Consultancy – Senior Rule of Law and Program Management Consultant, Crisis Bureau/UNDP

In 2012, the United Nations Secretary-General established the Global Focal Point for police, justice and corrections areas in the rule of law in post-conflict and other complex settings, as part of an effort to enhance the predictability, coherence, accountability and effectiveness of the United Nations delivery in the field of the rule of law. In 2018, Global Focal Point for police, justice and corrections was renamed as the Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law (GFP).

The Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law (GFP) – co-chaired by UNDP and DPO – contributes to the prevention and peace agenda by strengthening the system-wide provision of rule of law assistance to address violent conflict, protect human rights and restore justice and security for conflict-affected people. The GFP is a coordinating platform that delivers technical support to member states, UN peace operations and UN Country Teams, through planning, programming and joint assessments. Since its establishment in 2012 the Global Focal Point has supported rule of law efforts in 24 fragile or conflict afflicted countries. 

The GFP platform enables partners such as UNODC, UNHCR, OHCHR, EOSG, UNOPS, UN Women and others to jointly pursue shared objectives, in accordance with their specific mandates and capacities.

Rationale

In addition to support given to joint rule of law assessments, planning, and programming the GFP is tasked with strategic policy development and knowledge management, including the development of knowledge products and specific trainings in rule of law related areas.

While there are many good examples of best practices from GFP settings where existing joint rule of law programs are in place (e.g. Somalia, CAR, Sudan (Darfur), Libya, and Mali) there has been no consistent effort yet to systematize these lessons and other ad hoc endeavors for the benefit of field based personnel, and ultimately to help strengthen the “One UN” approach.

In 2017 DPKO (now DPO) produced the guidance “Mandated Programmatic Activities funded through Peacekeeping Assessed Budgets”, which could serve as a potential building block for the proposed GFP guidance product which would be more holistic and target all UN entities in the rule of law sphere, including in non-mission settings. Other resources from UNDG will also be considered ensuring that the new product connects with the UNSDC framework.

It is against this backdrop that the need for practical guidance on joint rule of law programming has been identified.

The Senior Rule of Law and Program Management Expert will:

• produce a practical knowledge product on joint UN rule of law programming and best practice, including an Executive Summary and key recommendations (i.e. guidance).
• facilitate a GFP consultation workshop with the support of GFP Core Team on the near to final product for final feedback from partners and stakeholders

Objective:

The purpose of this procurement exercise is to contract an individual consultant who will develop a knowledge product on joint rule of law programming, including lessons learned and best practice in fragile settings. This includes designing the outline of the tool, collating input, conducting consultations with various stakeholders and the drafting of the guidance note.   

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

The Senior Rule of Law and Program Management Consultant (IC) will support the work of all GFP partners by developing a timely and much needed knowledge product on joint RoL programming.

Deliverable 1:

• Review existing programming guidance tools in this area through a desk review(10%, by31 January 2021)

• Liaise and interview GFP practitioners in the field (e.g. Somalia, CAR, Haiti, DRC, Sudan, Libya, and Mali etc.) and at headquarters 15 %, by 28 February 2021)

 Deliverable 2:

• Produce a first draft guidance for peer review, quality control and GFP managers clearance. (25%, by 28 February 2021)

Deliverable 3:

• Facilitate a GFP consultation (i.e. workshop) on the near to final product for final feedback and endorsement by partners and stakeholders with the support of the GFP Core Team (25% by mid-April)

Deliverable 4:

• Finalize the GFP validated practical guidance tool on joint UN rule of law programming under the GFP umbrella.(25%, by 31 May 2021)

Duration of the Work

The consultant is expected to commit up to 90 days of work in the period between 1 January 2021 and 31 May 2021.

Duty Station

Home-based, and online. No travel is foreseen for this assignment.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and communications skills;

• Excellent planning, organisational skills and teambuilding and facilitation skills;

• Excellent English writing and editing skills;

• Good analytical, problem solving, negotiation, and diplomatic skills;

• Proven previous experience supporting in drafting of knowledge documents for UNDP and other UN entities,

• Effective communication skills and ability to work under time constraints

• Extensive knowledge of UNDP and UN’s policies, procedures, and practice

• Displays sensitivity and adaptability; treats all people fairly without favouritism.

• Sound knowledge of political, social and humanitarian contexts in which UNDP, DPO and the broader UN system works;

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards; promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN

Academic qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related field is required.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of rule of law experience, including from post-conflict or fragile settings is required 

• Wide-ranging expertise of UN programme design, implementation and management in the areas of rule of law, justice and security is required

• Experience in leading and facilitating UN and multi-stakeholder partnership arrangements, including workshops and trainings (Is an asset)

• Excellent drafting and editing skills and the ability to produce final draft quality

• Extensive knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation in the rule of law sphere 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;

• 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;

• and a link to 1- 2 Written Samples of previous knowledge products that were authored by the candidate.

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 should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7 hour working day – lunch time is not included – and estimated 21.75 days per month).

• 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% (700 points):

• Criteria 1. Relevant experience in Rule of Law program design, implementation and management in conflict and fragile settings Maximum Points: 150;
• Criteria 2. Relevant experience in leading and facilitating multi-stakeholder partnership arrangements between UN entities and/or between international organizations   Maximum Points: 100 points);
• Criteria 3. Previous experience in United Nations or other international organisations Maximum Points: 100; and
• Criteria 4: Relevant experience in joint programming/project implementation work with the GFP arrangement and/or GFP Partner agencies. Maximum Points: 100

• Criteria 5   Quality of the Written Sample

                    Proven knowledge of advanced written English and the ability to produce final draft quality. (max 50 points)

                   Relevant experience in designing and producing high quality knowledge products in the Rule of Law area (max 50 points)

• Interview:  Maximum Points: 150

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three shortlisted candidates obtaining 70% of the desk review scores for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (490 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (700 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation – Total 30% (300 0points)

• 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 Senior Rule of Law and Program Management Consultant will work under the overall supervision of UNDP Team Leader for RoLSHR together with other GFP Managers, Chief of Justice and Corrections Service of DPO/OROLSI and Chief of Strategic Policy and Development section of DPO/OROLSI in coordination with the  GFP Core Team. The Senior Rule of Law and Program Management Consultant will liaise with and all relevant stakeholders across GFP entities in the field and at HQ.  The contractor is expected to be home based. Should any ad hoc travel needs arise the related costs will be borne by UNDP based on RoLSHR Team Leader approval The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Payment modality

• Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.

• 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 [email protected] 

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.