Location : Home based with frequent travels to Baghdad, Basra and Erbil, IRAQ
Application Deadline : 21-Sep-13
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : Arabic English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Oct-2013
Duration of Initial Contract : Six months
Description
Background
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Country Director (Programme), the Inclusive Growth and Private Sector Development Sub-Cluster (IGPSD) is endeavoured to support the private sector development in Iraq and to enhance the public service delivery of key strategic economic infrastructure with transparency and accountability.
The Private Sector in Iraq suffers from a set of structural and functional problems and impediments to its development including, but not limited to, inappropriate legislative and regulatory framework and lack of enforcement of the existing framework, absence of efficient and permanent Government of Iraq (GoI) - Private Sector dialogue and consultation platform and governance system, non-transparent public procurement system, an inefficient infrastructure and, in general, an inappropriate business environment. The impact of this situation has been lack of economic diversification, insignificant contribution of the Private Sector to the GDP, employment market and the overall sustainable socio-economic growth. .
Private Sector Development
Under the Private Sector Development Programme for Iraq (2009-2012), much upstream and downstream work has been done. UNDP, in close consultation with a broad spectrum of national and international stakeholders, elaborated the draft document Private Sector Development Strategy of Iraq (the PSD Strategy document) which aims to re-vitalize the Iraqi private sector by establishing an efficient, predictable and transparent enabling environment for businesses that will eventually contribute to economic diversification, sustainable growth and job creation. The key counterpart is the Prime Minister's Advisory Commission (PMAC) / Task Force for Economic Reform. One of the key strategic interventions is to establish a governance system within the GoI to oversee, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the PSD Strategy and to promote the participation of stakeholders in strategic planning, and policy implementation. It is envisaged to have the PSD Strategy endorsed by the key stakeholders, especially PMAC/TFER, following roundtable meetings with the GoI, the private sector and international development partners.The Senior Advisor is responsible for providing strategic advices on the governance system and the institutional set-up required for the implementation PSD Strategy as well as on setting - up a sustainable monitoring and evaluation system for PSD Strategy implementation process that ensures transparency and accountability, which will be embedded in the PSD Strategy document. For these purposes, the Senior Advisor will closely work with Prime Minister's Advisory Commission (PMAC) / Task Force for Economic Reform, Private Sector and international development partners.
Public Service Delivery
The GoI received a US$ 3 billion Official Development Assistance (ODA loan from the Government of Japan (GoJ), administered by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to enhance economic growth, infrastructure and public service delivery. As an adequate and sound monitoring mechanism to ensure accountability, transparency and efficiency in project implementation and usage of loan money, GoI, GoJ and JICA agreed to establish a joint ODA Monitoring Committee to meet on a quarterly basis. The Loan Management Unit (LMU), under IGPSD Sub-Cluster, has been appointed jointly by JICA and GoI to act as Support Unit to the Monitoring Committee. LMU acts as the Fiduciary Monitoring Agent on behalf of JICA and the Government of Iraq (GoI) and provides fiduciary monitoring, project monitoring services to JICA and GoI as well as capacity development support to the GoI ministries and agencies implementing these projects. The LMU monitors and verifies the fiduciary compliance, including procurement and financial management and conducts on - site physical inspection and verification of the activities and report to JICA and the Monitoring Committee in order to enhance the transparency, accountability and efficiency in public service delivery. Also, to accelerate project implementation, the LMU identifies any bottlenecks and obstacles related to implementation of the projects and provide advice and recommendations to the Monitoring Committee and implementing ministries / agencies in order to resolve these issues. This process will contribute to the capacity development of Project Management Teams (PMTs) under each implementing ministry / agency. The Senior Advisor is responsible for providing strategic advices on how to enhance the fiduciary monitoring function for the ODA loan-funded development projects in the field, and suggesting optimal approaches to institutionalize this monitoring mechanism within the relevant ministry for enhancing public service delivery. The Senior Advisor is also required to provide strategic advices on how to enhance the monitoring mechanism through other countries experiences by promoting South-South Cooperation or Triangular Cooperation approach. The Senior Advisor also will closely work with Prime Minister's Advisory Commission (PMAC) / Monitoring Committee, Ministry of Planning (MoP) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) and implementing ministries / agencies to seek for possible areas where LMT's support can be extended.
Objectives
The objective of the assignment is to enhance the transparency and accountability in designing the implementation, monitoring and evaluation governance system of the PSD Strategy, the fiduciary monitoring mechanism of the ODA loan funded development projects for public service delivery as well as promoting the fiduciary monitoring mechanism in other countries under the South - South and Triangular Cooperation. The Senior Advisor will facilitate communication and dialogue with Iraqi counterparts and the international development partners on strategic and cross cutting issues. The Senior Advisor will especially maintain close communication with PMAC and relevant ministries for these tasks.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope and Expected Outputs
Enhance the transparency and accountability in designing the implementation, monitoring and evaluation governance system of the PSD Strategy:
- Review the current governance system in the GoI to support private sector development;
- Develop a governance system embedded within the GoI to implement the PSD Strategy as well as to monitor and evaluate effective and efficient implementation;
- Design a road map to establish the institutional set-up for implementation and monitoring and evaluation within the GoI as part of the PSD Strategy governance system;
- Provide strategic advises to the Senior Advisor of the PSD to finalize the PSD Strategy in both English and Arabic. PSD Strategic in Arabic will be a key document in supporting the establishment of the governance system within the GoI;
- Attend roundtable meetings with key stakeholders in the process of finalizing the PSD Strategy.
