United Nations Development Programme New Ongoing Recruitment

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: National Consultant- Good Governance
Location: Abuja
Starting Date : 29-Nov-2017
Duration of Initial Contract: 24 Working days
Expected Duration of Assignment: 24 Working days

Background
The Third United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF III-2014-2017) is the common strategic framework for the operational activities of the United Nations System (UNS) in Nigeria. It provides a collective, coherent and integrated UNS response to the country’s priorities and needs, expressed in long term vision 20:2020, the Transformational Agenda and other development policies expected to transform Nigeria to one of the top 20 economies by 2020.

Nigeria’s development priorities are also expressed within the framework of the MDGs and other commitments, goals and targets of other international conventions and human rights instruments of the United Nations.  In line with UNDG and UNDAF M&E guidelines, it is mandatory for Country teams to conduct end of cycle evaluation for accountability and learning, and improving performance of subsequent UNDAFs.

In 2016, the UNCT conducted a light mid-term assessment of the UNDAF III to inform the formulation of the new partnership framework. The UNCT has therefore, commenced the process of evaluating UNDAF III with the Federal and State Governments.

The end of cycle evaluation of the UNDAF III is a joint UN process, conducted with national partners, to assess the progress made towards Nigeria’s development priorities selected within the UNDAF. It will also take stock of the environment within which the UN is operating and assess the effectiveness of UNDAF III as a tool of support to the achievement of national priorities and enhanced coordination and harmonization among all UN agencies.

The UN and Nigerian Government will review the results achieved from activities supported by the UNDAF III and the appropriateness of its planned results and strategies. The evaluation provides a unique opportunity to assess achievements against the planned results; and the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of UNDAF III outcomes, interventions and strategies.

This assessment will identify issues and gaps, and proffer strategic and usable recommendations that the UNS and its partners will utilize to improve the strategies, implementation mechanisms, and the management efficiency of the new United Nations Sustainable Development and Partnership Framework (UNSDPF-2018-2022).

The United Nations System in Nigeria is therefore, seeking the services of qualified independent consultants to lead the conduct of this Evaluation. Firms and companies are also encouraged to apply for this opportunity with the view of recruiting experts for this assignment.

Scope of Work, Responsibilities and Description of the Proposed Analytical Work

• The broader aim of the evaluation, as stated above, is to generate a usable evaluation report that would aid the inherent culture of learning and accountability in the United Nations system programming processes in terms of progress made towards the attainment of the main outcomes and outputs of the UNDAF III.
• Finally, the evaluation will identify lessons in implementing the UNDAF III, with a particular focus on the governance process and Coordination mechanisms including the PMT, UNCT, UNM&E group, RC office and DaO Lead Agencies and Groups.
• The recommendations, if any, will aim to improve the implementation mechanism, and management efficiency of UNSDPF-2018-2022.
• The evaluation would also provide relevant information and strategic recommendations that would support the UN system in Nigeria to enrich the UNSDPF implementation in a timely and most effective manner.
• The recommendations will aim to improve the strategies, implementation mechanism, and management efficiency of UNSDPF-2018-2022.
• The Evaluation exercise will cover the current cycle of the UNDAF III from 2014-2017 and will holistically review and systematically analyze recorded achievements and the accompanying strategies and how all these aided the UN in delivering on its mandate.

In particular, the evaluation will:

• Assess the progress or lack thereof, towards the expected results as defined in the theory of change for UNDAF III cycle. Where appropriate, the evaluation will also highlight unexpected results (positive or negative) and missed opportunities;
• Identify the factors that have affected positively or negatively the UNCT’s contribution, and explaining the enabling factors and bottlenecks (learning)
• Provide an analysis of how the UN has positioned itself to add value in response to national needs and changes in the national development context;
• Present key findings, draw key lessons learned, and provide a set of clear and forward-looking options leading to strategic and actionable recommendations to support and adjust the UNSDPF implementation.
• Assess the contributions made by the UNCT in the result framework of the UNDAF and its contribution to national development results(accountability);

