Programme Consultant - Youth for South

Background

The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) aims to be a robust knowledge hub providing advisory and consulting services to Member States and United Nations entities on South-South and triangular cooperation enabling developing countries to effectively face their leading development challenges and harness global opportunities to address them, in tandem with monitoring progress on implementing the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, New Directions Strategy and the Nairobi Outcome.

UNOSSC engages with Member States globally, regionally, as well as within the UN system to facilitate practical expressions of Southern solidarity towards the achievement of internationally agreed development goals.? UNOSSC works with a wide range of partners including global centers of excellence to intensively explore how building endogenous capacity be encouraged, how broadening and sharing technological advances within the global South will systematically occur, and how emerging innovative financing mechanisms can be harnessed through South-South and triangular cooperation. UNOSSC ensures that our Southern constituencies have timely access to high quality analytical planning, mapping, programming, and reporting on data, trends and opportunities that will propel South-South and triangular cooperation in ways that ensure success.

UNOSSC launched its new Youth for South initiative at the 2017 Global South-South Development Expo. The initiative has been designed to support young leaders from the global South share experiences, scale up initiatives, and work towards the achievement of the SDGs in their local communities. One of the first activities under the initiative will be an advanced youth leadership programme.

The Programme Consultant will report to the Deputy Director for Programmes and Operations and assist the Programme, Operations and Knowledge Management teams. She/he will assist the teams to initiate and operationalize the Youth for South initiative.

Duties and Responsibilities

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSABILITIES

The full-time Programme Consultant will work closely with the Programme, Operations and Knowledge Management teams under the supervision of the Deputy Director for Programmes and Operations, UNOSSC.

Functional duties:

• Assist with the operationalization of the Youth for South initiative including:? drafting, editing, and providing additional input into the Project Document; assistance with organizing PAC meeting; incorporating feedback from PAC into revised document.
• Assist with partnership building and relationship management tasks.
• Assist with day-to-day operations including: assisting with preparing budgets under supervision; assisting with disbursements and management of grants; organization of team and other meetings; note taking and report writing.
• Assist with organizing Youth for South events including: developing concept notes; identifying speakers and attendees; managing invitations and responses; managing event logistics; follow up work including report writing.
• Other tasks upon request of the Deputy Director or other members of the team.

Major Deliverable:

Monthly progress report summarizing achievements submitted and approved for payment of agreed monthly fee

Competencies

Professionalism: Strong analytical and negotiation skills. Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks and proven ability to work and act under pressure and with discretion in a politically sensitive and challenging environment. Sound political judgment as well as diplomacy, impartiality and discretion.?Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations.

Integrity: Demonstrates the values of the United Nations in daily activities and behaviours. Acts without consideration of personal gain. Resists undue political pressure in decision-making. Does not abuse power or authority. Stands by decisions that are in the Organization’s interest, even if they are unpopular. Takes prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour.

Communication: Strong interpersonal and communication skills (spoken/written), including the ability to listen to and incorporate the views of stakeholders. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively (both verbally and written). Ability to tailor language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Ability to communicate effectively via tele-communication tools.

Teamwork:? Proven ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. 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 accept joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Client orientation: Ability to identify clients’ needs and suggest appropriate solutions; ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients. Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Planning and Organizing: Ability to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; ability to foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning; and, ability to identify priority activities and adjust them as required. 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.

Respect for Diversity: Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability. Proven ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender and geographical balance. Respect for, and understanding of, international political processes; ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and discretion.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's degree related to?international development areas, such public health, economics, environmenntal sciences, sociology, or related

Skills and Experience:

• 2 to 3 years of experience required
• Demonstrated knowledge of South-South cooperation.
• High-level proficiency in English with demonstrated excellent writing, research, and analytical skills including previous experience writing high-level briefing notes, summaries of reports, and preparing presentations.
• Experience in the organization of international high-level events including knowledge of appropriate protocols for interacting with Member States, UN agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, attention to detail, and proven ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated high-level skills using the Microsoft Office Suite with emphasis on Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience in UN working environment preferred.
• Knowledge of UN administrative and financial processes, and the Atlas system considered as an asset.

Required Language Skills:

• Fluency in English is required.? Knowledge of another official languages of the United Nations is considered an asset.

Application Process:

Interested applicants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Brief cover letter (max 1 page) outlining relevant experience and motivation for role;
• Personal history form (P11) or CV/Resume;
• Financial Proposal: Available resources to fund this Individual Contract are limited to a Junior Consultant fee. Proposal exceeding USD 4,400/month might not be considered, as they fall outside the budget available for this engagement;
• Contact details of 2 references.

Evaluation / Selection Process

1. Applicant’s CV and cover letter will be assessed against alignment with functional responsibilities and required skills and experience to create a longlist.
2. Longlisted candidates will be invited to complete a written test.
3. Candidates who score highest on the written test will be shortlisted and invited to interview.

For shortlisted candidates, a cumulative analysis method will be used. The award of the Individual Contractors Contract shall be made to the individual contractors 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; 70%

Applicants will be evaluated against the following criterias:

• Demonstrated knowledge of South-South cooperation (10 points).
• Previous experience writing high-level briefing notes, summaries of reports, and preparing presentations (30 points).
• Experience in the organization of international high-level events including knowledge of appropriate protocols for interacting with Member States, UN agencies, and other stakeholders (25 points).
• Experience in the UN working environment, (20 points).
• Knowledge of UN administrative and financial processes, and atlas system (10 points)
• Proficiency in English and another UN language (5 points)

Financial Criteria; 30%

Applicants are requested to submit a financial proposal in the form of a monthly rate in US dollars,?which will include?all expenses to undertake the?assignment. Available resources to fund this Individual Contract are limited to a Junior Consultant fee.? Proposal exceeding USD4,400/month might not be considered, as they fall outside the budget available for this engagement.

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal: p = y (µ/z),

• p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
• y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
• µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated;

Other Information:

Incomplete application and applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Only longlisted candidates will be notified.

UNDP Individual Consultant General Conditions for Contract apply and can be downloaded?at:

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf