Local Consultant for Common Country Analysis Bhutan

Result of Service - CCA Workplan and methodology is developed with guidance from the Core Team, and in consultation with the core stakeholders. - Based on the strategic guidance, necessary consultation and data collection conducted. - Produced 1st draft of CCA upon reviewing, but not limited to, the drafts written by different working groups, technical team, responsible agencies and revising them to make one coherent document. The draft shall also include parts of the CCA document other than prepared by the working group and technical team. - All comments received from different working groups, technical team, responsible agencies on the 1st draft incorporated. - Produced 1st final draft. - Incorporated the comments from the Regional Readers’ Group. - Incorporated the comments from the government and donor partners. - Finalized the CCA document by Oct 2022 (20th June to 31st Oct 2022)

Work Location Thimphu

Expected duration 60 working days over a 5 months period: 20th June to 31st Oct 2022

Duties and Responsibilities A. BACKGROUND

As part of the Secretary-General’s (SG) Reform Agenda, a re-invigorated Resident Coordinator (RC) system is at the center of a repositioned United Nations Development System. The UN reform calls for a strengthened and independent RC together with a new generation of aligned UNCTs to assist countries to deliver on the 2030 agenda, supported by a strengthened UNRCO.

The new generation of the UN’s Common Country Analysis (CCA) responds to the urgency of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by delivering integrated, forward-looking and evidence-based joint analysis of the context for sustainable development in a country. It is part of a strategic pivot for the United Nations towards becoming the top source for independent, trusted analysis and policy advisory support on sustainable development in the 21st century. The analysis becomes the foundation for the design of the United Nations programmatic response through the Cooperation Framework. At the same time, the analysis can inform decision-making by the government and other stakeholders.

At every step, the new CCA will be data-driven and build an evidence base sensitive to dynamic changes. As such, the CCA will need to look beyond official national statistics to draw on all sources of qualitative and quantitative data from across the data ecosystem, including primary research as appropriate, nontraditional data sources, and emerging technologies to address gaps in reliability, disaggregation or timeliness. The CCA exercise can thus open space for innovation and identify targeted learning opportunities, new technologies or non-traditional partners.

B. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the consultancy is to develop Bhutan’s CCA. The consultant will support the Core Group engaged in the development of the CCA; be the penholder for the development of the CCA document and; support stakeholder engagement related to the CCA’s. Bhutan’s CCA will be based on insights and data from the following three sources: i. Secondary essential research documents and structured situational analysis conducted by different agencies that can inform the CCA, as shared by the agencies and sourced by RCO. ii. Inputs from the Results Groups and Working Groups on critical development issues and the likely situation in the next 5 years, as the next UNSCDF will have a 2024-2028 timeline. This is envisaged as UN team-wide future casting discussion. iii. Where gaps exist stakeholder discussions with LNOB populations groups, CSO’s, private sector, academia and the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The CCA is not expected to collect primary data or conduct analysis from scratch, but should draw on existing sources of evidence and research for its analysis. The methodology should therefore outline how the CCA will draw on and detail the existing sources of evidence and identify gaps and how these are to be addressed. The methodology should specify how the CCA is linked to other country analyses undertaken by national institutions and development stakeholders, including but not limited to: analysis by the international financial institutions on SDG financing, reviews and recommendations from human rights mechanisms, regional/cross-boundary assessments and disaster risk profiles.

C. CCA/UNDAF formulation process in Bhutan

The CCA Core Group will be set up for quality assurance and they will also suggest mechanism to keep the CCA as an ongoing document rather than a static one. The Core group consists of deputies of UNDP, UNICEF, and heads of UNFPA, WFP, WHO and FAO Bhutan country office. Existing Outcome Groups will be facilitated to carry out, together with Working Groups, actual analyses of focus issues in CCA. The CCA should be a document which provides analyses on the national development situation shared by all the UN agencies which are active in Bhutan, and sets the tone for the UNSDCF 2024-2028. The consultant will start with an initial desk review of available data and analyses. To access data sets more readily, the desk review should take advantage of the DCO data hub, which will include cross-pillar data sources and provide automatically generated data analytics. An obvious starting point is reviewing traditional data, especially official data sources obtained from national statistics offices. Additional sources can be drawn from country, regional and global analysis and progress reports which will be sourced by RCO. These complement local United Nations knowledge and lessons learned. As relevant, the CCA will draw on humanitarian data such as multisectoral needs assessments, vulnerability analysis and if available mapping, a displacement tracking matrix, refugee data as well as data on conflict evolution, trends and dynamics. For the timeframe for CCA formulation (Annex 2), please refer in the link: https://bhutan.un.org/en/183177-common-country-analysis-cca-template

The assessment includes analysis of dimensions such as: progress towards the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, the SDG financing landscape, leaving no one behind and multidimensional risks. The analysis emphasizes dimensions such as economic transformation, social exclusion, the environment and climate change, governance and institutional gaps, and humanitarian-development-peace collaboration. The CCA report should summarize the main findings of the analysis. Country teams may consider highlighting the top 10 challenges and opportunities that can serve as a basis for the design of the Cooperation Framework.

