UNDP-IC-2021-130 Lead Economic Advisor ( National Consultant)

The Merged Areas Governance Project (MAGP) is an integrated, cross-sectoral project to support the peaceful integration of the merged areas (formerly the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, now the newly-merged regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). In support of Government-owned and led reform processes, the project provides critical support to the government and stakeholders in the administrative, legal, and economic integration of the Merged Areas (MA) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The project provides integrated world-class technical assistance across all critical sectors to facilitate integration processes, support effective district-level governance, provide technical assistance to policy-making, support improved economic management, and the introduction of inclusive local governance structures.

The Government of KP has adopted a multi-year Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP), 2019-2022, to address the key developmental gaps in the Merged Areas (MA), erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). AIP is the first three-year program under the Tribal Decade Strategy of the government that seeks to address developmental disparity of the MA and bring these areas at par with other areas of Pakistan. UNDP is implementing its Merged Areas Governance Project (MAGP) as key partner in the process of erstwhile FATA development. MAGP seeks to support AIP implementation through technical assistance in the areas of project formulation, context specific innovations in service delivery systems, results oriented programming, data collection and analysis to contribute to development of locally feasible solutions. The implementation of this plan has the potential to change millions of lives, while transforming a persistent security national and regional security challenge.

UNDP’s programme in this area aims to contribute to a more conducive environment for inclusive economic growth in FATA. UNDP has been providing policy level and technical support to FATA reform process since 2015 through the provision of experts/advisors to the relevant Federal Ministries, the FATA Secretariat and the Provincial Government of KP.

In this context, UNDP Pakistan is looking for a Lead Economic Advisor with an international profile to drive to lead our economic development programming in the Merged Areas. 

The Lead Economic Advisor will lead and assist in management of the implementation of economic pillar of the programme. He/she will be responsible to provide technical and strategic advice to the Government and stakeholders on economic planning and policy and delivering technical interventions in support of the growth plan and extension of economic management tools. The Lead Economic Advisor will coordinate closely with Government partners, development partners, the Development Policy Unit, International Financial Institutions, and the FATA Transition and Recovery Programme.

Advise the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Economic Development of Tribal Districts;

Build and maintain key relationships with Government counterparts.

Provide sound and effective policy-level advisory to the government on economic planning and development in the Tribal Districts/Subdivisions.

To lead the preparation of KP Tribal Districts investment climate assessment in coordination of all relevant stakeholders: 

Provide technical assistance in the preparation of relevant economic and financial sector related PCs1 and other policy documents.

Draft implementation proposals, road maps, and work plans in coordination of Government and other key stakeholders.

Support the implementation of the Tribal Decade Strategy and AIP;

Provide high-quality technical assistance to relevant government divisions/departments/directorates in the implementation and monitoring of TDS and AIP.

Conduct analysis on public development investment in the region (agency/district and sector wise) and policy recommendations for inclusive economic growth and development.

Facilitate monitoring of AIP implementation and dissemination of high-quality analytical reports on implementation.

Analyze project and portfolio performance, diagnose challenges, and use evidence to drive innovation and sell change

Support the Extension of the economic data regime to the Tribal Districts;

Collaborate with Bureau of Statistics KP and relevant Government counterparts to implement a roadmap for timely extension of national and provincial economic data regime into KP Tribal Districts.

Organize a programme of support to implement the extension.

Provide effective leadership and support management of economic growth programing pillar;

Conceptualize, plan, and implement all the activities (most of which are described above) and fall within the economic management pillar of MAGP.

Provide effective leadership, team recruitment and management of the economic growth team.

Effectively oversee program implementation in line with annual workplan, donor agreements, policy and procedure.

Draft and/or provide quality assurance of timely and relevant analytical and policy products including notes, briefings, background notes.

Liaison and development of partnerships with project stakeholders, other UN Agencies and intergovernmental relationship management.

Support cooperation through effective engagement with international partners and IFIs, of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects

Facilitate knowledge building and management.

1. QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND LANGUAGE:

Evaluation Criteria

The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. Responsive/compliant/ acceptable, and
2. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the felicitation.

• Technical Criteria weight; [70%]
• Financial Criteria weight; [30%]

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 out of 70) point would be considered for the financial evaluation.

Institutional Arrangement and Duty Station:

The Advisor will be supervised by the by the Chief Technical Specialist of MAGP, with day-to-day supervision by the Senior Strategic Advisor. S/he will provide day-to-day supervision of high-level consultants working on the Economic Growth Pillar.

The advisor, in coordination with the Chief Technical Specialist and the Senior Strategic Advisor will set objectives and key results using the Project OKR methodology on a quarterly basis. This will ensure consultant priorities are synced with project objectives and the changing context.

The consultant will be based in UNDP Islamabad. The consultant will be expected to periodically travel to KP including the merged areas. Work related travel will be arranged by MAGP.  UNDP will provide official email and laptop facilities.