Mine Action Strategic Advisor (International)

Past and recent conflicts have resulted in a comprehensive and complex explosive ordnance contamination in Azerbaijan.

Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) is seen as an urgent and critical activity to ensure safe reconstruction of infrastructure and return of IDPs. Due to the size and complexity of the survey and clearance tasks, the Azerbaijani Government and the Azerbaijan National Mine Action Authority (ANAMA) acknowledge the need for international HMA assistance, and they have subsequently asked for UNDP assistance.

A UN assessment mission in December 2020 recommended that a systematic Non-Technical Survey (NTS) be conducted across all conflict affected areas.  

Throughout the validity of contract the Mine Action Strategic Advisor will:

• The MA Advisor to ANAMA will provide support and assistance based on needs identified by the ANAMA management team.
• The MA Advisor to ANAMA is envisaged to support ANAMA in the design and implementation of the field operations, including planning, coordination and regulation of Mine Action
• Continue the development of the Azerbaijani National Mine Action Standards (NMAS) within the framework of IMAS for all components of mine action operations in Azerbaijan
• Provide guidance and assistance to ANAMA to improve the structure of field teams, working procedures/practices to ensure cost effective and competent operations.
• Assist with QA of field teams and advise ANAMA in investigation of demining accidents including lessons learn
• Provide guidance and assistance to ANAMA in the identification, development, trials, introduction and deployment of appropriate demining technologies
• Undertake any activity as required by the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.

Mine Action Strategic Advisor will meet the following Deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Towards ANAMA (50% of effort)

• Provide technical inputs to ANAMA in the development of national strategies, policies, priorities and national work plans.
• Drafting ToRs and work specifications, identify appropriate national and international consultants and supervise performance of their tasks.
• Providing technical advice to ANAMA in the design and implementation of project activities
• Work closely with the ANAMA Operations Staff to ensure most effective use of operational resources without jeopardizing safety
• Assist in the establishment and implementation of an internal Quality Management System that encompasses both the interpersonal and information perspectives to allow better co-ordination and information management inside the institution, and with the stakeholders
• Work with ANAMA to offer guidance as required on all internal investigations of accidents/incidents.
• Assist with institutional capacity building of ANAMA
• Closely interact with relevant ANAMA departments to assist in setting up systems and internal communications, development of usable land release systems, accreditation of international contractors, revision and update of SOPs, training of ANAMA staff etc.

Deliverable 2: Towards UNDP Country Office (50% of effort)

• Day-to-day management of UNDP funded HMA projects in particular the planning, and management of project activities, and report on project results and outcomes
• Proper technical management of donor funds and report to donors regularly;
• Support the UNDP programme in fundraising for HMA and providing the necessary technical advice to ensure proper design, implementation and reporting on project activities;
• Liaising with UNDP, donors and other stakeholders to assure the overall direction and integrity of the project;
• Providing briefings and written reports to UNDP senior management, donors and other stakeholders;

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity 
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others.
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in social science, International Relations, Development and Policy Studies, Political Science, or other development-related areas

Experinece: 

• Minimum 10 years of experience in implementing mine action operations in different organizational contexts including experience of development of national mine action institutions.

Language:

• Fluency in spoken and written English and fluent spoken Russian and/or Turkish is an advantage

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Combined scoring:

• Technical Qualification weight; [70%]

• Financial/Price Proposal weight; [30%]

6.1 Technical qualification evaluation criteria:

1          Bachelor’s degree in social science, International Relations, Development and Policy Studies, Political Science or other development-related areas – 12 points

2          Minimum 10 years of experience in implementing mine action operations in different organizational contexts including experience of development of national mine action institutions – 12 points

3          Understanding the principle of national ownership and integrity in development cooperation – 12 points

4          Strategic vision: high-level understanding of complex bureaucratic organizations and challenges they present for effective mine action – 12 points

5          Professional knowledge of demining and explosives ordnance equipment- 10 points

6          Knowledge of International Mine Action Standards, Mine Action strategies, and a good understanding of the link between Mine Action and Development- 9 points

7          Experience with government-led multi-stakeholders mine action programmes – 9 points

8          Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc)- 9 points

9          Evaluation of the candidate based on the interview – 7 points

10        Fluency in spoken and written English and fluent spoken Russian and/or Turkish is an advantage- 4 points

11        Knowledge of budget management is an asset- 4 points

Please note that the system accepts only one attachment. So please send your technical and financila offer as one document. 

The financial proposal will specify the daily fee, travel expenses and per diems quoted in separate line items, and payments are made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked.

Travel: Travel to the regions may be required

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  The consultant should take into consideration that the service fee/the offer should be inclusive of service fee, Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSAs) for in-country full consultancy days, regional trip and other related expenses.

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

1. Proposal:

(i) Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work

(ii) Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work (if applicable)

2. Financial proposal- In the form of Offeror’s letter to UNDP confirming their interest and availability for the individual contractor (IC) assignment. Please see the link below to the form to download.

https://www.az.undp.org/content/dam/azerbaijan/docs/Legal_docs/undp-aze-PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx

3. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references

Note: If any of the required documents not provided UNDP reserves the right to disqualify.