NHDR Lead Author

UNDP and the State of Kuwait, represented by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development (GSSCPD), strive to enhance institutional capacities at various government agencies by providing them with necessary technical support to strengthen their capacities and skills to perform their expected duties.

For more than a decade, national and regional Human Development Report (HDR) teams have been helping to advance the human development conceptual framework and apply it to the most pressing development challenges of the day. Now published in over 135 countries, these reports, grounded in thorough analytic research, have become dynamic advocacy tools. They are helping to generate lively debates around the policies and actions needed to accelerate human development and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

With the support of UNDP, Two National Human Development Reports for Kuwait have been published previously back in 1997 and 1999. The 1997 report was a general report on human development, but the 1999 report was more focused on human development within the Economic Reform Plan of the Government.

With education being one of the main pillars of human development, the 2019 report theme will be on education with a focus on private education. This theme will give policy makers an insight on the private education in contrast to public education.

The 2019 NHDR has been drafted and currently it is required to include further performance of the State of Kuwait in the education sector considering the latest available data. As such, the consultant is expected to update the related analysis to be in line with the most recent statistics and data.

Objective

The main objective of the consultancy is to re-write and update the current NHDR draft and have it published in collaboration with the Arab Knowledge Project.

Under the direct supervision of UNDP, the Lead Author will assume the following tasks:

• Revise and re-write the current Arabic draft of the report.
• Ensure that the NHDR content and data meet the guidelines of the HDR Toolkit for National & Regional Human Development Report.
• Coordinate closely with the Arab Knowledge Project for the structure and analysis of the data related to the report theme and content.
• Conduct work sessions with the relevant stakeholders at the General Secretariat of Development and Planning GSSCPD.
• Relevant stakeholders may include GSSCPD, Ministry of Education, Kuwait University and other government agencies that the government may include in the project.
• Meeting and Conducting work sessions with the relevant stakeholders at the government of the State of Kuwait.
• Address, apply and take into consideration the feedback of the GSSCPD and other related government agencies.
• Coordinate with UNDP in all stages leading to the final publication of the Report including preparing a final text and executive summary.
• Review and assess the conceptual framework and outline of the report to ensure it is addressing the dimensions of the selected theme, education, based on the availability of TIMSS 2020 data.
• Lead on consolidation of the methodology proposed for the report ensuring its alignment with NHDR corporate policies and guidelines and NHDR toolkit.
• Redraft the report including consolidation of all additional inputs, and write the introductory chapter and the final chapter, conclusions and recommendations
• Identify further substantive areas that need to be covered, and topics of background papers required;
• At all stages of review, ensure feedback and comments from the Advisory Board and Readers Group on drafts of the Report are reflected in the revised draft;
• Participate in advisory board meetings, provide updates on the progress of the report development, present the report and solicit feedback.
• Participate at the launch of the NHDR and other follow up events, if needed.

1.Expected Outputs and Deliverables

1. Institutional Arrangement

• The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Analyst. He/she needs to coordinate closely with the GSSCPD International Cooperation Department and UNDP project team.
• All payments subject to approval based on submitted certified and approved interim, draft and final reports (with relevant attachments) by GSSCPD and UNDP. These interim and final reports will serve as justification of payment.

1. Duration of the Work

The duration of this assignment is expected to be 3 months. The starting date is expected within April 2021.

1. Duty Station

The consultant will be based in Kuwait at office for the duration of the assignment.

1.  Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

1. EVALUATION

1. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates leadership, team building and coordinating skills
• Demonstrates commitment to human development principles and values.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Provides helpful feedback and advice;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

Functional Competencies

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies innovative approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
• Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

• Proven analytical and writing skills, including in the area of gender and programming.
• Understands more advanced aspects of social development as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
• Ability to prepare succinct analytical publications and reports.
• Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for social planning.
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of public policy development and international organisations and seeks to develop him/herself professionally.

Client Orientation:

• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high-ranking members of national and local institutions, government and non-government.
• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.
• Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly.

I.Academic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education, social science or any relevant field. PhD is preferred

II. Years of experience:

• Sound knowledge and understanding of Human Development concepts and approaches. Be familiar with UNDP/HDR Corporate NHDR policy, NHDR principles and quality criteria.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in conducting policy research, participating in/organization of/quality controlling policy research and conducting policy advocacy; experience in preparing HDRs/NHDRs are assets.
• Working knowledge of the context and policy making systems/practices in Kuwait.
• Possess related publications in education.

III. Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English & Arabic is a must.