Update of UN Rwanda Common Country Analysis (CCA) 2023 and Development of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2024

Result of Service Summary on the objectives

The consultant will produce the following results: 1. Inception Reports for the CCA and UNSDCF elaboration methodology and tools for futures development thinking and strategic development foresight to guide data collection and conversation on possible futures via various development scenarios and their possible implications for present action and for developing strategies to adapt to complexity, change and uncertainty. 2. An updated CCA 2023: 3. New UNSDCF:

Work Location kigali, Rwanda

Expected duration 135 days

Duties and Responsibilities Organizational background & Reporting

The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform which re-positioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator - the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level - support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs.

The United Nations Common Country Analysis (UN CCA) provides the UN’s impartial, independent, and collective analysis of the key challenges and opportunities the country faces in pursuit of sustainable development. The CCA is a signature on-going, forward-looking function of the new generation UN Country Teams (UNCT) that generates tailored analytics at country level. As part of the processes that informed the formulation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2018-2024) the UN in Rwanda had updated its CCA as at mid-2021. The update was conducted using internal analytical capacities and expertise from within the UN entities at country, regional and global levels, irrespective of physical presence. Lead agencies were identified according to thematic area to produce a CCA that informed UN policy, programming and advocacy priorities in the country, whilst an independent consultant provided technical backstopping and engagement in the field work and risk analysis of the CCA.

In 2022, Rwanda has registered continued recovery from the socio-economic effects of the pandemic. In the second quarter of 2022 growth stood at 7.5% following a 7.9% growth in the first quarter (MINECOFIN, 2022), an indication that the economy is gaining a strong momentum post COVID-19 pandemic despite persistent global economic shocks more specifically the food and energy price crisis. In addition, the socio-economic impact of the pandemic has particularly elevated the vulnerabilities of women, children, person’s living with disabilities, migrants, refugees, people living with HIV, youth and other groups increasing their risks of being left behind. In light of these emerging and contextual issues and in anticipation of a new successor National Strategy for Transformation there is need to prepare for the development of a new UNSDCF (2024 – 203), therefore at UNCT Retreat held between 22nd and 24th November 2022, the UNCT took the decision to update the CCA and development of the new UNSDCF. This process was further endorsed by the UN Steering Committee meeting held on 08th December 2022. Against this backdrop Office of the UN Resident Coordinator (RCO) in Rwanda is seeking the services of a qualified consultant to support the preparations, facilitation and production of an updated CCA, and the new UNSDCF 2024.

The consultancy will be conducted over two phases as follows:

Phase 1: Update CCA 2023; February to June 2023 Tasks for updating the CCA: a. Meet with UNRCO and PMT to clarify expectations. b. Elaborate an inception report for the CCA update with clear tasks and timelines; including tools to be used for Focus Groups Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). c. In collaboration with RCO, the Consultant will be expected to provide substantive review and to re-write the CCA draft sections as per Annex I - Roles and Responsibilities. d. The CCA process must ensure inclusivity in both function and form. In this regard, a consultative process with key stakeholders is required. Therefore, the consultant will be expected to: i. Where necessary, conduct Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and general field observations, in collaboration with RCO, and respective agency(s). ii. Ensure the voices of the beneficiaries are captured. This will require competence in the facilitation of the discussions with eloquence in the use of both the local language (Kinyarwanda) as well as English to ensure participation of participants in the language they are most competent in. iii. Upon group or individual consent, the FGDs and KIIs will be recorded, and the consultant will be required to translate and transcribe all sessions into English including establishing a repository which will be handed over to RCO after the assignment. iv. Conduct additional consultations in the select groups of Ministries and Government Departments; representatives of the Civil Society Organisations; Private Sector and academia world.

Phase 2: Production of the UNSDCF From July 2023 to March 2024 Tasks for the development of the UNSDCF 2024 a. Elaborate an inception report for the UNSDCF in consultation with the RCO and PMT, b. Building from the CCA and UNSDCF evaluation findings and recommendations, facilitate a participatory and inclusive workshop to prioritise strategic areas that will frame the Theory of Change and the results matrix. c. A theory of change approach must be illustrated to help the UNCT, together with Government and other stakeholders, to deliberately choose areas with the greatest potential for transformative and inclusive development. The CF seeks to catalyse positive changes in sustainable development as well as acceleration towards the realization of the SDGS. d. Facilitate a dedicated and joint PMT/UNCT consultation to undertake a prioritisation process by which the challenges and opportunities identified in the CCA and evaluation report are narrowed to a few areas of change that the UN will strategically focus on (i.e. Review challenges and opportunities identified in the CCA; identify 5 to 10 intervention areas with the greatest ripple effects and dive deeper to agree on 3 to 5 development solutions that the UN Rwanda is best placed to support considering national, regional and global context and the need to focus on structural, root and systemic factors. e. Develop the results framework; translate the theory of change into a detailed results chain and specify the necessary conditions, risks, assumptions, and possible mitigation strategies that need to be met to support Rwanda in achieving UNSDCF outcomes and impacts. This takes place in two iterative steps: (i) Define the results for the duration of the UNSDCF and clarify the assumptions made. Show the link between the results and the assumptions. (ii) Define performance measurements. The results framework follows results-based management terminology and logic at three levels: impact, outcomes, and outputs. f. In collaboration with PMT and RCO draft the new UNSDCF.

The Consultant will be under the overall supervision of the RCO strategic planning & team leader.

Qualifications/special skills Advanced degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in development studies, economics, social sciences, public administration, sociology or anthropology, demography or related fields is required. A first level degree with additional two years of qualifying experience maybe accepted in lieu of advanced degree.

A minimum of 10 years experience in global development agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as of the national development priorities and the context of Rwanda is required

Knowledge of Human rights-based approach to Programming, LNOB principle, Gender and Result-Based Management is required

Good understanding of the principles of the UNSDCF and UN activities in Rwanda or elsewhere is desirable Knowledge of sustainability and resilience principles and their connection to the 5 Ps is required

The knowledge of the UN reforms and the CCA and UNSDCF new guidelines is desirable

Previous experience in UN related analytical works and reporting including gender responsive reporting is desirable.

Experience in facilitating strategic meetings or workshops for United Nations and/or other international, regional, or bilateral development organizations is required

Expertise with a wide range of interactive methods of strategic planning is required

Cultural sensitivity and experience moderating meetings of culturally diverse and international groups is desirable

Experience in preparation of sector assessment, research and production of analytical reports/papers, familiar with SDGs, and LNOB is required.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English and Kinyarwanda is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

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.