Provision of Translation and Interpretation Consultancy Services for UNDP Country Office in Riyadh

Contract

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Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life, as envisaged by 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We are on the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners that can bring about results. -1

The primary role of UNDP is to support country-led efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work of UNDP around the world is anchored in diverse and effective partnerships, which are vital to our two critical roles at country level: (a) as an integrator across policy, programmatic and organizational silos; and (b) as an operational backbone for the United Nations and other partners.

UNDP Saudi Arabia works on Sustainable Economic and Social Development through diversifying economic sources, developing human capabilities, creating job opportunities and promoting private sector involvement in the Sustainable Development Goals achievement. This focus area is addressing SDG 1, 8, 9, 11 and 16. - 2

The partnership between UNDP and Saudi Arabia dates back to UNDP’s launch in 1965. Since then, UNDP has been providing technical cooperation for various national development goals and facilitating assistance from Saudi Arabia to least developed countries. In the early 1970s, UNDP initiated operations in Riyadh through a sub-regional office to serve the Gulf. Gradually the office was transformed from a sub-regional office into a Country Office fully dedicated to technical cooperation with Saudi Arabia. From that time, the Kingdom has been a strong supporter of UNDP cooperation in the Kingdom, with UNDP premises and project financing in the Kingdom fully supported through the contributions of the Kingdom. Indeed, Saudi Arabia’s status as a Net Contributing Country (NCC) to UNDP makes it a unique context with strong levels of ownership and programmes uniquely tailored to the local needs. -3

Cooperation with UNDP in Saudi Arabia has matched the evolution of development needs and priorities in Saudi Arabia responding to specific needs of the Government over the past 40 years. Partnerships between national institutions and UNDP enjoy a unique bond of common responsibilities towards the national interest. This has included a working relationship over the past decades built on open dialogue and common interests for national development. The joint programmes between UNDP and the Government have covered a variety of development priorities and sectors, with key results over the years in strategy and policy development, and capacity development of Saudi people and institutions. -4

Examples of UNDP Support to the development process in the Kingdom is exemplified through a number of successful projects. UNDP supported the formulation and to some extent the implementation of national strategies and policies in the energy, water, youth, urban, tourism, and food and drug sectors. UNDP technical expertise assisted in formulating strategies and action plans, as well as economic modelling, to assist the Ministry of Economy and Planning, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UNDP provided support for the development of national capacities and institutions such as the General Authorities of Statistics. UNDP provided long- and short-term advisory services to partners on policy development and strategic direction-setting for many entities including G20 Saudi Secretariat. Moreover, the new commitments of the kingdom to advance the gender balance has created a new project with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to increase the percentage of women's participation and representation at all levels of employment and in all job categories including women's leadership positions. - 5

1. UNDP Saudi Arabia

2. Ibid

3. UNDP and Saudi Arabia: A Partnership for Sustainable Development, 2010

4. UNDP and Saudi Arabia: A Partnership for Sustainable Development, 2010

5. CPD_SA 2017-2021

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Translation

• Conducts translations upon request.
• Researches UN commonly used terminologies from official sources (Such as UNTERM) to ensure using unified terms across the Organization
• Translates various documents (including reports, project documents, work plans, terms of reference, contracts and so on) from Arabic into English and vice versa
• Edits and reviews translations generated from the Office or externally to ensure proper quality and reflection of content.
• Works closely with the Communications Team for the translation of public information products including the Website, brochures and other knowledge products
• Translates the produced documents by the Experts from English to Arabic (Such as analytical reports, questionnaires, policy briefs…etc.)
• Translates correspondences from English into Arabic and vice versa as needed

1. Interpretation and Transcribing:

• Acts as interpreter in meetings and conferences, according to needs.

• Provides interpretation in workshops, thematic dialogue sessions, and conferences organized by UNDP.

• Other interpretation tasks as needed.

• Provides interpretation for UNDP experts under assigned Projects during bilateral meetings and/or interviews with government counterparts
• Transcribes inputs from bilateral meetings and/or interviews with government counterparts
• Interprets and/or transcribes any presentations or oral briefs made by UNDP Experts and government counterparts
• Other interpretation/transcribing tasks as needed within assigned project implementation.

Competencies

Competencies:

• Excellent writing skills in English and Arabic;
• Adequate knowledge of programme areas and sectors in which UNDP is operating.
• Ability to work both independently and in teams in a multicultural environment;
• Strong ability to work under deadline pressure and meet strict deadlines;
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling ethical standards.
• Ability to produce a high volume of quality content

Simultaneous Interpretation:

• Provide simultaneous translation/interpretation during meetings, workshops, conferences from Arabic – English and Vice Versa
• Provide services as per ToRs at the length required by UNDP.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications / Experience:

• To Company, offerors must have minimum 3-5 years of relevant experience in translating / interpreting in the areas of: inclusive growth, democratic governance, environment and energy, disaster risk reduction, crisis prevention and recovery, gender or capacity development;
• Knowledge of key UNDP concepts on the above (understanding of vocabulary and terminology, with the special emphasis on the above issues);
• Understanding of the Saudi Arabia socio-economic situation and civil society, with special emphasis on social welfare sector and poverty issues
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling web- based management systems;