The Process will be as follows: Outline of the process: 1. CCA methodology and workplan is developed: A shared vision, methodology and workplan are developed for the CCA to map expertise and resources required for the first report, periodic (at least annual) reviews, and use of the CCA for specific thematic work over the five-year implementation of the Cooperation Framework. 2. Country analysis support is sourced from across the system: Specific expertise sourced from across the United Nations system regardless of physical location, to complement the country team’s own capacities. 3. An evidence base is established: a. The country team has access to a range of updated reliable and disaggregated data on key quantitative and qualitative indicators. b. New sources and means of gathering evidence are identified to address data gaps; a human-rights based approach to data collection is applied. c. A periodic refresh of CCA data is agreed as well as a mechanism for horizon scanning those feeds into regular discussions on monitoring and reporting on the Cooperation Framework and joint workplans.

4. The CCA report is prepared, with a strong emphasis on integrated analysis: The CCA provides integrated SDG analysis, including joined-up cross-border, cross sectoral and cross-pillar analysis of the country context for achievement of the SDGs.

Outline of the CCA report: The section of the reports should include the following elements (30-40 pages excluding annexes), - Political Economic analysis: This analysis examines the extent to which the political and economic drivers of a country’s SDG trajectory promote or hinder inclusion and sustainability. The following 5 steps and check list can guide the analysis. - Social Exclusion Analysis: Drawing on guidance provided by the LNOB Operational Guide, the analysis examines the underlying social structure of the society and its implications for a more equitable development. It considers multiple forms of exclusion and the intersection of different types of inequality and discrimination, what drives exclusion, the various manifestations of exclusion, and their potential consequences. - Environmental analysis: The analysis examines environmental change and its root causes (climate change, ecosystem degradation, loss of biodiversity, pollution, competition over natural resources); how environmental change is threatening social cohesion, economic growth, economic sustainability and the health and wellbeing of people; and how environmental sustainability could be better addressed in order to protect our planet to achieve long-term development objectives. The environmental analysis aims to identify the drivers of environmental change and how these impact natural resources (air, water, oceans, forests, land, etc.) and human well-being, and provides a summary of existing and potential policy interventions. The following five steps and check list can guide an analysis of both national and relevant transboundary environmental issues. - Governance and Institutional Analysis: This lens of inquiry considers the political and institutional structure of the country, the legal framework governing state/society relations, and the mechanisms and protections available for representation and meaningful participation, and the ability of the State to manage conflicts in a non-violent manner. This includes ensuring that people have access to relevant information, can express their views without fear of reprisal, and are able to seek remedies when their rights are violated. It also examines data quality and availability, and the commitment of the State to use data to select policy options and to maintain independent statistical systems. It reviews the capacity of State at all levels and non-State actors to implement the SDGs and corresponding obligations under international law, including the commitment to leave no one behind. It will also assess the capacity of rights-holders to claim their rights.

The CCA report template in included as Annex in the link below: https://bhutan.un.org/en/183177-common-country-analysis-cca-template

C. RESPONSIBILITIES : - In consultation with the Core Group and the International Consultant identify the opportunities and challenges facing Bhutan and its progress towards the 2030 Agenda and building a consensus view with the UNCT. - Work together with the International Consultant and the RCO in effectively framing the analysis of the CCA Report based on these identified opportunities and challenges and produce the document as per the DCO guidance note. - Work together with the International Consultant, the RCO and the Core Group in convening stakeholder engagements related to the CCA concept, including with UN agencies, government and bilateral and multilateral partners as required. - Develop methodology and provide quality assurance and specialist technical input into the development of the CCA Report.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Master’s degree in areas related to economics, public policy, development studies, environment, or other social sciences Experience: - Relevant work experience, in risk analysis or related relevant area required in UN, development banks, international development organizations, think tank, policy advice, and policy analysis related functions with progressive professional responsibility in areas related to climate and disaster risk analysis and sustainable development. - Experience in policy advice, and policy analysis related functions with progressive professional responsibility in areas related to SDG’s and area of works related to the UN such as climate and disaster risk analysis. - Familiarity with the administrative and policy setup of Bhutan, and specifically in the area of Socio-Economic development, environment, digitalization, and sustainable development issues in Bhutan. - Experience in secondary data collection and analysis and foresighting methods and tools is an advantage. - Knowledge of United Nations analytical, strategic planning and programming processes, guidelines and tools is an advantage - Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of dzongkha is an advantage. Language: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of dzongkha is an advantage.

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.