Consultancy – Learning Specialist for Policy Integration Course, BPPS/ SDG Integration

Policy integration is emerging as the main modality of support to countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As COVID-19 disrupted countries’ sustainable development trajectories just as we entered the Decade of Action for the SDGs, it is more important than ever before for UN agencies to come together and offer coherent expertise and policy advice to UN Country Teams (UNCTs) and governments. The UNSDG Task Team on Integrated Policy Support released an e-course on “Integrated Approaches to Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support for the SDGs” in September 2020, with the aim to train UN staff on a common approach and a core set of tools for delivering SDG support to governments. The e-course is freely available to development practitioners through UNICEF’s Agora learning platform. Following the UNSDG Task Team on Integrated Policy Support, a coalition of UN entities have established an Integrated Policy Practitioners’ Network (IPPN), which will oversee the maintenance and update of the e-course.

After its strong uptake, the logical next step is a redesign of the e-course into a fully comprehensive learning journey on Integrated Policy Approaches. The redesigned course will function as a venue where participants can interact with and learn from one another. Using the IPPN to advance systemic approaches to the SDGs, the participants will continuously learn more about integrated policy approaches, based on practical examples, on how to apply tools and methodologies.

The full course aims to:

1) Introduce participants to policy integration for sustainable development aligned to key modules in the UN’s SDG Primer and providing more technical depth for expert learners

2) Familiarize participants with practical vertical and horizontal examples of integrated policy approaches for implementation of the 2030 Agenda and cutting-edge tools to assess synergy, acceleration and bottlenecks

3) Explore integrated policy and programme strategies in a post-Covid19 world through case studies and peer to peer sharing of experiences

4) Provide participants with opportunities to exchange knowledge, tools and experience with other practitioners, leveraging the Integrated Policy Practitioners’ Network and the Sparkblue engagement platform.

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

The primary responsibility of the Learning Specialist is to redesign the course on “Integrated Approaches to Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support for the SDGs”, using the state-of-the-art methodologies for adult learning. 

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, a participant is expected to be able to:

• Understand and use the theoretical frameworks of UN approaches to integrated policy in his/her development practice.

• Support Governments to diagnose development challenges from a systems-thinking and cross-sectoral perspective. 

• Take part in inter-agency and inter-disciplinary teams to support UNCTs and Governments on integrated approaches to SDG implementation which could take the form of technical analysis, policy design and/or strategic priority setting. 

• Design integrated policy options that manage and harness interlinkages across SDGs and sectors. 

• Deploy analytical tools and methodologies for policy integration. 

• Apply integrated policy thinking on post-emergency, humanitarian and/or recovery contexts.

• Support analysis of SDG accelerators. 

The proposed modality is a self-paced course covering the following proposed topics:

• Mixed method course with online modules and facilitated interactions such as webinars and online workshops.

• Each module to have “Knowledge Clips” – explanatory videos that may include recording of a speaker/lecturer, animation (explaining key concepts), infographics (infographics with audio), and/or animated text.

• Allow interactive map (i.e. Padlet) – so e-course participants can mark themselves on the map and introduce themselves.

• Introduce community board for participants to meet, discuss and network (this could be supported by UNDP’s Sparkblue)

• 1-2 relevant webinars (that are part of IPPN Knowledge café series, but in line with e-course material) or virtual classroom session.

Proposed scope of the e-course:

• A user journey that maps out the processes for delivering integrated policy support to countries and that explains the relevance of the course in that work 

• How integrated policy support promotes the acceleration of the SDGs

• Development and humanitarian policies, programmes and processes that require integrated policy support

• Tools, methods and datasets that advance integrated policy support

Expected outputs and deliverables:

• Advanced level of instructional, analytical, and creative skills to present materials to audiences with diverse abilities;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to deliver in a high-pressure environment;
• Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy
• Experience in working for the UN System is an asset;
• Demonstrated ability to thrive within a complex multicultural and multinational environment strongly preferred.

Academic qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, international development, public policy or related fields.
• Bachelor’s degree in above fields with additional two years of relevant work experience can be accepted in lieu of Master’s degree

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in policies for sustainable development and/or the humanitarian sector required
• At least 10 years of demonstrated experience in designing and delivering learning systems curricula and learning experiences for diverse learners required
• Experience working with open-source learning technologies desired
• Familiarity and experience with UN processes at the global, regional and national levels related to supporting integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda
• Demonstrated ability to build capability in agile ways of working, innovation, co-design and design thinking
• Strong communications skills, including drafting and writing of clear documents and facilitation of workshops and webinars.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

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 two-page methodology on how the Offeror will conduct the work including a Work Plan and approach in delivering the required outputs within the assignment period.

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.

Technical evaluation – Total 70% (700 points):

• Criteria 1. Methodology for delivering the required outputs, including workplan
  Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 70.
• Criteria 2. Understanding of policies for implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 2030 Agenda and the humanitarian sector
  Weight = 25%; Maximum Points: 175;
• Criteria 3. Experience in designing and delivering learning systems curricula on international development issues
  Weight = 40%; Maximum Points: 280;
• Criteria 4. Experience with UN processes at global, regional and national levels related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda
  Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 70; and
• Interview: Weight = 15%; Maximum Points: 105.

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite for interview the top four shortlisted candidates who have obtained a minimum of 70% (416 points) of maximum obtainable points for the the desk review score (595 points). 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 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 Director of the SDG Integration Team in the Bureau of Policy and Programme Support and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

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 [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.