Finalization of a Medium-term Programme Framework (MTPF) for the period 2022-2025 for the Economic Commission for Africa

Programme & Policy

Overview

Finalize the Medium-term Programme Framework (MTPF) for ECA

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Management, Business Administration, Organizational Development and Change or any other related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of work experience in strategic planning and management, change management and/or organisational development is required.
• Fluency in English is required; Knowledge of French is an advantage.
• Certification in strategic planning is an advantage.
• Broad understanding of African development issues and challenges with demonstrated ability to provide advice and guidance in strategic matters is an advantage.
• Proven ability and experience in efficient planning and execution of tasks; and high level of initiative.

Result of Service The objective of the consultancy assignment is to finalize a Medium-term Programme Framework (MTPF) covering the period 2022-2025 for the Economic Commission for Africa. The MTPF is expected to be an integrated programme, results, budgetary and management framework which will serve as ECA’s key strategic and planning document submitted to intergovernmental organs, including to the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, ECOSOC and the General Assembly. The Framework will also serve as a reference to guide development of annual operational plans, strategic communication and partnership and resource mobilisation efforts.

The MTPF shall provide a succinct synopsis of the rapidly changing development and institutional context that underpin the formulation of the framework. The MTPF is expected to have at least the following four key components fully elaborated to guide operational planning, performance monitoring and reporting.

a) Programme framework: This component will articulate strategic priorities, medium-term development and management objectives of the Organisation. It will also further expand the five strategic directions / priorities at corporate and subprogramme levels in the context of the global and regional development landscape, Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the unfolding UN reforms. b) Results and performance framework: Building on recent achievements, new approaches to programme delivery such as the Countries of Focus (CoF) Strategy and guided by the principles of integration of the three core functions, programme scale-up and impact, the component will elaborate a robust and coherent results and performance framework that captures the ambition of each of ECA’ subprogrammes over a four-year period with explicit reference to the SDGs and ECA’s five strategic directions. This framework shall follow a two-tiered approach that features development results and organisational performance. c) Management framework: This component will define critical enablers that will support and maximize the impact of ECA programmes and activities through enhancing efficiency, effectiveness, accountability, and transparency. These will include but not limited to, result-based-management, partnership development and resource mobilisation, strategic communication and knowledge management and financial management. d) Budgetary framework: This component shall present a holistic picture of required and available regular and extra budgetary resources to support the implementation of the 2022-2025 MTPF.

The exercise is expected to follow a participatory and bottom-up approach with ECA subprogrammes, including programme support divisions, providing background information, outcomes, implementation strategies, details regarding risks, partnerships etc. that are relevant for the elaboration of the programme framework. The exercise will also take into account the unfolding review of UN regional structures and assets which is likely to shape the role, functions, working arrangements, coordination/ collaborative mechanisms and structure and/or profile of UN regional entities.

Work Location Home based/Virtual

Expected duration The assignment will be carried from 15 December 2021 to 15 May 2022.

Duties and Responsibilities The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations mandated to promote inclusive and sustainable economic and social development of Africa. The principal objective of the most recent ECA reform was to ensure that the Commission is re-oriented to effectively implement its mandate, including effectively supporting the implementation of and follow-up to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union's Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

ECA’s vision is framed around generating ideas for Africa’s prosperity and is encapsulated in its motto: ideas for a prosperous Africa. The mission of ECA is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered, inclusive and transformed Africa. The Commission’s overall objective is to promote inclusive and sustainable development in support of accelerating the economic diversification and structural transformation of Africa, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

In advancing its objective and realising its mission, the Commission’s work is guided by five strategic directions, which are:

a) Building on the unique position and privilege of ECA to foster local responses and adapt global solutions to the continent’s problems; b) Formulating policy options to accelerate economic diversification & job creation for the transformation of Africa; c) Designing and implementing financing and leverage models for the development of human, physical and social infrastructure assets; d) Supporting ideas and actions to foster deeper regional integration, and the development of regional public goods, with a focus on peace, security and social inclusion; and e) Advocating for the common position for Africa at the global level and develop regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.

ECA’s contribution to the task of carrying forward the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 is centred on the Commission’s three core functions, namely, its convening function, its function as a think tank and its operational function. Following the adoption of the forward-looking and transformative 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the UN Development System (UNDS) is undergoing wide-ranging reforms to enhance its cohesion and maximize its capacities and capa¬bilities to help countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In this regard, Secretary-General Gutierrez has put forward an ambitious package of propos¬als for making the Organisation more responsive, effective, transparent, accountable, efficient, decentralized to better support its normative and operational activities.

Under the management reform track, the Secretary-General instituted, amongst others, a shift from biennial to annual programme planning and reporting. The shift replaced the biennial programme budget with an “integrated annual programme budget” to better support decision-making, create a planning and budgeting process that is transparent and agile, and make the Organisation more responsive to the demands of a fast-changing world.

To this end, ECA is seeking to contract a suitably qualified and experienced consultant to finalize the current version of the Medium-term Programme Framework (MTPF) for the period 2022-2025 aligned with its new vision and strategic directions. The purpose of this Terms of Reference is to define the scope of the assignment, outline expected deliverables, timelines and to invite expressions of interest to undertake the consultancy assignment advertised.

The consultancy assignment is located in the Strategic Planning, Oversight and Results Division (SPORD) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Under the direct and overall supervision of the Director of SPORD, the consultant will work closely with the Chief of Corporate Policy and Planning Section (CPPS).

Specific tasks of the consultancy assignment are as follows:

a) review the draft MPTF and key ECA documents and programme performance reports as well as UN reform related documents including reports and resolutions pertaining to the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR). b) prepare and provide several orientation sessions for ECA staff in different Divisions, subregional offices (SROs) and IDEP on the MTPF towards facilitating the mainstreaming of the MTPF in respective programmes of work. c) hold consultative meetings with ECA Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and individual SLT members and other ECA staff. d) hold consultative meetings with UN entities and ECA external stakeholders/partners as advised by the Director/Chief of CPPS. e) assess the organisational and development context underpinning the formulation of the MTPF, including stakeholder mapping and analysis. f) assess the extent to which current strategic and operational planning tools, monitoring and reporting approaches facilitate translation of ECA corporate strategies into action. g) elaborate all the components of the MPTF (see Section 3) including an implementation plan and financial framework which will guide operational planning, execution, performance monitoring and reporting. h) finalize and present the draft MTPF to ECA Senior Leadership Team as well as to other staff and stakeholders, in different consultations and fora, including at the ECA 54th session of the Conference of Ministers in 2022, for their review and inputs. i) revise the draft MTPF by incorporating feedback received and submit the final version.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Management, Business Administration, Organizational Development and Change or any other related field. A first-level university degree with combination of two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Certification in strategic planning is an advantage.

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of work experience in strategic planning and management, change management and/or organisational development is required. Development of long-range programme frameworks or similar management tools and a track record in programme development, monitoring and evaluation, capacity development and administration is desirable. Broad understanding of African development issues and challenges, with demonstrated ability to provide advice and guidance in strategic matters is an advantage.

Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in English is required and Knowledge of the other is an advantage. Knowledge of another UN Official language is an asset.

Skills: Sound understanding of Africa-related strategies and policies of major bilateral and multilateral agencies and relevant experience in working with regional organizations and partners. Familiarity with UN planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation processes. Excellent interpersonal and management skills. Proven ability and experience in efficient planning and execution of tasks; and high level of initiative.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org