Location : UNDP Regional Support Centre Istanbul, TURKEY
Application Deadline : 15-Nov-13
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English Russian
Duration of Initial Contract :estimated 20 January 2014 - 31 December 2014
Expected Duration of Assignment :approximately 220 working days
Background
UNDP is the UN's global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. As a founding co-sponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and guided by the health-related MDGs, responding to HIV is one of the organizations' priorities. Under the UNAIDS division of labour, UNDP is responsible for leading the UNAIDS response in addressing dimensions of AIDS relating to: development planning and mainstreaming; governance; and human rights, gender and sexual diversity. UNDP is also responsible for providing support to governments in their implementation of policies and programs that protect the human rights of people affected by HIV.
While globally the number of new HIV infections is decreasing, the region of Eastern Europe and the Central Asia (EECA) is home to the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world: rising from an estimated 970,000 people living with the virus in 2001 to 1.5 million in 2012. Mortality from AIDS has also experienced a 21% increase in the region over the period 2005-2011. The Russian Federation and Ukraine, the two most populous EECA countries, together account for almost 90 percent of newly reported HIV cases. Levels of treatment in the region are low with approximately 25 percent of those in need of antiretroviral therapy receiving it. While there has been a significant improvement in the legal environment relevant to HIV in the region, certain gaps still persist. The Global Commission on HIV and the Law, an independent international expert body to which UNDP served as secretariat identified some of these gaps as breach of confidentiality, subjection to stigma and discrimination, criminalization of HIV transmission, criminalization of the behavior of key populations, and others. At the same time, the Commission emphasized the improvement the region has experienced, also in terms of opportunities to protect the human rights of people living with HIV.In cooperation with governments, other UN agencies, international organizations, and civil society actors, UNDP works to develop the capacity of national legislators, government offices and civil society actors on matters of HIV and the Law. In implementation of its regional project 'HIV, Rights and Universal Access in Eastern Europe', co-funded by the European Commission, UNDP seeks to support and develop the capacity/expertise of non-state actors to address the nexus between human rights, laws, and HIV, as well as to foster effective and efficient dialogues and cooperation between governments and non-state actors in this area. In 2012 and 2013, the project provided substantial support to dialogues between civil society and government and the development of action plans on HIV, rights and universal access in Moldova and Ukraine, facilitated the discourse in Russia in a regional context, trained people living with HIV, government officials, civil society representatives on matters related to HIV and the law, helped establish a Regional HIV Legal Network.For support in the implementation of activities during the third project year UNDP seeks an international consultant on HIV, rights and universal access the work of the HIV, Health and Development Team at the Regional Center for EECA in Istanbul for approximately one year. Among the interventions that would require support are the organizing and implementing interventions that empower non-state actors, governments, government agencies in addressing challenges of HIV and co-infections in the region, promoting the rights-based approach to HIV and universal access, facilitating efficient, result-oriented dialogues between governments and non-state actors in EECA countries, empowering people living with HIV and key population most at risk of HIV infection with legal and human rights knowledge, supporting the work of the Regional HIV Network, facilitating the creation of virtual curriculum resources on HIV and rights. Another scope of the Consultant's task would include proving support to countries in the region in the field of policy advice and technical assistance in reform of HIV legislation, public health laws and related acts, policies and practices.
Duties and Responsibilities
Consultant reports to the Programme Specialist on Rights and Law at UNDP's Practice on HIV, Health and Development, Regional Centre for Europe and the CIS in Istanbul (Supervisor), being responsible for the following:
Supports the preparation, implementation and follow up of the following UNDP interventions:
- National Stakeholder Dialogue in a country in Eastern Europe or the Southern Caucasus where no previous dialogue has taken place;
- Development and Promotion Meeting of the Regional HIV Legal Network to foster its sustainable development;
- Creation and Development of a Training of Trainers Toolkit for people who live with, or are most affected by HIV on matters related to HIV and Rights;
- Creation and Development of an Online Curriculum Resource on HIV and Rights, suitable for academic curricula in EECA countries in the Russian language.
- Wrap-up activities and evaluation of the regional UNDP project on 'HIV, Rights and Universal Access';
- Support to organizations, representing key populations most at risk of HIV infection, such as the Eurasian Coalition on Men's Health and others;
- Supports the implementation of activities aiming at improving sustainability of national HIV responses in EECA countries: support to preparation of reports and recommendations, follow up with regional and country level stakeholders on report recommendations and other related tasks.