Evaluation Methodology and Approach

• The Evaluation shall benefit from existing or newly commissioned studies, research or evaluations conducted by an individual or collaborating Agencies including the UN Agencies.
• Based on the documented innovations, lessons learnt and findings from the research, studies and evaluations, the Consultants will work with the UN and partners to conduct in-depth analysis of progress towards results, identify lessons learnt and propose corrective actions.
• The consultants will work with state governments and UNS to produce a report on lessons learnt related to some Delivering as One focus states (Benue, Anambra, Cross River, Oyo, Lagos, etc) and FCT to feed into the Evaluation report.

Data Collection:

• In terms of data collection, the evaluation will use a mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) approach that will include document reviews, SWOT Analysis, group and individual interviews and field visits as appropriate.
• Final methods to be selected must match the above stated objectives and specific questions. It is expected that the technical proposal will:
  • Identify methodology and sample (address sampling limitations)
  • Level of stakeholders’ participation amongst other issues

Information Sources:

• The following minimum documents will be used for obtaining detailed background information on the UNDAF III: The UNDAF Document; The results matrix; The monitoring and evaluation framework and plans; Joint Annual Work Plans for the DaO states and FCT;  Mid-term/End of Year reviews report, Relevant Reports.

Validation:

• The Evaluation Team will use a variety of methods to ensure that the data is valid, including triangulation.

Stakeholders’ Involvement

• The Evaluation will be managed by the UNDAF M&E group to ensure independence of the process.
• A reference group, as per the UNEG guidance, will be created to guide the evaluation exercise.
• An inclusive approach, involving a broad range of partners and stakeholders, will be taken for evaluation process.

The Evaluation Process and Work Plan 
The process of the evaluation will be divided into three phases, each including several steps:
Phase 0: Evaluability Assessment:

• The consultant will identify and review the basic documentation and discuss with key stakeholders to ensure proper response to the evaluability assessment questions.
• The deliverable is an evaluability assessment report.

Phase 1: Preparation and Inception Phase:

• Desk review
• UNDAF Evaluability assessment
• Stakeholder mapping;
• Development of an operational/logistical plan.
• The Output and deliverable of this phase is the Inception Report.

Phase 2: Data Collection and Preliminary Analysis Phase:

• At the end of this phase, the evaluation team will provide a debriefing of the preliminary findings to the UNCT/PMT, take initial comments and validate the preliminary findings.

Phase 3: Drafting and validating the Evaluation Report:

• A draft evaluation report will be prepared by the evaluation team after the data collection and analysis exercise.
• The draft report will be submitted by the Lead Consultant to the Evaluation Committee/RCO.
• Review and Quality Assurance The Lead consultant will be directly responsible for addressing any comments or observations towards eventual finalization of the report by securing inputs from the respective subject area consultants.
• Presentation of findings, Validation and submission of report- The Evaluation team shall present the final draft for validation to stakeholders in designated meetings while the final report shall be submitted to the UNCT via the Chair of Evaluation Committee/RCO (Word and PDF version).
• The estimated timeline for the process is 24 working days.

Deliverables

• Inception report describing consultants’ understanding of the assignment and which includes his/her detailed plan to execute it (5-10-page document). The report should also further refine the overall evaluation scope, approach, design and timeframe, and provide a detail outline of the evaluation methodology and is to be delivered 4 days after the start of the assignment.
• Progress report/briefing to the Evaluation Committee/PMT/RCO (the briefing periodicity to be determined in the Inception Report
• SWOT analysis report on the sample DaO focus states in Nigeria
• Comprehensive Final Evaluation Report (20 pages content including not more that 4-page Executive Summary)
• A final Power Point presentation containing the main findings, conclusions and recommendations of the evaluation for dissemination and debriefing purposes.

