Researcher / Investigator (Turkish Speaking)

The principal mandate of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) is to establish the fate of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who went missing as a consequence of the tragic events of 1963-1964 and 1974 and to provide answers to families of missing persons who remain in grief. CMP’s work includes the obtaining of information that may lead to the exhumation, identification and return of remains of missing persons. This process enables the relatives of the victims to recover the remains of their loved ones, arrange for a proper burial and provide closure to a long period of anguish and uncertainty, thereby promoting a process of reconciliation, healing and dialogue between both communities. The investigation process is a key component of the CMP project and it is particularly transversal to the whole identification process and will assist in locating burial sites of missing persons. The CMP project also aims to strengthen the capacity for civil society to engage in sustained cooperation and reconciliation, through the important participation of bi-communal activities and cooperation in all stages of the process.

The United Nations Development Programme, Programme Management Office (UNDP PMO) in Nicosia, Cyprus, seeks to contract on behalf of the CMP a skilled researcher / investigator to contribute to CMP’s mandate.

The individual contractor reports to the UNDP Operations Manager and will work closely with CMP teams and the UNDP operations unit. CMP Member(s) will be requested to review deliverables/timesheets from the substantive side and provide their opinion prior to approval of services and payment by the UNDP.

Description of Responsibilities:

• Provide information by collecting, analyzing and summarizing data regarding missing person’s possible burial sites, last seen place of disappearance etc. He/she is expected to work out of office to collect information.
• Prepare work by gathering data and related documents.
• Review objectives and evaluate current information.
• Resolve discrepancies by analysing information.
• Visits to sites / places required related to the research of missing person’s possible burial sites (vehicle to be provided by the CMP).
• Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Work and report for the Office of the Turkish Cypriot Member of CMP.
• Work in harmony with CMP bi-communal teams.
• Work in accordance with the office standard operating procedures.

Expected deliverables; progress report(s):

The consultant will provide a weekly output/progress report which outlines the activities carried out, the deliverables completed, and the milestones reached.

The progress report should include information which will be obtained by collecting, analyzing, summarizing, data regarding missing persons possible burial sites, last seen place of disappearance etc.

Functional Competencies:

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things;

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;

Promoting Organizational Development

• Demonstrates ability to identify problems and proposes solutions;

Client Orientation

• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion;
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients;

Promoting Accountability

• Prepares timely inputs to reports;

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrate cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Have good management skills;
• Good communication (written and spoken) and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work well under pressure;
• Good understanding of the sensitive and bi-communal work of CMP;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
• Respond positively to critical feedback.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.
• Master’s or PhD degree in a relevant field is considered as an asset.

Experience: 

• Minimum 2 years’ experience with Bachelor’s degree OR minimum 1 year working experience with Master’s degree OR no experience needed with PhD degree.
• Additional experience is considered as an asset.
• Previous experience working with local communities in a post-conflict setting is an asset.
• Knowledge of details and locations of 1963-64 and 1974 events that took place in Cyprus is required.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of Turkish and English is required.

Other Requirements: 

• Valid driving license for vehicles including double cabin pickup (4×4 manual or automatic).
• Medical fitness for work (no health problem preventing him/her from travelling to sites / places related to the work).

Application:

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

• CV or Personal History (P11): Applicants are required to submit CV or a P11 Form. The UNDP P11 Form can be downloaded from: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc 
• References: Contact details of 3 references.
• Financial Proposal: Applicants requested to submit a financial proposal. The financial proposal will specify the weekly fee in Euro (each week an output/progress report will be submitted which outlines the activities carried out, the deliverables completed, and the milestones reached) and shall cover all expenditures including fees, health insurance, vaccination, international (all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel) or local travel (place of residence to office and office to place of residence), cost of living and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services. Leave benefits (annual, sick, paternity, maternity) are not applicable to Individual Contractor and absent days including weekends and office holidays are not payable.

Evaluation / Selection Process
All applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies set above. Candidates fully meeting the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below. 

Technical Criteria (CV review and Desk Review / Interview) – 70 % of total evaluation– max. 70 points

CV review: 30 points:

• Educational qualifications as defined in the ToR (10 points).
• Experience as defined in the ToR (20 points).

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the CV desk review (who will score at least 21 points) will be qualified for considering for desk review and/or interview.

Desk Review and/or Interview: 40 points 

• Experience in research, investigation and information analysis (20 points).
• Experience in working with local communities in a post-conflict setting (10 points).
• Communication and interpersonal skills (10 points). 

Only those individual consultants who obtained at least 70% of points from the interview (28 out of 40) will be qualified for considering for financial proposal evaluation.

Financial Criteria – 30 % of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

UNDP applies the “Best value for money approach” – the final selection will be based on the combination of the applicants’ qualification and financial proposal.

Payment Term: 

Monthly lump-sum payable upon submission of the reports, time sheet, certification and approval of the UNDP.