Supports UNDP's work in policy advice and technical assistance in the field of:
- Reviewing legislation, policies and practices related to HIV, public health and development in EECA countries;
- Translating relevant materials, carrying out background research;
- Drafting of analyses, reports and recommendations;
- Liaising with UNDP country offices and communicating on matters related to support provided. Liaising with other UN agencies' offices;
- Preparation, implementation and follow up with field missions.
- Contributes to knowledge sharing by participating in the development of background papers publications, concept notes, presentations and other materials, including by contributing to the UNDP Regional Centre's website and blog and the knowledge-sharing network Teamworks;
- Contributes with law-related input to the Team's efforts in promoting the sustainability of healthcare systems in the region;
- Supports the liaison with government and non-state actors in the region for the purpose of the UNDP interventions;
- Contributes to periodical and annual reporting of UNDP and performs other tasks assigned by the Supervisor.
The Consultant is expected to be based in Istanbul and to work from premises of the Regional Centre.
Deliverables:
- Support to interventions as described in Description of Responsibilities, as evidenced by periodic performance assessment, communication and produced materials;
- Drafts, research reports, concept notes, background papers, correspondence and other written materials, as described, assessed and evaluated by Supervisor and other Team staff.
Specific deliverables will be agreed upon with the Supervisor at the beginning of each month, in writing. Payments will be made once a month upon submitted satisfactory progress report against deliverables and approved timesheet submission providing details of time spent on respective deliverables, their timely execution and acceptance by the Supervisor.
Competencies
Corporate competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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;
- Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Functional competencies:
- Commitment to the principles set forth in the UN High Level Declarations on HIV and AIDS;
- Very good understanding of the legal and practical aspects of HIV and co-infections in the region;
- Familiarity with national healthcare systems and legal and practical issues surrounding non-communicable diseases;
- Familiarity with the social determinants of health and health inequities;
- Excellent organizational skills, ability to work independently, strict adherence to completing assigned tasks in a timely manner;
- Quality-oriented professional, constructive approach to obstacles and delays in planned performance;
- Excellent research and drafting skills;
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, oral and written;
- Advanced user of virtual communication tools.
Required Skills and Experience
Academic Qualifications/Education:
- An advanced degree (masters or higher) in human rights, public health, law, public international law, international relations, or other relevant field.
Experience:
- Seven or more years of relevant regional experience in the field of human rights, law and health.
- Experience in working with legal aspects of HIV issues.
- Experience on working with legal aspects of non-communicable diseases and healthcare systems reform is a plus.
- Advanced knowledge in developing and administering online resources such as websites and portals is a plus.
Publications:
- At least one recent relevant publication in the field of human rights, law, and public health, or HIV, concerning the EECA region, in English.
- Additional publications in English and/or Russian are a plus.
Language skills:
- Fluency and ability to communicate and write complex research in English and Russian;
- Knowledge of more regional languages is a plus.
Evaluation of Applicants
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants' qualifications, an interview, a test and a financial proposal.The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
- Responsive/compliant/acceptable;
- Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk review, interview and written test) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Only those candidates who will score at least 70% based on the P11 desk review will be invited for an interview. Only those candidates who will score at least 70% based on the interview will be invited for a written test.
Only those individual consultants who obtained at least 70% of points in each of the steps of the process and were found qualified for the job will be considered for financial proposal evaluation.Technical Criteria -70% of total evaluation - max. 57.5 points
- Education and additional qualifications (courses, diplomas) - max. 15 points;
- Publications - max. 2.5 points;
- Relevant work experience in HIV, public health and the law - max. 10 points;
- Communication skills and languages - max. 5 points;
- Interview - max. 15 points;
- Test: comprehension of HIV and development, research, drafting skills, communication - max. 10 points.
Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 24.5 points
Application proceduresQualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:
- Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the 'Resume and Motivation' section of the electronic application;
- Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
- Financial Proposal* - specifying a daily rate in USD and lump sum for travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. Specific deliverables will be agreed upon with the Supervisor at the beginning of each month, in writing. Payment to be made once a month upon submitted satisfactory progress report against deliverables and approved timesheet;
- Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.
- Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. rent of dwelling, fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). The financial proposal consists of a daily fee and a lump sum for travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. All envisaged costs (except of missions) must be included in the financial proposal. Travel costs for missions, if any, will be paid separately according to UNDP rules and regulations.
The selected candidate is responsible for obtaining necessary visa, if applicable. UNDP will strive to support the application process. Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner. Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org.General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://europeandcis.undp.org/home/jobs.Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.
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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