Description
In 2014 and early 2015, the United Nations agencies in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are preparing a new United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for the 2016-2020 period. This five-year strategy will present the key development challenges that the country faces and, in line with national priorities, outline the UN activities that are designed to address them.
A cornerstone of this process is the Country Analysis (CA). The CA will present a concise analysis of the country’s development challenges and the areas in which the UN agencies are best prepared to offer support. The CA is to be prepared in August-October. The CA will rest on two main inputs:
- A desk review of existing strategic documents, from both UN and non-UN sources and
- National consultations, which will rely both on discussions with important organizations and groups and on an innovative “foresight”
exercise to collect input from the general public.
The CA is meant to be a concise, readable document of not more than 25 pages (20,000 words), including any illustrative graphs and statistical tables. It includes no original research but rather distills the findings of credible assessments and analysis by UN agencies, government bodies, and other parties (including, importantly, the European Commission). The main development challenges identified in the CA will be presented for review at a Strategic Prioritization Workshop, attended by both the UN team and key national counterparts. This review is meant to validate the CA findings and identify the areas where the UN has the capability to help in addressing specific challenges. This discussion will yield a limited number of outcomes under which all UN activities can be grouped.
The UNDAF itself will drafted after the strategic prioritization workshop.
The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator is recruiting an international consultant to prepare the Country Analysis for the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) process. If the Country Analysis is of satisfactory quality and is endorsed by the UNCT, the consultant will also be asked to prepare the UNDAF document itself.
Responsibilities
The scope of work is divided into two parts: 1) the Country Analysis and 2) the UNDAF document. The consultant will be asked to prepare the UNDAF document only if the UN Country Team accepts the Country Analysis as satisfactory in quality and meeting all prescribed standards.
For the Country Analysis, the consultant will be engaged in the following stages of the process:
- Collection of reference material and desk review: UNCT members, including nonresident agencies, will share with the consultant all
assessments, evaluations, mid-term progress reports, surveys and studies that are relevant for the Country Analysis. The consultant
will review this material and distill from it a three-page outline to be shared with the UNCT;
- Country visit and interviews: After reviewing the documentation, the consultant will visit the country and conduct interviews with
members of the UN team, Government counterparts and other key national stakeholders. These interviews will focus on defining the
comparative advantage of the UN in promoting human development in the country;
- Incorporation of online survey findings: The consultant will incorporate into the analysis the findings of an online “foresight” exercise
that will involve up to 1,000 participants. The consultant will be supported in this by UN specialists in innovation/communication;
- Document drafting: Based on the desk review and in-country interviews, the consultant will draft the Country Analysis text and revise
it based on feedback from the UN Country Team and other stakeholders, including the regional Peer Support Group in Headquarters.
Competencies
- Outstanding communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to write reports, conduct consultations and interviews
and to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style;
- Good knowledge of the UN system and UN common country programming processes (CA/UNDAF);
- Ability to review and synthesize large amounts of information rapidly, and to distinguish major trends from minor details;
- Ability to conceptualize and analyze problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
- Facility with statistical data and knowledge of human rights and gender equality approaches;
- Familiarity with indicators and monitoring and evaluation methodologies;
- Ability to respond positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
- Ability to handle a large volume of work under time constraints;
- Focus on client satisfaction;
- Ability to share knowledge and experience and provide helpful feedback and advice.
Skills and Experience
- Advanced University degree in international development, economics, social sciences or related field.
- 3 years prior experience in the region, with experience in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia a distinct asset;
- Familiarity with development issues in an EU accession context;
- Demonstrated knowledge of UN agency mandates and activities; direct experience of UN programming at the country level;
familiarity with the UNDAF process and the Delivering as One modality;
- Knowledge of, and experience in applying, qualitative and quantitative analytical methods;
- Technical competence in complex analysis involving the use of mixed methods.
- Fluency in spoken and written English;
- Knowledge of Balkan languages is an asset.
Deadline: 10 August 2014.
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