Enhance the fiduciary monitoring mechanism of the ODA (JICA funded) development projects for efficient and effective public service delivery
- Through assessment of the ODA project progresses, identify bottlenecks/issues, including capacity gaps of the implementing ministries / agencies, which hinder the smooth public service delivery, and suggest the optimal solutions;
- Reviewing and developing an optimal monitoring mechanism under the Monitoring Committee that reinforces the implementation of the optimal solutions;
- Design the fiduciary monitoring mechanism under MC to be adopted by LMU in actual implementation of public service delivery projects of ODA loan projects;
- Develop a proposal with detailed action plan, in close coordination with MoP, to link the MC with the GoI's monitoring system;
- Provide strategic advices on how to enhance the monitoring mechanism through other countries experiences by promoting South-South cooperation or Triangular cooperation approach, especially in transitional or post conflict countries. When required by the GoI or the donor (JICA), provide strategic study on other countries' mechanisms of monitoring and evaluating public service delivery;
- Participate in the Monitoring Committee meetings to be held on a quarterly basis in Baghdad.
Deliverables.
The Consultant will be responsible for producing the following deliverables.
- Recommendation report to develop a governance system and an implementation set - up for the PSD Strategy as well as for monitoring and evaluating the effective and efficient PSD Strategy implementation;
- Roadmap to establish the institutional within the GoI for the implementation of the PSD Strategy;
- Develop the optimal monitoring mechanism under MC which will reinforce implementing the optimal solutions to identified bottlenecks (at least one actual case included);
- Design the fiduciary monitoring mechanism under MC in actual implementation of public service delivery projects of ODA loan projects;
- Project Document to link the ODA monitoring mechanism with GoI monitoring mechanism in order to institutionalize the ODA monitoring mechanism for GoI public service delivery;
- Lessons learn and recommendation report to the GoI or to other countries through other countries experiences on how to enhance the monitoring and evaluation mechanism for public service delivery.
Time and Method of Payment
Payments will be done based on the deliverables. For each payment a certification of payment needs to be signed and approved by the direct supervisor attached to it the provided services and tasks/ deliverable and provision of a performance evaluation of the consultant on last payment
Key Performance Indicators During Implementation of Services
- Provision of comprehensive reports;
- Strong reporting skills;
- Excellent communication skills;
- Timely and successful coordination with relevant parties.
Location:
The Senior Advisor will be required to frequently travel to Baghdad, Basrah and Erbil as required on missions.
Travel Plan
- 108 days Home base;
- 42 days - in Iraq (Baghdad, Basrah, Erbil);
- 30 days in MENA or other developing countries.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Functional Competencies: Operational Effectiveness and Practical Knowledge
- Ability to introduce and implement strategic democratic governance and management advises;
- Demonstrates a complete in-depth grasp of procurement rules and practices, especially those of JICA and/or World Bank.
Knowledge Management
- Solid knowledge and experience in the GoI management system, legislations, regulations and procedures;
- Knowledge in international procurement systems, budget cycle, financial management and monitoring and evaluation;
- Analytical skills: Proven analytic capacities on assessing organizations to identify the areas requiring capacity development, especially in management context;
- Substantial knowledge in communication and information dissemination techniques.
Management and Leadership
- Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
- Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Masters degree in Economics, Political Science, Public Administration, International Development or related field with equivalent professional experience;
Experience:
- A minimum of 15 years professional experience with the government management system, including planning, procurement and financial management for public service delivery;
- At least 5 years working experience as a senior manager in the GoI or an international development agency;
- Extensive experience in providing capacity building advice to national government institutions on democratic governance is essential;
- Experience in working with or in state-owned enterprises;
- At least one working experience in private sector development related project;
- At least 3 project working experience in designing and/or implementing the public delivery service projects;
- Prior knowledge of Iraq, working experience in Iraq, experience with UNDP practices and working experience of management with international financial institutions would be important assets.
Languages:
- Fluency in English and Arabic.
Important Notices:
- Application documents are published on the following link http://www.iq.undp.org/ProcurementNotices_Overview.aspx under procurement Notice Ref. IRQ10/IC-068/13 (presented in compressed file);
- Applicants should complete and sign the required documents and send the scanned copies to the email IC1.undp.iq@undp.org by the deadline (It is a MUST to indicate the Procurement Notice Number 'IRQ10/IC-068/13' in the e-mail subject box);
- Any email received after deadline due to any technical problem in sending or receiving servers may be rejected
- Applications with any missing documents or non-UNDP format may not be considered for evaluation;
- Applicants need to use Adobe reader, Word 2010, zipping software (WinRAR) to be able to use and view the documents for this procurement notice;
- Only applications submitted to the email address IC1.undp.iq@undp.org will be considered;
- Any request for clarification must be sent to the above e-mail address;
- The Procurement Unit will respond by mail, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to identified consultants who have notified UNDP of their interest to participate;
- Applications without all the required documents may be not considered;
- Each email should be less than 8 MB; emails over this size will not be received to the above mentioned account.
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 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.
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