International Consultant to conduct UNDAF Review

Consultant

Overview

Conduct UNDAF review to assess achievements and lessons learned.

You have:

• A minimum of a Master's Degree or equivalent in International Relations, Political Science, Economics or related Social Sciences.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience at international level preferably in Africa on international development issues.
• 10 years experience in monitoring and evaluation with a background in socio-economic analysis.
• 10 years experience conducting research using various methodologies/tools.
• Proficiency in computers and office software packages, and experience in handling web based management systems.
• Solid knowledge of the UN system including agencies and policy frameworks.
• Familiarity with the UNDAF/UNSDCF, UN agencies, mandates, programmes and activities.
• Fluency and excellent command of written and spoken English.

Contract

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

Background

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Uganda has been set out as the strategic focus of the UN’s collaboration with the Government of Uganda from 2016 to 2020. Following a joint UN-Government review of the analysis, the following three structural issues were identified as potential risks towards Vision 2040 and SDG targets; (a) insufficient performance in the areas of rule of law and democratic governance, government’s effectiveness, regulatory quality, voice and accountability, and control of corruption; (b) negative effects of high population growth (with associated high dependency ratio) and gender inequality on economic growth and poverty reduction; and (c) the correlation between declining Ease of Doing Business ranking and reduced performance in good governance.

In this regard, the UNDAF 2016-2020 has been focusing on upstream work and is aligned to both the medium and long term National Development Plans (NDP II and Vision 2040). The UNDAF focused on three priority areas of Governance, Human Capital Development (HCD) and Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development (SIED). The theory of change that underpinned the design of UNDAF was based on the logic that good governance is a pre-condition for the realization of quality human capital, which in turn is the driver for sustainable and inclusive economic development. In that regard, early realization of good governance by end 2020 was critical to provide a basis for achievement of human capital development by 2025; which would drive sustainable and inclusive economic development by 2035 within the timeframe of the long-term national vision. In this regard, government undertook to guarantee its political will and commitment towards sustained good governance, particularly in ensuring rule of law, constitutional democracy, regulatory quality, government effectiveness, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption. On its part, the UN would provide quality up-steam support to strengthen national capacities in line with national priorities, in collaboration with other development partners, including international and multilateral financial institutions.

Uganda has realized positive strides in the implementation of the United Nations General Assembly

Resolution A/RES/72/279 on repositioning the United Nations development system to deliver on the 2030

Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals on which the Norway Project is premised its support. The new dispensation of the United Nations Reform has come with major changes in the roles and responsibilities for the United Nations and partners.

The current UNDAF for Uganda will end on 31st December 2020 and thus, the UN Country team commenced the planning processes and has formulated the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the period of 2021-2025. The review of the current UNDAF cycle is planned to ensure accountability of the UN agencies for collective results and visibility of key achievements as well as inform on-going programming of the new Cooperation Framework.

The UNDAF 2016-2020 review and report will build on the findings of the UNDAF mid-term evaluation conducted in 2018.

It is suggested to engage a team of two consultants: International (Lead) and National (to support the

Lead).

Key objective:

To take stock UNDAF achievements, document key lessons learnt and propose strategic recommendations for informing implementation of the new Cooperation Framework.

Specific Objectives:

• To review the achievement (2016-2020) of the UNDAF outcomes and how the current UNDAF has contributed to the national priorities of the country;
• To review the UN reform implementation milestones and suggest recommendations going forward for the implementation of the new Cooperation Framework cycle (2021-2025);
• To track and document key opportunities, implementation challenges, promising practices, success stories, unintended consequences in form of lessons learned;
• Review overall implementation quality, operational delivery, resource mobilization performance and strategic partnerships building and provide overall guidance to strengthen the achievement of the new Cooperation Framework’s objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

S****cope of the assignment

The UNDAF review will:

• cover the UNDAF implementation period of January 2016 to September 2020;
• involve an analysis of the UNDAF results groups, including outcomes, outputs and the indicators as contained in the results framework;
• analyze the Common Budgetary Framework ascertain the total resource mobilized for the implementation of UNDAF, including the core and non-core resources, by agency and per results group;
• take stock of the transformative results achieved during the five year of implementation;
• will form the UN Uganda (2016-2020) achievements – One UN Country Results Report in close consultation with UN inter-agency groups;
• examine the status of implementing the recommendations of UNDAF midterm evaluation findings;
• assess effectiveness of, Human Rights Based and Gender Mainstreaming Approaches, Results Based Management and Environmental Sustainability in UNDAF implementation;
• assess the status of implementation of the recommendation of UNDAF Joint Steering Committee. (This will be added in the review report as a separate section including on the MTE recommendations implementation);
• take stock of key aspects in the current UNDAF that need to be roll-out to the new Cooperation Framework implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The International (Lead) Consultant will coordinate the review exercise aimed at establishing the following:

