Recruitment of an International Consultant for the Sahel Governance Project

In 2012 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2056 that requested the Secretary-General to develop and implement, in consultation with regional organizations, a United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) region encompassing security, governance, development, human rights and humanitarian issues. Pursuant to the resolution, UNISS was developed and launched in 2013 with the aim of reducing the socio-economic vulnerability of the populations in the Sahel region. In 2017, following an internal review of UNISS, a recalibration of the strategy by the Regional United Nations Sustainable Development Group (R-UNSDG) with UNOWAS resulted in the elaboration of a United Nations Sahel Support Plan (UNSP) to better align UN’s collective support to address the needs and priorities of the people and Governments in the region. 

The UN Support Plan (UNSP), which covers the period 2018-2030, serves as a vehicle for articulating and operationalizing the commitments of the UN system and partners in the region. It builds on the progress achieved by UNISS to date, while re-aligning its focus with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the core priorities of national and regional partners; especially in the areas of peace, security and development in the region. Through the UNSP, the UN commits to strengthen national and regional initiatives and to provide a platform through which the UN’s extensive regional expertise and capacities can be leveraged to deliver on the Secretary General’s vision for the Sahel. The Support Plan also represents a commitment to a new way of working in the region through better integration of its political, security, humanitarian and development efforts; stronger focus on inter-agency programming; pooling of technical resources in the region for scaling up UN’s support for the Sahel; and prioritizing cross border cooperation to address issues that transcend national boundaries.

To contribute towards the effective implementation of the UNSP priorities, UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) in its capacity as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) connector, leader of the United Nations Development System (UNDS) in the Sahel region and lead on Governance within the UNISS, has recently launched the Sahel Governance Offer. The Enhanced Offer for the Sahel has four 
overarching and integrated components: prevention, stabilization, transformation and sustainability. While the development context of each locality will determine the entry point, each offer includes a combination of the four components which respond to the evolving and dynamic socio-economic, political and security landscapes. The Offer outlines UNDP’s contribution to regenerate the Sahel and change the narrative from one of crises to hope. And it is both set within the background of the complex geopolitics of the Sahel region as well as framed within the context of Humanitarian-Development Nexus with links to resilience and Peace consolidation. 

The West and Central Africa (WCA) UNDP Sub-regional Hub (Dakar Hub) provides the overall leadership and oversight in the Sahel region for the implementation of the UNDP Enhanced Renewed Strategic Offer in Africa as a robust Governance Offer for the Sahel. Thus, the Hub is responsible for operationalising the Sahel Governance Offer/Promise through the design and implementation of a wide range of initiatives aligned to the overarching vision of UNDP Africa Bureau for the Sahel. This includes the massive roll out of the Sahel Governance Offer/Promise through coordination of governance and peacebuilding related activities Agencies, Funds and Programmes forming part of the UNISS Governance Pillar as well as through critical partnerships with governments, donors, foundations and the 10 UN Country Teams. The overall initiatives will be implemented using the programme delivery and management structures of UNDP’s Country Offices, its UNDP Regional Service Centre, and Sub Regional Hub Dakar under the overall direction of the Regional Hub Manager.

Objectives

The Sahel Governance Promise is designed for five (5) years and intends to address the Governance challenges and threats in the Sahel region by stabilizing, sustaining, and transforming the support into medium and long-term development gains for the countries and communities in remote areas in the Sahel region. It seeks to revitalize the social contract, ensure social cohesion and enhance state-society relations for justice, peaceful and inclusive societies across the Sahel region and beyond. 

This Sahel Governance Offer is anchored in a multidimensional approach to Governance, Humanitarian, Development and Peace (HDP) nexus, which draws upon the inherent link between peace, security and economic development. It is, furthermore, designed to help the implementation and achievement of the African Union Agenda 2063, Agenda 2030 and the SDGs.   

The overall, objective of the Sahel Governance Offer is therefore to enhance prevention, stabilization, transformation, and sustainability of the Sahel.  The Offer is structured around three interrelated, interdependent, and mutually reinforcing strategic objectives which are inherently linked to the following outcomes of the project: 

1  Enhanced state-society relations;

2  Strengthened governance norms, systems and institutions;

3 Strengthened conflict prevention and peacebuilding mechanisms

The UNDP Governance Offer/Promise for the Sahel is putting forward different layers of support to reflect country specific circumstances and seeks to turn the identified priorities into lasting change. Recognizing that countries in the Sahel are experiencing the challenges at varying intensity levels, the project is therefore not a one-size fits all responses but contextualized along the lines of hot spots, at risk/catch up development and unaffected areas. 

The Technical Programme Specialist will function under the direct supervision of the Programme Adviser/Manager a.i. He/she will support the planning, management, resource mobilization, and support to delivery of results for the UNDP Governance Promise. The Technical Programme Specialist will also provide day to day technical and advisory support to the smooth operationalization and implementation of the Sahel Governance Promise as well as provide strong coordination support to different units of the WACA Dakar Hub as well as HQ/NY, Regional Service Center and the Africa Borderlands Center in Nairobi; in order to foster synergies and alignments of activities collectively implemented towards the achievement of the overall outcomes of the UNDP Africa Bureau Enhanced Offer for the Sahel.  

Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of Key Functions:

• Strategic and technical support for UNDP Sahel Governance Promise.
• Ensure effective support for planning and implementation. 
• Partnerships, Resource Mobilization and Advocacy.
• Knowledge Sharing and Knowledge Management.

1 Strategic and technical support to the UNDP Sahel Governance Promise 

• Provide advice and technical guidance on implementation and delivery of Sahel Governance Promise and provide substantive inputs and information as required and contribute to Dakar sub-regional hub exercises and initiatives.
• Provide technical and advisory support in the organization for the official launch of the Sahel Governance Offer/Promise the Sahel Governance Forum. 

 2  Report writing of the two events2. Ensure effective inception, planning and implementation.

• Provide intellectual and strategic guidance and advice relating to Sahel Governance Promise. 
• Develop an overall monitoring and evaluation system of projects in the Programme Portfolio and put the mechanism in place for proper and timely reporting to the Dakar sub-regional Hub, RSCA and donors.

3 Partnerships, Resource Mobilization and Advocacy

• Support to development of a Sahel governance programme portfolio pipeline with a view to mobilize resources in practice areas related to UNDP Sahel governance promise.
• Seek and identify partnership and funding opportunities and ensure the preparation of funding proposals, donor briefings and presentations in support of resource mobilization efforts;
• Mobilize, foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN entities, UN partner agencies and other relevant bodies.
• Ensure close co-operation with other UNDP teams in the Dakar Hub, Regional Service Center and Africa Borderlands Center; develop alliances and working partnerships (thematic, advocacy, regional resource facilities, etc.) in support of the implementation of the Sahel portfolio of projects as well as the UNDP’s Enhanced Sahel offer implementation;
• Strengthen and maintain relationships with UNDP’s partners including donors, regional partners (AU, RECs, CSOs) UN Sister Agencies, especially key partners at HQ level as it pertains to the implementation of the UNDP Sahel offer overall.

4 Knowledge Sharing and Knowledge Management:

• Manage the process of collecting and sharing lessons learned to build knowledge and capacity of partners and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of the programme knowledge networks and practices, and development of knowledge products.
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to the Sahel Governance Promise.
• Promote knowledge and experience exchange with regional entities implementing incentives Programmes based on global standards and with institutions participating in the Sahel offer for Public institutions.

Impact of Results

• The key results have an impact on the overall managerial and programmatic leadership for the successful implementation of the overall portfolio of Sahel Governance Promise. Demonstrates effective results and visibility of successful programmes implementation. Provide accurate analysis and presentation of information to enhance UNDP position as a strong development partner in the Sahel region to the satisfaction of HQ, clients, stakeholders, partners and donors. 

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them;
• Ability to persuade others to follow Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers;
• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others;
• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others;
• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions.

Education

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree) in Development Studies, Natural Resources Management, Political Science, International Relations, Social Science or related field.

Experience:

•  A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in developing and implementing programmes and projects dealing with one or another aspect of sustainable development;
• Proven record of partnerships, interagency coordination work on related sustainable development issues, required;
• Strong abilities in strategic planning, project management, and analysis;
• United Nations experience including field experience and experience in the West and Central Africa region, is an asset.

Language:

• English and French proficiency is required.

 EVALUATION

 The evaluation of the bids takes place in two stages. The evaluation of the technical proposals is completed before the opening and comparison of the financial proposals.

The contract will be awarded to the Consultant with the best combined score (70/30 percent price/quality ratio, based on cumulative evaluation).

TECHNICAL PROPOSALS
They are evaluated on the following criteria in relation to the terms of reference.
For information, the technical proposal will be evaluated on its degree of response to the terms of reference and on the basis of the following criteria:

Critères Points

1 Consultant work experience relevant to the assignment 40 points

a General experience (15 points): possess a solid experience of at least 4 years in the implementation of (regional) programs and projects related to governance and peacebuilding aspects in West and Central Africa and in the Sahel region with concrete achievements.

b  Specific experience (15 points): proven expertise in the coordination and co-creation of strategic interagency and other partnerships on issues of sustainable development and governance. Good qualifications required in strategic planning, project management and analysis.

d  Experience working in the area of governance and peacebuilding with the United Nations System in West and Central Africa and the Sahel region (10 points)

2  Compliance of the proposed work plan and method with the TOR 30 points

a. Completeness: 5 points

b. Relevance of the proposed method: 15 points

C . Coherence of the work plan (deadline and work plan): 10 points

3. Qualifications and skills required 30 Points

a. Diplomas: 15 points

b. Additional professional trainings: 5 points

c. Specific skills related to the subject area: 05

d. Languages (05) 

Total  100

DELIVERABLES
Payments will be based on the following deliverables:
1st installment: 20% after presentation of the validated orientation note
2nd phase: 60% after completion of 80% of the work and presentation of the interim report
Organizations (1) of the Governance Program launch and (2) of the Governance Forum on the Sahel. Only one (1) mission carried out in connection with the holding of the two aforementioned events
3rd installment: 20% upon presentation of the validated final report
Invoices must indicate the steps taken and the amount payable corresponding to.