Time Frame and Remuneration

• The consultancy is expected to last four weeks (24 working days) starting November 19, 2017 Remuneration will be in accordance with the UN Rules and Regulations and will be commensurate with the complexity of the assignment based on the signed contract administered by UNDP Service center.
• The Consultancy fee will be paid as a lump sum contract or in line with the following schedule and upon acceptance of key deliverables:
  • At the end of the Evaluability assessment, and submission and approval of the inception report (last week of November):20%
  • At the submission of the Final Draft Reports (1st and 2nd week of December):50%
  • At the end of the Evaluation exercise (3rd week of December): 30%

Composition of the Evaluation Team

• There will be a team of three (3) consultants made up of one international expert and two National Experts; the international consultant will be the team leader.
• Each of the other two national consultants should possess relevant qualifications and experience in at least one of the four UNDAF-III outcome areas.
• As much as possible, the composition of the team should be gender sensitive.
• The selected consultants are expected to be independent and should not have been involved in the implementation of UNDAF III programmes in any of the Agencies.

Tasks of the Consultants

• Thoroughly review and familiarize self with the UNDAF documents including the Country Analysis, the UNDAF Outcomes, the UNDAF Results Matrix, the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and the UNDAF Evaluation Concept Note/TORs;
• In collaboration with the Office of the RC, lead the planning for, and organization of, the Evaluation meeting including preparation of the report document, the accompanying presentations and the meeting logistics;
• Attend Evaluation meetings and incorporate any comments or changes and produce the final Evaluation report;
• In close consultation with the RCO, manage the day-to-day coordination of the detailed tasks of the Evaluation including communication with the Evaluation focal points in the Agencies, sending, receiving and proper archiving of documents; organizing and facilitating consultative/coordination meetings etc;
• Participate actively and take initiative in the meetings of PMT/EC on the Evaluation;
• Convene coordination meetings with and provide technical guidance to the UNDAF Area/Sub-area consultants and ensure their full understanding and application of the Evaluation principles and guidelines to both the processes and outputs.
• Attend and provide technical support to UNDAF Area/Sub-area consultative and review meetings;
• Review and analyze inputs from all UN agencies and stakeholders, ensure that the reports answer the Evaluation Questions (see above) and collate into the draft Evaluation Report;
• Draft the text for the crosscutting parts of the report including the executive summary; and synthesis of the Situation Analysis update, the constraints, the lessons learnt, summary of proposed changes and recommendations for UNDAF III;
• Plan, organize, facilitate and summarize outputs from a participatory comprehensive SWOT analysis of the Delivering-as-One planning and operationalization process;
• Present the draft Evaluation Report as per the process described in point “Phase 3: Drafting the Evaluation Report” above and incorporate any comments or changes and produce the final draft of the report;

Requirements
The National Consultant for Good Governance should have the following qualifications and competencies:

• Advanced University degree in one or more of the following areas: Political Science, Economics, Social Sciences or related fields;
• Knowledge and experience with the national development frameworks in Nigeria
• Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative evaluation methodology
• Understanding of the UN’s mandate and modus operandi preferred
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English
• At least 10 years’ experience in accountable governance, anti-corruption programming, institutional and regulatory reforms, public procurement and fiscal responsibility laws in Nigeria; programming experience in conflict prevention and management, internal security and emergency preparedness, management and responses to natural and man-made crises, design and implementation of integrated development policies
• Expert knowledge of and working familiarity with results-based management, human rights based and gender mainstreaming approaches.
• Ability to work in a team and deliver results.

How To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their complete application to: icrecruitments.ng@undp.org only applications with complete supporting documents as stated above and received before or at the closing date will be considered, Email must have as subject: UNDAF-IC NAT1Application Procedure
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Three Page Proposal:
  • Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work
  • Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work
• Financial proposal
• Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references

Lump Sum Contracts

• The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel:

• All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  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.
• In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed