Systemic Transformation Coordinator

Background

Ukraine has closed down 68 state-owned mining enterprises since 2004, with another 19 state-owned mines either being closed or prepared for shut-down. Currently, 29 of 33 state-owned mines are unprofitable and are only functioning thanks to annual subsidies from the state budget (Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine).

 

In the next few years, the process will accelerate, as Ukraine joined efforts to fight climate change when it ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016. To limit global warming to 1.5–2 °C, as required by scientists, the country must completely phase out fossil fuels in the next 20-30 years. Additional declarations about joining the EU's European Green Deal initiative and expansive energy partnership with Germany that was launched in 2020 further spell the end of the age of coal.

 

UNDP Ukraine recognizes that rapid decline in coal production raises important questions about what to do with the huge industrial complexes, however even more  questions about the impacts on the cities dependent on such industries (e.g. unemployment, declining quality of the public services, environmental consequences and so on) and there is a need to grapple with how to plan and implement strategies to mitigate these impacts, and how to create alternative social, environmental and economic foundations that can sustain transformation of the coal-dependent areas. 

 

NextGenUNDP recognizes that development is not static and fixed, but that the current times are especially dynamic, ever-changing, and evolving into a new pattern. UNDP also recognizes that in a multi-polar, interconnected and fast-paced world, a single development model is not enough. Agility, exploration and experimentation are critical in appreciating, addressing and, ultimately, closing the relevance gap - the difference between current practice and the speed of development change in the world. Grappling with complexity and uncertainty means that systemic change cannot be achieved by traditional models, and that new development processes are in high demand.

 

Currently UNDP has explored a number of innovative practices (system-thinking frameworks, deep listening and sensemaking methods, portfolio creation and management approaches) on how to tackle local level challenges. UNDP Ukraine would like to test application of those to the Just Transition cases in the mono-functional coal dependent towns - Murnograd and Chervonograd, and for this we are seeking a qualified Systemic Transformation Coordinator.

Duties and Responsibilities

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The overall goal of this assignment is to test the proposed transformation process:

SYSTEMS MAPPING. The main objective of this step is to create visually appealing and interactable ecosystem maps that would enable to widen the understanding of the situation regarding urban transition in coal-dependent cities in Ukraine. The maps should capture main elements according to agreed taxonomy and methodology, the ecosystem should be a web-based solution allowing further elaboration by stakeholder (preferably on open source i.e. kumu.io, Airtable, Spreadsheets or similar). See an example here. The focus of the maps should not be solely on the actors in the system. It should also represent connections/relations among the issue components. See an example here.

LISTENING AND SENSE MAKING. The main objective of this task is to develop a deeper understanding of the social, economic and environmental dynamics and perceptions operating within a system we want to transform - coal cities. It means listening to (people) and to (nature) and future generations. “Listening to people” includes creation of the right questions together with Acclab and finding the ways to collect responses (e.g. thought chat-bots; theatre of oppressed, social media listening and similar). See example of this methodology here. “Listening to nature” task includes collecting and analyzing data from the environment - e.g. collecting Community Safari Data, creating Urban maps and similar representations and visualization.

INTERPRETATION SEMINAR. Once we have gathered data from diverse narratives, we need to contrast the scattered results and turn them into assembled, reinforced, powerful agreed results that include everyone. To that end, different collective sensemaking sessions will follow the listening results.  Main goals of these sessions are (1) to  reinforce the conclusions of the listening process and give them legitimacy in the community; (2) add new focus areas to re-elaborate these conclusions, if necessary, and find possible gaps in our analysis; (3) strengthen the participatory network; (4) prioritizing the main areas to tackle for the co-creation process. The seminar should include representatives from UNDP and AccLab, locals, business, administration, international organizations, governmental representatives and so on. Led by coordinator with support from AccLab.

PORTFOLIO CO-CREATION. How do we co-create new solutions for the specific perceptions (even contradictory ones) with portfolio logic (interconnected, multilevel initiatives). Instead of drawing on isolated projects, this process will connect, activate, enable and amplify ongoing and new actions, increasing and escalating the impact of the different initiatives. The draft of the portfolio will be created after the interpretation seminar and will be enriched by any on-going initiatives (e.g. results from the Transforms and SynchroSpace Hackathons).

The Coordinator will receive support from UNDP AccLab and UNDP Ukraine Country office, International experts and a number of volunteers (designers, translators and similar). AccLab will also provide to the Coordinator all the relevant information and connect with key actors in the field. The Coordinator will be able to take part in a training from the experts in the system transformation field.

