Project Management Support Consultant - National Consultancy Assignment at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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 invite applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Management Support Consultant - National Consultancy Assignment to Support Formulation of Borno State Development Plan

Location: Borno State
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: National Consultant
Starting Date - (date when the selected candidate is expected to start): 01-Nov-2019
Duration of Initial Contract: 40 working days
Expected Duration of Assignment: 40 working days

Background

• The Borno State Government plans to develop a 10-year Development as well as Implementation Plan 2020 – 2029.  The goal of the Borno State Development Plan is to provide a long-term vision and policy direction for leap frogging the development of state in line the global Sustainable Development Goals, The Lake Chad Basin Commission Regional Aspirations and various Nigeria’s Sectoral Plans and Strategies.

The specific objectives of the planning exercise include:

• Provide a frame work for the rapid transition of the state through the Transition, Stabilization and Development Nexus
• Provide a Policy framework that will provide the road map for all humanitarian and development activities in the state.
• Set clear and measurable developmental goals with costed implementation plans for Borno State.
• Provide a roadmap for Borno state to get back on track towards achieving the SDGs after the setback caused by the insurgency.
• Establish a clear agenda for Borno State Development as part of the Lake Chad Basin Commission agenda to stabilize the region.
• The “Borno State Development and Implementation Plan 2020 – 2029” will be a participatory approach that will integrate economic, sectoral, spatial, social, institutional, environmental and fiscal strategies in order to support the optimal allocation of scarce resources between sectors and geographical areas, and across the population in a manner that provides sustainable growth, equity and the empowerment of the poor and marginalized.
• The process will have strong and purposeful political leadership and stakeholder engagement oriented towards promoting economic recovery, peaceful coexistence, inclusive growth and sustainable decentralized development.
• To support the planning exercise of Borno State, UNDP is recruiting Programme Management Support Consultant. The consultant will be responsible for the overall technical support to establish effective implementation mechanism of the ongoing projects, ensuring a variety of standard operational services within the project framework with high quality and accuracy of work.
• The consultant also facilitates knowledge building and knowledge sharing on communication activities for the government counterparts.
• S/he will work closely with all projects personnel to ensure relevant requirements are fulfilled in a timely manner with required quality and the highest standards in line with agreed guidelines and procedures for the successful delivery of the plan.
• S/he will provide support to the Borno State Planning project steering committee, planning/programme teams and government counterparts that favour inclusive development, including the integration of National and Sub-national Plans and the SDGs into the plan and activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The Programme Management Support Consultant will to provide technical support for coordination for formulating project design and implementation strategies and ensure coordination of coordination of the sector planning committees and  the key stakeholders.
• The consultant closely works with Borno State Government to provide technical support to Borno State Planning Steering Committee, technical working group and other partners, especially in assuring sound management and coordination of planning exercises, which include:
• Support and facilitate dialogue on sustainable development issues to identify key interventions and projects within the context of the plan development, with government officials, development partners, civil society, and the private sector.
• Provide policy and programming advice and support for establishing  a  sound and effective programme management mechanisms of development planning and policy formulation at the national, sub-national and local levels.
• Support the identification and analysis of management and coordination of interventions that can impact multiple development goals and targets at the same time.
• Support monitoring and reporting of progress related to SDGs and other national development frameworks, including to help strengthen national and local level project management capacity.
• Assess quality of deliverables in line with the following characteristics: Usability (understandable, implementable); Fit for purpose (Adequacy, accuracy, adherence to Project Wide guidelines); and Sustainability from the aspect of effective programme management.
• Ensure effective use of proper progamme management mechanisms and provide technical advice; review technical reports and activities carried out by responsible parties from the aspect of effective programme management.

The Consultant's Technical Support will Focus on:
Context Analysis & Assessment:

• Comprehensive review of progress made by past administrations in the context of development and work to define the structure of the plan.

Scenario Planning and Plan Definition:

• Working to define strategic vision, goals and objectives of the plan with sector specific indicators

Development of 3-year Development Cycle Framework:

• Define short, intermediate and long-term programme cycles, each with its own objectives, aligning to Governors agenda.
• Prioritize and sequence programme proposals accordingly.
• Review proposed needs, programmes and projects to ensure strategic goals can be achieved, identifying, leveraging and leapfrogging opportunities.
• A short-term development cycle resource plan will be developed across prioritized sectors.

Development of Short-Term Year 2020 Development Plan:
Development of 3-year Development Cycle Framework:

• Define short, intermediate and long-term programme cycles, each with its own objectives, aligning to Governors agenda.
• Prioritize and sequence programme proposals accordingly.
• Review proposed needs, programmes and projects to ensure strategic goals can be achieved, identifying, leveraging and leapfrogging opportunities.
• A short-term development cycle resource plan will be developed across prioritized sectors.

Development of Short-Term Year 2020 Development Plan

Deliverables
Deliverable 1:

• Collected inputs from each sector on the sector situation analyses on programme/intervention management and coordination

Deliverable 2:

• Synthesized Framework for Programmed Management/ Coordination Section of Development Plan
• Finalized Programme Management/Coordination Section of Visionary/Scenario Plans

Deliverable 3:

• Recommendation for programme management and coordination of Short, Medium, Long Term Development Cycle Framework
• Draft section of programme management and coordination mechanism of 10-Year Plan

Deliverable 4:

• Programme Management/Coordination Section of 10-Year Final Reviewed Plan.
• Programme Management/Coordination of Short-Term Plan (2020- 2022).
• Programme Management/Coordination Section of Year 2020 Plan Draft.
• Programme Management/Coordination Section of Year 2020 Final Reviewed Plan.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in Development, Business/Public Administration, Economics, Communications, Social Sciences or other related fields.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of practical experience of working in the field of programme/project management support, community development, advocacy/communications or other relevant fields.

Competencies:

• Sound knowledge and understanding of project management in the areas surrounding development in Nigeria.
• Experience in designing, monitoring and evaluating development projects is an asset.
• Excellent advocacy and communication skills and experience in working with a wide range of the stakeholders.
• Experience in usage of computers and office software packages (Word, Excel etc.).
• Experience in delivering and facilitating innovative approaches and solutions to development programming would be an advantage.
• Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication skills.
• Strong ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.
• Experience of working with the government counterparts, national or international financial institutions, private sector/ civil society in the field of economic and social development in Nigeria.

Language:

• Proficiency in both written and spoken English

Application Closing Date
27th October, 2019 (Midnight New York, USA)

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Application Procedure:
The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment;
• Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references;

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Evaluation Process
Applicants are reviewed based on relevance of qualifications, required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical Evaluation - Total 70% (700 points):

• Relevant Educational experience Weight = 20%; Maximum Points: 200
• Relevant work experience as per TOR requirements Weight = 40%; Maximum Points: 400
• Competencies and skills Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 100
• Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will conduct a desk review of the top five shortlisted candidates. Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial Evaluation - Total 30% (30 points):
The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

• p = y (µ/z), where
• p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated
• y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal
• µ = price of the lowest priced proposal
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award:

• Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional Arrangement:

• The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the head of sub-office Maiduguri and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Payment Modality:

• All inclusive lump-sum payment based on deliverables in the timeframe stated-above

Note

• UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
• UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.