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Consultancy – Junior Research Analyst (Disaster preparedness, early warning and early action, CB/UNDP

Home Based - May require travel

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Home Based - May require travel
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
    • Security policy
    • Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
    • Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
    • Emergency Aid and Response
    • Scientist and Researcher
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

UNDP plays an important and unique role in supporting high risk countries to achieve their development goals by reducing loss to life and assets, and by strengthening long term resilience. UNDP works with governments at international, national and local levels to ensure that disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a nationally-led and owned agenda, as well as integrated into national development planning. UNDP’s work focuses on resilience building and ensuring development remains risk-informed and sustainable. To do this we assist governments in systematically and comprehensively delivering on risk-informed development through the communication, reduction and management of risk.

UNDP’s country level DRR and recovery efforts have reached expenditures of USD 2.1 billion during the period 2005 – 2016 (more information on UNDP’s DRR portfolio can be accessed here). The Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team (DRT) currently manages a portfolio of global and regional projects amounting to approximately USD 60 million. Through enhanced integration with climate change adaptation and a firm focus on partnerships and mechanisms to deliver on Sendai, UNDP, during this reporting period, has:

  • helped 148 countries develop national and local DRR strategies and action plans;
  • supported 84 countries to understand and communicate risks through risk assessments;
  • worked with 90 countries to strengthen their legal and regulatory frameworks for DRM; and
  • supported 110 countries to develop post-disaster recovery capacities.

The DRT leads UNDP’s global practice in this field and provides policy advice and programmatic support to UNDP Regional Hubs and Country Offices in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of disaster risk reduction and recovery programmes. The team collaborates closely with other UNDP Global Policy Network (GPN) practices such as climate change, governance, conflict prevention, sustainable development and poverty eradication, towards a comprehensive and multi-dimensional approach to resilience building. 

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK

 This position is specifically intended to support UNDP’s work on disaster early warning and preparedness as one of the key strategic work streams of DRT. The consultant will support the team with research and outreach to inform the UNDP programmatic portfolio development and rollout.

The consultant role consists of the following duties and responsibilities:

  1. Undertake research and produce research outputs
  • Undertake research using qualitative and quantitative methodologies within thematic areas related to disaster preparedness, climate change and disaster early warning – early action, anticipatory action, horizon scanning, futures and foresight
  • Undertake mapping of key internal and external resources on these topics (tools, guides, manuals, policy documents, practice notes, project demonstration summaries), and categorize them in an online repository
  • Undertake mapping of technology-based/ digital solutions and their application at country level related to climate and disaster risk reduction, preparedness, early warning, early action
  • Develop research outputs such as concept notes, briefing packages, blog stories based on research undertaken to inform UNDP portfolio development and expansion 

2. Develop communication material for UNDP internal and external audience

  • Tailor and adapt research outputs for external communications purposes (blog stories, social media cards, briefs to be used for UNDP’s corporate website and UNDP’s presence at/ related to global events such as the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties 26, Global Platform for Disaster Risk reduction, Word Reconstruction Conference)
  • Develop slide decks, MURAL Boards, and other interactive materials for presentations at UNDP internal events, workshops, webinars, etc.

3.Team collaboration and representation

  • Work with the other team members to develop research collaboratively
  • Feed into, co-facilitate team and other UNDP collaborative efforts and events
  • Present findings and research within the team, with other UNDP partners and with external audience if requured

4.Support the DRT with any other portfolio related tasks that include research, analysis, and communication

  • Support research on other thematic areas related to disaster preparedness in the context of the new team strategy and UNDP Strategic Plan consultation
  • Develop briefs, talking points, slide decks, etc.

#

Deliverables

No of projected working  days

Project completion date

% of payment

1

Carry out research on three (3) thematic areas identified by the team as priority (early warning – early action, anticipatory action, horizon scanning, futures and foresight)

25

By 15 December

By 15 January

By 15 February

40%

 

2

Produce three (3) research outputs following a rigorous methodology between 10 and 15 pages

15

By 31 January

By 28 February

By 31 March

40%

 

3

Produce at least five (5) external communications materials based on research outputs (blog stories, social media cards, case studies)

10

By 31 January

By 31 March

4

Produce at least five (5) internal communications materials based on research outputs (concept notes, MURAL board, slide decks to be used in online events involving UNDP practitioners)

 

Co-facilitate five (5) virtual webinars and consultation workshops

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

By 15 February

By 31 March

20%

 

 

Total

70

 

100%

Competencies

Communication

  • Excellent communication and presentation skills.
  • Excellent drafting skills in English.
  • Strong analytical skills, and a proven ability to process large amount of information.

Teamwork

  • Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to work in teams.
  • Initiative taking and ability to work with minimum supervision.
  • Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Technical Competencies

  • Sound computer skills.
  • Proficient knowledge of MS Office applications.,
  • Familiarity with using MS Office PowerPoint application.
  • Knowledge of collaborative work platforms such as MURAL or Slido is an asset.
  • Knowledge of data visualization platforms such as PowerBI is an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

  • At least Master’s degree or equivalent ideally in disaster management/ risk reduction, climate change adaptation, climate change science; alternatively, development studies, international development, humanitarian action, environment, geography- Required

Experience:

  • Minimum of 2 years of research experience with proven track record of developing research and analytical reports related to disaster management/ risk reduction, early warning systems, early warning-early action, foresight, scenario-planning- Required
  • Command of concepts and application of innovation, including technological and digital solutions in disaster preparedness, early warning, early action- Desirable
  • Capacity to convey complex concepts in easy-to-understand language for instance by developing communications products based on research- Desirable
  • Experience with international organizations or research institutions is an asset.

Language:

  • Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
  • Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

  • A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and
  • Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references;

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

  • The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around the specific and measurable deliverables of the TOR. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR, and deliverables accepted and certified by the technical manager. 
  • The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; (excluding mission travel); living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
  • This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel. 
  • In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.
  • If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • Being 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 where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (70 points):

1. Desk Review of CVs 20% (20 points)

  • Criteria 1.1: Relevance of professional experience related to disaster management/ risk reduction, early warning systems, early warning-early action, foresight, scenario-planning Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 10;
  • Criteria 1.2: Relevance of experience in developing research and analytical reports related to the thematic areas above Weight = 5%; Maximum Points: 5;
  • Criteria 1.3:  Experience with international organizations or research institutions Weight = 2%; Maximum Points: 2; and
  • Criteria 1.4: Relevance of academic background (Master’s degree or equivalent ideally in disaster management/ risk reduction, climate change adaptation, climate change science; alternatively, development studies, international development, humanitarian action, environment, geography) Weight = 3%; Maximum Points: 3.

2. Written test 30% (30 points)

  • Criteria 2.1: Command of the concept and practice of disaster management/ risk reduction, early warning systems, early warning-early action, foresight, scenario-planning -- Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 10.
  • Criteria 2.2: Command of concepts and their application related to innovation, including technological and digital solutions in disaster preparedness, early warning, early action -- Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 10;
  • Criteria 2.3: Capacity to convey complex concepts in easy-to-understand language for instance by developing communications products based on research- Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 10.

3. Interview: Weight = 20%; Maximum Points: 20.

Having reviewed applications received based on criteria 1-4 of the desk review, UNDP will invite the top six shortlisted candidates for the written test . The top three candidates out of the six shortlisted will be invited for interview based on the combined result of the desk review and the written test . Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

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

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of  the UNDP Disaster Preparedness Global Lead  and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

Payment modality

  • Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified above and deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager. 
  • The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template

Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4 – RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.

This vacancy is now closed.
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