion packages, and templates available to guide the development of the UNSDCF; iii. Participate in internal and external meetings and consultations within the framework of the UNSDCF development process; iv. Delivery of reports or products as stipulated in the contract.

The consultancy is for a duration of 100 working days ending on 15 March 2024, involving three (3) missions to Iraq. The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Chief, Planning, Monitoring and Reporting.

Work Assignment Overview:

Output 1: Draft a general Theory of Change, including the definition of strategic areas, the definition of effects, and the theory of change by effect. The Theory of Change will be drafted after the government, UNCT, and other stakeholders jointly identify the most critical (3-5) catalytic development solutions for 2030 that the UN is best placed to support, considering the role of other actors. 20 days until 20 October 2023

Output 2: Draft results matrix. The results matrix will be developed with outcomes and outputs, along with the appropriate performance indicators and baselines for each result level (impact, outcome, output). 25 days until 1 December 2023

Output 3: Draft Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan and UNCT Configuration paper. The configuration concept paper will be drafted after workshops led by the consultant to assess entity-specific capacities. 15 days until 20 January 2024

Output 4: Draft document UNSDCF 2025-2029. The draft document will be drafted in accordance with DCO guidelines and endorsed by the UNCT, government, and after feedback received by the Peer Support Group is taken into consideration. 30 days until 15 February 2024

Output 5: Presentation document (PowerPoint) summarizing the UNSDCF development process and contents of the document in an executive manner. The presentation will be used to explain the UNSDCF to key stakeholders. 10 days until 1 March 2024

Minimum Qualifications required: - At least a Master's degree in social sciences, economics, political science, international relations, international development, sustainable development or related areas; - At least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience related to international cooperation for development; - Experience in the coordination or substantive technical support for the formulation of strategic planning documents of international cooperation organizations. It is desirable that at to have a portion of this experience be with the United Nations System; - Direct work experience in human rights, gender equality, and/or analysis with a human rights and gender perspective; - Extensive experience in drafting relevant technical documents; - Fluency in oral and written English required; - Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

Remarks:

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant. Candidates must submit an all-inclusive fee for the assignment. UNICEF will provide travel for the assignment and in-country travel if required.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.