• Submit an Inception Report that includes a Work Plan, tools and suggested templates that will be aligned to the corporate results reporting;
• Submit a final set of UNDAF Review tools (with the comments from the PRG, M&E team and RCO) for collection of data from UN agencies, funds, programmes and joint programmes;
• Collect and analyze data from the review matrices submitted by UN agencies; information on progress against the UNDAF outcomes and agency Outcome indicators; and Information on the Activities in the UNDAF M&E Calendar;
• Analyze the synergies, gaps and duplication in the implementation of UN joint programmes;
• To assess the extent to which the UNDAF and coordination mechanisms have contributed to advance and streamline Results-based Management, Gender Equality and Human Rights Based Approaches in UN agencies’ programming;
• Meet with the JUNT M&E, PRG and UN Communications group members to solicit input and feedback into the review;
• Lead and facilitate two consultations with the UNCT and national partners: Introductory and Final validation (2 days) to consult key informants, to identify emerging issues and links between different programmes impacting on the results, UN agencies’ individual and joint contributions to achievement of UNDAF outcomes, and obtain information on performance, relevance and future strategies. Some of the key informants may include: Heads of UN agencies, Programme Officers and UN Theme Groups and UN Joint Programmes including UN Operations Teams and RCO; relevant Government officials and line ministries; representatives of development partners; civil society representatives and other;
• Prepare, as part of the review report, a consolidated analysis of UN coordination challenges and lessons learned drawn from the UNDAF;
• Discuss findings with the RCO and with their guidance to senior management of other agencies;
• Collect best practices/success stories from agencies on how they have increased efficiency and effectiveness in UN development activities (e.g. achieving collective UNDAF results, UNCT engagement in the national development strategies, joint programmes, etc.);
• Develop analysis on funding gap and recommendations to UNCT on resource mobilization and partnerships strategies;
• Collaborate with the national expert in drafting sections of the report;
• Submit and present a draft report according to the format to be agreed. Generic Sample template attached that will be further modified to the context of UNDAF review;
• Submit and present a final UN Uganda (2016-2020) Achievements – One UN Country Results;
• Report (MS Word) to the UNCT (upon review and approval by JUNT M&E, PRG and RCO).

Competencies

• Excellent qualitative research skills;
• Capacity to undertake independent work and write and produce high quality reports;
• Excellent analytical and communication skills with the ability to conceptualize;
• Politically astute and culturally sensitive;
• Knowledge and understanding of UN system operations;
• Process management skills such as facilitation skills and ability to negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders;
• Knowledge of UN role, UN reform process and UN programming at the country level, particularly;
• UNDAF/UNSDCF is an asset;
• Exposure to the Africa region is an added advantage.

Required Skills and Experience

E****ducation:

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree or equivalent in International Relations, Political Science,Economics or related Social Sciences.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience at international level preferably in Africa on international development issues, both in the field and HQ;
• 10 years experience in monitoring and evaluation with a background in the analysis of socio-economic issues and related policy matters including capability around examining the interconnections among issues related to cross cutting areas as well including environment, human rights, gender equality, conflict and vulnerability;
• 10 years experience with conducting research using different methodologies / tools;
• 10 years experience of participatory processes;
• Proficiency in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems;
• Solid knowledge of the UN system including the UN agencies and policy frameworks.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with the UNDAF/UNSDCF, UN agencies, mandates, programmes and activities;
• Experience working in Uganda and Africa;
• Experience with the UN;
• Knowledge of Uganda political and social culture, policies/laws and programmes is an asset.

Language Requirement:

• Fluency and excellent command of written and spoken English is a must.

Proposed Structure of the UNDAF report:

The final UNDAF report text is expected to have sections related to the UN results and achievements in support of the national development agenda, UN reform progress and strategic recommendations. It will be in line with UNSDG One UN country results reporting (the report template will be shared by RCO). The report narrative will not be more than 50 pages without annexes – (Times New Roman Font size 12).

Methodology and Processes:

The consultants will develop and share a detailed methodology of accomplishing the assignment. The review will, however, be a participatory process led by the International consultant and supported by the national expert and with agencies support including for crosscutting issues. This engagement will ensure that the review exercise does not place additional burden on UN Country Team or strain national capacities and to keep it light, informative and forward looking. This combination of team will help to review UNDAF achievements, document key lessons learnt and propose strategic recommendations for informing implementation of the new CF.

Duration, timeline and key deliverable:

The Consultant will be engaged for a total of 22 working days over working period (January - March 2021).

Reporting and Working Arrangements:

The reporting and timely information sharing on substantial part of the assignments will be made to Joint UN Team on M&E, PRG and RCO.

The consultant will submit the reports based on the results achieved in agreed format stating all actions taken during the assignment. Reports shall be submitted after each deliverable result achieved according to the schedule and approved by the RCO which will serve as a justification for the payments.The consultants will work under the overall supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) Team Leader and will closely work with M&E Specialist, who will liaise with the Joint UN Team on M&E and PRG for any further consultations.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

The award of the contract shall be made to the consultants whose offers have been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and highest combined score (based on the 70% technical offer and 30% price weight distribution) where the minimum passing score of technical proposal is 70%.

Evaluation Criteria is as per the TORs attached.

Submission of Application:

The candidate is required to submit an electronic application directly uploaded on the UNDP jobs website with all the requirements as listed here below. Annexes and further information may be downloaded on http://procurement-notices.undp.org no.95799.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document to this website - http://jobs.undp.org no.73726

• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II);
• Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of t

Technical proposal:

• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
• A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment;
• Financial proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided (Annex II);
• Annexes 1 and II - may be downloaded from the UNDP Procurement Notices Website -http://procurement-notices.undp.org/. For further clarifications, please contact; [email protected]; [email protected].

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Potential interview questions

Added 5 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org