The Coordinator should also invite, connect and/or mention UNDP and UNDP Accelerator Lab to the relevant actors, in the events, meetings and foras.

 

SCOPE OF WORK AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS 

	Deliverables	Tentative deadlines
1	Two system maps for two cities (using kumu/or similar for the online version and picture format for the offline version); presented in a blog together with AccLab	31 August
2	Step by step plan for the deep listening, interpretation seminars and portfolio creation process in two cities, approved by AccLab	1 week from the contract signature
3	Results of the listening exercise transformed into Personas and other visualization material (listening to people) and presented in the collective interpretation seminar in two cities. Final results reported in a blog together with AccLab, including results from: - In-depth interviews, - Chat-bot surveys, -          Theatre observations, Social-media listening and similar.	30 September
4	Results of the listening exercise transformed into GIS and other maps or visualization material (listening to nature) and presented in the collective interpretation seminar in two cities. Final results reported in a blog together with AccLab, including results from: - GIS maps, -Experts advices, - UNDP provided Community Safari data and similar	30 September
5	Portfolio created, visualized and presented reported in a blog together with AccLab	31 October
6	Final blog about the whole process with lessons learned and recommendations for next steps and process improvement/scaling	30 November

 

MONITORING/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

• The Coordinator will work under the overall supervision of the UNDP Accelerator Lab Team. The work will be organized based on the agile work plan (in KanBan Trello), established and monitored in the bi-weekly meetings with AccLab (or on demand).

• In the bi-weekly meetings, the coordinator will interact with UNDP to receive any clarifications and guidance that may be needed. The coordinator will duly inform UNDP of any problems, issues or delays arising in the course of implementation of assignment and take necessary steps to address them.

• UNDP will be the final authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. The satisfactory completion of each of the deliverables shall be subject to the endorsement of the UNDP Accelerator Lab Team. Each deliverable will be delivered in a draft for comments and feedback before finalization. No reports or documents should be published or distributed to third parties without the approval of UNDP.

Competencies

CORPORATE COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS 

1. Education: At least Bachelor’s degree in management, urban planning, design, environmental or social sciences or related fields.

2. Work experience:

• Experience in running city related projects (e.g. urban hackathons, urban planning, city design and planning); in particular, proven experience of leading or development of at least 5 similar projects;
• Proven experience (at least 5 years) experience in management of the sustainability projects;
• Experience with either systems thinking or systems mapping or systemic analysis and visualization or similar; in particular, proven experience of leading or development of at least 1 similar project;
• Experience with either deep listening, or participatory planning or personas creation and visualization or similar; in particular, proven experience of leading or development of at least 1 similar project;

3.Language (s)

• Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required.

 

 DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED IN A TECHNICAL PROPOSAL: 

           Personal CV, including information about past experience in similar projects/assignments and contact details for referees

           Examples required or other products, reflecting experience required (links to projects etc.)

           Commercial offer (the form is attached)

 

 PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

• 1 payment (20% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 1 and 2.
• 2 payment (20% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 3.
• 3 payment (20% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 4.
• 4 payment (20% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 5.
• 5 payment (20% of the contract amount) upon successful completion of the Deliverable 6.

 

EVALUATION CRITERIA

-              Educational background – 10 points max  

{10 pts – Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field; 8 pts –Master’s degree in the relevant field}; 

-              Relevant professional experience (Experience in running city related projects (e.g. urban hackathons, urban planning, city design and planning); in particular, proven experience of leading or development of at least 5 similar projects;) – 35 points max  

{35 pts – 7 and more projects; 32 pts –6 projects; 26 pts – 5 projects); 

-              Relevant professional expertise (Proven experience (at least 5 years) experience in management of the sustainability projects) – 15 points max  

{15 pts – 7 and more years; 12 pts – 6 years; 9 pts – 5 years}; 

-              Relevant professional expertise (Experience with either deep listening, or participatory planning or personas creation and visualization or similar; in particular, proven experience of leading or development of at least 1 similar project) -3 points max;

{3 pts – 1 project and more, 0 pts – no experience}; 

-            Relevant professional expertise (Experience with either systems thinking or systems mapping or systemic analysis and visualization or similar; in particular, proven experience of leading or development of at least 1 similar project) -3 points max  

{3 pts – 1 project and more, 0 pts – no experience}; 

-              Language Skills – 4 points max 

{4 pts – Fluency in English and Ukrainian}.

Maximum available technical score - 70 points.

 

EVALUATION METHOD

Cumulative analysis

Contract award shall be made to the incumbent whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the cumulative highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 

* Technical Criteria weight: 70%

*Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].

The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.