Partnerships Advisor, National Dialogue on Transnational Organized Crime

Contract

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

Background

The particular structural conditions of the illicit economy in Guinea-Bissau will benefit from a drive to achieve greater openness and debate on the factors underlying the illicit economy, in parallel with any attempt to reinforce state institutional and regulatory responses. To achieve this, the UNDP in Guinea-Bissau has partnered with the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime to create a civil-society observatory of the illicit economy in Guinea-Bissau. The observatory is expected to link local communities and the proponents of political reform, by providing objective research and analysis, sourced from community and civil-society networks, which focuses on the nature and damaging impact of the illicit economy in Guinea-Bissau.

The ultimate objective of the Observatory is to enhance community resilience against organized crime in Guinea-Bissau, by directly support and incubating an independent civil society capacity for regular and public reporting on the extent, nature and impact of the illicit economy in Guinea-Bissau. The project specifically focuses on the empowerment of civil society to improve national and international responses to organized crime, in particular through producing and sharing better data and analysis and promoting engagement and trust-building dialogue.

Civil society can play an important counterpoint to elite capture of illicit activities. In particular, success is greater if the approach is linked with attempts to strengthen and build partnerships and strong communication and information sharing, with law enforcement. This is at a nascent stage in Guinea-Bissau where there are growing ties between some prominent civil society activist and widely respected individuals in the law enforcement sector. It is clear that civil society is committed to the rule of law in the country, and with the necessary tools can observe and analyse the activities of the judiciary and would make public any abuses.

Although the sector remains weak and itself subject to politicization independent civil society organizations in Guinea-Bissau are already playing an important role. Civil society provides an opportunity to support both the building of a broader alliance to help highlight the illicit economy (also in areas such as forestry and fisheries crimes) and provide independent sources of objective information, ideally that after should be checked and validated by the competent authorities.

Through a joint UNDP/GI-TOC project, the partners are pioneering the development of regular reporting on organised crime and illicit market trends in Guinea-Bissau. The project experience in regular reporting and analysis allows to influence decision makers about the nature, extent and priorities in the organised crime debate. It is also expected to provide support to key stakeholders and field networks and analysts to remain on top of unfolding developments, shaping the writing of more targeted and better analysed longer-term reports. High quality analysis and reporting which is sourced from Guinea-Bissau is therefore a crucial addition to the current regional debate, providing new insights into developments.

Duties and Responsibilities

In the context of the UNDP / GI-TOC project, the UNDP is recruiting an international expert with the following main responsibilities:

1. Identify key entry points for the involvement of national authorities in supporting the organization of the II National Dialogue on Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime, providing guidance and advice to strength the links between governmental institutions and national CSOs that oversee the security sector, create opportunities for these actors to contribute, influence and enrich the implementation of the national strategy on CDTOC and understanding of civil society assets in this area.
2. Create opportunities, through the II National Dialogue, to establish a common understanding of the scale and urgency of the fight against transnational organized crime and to revive the effective and efficient development and implementation of the National Plan to Combat Transnational Organized Crime (National Plan).
3. Provide strategic and technical advice to national authorities namely the Secretariat of the Council of Ministries, that was the core national partner in the I National dialogue, on the comprehensive and complex CDTOC agenda, building on the good collaboration between UNDP, GI-TOC and UNODC.
4. Guarantee the coordination amongst key agencies in combating TOC and international partners and national actors for the realization of II National Dialogue on CDTOC.

Expected output 1: Trafficking flows are disrupted by empowering consolidated partnerships between international and national actors and enhancing sub-regional coordination between civil society networks and state representatives

Deliverables:

1. Develop a concept note for the II CDTOC forum, in coordination with judicial and law enforcement agencies, the respective Ministries and CSOs;
2. One report on with the list of key agencies with competence in combating TOC and the international partners and create an action plan for engagement;
3. One report on the developments of the organization of the technical meetings prior to the II National Dialogue on transnational organized crime and drug trafficking.

Expected output 2: The CDTOC is part of the hard core of the peace and security agenda for stability in Guinea-Bissau, international partnerships to support the rule of law and security institutions are consolidated

Deliverables:

4. One written report on the developments of the organization of the final event on II National Dialogue on transnational organized crime and drug trafficking.

5. Final report with contextual understanding of main conclusions and recommendations on the event and specific elements of the necessary steps on the way forward regarding the strengthening of existing synergies on CDTOC as well as follow up actions on II National Dialogue on CDTOC.

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Head of Governance Cluster and in direct collaboration with the CS Observatory of Illicit Economies in Guinea-Bissau Project Manager.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Sound knowledge of and exposure to a range of development assistance issues, including on development programmes design and management for borderland areas; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Corporate competencies

· Demonstrated integrity by upholding the United Nations' values and ethical standards;

· Appreciate differences in values and learning from cultural diversities;

· Promotes UNDP vision, mission and strategic goals;

· Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age-based sensitivity and adaptability;

Demonstrates diplomacy and tact in dealing with sensitive and complex situations.

Required Skills and Experience

I. Academic Qualifications:

Advanced University degree in Development Studies, Law, Journalism, Political Science, Sociology or other related fields.

II. Years of experience:

Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in areas of rule of law, democratic governance, access to justice, international human rights and/or in research on illicit markets, responding to conflict.

Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in international project management;

Experience in organization of public events on fragile and least developed countries in West Africa is mandatory;

Prior professional experience with International Organizations in multi-cultural settings and multi-stakeholder processes, preferably in the region is mandatory;

III. Language:

Advance knowledge of English and Portuguese and computer literacy is mandatory;

Knowledge of French and Creole language is an advantage.

Evaluation: Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;
• Technical Criteria weight – 70 points;
• Financial Criteria weight – 30 points.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Evaluation criteria:

• Education background - 10 points;
• Experience as defined in the ToR - 15 points;
• Competences as defined in the ToR - 10 points;
• Understating of the ToR - 15 points;
• Methodology and overall approach - 30 points;
• Overall quality of the proposal (comprehensiveness, structure, language and clarity) - 20 points.

Required documents:

• A personal CV including past experiences in similar projects and at least 3 professional references.
• A brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the tasks, describing the tools and workplan proposed for this assignment
• A financial proposal